Healthy Living for a Fit Planet
Sep 6th 2011
This week I’m launching a series called “Healthy Living for a Fit Planet.” As an avid newspaper junkie, I have been haunted by the daily deluge of images coming out of the Horn of Africa. The rail thin bodies of young and old alike born from the impact of draught and war on millions of people have ravaged a nation.
While I am far away from the situation, I cannot sit on my laurels feeling helpless. There is not much that I can do about the political situation, but as a former ecologist, I am hyper aware of humanity’s impact on the planet and our natural resources. Reports from government agencies and NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) are flooding the internet with terrorizing facts about the climate changes and their effects on food production. Take a look at the Horn of Africa, and as some of these facts would indicate, you are staring at what potentially could be us.
The way that we eat greatly impacts climate change. We have all been hammered over the head through the last decade about meat and how reducing red meat consumption can improve our health. Well, truly, in addition to helping our bodies, it also helps the planet because the less methane that is produced (through the release of gas and waste from the animals), the less need there is for deforestation. Disclaimer: this is a. a small list of environmental impacts that do not begin to chip the tip of the iceberg, and b. there are other improvement options, namely sustainable producers of meat, but light brightens through the crepe, I promise.
“A greener, more sustainable earth is everyone’s responsibility! [Golden Krust©] is dedicated to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, and we offer you these simple guidelines to help you reduce your carbon footprint.” This headline was recently featured in Golden Krust©’s Winter Magazine. Golden Krust© is a Jamaican/Caribbean food restaurant franchise. One of its eco-friendly practice guidelines is to reduce meat consumption, making one meatless meal a week. Reducing your carbon footprint is truly as simple as that.
If we want ourselves and future generations to have the opportunity to experience the thrill of jumping on JumpSport Trampolines™ under beautiful blue skies, running through leafy forests laden with mushrooms and moss, shelling on squeaky, powdery beaches, then we can begin by examining what we put into our mouths. Climate change is not our predetermined destiny; evidence suggests that we have the power to change it. Change and determination are part of our makeup. We see ourselves overcoming physiological hurdles, weight loss plateaus, and creating communities. I implore you to empower yourselves against the tidal wave of climate change one bite at a time!
Have you already changed your diet for environmental purposes? Have you considered doing so? JumpSport would love to hear your thoughts, your recipes, and how you implemented your new eating patterns in your home. Please send your stories to any of our social media avenues: The JumpSport blog by Heidi Aspen Lauckhardt-Rhoades is visible through: http://www.trampolineblogs.com/, and please follow the link to JumpSport’s Facebook pages http://www.facebook.com/FitnessTrampoline or http://www.facebook.com/JumpSport. You can also Tweet or Follow JumpSport: @FitTrampoline or @JumpSport
In good health,
JumpSport
Heidi Aspen Lauckhardt-Rhoades
Professional Fitness Instructor, ACE, AFFA, TRX, Indo, PIA, GROOVE
Dance and Creative Movement Productions
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