Resilience: The ability to bounce back and recover from a difficult experience. Like water, food, and oxygen, it’s necessary for survival. It’s something that McKernan says he learned from one of his animal rescues, Andy. And boy, was Andy resilient. The Holstein calf miraculously survived a barn fire in Southern Ohio, suffering burns to 65 percent of his body. He required around-the-clock wound and pain management care. But through it all, McKernan says Andy’s joyful, kind spirit remained unwavering. “I witnessed his will to live and his enjoyment of being comforted by people—I swear that steer smiled at you,” he says.

Andy put up one heck of a fight. His soul was mighty, but the damage to his little body was too great, and he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. McKernan was there for Andy during his hardest and most traumatic experience. And Andy made sure to return the favor. At the time, McKernan was going through a separation with his longtime partner. “He was there during a time when I needed to connect with someone,” McKernan explains. “He made me really feel the human-animal connection. I’m still kind of speechless about him.”

The connection between human and non-human animals has long been documented. In 1898, Florence Nightingale, a founder of modern nursing, wrote that “a small pet animal is often an excellent companion for the sick.” 

Studies have shown that a positive relationship between humans and animals has numerous mental, emotional, and physical benefits. As a result, animals—such as dogs, cats, and horses—are often used in animal therapy settings, also known as animal-assisted intervention. The animals visit the likes of hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes, hospices, and schools to help adults and children heal from a wide variety of mental health conditions like anxiety, grief, and depression.

“We have connections with all different types of animals across every culture around the world. Different types of animals are important to different types of communities and cultures in different ways,” explains Philip Tedeschi, a clinical professor at the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection. “This concept of the human-animal bond is getting at the significance of a mutual relationship between a human animal and a non-human animal. As we’ve started to study the importance of these kinds of relationships, we have found that one of the more remarkable outcomes is our need for social support and companionship. It doesn’t have to be a human being, it can be a non-human animal that can provide this kind of connection.”

The human-animal bond

Animals have certainly provided companionship to McKernan. You could even say they’re one of the reasons he’s alive today.

Five months after Andy passed, McKernan landed the deal of a lifetime: His own television show on Animal Planet. But on a personal level, he was strapped firmly into an emotional rollercoaster that showed no signs of slowing down. “I was feeling all the pressure of an animal rescue…of the TV show and running a sanctuary. And the pressure was just insane to deal with. When I tried to talk to people about it—how I was struggling—they’d tell me, ‘You need to just keep rescuing animals. You need to get back to work.’”

McKernan was grappling with intense feelings of hopelessness. Like a volcano on the verge of an eruption, the hot, smoldering magma of emotions coursed through his body until the pressure could not be contained: McKernan decided to end his life.

“When you make that decision to try to commit suicide, you are the loneliest person on earth,” he explains. “People that do decide to end their life are very lonely. And they don’t seek help. They don’t think there’s any other way out of what’s happening. And that’s how I felt.” 

McKernan survived. And he realized it was time to seek help. “I didn’t want to continue this endless cycle in my head,” he says. “So I committed myself to a hospital to get treatment for what I was going through.” He suffered from a borderline personality disorder, he had anxiety, and he was severely depressed. He’d lost 45 pounds. “The best thing I ever did was to go to group therapy,” he adds.

The healing power of animals

McKernan worked hard on his recovery, allowing himself time to understand his triggers, and find the right treatment. When he left the hospital, he went straight back to the farm to be with the animals, a kind of therapy he says was calling to him. He says he favored his four-legged companions because they simply let him be. “They didn’t judge me. And I didn’t judge them. We just sat in silence—in peace—and were content with each other,” McKernan says.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studies show human-animal interactions help to decrease levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can cause a spike in heart rate and blood pressure. Interacting with animals also boosts the feel-good hormone oxytocin.

Animals are also particularly adept at alleviating feelings of loneliness among people, according to Tedeschi. ​​Loneliness is often associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide, as well as health issues like obesity and substance abuse.

“One of the things that we do is evaluate someone’s support system to see if they have healthy relationships in their lives. And that’s almost the best place to start in a clinical intervention,” Tedeschi explains. “Therapeutic animals are fantastic at joining somebody in their life and providing these very unique, very intentional ways of interacting each and every day.” The reassurance and comfort animals provide can be incredibly helpful to a person who is grieving or has experienced loss. 

Animals like dogs can encourage people to get out of bed or off the couch and get physically moving. On a physiological level, being in the presence of an animal activates a person’s biological systems, or their interpersonal neurobiology. “So people are actually more friendly, more approachable, more optimistic, more likely to engage in conversations with other people,” Tedeschi continues.

This ties into the concept of biophilia, the idea that in order for humans to be healthy, they must be in connection with other living parts of the world that are also healthy. “So if you’re in the presence of an animal that is enthusiastic because you got home, because you’re interacting with it, you can literally see the changes in a human being, such as voice tone or body posture, that are activated through this neurobiological system through this interaction with a living being,” says Tedeschi.

How animals and humans can heal each other

Humans are designed as social creatures and exist on a framework of interconnectivity. But humans have lost much of their connections to non-human animals. Once essential to communities for their survival, animals have now been commodified. Humans destroy animal habitats for profit and farm animals for food in a manner that’s not only wasteful but also insufficient. And it’s all due to their disconnection with animals and the natural world.

According to Tedeschi, healthy connections with animals are “important supportive relationships that build social capital into our lives.” 

“[They] build the kinds of support systems that do things like activate our neurobiology,” he continues. “It’s the very same experience you’d have from interacting with other members of your family.”

A 2011 study out of the ​​California Institute of Technology found that neurons located in the amygdala, the region of the brain that regulates emotions, respond favorably to images of animals. “The presence of an animal that is doing well and living with us, in our community or in our home, provides us with a preconscious awareness of our own safety and wellbeing,” Tedeschi adds. “When we’re interacting with other living beings that are demonstrating that they feel comfortable and safe, we are able to take that information and utilize it ourselves to also feel safe.”

But animal-assisted interventions aren’t just beneficial for humans; they’re enriching for the animals, too. Of course, therapeutic animals may experience some level of stress from being in clinical settings. But, Tedeschi explains, not all stress is bad.

“Sometimes it can be beneficial to our systems as well,” he says. “If we’re attentive to their wellbeing and give them the things that they need to flourish, they often can work with us in complex settings without significant challenges to their wellbeing.”

Finding healing at Barn Sanctuary

For McKernan, animals have provided him an emotional outlet—they’ve helped him cope. They still do.

