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4 Habits That Harm Your Health And The Environment

March 2, 2022 0

Habits refer to the decisions and actions you perform daily and make up 40% of your behavior. The right habits can draw you closer to your health goals while preventing the risk of developing chronic diseases. Likewise, they can keep you motivated to achieve success in your endeavors. However, certain habits can affect your life negatively and harm the environment, including the following. 

  1. Overeating 

It’s not unusual to want more of your favorite meal or snacks. However, going overboard can harm your health. Not only will you generate excess fat, but it can increase your risk of developing chronic diseases like stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. What’s more, it can disrupt your hunger-regulating hormones, causing you to eat more out of pleasure instead of necessity. However, overeating also damages the environment in many ways. A 2021 research indicated that a substantial amount of food wasted was attributed to excess food intake. Furthermore, meeting the growing demand for food leads to depleting water supplies, biodiversity loss, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. 

Fortunately, you can help the environment by preventing overeating. For starters, eliminate distractions such as watching TV when eating to avoid going over the limit. Likewise, identify your trigger foods and avoid stocking up on them at home. You also want to fill up on high-fiber foods to keep you fuller for longer periods. Stress contributes to overeating, so take deliberate steps to reduce your stress levels. Mindful eating helps you stop eating when you feel full, so keep this in mind. 

  1. Driving when you can walk or cycle

Indeed, you may require your car when going on long-distance trips. However, certain trips or errands can be made by walking or riding your bike. Taking your car in these instances may not be sustainable for the environment. Research indicates that car pollution is one of the leading causes of global warming in America. According to the EPA, fossil fuels like diesel and gasoline releases carbon dioxide into the air, causing the greenhouse effect. Moreover, greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles amount to 29% of U.S gas emissions. Therefore, it’s beneficial to use your bike or walk if possible. 

You can also take advantage of the bike-share programs if your city has them. Taking public transit or using the metro will also help reduce carbon emissions from your vehicle, so keep this in mind. You can also carpool with your friends or colleagues instead of driving alone and leverage ride-sharing services. If you need to drive, ensure that you go easy on your brakes and gas pedals. Switching to more sustainable vehicle options like electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can prove helpful. 

  1. Binge drinking 

While consuming an occasional glass of red wine at night can be good for your health, binge drinking can have short and long-term adverse consequences. Not only can it trigger high blood pressure and sudden death from heart failure, but it can cause excessive urine production and dehydration. Continuous alcohol consumption can cause cancer of the liver, colon, voice box, mouth, throat, esophagus, and rectum. Binge drinking also impacts the environment negatively, as the alcohol industry produces large carbon footprints. Additionally, substantial amounts of fertilizers and water are used to harvest the ingredients in alcoholic drinks, while the waste products can disrupt the microorganism balance. 

Fortunately, you can quit binge drinking with the right steps. You can begin by avoiding restaurants, bars, and friends that encourage you to drink more than is necessary. You can also consider abstaining from alcohol or set limits if abstinence isn’t for you. Seeking help from your loved ones can help you reduce your alcohol use. It’s also prudent to work with alcohol treatment professionals to get the best results. 

  1. Smoking 

Smoke containing carbon monoxide, acetone, and nicotine can be dangerous to your health. Research shows that smokers have higher risks of developing COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. Also, smoking can cause trigger peripheral artery disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. What’s more, it isn’t good for the ecosystem. A laboratory study revealed that chemicals leaked from one cigarette butt have enough toxins to eliminate 50% of saltwater and freshwater fish in 96 hours. Unfortunately, cigarette butts are tossed in drains that lead to large water bodies. E-cigarette batteries also contain lead and mercury toxic to wildlife when ingested. 

Although quitting smoking can be daunting, it is achievable. Start by picking a quit day and prepare for it. Experts advise that you choose a date that’s not too far to prevent you from changing your mind. You can also leverage NRTs when you feel the urge to smoke and utilize behavioral support if necessary. 

8 Tips to Be More Sustainable with Your Tech

February 25, 2022 0

Most of us would not be able to live easily without our tech. Whether it is our phones that allow us to stay in touch with the people we love or the computers that enable us to run our businesses, we all have a range of devices that we rely on.

