Space for Species

One of the biggest trends today is the concept of “going green” in order to help the environment. Yet, many of the people who talk about doing this fail to actually put real steps into action. Many others simply don’t know what they’re supposed to do besides showing support for others. Here, you’ll learn about how to care for the earth, the environment, and yourself all at the same time. It’s a mission that everyone can get behind.

If you started a conversation on the street with random passersby and asked them about how to succeed in this mission, you’d probably get a lot of similar responses. The tried and true answer of recycling would likely be put forth by almost everyone, while many others may suggest donating to an environmental nonprofit agency, such as the EDF or another one of the very well known organizations.

Once you get started, you’ll see that there’s an amazing range of ways that you can improve your lifestyle based around being more eco-friendly and environmentally-conscious. For example, this simple list of 50 ways to help the planet showcases 50 simple ideas that you can incorporate on a day to day level, that cost you next to nothing in terms of convenience or actual expense, but enable you to drastically improve and alter your behavior for the better, and for the benefit of our planet.

Caring for yourself is inherently linked towards caring for the earth and the environment. As you learn about the ways that you can reduce your footprint, and have a more positive impact on your community and the world that you’re leaving behind for the next generation, you’ll also be learning about better ways to care for yourself, too.

For instance, eating organic, locally grown foods is a wonderful way to do both at the same time. Even when you need an extra boost to support your health goals, you can still choose organic. This article about organic protein powder might be a useful read for you. Organic protein provides superior nutrients from raw foods and organic sources, and you can be confident that you’re choosing a product which supports a healthful body as you’re living a lifestyle which supports a healthful environment.

Another great way to care for the earth, the environment and yourself all at the same time is by leaving the car keys at home, and opting for transportation methods such as walking or biking. You’ll get great exercise, you’ll enjoy the outdoors, and you won’t be polluting the world as you do it. You’ll even save money without having to pay for all of that gas, along with parking and whatever other expenses may arise.

Even if you can’t walk or bike to your destination, you could choose public transportation instead. Many communities today are making collective efforts to be more environmentally friendly, placing a premium on building the infrastructure for a greener society. That includes the installation of new walking and biking paths, systems such as bike-sharing and rental stations, and superior public transportation options.

When you are driving yourself around town, then utilizing a hybrid vehicle offers dramatic improvements in your gas mileage and in turn the negative impact you have on the environment. While the purchase of a new vehicle certainly represents an initial investment, in the long run, you’ll save money with superior fuel efficiency.

The same principle applies at your home, too. When you install solar panel systems or other alternative energy sources, you may pay more upfront, but over time you’ll reap the rewards of ongoing savings. You’ll even be able to take advantage of tax credits in most cases when you either purchase a hybrid or install a renewable energy system on your property.

Remember, improving our planet and the environment as a whole may seem like a massive mountain to move, and it may seem as if there’s no way that each person can actually make a difference. However, big goals are achieved with small steps, and it’s the responsibility of each individual to play their part. When you’re ready to take action, there’s a huge range of ways that you can care for the earth and the environment and begin having a proactive, positive impact.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about buying locally. Many people believe that it is the most environmentally friendly way of buying food, even though this is not always the case. I am not questioning that buying locally has plenty of good effects on the local economy, or your health, but it might not be the greenest option.

I love going to the farmer’s market on a Saturday morning. I live three miles from it, so it is a perfect excuse for me to put on my running gear that I got from this website, and work out a bit while buying ingredients for the family lunch. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of buying locally!

First of all, buying locally stimulates the economy of your city. Buying from local vendors creates jobs, and keeps the money in the local economy. When you buy from local shops you develop relationships with the people who work there, which means that they will be more willing to purchase from you if you own a shop yourself.

Buying locally can be more healthy as you are aware of the local regulations. Which artificial materials are they allowed to use during manufacturing? What kind of soil are they allowed to use?

When you buy locally, you develop connections with the owners of the shops. These relationships mean that if there is a way, the vendor is going to go out of his way to ensure that your needs are met. They might hold back items for you, find difficult to get foods for you just because you two have a relationship.

