A Slice of Orange - June 2012 - Go green for your health, part 1

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2012

A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health

GO GREEN FOR YOUR HEALTH, PART 1 • Clean earth • Clean water • Clean air

Go green for your health, part 1 TAKING CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT DOESN’T JUST HELP MOTHER EARTH, BUT ALSO YOUR BODY. LEARN HOW TO BE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST AND A HEALTH BUFF AT THE SAME TIME. The technical definition of pollution is “the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem.” Since the ecosystem includes all living things, including humans, the

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likelihood of pollution causing harm to people is high. In fact, millions of people die all over the world because of pollution-related health problems, and millions more get sick from pollution.

A SLICE OF ORANGE

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2012

Clean earth

2. Make your own organic vegetable

Water can easily be contaminated by a

Almost all of our lives are spent on land.

garden. You can do this even when

variety of pollutants, such as heavy met-

However, modern human life results in

you are living in a high-rise condo.

als, and chemicals such as detergents,

trash and chemicals that, when littered

Plant vegetables in window boxes and

fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides,

on the soil, can degrade soil quality, be-

other containers—this will increase your

petroleum hydrocarbons, and house-

come an eyesore, and lead to disease.

vegetable intake, which as your mom

hold cleaners.

Poorly disposed trash can become in-

told you is good for your health, and

fested with rats and insects, which can

decrease your waste at the same time.

Save our oceans, and your health,

transmit diseases such as cholera, ty-

Make sure you keep the rest of your

with the following tips:

phoid fever, and leptospirosis, among

house clean and inspect your plants

1. Conserve water. Use a glass when

others. The most common chemicals that

regularly to make sure insects, vermin,

brushing your teeth. Use waste water

contaminate the soil are petroleum prod-

or mold do not infest your veggies.

when flushing the toilet. Wash laundry

ucts, lead, aromatic hydrocarbons such

3. Plant some citronella in your vegeta-

only when you have a full load; less fre-

as naphthalene, solvents, pesticides,

ble garden as well. This way, you can

quent laundry lessens your exposure to

and other heavy metals. These contami-

use the crushed leaves as an organic

laundry detergents and fabric softeners.

nants can cause skin irritation, cancer,

insect repellant for your other plants and

Minimize the use of home pools (did you

and diseases of the lung, kidneys, liver,

all over your home. This way, you also

know that soaking your skin too long in

blood and nervous system.

reduce your exposure to synthetic insec-

water, chlorinated or not, can strip your

ticides, which can cause lung disease

skin of essential oils that can lead to

How do you clean up the earth to

and nerve damage.

rashes and other skin conditions).

improve your health? Here are some

4. Some plants can extract contami-

2. For more tips on how to save water,

practical tips you can do at home:

nants from the ground, which can im-

visit www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-

1. The first is a no-brainer: do not lit-

prove soil quality and reduce your expo-

ways-to-conserve.

ter. Keep your trash well covered so that

sure to these contaminants. Plant ferns if

3. Use organic fertilizers. Soil that use

vermin are not attracted to them and lay

you have limited space, or sunflowers if

organic fertilizers instead of chemical fer-

claim to your house. This will prevent

you have a large garden.

tilizers retain more water, which means

rats and flying insects from contaminat-

you need to water them less (saving

ing your home and food with disease-

Clean water

water), while at the same time reducing

causing microbes. Take out the trash

Water is the cornerstone of life. And

chemical contamination of the ground

regularly, and make sure dogs do not

your body is more than three-fourths wa-

water. Make your own com-

strew them around. And while you are

ter. Clean water is crucial for a healthy

post bin. Recycle a broken plastic

at it, segregate and recycle!

body. Drink at least eight glasses of wa-

pail. Drill small holes in the bottom for

ter a day, remember?

drainage and aeration. Fill one-eighth

A SLICE OF ORANGE

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2012

of the pail with shredded newspaper or

diseases, including asthma, pneumoni-

dry leaves, and then add soil until the

tis, emphysema and bronchitis.

pail is one-fourth full. Throw your biodegradable trash in this bin. Keep the bin

Since plants are nature’s way of filtering

well sealed to avoid attracting pests.

air, planting a garden not only cleans

Keep the compost moist, and use once

up the earth and water, but also the air.

the trash has been composted.

The other tip mentioned above to keep

4. Minimize your use of chemicals—

our air and water clean—minimizing

use only when necessary. If soap and

the use of chemicals—is also a good

water will work just as well, avoid us-

way to keep the air clean.

ing harsh cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda are also good alternative house-

In addition, the following tips not only

hold cleaners. Keep chemicals tightly

help prevent air pollution, but also im-

These are just a few ways to help both

closed to avoid spillage and exposure

prove your health.

your body and the environment. The in-

to you and your loved ones.

1. If you drive, save gas. Travel only

ternet has tons of websites that suggest

when necessary. Avoiding idling. This

other tips. The point is that by keeping

Clean air

causes a release of carbon monoxide,

our surroundings clean, we keep our

Air pollution is the hardest kind of pol-

which is a deadly air pollutant.

bodies clean as well.

lution to avoid because gases diffuse,

2. Go vegetarian a few days a week.

and air is everywhere. The most com-

Greenhouse gases from animal feces in

But aside from air, water and soil pollu-

mon air pollutants are smoke emissions,

poultry, pig, and cattle farms contribute

tion, there are other pollutants that can

chemical fumes, dust, and greenhouse

a large amount to the total greenhouse

harm your body. Next month, we will

gases such as carbon dioxide and

gases in the atmosphere. On the other

learn more about these less-known pol-

methane from decomposing matter.

hand, sustainable vegetable farms help

lutants, and how to avoid them for a

These can cause a wide range of lung

keep the air clean.

healthy you.

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The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.

Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2012 ActiveLink

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A Slice of Orange

is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.

Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD