Going green has become increasingly popular as people around the world are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment. The green living philosophy centers on certain lifestyle changes designed to benefit the Earth, including a reduction in waste and pollution and the conservation of energy and natural resources. An indirect benefit of going green is that it can simultaneously improve your overall health along with the health of the planet.
Breathing Better
Part of going green involves reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can potentially pollute the atmosphere. This can be accomplished in a number of different ways, such as recycling, driving less and conserving your energy usage, which typically requires the burning of fossil fuels such as coal or oil, which can contribute to air pollution. Going green allows you to breathe cleaner air and if you have asthma or allergies this can be a particularly welcome side effect.
Eating Better
Going green also involves reducing the amount of processed and chemically treated food that you ingest and eating more food that has been grown organically. Organic food is grown naturally and reduces water and soil pollution and reduces your exposure to harmful pesticides and hormones that are often used to encourage growth in poultry and livestock. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), eating green foods can help to reduce your intake of these chemicals as well as sodium and sugar, which can contribute to obesity, heart disease and cancer.
More Exercise
Going green also indirectly encourages you to exercise more, which can improve your lung function and overall cardiovascular health. A major part of the green living movement focuses on reducing the amount of time you spend behind the wheel and encourages replacing the car with a bicycle or even walking whenever possible. Growing a garden is also another way to go green and it promotes increased sustainability in terms of a natural food source as well as providing you with a significant amount of exercise.
Green at Home
The concept of going green also extends to the cleaning products we use everyday, many of which can contain harsh chemicals that can pollute the air in our homes and act as irritants to the eyes, nose and lungs of pets and people. By choosing natural cleaning methods, such as white vinegar and water, you can improve your overall respiratory health, reduce the incidence of headaches associated with traditional cleaners and avoid further aggravation of existing health conditions.
Safer Workplace
Going green also extends to the workplace and it can make the workplace less hazardous in several ways. Reducing the usage of fossil fuels such as coal and oil also reduces the need for coal miners or oil drillers, which are among the most dangerous jobs in the world. Implementing green technologies and practices in other commercial and industrial settings also provides a healthier workplace overall for employees in terms of air and noise pollution and exposure to toxic chemicals.
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