12 eco-health tips

By Anita Naik, author and health journalist

We all want to look and feel great, but is your daily routine taking its toll on the planet? We look at 12 of the worst offenders and suggest eco-friendly alternatives.

Brushing your teeth

For good oral hygiene, dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every three months (more if you’ve had a nasty cold). But with an average of four per person thrown away each year, ditched plastic toothbrushes add up to 4,389 tonnes of waste in the UK.

Eco solution
Buy a reusable toothbrush. You replace the head, but the handle can be reused again and again. Try the Monte Bianco range, £2.45 from www.ecotopia.co.uk

Flossing your teeth

Dentists say flossing is vital for healthy teeth and gums, but three million miles of the stuff ends up in our sewers every year, taking hundreds of years to biodegrade.

Alternatives also have their drawbacks. Floss picks may cut down on the amount of floss needed, but the handles mean more petroleum-based plastic ends up in landfill. Electric flossers also waste electricity, while natural silk flosses may be biodegradable, but the processing they go through isn’t eco-friendly.

Eco solution
The new Dentek Natural Floss Pick is the first 100 per cent biodegradable and recyclable floss pick. The handle is made of starches from sustainable crops so it decomposes in less than 180 days. The floss is made of polyethylene, which is recyclable. On sale from November in Sainsburys, £3.49 for 50 flossers.

Using cotton wool to cleanse skin

Cotton wool pads are a daily essential in most skincare regimes, but cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops, using approximately a quarter of the world’s insecticide. The plastic stems of cotton buds means they are not biodegradable.

Eco solution
Use washable organic muslin face cloths, which are great for the skin too. You can also buy organic biodegradable cotton buds with paper stems: www.ethicalsuperstore.com

Using toiletries and make-up

Taking care of our appearance is good for our self-esteem, yet studies show we use around 10 products a day to beautify ourselves that contain as many as 126 ingredients and chemicals. Our love affair with cosmetics and toiletries is a massive factor in 'beauty pollution', contaminating our rivers and wildlife.

Eco solution
As well as checking that products don't contain parabens, phthalates and GM additives, your best bet is to opt for a reputable organic range that by law must be free from the most damaging chemicals. For certified ranges, visit www.soorganic.com

For hand soap, try an organic soap that's free from artificial colour, fragrances, synthetic preservatives and parabens.

Taking a daily vitamin supplement

Around 10 million people in the UK take daily dietary supplements that boost nutrient intake. The bad news is the majority of supplements are packaged in high-density plastics to preserve the nutrients, and many of these can’t be recycled.

Eco solution
Buy brands that use glass containers because they can be easily recycled. Viridian operates a re-use scheme and gives a 25p refund on bottles returned to the place of purchase. Available at health food stores nationwide.

Drinking two litres of water a day

Good for your skin and body, but bad for the environment if this means reaching for a plastic bottle. In 2006 we drank 2,275 million litres of plastic bottled water. Plastic bottles are made from petroleum and take up to 450 years to decompose.

Eco solution
Turn on the tap. UK tap water is safe and has to meet stringent quality standards. If you live in a hard water area and are put off by the taste, filter and chill your water first.

Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables

We're constantly being encouraged to eat more fruit and vegetables, but much of it is grown with pesticides, imported and then wrapped in plastic packaging.

You may think organic is the natural eco-friendly choice, but 40 per cent of organic produce is imported into the UK every year. Buy just 10 imported products and your basket could have food miles averaging around 241,000km – think of the CO2 emissions from that.

Eco solution
Buy seasonal produce from local farmers' markets. Speak to the farmers there, too. Many small producers practice organic farming, but haven't paid for official certification from the Soil Association.

If you don't have a farmers' market near you, check the country of origin label for fruit and veg in the supermarket aisles. Stick to British produce, buy loose items and avoid those clear plastic bags.

Using household cleaners

Keeping our homes clean is a must, but taking into account the chemicals involved and their over packaging, household cleaners aren't always kind on the environment. Many of us like antibacterial products, but the jury's still out on their effectiveness. Some studies have found they don't kill any more bacteria than regular soap.

Eco solution
Go natural with your cleaning. Use white wine vinegar or bicarbonate of soda mixed with water to dissolve household grease and dirt.

Disposable wipes such as Method's non-toxic wipes are better than an ordinary kitchen cleaner because they are biodegradable and the packaging is recyclable. However, an eco-friendly cleaner such as those from Ecover used with a cloth is a cheaper option and will last longer, too. Both ranges can be found in most supermarkets.

Going to the gym

Most of us need to exercise more, but with their air conditioning, bright lighting, exercise machines and laundry demands, gyms are energy-hungry places. And with many people driving to get there, meeting your weekly exercise limit can be far from eco-friendly.

Eco solution
Use public transport to get to the gym, or incorporate the walk there and back as part of your warm up and cool down routine. Outdoor exercise such as walking, running and cycling are green alternatives to gym membership.

Or try a green gym run by BTCV, a charity for conservation volunteers. There are 95 projects across the country that encourage people to get fit while doing something constructive for the environment: www2.btcv.org.uk

Eating fish

Eating fish is a great way to cut down on red meat, one of the risk factors identified for bowel cancer. Oily fish is also the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can protect against heart disease.

But according to the United Nations, more than half of all fisheries worldwide are being fished beyond their maximum biological capacity: cod, salmon and tuna are particularly at risk.

Eco solution
There are more than 200 certified eco-friendly fish products in supermarkets that come from sustainable sources. Before you buy, make sure your fish has the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) eco-label.

Drinking milk for healthy bones

A diet rich in milk and milk products is thought to reduce the risk of the brittle bone disease osteoporosis, but more than 100,000 tons of plastic waste in the UK each year comes from milk containers.

Eco solution
Look for milk in a recyclable plastic bag with reusable jug from Sainsbury’s or the new Green Bottle found in ASDA. It's a mainly cardboard container that has a carbon footprint 48 per cent lower than a standard plastic bottle. Otherwise, make sure you recycle your plastic milk bottles.

Lighting candles to relax

Candles may help to create a relaxing atmosphere and lower your electricity usage, but most wax candles are made from petroleum residues.

Petrochemicals and their by-products are known to cause an array of health problems including asthma. When burned, they can also leave pollutants such as formaldehyde and acrolein in the air inside your home.

Eco solution
Try soy, beeswax or vegetable-based candles that are smoke-free and biodegradable.