A Wellness Routine To Protect Your Health and The Planet + VIDEO {Pure | Lifestyle Medicine | Natural Living | Minimalism | Less Waste}

Here is a Wellness Routine To Protect Your Health as Well as The Planet Using Strategies From Lifestyle Medicine!

{Pure | Natural Living | Minimalism | Less Waste}

The health of your body and the health of the planet are closely entwined. Earth Month is the perfect time to build a wellness routine that will preserve both at the same time!

 

You can find more environmental health tips, healthy recipes, lifestyle tips and more on my YouTube Channel!

Affiliate Disclosure & Privacy Policy (please review our complete policy here): we use affiliate links and analytics on our website, social media posts and newsletter which utilize cookies placed on your browser to track sales activity. This post is NOT sponsored but may contain affiliate links. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and should not be considered medical advice or treatment. Please consult your personal health provider before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

How Your Wellness Connects with the Health of the Earth

Your physical and mental health is highly influenced by the natural world. Environmental influences over health include:

• clean air,
• safe drinking water,
• sufficient nourishing food and
• secure shelter.

Regular contact with nature also reduces depression and anxiety (Beyer et al., 2014), improves cardiovascular and metabolic health (Maas et al., 2009) and has positive impacts on longevity (Takano, Nakamura and Watanabe, 2002).

For example, numerous studies demonstrate how air pollution contributes to respiratory illness, heart disease (Greenstone and Quing Fan, 2018) and even premature death (Di, Dai, Wang et al., 2017). Similarly, the water you drink can potentially expose you to infectious agents, chemicals (Briggs, 2003) and other harmful contaminants. Nature also provides sunlight and plants that supply much of your food.

Levels of stress, depression and emotional distress can also be influenced by the environment (Obradovich et al., 2018). Clearly, the natural world is your life support system.

How to Build a Wellness Routine That Protects the Earth as Well as Your Health

Minimalism and zero-waste have become trendy buzz words in the wellness realm with good reason. The average American family of four creates around 4,000 pounds of trash each year, which fills up landfills. This focus on consumerism and throw-away products clutters your home, drains away money and burdens the earth as well as your health in the long-term.

Fortunately, you can take steps to protect the planet that will also protect your health! It is important to invest in your health for the long-term by building a sustainable wellness routine, cleaning up your home environment and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Rethink Your Commute

Sitting for hours in traffic and spending much of your day driving back and forth not only takes a toll on your sanity, it also harms the earth. Those with longer commutes are more likely to suffer from obesity (Lindströmm 2008), have greater stress (Evans GW¹, Wener RE., 2006) and get less sleep (Walsleben, 1999).

Transportation emissions are one of the top sources of humans’ exposure to harmful air pollution as well. Studies suggest that transport-related air pollution contributes to an increased risk of death, particularly from heart- and lung-related causes.

• If you live in an area where it is possible, carpool or opt for public transportation. This can reduce your stress and give you the opportunity for socializing and connecting with friends (or making some new ones!).
• An even more environmentally-impactful option is to walk or ride a bike to commute to work and other daily activities. This can make a big difference in reducing carbon emissions (Johansson, 2017) and energy use while also building more physical activity into your day.

Shop Local and Seasonal

Dietary choices influence both health and environmental outcomes (Behrens et al., 2017),  with impacts on air and water pollution, soil quality and multiple health measures. The average fresh food item in America travels 1,500 miles (Pirog et al., 2001) to get to its final destination, requiring large quantities of fossil fuels that generate pollution.

Locally-grown produce is generally fresher and has a smaller carbon footprint than produce that is transported over long distances to reach your plate. Eating in season is also in accordance with Ayurvedic wisdom to help balance the body and mind.

Shopping at your local farmer’s market, supporting farmers in your community by joining a community-support agriculture (CSA) program and maintaining a home garden are all great ways to support your local food system and feed yourself fresh, seasonal, nourishing food. Not only does food that is grown locally reduce fossil fuel emissions from transportation but local, small farms also tend to use more conscious, sustainable and organic methods which support soil health and reduce your exposure to pesticides and herbicides. Getting to know the farmers who grow your food also provides the health benefits of being part of a community as you support local small businesses with your food dollars.

