by Dee Davis

Created on: January 16, 2009

We live in a time when everyone is more health conscious, environmentally aware and more informed about everything. I don't believe it's a fad, I really believe that we know realize the consequences of our actions and we are willing, collectively, to take responsibility for our actions and do our part to be a little kinder to the earth. In turn, I really believe, we are kinder to ourselves. More so, it helps us to feel good about our part in taking care of the only planet and the only body we are given in this lifetime, because what is in the environment and in our foods affects us directly or indirectly.

Buy products with little packaging (many items come in packaging made from petroleum products); therefore you are sending a message about what's acceptable to you.

Instead of buying paper plates, buy disposable plates or reusable plastic plates, because you are then reducing waste.

It's better to buy organic products instead of inorganic food products because no pesticides are used to grow it.

If your neighborhood provides recycling services apply to it, call waste management or solid waste management in the county which you live.

Use energy saving bulbs (compact flourescent bulbs) instead of the regular soft white bulbs, they simply save more of your money and more energy. They last ten times longer than regular bulbs, which mean fewer bulbs bought, which in turn means less waste and lower electricity costs! Therefore, you win all-round.

When brushing, turn off the tap and when using keep it on low pressure, because billions of liters of unused clean water is wasted daily, which is a lot

When shopping, use reusable cloth bags instead of plastic bags. There are hundreds of millions of plastic bags that are wasted every year in the United States alone and about 1 trillion worldwide. This is catastrophic to our wildlife and takes a very long time to decompose.

Use organic or eco-friendly detergents that are phosphate free or chlorine free, because they are kinder to the environment. Detergents that are filled with harmful ingredients, are not only harmful to you and your family but also to the animal life once the water seeps or is returned to the ocean.

Instead of discarding of your food waste in the waste disposal (like egg shells, potato or banana peels etc.), create your own compost.

In addition, if you are going to use paper towels in the bathroom and the kitchen, there are a number of options: First, make a conscious effort to use less than you normally do daily. Secondly, replace the paper towels in the bathroom with a cloth hand towel.

It has been proven that tap water is healthier than bottled water. It takes much time and effort to break the habit, plus it's a great encouragement to drinking more water instead of pop or other unhealthy drinks, but you have to consider the grade (2, 4, and 5 are considered safe, and are accepted as recyclable) of a plastic bottle when you purchase water or any other drink. Bottles of other grades are considered harmful to your health; therefore there is a lot to consider when buying any product. If you must have water with you, then Wal-Mart and other major stores carry reusable plastic bottles. However, don't forget to check the grade.

This won't happen overnight, however being more informed and taking baby steps to apply those small changes to your life, will not only change your life, but will change the world also.

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