Creating a green diet doesn't mean you have to live out the rest of your days on nothing but bean sprouts and carrot juice, but it does mean you have to be more conscious about not only what you put into your body, but where it came from in the first place. ((
Step 1: Go Organic ((
The term "organic" simply refers to a system of farming that maintains ecological harmony and promotes biodiversity by replenishing soil fertility without using toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, and it is synonymous with creating a green diet.
This type of agriculture prevents topsoil from eroding, keeps toxic substances out of nearby water sources, conserves energy, and the food sources produced are by default better for our bodies naturally since they contain no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. ((
The buzz around organic food sources has grown rapidly over the past few years as more people are refusing to allow themselves to ingest the hormones, poisons, and chemicals many in the agricultural industry use in order to produce their goods faster and cheaper. ((And while for a period of time it was difficult to find certified organic foods on the shelves of your local grocery chain, demand for products baring the certified organic symbol have caused more stores to begin stocking these eco-friendly items in heavy rotation for us, making a green diet even easier to maintain. ((
You'll be surprised to know that your typical bag of potato chips has been subjected to over 50 chemicals from seed to market, and people wonder why the modern illnesses such as digestive health problems, heart disease, and all types of cancers are on the rise! ((When we're living in a world where more than 70,000 new chemicals have been introduced in the past 100 years, it's not hard to see the correlation.
Never in our history has it been more critical for people to adopt green diet practices. ((Americans consume about 14 pounds worth of chemicals a year just from additives like artificial food colorings, flavorings, emulsifiers, and preservatives, some of which are synthetic chemicals from residues on conventional food including pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals. ((
This toxic state of affairs has resulted in the EPA rating pesticide residue exposure as the 3rd highest risk factor for cancer...only industrial chemical exposure for workers and indoor radon exposure rank higher, and yet we still continue to buy and ingest these potentially harmful food sources for the sake of convenience and price. ((The thing is, if the demand for organic food continues to increase and more people get with the "green diet" program, the convenience and price of these meats, grains, and vegetables will become comparable to their dangerous counterparts. ((
Here's a list of the top 10 items you should always buy organic if you have the choice: ((
1. Meats (
2. Dairy Products(
3. Fish(
4. Berries(
5. Salad crops (spinach, lettuce, celery) (
6. Mushrooms (
7. Root crops (potatoes, yams, carrots) (
8. Bananas (
9. Waxy fruits (apples, pears) (
10. Coffee and tea ((
Even beer is being produced organically now, so while you may not be able to make a 100% shift to organics or green diet alternatives, there's no reason you can't pick a few choice items to add to the cart that can help lower your carbon footprint and keep you healthier at the same time. ((
Step 2: Buy Locally ((
So you've made the conscious decision to start incorporating a green diet (or at least "greener") into your lifestyle. That's wonderful! But how far did that organic spinach have to travel to get to your plate? ((The experts say it's an average of 1,500 miles from the farm to the dinner table, all the while creating a large ecological footprint due to the energy required to store and transport it across the country or around the globe. ((
Here's where locally produced, seasonal foods swoop in to save the day...organic or not. Local farmers markets and community-supported agriculture, or CSA, may not be solely organic, but you can bet that since the food travels less distance to get to you and will typically come from a smaller operation that it will require less energy, packaging, and fewer pesticides and herbicides in the growing process from start to finish. ((
When you buy into a crop share from your local CSA (these are even available in most cities by the way), you invest in the farm itself, and you receive a portion of the seasonal bounty at regular intervals. Obviously the types of produce will vary depending on region, and you won't be able to find everything you need or want through these venues, but you'll be supporting your local community while making green diet decisions you can feel good about since you know the produce will be seasonal and fresh. (
Step 3: Eat Low On The Food Chain ((
We're all familiar with how the food chain works, and in general, the longer-lived the animal, the greater it's toxic load. Unless you are a vegetarian, we recommend cutting back on the animal proteins in your diet, especially beef. ((
You don't necessarily have to give them up entirely, but if you can switch just one or two days a week to include "meat free" meals, you'll be making a vast improvement in your impact. When it comes to a green diet, meat should be an opening act rather than the main event. ((
Beef is one of the most water intensive meats to produce, and we Americans are eating a lot of it, approximately 209 pounds per person annually on average. It's also a land hungry industry, and the equivalent amount of land it takes to produce can feed six times the number of people on a plant based diet. ((
Take a look at some of the statistics below and make the comparisons for yourself: ((
1. 1 pound of grain fed beef - 10 pounds of grain; 2,700 gallons of water (
2. 1 pound of ranch-raised beef - as much as 5,000 gallons of water (
3. 1 pound of pork - 4 pounds of grain (
4. 1 pound of chicken - 2 pounds of grain (((
Taking into consideration that it only requires about 21 gallons of water to produce a pound of tomatoes, potatoes, or wheat, it's painfully obvious that cutting out even a few servings of meat per week can amount to a HUGE savings for our planet if we all take part. ((
Step 4: Say BYE-BYE to Bottled Water ((
It turns out that a green diet isn't just about our food; water also plays a very meaningful role in this paradigm shift.(More and more sources of fresh water are beginning to deplete, and while pollution begins to taint what precious little is readily accessible to us, the bottled water companies are making a killing selling individual servings of what may not be any better for you than what comes out of your tap. ((
What's even worse is all of those plastic containers have to come from somewhere, typically fossil fuels, and are then transported half way around the world before they make it to your local convenient store and food store shelves. It's estimated that Americans alone buy nearly 30 billion single-use plastic water bottles annually, and while, yes, they are recyclable, the majority still end up in the garbage pile,destined to live out the remainder of their days in the local landfill. ((
This is very perplexing issue indeed, especially considering the vast array of tap-mounted and pitcher filtration systems available to us today. Brita and Pur both make versions that extract toxins such as chlorine, mercury, and lead from your H2O. Add a reusable stainless steel or aluminum bottle tothe equation (available at any Wal-Mart, Target, or sporting goods store), and you're well on your way to reducing your carbon footprint and getting your green diet underway. ((
There are reusable plastic versions available as well, but if they get cracked or scratched be sure to chuck them in the recycle bin. Bottled water costs up to 1,000 times more than tap water and uses 1.5 billion gallons in fuel a year to transport - enough to fuel 10,000 cars for an entire year, but we're too lazy to make ONE trip to the store to buy a filter and a reusable water bottle which will cost far less in the long run in terms of our wallets and our ecological impact? ((
Funny how we complain about spending $3 on a gallon of gas, but don't hesitate to walk right up to the convenient store counter to pay 3 times as much per gallon for a bottle of water. Something is seriously wrong with this picture! Kleen Kanteen makes a great reusable bottle made from stainless steel which you can find at www.GreenFeet.com.
Tote it in the car, to work, or even the gym, for filtered water on the go, and start to spread the word: JUST SAY NO TO BOTTLED WATER! ((
Starting on the path to a green diet starts with baby steps; don't try and do everything all at once. It's more about making small adjustments that you know you can stick to. (By slowly starting to incorporate more and more of these variations into your daily routine, you will eventually form the life-long habits that will shape a healthier you and a happier planet. As you can see, going green goes way beyond the recycling bin.
By: Tre C Article Directory: articledashboard.com
