Green Diets Help the Earth and You

Green Diets: Change Your Diet and Help the Earth

Posted on Sep 4, 2013 in Sustainable Living & Sustainable Lifestyle by Chris Keenan 0 Comments

Are you interested in losing weight but want to do it in a safe and healthy way? Three green diets are gaining popularity, in part because they are just as good for the Earth as they are for the people embracing the change.

The Green Diet Challenge: Try Vegetarianism

Meat is bad for the environment. Livestock pollute the water, create greenhouse gas emissions, and take up space that used to be occupied by wildlife. A vegetarian diet, therefore, can help you meet your weight loss goals and help the Earth at the same time. If giving up meat altogether does not sound very appealing, it is important to remember that small changes can make a big impact. Some people decide to eat vegetarian meals the majority of the time, but they allow themselves to have meat on the weekends or just a few times per week. You could also evaluate your current eating habits and resolve to reduce your meat consumption; for example, if you typically eat meat five days a week, make a concerted effort to do so just four days per week from this point forward.

Eat “Real Food”

A real food diet takes users back in time, encouraging them to consume foods straight from nature. Dieters eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese, milk and whole grains. Meat must be locally raised and seafood should be wild caught instead of farm raised. In addition, sweeteners must be all natural; things like honey and fruit juice are okay, but artificial sweeteners obviously are not. If you decide to follow a real food diet, you have to stay away from refined grains, any type of pre-packaged food that has six or more ingredients, and fast food restaurants.

Stay Away From BPA

If you follow environmental issues, you have probably heard of BPA. BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a chemical that is found in plastics and drink cans, among other things. While it is associated with a number of different foods, it has been linked to both diabetes and obesity, raising alarm bells with the medical community. Starting a BPA-free diet means that your Glen Cove rentals household would have to give up a lot of “convenient foods,” like canned soup, canned vegetables, frozen foods and a number of packaged items. However, along with that decision would come a certain peace of mind that you are selecting healthy food choices for you and your family.

The three diets mentioned about can help you lose a little extra weight while minimizing your carbon footprint. As with any dietary change, it is important to speak to your doctor before you implement a new routine. However, if you remain focused on healthy eating habits, you really can’t lose.