Buying from local vendors means that it will be easier to find fresh food. The items are more likely to be crisp and tasty when they don’t have to travel for thousands of miles in cardboard boxes, they only have to be taken down the road. Only transporting the goods for a few miles means that there is less pollution and greenhouse gas emission.

However there are a few negatives when it comes to buying locally, so you need to stay clever if you want to make the best decision as far as being environmentally friendly is concerned. Sometimes producing goods locally can take up more resources than exporting them. For example growing tomatoes in Spain and transporting them to Minnesota is a lot cheaper than building artificial green houses locally. Not to mention that the tomatoes are going to taste better. Simply put there are resources that are hard to replace, and are specific to location, in this case the sunshine.

Local vendors are prone to operate on small scales, as they cater to a local market in most cases. On the other hand large operations who operate on a global scale know how to take advantage of economies of scale. They are able to strike better deals thanks to their connections and bargaining power. This means that they are able to produce cheaper goods, which can in turn be more economically friendly.

It is very important to live a greener life and to help save the environment in any little way that we can. If every person in the world did a small thing everyday to be more environmentally friendly it would have a huge overall impact on the environment each and every day. With busy lives and careers it is not always easy to try to be green. But there are so many little things you can do that over time have a huge impact. If you can add one thing to your day that is environmentally friendly and do that one thing for a month it will become a habit. Then the next month you add another one small thing, and so on. After a year you are doing a dozen environmentally friendly things every single day, now imagine if every person did that what kind of impact would it have in one year?

There are very simple things you can do that not only help save the environment but can also make your life and your family’s lives better on a daily basis. Improving the way you live and the quality of your indoor air can have a great impact on your family’s health. Reducing air pollution and allergens in your home improves your indoor air quality, and the overall health of everyone that lives in your home.

One very simple, quick task you can do once a month to improve your indoor air quality, reduce pollution and better your family’s health is to change your air filters. By checking and changing your air filters in your furnace and air conditioning systems you reduce allergens in your home, improve your indoor air quality and your family’s health. That one simple five minute job, once a month has such a far reaching impact on everyone in your home as well as the environment as a whole.

Changing the air filters reduces the amount of energy required to run your heating and cooling systems, saving energy and money you spend on heating and cooling. Since your heating and cooling account for almost half of the energy used in your home that savings can add up very quickly. It also reduces costs of maintenance and repairs or replacements of your heating and cooling systems. The more efficient they operate the longer the systems will last without being repaired or replaced. In the long run you save each month on energy bills and you extend the lie of your heating and cooling systems for long term savings.

Allergens are the number one cause of unhealthy indoor air quality. By changing your air filters regularly you can reduce the allergens that are blown into your living space tremendously. When you check your air filters and see all the dust and debris you will understand why you should change these as often as once a month, at the very least they should be changed every three months. During seasons of heavy use you may want to check them twice a month to ensure it is clean.

If we want to take care of our Earth, then we need to be willing to look beyond the obvious. We can’t just focus on things like recycling, driving a hybrid car, or whatever the environmentally friendly trend of the month is.

Instead, we need to make Eco-smart living an integral part of our daily lives. When we make such mundane decisions as how to take care of our skin, we need to think, “Am I making an environmentally friendly choice here”?

This may sound a bit silly, but hear me out. I chose this example to illustrate that even such seemingly unimportant decisions as this can become an opportunity for us to help our planet.

Think about it like this, you can treat acne or other skin problems in one of two different ways. Your first option is to go to a dermatologist and spend an exorbitant amount of money for the latest and greatest medicine or high-tech treatment. The problem with this option is that you are wasting valuable resources (in the form of your hard earned money) that could be used elsewhere, and when it comes down to it all of these resources are in some way derived from our use of mother Earth. You wouldn’t have that money without your use of this beautiful planet.

The second, and more Eco-smart option would be to choose an inexpensive natural remedy such as aloe Vera, apple cider vinegar, evening primrose oil, other essential oils or any number of other available remedies. These options are all much less expensive and more friendly to the environment. There’s very little waste involved and you save valuable resources which can be put to profitable use elsewhere.

