It seems like going green and being healthy would go hand-in-hand. Sometimes they do, but surprisingly, sometimes these two concepts are at odds.
If you want to be healthy and you want to be green, you’ll likely have to start paying closer attention to things you may not have noticed before in order to do both. Here are five tips that will enable you to live a greener lifestyle without compromising your health in the process.
Get Omega-3s from Your Food Instead of Supplements
Those who are looking to get healthier often turn to supplements. There’s no doubt that they are convenient, and they can be very effective. Especially when it comes to supplements like omega-3s. After all, according to Nifty Benefits, “Research done at Harvard says that a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids is now one of the top 10 causes of death in the US. Omega-3 fatty acids can do some tremendous things for your health.”
Unfortunately, the production of supplements isn’t very green. They require factories to produce the supplements and plastic packaging to ship the supplements. Instead, try and get as many omega-3s from your food as you can. A few ideas include:
- Fish
- Flaxseed
- Spinach
- Firm tofu
Don’t just stop at omega-3s! Try and get as much of your daily nutrients from the food you eat so you can skip the supplements altogether.
Find Alternatives to Single Use Plastics
Plastics are terrible for the environment. If you want to go green, it means reducing your use of plastics, especially single use plastics, as much as you can.
The trouble is, there are so many single use plastics out there, and not using them can make being healthy a bit of a hassle. For example, disposable water bottles are terrible for the environment, but they can keep you from drinking sugary drinks.
A few ideas for swapping out single use plastics include:
- Using a reusable water bottle
- Using reusable produce bags
- Using reusable sandwich bags
- Never using plastic straws
- Bringing your own grocery bags to the store
Choose Your Workout Gear Wisely
Part of being healthy means working out on a regular basis, but did you know something as simple as what you choose to wear to the gym can have a big impact on the environment?
It isn’t uncommon for workout clothing to be constructed out of materials, like cotton, that require a lot of resources to produce. Not to mention, they end up discarded and the become part of the landfill.
Instead, choose workout clothes that are made out of recycled nylon and polyester. You can even find leggings that are made out of water bottles!
Work out Outside Whenever You Can
Working out usually means hitting the gym. It’s better than doing nothing at all, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s environmentally friendly.
It takes a lot of resources to keep the gym open. From the materials it takes to build the facility to keeping the lights on and the air conditioner running in the summer, a single building can have a huge impact on the environment. Not to mention, the facility has to maintain and replace the equipment, which uses even more resources!
Instead of heading to the gym, work out outside whenever you can. Jogging on a local trail is much better for the environment than using a treadmill. Not to mention, it’s better for you too. The health benefits of spending more time outside are well known, even during the winter when exercisers would traditionally head for the gym!
Use Your Own Homemade Cleaning Solvents
Your health isn’t just about what you eat and how you work out. It’s about your home environment too.
It’s important to keep the surfaces in your home clean. That means having cleaners for a wide variety of purposes. Chances are, you have bottle after bottle of cleaners hiding under your kitchen sink right now.
The production of those cleaners requires a lot of resources, and it means more plastic ends up in the landfill too. Not to mention, harsh cleaners can ultimately be bad for your health.
Instead, make your own cleaners! Not only can you buy in bulk, which uses less plastic, they’re a cheaper and healthier alternative to harsh chemical cleaners.
You deserve to live a healthy lifestyle, but the earth deserves to be healthy too. With the tips on this list, you can eat, exercise, and breathe better while becoming a better steward to the environment at the same time.
