The University of Montreal (UDM) school of medicine declares that while human health is their priority, human health is ‘worthless’ if the planet is itself suffering.

Below are the university’s five simple and easy recommendations that will have a positive impact on both your system and ecosystems — a question of killing two birds with one stone.

1: Leaving the car at home and getting around on foot and by bike, rather than by car

The Impact on Health

The evidence is overwhelming on the relationship between physical activity, whether leisure or transport and health benefits. Physical also promotes mental health by activating the action of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, known for its antidepressant effect, and endorphin, known for its analgesic and euphoric effect.

Physical activity also improves blood circulation in the body and the brain, which has a direct impact on the responsiveness of the stress hormone cortisol.

Environmental Impact

According to the Quebec Minister of the Environment, the transportation sector is the leading emitter of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the province.

According to Équiterre, a car pollutes more during the first kilometres than when the engine is warm. Thus, the environmental organization recommends opting for walking when the distance is less than 3 km and cycling for distances of less than 5 km.

2: Reduce consumption of animal products

The Impact on Health

A diet rich in plants and lower in meat can also help prevent certain health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Emmanuelle Dubuc-Fortin, nutritionist and graduate student in the Nutrition Department, explains that plant-based foods contain high levels of fibre. “Fibre has the advantage of lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure and better regulating the level of blood sugar,” she says.

“Animal protein, saturated fat and a type of iron found in meat (heme iron) are also associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes,” added the nutritionist.

Environmental Impact

According to a 2018 study, global meat production alone is responsible for 72 to 78% of all GHG emissions from the global agricultural sector.

Substantially reducing meat consumption thus reduces significant GHG emissions, in addition to combating deforestation and the depletion of water and energy resources.

3: Consume local and seasonal products

The Impact on Health

Because local produce has the advantage of being picked at maturity, they are usually fresher with higher nutritional value.

Environmental Impact

The food found on our grocery shelves has travelled an average of 2,500 km. By consuming products grown close to home and in season, we reduce food packaging, and the distances travelled by our food.

However, produce from Quebec that crossed the entire province by truck are not necessarily greener than vegetables grown on the other side of the border, but arrived by boat.

4: Breast-feed

The Impact on Health

Breast milk contains more than 200 components whose benefits for the baby go from the development of the brain to the facilitation of digestion through defence against bacteria. Some of these ingredients cannot be reproduced artificially, including antibodies, enzymes, growth factors and living cells.

Breastfeeding “stimulates the production of oxytocin, the hormone that contracts the muscles of the uterus, allowing the uterus to return to its original shape more quickly,” said Dr. Stefania Vandelli, head of clinical teaching at the Department of family medicine at GMF-U Bordeaux-Cartierville.

Environmental Impact

A study published in the British Medical Journal found that breastfeeding a newborn baby for six months would prevent the production of 95 to 153 kg of CO₂ caused by the use of commercial infant formulas. The equivalent of the carbon emissions of between 50,000 and 77,500 cars per year.

5: Lower the temperature of your environment

The Impact on Health

A 2017 study found that intermittent exposure to light cold would have several health benefits, including the prevention of obesity by activating brown adipose tissue, which increases metabolism and energy expenditure.

The study also found that intermittent cold would allow type 2 diabetics to have their insulin sensitivity increased by more than 40%.

Environmental Impact

Hydro Quebec says that during cold seasons, lowering the temperature by 3 ° C can reduce its energy consumption by 4 to 5%.

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