Green Living Tips  >  Healthy Living

Healthy Living

Sustainability is not only about caring for the environment but also about improving health and quality of life.

Walking and Cycling

By walking and cycling for short journeys you will not only reduce the CO2 emissions but it also helps reduce stress, keeps your heart strong, reduces blood pressure, gives you more energy and makes you feel good!

Walking tips

1. Think before you drive less than a mile
2. Walk to the local shop or post box
3. Get off the bus a stop earlier
4. Take the stairs instead of the lift
5. Enjoy a walking lunch, walk to the park to eat your     sandwiches.
6. Walk your dog
7. Walk the children to School

Cycling

Peterborough has excellent cycling paths that connect to the city centre making it fun, fast and efficient.

Cycle maps can be purchased from the Tourist Information Centre in the Cathedral grounds. Along with the Green Wheel, a unique cycleway that completly circles the city, there are also 4 National Cycle Network routes in place.


Natural cleaning recipes

Some natural cleaning recipes can be made as you go, for example, using baking soda and vinegar. Some, however, can be made and stored.

Basic ingrediants:

Spray bottles
Liquid castile soap
White vinegar
Pure lemon juice
Baking soda
Salt
Grapefruit seed extract
Essential oils and/or herbs for fragrance (optional)

All Purpose Cleaner

This will last for a couple of months if you keep it in the refrigerator - using lemon.

• cup  of vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tsp of liquid castile soap
• 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract (available from health food shops or online at Goodness direct)
• 20 drops of essential oil (this will delete the vinegar smell and if used there is no need to store it in the refrigerator).

Fill with cold water to the top of the container.

Use as a shower spray to cut down on the soap scum. Just spray and leave on for 20 minutes, then wipe with a cloth or spray and leave to dry. For your kitchen counters, appliances, floors, windows, and mirrors, use as you would any all purpose cleaner.
 
For your floors, use about 1/2 cup in a bucket of water and use in your Dishwasher as a dish rinse. You can even use it in your laundry.

Soft Scrub

• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1 cup of Castile soap
  

Mix together and use as a soft scrub for all your bathroom (bath, tile, and toilet) cleaning needs.

Liquid Detergent

This makes one gallon and can be used anywhere that the all purpose spray can be used.

• 1 cup of Castile Soap
• 1/3 cup of Salt
• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1 cup of Vinegar
• 40 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract.

Low a low heat melt the salt and baking soda with just enough water to help it dissolve. Add half a gallon of water. Add Castile soap and the vinegar. Add Essential oils and Grapefruit extract.

For tub and tile cleaner, put your solution in a spray bottle and use on your bathroom or kitchen.

For floors, add 1/2 to one cup (more) of castile soap to your bucket of water and clean almost any floor. You can also use this natural cleaning recipe in stead of commercial dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent.

Organic Food

A good way to reduce packaging and eat healthier fresher food is to buy organic. Organic is good for wildlife, soil and the environment and good for you and your health.

If you cannot grow your own, a good alternative is to use a local organic box scheme. Local farmers grow and pick the freshest organic produce and deliver them to your door. Woodlands Farm and River Nene Organic Vegetables both cover the Peterborough area.



Get Kids Cooking

It is important to get your children involved in food preporation as it can help increase their interest in healthy foods. The BBC Good Food magazine has lauched a campaign to do exactly this. Their website www.bbcgoodfood.com has recipe ideas and tips on how to get your children involved.