By: DairyFreeGina
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd. The first Earth Day was in 1970. A United States senator from Wisconsin organized a national demonstration. Its purpose was to raise awareness about environmental issues. By the end of that year, the U.S. government created the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).
Protecting the Earth is more important today than it ever has been. The current U.S. President is dismantling the EPA. He is ending laws and regulations that protect the air we breath and the food we eat. He is firing scientists and ending research into climate change and environmental protections. The current administration is doing everything possible to harm the Earth’s health. This approach will inevitably make us less healthy.
Climate change has a direct link to health and wellness, including respiratory health. Studies show that as the Earth heats up allergies become worse and impact more and more people. Respiratory disease will become more common and affect more people. Climate change will negatively affect everyone’s overall health
It is incumbent on all of us, especially now, to do our part to protect the Earth. Here are seven easy steps you can take. These steps will impact the Earth’s health and your own health.
1. Eat Dairy Free
Study after study shows raising animals for milk production and slaughter takes a drastic toll on the environment. Dairy and meat eaters account for almost double the climate killing carbon dioxide emissions than vegans and vegetarians. If the entire world participated in just one meatless meal a week, it would be equivalent to taking 240 million cars off the road every year!
Eating dairy and meat free saves water too. It takes 100-200 times more water to produce 1 pound of beef than to grow 1 pound of plant food. 70% of grains grown in the U.S. feed livestock. Imagine if these grains were used to feed the world’s starving population!
2. Toss Plastic, Use Glass – Glass containers are excellent for storing leftovers and food products. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be used over and over. Glass is non-toxic and does not leach into our waterways and soil like plastic. Switching from plastic water bottles to glass or stainless ones is another positive step to take to protect the Earth.
3. Turn Off Lights, Unplug Electronics – Unplug anything not in use to save money and energy. Choose appliances with the Energy Star rating. This helps save energy and money.
4. Grow Your Own Food – Do you know where your food comes from? Do you know how it was grown? you will have these answers when you plant a garden and grown your own food.
Growing pesticide free food is healthier for you and the Earth. Planting a garden will save you money as you “shop” for your food in your garden. The Earth will benefit by reducing the amount of emissions in the environment from trucks transporting produce to stores. You don’t need a lot of space to have a garden. Vertical gardening, container gardening and hydroponics are excellent ways to grow in small spaces. You can easily grow herbs, lettuce and even tomatoes in pots on a balcony or small deck. Make 2025 the year you start a garden!
5. BYO Bag – Cloth shopping bags are reusable. They can be washed between shopping trips. This reduces the need for plastic bags. More than 100,000 marine animals die every year from getting caught in plastic bags or ingesting them.
6. Use Less Paper- No one loves paper more than I do. However, the more we recycle paper, the better. Cancel newspaper, magazine and catalog subscriptions you don’t really read. Use a dishcloth or cloth rag to clean up spills instead of paper towels.
7. Get Active –Now more than ever it’s important that lawmakers know you want to protect the Earth and reduce the impacts of climate change. Call, write and email federal and state lawmakers. Tell them to protect the Earth. Let them know that regulations are a must for protecting waterways and soil.
What are you doing to green up your life? Share your tips in our comments section.
@DairyFreeGina , April2025. Please do not publish without the written permission of DairyFreeGina
DairyFreeGina is allergic to milk and lamb, and eats vegan and gluten free. Gina is a life long fitness enthusiast, runner and dancer who is passionate about talking food, nutrition, health and exercise. Gina loves cats big and small, calls Disney World her 2nd home– and often blogs on these topics too
