5 ways to improve your health and the planet Earth

The world is interconnected. Though you've undoubtedly heard it before, it is nevertheless important to remember. According to Harvard health there are 5 strategies to improve both your personal well-being and the health of planet earth, a combination known to environmentalists as co-benefits.

How the state of the planet affects your health

Earth Day was started in 1970 as a day to raise awareness of environmental problems. Environmentalism has never looked more crucial than it does right now. Fires, storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, rising sea levels, species extinction, and other effects of climate change on Earth directly or indirectly endanger our well-being, especially for those who are most susceptible. For instance, lung issues and hospitalisations are influenced by air pollution from fossil fuels and fires. Ticks and mosquitoes, which are vectors of infectious illnesses, have seasonal and geographic ranges that increase as climates warm.

The idea of planetary health recognises the close connection between our health and ecology. The downstream repercussions of actions and events are complex; some are predictable, others are unexpected, and many are probably unnoticed. Even though individual efforts might seem insignificant, when combined, they might somewhat move the needle in the right direction.

Five approaches to enhancing both individual and global health 

Eat more plant-based foods.

This entails reducing your intake of meat and increasing your intake of plant-based foods. The chances of heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and many malignancies are reduced by making these kinds of decisions. Meals made from plants have significant advantages for the environment over meals based on animals. For instance, plant-based meals have a reduced carbon footprint and use fewer natural resources like land and water for the same quantity of protein.

Note that not all plants are created equally.

In terms of their nutritional value and effects on the environment, plant foods likewise differ widely. You can evaluate the nutritional value of goods by learning to read labels. Since there are geographical considerations, learning about the environmental effects of particular foods is a little more difficult. However, if you'd like to get a broad idea, Our World in Data provides a number of fascinating interactive graphs regarding the many environmental effects of various diets.

Use active transportation.

When possible, consider alternatives to driving, such as biking, walking, or taking the bus. Adults are encouraged to engage in 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise and two sessions of muscle-building activity, according to current health standards. Regular exercise helps with weight management, bone health, and mental well-being. Additionally, it lowers the risk of falls, certain malignancies, and heart disease in older people. Less gas-powered vehicle miles travelled translate to cleaner air, lower carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, and less air pollution, which is known to aggravate conditions like asthma and many other illnesses.

Work your way up to your level of discomfort by beginning where you are.

A change may be successful for one person but fail for another. You can promise to limit your intake of beef to just once a week or to eat one vegan dish every week. In the summer or when it's not cold, you might consider biking or taking the bus to work. Set challenging yet attainable objectives for yourself.

Discuss it with others.

For any one person attempting to make a difference, it could seem as though their efforts are insignificant and overwhelming. It may help you feel less alone and foster a sense of community if you express your opinions about the things that are important to you and the work you are doing. Building a community enhances resilience and well-being.

Additionally, if you tell one person about your goals and commitments and they do the same, your efforts will have a greater impact. Who knows? One of those individuals along the way might be the worker who chooses what our kids eat from the school menus or a city planner for bike lanes and foot walkways!

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