by Catherine Manning

As a busy mom, I have learned the hard way that “self-care is not selfish.” To protect ourselves, we must establish and maintain healthy habits and commit to them, even during busy times. Investing in our health pays great dividends. Life throws up its challenges, but with a healthy body and mind, we are more likely to breeze through them.

To that end, I love learning about natural ways to stay strong and be as healthy as possible without chemicals. Natural remedies, when used regularly, may help prepare us for the unexpected or just help our lives run more smoothly.

Nature provides a medicine cabinet full of extraordinary herbs and flowers that form the basis for many modern medicines. Organic companies like Neal’s Yard Remedies create products from natural ingredients with proven therapeutic properties to help ease stress, boost health, improve skin conditions and benefit the body, mind and mood.

With more companies like these, we have more opportunities to choose to be green and support ethical, sustainable, organic and fair-trade programs that can be an investment in our bodies and our environment alike.

This month, celebrate Earth Day by adopting these green habits:

Choose organic. Organic farming reduces environmental pollution, produces less carbon dioxide and bans polluting synthetic pesticides.

Say no to GMO. Organic farming bans genetically modified ingredients. Also, make sure you check your health and beauty products for GMOs, paragons and synthetic fragrances and colors.

Reduce your carbon footprint. Carbon offsetting—reducing your emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases in order to compensate for emissions elsewhere— and carbon footprint reductions should be done in tandem. Offsetting the amount of your carbon pollution can be your contribution to climate change.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Buy products with the minimum product packaging, and reuse containers. Some companies use only recycled plastic, cards and papers that are also recyclable.

The planet is the only place we have to call home. Be passionate about protecting it for generations to come.

Catherine Manning is an independent consultant for Neal’s Yard Remedies. Contact her at 908-400-8961 or [email protected], or visit US.NYROrganic.com/shop/catherinemanning.