Are you eager to start 2018 off on the right foot? Have you begun setting yourself a few health-focused new year’s resolutions?
Most of us look forward to becoming healthier, happier versions of ourselves in the new year, but few of us see any connection between our health and the health of the planet. Sadly, we fail to realise that the two are inextricably linked.
An increasing amount of evidence is, however, starting to show just how big of an impact our environment has on human health. And unless we start treating Mother Nature with a little more respect, we’re in for some serious health consequences. From lung cancer and heart disease to an increase in killer diseases such as malaria and cholera, prolonged exposure to air pollutants and rising temperatures aren’t painting a pretty picture for the future of human health.
On the bright side, there’s a lot we can do to reverse the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation. By simply adopting healthier, eco-friendly habits and encouraging others to follow suit, we can make more of a difference than we think!
With this in mind, why not use 2018 as an opportunity to set yourself a few eco-friendly new year’s resolutions that will benefit both you and the planet?
Here are a few of our favourite green goals to add to your list of resolutions.
Stay Happy And Healthy With These Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions
1.Support Your Local Farmers
Shopping at local farmers’ markets is a good way to reduce your food mileage (food mileage is a popular term used to describe how far food has been transported to reach our plates). Many of the fruits and vegetables you buy at a supermarket are often transported from one side of the country to the other for the sake of increased variety. But is this sizable selection really worth it when you consider the increased carbon emissions produced from all that extra transport, and the long list of preservatives that are used to keep fruit and veg fresh after several days of travel?
2.Go To Bed Early
Around the world, average daily sleep time has been gradually declining. From an average of nine hours a hundred years ago to less than seven hours today, we’ve been getting less and less ‘shuteye’ and have been staying up later and later. As a result, we’re using more electricity than we need and are also negatively affecting our body’s ability to maintain a healthy weight. Sleep plays a vital role in regulating our ‘hunger hormones’ and lack of sleep increases the production of ghrelin – a hormone which boosts our appetite. So, it becomes much harder to keep your weight in check when you’re constantly feeling hungry due to sleep deprivation.
3.Choose Bamboo Fabric
In addition to the many skin-friendly benefits that come with bamboo’s anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic properties, there are a number of eco benefits that make it hard to ignore the organic fabric’s appeal. For instance, bamboo plantations only require rainwater to grow, whereas cotton crops require approximately 20 000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of cotton. Bamboo plantations are also very effective when it comes to improving air quality - they produce 30% more oxygen than an equivalent area of trees and also absorb more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases.
4.Practice More Meat-Free Monday’s
Did you know that livestock production is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions? Although there’s nothing wrong with a healthy protein intake, eating too much meat is not only bad for the planet but is also bad for your health. According to Oxford University’s department of public health, your risk of heart disease and cancer significantly increases when you eat meat more than three times a week!
Will you be adding any of these eco-friendly new year’s resolutions to your list? We hope so!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so be sure to leave us a note in the comment box below.
