10 Tips for Saving the Earth on Earth Day

Did you know there are healthy things you can do every day to make a less harmful impact on our planet?

Taking care of the Earth is our responsibility. We need the planet to sustain life and thrive for future generations.

In honor of Earth Day April 22, we offer these 10 healthy tips to save our planet:

# 1 – Eat organic.

Organic foods are grown without pesticides.

Pesticides are chemicals that contaminate water, soil, turf and other vegetation.

Pesticides are also toxic to a host of other organisms like birds, animals, fish, insects and non-target plants.

The US Natural Library on Medicine describes the negative impacts of pesticides on human health and the environment. It isn’t a pretty picture.

Support better health and a better planet by eating only organic foods. Support food producers that practice organic food production. That’s the best way to avoid pesticide contamination to our body and our planet.

# 2 – Walk or bike to work.

One of the best ways you can reduce the strains placed on our planet is to walk or bike instead of using a car.

Most scientists feel that the carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles contributes significantly to global warming.

It’s estimated that cars and trucks account for about 1/5th  of all US global warming emissions.

Let’s minimize our impacts by walking or biking instead of taking our car.

No one disputes that walking or biking is better for our health than riding in a car. It’s also better for our planet.

Walk more. Drive less.

# 3 – Get active outdoors and skip the gym.

Gyms are breeding grounds for disease and toxic pollution.

Walk into most any gym. What do you smell? Most often, it’s toxic cleaners and air fresheners.

These toxins spoil our water supply and air quality. That hurts our environment and our health.

Here’s an excellent article about the poor air quality and toxins in gyms.

Instead of going to a window-less gym full of pollution and toxins, take a natural approach to physical activity.

Go outdoors for your physical activities. Enjoy oxygen rich air that benefits your body.

# 4 – Keep your windows open and skip the air conditioning.

Understand that this advice is coming from a physician that lives in red-hot Arizona.

Air conditioners have proven to have negative impacts on our environment. They release poisonous gases into the environment, which leads to depletion of the ozone layer. This causes global warming.

Air conditioners consume lots of electricity. This leads to more pollution caused by the generation of electricity, especially in places that use coal and fossil fuels.

The damage to our health caused by air conditioning is well-known.

Air conditioning deteriorates indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality causes medical issues like asthma, headaches, dizziness, or difficulty breathing.

The repeated use of air conditioning stresses air filters, allowing more pollution inside your home. This makes you statistically more susceptible to respiratory issues.

Fresh air is proven to boost the immune system, keep the lungs clean, improve digestion, boost energy and so much more.

Turn off the A/C and keep the windows open.

# 5 – Buy a water revival system and skip the bottled water.

Plastic water bottles are proven to pollute our waterways, contaminate our soil and sicken animals, which we eat.

The environmental impacts of making the bottle, cap and label are tremendous.

The negative impacts of plastic waste in our oceans is well-documented. Its negative impacts on wildlife is wide-spread.

Chemicals leached from plastic water bottles hurts our health too. These chemicals have been linked to heart disease, cancer, obesity, reproductive system abnormalities, diabetes and more.

Bottled water can also be expensive.

Your bets bet, and cheapest in the long run, is to use an in-home water revival system. It removes impurities from tap water, giving you the quality water source you need for good health while minimizing impacts to our planet. Here’s the one we use.

# 6 – Use natural laundry products and avoid dryer sheets, fabric softeners and toxic detergents.

Most laundry detergents today use chemical compounds instead of natural substances.

These chemical compounds make wash water acidic. When the wash water drains into other sources, it harms the environment, having impacts like acid rain.

Acid rain impacts lead to heart and lung problems in humans and animals. It destroys the environment.

Dyer sheets contain chemicals. These harmful chemicals are found on clothes, in dryer vents, and in air emissions from vents. Again, they harm our health and our planet.

Choose organic laundry detergents. They’re free from chemicals that harm our planet and our health. Here’s a list of toxic free products we use in our home.

Our ancestors (and maybe even your mom or grandma) used a clothes line to air dry clothes outside, in the fresh air. It’s a great way to save energy, reduce your impact on the environment and save money. Plus, you get the benefit of clean clothes the way mother nature intended. What a great deal!