If you have the space, growing your own garden provides you with the ultimate in locally-sourced food. Gardening provides substantial health benefits (Soga, Gaston and Yamaura, 2016) as well, increasing life satisfaction, psychological well-being, cognitive function and physical health.

Even if you don’t have a lot of outdoor space for a large garden, you can still try growing your own herbs on a window sill or join a community gardening space to glean delicious veggies and health benefits!

Swap out Plastic

Plastics are ubiquitous in packaging, consumer products and even footwear and clothing. Since these materials are not biodegradable, they often end up accumulating in the natural environment and landfills. In fact, over 10 percent by weight of the municipal waste stream is plastic (Barnes et al., 2009).

Once produced, these materials are here for eons (Geyer, Jambeck and Law, 2017) and many end up polluting waterways and oceans where they can harm marine life and accumulate in the food and water supply, eventually impacting humans. For instance, microplastics have been found in 114 aquatic species, many of which are consumed by humans.

Plastics and the additives in many plastic products may also release toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), flame retardants, phthalates and heavy metals. Some of these chemicals are considered endocrine disruptors which interfere with normal hormone function in the body, even contribute to weight gain (Warner and Flaws, 2018).

Swapping out plastic for more sustainable and healthier materials like stainless steel and glass costs you less money in the long run, keeps food and water fresh without contamination, generates less clutter and creates less waste that can end up in landfills, rivers, lakes and oceans.

• Opt for reusable stainless steel or glass water bottles to stay hydrated on-the-go. This is my favorite water bottle which also has a built in filter!
• Choose glass or ceramic containers for food storage. For example, mason jars (affiliate link) are inexpensive options to store and serve food and beverages.
• Switch to reusable organic cotton or natural canvas bags for shopping and storing produce. You can even make your own reusable shopping bag by upcycling an old t-shirt!

Reduce Food Waste by Storing Food Safely and Effectively

In the US, over 20% of food is lost or wasted at the consumer level each year (Conrad et al., 2018), deepening hunger and poverty and inflicting a heavy toll on the environment. Mindfully planning, prepping, and storing food can help you waste less food while preserving the nutrition in your fruits and vegetables.

• Plan ahead by making a shopping list with your weekly healthy meals in mind so you are more likely to stick to your healthy eating plan and use all the food you buy.
• Opt for buying in bulk when possible to minimize excess packaging which builds up in landfills and can also leach contaminants into your food (Caludio, 2012).
• Many stores even allow you to bring your own glass jars with you to the bulk aisle to purchase and store dry goods.
• Once you get your food home, store it safely to preserve nutrition and reduce your exposure to potentially harmful substances. Reusable food wraps (affiliate link) make the perfect eco-friendly alternative to foils, plastic wraps, and parchment papers. They are also naturally antibacterial, breathable, plastic-free and compostable, making them a great waste-free option for keeping food fresh and safe in your less waste kitchen and healthy, sustainable lunchbox.

Start living more sustainably by incorporating these green habits into your wellness routine. Small sustainable changes can add up to big results in the long term. Try incorporating some of these simple swaps into your wellness routine to protect your health and the planet!

Here are some more Simple Pure Whole tips for living a healthier, greener life:

5 Simple Swaps for a Green Zero-Waste Kitchen (that will save you money too!)

DIY Upcycled T-Shirt Shopping Bag Tutorial

 

6 Natural Ways to Purify the Air in Your Home

 

A Beginner’s Guide to a Less Waste Lifestyle 

 

In my Simple | Pure | Whole Virtual Guided Home Detox we work together to transform your home into a clean, safe sanctuary for you and your family. From cleaning to furniture, to cooking, to pure water solutions, to personal care to pet care, you will learn everything you need to create a healthy home and live your healthiest, greenest, happiest life! Contact me for your personalized virtual home detox package!

What zero-waste swaps have you tried to make your home greener?

I would love to have you in my Insider’s Community! Join for free and receive your FREE Chapters from The Whole Cure: 52 Essential Prescriptions to Overcome Overwhelm, Reclaim Balance and Reconnect with a Life You Love! You can pick up a full paperback or Kindle copy on Amazon for a wealth of insights, exercises and complete toolkit to help you uncover your true passions, authentic purpose and calm confidence as well! 

This post was shared with: Home Matters Link Party