This week is Black Friday, but more and more people are turning away from over-consumption and the pressure to buy yet more “stuff.” Instead, many are choosing to celebrate Green Friday, a more mindful approach that focuses on sustainability and wellbeing.
One thing I often say to my clients is that what’s good for the planet is very often good for your health too. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Chemicals and practices that harm the environment are likely to be harmful to our own health as well.
Here are seven simple ways to support your own health and the health of the planet this Green Friday.
1. Choose More Plant Proteins
Most of us now know that animal protein can be environmentally intensive, requiring large amounts of land and water, contributing to deforestation, and being overall inefficient to produce. Plant proteins such as beans, lentils, nuts and seeds have a much lower environmental impact. They’re also very nutritious. Not only do they provide protein, they’re rich in fibre, something many of us don’t get enough of. Fibre supports good gut health, which in turn positively affects all areas of health including immunity, hormone balance, mental wellbeing and digestion
2. Avoid Ultra-Processed Foods
Choosing plant proteins doesn’t mean relying on ultra-processed vegan alternatives. These products are usually full of chemical additives that are harmful to the planet as well as our bodies. They also tend to be high in the wrong sorts of fats; as well as salt and sugar, while offering very few of the nutrients our bodies actually need. A simple rule of thumb is to aim to stay as close to nature as possible. Less packaging, fewer ingredients, more real food.
If you’re short on time, try batch cooking on less busy days, or have a look at my blog for really easy meal ideas
3. Switch to Organic Where You Can
Crops are often sprayed with chemicals designed to kill pests, and we then eat those same crops ourselves. When you look at it this way, we can see this doesn’t make logical sense for us or the planet.
Organic produce is generally the better choice, especially when bought directly from a local organic farm. Organic produce in supermarkets may be grown next to non-organic fields, increasing the risk of cross-contamination, and it often only meets the minimum requirements to qualify as “organic.”
If you can’t afford to buy everything organic that’s OK, focus on the biggest-impact items. The Dirty Dozen / Clean 15 lists can help you prioritise which fruits and vegetables are most important to buy organic.
4. Reduce Plastic Use
Microplastics end up everywhere, especially in our oceans, causing damage to wildlife, ecosystems as well as to us. We already breathe in more microplastics than we might like to imagine, so reducing additional exposure is a wise choice. Plastics can leach chemicals that disrupt hormones and interfere with health.
Try to avoid:
- Cooking food in plastic containers, especially single-use ready-meal trays
- Storing oils or acidic foods in plastic bottles
- Drinking from plastic water bottles
5. Be Mindful of What You Put on Your Skin
It isn’t just food that affects your health. What you put on your body also matters. Many personal care products contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and absorbed by our skin. Choosing simpler, more natural products helps reduce this load for both you and the planet.
When choosing personal care products, including what you might use in the shower and in cosmetics, try going for the eco-friendly options, as natural as possible, as these are likely to be better for yourself as well as for the planet.
6. Clean Your Home Naturally
Most chemical cleaning products release particles that we breathe in and absorb through our skin. They also end up in our waterways and soil. Switching to more natural cleaning methods benefits both your home environment and the wider environment. Simple swaps such as vinegar, bicarbonate of soda or eco-friendly cleaning brands can make a big difference.
7. Choose Experiences Over “Stuff”
One of the most impactful things we can do for the planet is to reduce the amount of material goods we consume. If you want to treat yourself or a loved one, consider choosing an experience instead of an object.
A massage, Reiki session or nutrition consultation allows you to support your own wellbeing without impacting the environment. If you’d like to support your own wellbeing (or someone else’s) this Green Friday, I have gift vouchers available for massage, Reiki and nutrition sessions. It’s a lovely way to give the gift of health without adding more “stuff.”
Get 10% off any online gift voucher (for you or someone else!), or contact me for a beautiful printed voucher.
If you aren’t sure where to start this Green Friday, can you pick just one to focus on first? Start with whatever feels like the most manageable change and build from there.
