In many cases, being green is beneficial for our health in more ways than one. This is no exception when it comes to food. Eating processed, over-packaged food, that’s been transported from who-knows-where and was made from ingredients that came from even further in the who-knows-where strata, is not good for the environment. News Flash: it’s not good for us either!
Eating fresh, local goods, and more natural foods, is not only green, it’s a must to maintain our bodies. How can we make sure we get less of the former and more of the latter? Just apply a few simple rules:
1. Shop around the perimeter of your grocery store; this is usually where whole foods and fresh fruits and vegetables can be found.
2. Don’t eat foods with more than five ingredients. As you go lower down the list of what some food contains, you’ll find things no human should ever consume.
3. Don’t buy fuel for your body at the same place you buy fuel for your car! The gas station is just that: a place to buy gas.
4. Say no to processed foods. Our palettes have been cheapened by processed foods which taste mainly of sodium due to the unhealthy amounts of salt used in them. These bad foods are pushed by the companies producing them because they bring a higher profit margin than selling apples, for example.
Along these same lines, re-consider buying food with health claims – they are usually not the healthiest. Again, this tactic is used to sell. When it comes down to it, greed, not consumer interests, drives much of the food industry.
Further, think of all the vitamins and supplements sold to individuals worried they are not getting enough of the A, B or C stuff . Research has shown that things such as omega-3 or beta-carotene can only do good for you when found in their natural state, such as in a carrot. Instead of breaking healthy foods down into their ‘components’, enjoy enough whole foods each day. Make healthy choices when grocery shopping. Choose things that will have a positive impact on you and none on the environment. Not surprisingly, they go hand in hand.
