Last week, I had an opportunity to sit in on green-focused webinar hosted by Silk Soy Milk. Terra Wellington, who authored the book “The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home,”shared some practical, attainable ways to “go green.” Going “green” is really a two-fold endeavor. Not only is it good for the planet, it’s good for you and your family’s health. If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, than you know that I am highly eco-minded. What you may not realize is that I’m actually “greener” than I appear on my blog. Through this Earth Day-themed series, I hope to show you some of the things we do to help protect the planet and provide a safe, healthy home environment for our family.
The webinar, which was so timely, considering this week we celebrate Earth Day, helped me solidify the relationship between personal and planet health. I’ve always viewed those two concepts as separate entities. However, they’re very much interrelated and the more green your are, the healthier you tend to be.
Eat More Plant-Based Proteins: One of the most prominent areas we see a connection between personal and planet health is in our diet. According to Terra, there is a new Eco Diet trend with a shift towards plant-based proteins and away from animal proteins. Livestock and poultry production have a significant impact on the environment and are virtually unsustainable. One fifth of the greenhouse gases emitted come from livestock and the UN cites this as a major environmental concern. The greenhouse gases are a result of animal waste which make their way into soil and water. Growing plants requires less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases than growing livestock. Plant-based proteins contain considerably less cholesterol, fat, and saturated fat than animal proteins, while providing more nutrients, fiber and antioxidants. We eat some animal protein (mostly in the form of poultry) and seafood and try to incorporate more legumes, seeds and nuts into our diet. Consumption of whole bean soy provides calcium and protein in similar amounts to dairy. One way to incorporate soy into your diet is to use soy milk in smoothies or with cereal.
Choose Sustainable Seafood: Because we don’t consume a lot of animal protein, we opt for seafood. The problem is that not all seafood is healthy or sustainable. The concern about mercury in seafood is prominent. However there is also an environmental concern with regards to seafood. Overfishing and pollution are the two greatest threats. Ninety percent of the large predatory fish (tuna, shark, swordfish) have been completely fished out of ocean. In order to help restore the ocean’s ecosystems and protect habitats, opt for seafood categorized as “best” or “good” from Seafood Watch. These types of sustainable fish act as rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Make Sleep a Priority: As a mom of two young children, I often feel like I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in years. Some days I find myself becoming short, and I can directly attribute that to the amount of time I spent sleeping the night before. In an age where technology dominates, we’re wired and overstimulated. I know that I spend way too many nights up way too late. I want to blog and watch the show’s I’ve taped on our DVR. All of those electronics use a significant amount of energy, which is derived from natural gas and coal. Reducing energy usage helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And if we all went to bed just 30 minutes earlier, we’d save 182.5 hours of energy and our bodies could more effectively regulate the hormones that control mood, appetite, energy, and stress levels.
Use More Natural Light: Most of us spend about 90% of our time indoors (wow!). I strive to open up the blinds and allow natural light in during the day. But I have to admit that I tend to use a lot of artificial light, particularly in the winter. Artificial light is not on the same spectrum as the sun and is therefore not as bright. The effect on our body is similar to that of sleep deprivation (alteration in mood, increased stress levels, difficulty concentrating). The effect on the planet is global warming, pollution, and environmental degradation. Open up those shades and let the sun light in. Better yet, take your children outside (don’t forget the sunscreen) for a walk. Spending some time in the sun each day helps your body absorb calcium (due to the effects of Vitamin D), improves your mood and your overall health. Children also benefit academically and experience less stress, less aggressive behaviors, improved health and improved ability to concentrate. And if the above is not compelling enough….it’s free!
Green Your Clean: I’ve written many articles on how to effectively clean your home without the use of chemicals and toxins. While I believe that reading labels is important, it’s even more important to research a company’s commitment to the environment. Many companies offer “natural” products but are not committed to the entire cycle of preserving the environment. They see the “green effect” as a trend…a money-making trend. Begin to ask questions like, “how is the product sourced and manufactured?” Look at the Material Safety Data Sheet to see what’s in the product and how it affects personal health. Those companies that have both consumer and environmental interests at heart will continue to make earth-friendly practices a priority year after year. I can think of two that I personally believe fit that profile…Seventh Generation and Silk Soy Milk. So what can you do?
Choose products with materials and ingredients that are non-toxic and naturally derived
Buy brands that are committed to the environment and that have long-standing or ongoing partnerships with credible environmental groups
Plant a Tree…or a Garden: If you’ve been reading my tips for going green, then you know this is something we’ve started doing. Twenty percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from burning and clearing of tropical forests. These forests are irreplaceable and often turn into turning into deserts. When they burn, they consume a lot of carbon which changes the climate cycle. Something simple you can do is to plant a native tree or plant.
Educate and Involve Your Children: Did you know that children spend less than eight percent of their time outdoors? The result is that children do not have an understanding or appreciation of our eco systems. They don’t know how plants are grown…or that we have an eco system that is deteriorating. I am raising my children in the safest, most natural environment that I can feasibly provide for them. I also hope that things like recycling come instinctively to them since we’re role modeling those behaviors in our home. What can you do?
Get a membership at a zoo
Go to an arboretum, aquarium, or nature reserve
Take a hike (hehe) or ride a bike
Go to the beach
Volunteer at a nature center or animal rescue
Your children will soon become teens and adults with a voice and the power to effect change. They are the ones that will impact future legislation.
For more tips on going green, I encourage you to check out Terra Wellington’s book, The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home.
And to learn more about Silk Soy Milk’s Green Caps promotion, where the company makes donations to BEF or FarmAid when you enter the UPC code from eligible products, just visit their website.
I did not receive compensation for this post. Coupons, a copy of the book, and information were provided to facilitate this article.
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An easy way to estimate your mercury exposure from eating fish is to check out the free online mercury calculator at http://www.gotmercury.org. Based on the current U.S. EPA and FDA guidelines, the mercury calculator is an excellent way to know your potential mercury exposure risk.