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NEWSBITES
NEWS*BITES
3 Ways to Ditch Plastic
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BY VERA TWEED
Plastic waste is destructive to the planet and all its inhabitants. But can you live without all the containers, wrappers, and other plastic stuff that surround us? “I encourage people to think of what they can do and not get discouraged by what they can’t do,” says activist Sandra Ann Harris, author of Say Goodbye to Plastic and founder of ECOlunchbox.
Plastic is so pervasive that it’s impossible to live 100-percent plastic-free, but you can signifi cantly reduce your plastic imprint on your own life and the planet. Harris likens the journey toward plastic-free living to a GPS in your car: It points you in the right direction and helps you get closer to your destination.
“It isn’t about perfection,” she says. “It’s about always trying to make the best choice you can in the moment.”
What to Do
Harris recommends a gradual approach:
1. Be mindful of the plastics that you’re using. 2. Identify any simple things you can swap out, such as using glass or stainless-steel containers with silicone lids instead of plastic bags and plastic wrap to store food, a reusable bag for groceries instead of a plastic one, or reusable utensils instead of plastic ones for take-out food you eat at home. 3. For a bigger plastic purge, work on one room at a time. Let’s say you attack the bathroom. Step by step, switch to a bamboo toothbrush; fl oss made from biodegradable silk; toothpaste and mouthwash tablets; and soap, shampoo, and conditioner
Plastic Facts
* The plastic produced worldwide each year weighs 300 million tons—
the same as the weight of the entire human population.
* 91 percent of plastic is not recycled. * The single-use plastic bags used worldwide in just one year, if joined
end to end, would encircle the earth 4,200 times.
* At the rate we’re going, the plastic in our oceans will weigh more than
the fi sh by 2050.
in bars rather than plastic bottles. Experiment to fi nd your favorites.
Hidden Plastic
Styrofoam is an obvious source of plastic, but paper coff ee cups and food containers aren’t as eco-friendly as you might think. The insides of both are typically coated with plastic to prevent liquid from seeping through. And recycling facilities aren’t equipped to handle these combined materials, says Harris.
While there is research in progress to develop compostable coatings for paper coff ee cups, and there are eff orts to improve recycling, the problem has not been solved. In the meantime, try these alternatives:
*For beverages, use your own reusable cup, unless pandemic health rules prohibit it. * For take-out food, bring your own glass or stainless-steel container with a silicone lid.
In the case of take-out food that is priced by weight, ask the store to weigh your empty container and give you a sticker or note with the tare (pronounced like “tear” when it means “rip”). The tare is the weight of the empty container, which should be deducted so that you’re charged only for the food. The move toward plasticfree living can take some work, says Harris, “but it can be a very joyful journey and a creative eff ort.”
Coff ee
Lowers Risk for Heart Failure
People who drink one or more cups of ca einated co ee per day have a lower risk of heart failure, according to an analysis of studies of more than 21,000 Americans, led by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School in Aurora. Deaths from heart disease were also lower among co ee drinkers. The lowest risk was found among people who drank 2 cups of co ee daily. However, individual risk can vary, depending upon other lifestyle factors.
PROBIOTICS PROTECT AGAINST VIRAL INFECTIONS
Probiotics can improve immune function and reduce the chances of getting a viral respiratory infection, such as the fl u, according to a review of studies that followed more than 700 people. Three popular strains of probiotics found in supplements proved to be e ective: Lactobacillus was best, followed by Bifi dobacterium, and then Lactococcus.
A healthy balance of bacteria in the gut enhances digestion, improves nutrient absorption, and enables good immune function to resist infections. Although diet plays a pivotal role, probiotic supplements are an additional, helpful tool.
Exercise that makes you sweat can lead to muscle cramps, especially if you’re working out in hot weather. And drinking plain water—without electrolytes—can make things worse. In fact, plain water increases the odds of cramps developing during or after the activity, because the water dilutes the electrolytes in your body instead of replacing them.
That’s what researchers at Australia’s Edith Cowan University found in a study of 10 men who went for hot-weather runs lasting 40–60 minutes. The lesson: electrolyte depletion is a bigger problem than dehydration.
The solution: Add electrolytes, including sodium, magnesium, and potassium, to your water when you’re doing physical activity that makes you sweat. And drink water with electrolytes after the workout as well.
