I found this article at Green Living Ideas on plastics and it is certainly an eye-opener. It has some great diagrams inside on how our use of plastic impacts the environment (scary) and some great tips on how you can “reduce your plastic footprint”. Take some time today to notice how much plastic you use, recycle and throw away and I think you might be shocked. Remember, just reducing your use a little bit can have a huge impact.
It is no secret that the water that comes through our taps is full of toxic chemicals including chlorine, lead, copper, mercury and bacteria. It became such a concern that many people turned to bottled water for drinking instead of tap water.
Then there were claims that bottled water isnt as healthy as people think it is. Bottled water is stored in plastic bottles which apparently over time can begin to release toxins that can produce cancer. Most water sold in bottles will not have this chemical released into the water unless the water has been stored in the bottle for several months. Studies have shown recently that phthalates in the system is increasing over the last few years and it is believed that this may be to the introduction of drinking bottled water.
The plastic bottles that this water comes in is also cause for concern because they are not biodegradable, thus filling our landfills. Some plastics can take thousands of years to break down.
So if our tap water is not healthy and bottled water is not a good alternative, what else can we do?
Why not attach a filter to your kitchen tap? Tap filters can reduce chlorine and heavy metals that are in the water and filtered water actually tastes much nicer too. Tap filters are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. You can purchase filter systems for as little as 20 to 30 plus another 20 for replacement filters when required possibly every four months.
You can also get portable filters that come as a plastic bottle (using LDPE plastic so it is safe) and it filters as you drink. You can take this bottle with you when you go out and fill it up at any tap and your water will be filtered. These bottles will last for around 300 fills which is quite a lot. It also reduces the plastic in our landfills if you are using a portable water filter rather than buying bottled water.
By using water filters you can improve your health and put your mind at east knowing that you are drinking water that is not filled with toxins. At the same time you are helping the environment by reducing landfill from too many water bottles.
Adding water filters to your home is just one step to living a greener and healthier lifestyle.
What if everyone drove electric cars? Do you think the environment would be in better shape? Of course it would and while people arent going to stop depending on gas driven vehicles overnight, there are some good green transportation ideas out there that are starting to take shape for example this panel of experts that will talk about the current green transportation trends over at SVForum.org:
Trends in Green Transportation: SVForum Green Evening Program …
This panel will feature experts who will discuss and debate the trends in green transportation, the challenges and opportunities for the traditional players as well as entrepreneurs, investors. Tweet with us! …
Publish Date: 07/23/2011 18:34
http://www.beanswax.com/2011/07/trends-in-green-transportation-svforum-green-evening-program/
And, there was an event this past week promoting all kinds of green transportaiont from hybrid cars to bikes:
Promoting green transportation
An event at the Capitol this week promoted green transportation options, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, and bicycling. Dr. Jonathan Patz is a UW professor, and he said options such as cleaner cars and bicycling …
Publish Date: 07/22/2011 13:08
http://www.wrn.com/2011/07/promoting-green-transportation/
This article gives some insight into future trends in green vehicles:
While automotive industry leaders were in Washington, D.C. looking for loans, hundreds of event attendees were learning about the future of green transportation. What follows is a synopsis of our findings. Future Trends …
Publish Date: 07/31/2011 3:55
http://www.studiobelcanto.net/green-car-conference-406.html
This might open your eyes to the cost of driving:
Active and Green Transportation
Costs of driving an automobile and the benefits of using non-motorized transportation
They are actually really getting into green transportation over in the Philippines as these two videos will show, are we really that far behind in the US?
Philippines President Aquino Launches New Fleet of ADB Electric Vehicles
President Aquino presided over the inauguration of a new fleet of e-trikes in metropolitan Manila, part of an ADB-funded project to introduce green transportation alternatives in the country.
