As someone who is prone to anxiety, I knew I shouldn't read a book with the word "death" in the title. Or "danger" and "secret" for that matter. But I did, and even though I have undoubtedly higher levels of anxiety, I'm glad I read  Slow Death By Rubber Duck, The Secret Danger of Everyday Things.

Scarier than your typical teen horror flick, this book is an eye-opener. The authors, Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, used themselves as guinea pigs to demonstrate how everyday items, like rubber duckies and toothpaste (yes, toothpaste!), can pollute our bodies and environment with alarming results. Think cancer, respiratory disease and infertility, among other things. Exposing themselves to a multitude of toxins, the book "expose[s] the miscreant corporate giants who manufacture the toxins, the weak-kneed government officials who let it happen, and the effects on people and families across the globe."

This book will definitely make you look twice at the ingredient list on foods and products you use daily. A little education never hurt anyone, so give it a read, won't you?

Slow Death By Rubber Duck by Rick Smith & Bruce Lourie
Available at Amazon.com for $14.62 and at other major bookstores; jacket price is $25
http://slowdeathbyrubberduck.com

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A hand sanitizer an indulgence?  I know what you're thinking. But even everyday items can be worthy splurges. Consider this...

One Ms. Germaphobe and one, now famous, H1N1 virus meet-up in the aisle of a drugstore. Ms. Germaphobe can either choose the standard anti-bacterial hand sanitizer or CleanWell's All-Natural Hand Sanitizer to fend off the loathsome H1N1. Both kill 99.99% of germs, but CleanWell's All-Natural Hand Sanitizer is made without toxic chemicals which makes Ms. Germaphobe happy. Did I mention she also happens to be a hypochondriac?

CleanWell All-Natural Hand Sanitizer made by CleanWell Today
315 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.839.6393
$8.99 for three 1oz. spray bottles (each bottle contains 200+ sprays)
www.cleanwelltoday.com
info@cleanwelltoday.com
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It's hard to get excited about a toothbrush. Especially a manual one that doesn't have all the bells and whistles of those super-powered, UV sanitizing gizmos with sonic technology.  But give me a chance to explain...

I've been a fan of Preserve's toothbrush for a while. It comes in a variety of bristle softness, from ultra soft to medium (I prefer soft), has a comfortable arched handle and what they describe as "tiered bristles for gentle, thorough cleaning". All I know is it's doing its job. The fact that it's made from recycled plastic (handle used to be a yogurt cup), is recyclable, BPA-free and made in the USA (minimizing its carbon footprint), makes me want to flash my pearly whites. Bonus: its packaging doubles as a travel case.

But you can't brush you teeth with a toothbrush alone, and until recently, I'd been searching for a natural toothpaste.  So how happy was I when I found  Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste with Fennel, Propolis and Myrrh? Ecstatic.   Unlike many toothpastes, it is free of saccharin, lauryl sulfates and propylene glycol.  It's also refreshing, literally and figuratively.  After brushing, my mouth was tingly fresh, while I found its anise flavor unique and unexpected. You can't beat the price either---I paid $1.99 for a six ounce tube. That's something worth smiling about.

Preserve Toothbrush, $2.79 (available at Target, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's)
Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste, $1.99 for a six ounce tube

Preserve Products
www.preserveproducts.com
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Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste
www.traderjoes.com
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