Gaia wants you to take care of yourself

This topic is boring for most so I’m not going to make this a lengthy read. You have 5 minutes I’m sure.

Environmental consciousness has become cool. Blame it on the transgressions of the previous generations or the visible deterioration of natural resources. This isn't conjectured. Science says global warming is happening, politicians say otherwise. Who you chose to believe is your better judgment (or maybe lack thereof).

But there’s also a downside to this popularity tag. Many are focusing on things like ‘going organic’ or ‘going vegan’ to proclaim their contribution to carbon footprint reduction. While completely viable in their own right, it doesn’t do much if you’re ignoring the basics- making substantial changes to your consumption habits.

Let’s break down the economics of this first. The root cause of environmental deterioration isn’t a type of diet, it’s the simple abuse of resources manufactured through industrial processes to meet demands. We’re a society of convenience, enabled by a vast array of services to meet our daily needs.

‘Inorganic’ meat didn’t get created without a reason, it came to be because the demand was higher and the livestock wasn’t horny enough. Vegetables didn’t start getting the bodybuilder juice because they wanted to, it’s because they were facing body image issues by a greedy society that wanted them bigger.

Now, let’s take a quick look at what being ‘healthy’ represents. Newsflash- It doesn’t represent salads, quinoa or Keto. It means functioning at a basic level where you’re capable of day-to-day activities with optimal performance, and consumption of the right amount of food required by the body.

Morbid obesity is one of the biggest problems we’re facing right now. Morbid obesity means higher consumption of food, higher consumption of food means higher demands. That’s why the additives got introduced in the first place. If you’re extremely overweight because of voluntary actions, eating 70% of your meals from restaurants, it doesn’t matter how many plastic bottles you avoid, your impact on the environment will mostly be negative. Don’t care if that goes against positive body image.

Science tidbit. Our breathing constitutes carbon emissions obviously. Higher weight (beyond a certain range) drastically changes breathing habits. Faster breathing because of weight concerns converts to higher carbon emission at a basic level. India alone accounted for 2.4 billion carbon emissions in 2016. On the other spectrum, this faster breather can also be called shallow breathing. According to Luckovich, an apprentice Integrative Breathwork facilitator in Brooklyn, New York, the chronic stress that is associated with shallow breathing results in lower amounts of lymphocyte, a type of white blood cell that helps to defend the body from invading organisms, and lowers the amounts of proteins that signal other immune cells. The body is then susceptible to contracting acute illnesses, aggravating pre-existing medical conditions, and prolonging healing times. Shallow breathing can turn into panic attacks, cause dry mouth and fatigue, aggravate respiratory problems, and is a precursor for cardiovascular issues.

Yes, we should avoid plastic. Yes, we should support local farmers. But if you introspect and start taking care of your health which will inevitably lead to reduced ‘junk’ consumption, lesser carbon footprint.

You know how they say, you can’t invest properly into a relationship if you don’t invest in yourself first. Maybe they don’t, but it definitely stands true for our relationship with the environment.

Here are a few useful tips that might help both personally, and environmentally. They won’t get you ripped but they’ll definitely improve your quality of life and help the environment simultaneously.

I know I haven’t accounted for many lifestyle factors. What if you’re living out of a suitcase and traveling on the job most of the time? What if you don’t have the time to cook? What if your work revolves around social drinking? What if your injured to exercise?

To be honest, I don’t have the answer. But chances are at least some of the principles above would still be possible for you.

Our choices are our own, remember that. If you care about the environment, take a conscious step to better your health first

Love

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