Planet Friendly Changes

Here are Three planet changes to help make our mother earth a better place for us all.





1.Bike to work: For every gallon of gas we use it produces more than 19 pounds of carbon dioxide the plus side is that while biking we can burn up to 600 calories per hour.


Share the road. Riding your bike may not work for every one the eco friendly way to do this is by carpooling Carpooling one day a week, eliminates about 400 pounds of CO2 per person annually organize a carpool amoung your co- workers.



2. Eat Organic and Local: You are what you eat, and this is not always good news. Considering the number of chemicals used to grow crops, raise lifestock and preserve your favoriate foods. It's likely that we are ingesting traces of these chemicals. This is why we need to be mindful when it comes to our choices. mindfulness also involves knwing where food comes from and how it is grown. The Health bebefits: Buying organic and local is the safest choice considering the long list of downsides to conventionally produced food. The same chemicals used to keep conventionally grown apples, peppersand other fruits and vegetables pest and disease free can cause a host of health problems. Including birth defects, nerve damage and Cancer. According to a report published by the Environmental Working Group. Noshing on the most contaminated crops which include Peaches, Strawberries, lettuce and carrots means you will ingest an average of 10 pesticides per day. Organic produce is a great alternative because it's chemical free. Studies have shown that organic produce has more antioxidants micronutrients and fewer nitrates than their conventionally grown counterparts. It's not also produce that 's cause for conern according to the CSPI, beef from grain-fed cattle is a major source of saturated fat and cholesterol. Which in turn increases your risk of heart disease. look for Grass-fed beef and bison. which are leaner and may contain up to five times the number of Omega 3. When it comes to Poutry and Pork look for products that are label "Free Range" and "Organic" to be sure you are getting the healthies cust. Because these cost more, opt for meatless meals a few times a week. Given the average meal travels 1,500 miles before it reaches our table. Choosing Organic and Local is a great way to make smaller Carbon footprints. 15% of the pesticides that are sprayed on crops actually hit their target, the rest of the chemicals are released into the soil, water and air resulting in contamination of water ways illness and death in birds and aquatic life. Erotion and air pollution. Raising livestock is also a significant source of enviromental stress. A nonvegetarian diest is uses almost three times more energy and 13 times more fertilizer than a vegetarian diet.



3. Reduce your toxin exposure: You may be surprised to learn that the products you use to keep your hair shiny, your skin soft and your home sparkling are often chemical cocktails masquerading in pretty packages. The latest science shows that the chemicals in the products we use are getting into our bodies and disturbing our environment. Swapping out chemical laden conventional products with natural alternatives can really pay off when it comes to your health now and down the road. Studies have linked the chemicals found in these conventional products including ( triclosan, 2 butoxyethanol, and antibacterial Quats and alkylphenol ethoxylates) to allergies and asthma, anemia and even certain cancers. Two of the biggest offenders are phthalates and parabeans . Both are endocrine disrupters, which means they may interfere with productive process potentially interfering with infertility, endrometriosis, brest cancer and fetal adnormalities. Endocrine disruptors have also been linked to early puperty in gilrs, and deformaties of the male productive system. Many of the products we use on our bodies are absorbed through our skin and can go directly in our bloodstream. When we use chemical laden products to clean our home we inhale those chemicals because they linger in the air. When it comes to minimazing your chemicals exposure reading labels is a good start U. S. regulations requiere all beauty products to list ingredients on the packing. So reading can help you identify toxins. Unfortunately even products that seem sfe can contain powerful chemicals. Look for cleaning products that have been certified by non profits Green Seal or Ecologo, which have more rigorous safety, health and environmental standards than the Federal Government requieres. When it comes to Beauty products Like the USDA Organic seal. Which certifies that the products have undergone a stringent approval process, and do not contain several key ingredients of concern. Chemicals that are powerful enough to inpact your health also do their share of damage to the environment. After each use, the chemicals in your shampoo, soap, cleaning products are washed straight down the drain, and would end up in your drinking water. A joint study done by the EPA and Baylor University in Waco Texas, found chemicals like Galaxolide and Tanalide, commonly used in Fragrances in beauty and cleaning agents were polluting waterways and present in the tissue of fish as a result of chemical runoff in rivers and streams.
So remember it's not jut about Health, its also about the planet and how we can help make this place better for us all.