Top 7 Eco-friendly habits that also improve your health

It’s not just about recycling when it comes to going green. Many daily decisions have negative or good consequences, and many of them have an impact on your health. Use the eco-friendly suggestions below to help the environment while also improving your general health.

Eat a plant-based diet

Switching to a plant-based diet is one of the most effective ways to enhance your health, increase your energy, and prevent chronic diseases. Many chronic diseases can be prevented, treated, or even reversed with a whole-food, plant-based diet, according to scientific data. A plant-based diet can lower the incidence of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and other serious ailments, according to findings published in the classic book The China Study. After adjusting, many people experience increased fitness gains, increased vitality, less inflammation, and improved health outcomes.

Meat production places pressure on natural resources because cows produce a lot of methane, which depletes the ozone layer faster than carbon. It also leads to the clearance of rainforests for pastureland, putting the planet’s protective layer in jeopardy. Cutting back on meat-eating can lower your risk of heart disease and cancer while also protecting the environment and its inhabitants. People who follow a plant-based diet are often thinner than those who do not, and the diet makes it simple to lose weight and keep it off without tracking calories. Chronic diseases can be prevented, halted, and in some cases reversed by consuming whole foods and following a plant-based diet. Although research has connected plant-based diets to lower incidences of arthritis, greater liver function, and healthier kidneys, the scientific data is especially compelling when it comes to heart disease and diabetes. The environment is far less stressed when you eat a plant-based diet.

Hang a bird feeder

When the growing season finishes, natural food becomes scarce. Birds and squirrels now have fewer plants, seeds, and other food sources to choose from. Birds having access to feeders had a considerably greater winter survival rate during protracted cold winters, according to the CSU Extension. It will be easier for them to survive if they are given a place to live.

Birds that won’t forage on the ground are attracted to feeders placed from trees or fences. Because birds are choosy and can be messy eaters, whatever falls below the feeder will not go to waste. Birds that eat on the ground will swoop down to collect any seed that falls from the feeder. Both types of birds will get the rewards.

Reduce and reuse

By keeping useful items out of landfills, reducing and reusing waste helps to save landfill space. The quantity of energy and natural resources required to manufacture the product and generate or collect the raw ingredients is lowered. The most efficient strategy to reduce waste is to prevent it from being produced in the first place. Creating a new product releases greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and necessitates a large number of materials and energy-raw materials must be taken from the earth, and the product must be constructed before being shipped to its final destination. As a result, the most effective approaches to save natural resources, protect the environment, and save money are reduction and reuse.

Reducing and reusing greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, is a good thing to do. They reduce pollution and conserve energy by eliminating the need to gather fresh raw materials. Emissions of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming, are also reduced. They contribute to the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem for future generations. They limit the quantity of waste that must be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators, and they allow things to be used to their maximum potential, saving money in the process.

Go hiking

Hiking and walking trails have played an essential part in the environmental movement and can continue to do so. They can be used to actively teach people about the natural environments in which they are frequently found. Hiking and walking routes can give visitors access to natural beauties, instilling in them a sense of appreciation and respect. They can play an important role in securing areas for long-term protection. Hiking and walking trails encourage passive participation in the environment and knowledge of its relevance.

Trails are acknowledged as having a significant environmental impact since they serve to protect habitats for native plants and animals. They contribute to environmental awareness and pollution reduction by reducing the usage of fossil fuels. They also help to cut down on noise and light pollution. They can be utilized as environmental classrooms as well as research instruments.

Start a garden

You can produce vegetables in your backyard, or even inside your home, whether you have a typical garden or not. No matter where you live, you can cultivate some of your food. Even if you only have a balcony, you can grow some herbs and salad greens in pots. Consider creating a few raised beds if you live in the city or the suburbs. Make it a goal to provide all of your family’s fresh vegetables during the growing season if you have the room. If you’re feeling very optimistic and have the room, you may attempt growing more and preserving enough food to feed your family through the winter.

Learn about vertical farming if you live in an area with little outside space or a climate that isn’t conducive to outdoor cultivation. It’s an excellent technique to grow a large amount of food in a little area, such as a closet, spare room, garage, basement, storage unit, or even an enclosed cargo trailer. It’s all about being resourceful! Another important step is to learn how to cultivate sustainably by saving your seeds, making compost or worm castings for fertilizer, and conserving water with mulch and drip irrigation.

Pick up litter

Litter can harm a community’s sense of belonging and make people feel unsafe. You are demonstrating pride in your neighborhood and beautifying the region by picking it up. Local wildlife may mistake garbage for food or nesting materials. I’ve witnessed birds pick up chunks of plastic on numerous occasions. If garbage enters waterways, it is likely to harm aquatic ecosystems. Picking up rubbish makes it less likely for wildlife to come across it. Litter removal costs a lot of money in the United States. Because these expenditures are shared by the government and local businesses, picking up rubbish can help redirect those dollars to something that will benefit your community more. Out of curiosity, small children are more prone to pick up litter. Regrettably, this poses a safety risk, as children are notorious for putting things in their mouths that aren’t supposed to be there. This risk is reduced by keeping rubbish off the streets.

Volunteer

Your body creates more oxytocin when you volunteer. This so-called “cuddle” hormone boosts emotions of happiness while lowering anxiety and despair. Environmental organizations need volunteers, and if you don’t feel comfortable going out in public just yet, some provide activities you can do from the comfort of your own homes, such as phone and text campaigns.