There are pay-offs to living green, because many lifestyle choices that are earth friendly are also personally healthy. Ditching your car for trips that can be made by foot or bicycle and preparing your own meals are two simple changes you can make today, and each will positively impact your health and the environment.
Healthy Living Begins with Daily Activity
For years it has been known that exercise has health benefits. But recent data indicates that a habitual gym workout may not be enough. In his article “Watching TV Linked to Higher Risk of Death,” Wall Street Journal reporter Ron Winslow writes about an Australian study that links time watching television to death, even for those that exercised. The study finds that the human body was designed for movement not just one hour a day, but throughout the day. The researchers contend people can lessen their risk of heart-related illnesses simply by moving throughout the day and avoiding long periods of inactivity.
Walk or Bike to Improve Health and Reduce Carbon Emissions
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation sector represents the second largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, and car emissions account for two-thirds of the sector’s overall emissions. Get moving to reduce your carbon footprint and improve your health.
Walk or bike to work instead of driving. If doing so is impractical, think about how to run errands without a car. Perhaps you can bike to the drug store. Maybe you can walk to a neighborhood restaurant. You might even run to the farmer’s market. The point is, almost everyone can find a trip or two that can be managed without a car, and making this trip without it can benefit your health and the environment.
Healthy Meals are Eco-Friendly
Making your own meals is another easy way to benefit health and reduce your carbon footprint. Processed food requires fossil fuels to create, and the more processed the product is, the more energy needed to create it. Highly processed foods are also likely to contain unwanted fat, sugar, sodium, additives, and preservatives.
In his New York Times Magazine article, “Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch,” food guru Michael Pollan cites a 2003 study by Harvard economists. This study finds cooking is a better predictor of a healthy diet than social class. A poor person who spends time cooking a meal each night, then, is more likely to have a healthy diet than the rich socialite who constantly orders in.
Healthy, Eco-Friendly Eating Begins with Cooking
Cooking can be simple and joyful. Visit your local farmer’s market to find the freshest, tastiest, local ingredients for your dishes. Experiment with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Don’t worry about lengthy and complicated recipes. Instead, enjoy the simple, delicious taste of fresh food.
Create a pasta dish with fresh asparagus, peas, and grated Pecorino Romano. Top fresh tomatoes with olive oil and chopped basil. Bake chicken topped with a pinch of sea salt and fresh, chopped rosemary. Make an omelette stuffed with chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and feta cheese. Steam summer squash and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Environmentally Friendly Eating and Living Benefits Health
Personal lifestyle choices can have a profound impact on the environment. They can also greatly enhance the way you look and feel each day. Think about how you can increase your physical activity rather than using your car for errands. Start preparing a few more meals at home. These changes are sure to boost your health and make you feel good about doing your part to save the planet.