Barn Sanctuary, previously a farm that’d been in McKernan’s family for more than 140 years, has a number of animal residents: cows, goats, turkeys, pigs, and more. McKernan says that when the animals first come to the sanctuary, they’re often frightened. “They’ve been abused, and neglected. When I go hang out with the animals, they’re like: ‘It’s okay Dan. We’ve been through it, too.’ And I can feel the energy of how they’re encouraging me to feel better,” he explains. “They’re rooting for me. I was there to support them and at the same time they’re going to be there to support me.”

Now that he’s in therapy, McKernan says he doesn’t depend on the animals at the sanctuary for emotional support as much as he used to. “I don’t want to just depend on the animals to make me happy. If I did that, I would never be able to grow as a person and communicate with my own kind,” he explains. 

But he says the animals still help him to recharge, especially on the difficult days. “Being around the animals allows me to breathe and calm down when I feel anxious or stressed. It centers me to think about the present,” he says. “I had a panic attack the other day, and I left the office and I went and sat with the animals and they re-centered me. It felt so good. I’m sure a human will do that for me one day.” 

McKernan is now using his experiences to help others. He’s about to publish his first children’s book, This Farm is a Family. Out on April 5, 2022, all proceeds of the book go to helping the sanctuary. The kids’ book follows the story of how a group of rescued farm animals living at the sanctuary help newcomer Buttercup the cow fit in with her new surroundings.

Buttercup’s story mirrors McKernan’s own life as a child. He moved around a lot growing up and often felt shy and anxious with each new school he attended. “I thought this would align perfectly with Buttercup, a cow who was also very shy,” he explains. “I thought it was the perfect story to show the individual stories of the farm animals but also explain that the farm animals are just like you when you’re going to a new school.”

Nowadays, McKernan has a new companion. Mabel, one of McKernan’s more recent rescues, is a freemartin cow that was born with leg deformities on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Her pen is nestled right next to Andy’s memorial tree. Like Andy, she was in and out of the hospital and required 24/7 care. “We were told she wouldn’t make it,” McKernan says. “But now, she’s like a powerhouse. She’s running around. She has wonky legs, sure. But she loves being around humans just like Andy did. And I love watching her watch me.”

McKernan sees a bit of Andy in Mabel. And he believes she understands how long and how hard they’ve fought for her to make it. “I think she appreciates it. And I know when I get stressed or depressed—because it’s going to happen again, it’s mental health and that’s normal—she’ll be there for me.”

Vulnerability. That’s what McKernan says Mabel has taught him. “She taught me how to recognize when I’m down. And that it’s okay to feel that way. When I’m very sad I can just go out there and sit with her and be a part of it. And I can speak about being vulnerable and sad, which I’m working on doing more. Being vulnerable is okay.”

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges to self-harm, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). The services are free and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The vaccine, branded as Covifenz, consists of two doses and is made by Medicago, a Quebec-based privately held company. It also uses an adjuvant—the ingredient in a vaccine that helps improve the immune system’s response—made by the British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. 

Many people have been waiting for a COVID vaccine that is both ethical and doesn’t contain animal ingredients. Clinical trials for vaccines involve human volunteers, but before they reach that stage, their safety and efficacy must be tested on animals, per the FDA as well as guidelines worldwide. So, there’s still no such thing as a vegan COVID vaccine. And, yes, you should still get vaccinated. Any vaccination is better than none. But don’t take my word for it. The scientific community is unanimous in recommending adults and eligible children to be fully vaccinated—and in some cases boosted—for the best protection against COVID-19 symptoms and spread.

But as we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, which now ranks among the deadliest in history, not everyone has gotten vaccinated. A new plant-based vaccine offers yet another option—and that’s a good thing. But, as we enter year three of the pandemic, does this new vaccine offer reliable protection against COVID-19?

Does the plant-based COVID-19 vaccine work?

A late-stage trial of the Covifenz vaccine, which studied 24,000 adults, found that the overall efficacy rate is 71 percent against all variants, and 75.3 percent effective against Delta. The exception is the fast-spreading Omicron variant, which was not as prevalent when the study took place. However, Medicago notes that it is preparing to study a version of the vaccine tailored to Omicron. 

How does this compare to other vaccines? Clinical data has shown an efficacy rate of 95 percent for Pfizer, 95 percent for Moderna, and 66 percent for Johnson & Johnson. These numbers don’t account for Omicron either, because it simply wasn’t around at the time that they were developed. But, a study published in the journal Cell showed that the third booster shot may increase overall immunity against the virus. All of the vaccines share the same general side effects: redness or soreness at the site of injection, chills, fever, joint and muscle pain, nausea, sore throat, and fatigue.

Medicago has agreed to supply the Canadian government with up to 76 million doses of the vaccine, making it the sixth COVID-19 vaccine approved by the country. 

What is a ‘plant-based’ vaccine?

Plant-based vaccines are still a new innovation. In fact, the plant-based coronavirus vaccine is the first of its kind. While Covifenz is plant-based, per regulations surrounding vaccines, it is tested on animals. (Vaccine trials for COVID-19 have relied on research on mice, hamsters, and nonhuman primates.) In other words, it’s not a vegan vaccine. “Plant-based” just refers to how the shots are made. So, how do they differ from other kinds of vaccines?

Traditionally, vaccines like the flu shot contain weaker or inactive parts of a particular disease, called antigens, which are introduced to the body via injection, stimulating an immune response against a specific infection. When the body produces disease-specific antibodies, it “remembers” that invader, so if the immune system once again encounters that disease, the response time is faster and more effective. Notably, most conventional flu shots are produced using egg protein.

The Covifenz vaccine, however, utilizes live plants as bioreactors that produce virus-like particles (VLP) that mimic the genetic structure of COVID-19, triggering the body’s immune system to fight against it. There’s no egg—or actual virus—involved in the production. Medicago uses Nicotiana benthamiana plants, a close relative of tobacco, to grow the VLP.

There are currently 10 COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), which are made using a variety of methods, ranging from ones that use the inactivated virus (like Sinovac) to ones that use a non-replicated viral vector that contains genetic material packaged inside a harmless virus that cannot copy itself. Pfizer and Moderna both of which are egg-free, use genetically engineered messenger RNA (or mRNA for short), which teaches the body’s cells how to make the “blueprint” for a protein found on the virus’s surface, causing the immune system to create antibodies in response to the invader.

What’s different about plant-based vaccines?

The WHO describes the development of plant-derived shots an “exciting possibility.” This is because they could come with several advantages. 

