If it weren’t for our wonderful planet, we wouldn’t be able to source the best coconuts out there to create pure coconut oil products to help create healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. So, today, we’re here to celebrate Earth Day!

The importance of Earth Day

Since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22, with intent of establishing and furthering the modern environmental movement.

According to the official website for Earth Day, “When we come together, the impact can be monmental,” and small changes add up to a big difference. Committing earth-friendly acts, making more sustainable choices, and inspiring and educating others is a big part in helping the movement to protect our environment for a healthier, more sustainable future.
To do our part in educating and empowering our friends and families who use Skinny & Co. pure coconut oil products, we’re going to talk about superfoods!

What are superfoods?

Superfoods have a higher ratio of vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting nutrients. Foods that have been praised as superfoods are rich in antioxidants including beta-carotene; vitamins A, C, E; and omega-3 fatty acids. These antioxidants help protect you against the negative effects of free radicals, which are chemicals known to cause cell damage. Superfoods may also help reduce the risk of the build up of fatty plaque in the artery walls.

Most commonly touted superfoods include the following:

• Berries
• Leafy greens (such as spinach, swiss chard, kale, collard greens, and mustard greens)
• Cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, radishes, and turnips)
• Tomatoes
• Legumes (such as kidney beans, black beans, red beans, garbanzo beans, soybeans, and peas)
• Nuts (such as hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans)
• Whole grains
• Yogurt
• Fish

Remember, that these foods provide limited benefit when added on top of a poor diet. Many people in the United States don’t get enough potassium, fiber, or iron found in fruits and vegetables. Find them in the organic aisle and consume them raw in order to achieve the greatest nutritional benefit.

Why superfoods matter for Earth Day

Fruits and vegetables are great for your health and even better for slimming down your waistline. But, some fresh foods are more beneficial than others both for the human body and for the planet.

Believe it or not, food is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (which are thought to contribute greatly to climate change) for any household. In fact, the food consumption of the average American household emits 8.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. Most of these emissions occur during food production, and food transportation also contributes.

This is where things start to really click: fruits, vegetables, and grains are actually the food groups with the lowest carbon footprint. So, by making the choice to incorporate the fruits and vegetables listed as superfoods into your diet more often, you can start to reduce your carbon footprint and help the planet...all while helping yourself in the process!

So, what do you say? Will you start eating more superfoods to help the planet?