Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash
by Christine Muller
“Reflect upon the inner realities of the universe, ….
every part of the universe is connected with every other part
by ties that are very powerful and admit of no imbalance…”
Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, p. 157
During the fast, we think about our spiritual as well as physical health. There is a tendency to look at human health and the natural environment as two separate issues that are both important. In reality, our physical health is intricately interconnected with the health of the environment. We humans are part of the environment, and our health depends on clean air, clean water, and healthy food.
Therefore, speaking generally, many of the choices we make to improve our health are also good for the environment, and our environmentally responsible actions are directly (or sometimes indirectly) beneficial to our health as well. Here are just a few examples.
When we walk or bike to the post office, store, or work, we get fresh air and necessary exercise, and we contribute to cleaner air and less carbon pollution that harms our climate. Globally, more than 6.5 million people die each year from air pollution of all kinds, and many others suffer from asthma, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, cancer, and other diseases worsened by air pollution. So, less driving is good for the environment and for the health of everyone on the planet.
More than 30 years ago, our family doctor advised me: “Don’t accustom your children to eating red meat!” It was already well known at that time that red meat is bad for the heart. When we add the devastating health impacts of factory farming, with its practice of feeding cows antibiotics and hormones to fatten them up more quickly, the case for not eating beef purely for our health is very strong!
Avoiding red meat and generally eating less animal products is also good for the climate. Cattle and other ruminants like sheep emit significant amounts of methane, mainly through burping, and methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas. So, giving up red meat is a win-win for our health and for the climate! At the same time, you are making a socially responsible choice, as explained here: Eat Lower on the Food Chain (PDF).
Many consumer products contain dangerous chemicals; some of them are known to be carcinogens that are banned in other countries. You can find toxic chemicals such as diethanolamine (DEA) and formaldehyde in personal care products such as nail polish, hair products, and lotions. Many cleaning products, including laundry detergents, also contain toxic chemicals; however, unlike personal care products, cleaning products are not required to be labeled. These and numerous other chemicals are directly harmful to our health, especially when we are regularly exposed to them from all sides. Some, such as PFAs (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), accumulate in our bodies over time. So, we should not be surprised that cancer is so widespread. And, of course, these chemicals are also toxic to the environment.
Plastic bottles are disastrous for the environment, as well as harmful to our health, because the chemicals in the plastic are leaking into the water we then drink.
In a previous article, we discussed the harmful effects of the herbicide glyphosate and why it is better for our personal health and for the environment to buy organically grown food.
Next month, we will discuss the harmful impacts of lawn chemicals on both our health and the environment.
So, what can we do? We can continually educate ourselves about the products and foods we buy; we can advocate for laws and regulations that support human and environmental health; and we can strive to broaden our understanding of how our personal health is not separable from the health of the environment.