For one, VLPs used in plant-based vaccines don’t contain the core genetic material of a virus, so they’re not infectious and they cannot mutate. The vaccines can be produced cheaply, in bulk, and in a matter of weeks compared to up to six months for egg- and cell-based production methods. And, unlike conventional vaccines, they don’t need to be kept cold—all key factors that researchers have highlighted are critical to tackling COVID-19. 

This temperature stability also has an added beneficiary: the environment. Vaccines are kept frozen using a gas called hydrofluorocarbons, which have a global warming potential of up to 23,000 greater than carbon dioxide, according to the European Commission. 

A study published in the journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapies highlights that plant-based vaccines have the potential to fulfill emergency demands, like the current pandemic and future outbreaks. However, there are a few roadblocks in the way of plant-based vaccines becoming widespread, such as selecting the right plant to host VLPs, the availability of manufacturing facilities, and public acceptance, which has faced challenges in recent years via the spread of misinformation on social media. 

Medicago intends to apply for approval of Covifenz in Japan and is also “in talks” with authorities in the US, EU, and Asia, bringing more vaccine options to the masses. COVID-19 has infected all corners of the world, so pragmatically, more options are a good thing. But no matter which jab you get, the bottom line remains: the science has shown that being vaccinated greatly reduces our risk, and the spread, of infectious diseases. 

HDPE is still plastic and it’s not biodegradable, but it is much easier to recycle. It’s often used in milk containers, but has historically been deemed not pliable enough to work in a squeezy toothpaste tube. But Colgate’s engineering team has overcome that problem, and now the company is redesigning four of its best-selling lines with the recyclable packaging. The plan is that, by next year, every single one of its products will be recyclable. Based on sales data from 2018, this means that in theory, if every consumer recycled their Colgate toothpaste tube, nearly 80 million tubes of toothpaste could be kept from the landfill every year. 

Colgate’s step towards sustainability

Colgate isn’t alone in its packaging innovation. Several brands, like Georganics, Lush, and Parla, offer toothpaste in tablet form, which are packaged in recyclable jars. But many of these don’t contain fluoride, a natural mineral often included in toothpaste because it helps prevent tooth decay. Dentist Dr. James Fernando told The Guardian last year that there is a lack of concrete scientific evidence that these tablets work effectively.

Colgate’s solution isn’t perfect, but it is a step, and they’re being altruistic about it. To help the rest of the oral hygiene industry cut down on its plastic waste, the company has made its design openly available for other brands to use. It’s also used in some of Tom’s of Maine’s natural toothpastes (the brand is also owned by Colgate-Palmolive).

Greg Corra, Colgate-Palmolive’s director of global packaging and sustainability, is open about the fact that the company still has a long way to go before it can be considered environmentally-friendly. While it rolls out the new recyclable options, Colgate’s team is looking for ways to make its toothpaste packaging refillable and compostable too.

“We’ve got 9 million tubes around the world to worry about right now, so we had to do something now,” Corra told Fast Company. “But we are looking into next-generation materials. We’ve got several irons in the fire.”

From March, Colgate will start packaging its Total Whitening line, as well its Cavity Protection, Max Fresh Cool, and Optic White ranges, in the recyclable tubes.

This real crash diet advice is bizarre and almost comical, but it’s also unhealthy, restrictive, and dangerous. And while it was published in the 1970s, we haven’t moved on. In 2021, similar rhetoric persists on Instagram. It’s not eggs with a glass of dry white, but it’s appetite suppressant lollipops and gummies, advertised to millions of followers by brands like Flat Tummy Co and endorsed by some of Instagram’s most-followed celebrities (looking at you, Kim Kardashian). 

Not all diet products are that extreme, of course. But they are all based on the premise that restricting food will help us lose weight, and that will make us happy. But it’s a fantasy. Not least because 95 percent of the time, diets fail. But what if we allowed ourselves to lose the rules and the restrictions, and eat for joy instead? A growing body of nutrition professionals, called anti-diet dietitians, believe we can stay healthy, both mentally and physically, with an approach to food called intuitive eating. And, in part, it’s focused around making space for joy on our plates.

Embracing joy with anti-diet intuitive eating

If you watched Marie Kondo’s tidying up hit when it landed on Netflix in 2018, you’ll know that the decluttering expert’s KonMari method is all about finding joy in our possessions and losing what doesn’t serve us. That’s kind of like intuitive eating: looking at the foods we love, and following a varied diet filled with the snacks and meals that bring us and our taste buds joy and satisfaction.

Anti-diet dietitians operate on the basis (supported by a number of studies) that restriction-focused diets do not work. Instead, they encourage people to consume a variety of foods that they enjoy, from cake to bananas, guilt-free. This approach to food is centered around trust: Trusting your mind to listen to your body’s cues, and eat in a way that’s healthful for you. The concept applies regardless of the lifestyle you follow, from plant-based to flexitarian. 

While intuitive eating’s professional advocates do take nutrition science into account, they do so alongside body autonomy and taste preferences. They work directly with clients to create dietary plans that are unique to them and their needs. Most importantly, they put aside the idea of breaking up foods into “good” and “bad” categories—an approach that diet culture thrives on.

“Part of intuitive eating is seeing all foods as neutral,” says registered dietitian Heather Caplan. “We’re allowed to have food preferences. To enjoy what we eat. The binary framing of foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ negates the nuanced experience of eating and nutrition.”

So, how do you start eating intuitively?

Opting for guidance from a professional is a smart move when experimenting with intuitive eating. But if you’re starting out on your own, registered dietitian and nutritionist Christine Byrne has a few guidelines to follow.

First, honor your hunger (when your tummy rumbles, don’t ignore it). Give yourself permission to eat what you want, when you want, and try to push food rules (like the “good” and “bad” categories) to one side. Feel your fullness (it’s ok to eat past the point of being full, we all do it. But try to listen to what your stomach is telling you). And accept that all of this might not feel normal right away, especially if you’ve spent a lot of time immersed in diet culture.

At its core, intuitive eating is about paying attention to how you feel, says Byrne. “The first thing to tackle isn’t how much food you’re eating, it’s how you are reacting to it,” she notes. “It’s your thoughts about food. Are you judging yourself? Do you feel guilty? Sorting through that first is more important than feeling like you must be in tune with your hunger and fullness.”

The research-backed benefits

There is research to support this approach. A recent meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders evaluated nearly 100 former studies on intuitive eating. The researchers discovered that intuitive eating patterns are associated with a positive body image and high self esteem. They also found that intuitive eaters were less likely to binge eat or restrict, and had fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

Restrictive diets, however, can have dangerous consequences. Research suggests there is a link between yo-yo dieting (which is following a restrictive diet, losing weight, ditching the diet, regaining the weight, and dieting again) with muscle loss, an increased risk of heart disease, and higher blood pressure.

