Throughout time, the earth’s environment changes with the natural ebb and flow of birth, growth, and death. These environmental changes are painfully obvious for those who feel the direct effects it has on their lives. For others, the impacts may be hidden through an intricate web of indirect effects. Whether it is noticed, unnoticed, or even ignored, the environment is always playing a part in contributing to your happiness, health, and well being.
Direct impacts our environment has on us would be things like air pollution and water pollution, as these things can take a swift and serious toll on on our health. Each year, according to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that 8 million people die from causes directly attributed to air pollution and water contimation. Not to mention the added 1 million deaths of marine life each year due to polluted water.
Indirect effects the environment has on your happiness, health and well being would be things that occur when our minds, bodies, and souls are unbalanaced. Examples are conditions and diseases like diabetes, cancer, depression, insomnia, heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, eating disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, heart attacks, and possibly even Alzheimers.
What we do with our time here on earth affects the course of our lives and countless others. Learn to start recognizing the signs of environmental impacts on your body, and your happiness. Join us in standing up for a world where we all can live in harmony together.
Signs to Notice
- Constantly Being Anxious or Restless
- Feeling Stressed
- Having Low Energy
- Feeling Depressed
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Constantly Getting Sick (Low Immunity)
- Brain Fog and Forgetfulness
- Low Sex Drive
- Unexplained Aches and Pains
- Worsened Allergies
- Having High Blood Pressure
- Always Fatigued
- Random Headaches
While nearly all of these symptoms are generic and nonspecific that could align with many different illnesses, these symptoms more than anything are the result of an unhealthy life.
Medical Disclaimer: Listen, folks, I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical decision.
The below environmental factors impact your happiness, health and well being in one way or another.
1. Air Quality
Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, air pollution has put a strain on many lives. With the advent of machinery, societies all over the world became quick, fast-paced, and efficient. Little did we know the long-term effects of such technological strides.
Every year just under 5 million people will die from causes linked to air pollution. Many of these deaths are more specifically linked to indoor air pollution. The air in our homes and places of work is often 5 times more polluted than the air outside, so says the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, 90% of individuals breathe unhealthy air.
When we breathe polluted air, and air that is packed with unhealthy levels of positive ions we tend to experience respiratory problems, mood swings, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and stress. All of which ultimately contribute to your happiness.
Things that Add to Indoor Air Pollution
- Electronics and Technology
- Poorly Ventilated Stoves and Fireplaces
- Construction materials ( like polyvinyl chloride(PVC) and formaldehyde)
- Fire Retardants and Dyes on Furniture and Textiles
- Second-Hand Smoke
What Can You Do About it?
Try out these 4 things to help cut down on air pollution indoors and out and help improve your happiness and well-being:
1. Limit artificial fragrances like aerosol or plugin “air fresheners.” Opt for more natural alternatives like Essential Oils!
2. Consider adopting some house plants (Here are 10 of the Best Indoor Plants for Clean Air)
3. Stop buying meat that comes from animals raised on feedlots. Factory farming makes up the largest percentage of air pollution in the world. Consider raising your own livestock, if you have appropriate and adequate means.
4. Open a window! Get some fresher air flowing through your home.
2. Food Quality
Did you know there are trillions of tiny organisms living in your gut? These tiny mircro-organisms make up whats called the gut microbiome. While it sounds a little scary at first, the majority of these organisms are meant to help us live healthy and happy lives. That is however, if we treat our bodies well by eating whole, natural, and nutrious foods.
Due to commercial farming and food production, the foods we eat today are far less nutritious than the same foods consumed several decades ago.
Considering soil depletion, making fruits and vegetables less vitamin-rich, and unkind conditions livestock are being forced to live in, it is no wonder that our gut microbiome struggles to maintain an even-keeled balance. Not to mention the foods we put in our bodies that many of us have no idea what they’re made of.
With the increased consumption of processed, saturated, sugary, vitamin depleted, and stressed out foods, it is no suprise a number of human diseases are being linked back to our gut health. Just to name a few ailments and diseases that can be directly related to poor gut health; Diabetes, multiple sclerosis, allergies, arthritis, obesitiy, and heart disease.
What Can You Do About it?
1. Heavily weigh the pros and cons of using antibiotics (as they are incredibly harmful to your gut health, and it can take your gut nearly two years to recover from a single round of antibiotics)
2. Consider taking probiotics for an added boost
3. Grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs
4. Eat more whole foods (Cut out processed foods, and anything with added sugar)
5. Raise your own livestock when you have appropriate and adequate means (chickens are my favorite)
3. Water Quality
Water quality may not be an immediate cause for concern for some of us, however, water pollution exists everywhere. For this reason, water quality is something that should be on everyone’s mind.
Average drinking water like tap water, purified water, or even spring water all goes through some kind of filtration process. All 3 are not equaled by any means. Tap water, usually coming from groundwater wells must have detectable levels of chlorine in order to be considered “safe” for consumption. Purified water, mostly derived from groundwater, removes things like chlorine, and minerals. Additionally, purified water must be deionized. Springwater, on the other hand, is filtered and derived from naturally occurring springs and contains natural minerals and ions.
Beyond just the water we drink, it is important to look at the water used by marine life. More and more marine animals are ingesting microplastics, due to heavy plastic waste and pollution in our waterways. Fighting against plastic waste, oil spills, and chemical runoff, marine life is battling for survival.
What Can You Do About it?
1. Limit your use of single-use plastics (check out these Zero waste Essentials)
2. Join movements to help clean up oil spills on land and sea.
2. Reuse, Recycle, and Upcycle! Think twice, before you buy something that will end up in a landfill in less than a year. (Here are 3 ways I like to repurpose old candle jars)
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4. Noises
Take a look at this study conducted by Penn State, which shows how water exposed to different sounds will form different crystals. Based on this study, it is clear that water exposed to positive communication forms smooth, clear, and strong crystals. On the other hand, water exposed to negative communication forms incomplete, chaotic, and fragmented crystal structures.
Now, considering that our bodies are made up of around 60% water, it should be no surprise that different sounds and noises have huge effects on your happiness and well-being. Other studies conducted have already proven that sounds can have positive or negative effects on our stress levels.
Think about the words you use to talk about yourself, and others. Look at the music you listen to. Consider the shows you watch on tv, the noise you hear on your way to work, and the sounds you hear through engagement with your phone, computer, and other devices. All of these daily noises and sounds can impact your happiness and well-being.
What Can You Do About it?
1. Start using positive affirmations when speaking to yourself, about yourself. The way you speak to yourself matters.
2. Add meditation to your routine. Find the time to add peace, quiet, and stillness to your day.
3. Listen to music with higher vibrational frequencies. All music is creative and can be appreciated in its own ways. However, certain music genres typically fall within certain vibrational frequencies. Among the highest vibrational frequencies would be classical music and typically among the lower vibrational frequencies is music like rap, heavy metal, and punk rock.
4. If music isn’t your thing, try listening to healing hertz, which are sounds that vibrate at such high frequencies they are known to have healing effects on our minds and bodies.
5. Try turning off your devices for an hour or two a day. The best practice would be to do so before bed.
6. Spend some time in nature! Get outside and listen to the sounds of the earth.
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