As we continue to take steps to minimize our footprint and live a greener life, I am finding that many green solutions are really common sense approaches to living.
It makes sense turn the tap off while I brush my teeth, especially when so many in the world are without such an essential commodity. It makes sense to turn the lights off when I leave the room and to use reusable shopping bags. Other suggestions, like getting a toothbrush with a replaceable head to minimize plastic are more imaginative, however once the journey of greening our lives has begun, mindful living provides endless solutions and thoughtful ways to reduce our impact.
After all the light bulbs have been changed, we are (finally!) remembering to take the reusable bags into the store and countless other eco adjustments we can make to green our life, one of the greatest impacts we can have on the environment is to go green by following a simple and common sense approach to our health.
Healthy living is, by default, a greener way to live! Green living and healthy living intersect because what we do to ourselves we also do to the planet. (I’m pretty sure that’s a quote, so don’t quote me on it!) Diets that consist of mostly packaged processed food, will not likely reward us with great health. Neither will it have a positive effect on the environment due to the amount of manufacturing, processing, transportation, chemical use and landfill waste a processed diet contributes to.
4 Green Living Tips That Will Also Improve Your Health
1. Eat Locally Produced Organic Food
Wherever possible, choose to eat locally produced organic foods. For an extra fun challenge, see if you can eat foods grown within 100 miles of your home!
Why:
- No pesticides & chemicals
- Local foods require less packaging
- Less travel = higher nutrient content
- Avoid genetically modified seeds
- Help preserve agricultural quality of soil
- Support local food economy
Where: There are some great ways to source locally grown organic food. See if you can find a local delivery company. We recently switched to organic delivery and I am finding that this is less expensive than buying the food from the larger grocery store’s organic section. Another added bonus is that food delivered fresh to my door limits my time in a grocery store where I might be tempted to bring home less healthy foods that also add to the food bill. Alternately, try to find a local farmers market, co-op, or “good food box” program in your area.
What: If you can’t make the switch entirely, consider switching your dairy and produce first. Check out EWG’s list of most heavily sprayed produce. Children are also most affected by chemicals and hormones in these foods, as well as in meats because their systems are still developing. They consume more food than adults as related to body mass, and therefore are more likely to absorb toxins. See what EWG’s Food News has to say about the safety of pesticides and children.
Good To Know: A sustainable guideline for food shopping is to: first buy local organic, second buy local non organic, third buy imported organic, and lastly buy imported non organic. Just a note that even local non organic can be almost as good as organic. Many farmers grow in a sustainable way but did not go through the certification process. When in doubt, ask!
2. Eat Fresh, Eat Raw
Momma always told you to eat your veggies!
Why
- Healthy enzymes stay intact
- Better digestion and absorption of nutrients
- More energy, less cook time
- Maintains acid alkaline balance
- Less package waste to landfills
- Less chemicals in diet (from packages and processed foods)
What: Once you experience the energy that comes from eating more fresh or raw, your taste for processed food will diminish! Same goes with canned and frozen foods. How about all those condiments? Wherever possible, simplify simplify simplify and switch to the energizing world of eating more fresh and raw foods.
How: Try to include fruits and veggies with all meals and snacks. If working with ratio’s helps, you can try 1/3 raw with each meal or snack. Try including a salad with every meal complete with grated veggies. Try a fruit smoothie in the morning or dip your favorite fruit and veggie sticks into raw almond butter for a tasty snack. It’s easy to grab the most convenient thing in the fridge when you’re starving, so I try to prepare by chopping up veggies once a week so that they are easy to grab and enjoy.
Good To Know: The sure way to keep enzymes alive in your food is to: first eat raw, second gently steam no longer than 3 minutes, and third have it poached. A little secret I learned from my dad was to never boil vegetable soup. Simply raise the heat in the pot slowly until just before boiling and then lower heat and allow to cook gently. Yum.
3. Eliminate Plastics
Plastic plastic everywhere, what’s a mom to do? If anything will inspire you to eat more raw fresh food, consider the effect of plastic on our health.