If you are wondering how to get rid of blackheads overnight, stay away from those face cleansing wipes which fill up your wastebasket and then our landfills. Instead, try to improve your diet or lifestyle by eating better and getting rid of unhealthy habits like smoking or drinking.

If you aren’t eating a healthy diet, then there are numerous vitamins that you may be deficient in which could be contributing to your acne. These include vitamins A, E, C, zinc and others. However, I would not recommend going out and buying a bunch of tubes of vitamin A cream for acne. That would just create even more trash and it would be expensive which (as I’ve mentioned before) would be a waste of resources.

The environmentally friendly way to get vitamin A would be to start eating more fresh produce such as carrots or other orange vegetables. Try growing a vegetable garden and partaking of some of the Earth’s generous bounty.

You could even look into other natural remedies for acne such as Manuka honey, tea tree oil or even lemon juice. These things are great at killing the bacteria that causes acne and have way less side effects than most of the common doctor prescribed acne treatments. You can even use lemon juice to make a natural chemical peel because it’s full of citric acid.

So next time you’re wondering what you can do to help the environment, just take a second to think. All of our daily routines should be taken into consideration. You can find ways to be Eco-smart in the most unexpected places.

Autoimmune disorders are a growing health problem.

It is estimated that 50+ million Americans suffer from one or more autoimmune conditions and this number is rising.

Research shows there are over 100 autoimmune disease and many more that have an autoimmune basis. . Nearly all of them have the potential to be life threatening.

So what exactly is autoimmunity? It’s what happens when your body’s immune system has lost the ability to discern what constitutes a threat and what doesn’t; resulting in your body attacking it’s own cells and tissue.

How is it caused? There are numerous ways it is caused, but we’ll use food and leaky gut as an example. When your gut is damaged and the intestinal walls become permeable we call that leaky gut. When that happens food particles are able to leak out of the intestinal tract and out into the blood stream.

The body then mounts an attack on the food particles.

Sometimes certain food proteins in the blood mimic your body’s OWN proteins and structures. When this happens your body might not be able to discern what is foreign and what is local in the body; so it attacks both. This is auto-immunity. The immune system begins to attack it’s own host because it is confused!

With more and more health problems autoimmunity is on the rise. It is already one of the top 10 leading causes of death in females up to sixty four years old.

To put the scope of autoimmunity into perspective: there’s an estimated 50+million with autoimmune, compared to 9 million with cancer and 22 million with heart disease.

There’s also problems diagnosing it. Symptoms cross many medical modalities and specialities as the disease can effect all of your organs. There’s also very little education about autoimmune disease. Practitioners are also untrained to discern early symptoms and typically don’t recognize autoimmunity until it is very acute.

NIH estimates that yearly autoimmunity health care costs will surpass $100 billion soon. Again, to contrast cancer, cancer costs constitute roughly $57 billion annually.

Research and interdisciplinary study is needed if we are to limit the scope of damage that autoimmunity may impose on Americans in the future.

Forms of treatments for autoimmunity also need a revamp. Traditionally clinicians have simply applied immunosuppressive drugs like cortosteroids. Hormone replacement has also been applied in some cases, such as Hashimoto’s thryroiditis.

But these treatments don’t address the root cause of the autoimmune conditions they are meant to treat. They are limiting the scope of the symptoms, but do little to nothing to halt the diseases progression.

Diet needs to play a bigger role in treatment if we are to see a decrease in autoimmunity cases. In many cases it was diet that helped initiate the disease initially, and it is diet that can sooth and resolve many of the conditions present in patients.

Nutrients that were once prominent in the human diet must be reintroduced to heal the body and set balance once again. Vitamin D from sunlight, Omega 3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants and probiotics all lessen inflammation and autoimmune symptoms.

By contrast, conventional prepackaged and anti-biotic/pesticide laden foods can increase susceptibility to an autoimmune condition.

In order to preserve our planet for future generations, we must take action to protect it from growing environmental problems that are affecting Earth. It is a collaborative effort that we must all strive to become part of; otherwise, our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be burdened by our actions.