And using diet products to aid with weight loss is a high risk too. Detox tea and smoothie products contain laxatives, overuse of which can result in long-term heart health problems, electrolyte loss, and for some with digestive tract problems, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Despite the risks, a quick search for #detoxtea on Instagram reveals 1.2 million posts, one of which offers a ’70s Vogue style diet plan consisting of only small snacks, lemon water, detox smoothies, and herbal tea.

Separating the truth from the marketing 

Like most major money-making industries, the diet industry thrives on very convincing marketing to make its sales. And it works: In 2015, Flat Tummy Co sold for $10 million. Dwarfing that, WW International (formerly known as Weight Watchers) is valued at more than $1.2 billion. In its entirety, the global weight loss industry is worth more than $254 billion. 

And when it suits them, even governments will push the idea that “good” foods will make us look and feel great, while “bad” foods will do the opposite. (To illustrate that this is really sales-driven, there are proven financial links between the fast food industry and politicians.)

Take the term “empty calories,” for example. The phrase, which has been welcomed into the diet industry, appeared for the first time in the USDA’s MyPlate dietary guidelines around 10 years ago. It was used to describe a calorie that has no nutritional value. But food can’t be simplified to this extent, says Byrne. “A calorie is a nutrient. You can’t say that it’s empty,” she says.

Even so, MyPlate grouped together foods like soda, candy, burgers, and pizza as sources of empty calories. But foods are nuanced: a pizza recipe consists of so many variables, from the ingredients it’s topped with to what goes in the base. And burgers, for example, can be made from quinoa or Beyond Beef. You can’t equate the two, but both offer some nutritional value.

“The idea of an empty calorie is not a helpful concept, and it’s also not a true concept,” Byrne explains. “You’re getting nutrition from anything that you eat. Everything is giving you something.”

Letting go of the rules, and embracing joy

Intuitive eating empowers people to push away diet industry language, but it also allows them to accept that food plays many roles in our lives. Nutrition is one of its important assets, but it can also provide comfort or joy or connection. Think of Christmas, for example, or the Thanksgiving table, or a birthday cake. Everyone has the right to embrace joy when they eat, without guilt or shame. Without picking up an appetite suppressant lollipop beforehand.

“It is completely natural to eat for reasons other than hunger, we’ve been doing that for so long,” Byrne explains. “You can eat for joy. You can eat for comfort. You can eat as a way to soothe loneliness.” As long as it isn’t the only one you have, food is a perfectly acceptable coping mechanism, she says.

Intuitive eating leaves room for food to provide us with so much more than just vitamins and minerals, in a way that the diet industry does not. “Diet culture tries to get us to operate as robots, just needing numbers and calculations,” adds Caplan. “This is part of why diets feel unsustainable for so many people—we are humans who have emotional and physical needs; we are not robots that just need to satisfy an equation.” 

Wellness comes in many forms—from self-care rituals that calm to mindfulness practices that alter brain waves—but taking on the challenge is worth it. And it’s our call to action for you this year. To set you off on the right foot, we’ve gathered five practical forms of wellness to bring into 2022. We spoke to a wide variety of experts—from a therapist who specializes in helping people with climate anxiety to a horticultural therapist who explained how working with plants can help us relax. Find what works best for you, but commit to a wellness journey for yourself this year. You’ll see that taking care of you can be the most radical—and rewarding—act of all.

How to cope with climate anxiety

Also known as ecological gief or eco-anxiety, climate anxiety is a psychological response to the climate crisis. And it can refer to a lot of different feelings that we may experience as a result of what’s happening to the planet. This can range from trauma caused by natural disasters to the anticipated loss of something in the local or global environment. It will feel different for everyone. We spoke to psychotherapist Andrew Bryant about how to identify climate anxiety, its emotional and physical impacts, and what we can do to cope.

The science behind gratitude

In psychology research, gratitude has consistently been associated with greater happiness. By practicing gratitude, we are able to show what we’re thankful for, be that tangible or intangible. We can be grateful for the unconditional love of our pets, for example, or for 30 minutes of undisturbed silence on a weekend morning. One study has found that showing gratitude even has a biological effect in the brain. Read on to learn more about the fascinating science behind the positive effects of giving thanks.

How cooking can improve your mood

Cooking is a sensory experience, from the sounds of a knife cutting through produce and the bubbling of broth to the aroma of fresh herbs and spices that fill your home. For many, cooking is more than just making food: it helps satisfy the need to create and accomplish, both of which can boost feelings of happiness. Some professionals even use it as a form of therapy, appropriately called culinary therapy. (To be clear, culinary therapy can have mental benefits but it is not meant to be a replacement for talk therapy.) We spoke to Julie Ohana, LMSW, about how cooking regularly can help improve your mood. Here’s what we learned.

Home gardening ideas to help you relax

Cooking isn’t the only activity that’s used as a form of stress relief: home gardening is, too. Working with plants, whether indoors or outdoors, can be grounding and restorative. Gardening can also be used as a form of therapy, called horticultural therapy, which can be used to benefit mental or physical health, or both. (And as with culinary therapy, it’s important to note that this should not be used to replace working with a mental health professional.) Phyllis D’Amico, a registered horticultural therapist, shared 5 gardening ideas you can chill out to at home. 

Mindfulness can make you more sustainable

Studies suggest that practicing mindfulness meditation, the practice of experiencing your emotions as they are without judgement, has a positive effect on both physical and mental wellbeing. And, it might even make people live more sustainably. Scott M Pickett, PhD, CBSM, who co-authored a study about that very subject, tells us about the connection between the Buddhist tradition of mindfulness meditation and the way it makes us more conscious of our environmental footprint.

Vegan condoms

Using a condom is an effective way of protecting against unwanted pregnancy, as well as sexually transmitted diseases that are not transferred via skin-to-skin contact (like herpes or genital warts). According to Planned Parenthood, condoms are, realistically, about 85 percent effective. This is based on the knowledge that “people aren’t perfect.” If everyone used condoms flawlessly all of the time, they would be about 98 percent effective. 

Without a doubt, condoms help keep sex safe. But they have a downside: Many are made with stabilizers, preservatives, hardening agents, and non-biodegradable materials like polyurethane. And many aren’t vegan either. This is due to the inclusion of dairy-derived casein, which is used as a softener. 

Luckily, there are plenty of vegan, natural, biodegradable options on offer. (You can find our recommendations below!) But whatever you do, and whatever brand you use, there’s one key tip to making condom use more sustainable: Do not flush them down the toilet. They can cause blockages, and if they’re not fished out in time, they can create problems for marine life if they end up in rivers and the sea. Instead, recycle the packaging if you can, and wrap up the condom in a tissue before placing it in the trash bin.