Philippines moves to green transportation
The Philippines, like many other countries, is turning to green energy as the price of oil remains high. Right now, the country almost entirely depends on petroleum when it comes to transportation. But as Marga Ortigas reports from Manila, the Philip…
Here’s what they are Tweeting about green transportation:
By tArmanRaza at 07/31/2011 14:31
By TechVehicles at 07/31/2011 12:46
It is a sad fact of life that many household fixtures and fittings, including many plastics, contain and release harmful toxins. You thought walking down a busy street was filling your lungs with pollution, but you probably dont realize that sitting in your own home is doing the same thing.
It is a topic of debate whether plastics are harmful to humans as some believe the research shows that it is while others believe there is no strong evidence of it. Personally, if there is even a small chance that plastics are harmful, then I dont want to risk, especially when there are safe alternatives available.
Here are some of the plastics that you might want to consider avoiding:
PS polystyrene or Styrofoam. This is a well known plastic that is commonly used in disposable cups, plates and containers. Some believe that the styrene can make its way into food and can possibly cause hormone disruption or cancer.
PVC polyvinyl chloride. This plastic is believed to be dangerous because of dioxins that are produced during manufacturing and these can cause cancer. Hard PVC is used in many residential and commercial buildings for plumbing pipes that carry drinking water. Soft or flexible PVC is often used to wrap meat so is in close contact with food.
PC that contains bisphenol A which can cause cancer and hormone disruption along with insulin disruption that can lead to Type 2 Diabetes. This plastic is used in plastic utensils, baby bottles and microwave oven cookware.
It is a little scary when you think that these plastics are used to hold or store food. Even if it is still in debate whether they are truly harmful, do you really want to take that risk?
There are other plastics available that are safe to use and dont transfer any chemicals into food. Some of these include:
PET polyethylene terephthalate. This is used for water bottles that are recyclable. These bottles are generally only for single use as PET can leach into the beverage if stored for a long period of time. This only occurs if the beverage is stores for several months or more and can result in short term gastrointestinal distress.
HDPE this is recyclable and no negative effects have been recorded.
LDPE – is used for beverage containers and it is believed that it does not leach chemicals.
PP this is more difficult to recycle but it does not have any negative effects.
PLA polylactide is made from plants and will biodegrade in a couple of weeks so no need to recycle.
There is so much non-biodegradable plastic all over the world and we can do our bit to stop that from getting worse. Try to use recyclable plastic whenever possible and plastics that dont have any negative health effects.
It isnt possible to avoid all plastics but we can at least make the right choice when we are able.
Making changes to your diet can be difficult, whether you are dieting to lose weight or making changes to eat healthier. Eating organic foods is the healthiest option and also good for the environment. But eating healthy isnt always as easy as a fatty diet, particularly if you are after something quick and easy.
What kind of organic foods can you eat if you dont have much time on your hands?
If you eat organically then it is a good idea to keep your pantry stocked with some organic supplies so that if you are ever in a hurry you can whip up something quick. Many organic canned or dry foods will keep for months so you dont need to worry about them going out of date.
When you are shopping for organic foods always read the label to make sure that they really are 100% organic and not just a marketing ploy to make you buy the product. Some products might have just a small percentage of organic ingredients but that is enough for the company to advertise them as being organic. It is best to read the labels and find what percentage of the food is organic. If it is only a small percentage then there is a good chance that the product also contains chemical additives.
Here are some organic food ideas to stock your pantry:
Canned organic vegetables canned veggies last a long time so they are a great addition to the pantry if you are looking for a quick meal or even a side dish.
Organic cereal these are easy to prepare for when you are rushing around in the morning. Organic cereals are nutritious and many people eat them in the afternoon or evening and not just for breakfast.
Legumes lentils and beans are a great source of protein and fiber. Beans are very versatile and can be added to soups or salads, can be eating hot or cold and are very healthy and filling.
Dried organic herbs these are great to have in your pantry to add to meals for a bit of extra flavor. Dried herbs will last for a long time so you can stock up on them and add that special flavor to your meals.
Organic soy milk there is nothing worse than running out of milk but if you keep a box of soy milk in the pantry you will always have it on hand if you run out.
These are just a few suggestions of organic food to stock up your pantry so that you always have something you can make fast. Having these foods on hand can save you time and there is no reason why you cant stick to your healthy diet.
