In celebration of Earth Day, we’re sharing a short list of things you can do to start living a greener life. These things aren’t just good for the environment, though. It turns out that going green can be good for your health, too.

1. Drive less. You’ll reduce your greenhouse gas contributions, improving air quality for yourself and your neighbors. You might also be forced to walk more, which will improve the health of your heart and may help you lose a few pounds in the process. Better air quality also means better lung health and a lowered risk for things like asthma and allergies.
2. Eat less meat. It takes a lot of energy to raise even the smallest roaster chicken. Imagine the energy you could save if you replaced meat dishes with vegetarian alternatives. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but if you’re normally a regular red meat-eater, you could also lower your risk of developing heart disease. Eating more vegetables also decreases your risk for a number of other chronic illnesses.
3. Eat locally grown and organic food. Eating food that’s grown or raised locally decreases the amount of energy it takes to get that food to you. (Estimates say the typical meal purchased at a grocery store travels more than 1,000 miles before it reaches your dinner table.) Again, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint, but you’ll also likely reduce your exposure to pesticides, as many small farmers limit or eliminate the use of these harmful chemicals. Talk to the farmers at your local farmers’ markets or roadside stands to find you more about their farming practices and make you purchases wisely.

There are plenty of other things you can do for the environment (like recycling and turning off lights when you’re not using them), but these three things will get you on your way to living a greener lifestyle, and a healthier one, too. Happy Earth Day!

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

It’s that time again–time to answer another question in our Ask the Dietitian series. As usual, if you have a question you’d like to ask, please feel free to leave a comment with your question on any post and we’ll add it to the queue.

This month’s question comes from a twitter friend (@ahrycyk):

In regards to the good fats (like peanut butter) how much is too much? Is it better to focus on these good fats?

It’s good that you’ve recognized that fats are important to the functioning of our bodies, and shouldn’t be cut out of our diets altogether. Good fats (mono-unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids) should make up the majority of our fat intake and are significantly better for us than saturated fats, which shouldn’t make up more than 10% of our total fat intake.

However, don’t get lulled into thinking that eating a lot of a good fat is OK. While good fats are better for us than saturated fats or trans fats, we can still eat too much of them. Focus on eating mostly unsaturated fats, but watch your total fat intake, making sure it doesn’t make up more than 30% of your total calorie intake (1 gram of fat = 9 calories). Some foods that contain these healthier fats include peanut butter as you mentioned, as well as avocados, olive oil, almond or cashew butter, salmon, walnuts and seeds like pumpkin or sesame seeds.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

There’s a lot of information out there about various diets, what foods are good for us, and what foods aren’t. This news comes from a number of sources, which can be overwhelming. In addition, the information we hear, see and read is often contradictory. But a recent study conducted by University of Michigan Health System suggests a little of the right information, along with some professional support, can go a long way.

In the study of almost 70 women, half received advice from a dietitian which included an exchange list of healthy foods consistent with a Mediterranean diet (e.g. fruits and vegetables, high-monosaturated fats like olive oil, nuts and seeds, etc.) and their suggested serving sizes. A Mediterranean diet has been linked to improved heart health and other health benefits. In addition to the food information, participants received telephone counseling with the dietitian to help them make dietary changes, and in-person sessions at the start of the study and three months later. The other half of the participants continued with their regular diet and did not receive counseling from the dietitian.

Researchers found that the group that received the information and counseling were successful in improving their diets and maintaining these improvements for six months. The comparison group that didn’t receive information or counseling made no significant changes in their diets.

It appears, according to this study, that healthy behavior changes are possible, and even likely, when the right information and the right advice is available. If you are ready to improve your health and would like to make behavior changes that stick, consider consulting with a dietitian. Find a local dietitian at the American Dietetic Association website, or contact Nicole to set up a consultation.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, Calif. has stopped distribution of its processed pistachio products after discovering a Salmonella contamination. The company has issued a voluntary recall on about 1 million pounds of its pistachio and pistachio containing products. More recalls are likely to come in the future, as the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods and investigations at the company are ongoing. The FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are also currently investigating the contamination.

For more information on this recall, and to view or search a list of products affected by this recall, visit the FDA’s website.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."