246_Sustainability as Preventative Health Care

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 246

Sustainability as Preventative Care

Over the last few episodes I have covered several topics regarding the health benefits of a sustainable lifestyle. From out diets, to reducing toxin exposure, to getting more physical activity and reconnecting with nature, as well as supporting our mental health and emotional well being. The affects of a sustainable lifestyle are as far reaching as the affects of climate change.

Besides the obvious benefits to the environment and health of our planet, a sustainable lifestyle can also be thought of in terms of preventative health care. Maintaining a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise goes a long way toward preventing many of the chronic disease that plaque our modern culture.

So join me for episode 246,  Sustainability as Preventative Care.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E246 Sustainability as Preventative Care.

Good news story of the week

This week’s story is about wolves and aspen trees. Who would have ever thought one species would effect the other.

But in the northern reaches of Yellowstone National Park, young aspens are growing taller and broader than ever before for the first time in 80 years. That unexpected return is being attributed to the return of the gray wolf.

But, what does these two have in common? That being the gray wolf and the aspens. Believe it or not it is the relationship these two species have with elk. The elk eat emerging aspen tree sprouts, especially in late winter. This eating pattern prevents any new growth from replenishing the aspen grooves.

The grey wolf has been virtually eliminated from the park since the 1930s. Without this apex predator, elk populations boomed. However, researchers from Oregon State University have demonstrated that the wolves hunting the elf have allowed the aspen populations to increase because the new saplings are able to survive and grow.

The researchers examines 87 aspen stand in 2012. When they returned in 2020 they found that 43% of the sample sites had new young trees. This trend had not been noticed since the 1940’s.

It is amazing how so many people protest the reintroduction of apex predators such as the wolves. But when you take such an animal how of the ecosystem, there are far reaching effects. But the same is true when they are returned.

This new growth of trees will have positive affects for a variety of other smaller critters such as woodpeckers, wrens, voles, mice, and even beavers.

Now let’s move on to this weeks episode.

As you have likely heard me say before, everything comes with a price. It might be physical labor, time, improving your education, money, or emotional investment depending on what you are trying to accomplish. No matter what you do or where you go, if you want to accomplish something, or reap the benefits of your work, it is going to cost you something.

Here is how I look at it. A few years ago I started thinking about adding a sunroom onto the cabin. I came up with a rough estimate of materials cost, then figured about how much time would be needed to do the job. Once I had those two figures, I then thought about how much extra I would have to work to not only come up with the money to complete the project but also had to budget for time away from my regular job to complete the project. So my total cost was the following: materials, labor, budgeting for time away from work, and the amount of extra work I would have to do to manage this financially.

Then I looked at the benefits: 200 additional square feet of living space, the ability to extend our growing season, a place to store extra water in the winter without freezing, the benefit of passive solar heating in the winter and being able to reduce our use of wood to heat the cabin. Then after weighing the cost against the benefits, I decided to proceed with the project.

But you can also look at many other things in life the same exact way. For example, if you wanted to go back to school to get an advanced degree, what’s it going to cost. If you wanted to do something completely different and move to Hawaii, what’s it going to take to make that happen. At any rate, you get the picture.

But here is something most people do not think about. We have the nice modern culture with all the conveniences we could ever possibly want. But, what’s the cost of all that? Well, there is the environmental cost, but that is obvious. Then there is the financial burden, meaning our modern lifestyle is not exactly cheap. But the one underlying cost that most people never consider is the cost to their own personal health. Allow me to explain.

Disease of Modern Society

The disease of modern society are often referred to as the “diseases of affluence” or “lifestyle diseases.” These are health conditions that are associated with the lifestyle and societal changes brought about by modernization, industrialization, and urbanization. These diseases are typically non-communicable and are linked to factors such as sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, and increased stress. For example: Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hypertension, asthma, cancer and depression.

In contrast, the “disease of poverty” are typically infectious diseases or the result of poor living conditions. This is similar to the leading causes of death during the 1700s. Infectious diseases, poor diet and lack of proper nutrition, complications during child birth, and lack of access to health care were leading causes of death.

But in our modern culture the kicker is that with the exception of idiopathic disease or those of genetic origin, most diseases in our modern culture are preventable to a large extent.  And believe it or not, the best way to prevent suffering from a chronic disease involves adopting a combination of healthy lifestyle habits and proactive health management strategies. Some of the key recommendations are things such as:

•  Maintain a healthy diet:
•  Engage in regular physical activity:
•  Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol consumption
•  Maintain a healthy weight
•  Get regular health screenings
•  Manage stress and prioritize mental health
•  Ensure adequate sleep

The Win-win

What most people do not realize is that we have a win-win situation staring us right in the face. We have the ability to save our planet while maintaining our health. The best part is that this is not anything difficult. Many sustainable choices are inherently preventive: nutritious food, active living, reduce exposure to toxins. Healthier daily habits in the long run means fewer doctor visits, lower healthcare costs, and even a longer life expectancy.

