If there is one thing we truly value, it is our health. This depends, among other things, on having our basic needs met: drinking, eating, eliminating waste, sleeping, and feeling safe. While for most people in the West these are taken for granted, unfortunately that is not the case everywhere.
April 7 marks World Health Day, whose theme for 2022 is“Our Planet, Our Health.” This is an opportunity to highlight the intimate connection between humanity and the Earth; for preserving the environment helps preserve our health, and conversely, taking action for our health often goes hand in hand with taking action for the planet. This important reminder echoes the various IPCC reports on the looming environmental crisis… Here, you’ll find a few ideas for a healthier, more ethical, and responsible lifestyle that benefits everyone.
The Hummingbird's Share: Every Action Counts
You’re probably familiar with the Native American legend of the hummingbird that helps put out a forest fire by carrying droplets of water in its beak. Obviously, this single act seems completely futile in the face of a fire. But if more people join in, those droplets become a puddle, then a lake, then a sea, and finally an ocean… It is through collective action that change happens. A majority of small actions is better than a minority of larger ones. This is, in fact, the recommendation of the latest IPCC report: a more frugal lifestyle and individual actions to be taken.
April 7 is World Health Day, a date that also commemorates the founding ofthe World Health Organization on April 7, 1948. Each year, a specific theme is highlighted, and in 2022, we’re drawing a connection between the planet and health. Air and water pollution, ultra-processed foods, and climate change are all issues that impact our health in the short, medium, or long term. The good news is, it’s not too late to take action! There are various habits we can adopt—and they’re less restrictive than you might think.
Cooking at Home to Take Control of Your Diet
Of course, it’s not easy to cook delicious meals every day when you’re caught up in a time-consuming routine. Still, taking back control of your diet is an important step…
The key: getting better organized. There are various ways to save time in the kitchen. You’ve probably heard of batch cooking? It involves setting aside a block of time during the week to get a head start on meal prep, especially when it comes to side dishes (cooking vegetables and starchy foods, preparing casseroles, stir-fries, etc.). The benefits are numerous: fewer processed foods, more balanced meals, and greater savings.
Cooking your own meals also means consuming food more thoughtfully: you plan your shopping list in advance based on the meals you’ll be making, and cooking at home encourages you to choose seasonal fruits and vegetables (you can’t find pumpkin at the market in the summer, and tomatoes are much less flavorful in the winter).
This helps support small-scale producers and reduces our carbon footprint.
Furthermore, reducing meat consumption is also beneficial to one's health—particularly in preventing cardiovascular disease— and to the environment, since meat production accounts for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Through the food we eat, we have the power to combine pleasure and health while taking care of the planet.
Promote a frugal lifestyle so that you buy only what is essential
Since the rise of e-commerce, we’ve never been under more pressure to buy products we could easily do without. Whether it’s a piece of clothing that remains unworn in the closet, a kitchen gadget, or decorations that just collect dust, we all have unused items in our homes. All of this adds up to plastic packaging, waste, and deliveries that take a toll on the environment. Decluttering is more than just a habit—it’s a philosophical concept. To borrow the title of Pierre Rahbi’s book, *Toward Happy Simplicity*, it’s about focusing on what really matters.
This ties in with minimalism, which involves detaching ourselves more from material possessions to achieve a lighter state of mind. After all, material possessions create a certain mental burden, in addition to taking up space and cluttering our living spaces. Limiting our consumption to products that are truly useful to us allows us to break free from the vicious cycle of overconsumption. Making lists and sticking to a monthly budget organized by categories of need helps us free ourselves from the superfluous. There’s no need to deprive ourselves when consumption is thoughtful.
Raw and natural materials, in your home and on your person
No fewer than 100 billion garments are sold worldwide each year . The overwhelming majority of them are made of synthetic materials: polyester, acrylic, viscose, or even cotton—which isn’t always organic and whose production accounts for 2% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it an ecological disaster… Not to mention the working conditions of the employees involved in this massive garment production.
Whenever possible, make it a habit to choose natural, untreated fabrics such as organic cotton or linen. Healthy clothing will last longer and, above all, will be much more comfortable to wear—thanks to its softness (which often improves with each wash), its lightness in summer or warmth in winter, and its excellent breathability (unlike synthetic fabrics, which make you sweat).
Furniture also plays a role! Between paints, adhesives, dust, and dust mites… it has a significant impact on indoor air quality. By choosing minimally processed materials like solid wood (and, if possible, locally sourced wood), you’re making a choice that supports health and sustainability. This helps reduce indoor pollution and also minimizes its environmental impact.
At KIPLI, offering natural and ethical products is our way of doing our part for the planet. Our furniture, bedding, and home linens are built to last, while respecting both people and the environment. We work with passionate local artisans who share our values.