Cruelty-free lube

Sometimes, lube can include animal products, like beeswax or animal-derived enzymes. And in the U.S., there is widespread animal testing in the industry, thanks to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. In 2015, the FDA began mandating mammalian safety testing for lubricant in the U.S., on the basis of its classification as a Class II medical device. (This is because it can be used to treat conditions, like vaginal dryness, as well as for gynecological examinations.) The FDA mandates the tests to check for irritation and adverse reactions.

But many disagree that these tests are necessary. In partnership with animal rights organization PETA, after the new regulations were announced, women’s hygiene and sexual wellness brand Good Clean Love worked tirelessly to persuade the FDA to accept its animal-free testing methods. They believe that other tests, using cultured human cells for example, are far more accurate than animal tests.

In 2017, for the first time, the FDA finally accepted Good Clean Love’s results of human tests for skin irritation and allergic reactions for its Bio-phresh Restore moisturizing gel. Now, none of its feminine hygiene or aphrodisiac products are animal-tested. But the battle is not yet won for personal lubricant products, and there isn’t much updated information available from Good Clean Love on its progress with the FDA.

But outside of the U.S., there are vegan, cruelty-free lube options out there. You can find our editor’s picks below.

Sustainable lingerie

There are many benefits to buying and wearing lingerie, from a self-esteem boost to spicing up your sex life. But there is a downside: A lot of underwear produced is fast fashion. This sector of the fashion industry is notorious for worker exploitation,encouraging wasteful excessive consumption, and draining the planet’s natural resources. Fashion production as a whole makes up 10 percent of carbon emissions, uses an estimated 1.5 trillion liters of water annually, and creates a significant amount of waste. In the UK, it’s estimated that £140 million worth of clothing ends up in the landfill annually, much of which is not biodegradable.

Also, underwear is often made with synthetic materials like nylon and polyester. First, these fabrics aren’t great for all vaginas. (This is because they are not breathable and they trap heat, which can lead to a higher risk of yeast infections.) But these materials don’t break down easily either. Polyester and nylon can take between 20 and 200 years to biodegrade. But the good news is, there are many sustainable lingerie brands out there ready and waiting to get you in the mood. (For sustainable underwear choices, find our guide here, or see our picks below.)

Vegan sex toys

As outlined earlier on, the sex toy market is huge. The vegan sex toys market is also substantial. But as it’s grown market-share-wise, it has hardly progressed at all when it comes to minimizing environmental impact. Many sex toys, including vegan sex toys, are made with plastic. But, there are eco-friendly options out there. (See below for our choices!) Keep an eye out for silicone over plastic. It’s not perfect, it’s not biodegradable, but it’s still a more sustainable choice than traditional plastic. It doesn’t degrade into tiny pieces for example, so it’s more ocean- and earth-friendly.

If you already own non-vegan or vegan sex toys made from plastic and you want to dispose of them, they can be recycled. Lovehoney offers a guide on how to do that here. The company will also accept old sex toys to recycle, even those bought elsewhere.

Giving your sex life a sustainable upgrade is attainable, but it takes a little research and label-reading. Look for the right materials, make your picks, and get on to getting it on.

Classes, courses, and sessions

Massage

Treat the friend who’s always on the go to a relaxing massage this holiday season. For the ethically-minded, giftable spa experiences that are sustainable and vegan-friendly are easy to come by. (Some beauty and skincare products contain animal-derived ingredients such as shellac, lanolin, and squalene, so search for clearly-labeled and certified brands.)

For those in the UK, Vegan Directory offers a complete online directory of local plant-based businesses to support, while Vegan Paradise offers a similar service for U.S. customers. Natural Feeling Spa, which we have highlighted below, is vegan-friendly and also offers custom gift cards.

According to Natural Feeling Spa itself: “Our products are vetted for quality, sustainability, and integrity of ingredients, with an emphasis on supporting business that are BIPOC and woman-owned.”

Yoga

Yoga is a fantastic way to boost wellness. Proponents say it eases stress and presents a perfect mix of mindfulness and physicality. In-person classes are up-and-running again across most of the U.S. and UK, but virtual sessions remain popular too, and services such as Glo and Gaia Yoga offer gift subscription packages—perfect for the holiday season.

You can also go in person or online to purchase gift vouchers (for both virtual and in-person classes). Check out yoga centers like Yoga Hero—a Leeds-based company offering both a stacked calendar of virtual and in-house classes for all levels, from beginners to experts. They also offer teacher training courses.

Apps and other subscriptions

Meditation

If yoga isn’t quite the right fit for your gift recipient, meditation just might be. Studies show that it can help with relaxation and sleep through mindfulness. The modern version of mindfulness is owed to Eastern religions and concepts, including both meditation and yoga.

The rise of meditation apps of all shapes and sizes means there’s a lot to choose from. Headspace is a top contender due to its high usability, relatively low cost, and secularity. Calm is great for both meditation and sleep. Harvard Health explores the topic of meditation and the mind in greater detail here, specifically its impact on anxiety and depression.

Self care

While the concept of self care has, arguably, become wrapped up in consumer culture for the wealthy, at its core it encourages much-needed healing and recovery—particularly for activists, radicals, and marginalized groups. Because of this, beloved American poet and activist Audre Lorde famously wrote that caring for herself was “an act of political warfare.”

As with meditation, no purchases are required to practice self care, but for the people in your life who benefit from structure, external support, or tips and advice, there are plenty of self care-focused apps and programs available that attempt to promote and support wellness and self kindness, making them perfect gifts.

Sanvello provides a combination of self care, peer support, coaching, and therapy. Moodfit combines daily goals with tools and other insights to deal with stress and anxiety, while Sleep Cycle takes care of the user’s rest by tracking and analyzing their sleep patterns.

The Shine app, which we have chosen to highlight in particular here, is owned and run by women of color and offers “more representative, and more inclusive” mental health advice and support, along with “check-ins” and meditations. It had over two million users in 2018.

Entertainment

Wellness can involve self-reflection and pro-activity, but there’s still room for a little light escapism in any self care regimen. Scribd, which we have highlighted below, combines books and audiobooks with podcasts, magazines, and even sheet music in one simple package.

(For those looking for a more minimalist bundle, Audible offers a stripped-back selection of audiobooks and podcasts for a lower price, while Kindle Unlimited makes reading-on-the-go comfortable with a combined subscription and reader package.)