So when it comes to being green, giving up our tech is probably not an option, but what we can do is find ways to be more sustainable with our tech, and below I have set out a few ideas of how you can get started with that:

#1: Fix your devices

One of the simplest things you can do to be more sustainable with your tech is to stop throwing it away so easily. Since technology is so affordable, many of us, when our tech stops working, will immediately throw it away and buy a brand new shiny device in its place. This is not exactly sustainable! 

What we should be doing instead is fixing the problems if we can; we should be working out what to do with those sound issues on our Mac or how we can fix our Windows computers after the blue screen of death rears its head. Of course, not every issue will be fixable, but many of them are and by doing that instead of simply buying a new one, we can lower our carbon footprint significantly, and save money at the same time.

#2: Recycle your devices

Of course, there will come a point when your tech devices do reach the end of their lives. When this happens, the worst thing you can possibly do is simply throw them in the trash. If you do that, they will almost certainly end up at the dump where they will leach chemicals into the ground and cause all manner of problems for the planet and local wildlife.

What you should do is to check out local recycling schemes which can take your old smartphones, tablets, and computers and either refurbish them or strip them of various parts to use again in new devices. They will also be able to dispose of any tech waste in a much more environmentally-friendly way. Yes, it will take you a bit more effort than simply tossing your tech in the trash, but it is a really important way that you can live green and make a difference, and again, some of these recycling schemes can make you money as they will pay you a modest price for any tech you hand over for recycling.

#3: Buy ethical tech

Yes, it is possible to buy ethical tech, especially when it comes to smartphones. These are a handful of companies out there that are producing devices using materials that have been ethically sourced to have as little impact on the planet, and the people who are involved in the manufacturer, as possible. 

Fairphone is currently the best-known provider of ethical smartphones, and by choosing them you can ensure that your choice of tech has as little impact as possible on the planet, humans, and animals alike. It feels good to use tech like that.

#4: Turn off the charger

One really simple thing that we can all do to be more sustainable with our tech is to turn off our chargers and unplug them when they are not in use, So many people will unplug their phone from the charger, but leave the charger itself plugged in. We do this without thinking twice about the fact it will still be using energy, energy that will be completely wasted because there is nothing for it to do.

#5: Turn off devices

Of course, it is not just chargers that we leave turned on when they are not in use, many of us will leave laptops, computers, tablets and all manner of devices switched on even when we are not using them. Powering then down is a great way to conserve energy without much effort, Yes you might have to go through the turning on process again, but that’s a small price to pay in order to help the planet, right?

#6: Use an environmentally-friendly web browser

Most of us connect to the internet multiple times a day and each time, we will use a web browser to do so. What many of us do not realize is that there are eco-friendly web browsers out there that will do good things for the environment every time we use them. Ecosia is a good example as they will use the money generated from your search to plant trees all over the planet. Not only that, but they use 100 percent renewable energy to run their servers in the first place, which means their impact on the planet is negligible when compared to big search engineers like Google and Bing.

#7: Delete your emails

If you are one of those people who has saved every email you have sent or received since email became a thing, you could be harming the planet without even realizing it. How can that be? Every email is stored on a server and every server uses a significant amount of energy to run. The fewer emails we all have stored, the less energy email providers like Google will need to use, and the better it will be for the planet as a whole.

#8: Use physical storage

Instead of saving your photos and documents in the cloud, invest in a hard drive to keep them on instead. Why? For the same reasons that you should think about deleting your emails – servers require a lot of energy to run. If you really must use the cloud, look for an ethical green cloud company that should at least minimize the environmental impact.

As you can see, there are lots of things you can do to be more sustainable with your tech, and even if you cannot manage to do them all, making an effort to incorporate some of these ideas into our life will still be a huge help to the planet. Do what you can when you can.

The Most Sustainable Ideas To Deal With Metal

February 24, 2022 0

When you focus on sustainable living, it becomes essential to understand how long it will take for some of the materials inside your home to decompose. 

