How Sustainability Impacts Health & Well-being
There is a reason people say “healthy planet, healthy people”, sustainable practices impact your health and wellbeing in so many more ways than you think
Words: Anna Lowe & Sasha Wardrop
Art: @isabellacotier
Starting with the most obvious, sustainable practices have major positive impacts on our physical wellbeing.
Firstly, alternative methods of transport like biking or walking improve your cardiovascular health in many ways whilst getting you to your destination completely carbon-free.
In terms of what you eat, plant-based foods have a much lower carbon footprint than animal-based foods, and they are packed with the vitamins, minerals, and proteins your body needs to support your physical well-being. Did you know that you would save more water by not eating 500 grams of meat than you would if you didn’t shower for 6 months, so maybe consider making a couple of plant-based meals here and there.
The shift towards organic farming is also beneficial for both our health and the environment. The pesticides, additives, antibiotics, and other chemicals used in non-organic farming runoff into waterways and ruin natural ecosystems by causing erosion and poisoning animals. With the absence of these chemicals, organic produce is more nutrient-rich and GMO-free which is better for our health, oh and did I mention more flavourful??
Plastic production and consumption is perhaps the issue most focused on when it comes to lessening our impact on the earth. But did you know that by reducing plastics and choosing naturally composed products you are actually helping your own health as well? A 2019 study found that people eat at least 50,000 particles of microplastics a year. This comes with a myriad of health ramifications, many of which are still unknown.
Perhaps a less thought about the impact of sustainability on our health and wellbeing is its impact on our mental health. One study, that observed 50,000 people from 30 different nations, reported that people who valued caring for the environment also felt higher levels of ‘subjective well-being’. Another found that people who recycled were happier than those that didn’t. Kind of crazy to think that something like recycling could make us happier.
