Everywhere you look these days, “green” is catching on! And no wonder. Green principles in action mean more conscientious, responsible, and healthful living.
What does it mean to “go green”? The goal of “going green” is to minimize harm to the Earth by maintaining its natural ecological balance and preserving its systems and resources. Going green is a big step toward guaranteeing a healthful future free of critical shortages, wasted landscapes, and damaging toxins.
There are a thousand good reasons to “go green” for your own health, but today, challenge yourself to think globally. Imagine the health impact individuals can have on each other, as well as the Earth itself, when they collectively make the effort to go green.
Let’s do it! Here are three green principles and some things you can do right now to adopt them.
1) Reduce pollution.
Naturally, our daily activities produce waste. Unfortunately, modern waste contains many toxic and nonbiodegradable pollutants. That adds up to a whole lot of environmental damage–yuck!–and the health problems that go with it. To reduce your personal contribution to that pollution,
- Use personal care and household cleaning products made of natural ingredients. Baking soda, vinegar, and pure water, for example, are effective cleaners that don’t damage the way chemicals can.
- Buy locally grown, organic food. Since they don’t travel long distances, local foods don’t require a lot of fuel, refrigeration, or preservatives to get to your table fresh. And organic foods are completely free of the pesticides, hormones, and fertilizers that harm the environment as well as our bodies.
2. Conserve resources by reducing wasteful consumption.
Green gurus talk a lot about sustainability, the environment’s capacity to renew itself for the long term. Activities that are not sustainable deplete resources–water, arable land, and slow-growing raw materials like hardwood, for example–beyond the point of recovery.
Though we take them for granted, the Earth’s resources are limited. According to a World Wildlife Fund report, humans are using more than 20% more natural resources than the earth can produce–yes, at this rate, we are literally outstripping the Earth’s ability to support life.
Population growth is not the only cause. Many of us over-consume through wasteful practices that we simply don’t think about. But if you apply the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” you’ll find many are easy to correct.
- Use both sides of printer paper.
- Bring reusable bags to the supermarket.
- Use reusable containers instead of “brown-bagging” workday lunches.
- Replace inefficient light bulbs with energy-saving ones.
- Use cool water when hot isn’t necessary.
- Turn off the lights and lower the heat when you’re not home.
3) Protect Earth’s ecological balance.
Because we share Earth with other species, we must become more proactive to protect the planet–and all of its life–from harm. As a concerned citizen, you can take a stand.
- Vote in support of propositions that protect the environment from negative effects of industrial and economic activities.
- Find out how your local schools educate about ecology and conservation. And if there is no programming, request it.
- When you see an environmental need that is not being addressed, bring it to the attention of your local representatives.
Taking responsibility for the present and future health of the planet is a big job, but if we all put a few simple changes in place, it’s a job we can manage. Take another look at the suggestions above, and commit to addressing a few beginning today. The continued health of our Earth is worth the effort.
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Our pets are our “furry family.” But like our human family members, our pets can suffer from allergies. Contact allergens are, by far, the most common of pet allergies, but inhalant (or ingested) allergies can also affect our pets.
Inhalant allergies are generally allergic reactions to food and/or oral drugs. Most ingested allergens are derived from your pet’s food – but not from what you might think! The majority of a pet’s allergic reactions from food come not from the coloring or preservatives in the food, but rather from the meat, dairy, or grain products from which their food is comprised.
Inhalant allergens also include a reaction to medication given by mouth, as well as an episode precipitated by your pet “snacking” on a plant.
Surprisingly, an allergic reaction to food can take anywhere from seven days to ten years to exhibit! Therefore, it is often one of the last things you, as an owner, may suspect. (After all, if your pet has been eating the same brand/type of food for several years, it’s not going to “top of mind” when considering what caused your pet to become ill.) As is the case whenever your pet becomes ill, it is wise to take them to your veterinarian to correctly diagnose the problem and begin treating your pet to get them back on the road to recovery! (Many veterinary pet insurance plans cover the lab work/tests and medications required to treat your pet’s allergies.)
An allergic reaction to medication or plant ingestion will manifest much more quickly. Felines and canines share identical symptoms including an itchy rash, and possibly diarrhea and vomiting. Additionally, your cat may also have an excessively oily coat.
Fortunately, treatment for this type of allergy is relatively simple. If your pet has a reaction to a plant, just remove the plant from your pet’s “realm.” If it is an allergy to a medication, your veterinarian may suggest an antihistamine, in conjunction with the medication, until it is finished.
Often, food allergies are treated by implementing a bland, hypoallergenic diet for your pet. Many pet supply stores offer hypoallergenic foods, which usually consist of rice and boiled chicken or lamb. Using distilled water for your pet instead of tap water is also recommended, as the minerals and chemicals in tap water can also cause a reaction. Your pet’s symptoms should subside within a week. However, if your pet continues to scratch incessantly, you may want to consider a veterinary dermatologist for further testing.
Article by Losing Weight Fast and Easy
It would be an understatement to say that we are living in an era of fast foods take-outs, ready made meals and dishes filled with preservatives and additives. We are a nation always on the go and as a consequence our eating habits have been dramatically altered.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
You can escape becoming a part of the growing statistic of obese people, and offer your body a natural route to losing weight healthily and safely.
1. Make a list Successful weight loss involves more than changing your dietary habits. You need to find a balance in your mind, body and soul. So pause for a moment and make a list of everything that is preventing you from enjoying your life. If you suffer from fatigue, memory loss or depression for example, this could be a sign that you are suffering from a vitamin B deficiency, which in turn could be hindering your weight loss.
2. What have you eaten? It is easy to be tempted by quick fix meals, but by eating natural, fresh foods every day you can prevent weight gain. Give this routine a try and begin feeling the difference of natural weight loss, increased energy levels and the desire to exercise:
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day – Swap sugary snacks for a piece of fruit – Eat smaller portions: 5 to 6 300 calorie meals a day – Chew slower – Use natural sweeteners instead of sugar – Ensure you receive plenty of sleep – Cleanse your body of toxins
3. Exercise One of the easiest ways to improve your quality of life and experience lasting weight loss is to exercise. Yet it is important to remember that everyone is different. Just because your friend can walk 10 miles a day, does not mean you will be able to do so immediately. You need to exercise at your own fitness levels and gradually build up your routines at a pace that is right for you.
Try starting with a 10 minute walk every day, before slowly building up to 45 minutes. As you exercise more, you will be able to challenge your body further and increase your weight loss successes.
Other good methods include riding a bike, going swimming or doing cardio/strength building exercises. Just remember to make sure that you do routines that interest you. If you enjoy it, you will stay motivated towards doing them every day.
4. Slimming Pills Whilst the market may be saturated with many synthetic slimming pills, you can offer your body slimming pills naturally formulated using organic ingredients. Clinically proven to suppress your appetite, reduce your fat consumption by 20%+ and decrease food cravings, slimming pills can offer you the support you need to take your first step to weight loss.