# 7 – Consume only grass-fed meats.

Organic grass-fed meats are better for the environment, for your health and are more humane for the animal.

Most cattle in America is corn fed. Corn is not a native food to cattle. It is often genetically modified corn, covered in pesticides. These pesticides enter the systems of the animal and get into our bodies when we consume them.

This creates all sorts of health problems for humans. It’s a big cause of sickness and disease.

The amount of corn used by conventional cattle farmers per animal is staggering. Livestock, poultry and fish consume 80% of the corn grown in the U.S. That’s a whole lot of energy and environmental impact.

Jude Capper, a professor of Animal Science at Washington State University, says that bringing conventional cattle to market requires two-and-a-half times more energy than grass-fed cattle.

Conventionally raised cattle produce more manure. This pesticide laced manure is often spread back out over the land, further depleting, polluting and damaging our soils.

The evidence is quite clear: eating organic grass-fed meat is better for your health and better for the environment.

# 8 – Sleep with the sundown. It saves electricity.

And it’s better for your health.

A study published by the US National Library of Medicine shows exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) has negative impacts on psychological, cardiovascular and metabolic functions. A link to cancer was found.

I’ve seen evidence of this in my practice. People who are sleep-deprived and exposed to vast amounts of artificial light at night are sicker than those that aren’t.

Artificial light has also been shown to interfere with the body’s natural sleep, relaxation and rejuvenation.

Our ancestors went to sleep with the sunset and woke with the sunrise. Even though they had fire to see by at night, there was something inherent within them that knew to go to sleep with the sundown for good health.

Sleep with the sundown in the dark. You’ll feel better while reducing the strain on our environment and resources.

# 9 – Drink organic coffee.

Coffee producers use more pesticides and chemicals when raising their crop than most any other type of farmer.

Up to 250 pounds of fertilizer per acre is used on coffee. And since much of the coffee consumed in the United States is from foreign countries, our government has little control over the type and amounts of chemicals used.

The damage to the environment from conventional coffee products impacts the air, soil and water. It affects animals and humans.

By now I’m sure you clearly understand the damage these chemicals do to our health when they enter our system. That cup of coffee may be the gateway for toxic chemicals to enter your system and chip away at your well-being.

Here’s more on why you should only drink organic coffee. Organic coffee is better for our environment and our health.

# 10 – Use natural shampoos and skin care products.

Ever wonder what happens to your shampoo and shower gels after they disappear down the drain?

Britain’s Royal Society of Chemistry says these items are filled with toxic chemicals that make their way into the environment, jeopardizing sea life, plant life, and people’s health.

Down the drain they go, entering our environment and ecosystems, creating havoc wherever.

Most shampoos and skin care products use preservatives called parabens. Parabens have been linked to a rise in breast cancer and have been found in most water supplies.

Triclosan is a chemical used in most shampoos, soaps, plastic utensils, and deodorants. It is toxic to aquatic life. It hurts the environment. Triclosan is found in fish and even in mother’s breast milk.

A family of 120 industrial chemicals known as phthalates are used in shampoos, perfumes, and moisturizers. Phthalates cause reproductive problems in men and wildlife and build up in animal’s bodies.

Stick with natural shampoos, detergents, household cleaners and skin care products. Here’s a list of what we use.

# 11 – Bonus | Avoid pharmaceuticals that poison our water system.

Water quality and environmental experts are increasingly concerned about the amount of chemicals from prescription drugs that enter our lakes, rivers and streams.

Pharmaceutical residue in water is having adverse impacts on aquatic life.

The typical medicine cabinet is full of drugs, many of them past their expiration date. Most of these drugs are not disposed of properly and enter our water supplies.

Chemicals from pharmaceuticals also enters our water supply through urine. Our bodies only metabolize a fraction of the drugs we consume. The remainder is excreted in the form of urine or feces and enters our water supply.

Pharmaceutical use is poisoning our water. When we drink water, these chemicals enter our bodies. That’s not a good thing and is not what nature intended.

The best way to avoid pharmaceutical use is through proper eating and lifestyle choices. We write about ways to stay healthy on our blog and in our free natural health newsletter. Sign up to claim your copy by using the form below.

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