Wellness products

Weighted blankets

The perfect accoutrement to any nap, at any time of day, weighted blankets can help some people with feelings of stress, as well as insomnia and difficulty sleeping. (Proponents love them, and studies are promising, but there still isn’t a huge amount of data.)

You can choose a sustainable luxury option from companies such as Bearaby (in lots of different weights and styles) or Remy. Bearaby’s Tree Napper, linked below, is made from eucalyptus fibers and weighs a modest 15 pounds.

Vegan home spa

Spa gift sets, bundles, and collections typically contain beauty and skincare products that help create a relaxing and nourishing experience in the comfort of home, often including incense, bath salts, soaps, massage oils, and candles.

There are plenty of vegan, sustainable, and cruelty-free options from sellers and platforms including Wearth London, Etsy, the Ethical Market, and Not On the High Street. The Acala Spa Bag, stocked by Wearth and linked below, contains cleansing soap, an aloe vera konjac sponge, and lavender bath salts, in addition to jojoba body oil for a complete, gifted experience.

A sustainable journal

Journaling is fun, therapeutic, and a key wellness tool for many people. Choosing a sustainable, vegan-friendly version is a simple but thoughtful gift, and you can find lovely options at WHSmith. Check out this selection on Etsy and Green Tulip’s selection here.

Look for: recycled paper, non-leather covers, and vegan-friendly glue. You could also get some sustainable pens to gift along with a journal. The Yop and Tom dot grid journal linked below features a vegan leather cover debossed with a gold moon and star design, available in several colors.

Herbal tea

Tea and coffee gift sets and subscriptions are both popular and practical, with decaf and herbal options, in particular, a key part of the wellness repertoire.

Brewing, sharing, and drinking hot drinks can be a soothing and habitual mindfulness practice, especially when combined with new or comforting flavors and aromas. Bird & Blend Tea Co. even offers a build-your-own loose leaf tea selection box, linked below, that can be customized depending on the gift recipient’s preferences and tastes.

Adult coloring books

Coloring books aren’t just for kids. The intricacy of coloring requires concentration and fine motor skills, making them excellent for relaxing at the end of a hard day. This has now become a huge industry in itself, and you can choose coloring books designed and marketed specifically for adults to enjoy. The product linked below includes several relaxing scenes of animals and nature, perfect for the wildlife-obsessed person in your life.

Yoga wear

Did you buy some of those yoga classes for someone already? Maybe your gift recipient is already a Yoga With Adriene aficionado. Maybe they don’t even like yoga, but just want some comfortable, sustainable athleisure clothes for day-to-day.

Materials such as Econyl (recycled fishing nets), Cupro (upcycled cotton), and bamboo (fast-growing, renewable, and low-impact) provide an eco-friendly alternative to the virgin plastics and non-biodegradable options often found in sportswear.

Yoga clothes and other accessories are a booming market, with plenty of products and companies to choose from, but two fabulous sustainable options are Reprise and BAM. To support a company using less waste water for minimal environmental impact, check out ALWRLD’s yoga gear made from recycled fishing nets, linked below.

Craft kits

Similar to coloring, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and other project-based crafts are great mindfulness activities that occupy your hands and brain, all while working on something creative. Just make sure to choose a kit that is sustainable and vegan.

Acrylic wool uses damaging materials such as coal and oil, while sheep’s wool is bad for both the animals themselves and the planet in general. Instead, materials such as Tencel and bamboo make for sustainable wool and sustainable craft projects. The crocheting kit linked below is sustainable, vegan, and perfect for beginners.

LIVEKINDLY is here to help you navigate the growing marketplace of sustainable products that promote a kinder planet. All of our selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, LIVEKINDLY may earn a commission.

“Women pilots were told they had to stay grounded when they had their periods,” says Sharra L. Vostral, a professor of history and science and technology at Purdue University. “If women had cramps they were supposed to report those, and they could be expelled from the military if they had too many that were debilitating.” 

The 1942 pilot shortages saw record numbers of women join the ranks of airmen, but those pilots lied to doctors, worked through the pain, and made sure they were subtle when they slipped tampons into their bags. Without that discreet period care, contributing to the war effort would have been considerably harder.

But it wasn’t just World War II pilots who appreciated the benefits of disposable plastic menstrual products. Without a doubt, tampons make life easier for people with uteruses now too. But—just like many other revolutionary innovations from the 20th century—they come with consequences.

Take penicillin, for example. First used in 1942, the groundbreaking antibacterial drug saved lives. But it’s consistent use has made resistant strains of bacteria incredibly difficult to treat. In the same year, breakthroughs by physicists made nuclear energy possible, bringing a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. But meltdowns have catastrophic consequences that last generations. Pressurized air cabins, invented in the 1930s, paved the way for a booming aviation industry, which now emits 12 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide. So what happened with period products? Two words: plastic pollution. Single-use menstrual plastic products generate around 200,000 tons of waste every year.

From lifesaver to leading polluter: The complex history of menstrual products

BMP: Before menstrual products

Before modern menstrual care, women across the world had to make do with whatever was available to them. In Ancient Greece and Rome, many inserted small wooden sticks, wrapped in soft lint, into their vaginas. Ancient Egyptian women were thought to have made use of softened papyrus or sea sponges. Many in ancient Japan turned to mulberry paper or vines. Over time, period care evolved, but it was still DIY. In Japan’s Edo era, one report states that coarse toilet paper was stuffed inside a loincloth, called a pony. English Tudor women often turned to rags or cloths, and it remained that way for some time. 

1896: Johnson & Johnson’s Lister Towels hit the market, and flops

In the late 1800s, Johnson & Johnson started selling the very first commercial disposable cotton pads: Lister Towels. But sales were low and the product was withdrawn. It wasn’t that women didn’t want menstrual care, but due to attitudes at the time, they were embarrassed to be seen purchasing it.

1914 – 1918: World War I

American paper products company Kimberly-Clark produced Cellucotton bandages for injured soldiers. It was inexpensive yet effective: absorbing five times as much blood as regular cotton. After the war—inspired by nurses who used the dressings as sanitary napkins—the company created Cellucotton menstrual pads.

1919: Kotex launches, successfully convinces women to openly buy menstrual products

Kimberly-Clark’s menstrual pads were branded as Kotex. To get women to actually buy them, the company came up with a marketing campaign advising them to ask for Kotex by name, so they didn’t have to say “sanitary pads” out loud. It was revolutionary for the whole industry, and helped to set up the menstrual care market we know today. 