Save Energy

One way to become more environmentally responsible is by reducing our energy usage. A few little changes can condense the amount of energy we use within the home, whilst helping shave off a significant amount on energy bills. You can:

• Unplug appliances when not in use
• Use a drying rack or clothesline over a dryer
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Lower a thermostat by a few degrees in the winter

Cut Back on Fuel

There are so many ways we can cut back on fuel consumption, which will improve our carbon footprint. All you have to do is:

• Walk or ride a bike to work over driving. You’ll improve health, save money on petrol and help protect planet Earth.
• Take a bus if you live a little further. Whilst it uses fuel, you’ll be reducing the amount of gas in the air – and that’s bound to help!
• If you have to drive to work, why not car share with one employee or more. You can even see if people are travelling in the same direction as you in your local area. You’ll therefore cut back on fuel costs and reduce cO2 emissions.

Reduce Water Usage

Reducing our water bills is so easy, yet many of us fail to make simple changes that cannot only boost our bank balance, but can improve our planet’s environment. To reduce water usage simply:

• Take a shorter shower
• Install a low flow shower head
• Wash clothing in bulk loads
• Buy a spring-loaded hose nozzle

Recycle Furniture

So many of us throw our furniture out once they’ve become a little tired or worn – when they could be given to a new home. Instead of throwing furniture out to sit on a landfill, try to identify whether the items can go to a new owner. One person’s junk is another’s treasure – and you could even make a handy sum from the sale to go towards new furniture, a holiday or to pay off debts.

Switch to Real Nappies

According to the Women’s Environmental Network, parents can save a whopping £1,000 over a child’s 2 and a half years by simply switching from disposable nappies to real ones! So you’ll be eliminating the amount of rubbish heading out to landfills, and can use the money saved to treat yourself or your little bundle of joy.

Responsibly Dispose Electronics

Electronic devices play a significant part in the modern world, and it is therefore essential we ethically dispose of these items to create a more sustainable planet, as they include mercury and other toxins that are adding to the growing environmental problems. Instead of throwing old mobile phones, laptops or other devices in the bin, simply donate or recycle them. You can even sell your old, used or faulty devices for their parts!

Biking has become a popular recreational activity across the country, and more city-dwelling residents are embracing biking as the best way to get around. Riding a bike is one of the most effective and healthiest workouts you’ll do, as well.

As more and more people make the switch to riding a bike instead of using their car, they are finding that the change is good for their health, the environment, and their wallet. And you don’t have to sacrifice the health benefits during inclement weather, either, because there’s indoor bike trainers that can be substituted for your bike that you can use in the comfort of your own home.

Bad Weather? Use an Indoor Bike Trainer

There are ways to get around bad weather days and cold winter months when you can’t ride your bike outdoors with an indoor bike stand. These sturdy little stands act as indoor trainers, and you don’t have to sacrifice the endurance you’ve built up riding your bike outside all that time. You can just set it up in five minutes in your living room and start your doing your exercise.

Using a Bike Stand for Repairs

If you are an avid biker, and like the cost savings you get from not having to buy gas, then you’ll want to put your thrifty skills to work by doing your own maintenance to your bike. The same type of stationary bike stand used for indoor training can also be used to hold your bike in place while you make repairs and perform periodic maintenance.

Some excellent bike stand information can be found on the Best Bike Stand Guide along with some reviews from people that have used them.

Riding Your Bike is Eco-friendly, too

Everywhere you look; people are jumping on their bikes and peddling to their destination instead of relying on their automobiles. It’s not only good for your health, it’s an eco-friendly alternative to your car. Many cities are even building thousands of miles of new bicycle lanes–and the environmental benefits are enormous.

How Bike Riding Helps the Environment

When you rely on a vehicle to transport you to a destination, you are more likely to drive further for errands and not depend on carbon free forms of transportation such as riding your bike. Much of the air pollution is prevented when you hop on your bike and ride it instead of driving your car. Here’s a couple of examples of how it helps to make the switch:

• If you drive you bike to work for a ten mile round trip for five days a week all year long, you save 68 Gallons of gas and .7 Tons of CO2–and that’s just for a small car!
• Your car emits 40 pounds of brake debris, worn tire particles and road surface into the air, while your bike hardly emits anything.
• Your car is a churning pollution factory. Just painting and coating the vehicle produces 24 million pounds of hazardous waste and 40 million pounds of harmful gases.
• Bikes don’t require motor oil or toxic batteries.

