There is definitely a cause for concern regarding pollution and environmental damage. You don’t have to panic, as it won’t do any good in this situation. What would be beneficial is creating better lifestyle habits that will help reduce the damage that has been done to the environment.
Starting with your home, below are 5 ways to take care of your health.
1. Ditch Plastic Containers
Plastic can be found in every human due to microplastic ingestion. There are many chemicals used in plastic that are fat soluble and able to leach into fatty food, and the ingestion of these chemicals is linked to health risks like cancer and hormone disruption.
Avoid heating up food in plastic containers, and swap plastics out for other materials like metal or glass when you can. Consider other options to cover food, like beeswax wrap instead of plastic food wrap to preserve cold foods.
2. Use Eco-Friendly Products
Most cleaning products contain ingredients and chemicals that are detrimental to your health. They’re products that we use every day, like dish soap, laundry detergent, and home cleaning products.
Natural cleaning products are just as effective as others but don’t contain harmful environmental and health ingredients.
Eco-friendly products can be a bit more pricey, but if you cannot afford them, you can make your own cleaning products using ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice.
Use eco-friendly materials with your cleaning products, like natural-fibre toothbrushes, un-bleached cotton swabs, washable sanitary products, and natural-fibre underwear.
3. Wash Your Clothes In Cold Water
Most energy used to wash clothes is due to heating up the water. The next time you wash your clothes, use cold water to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and keep your clothes in good condition longer. Hot water can deteriorate the fabric and make your colours less vibrant.
Unless you’re dealing with stubborn stains on clothing, running your washing machine with hot water isn’t really necessary. Use warm water if you feel that cold isn’t doing a good job. It still uses less energy than hot.
4. Buy A Water Filter
Drinking clean water is one of the best ways to keep your skin healthy and prevent diseases. But filtered water often comes in plastic bottles, which pollute the environment.
Stop buying water bottles! Whether with a whole-house filter or under-the-sink style, a filter saves time and money and reduces the number of water bottles that end up in landfills.
If water bottles make your life easier, invest in reusable bottles. They’re great for the environment, and you’ll save money in the long run.
5. Recycle!
Think of all the paper, plastic, or steel you’ve used throughout your life: lecture notes, assignments, bottles, cans, and food packaging. Most people don’t recycle, which results in the sea suffering from pollution. Many aquatic species get harmed by microplastic pieces.
Some of the environmental benefits of recycling include conserving energy and natural resources and reducing air and water pollution.
Recycling is more than putting the material in the correct bins. You can recycle your clothes, books, and almost everything you don’t use anymore. Instead of throwing away unused items, resell them or donate them to your local second-hand store.
Final Thoughts
The changes to help reduce damage to the environment don’t have to be drastic. Small investments in better products like water filters, reusable bottles, and eco-friendly products can significantly improve the environment and, in turn, your body. These habits will also benefit your bank account in the long run.
Don’t feel overwhelmed by the idea of saving the environment. Start with small steps and build your eco-friendly home to benefit your body and the world.
Published by Holr Magazine.