Environment

By Liz O’Hagan, Pharmacist & Integrative Health Expert

We sometimes forget that the environment in which we live impacts our health. Studies have shown that being immersed in nature is positively linked to improvement in brain health and emotional well-being and can help relieve anxiety and stress.

How the external environment affects our internal environment

Being aware of our physical surroundings, within our reasonable control, is important to consider when looking at our health. The energy given off by natural environments, like hearing the roar of the sea, being in a forest among the trees, or up a mountain being blown in the wind, is powerful and incredibly healing in its very nature.

Here are some ways to bring nature into your home, even if you live in a city apartment:

• Bring plants or flowers into your home. This also helps to keep the air clean.
• Hang pictures of natural environments in your home and workspace.
• Listen to forest sounds or ocean waves before bed to unwind. Spotify & YouTube have lots of different soundtracks to explore.

Many environmental factors, like air and water quality, may seem out of our control, however, there are small steps we can take to help protect ourselves from environmental toxins we may be exposed to.

Simple everyday steps we can take to help protect ourselves from environmental toxins:

• Choose organic food where possible. It will contain more nutrients and less additives. It is also tastier!
• Rinse food before consuming, especially food that has travelled a long way from its origin.

Sometimes, plastics can seep into our food, so be aware of what type of container you are using to store and cook your food. Here are some simple tips:

• Swap plastic food containers for glass containers and BPA-free containers.
• Drink from glass as opposed to plastic bottles, unless they are BPA-free.
• Do not reuse soft plastic water bottles, especially if they are left out in the sun.
• Do not microwave food in plastic containers as chemicals may leak into food- use microwave-safe plates/bowls or glass Tupperware.
• Discard any plastic food holders that have scratch marks on them.

Eco-Anxiety

As a healthcare professional, I want to talk to you about something called eco-anxiety. It's a feeling that many people are experiencing these days because of all the news about environmental problems like climate change and deforestation. When we worry a lot about these things, it can make us feel stressed and tired, and it might even make existing health problems feel worse. It's like our bodies are reacting to the worry. But it's important to know that you're not alone in feeling this way, and there are ways we can help manage these feelings together to protect both your mental and physical health.

-"Friends of the Earth" is a supportive community where you can connect with others and take action to work together for environmental justice. They are campaigning for a just world where people and nature thrive.  If you would like to learn more please follow this link: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/ 

 Learn more from the experts: Podcast recommendations:

• Consciously Craving with Irish Tatler: The Ethical (Life)Style Podcast with Pat Kane. This is an engaging and relatable podcast series on everyday sustainability, hosted by Pat Kane (Instagram: @iampatkane), sustainability advocate, strategist, and storyteller. 

• The Doctor’s Kitchen Podcast: #210 Organic Food is it Really Worth It? 

• The Laura Dowling Experience: Pat Kane – Can we all live more sustainable lives? Episode #022: 

Controlling your environment for a more peaceful life

When you live a busy and stimulating life it is sometimes a great idea to control what you can in your daily environment to add to your sense of peace. Here are some ideas in how you might do that.

• Reduce visual stimuli by decluttering your home & workspace you’ll be surprised at how much lighter and calmer you’ll feel once you’ve decluttered your space
• Be mindful of screentime. We use our smartphones, tablets, and laptops daily for both personal and work reasons but overuse can really affect our sleep and our mental health generally. Take regular screen breaks avoid TV in the bedroom and switch devices off when not using them.
• Claim a corner of your home fill the space with things that make you happy, such as plants, candles, photos of loved ones, or soft furnishings. And use the space to read, nap, meditate or simply relax. Your home should provide a serene space for you to decompress.

If you try any of these tips let us know!