Food waste, for instance, makes up roughly 40% of household waste. Organic waste can decompose safely inside a compost container in your backyard. You can even use it in your garden to protect plants and nourish the soil. Organic matters, such as tree leaves, will need up to a year to decompose, but they can also go in your compost bin. 

Other materials need to be recycled, such as paper or recyclable plastic. 

But there is no one-way solution when it comes to complex materials, such as metal. Metal has been one of the most commonly reused materials throughout history. Our ancestors frequently melted old or broken metal pieces to create something new. So, historically, we know that there is more to metal than meets the eyes. However, it can be tricky to figure out how to use metal sustainably when it comes to everyday life. 

Buy second hand

Unlike paper or organic fibers, metal can be extremely sturdy and long-lasting. It’s not uncommon for archeologists to discover screws, nails, and metal jewelry dating back several centuries. In other words, with the right amount of care, some types of metal can last for centuries!

Therefore, it makes sense to consider your metal purchasing habits. Some metal items can be safely purchased second-hand, such as:

  • Copper sets for cooking (The French say you make the best soup in old pots, and we can see where they’re coming from)
  • Metal parts for classic cars
  • Specialist screws and nails for unique building needs
  • Etc.

Recycle what you don’t need

It’s a no-brainer: Metal doesn’t decompose like other materials. Smaller metal pieces, such as tin cans, will gradually turn to rust and flake away into the air. However, metal is not biodegradable. Microorganisms don’t consume metal particles, which is why some pieces may never degrade even after 500 years. 

However, you can consider reaching out to a scrap metal recycling center that is dedicated to processing the material effectively. As mentioned, metal can be reused safely with the right smelting process. Therefore, the old metal toaster that doesn’t work anymore could find a new life once you bring it to a specialist place. 

Remember: As metal doesn’t naturally decompose, it should not end up in landfills. The presence of metal could change the composition of the soil and the air, affecting the local wildlife. 

Upcycle what you can

There is more life in metal than what meets the eye. Upcycling enables you to inject new life into an object that is too old, damaged, or outdated to fulfill its original functions. Upcycling requires experienced DIY skills as you will need to transform the item into something new and unexpected. Needless to say, it is a favorite for creative DIY enthusiasts!

Metal upcycling projects typically include cutting, smelting, and cleaning old metal pieces. It’s important to understand that you will need specialist tools to upcycle former metal items. However, the possibilities are endless when you know what you are doing. Take of look at some of these beautiful creations by sustainable artists. From transforming an old radiator into a chair or creating musical instruments from decommissioned guns, there are plenty of elegant, stylish, and imaginative solutions. 

Learn to care for your metal units

Metal objects are susceptible to rust formation. Most households tend to get rid of rusted metal because they are concerned about health risks. Rust can stain the skin; however, touching rust is not associated with any health hazard. Tetanus, which is commonly associated with rust, is not caused by the presence of rust. Tetanus is an infection that can find its way to your system through broken skin. A scratch from a rusty nail, for instance, will not cause Tetanus. Yet, the bacteria can be found close to rusty items. 

Nevertheless, you can keep your metal items for longer with the right amount of care. Rust tends to develop in the presence of moisture and heat. Store your metal items in a well-ventilated environment and at a stable temperature. Ideally, metals should be kept away from materials that can give acidic vapors, such as wood. You might also find it useful to learn from experienced metalworkers how to care for different metals. Exterior metals, such as your garden gate or decorative features, should be frequently treated with lacquer, beeswax, or paint. Moving metal parts need to be lubricated with a specialist product to prevent rust and maintain functions. Finally, avoid chemical products that could be corrosive to the material. 

Are you ready to make metal a part of your sustainable household? Metal requires the right amount of care, whether you wish to maintain it, dispose of it, or even transform it into something new. 

4 Ways You Can Make Your Diet More Sustainable

February 22, 2022 0

Trying to lower your impact on the environment can be challenging at times, especially when you consider how little your impact is against everyone else – but it takes all of us to do our part to make a difference. The food that we eat every day is contributing to climate change, and the best way to combat that is to make sure you’re eating as sustainably as possible and not supporting damaging practices.