Why:
- Plastic manufacturing is a toxic process
- Plastics take decades to decompose
- Children’s developing systems are most at risk for chemical exposure
What: Plastic is used EVERYWHERE – from microwave food wraps and containers, plastic wrap, food storage containers, plastic wrapped food, Childrens toys, vinyl accessories, shopping bags and so much more… The problem is that all plastic contains chemicals like BPA, DEHA, PFOA , all of which are known hormone disrupters and human carcinogens that can lead to negative effects on the organs, nervous system, and other abnormalities.
Consumer reports has advised that parents stop using bottles made of polycarbonate plastic because they contain the chemical BPA or Bisphenol A. BPA is known to leach into liquid during heating and sterilization. The chemicals in plastic cause health problems because of prolonged repeated exposure, so although switching to a glass baby bottle is an excellent thing to do , it’s important to consider the entire plastic train that enters our homes.
How: A great place to start is the pantry. Canned goods also carry toxic risks, so work towards finding alternatives for as many packaged processed items as possible. I suggest buying whole, bulk foods. Is this theme starting to sound familiar?? We recently did a kitchen overhaul and took all plastic food containers to the garage to be used as hardware storage containers. I purchased some good sturdy glass containers that we now use these for leftovers and to store all my pantry items.
4. Get Naturally Clean
Cleaning and primping. Whether it’s our body or the house, repeated and prolonged use of personal care and household products that contain questionable ingredients can add to our toxic load and jeopardize our health.
Why:
- Our skin and lungs are porous organs vital to our health – they “soak up” our environment
- Ingredients in cleaning and personal care products end up in water supply
- Cosmetics industry is not accountable for the products they use
- 300+ new chemicals registered each year without testing and proof of safety
What:
Skincare products contain ingredients that open the pores to allow the product to be absorbed. Not a good plan if the bottle contains parabens that are known to alter hormones! The beauty in a bottle hardly seems worth the price when our bodies now have to process toxins like parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, lead, synthetic fragrance and more.
The cleaning industry is much the same, but even more alarming. If you have not yet switched to safer and more environmental cleaning products PLEASE do so as soon as you can! This is a major area of toxicity in the home and poses a risk to both moms and children. This is a great place to start if there are any health issues at home. Learn more about the dangers of cleaning products as well as some green options that are available.
How: Research your products at the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database to see how your personal care products rate. Read all labels before buying, and be especially suspicious of items that do not contain an ingredients list. Switch up daily use items like soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste are worth the effort to search out the safest alternatives. Switch to a few safe brands that you can trust is the best idea in the long run so let go of those nasties that are collecting dust under the sink, because they will age us in the long run with their cocktail of ingredients.
Hopefully this provided you with some information and inspiration to take these few steps towards a more healthy life. By committing to your own health first, you will be living more green and sustainably. Let your commitment to healthy living be a guide for your family, but also a terrific way to give back to the planet and your community. If there is one thing that I have learned about healthy living it is that when we are committed to our own health, we contribute to a healthier world.
Your body will thank you and so will the earth!
What are some ways you approach healthy & green living at home?
These are my thoughts on living a healthy and simple life. I'm a modern mom with some simple ideas, a little common sense and a natural philosophy. This is the sanest way I know how to navigate the 21 century.
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We grow a lot of our own vegetables. Nothing nicer than beginning the day in the garden eating some raspberries (huge by the way) and fresh peas from the pod as you walk and say good morning to all the plants.
I also think the 100 Mile Diet is a good idea where it is practical to implement.
John Rocheleau – Zen-Momentss last blog post..The Beauty Within You
Although commercially canned food can be toxic, canning your own is great, especially if you are into eating locally. Fresh canned, local fruit is wonderful in the Winter.
Eds last blog post..Why A River Won’t Get A Migraine
The web site looks great with loads of good info. Did really like the 4 tips article.
Stay Well Stay Happy
John
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