“Going green” is seemingly the latest lifestyle trend, as individuals and companies across every industry migrate toward products and services that prioritize sustainability over profits. The benefits of ‘going green’ span far beyond popularity, it’s an ideology that has proven benefits for ourselves and minimizing our environmental footprint. By adapting a ‘greener’ lifestyle, we’re not only reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn helps wildlife preservation efforts, but we are also fostering healthier minds and bodies for years to come.
We’ve curated a list featuring a few easy ways to implement a greener lifestyle today, which is fundamental to a healthy body, mind and home.
Have you ever experienced dizziness as a result of cleaning the house? Standard household cleaning products are packed with harsh chemicals inside the bottles. The products we use are designed to break down compounds and remove bacteria, effectively eliminating the mess, but leaving behind dangerous residue that’s toxic to our children and pets, and also a pollutant to the environment. Switching to an organic cleaning brand doesn’t mean sacrificing cleaning standards, and it’s an easy way for us to practice a greener lifestyle. There are several environmentally friendly cleaning products on the market as well as easy ways to make your own product with items you already have at home. Simply combine 3 parts water, 1 part vinegar, lemon juice and a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a lovely concoction that cuts through the grease and dirt without hurting yourself or the environment.
Eating organically grown food is the best way to avoid harmful chemicals, GMO’s, hormones and antibiotics found in commercially grown foods. Eating organically feeds our bodies with more nutrients, vitamins, minerals and micronutrients, as they grow in soil that is nourished by sustainable practices. Organically produced foods are not only better for consumption, but also for the environment as the sustainable practices reduce pollution, conserve water and protect the soil from harmful chemicals. When purchasing produce, the best guideline in choosing between organic and non-organic is determining if you will eat the skin of the fruit or vegetable. If you do eat the skin, it’s best to select the organic option. Examples of this includes apples, grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers and peaches.
Have you checked the labels of your beauty products lately? Some of the toxic ingredients found in non-organic beauty products are proven to cause cancer as they are absorbed through the skin and travel to the bloodstream. Toxic ingredients have been found in various biopsy samples, proving that these chemicals pose a threat to your health. Washing toxic chemicals found in these products down the drain leads to these chemicals reaching our oceans and damaging our ecosystems. Switching out chemical-filled products for sustainable organic products is a great way to nourish our skin and protect the environment simultaneously. Within the beauty industry, many cosmetic brands, stores and spas have switched to organic and responsibly sourced products, making it easier to incorporate into our daily routines.
By simply swapping out a few products and modifying our grocery lists, we can make strides toward preserving our ecosystem and protecting the beautiful world in which we live. Converting to a greener lifestyle doesn’t yield results you will feel immediately, but over time results in a healthier body, home and world surrounding us. After all, it’s more than a trend—it’s a movement.
