Consider some prevalent eco-conscious habits, such as swapping plastic bottles for a sustainable alternative or opting for cycling over driving. These actions not only decrease plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions but also minimize exposure to toxins and boost physical health.
In reality, the advantages of adopting an environmentally friendly lifestyle are innumerable, with an increasing amount of research validating the positive effects of making eco-friendly, conscious decisions. You can decrease stress levels, lower the risk of illness, and boost energy and concentration by going green.
Here are 11 eco-friendly habits you should implement immediately.
Grow an outdoor garden
Gardening is a healthy habit that helps protect wildlife and improves air and soil quality.
It also has many health benefits: for starters, it's a great way to burn some extra calories (an average of 300 per hour) without feeling like you're really exercising.
It has also been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve mood and sleep.
Not to mention, by growing your own garden, you can avoid harmful chemicals and grow vegetables using natural and sustainable methods.
Grow your own food indoors
Don't have the space to grow your own outdoor garden? No problem.
Even if you live in a small apartment, there are many ways to grow herbs, sprouts, and even fruits and vegetables right in your home.
Try a hydroponic garden, create a DIY vertical garden on your wall or balcony, or simply grow your own sprouts on your countertop - all you need is seeds, a jar, and some water.
Buy local and eat seasonal
Another healthy green habit we're big proponents of is going to the market or stocking up on local foods at your favorite grocery store.
In addition to supporting your local farmers, shopping this way reduces your carbon footprint.
Plus, by shopping seasonally and locally, you're putting healthy, nutrient-dense produce on your table.
Eat a plant-based diet
Another way to improve your health and benefit the environment is to reduce your consumption of animal-based foods in favor of more plant-based meals.
A nutrient-dense vegan diet has many benefits; according to recent data from Harvard researchers, red and processed meats are among the most polluting foods because their processing requires the use of various resources, such as water, and also produces so many greenhouse gas emissions.
Let's take dairy products as an example: 1 liter of milk requires 1,050 liters of water, while 1 liter of oat milk requires about 48 liters to produce.
On the other hand, a plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and legumes reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Change your appliances
From nontoxic pots and pans to glass jars, create a nontoxic kitchen space. The reason? It is extremely important to store and cook food in environmentally friendly materials.
What to stay away from? Everyday items like nonstick cookware coated with the chemical PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene, and plastic containers made with BPA and phthalates, which can be replaced with more sustainable options.
Avoid the car
Avoid fumes and harmful gas emissions and go green. How? By limiting your use of the car, you can reduce carbon dioxide levels.
Plus, cycling improves mental health, reduces stress, promotes weight loss, improves mood and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Choose eco-friendly beauty products
In addition to degrading the environment and polluting the oceans and earth with plastics and toxins, conventional beauty and personal care products can have a serious impact on your health.
Your skin is your largest organ-it easily absorbs everything you use on it. Toxic chemicals like carcinogens, formaldehyde, fragrances, and parabens are commonly found in many beauty products like shampoos, deodorants, soaps, perfumes, makeup, and more.
Daily use of these products can lead to long-term health problems (such as reproductive and immune dysfunction, allergies, etc...) due to a buildup of toxins in the body.
To protect yourself, choose eco-friendly alternatives that are free of toxic substances.
Eco-friendly cleaning products
Similar to beauty products, household cleaning products are moving in the same direction. Many cleaning products are full of toxic chemicals like ammonia, bleach, and chlorine. These same products often contain carcinogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disruptors, which are additional toxic ingredients that harm health and the planet.
Again, the advice is to choose environmentally friendly and sustainable products.
Stop using plastic bottles
Unfortunately, there are still 50 billion plastic water bottles purchased per year. The even more alarming figure is globally, because one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute.
From disrupting our hormones (thanks to BPA and other chemicals) to polluting the ocean with plastic, the harmful effects of plastic water bottles are truly significant.
Opt for an environmentally friendly alternative, not only to save money, but also to avoid chemical contaminants and reduce environmental damage.
Closet decluttering
Another step toward a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle is to declutter your closet. The reason? Aside from having a cleaner, more organized space, you're doing good for Mother Nature.
Donating clothes reduces landfills, saves water, reduces your carbon footprint, and, of course, helps those in need.
Research shows that giving to others lowers stress and depression, reduces blood pressure, and increases self-esteem and happiness.
Decorate with plants
Plants in the home are a great way to decorate, but did you know that some species, such as the Boston fern, sanseveria and monstera, also purify indoor air? In fact, these plants are known to remove toxic pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and trichloroethylene from the air. In short, real air purifiers, but green and environmentally friendly.
But that's not all, living in a green environment improves productivity, reduces stress and is good for mental health.
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