1931: The first patent is filed for the modern applicator tampon

In the 1930s, osteopathic physician Earle Haas filed a patent for the first cotton tampon with a cardboard applicator for commercial use. The invention later became Tampax, and was reassuring to wider society for a few reasons. First, purity: women could discreetly take care of their periods without touching their own bodies. But also, hygiene: women could deal with blood without getting their hands dirty. And when they were finished, they simply flushed or threw away the evidence. 

1937: An American actress files a patent for the menstrual cup

Decades before Mooncup, singer and actress Leona Chalmers filed a patent for a menstrual cup. Inspired by medieval catamenial sacks (a wire belt with a cup attached that never took off), Chalmers’ cups were more comfortable than their predecessors, but they were still made from very hard rubber.

1939 to 1945: World War II, the menstrual cup’s downfall

Thirty percent of women had started to regularly use tampons by World War II. But menstrual cups didn’t take off for a few reasons. Vostral explains: “The cup would have taken even more education [than tampons], besides just the issues of natural resources. Rubber was very important for tires and heavy equipment. Spending rubber on a menstrual cup, which was a newer idea, was not going to happen at that moment.” 

1973: Playtex debuts the plastic tampon applicator

Seventy percent of women in the U.S. were using tampons by the 1970s. And in 1973, Playtex emerged as a major rival for Tampax, with the launch of its plastic applicator. Plastic was everywhere by this decade: it was not only versatile, but it was cheap for manufacturers to produce and distribute. Plus, plastic applicators had a rounded tip, making them smoother and more comfortable than cardboard options.

2002: Tampax Pearl launches with a plastic applicator 

Tampax was falling behind Playtex, which was more popular with young people. Because of its old cardboard design, Tampax was becoming the “tampon my mother uses.” So, newly acquired by Procter & Gamble, the company went about designing a “premium” tampon, called Tampax Pearl, reports The Atlantic. And by premium, it meant plastic. 

Now: Menstrual product plastic is everywhere

By the end of the 20th century, the world was in love with plastic. In the early 2000s, the output of plastic waste “rose more in a single decade than it had in the previous 40 years,” according to the United Nations Environment Program. Only nine percent of the world’s plastic waste has been recycled. The rest goes to landfill, is incinerated, or pollutes the waterways. Menstrual products are the fifth most common item found on Europe’s beaches and they’re in the top 20 in the U.S. The scale of the problem has inspired a number of campaigns, including activist Ella Daish’s #endperiodplastic project.

Since she started, Daish has lost count of the images she’s received showing plastic tampon applicators polluting coastlines and city waterways. “It’s estimated that every year between 1.5-2 billion period products, including plastic applicators, are flushed down toilets,” she explains. “They enter the sewerage system, end up in our rivers, flow into the sea and wash up on our beaches.”

Over time, they break down into microplastics and enter the food chain. On average, it’s thought that people consume around 2000 tiny pieces of plastic every week. The harm this is doing hasn’t been widely studied, but we do know it causes severe damage to fish. Plus, this does mean there could be a link between somebody’s old tampon applicator and the food you eat. Sorry.

The future: Making sustainable period products accessible to all

From period panties to modern day silicone cups to organic cotton tampons, the modern menstrual care market offers a growing range of choices that make periods a little easier, but are also better for the planet. But the only way to make a true global impact with sustainable menstrual care is to guarantee access for all. Which, in many cases, starts with changing attitudes towards menstruation. Across all cultures, stigma and shame persists. 

In Nepal, the practice of chhaupadi (sending women to live in menstrual huts during their period) is illegal, unsanitary, and dangerous, but in some rural parts of the country, it continues. In Latin America, 43 percent of students with periods skip school, often due to embarrassment or shame. The story is similar across the African continent, where one in 10 young people with uteruses miss school due to menstruation. Due to a lack of funds, some turn to products like newspapers or cloth to soak up blood.

In the U.S., period poverty is also a problem. A study earlier this year revealed that one in 10 menstruators struggle to afford period products at college. And as the UK endured several periods of lockdown, researchers discovered that 30 percent of menstruators aged between 14 and 21 struggled to afford or access sanitary products.

But hope could be on the horizon. There is still a way to go before mass cultural change, but in Kenya—the first country in the African continent to give free sanitary pads to all school girls—menstrual health educators are working to make sustainable period care, like the menstrual cup, widely available, as well as tackle cultural taboo around the subject. And, around the globe, organizations like Girlology are working to improve menstrual education. In some places, change is also happening at a corporate level. Daish’s #endperiodplastic campaign has convinced several UK retailers, including Aldi, Superdrug, and Sainsbury’s, to remove plastic applicators from their own-brand product ranges, which are often the most affordable menstrual care options available.

Empowering menstruators, supplying period products to all, and reducing plastic pollution are not mutually exclusive issues. By making sustainable period care affordable, brands and retailers can do all three simultaneously, says Daish. “Conversations on justice for the planet and for people are often had in separate rooms, just like the many issues surrounding menstruation,” she says. “But they need to be brought and tackled together.”

According to a recent analysis by Fortune Business Insights, the global probiotic market could be worth an enormous $94.48 billion by 2027. Experts also predict significant growth for the vegan supplements market in general, and Allied Analytics suggests that it could register more than $13 million by 2028, the following year.

The boom is happening for several reasons: increasing nutritional consciousness, plant-based eating, and an overall awareness of the importance of food—and the gut—in optimizing health.

The International Food Information Council’s 2020 Food & Health Survey found that 54 percent of all consumers are more likely to care about the “healthfulness of their choices” today compared to 2010.

According to Fortune Business Insights, a considerable portion of health-conscious, vegan consumers are also more likely to purchase nutraceutical products such as vitamins, supplements, and probiotics in general. But not all probiotics are equal, and not all are vegan.

How probiotics impact gut health

We spoke to Sonal Shah to get the lowdown on gut health, fermented foods, and vegan probiotics. Shah is a sports nutritionist, a gut health specialist, an expert on plant-based diets, and the founder and director of Synergy Nutrition in London, UK.

“I view the gut now as being like a second brain. I think it’s a really important organ,” says Shah. “The research now is linking gut health to so many diseases—even things like obesity and mental health. That makes sense, because if you look at the gut it has the same neurotransmitters as the brain does. One affects the other.”

According to Shah, evidence links the microbiome (a “terrain of different bacteria” within our bodies that is invisible to the naked eye) to certain signs and symptoms of illnesses.

“I think that gut health is really fragile, and it’s important from birth all the way to adulthood,” says Shah. “Really, my view on health is, if we look after the gut, nine times out of 10 everything else is going to be well in the body.”

What about fermented foods?

