Reduce!

We’ve all heard of the three R’s, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, but do we really know what they mean?

Reduce is the first step to lowering the amount of waste that gets to the landfills. We can help lower the amount of trash that goes into the landfills by being conscientious about what we are using and throwing in the trash. Here are just a few simple steps to take to help reduce waste:

· Sign up for online versions of your bank, credit card, and phone statements.

· Do not buy one-time use products like razors, batteries, and plastic cutlery. Refillable and reusable products are the way to go!

· Don’t buy things that you don’t need.

· Buy larger sized bottles of things like shampoo, conditioner, and soap.

· Go to the library to browse and checkout magazines instead of subscribing to them.

· Cancel your newspaper subscription if you don’t read it.

Make a pledge to help reduce waste by leaving a comment about the things you do to reduce waste.

Chew, Chew, Chew

We have all probably heard the recommendation to chew our food at least twenty to thirty times, but most of us don’t. We eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the go and try to eat as fast as we possibly can so that we can still have time to make that phone call.

Just how important is it to chew thoroughly? Well for one, you will actually be able to taste your food. Besides breaking down the food in size, you are also adding saliva and starting the initial digestion process. Digestion begins in the mouth, so if you chew your food thoroughly, your stomach won’t have to work as hard. If you’re looking to lose weight, keep in mind that by eating slowly, your body thinks it’s eating more. Your body absorbs the nutrients easier when it is partially broken down.

Not chewing food thoroughly is often the cause of incomplete digestion, which is the precursor to health problems such as bacterial overgrowth, excess gas, and an upset stomach. Most of us probably want to avoid that, so just SLOW DOWN and chew longer.

It might be hard to get into the habit of chewing thoroughly, but all you really have to do is remember to do it and it will quickly become a habit for you. Happy Chewing!