Eat less meat

If you weren’t aware, the meat industry is producing a huge amount of greenhouse gasses and is the larger portion of the environmental impact that the food industry is having on our planet. While it can be hard to find alternatives that are meat-free, and difficult for some people to adjust to – there are plenty of different meals out there to try that don’t include any meat. You don’t necessarily have to cut out the meat completely, but if we all made an effort to cut down on the meat, the environment would benefit from it significantly.

Grow your own food

Not everyone has their own tools and space for it, but you could consider growing your own food. Of course, it’s not as simple as just producing everything for yourself, and you wouldn’t have to in order to make a difference. Simply growing a small number of your fruits and vegetables can help you to cut down on various issues that are damaging the environment. There’s no use of plastic wrap, no waste, and no other chemicals being used as preservatives. Not only is it eco-friendly, but you’re also saving yourself money and providing yourself with a sense of satisfaction.

Use less plastic

The food industry produces a lot of non-recyclable waste, due to the plastic that’s used to wrap and keep food fresh and clean. It’s not the easiest problem to solve, as it’s the cheapest option for businesses – but there are ways you can cut down on plastic usage. For example, the amount of plastic bags out there that can’t be recycled is a huge concern, and that’s somewhere you should start. Don’t throw out your plastic bags, keep them for the next time you need to go shopping – you can use them just fine and you won’t bring them home any more bags.

Look into more sustainable products

If there are products that you simply can’t cut down on, you should look into alternatives to see if there are more sustainable options. Even when it comes to health products like what you might find at CBDistillery, there are always companies that vow to do more for the environment, and by supporting them – you’re investing back into the environment. It’s important to set an example for other businesses to show them that being eco-friendly is the better option and that producing so much waste will only get them so far.

You might have to do some digging to find the right alternative, but there’s always one business trying to make a difference.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods To Try This Winter

February 21, 2022 1

While it can be easy to spend the summer grazing on healthy fruits and veggies, winter does not lend itself quite as nicely to a fresh foods diet. As the weather turns chilly, people often turn to high-carbohydrate and starchy foods. And without the necessary balance of nutrients, the body can be prone to more inflammation. For the 50 million people who have arthritis especially, this can be painful and can lead to further health conditions.

“There are times when inflammation actually helps us,” Dawna Stone writes in Mind Body Green. “For example, it can be the body’s natural response to eliminate or repair an injury or the body’s response to harmful bacteria. But when things get out of balance and inflammation becomes chronic, it can increase the risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis and cause symptoms like fatigue and joint pain.”

Fortunately, winter is not totally void of inflammation-fighting foods. The following are some seasonal ingredients that you can cook with to boost your health this season.

  1. Brussels Sprouts
    These bunches of green goodness are packed with both fiber and vitamin C. They are also rich in glucosinolate and folate, so they can fight inflammation while keeping you healthier overall. Roast them in the oven to eat as a side or toss them in a salad.
  2. Kale
    This superfood has earned its name, offering high doses of vitamins A, C, B6, and K. By munching on these leaves, you are also helping your body’s ability to eliminate free radicals. Try kale raw or cooked in any of your favorite winter dishes.
  3. Butternut Squash
    When it comes to eating the rainbow, butternut squash is one of the best ways to get the color orange. Full of fiber, as well as vitamins A and C, this sweet seasonal veggie can add antioxidants and fiber to your diet.
  4. Turnips
    While these root veggies may not frequent your dishes, turnips are a tasty way to maintain a low cholesterol diet. They also offer a boost of Vitamin C, which can help protect your immune system this season. Don’t just stop at the root though; turnip greens are tasty as well.
  5. Citrus
    Stock up on oranges this time of year. These juicy fruits are in season during the Winter, giving you all the more reason to get your full supply of vitamin C.

By combining anti-inflammatory foods with other care methods, you can control your join pain and other aspects of your health this winter. For example, about 89% of consumers cite massage as an effective pain-management technique. Remember that much of your own well being is in your hands, so try various methods out until you feel your best.

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