Bike Riding Even Beats Driving a Hybrid

Bicycling is even more environmentally friendly than driving a hybrid.

• Hybrid cars are bigger than bikes and it takes a lot of carbon to make them, 14,000 pounds of it, as a matter of fact.
• You’re going to use some gas if you buy a hybrid that burns gas when idling. Your bike doesn’t require gas.
• The nickel metal hydride batteries in most hybrid batteries contain cancer-causing agents.
• Hybrid batteries containing nickel metal hydride have also been shown to have teratogenic effects, meaning it can harm an unborn or breastfeeding baby.

Bike Riding for Weight Loss

It’s pretty well-known that America is facing an obesity epidemic, and there are a slew of health problems that can arise from being overweight. Many of us alternate certain exercises such as jogging, bicycling, and aerobics to get the biggest health benefit. Riding your bike as a means of recreation, exercise or commuting to work will help you burn calories and move you toward that ideal weight goal that you’re seeking.

Actual calories burned while riding your bike can depend on depend on your speed, weight, distance traveled during the commute, and a variety other factors. You can get a close idea of the calories burned by using an online Bike Commute Calculator.

So there you have it, there are several reasons why it’s better to start pedaling your bike instead of putting your pedal to the metal in your car. Not only is hopping on your bike and using it to go places a smart, healthy and cost saving choice, but you can even consider yourself a superhero–you’re saving the planet one commute at a time!

Most workout mavens think of a gym or health club when asked where they work out. There is a lot of equipment, great camaraderie, and a variety of activities to choose from. But what if I told you can benefit just as much from your workouts when you do them outdoors?  Well, you can! While gyms have their benefits, working out in the outdoors in all of its natural wonder is such a great experience. Running is a common outdoor activity, but I am referring to the location of your workouts that, at the same time, are not harmful to the environment. Some are more obvious than others, but just as important! The biggest advantage to these? They are FREE!

Before getting to the top 5 outdoor workouts, some things to keep in mind when you are outdoors:

• Be prepared! Is it drizzling or cloudy? Bring the right gear, such as a running poncho and suitable footwear like the best crossfit shoes (they are great for running and are really versitile) in case it rains a little bit. Or if it’s chilly, bring on the layers!
• Wear sunscreen. Obviously, it’s a good idea to slather on the SPF since you’ll most likely be under the hot sun for a prolonged period of time.
• Stay hydrated! Bring your BPA free, environmentally friendly water bottle with water, sports drink, top pre workout supplement or whatever you like to keep you from getting dehydrated.
• Find a buddy! Working out alone is not near as much fun as working out with a friend. Plus, you are more likely to stay with a workout routine if you have someone cheering you on and supporting you.

1. Hiking – Hiking trails are uber popular in mountainous areas and provide a great workout. The variety of terrain you encounter, plus the changes in altitude make hiking both difficult and rewarding. Just make sure you wear the right shoes!

2. Biking – Biking trails are becoming more common around the country and provide a great way to exercise. Bike groups are super fun and make biking more of a social activity. Don’t forget to learn proper biking etiquette and be careful when riding on busy streets.

3. Playground Workouts – Find a grade school nearby that has monkey bars, jungle gym, and a swing set, and you’re all set! You can do a variety of challenging activities, like pull ups and scissor swings, with the equipment provided. Plus, if you have young children, they may want to join you!

4. Beach Workouts – The beach isn’t for just relaxing anymore! Running and doing strength training exercise are easy to incorporate and challenge your body, due to the uneven levels of the sand. A great way to build up those calf muscles!

5. Swimming – This one is probably the most fun, but can really only be done in the summer months (unless you live in a warmer climate or have access to an indoor pool). Water provides awesome resistance without causing strain to your joints, and you can get a great cardiovascular session from swimming. Use a pool, lake, or ocean for these workouts.
So get outside for your next workout! Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine that you wouldn’t have access to you at your local gym.