By far and away prevention is not only cheaper, it’s kinder to your body and your future. Besides saving our planet, we should look at sustainable living as a long-term preventative health strategy. Such a lifestyle promotes habits, environments, and choices that reduce the risk of chronic disease, enhance physical and mental well-being, and supports a healthier future for both individuals and communities.

Now to prove my point, I am going to do a very quick review of some of my previous topics of interest.

🥗 1. Encourages a Healthier Diet

Sustainable eating emphasizes:

•  Whole, plant-based foods
•  Organic produce or at least consuming fruits and vegetables with lower chemical residues
•  Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients with are more nutritious and have a much smaller carbon footprint.

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Reduces the risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and inflammation by cutting out ultra-processed, high-sugar, high-fat foods common in conventional diets.

🚶 2. Promotes Regular Physical Activity

Sustainable living often includes:

•  Walking or biking instead of driving
•  Gardening and home-based activities
•  Raising some of your own animals for food promotes regular exercise
•  Foraging for native plants as a food source also does this.
•  Spending time outdoors hiking, bird watching, foraging or just enjoying the peace and quiet.

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Supports cardiovascular health, maintains healthy weight, strengthens muscles and bones, and improves mental health—key to preventing many lifestyle diseases.

🌿 3. Reduces Exposure to Toxins

Sustainable choices avoid:

•  Pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and plastic packaging in food
•  Eliminate harmful household chemicals
•  Improving indoor air quality
•  Choosing natural fibers for clothing instead of those processed with synthetic dyes and coated with formaldehyde.

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Lowers long-term risk of hormone disruption, respiratory illness, neurological disorders, and cancer.

🧠 4. Enhances Mental and Emotional Resilience

Sustainable living fosters:

•  Reducing your stress by simplifying your life. Simplicity
•  Being mindful your everyday choices
•  Expressing gratitude for what you have instead of always wanting more
•  Living with a purpose that aligns with your personal values
•  Developing a stronger connection with nature which has been scientifically proven to improve your mental health.

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Reduces risk of anxiety, depression, burnout, and other stress-related illnesses by promoting balance, calm, and emotional well-being.

💧 5. Promotes Clean Water and Air

Sustainable lifestyles reduce:

•  Fossil fuel emissions
•  Helps to lower industrial pollution
•  Reduces waste and plastic contamination simply because we are making better choices.

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Clean air and water reduce asthma, cardiovascular disease, and exposure to environmental toxins—especially for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

🧬 6. Supports Healthy Habits Early in Life

Sustainable living often includes:

•  Teaching children about food, nature, and healthy choices
•  Modeling responsible, active, and conscious behaviors
•  Remember what Confucius said, “If you plan for one year, plant rice. If you plan for ten years, plant trees. If you plan for one hundred years educate children.”

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Establishing sustainable habits early reduces lifelong health risks and supports a culture of prevention rather than treatment.

🏥 7. Reduces Reliance on Healthcare and Medication

By preventing disease through sustainable choices, individuals:

•  Avoid many chronic illnesses that are the leading causes of death in our modern culture.
•  Rely less on pharmaceuticals and costly medical interventions. Currently 67% of Americans taking at least one prescription medication daily with 27% reporting they take four or more medications daily.

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Lower healthcare costs, fewer side effects, and greater independence in managing health.

🌎 8. Builds Resilient Communities That Protect Health

Sustainable communities tend to prioritize:

•  Local food systems
•  Clean, healthy environments
•  Public health equity and climate adaptation

🔎 Preventive Health Benefit:
Community-wide sustainability supports long-term health for everyone—especially in times of crisis such as climate related events or even pandemics.

✅ Conclusion: Preventative Health Care is a Natural Benefit of Sustainable Living

Sustainable living is, at its core, a lifestyle of prevention:

•  It minimizes harm to the body and environment
•  It promotes daily habits that sustain well-being
•  It aligns health with long-term ecological survival
•  It provides a foundation for stress relief and mental well being.
•  It teaches us the skills needed for preparedness and self reliance.
•  And all of us adds a protective layer in the event that something unexpected happens that disrupts our entire lifestyles.

🌱 From a healthcare perspective when we live sustainably, we don’t just treat illness—we help prevent it altogether.

What you have to keep in mind though is that sustainable living isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making healthier, more thoughtful choices, something which is sorely lacking in our modern culture of over consumption and wastefulness.

Just remember that small choices can make a big impact. Things such as eating whole foods, reducing your use of plastics, any living on less and buying less all have a significant impact.

The bottom line here is to:

🌎 Live well, live simply, live sustainably.