Fermented foods are rich in probiotic bacteria (the same thing that’s in probiotic supplements), and as such are thought to be hugely beneficial to gut health.

There are countless contextual factors that make it difficult to track nutrition and general health in a scientific way, but by looking at cultural dietary practices it’s possible to make some assumptions about healthfulness.

For example, Shah points out that each culture has its own version of fermented food, from kombucha to tempeh. “There is some truth behind them, definitely,” she says. “We don’t know the exact mechanisms, but it seems like it’s all about bacteria and what makes them thrive.”

However, she is quick to add that this is not a replacement for the higher support required in the treatment of health conditions such as IBS or an inflamed gut. Instead, supplementation may provide a more efficient way of tackling chronic issues.

Why take probiotic supplements for gut health?

Shah says that for those looking to boost their gut health, she would specifically recommend supplements rather than trying to get everything from fermented and probiotic-rich food alone. Plus, they’re ideal for those with allergies—and Shah says that she has never encountered side effects, either first or second-hand.

“Supplements do have their place. It’s about getting slightly higher doses through that supplement form, as you would in a food form,” explains Shah. “They’re a bit more concentrated, so to take a probiotic in a supplement form is going to be much more therapeutic.”

As Shah notes, the industry is flooded with different companies, which can make choosing a probiotic difficult. “The company I use is called The Natural Dispensary,” she says. “They cherry-pick the best supplements from different brands and promote them to practitioners.”

How do probiotics work?

Probiotics are typically made from either fermented plants or fermented dairy, and some may be contained in gelatine-based capsules, so not all of them are vegan.

The quality and quantity of bacteria also vary a huge amount from brand to brand, so it’s important to read the ingredients. “Don’t be afraid to go high,” advises Shah. “You want to go for billions, that’s what you need.”

While there’s a possibility of placebo effect, the majority of those who try probiotics report positive results. “We don’t know how much that plays a role in taking supplements,” says Shah. “But I have so many clients with IBS or bloating and when they take it they’re better within two weeks.”

“That I do attribute to the changes in their diets and the supplements working together,” she continues. “I definitely would highly recommend supplements.”

LIVEKINDLY is here to help you navigate the growing marketplace of sustainable products that promote a kinder planet. All of our selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, LIVEKINDLY may earn a commission.

The answer is, according to the CDC, one in three of us. They recommend that adults get at least seven hours of sleep each night. But between demanding day jobs (yup, that includes parenting) and stress-related insomnia, that can feel elusive.

That brings us to the concept of “self-care.” This sounds awesome when it’s one of those “inspiring quotes” on social media. But can this be an actual daily practice? Why, yes it can! (And self-care can help fight stress.) As it turns out, there’s a brand for that, too.

We are huge fans of Brentwood Home’s lineup of home and sleep products, which actually feel streamlined for self-care. Sometimes the secret to better health lies in everything you do—from how you sleep, to how you move, to how you care for your little ones.

Better sleep (and peace of mind)

There’s no shortage of reasons we’re losing sleep these days, but it turns out there are even a number of factors you don’t even consider that can impact your sleep. So it’s important to set yourself up for sleep success, starting with a mattress. We’re fans of the Cypress Affordable Memory Foam Mattress with hybrid support — a mix of foam and springs — which evenly distributes your weight and relieves your pressure points. If you’re on more of a budget, try the all-foam option. It’s infused with charcoal to keep you cool. (Not that you weren’t already.)

The materials are kind to the planet, too. These Brentwood Home mattresses feature up to 20 percent plant-based BioFoam®. They’re free of flame retardants and ozone-depleting chemicals. And they feature Greenguard Gold certification, which means no volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and phthalates that affect air quality. 

In fact, the entire L.A.-based Brentwood Home factory is certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard, which factors in environmental, social criteria, and materials. It’s also Climate Neutral Certified and a carbon-negative company, which means it measures and reduces its footprint and offsets more than all of its emissions. 

“From the start, Brentwood Home set out to support wellness,” says Mark Abrials, co-founder and CMO of Brentwood Home. “Prioritizing yourself doesn’t always come easy, but there are a lot of ways to do it. Managing stress can look like practicing mindfulness, journaling, a therapy session, meditating, and squeezing in a quick yoga session or power nap. However you choose to begin, we owe it to our well-being to be empathetic towards ourselves.”

Self-care for stress: Move that body

Multiple studies indicate that stress impacts everything from your sleep cadences to your health. That’s the not-so-great news. But the good news? Other studies show that mindfulness practices such as yoga and other physical self-care routines help reduce stress and improve slumber. Other amazing side effects: improving your strength, flexibility, balance, and…energy! And who doesn’t want more energy?

According to wellness educator and yoga instructor Raechel Junard, the right gear can help you enhance your movement. “It’s important to have a thick mat, so you don’t hurt your knees on hard surfaces,” she says. “And of course, you want one that is non-slip.” 

Brentwood Home’s Organic Non-Slip Yoga Mat is 5mm thick, giving your joints the blissful cushioning they need. It also elevates your practice to a more conscious one: The bottom of the mat is made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified latex (sustainably harvested from rubber trees) and the top from organic cotton — woven to wick away moisture during sweaty sessions. Check out Junard’s moves, above, which take advantage of this unique mat. Then try it out for yourself!

“We didn’t want to just make another yoga line,” Abrials explains. “We wanted to elevate the products with natural, renewable, and certified organic materials that are consistent with our commitment to making the world greener.”

Nurture your human & fur babies

Shoutout to all the parents out there, who know all-too-well how much your kids impact your stress and energy levels. Quality playtime is essential to the cognitive, social, physical, and emotional well-being of growing children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And a healthy kid means happy, well-rested parents. 

The Brentwood Home Play Couch features six pieces and is Greenguard Gold certified just like their mattresses. It’s comfortable and endlessly configurable for your toddler’s growing mind: a chair, a tunnel, a boat, a tent, a castle…. It also comes in six vibrant colors, so you can match it to your little one’s playroom.

When it’s time for bed, the EcoAir Waterproof Baby Crib Mattress (dual-sided for infants and toddlers) features a removable, machine-washable cover made from recycled plastic bottles, and an organic cotton, waterproof liner on the toddler side. It’s also Greenguard Gold Certified and certified formaldehyde-free.

They’ve even accounted for your fur babies. Brentwood Home offers more sustainable dog beds that are “waterproof, indestructible, orthopedic” (um, wow!) to keep your pets healthy from the outside in.

“By empowering our customers with products that support conscious living, we believe we’re doing our small part to make our communities, and our planet, a little bit healthier,” Abrials says. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about for us.”

This is a sponsored post.