Every year on April 22nd, people all over the world celebrate Earth Day. This day serves as a reminder of how we can all do our part to preserve the planet. While this is something we should think about throughout the year, this yearly event is a great time to tweak our habits. Here are some Practical Ways to Celebrate Earth Day.
Eat an Eco-Friendly Meal
When foods are grown and prepared in eco-friendly ways, it is much better for the environment. As it turns out, they’re also better for our bodies! For instance, organic fruits and vegetables have a much higher antioxidant content than those that were grown with the help of pesticides and herbicides. Those antioxidants are the plants’ natural defense against insects and other environmental factors. This year, make it a point to eat food that focuses on sustainability by incorporating things like organic fruits and vegetables and organic dairy products coming from cows that weren’t fed hormones or antibiotics into your diet. The planet will be so much better off – and so will our bodies.
Plant a Tree
One of the best things we can do for the environment is to plant more trees. With the increase in urbanization, forests are being cut down to accommodate our growing needs as our population increases. Trees are vital because they help produce more oxygen in the air. When we breathe, we take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Our bodies view carbon dioxide as waste, but trees need it! For them, the oxygen that we breathe is their “waste.” In other words, we need trees just as much as the trees need us.
Don’t Drive for One Day
It’s no secret that our vehicles really take a toll on the environment. Gasoline-driven engines produce toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, which over time can cause pollution and reduce the quality of our air. Although it’s nearly impossible to stop driving altogether, there are some things that we can do to minimize our dependence on driving. Walking, riding our bicycles, taking public transportation, and even carpooling can all help us reduce our impact on the environment. This is a great way to celebrate Earth Day!
Set Up a Recycling Program
Recycling is one of the most important things we can do to help the environment. According to the Environment Protection Agency, Americans created about 254 million tons of trash but only recycled or composted around 87 million tons in 2013. This means that only about 34% of the trash generated was getting composted or recycled. Can you imagine if more people recycled? This year on Earth Day, try setting up a recycling program at home or at work. If you already have one, make it a point to help others set one up.
Although it’s important to consider the impact our actions have on the environment throughout the year, Earth Day gives us a chance to change our habits for the better.
© Featured photo by Atstock Productions from iStock