Researcher Offers Tips For Going Green, Improving Health During The Holidays

Many people set vacation goals. This can include anything from finding the perfect gift for a loved one to living a healthy lifestyle on a budget. One goal that is often overlooked but can easily be added to your seasonal checklist is “going green” or becoming more sustainable. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability means “creating and maintaining conditions in which people and nature live in productive harmony to support present and future generations.”

Casey Stewart, a graduate student in the Department of Environment and Sustainability in the College of Arts and Sciences, noted the importance of living more sustainably even during the busy holiday season.

“It’s easier to throw containers in the trash than to wash them and recycle them,” says Stewart. However, researchers believe that eco-friendly practices not only help the environment, but also improve our health. Because our health and the health of our environment are interconnected, the actions we take can have a real impact on the world around us.

So lifestyle changes for ourselves and our families - even small ones - can make all the difference. UB researchers are helping society make these changes through innovative research that explores new ways to contribute to healthier, more sustainable lives. Some recent examples include projects to support marine populations, analyze hazardous cooking fuels, and improve food access.

“We want our world to be sustainable across generations,” Stewart said. “How can we protect ourselves?” we have to ask the question. How can we use clean energy to save species?”

According to the National Institutes of Health, “As climate change and weather-related events such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and heat waves become more extreme, risks to human health increase. Health threats and new public health issues have emerged around the world Back Now Moreover, it is important for everyone to make things environmentally friendly.

Stuart says we can all start to bring more sustainability into our lives. Ready to get started this holiday season? He shares some tips to help with this:

Go green by saving on waste. A few examples of small changes we can make are not using plastic bags or aluminum foil and switching to glass containers for storing holiday food.

Buy your fruits, vegetables and meat locally whenever possible. "During the warmer months, shop at farmers' markets, where you can talk to the people who grow the crops or raise the animals," says Stewart. Or look in the supermarket for products labeled “local produce.” Knowing how your food is grown and raised not only gives you peace of mind, it also helps your community and significantly reduces emissions from your food sources.

Get creative with your meal planning. Try to reduce your consumption of processed foods this holiday season. Instead, prepare nutritious holiday meals with family and friends.

Keep in mind that when you're short on time, it's easy to fall back into environmentally harmful habits. Be willing to forgive yourself for unfriendly behavior, but remember how to act more wisely in the future.

Shift your focus away from your consumer mindset. As Stewart says, “Why worry about money, finding a parking spot, or finding the perfect gift when we can focus on spending time with our family?”

Sustainable living doesn't have to mean radical changes. “We can take small steps that will have a big impact,” Stewart said. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. We can start by focusing on each other's experiences and learning about the world around us."

Read about UB's sustainability efforts.

You can grow new brain cells. Sandrine Toure is exactly like that.