Here’s a colorful thought: Going green
might leave you in the pink of health.
That’s because many things that are good
for the environment are also good for
your body and mind.
Wondering how to create your own win-
win situation? Here are four ideas:
1. Take shorter, cooler showers.
How it helps the earth:
Showering
uses a lot of water—1.2 trillion gallons
a year in this country alone, according
to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Shorter showers—especially
with a high-efficiency showerhead—
help conserve this precious
natural resource.
How it helps you:
Showering in warm
water for up to ten minutes adds
moisture to your skin. Longer, hotter
showers remove your skin’s natural oils
and can dry the skin.
2. Bike to work.
How it helps the earth:
When you
power by pedal instead of gasoline, you
keep about 15 pounds of pollutants
out of the air for each four miles
you travel.
How it helps you:
As a form of aerobic
exercise, biking burns calories and can
help control weight. It may also reduce
your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes,
and colon cancer.
3. Volunteer for a recycling drive
or tree-planting project.
How it helps the earth:
Recycling
reduces waste and greenhouse
gas emissions that are part of the
manufacturing process. Trees absorb
carbon dioxide in the air and produce
shade, shielding buildings from the sun
and decreasing the energy needed to run
air conditioners.
How it helps you:
Volunteering helps
you connect with others. Plus, studies
show it may lessen depression and even
help you live longer.
4. Unplug your TV and computer.
How it helps the earth:
You’ll conserve
electricity. These items draw energy,
even when they’re turned off. To make
shutting down easy, plug electronics into
a power strip that you turn off when not
in use.
How it helps you:
Setting sensible limits
on screen time means less sitting around
and more time for other interests that can
keep your mind and body active. With a
few extra hours a week, you might learn a
new hobby or join a sports team.
References: See page 7
Good for you—
and the earth too
Intermountain InstaCare® is now even more convenient.
Simply call ahead to reserve your arrival time. Once you
arrive, check in and expect a shorter wait time to see
your doctor.
Live in or traveling through central Utah? There’s now
an InstaCare in Payson for your convenience. Visit
intermountainhealthcare.org
and click on “Clinics” to
find an InstaCare near you.
Call Ahead for Faster InstaCare Service
GREEN
bike
Have you ridden a GREENbike
yet? More than 100 bikes are
available at ten stations throughout
the downtown area.
Using GREENbike is easy. Take
any bike, from any station, as many
times as you like, for just $5 a day,
$15 a week, or $75 a year.
Sign up for an annual pass and
receive a card to simply tap on a
bike to unlock it. Set up an online
profile to track the miles you ride,
calories you burn, and pollutants
you’ve kept out of the air.
GREENbike is a nonprofit
bike share program that could
eliminate nearly 77,000 car miles
in 2014. Visit
greenbikeslc.org
for
more details.
2
Total Fitness | spring 2014 |
selecthealth.org
in the know
