As Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how our everyday choices—especially around food and waste—impact both gut health and the health of the planet.

In this blog, we’ll explore some simple (and fun!) ways to make small changes that support a healthier, more sustainable world—from your digestive system to the environment around you.

Go Green(s)

“Going green” isn’t just about being a mindful consumer—it’s also about making nourishing, sustainable choices for your body. Incorporating more greens into your meals and snacks can work wonders for your gut health. Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, arugula, collard greens, romaine, and swiss chard are rich in antioxidants and prebiotic fibers that help fuel a strong, diverse microbiome. And don’t forget about one of the tastiest green fruits: kiwis! Studies show that habitual kiwifruit consumption has positive effects on digestion, including alleviating constipation and improving upper GI symptoms (1, 2).

Growing your own herbs is also a win-win for your gut and the planet. Fresh herbs like parsley, mint, and basil are packed with nutrients that support smooth digestion. Growing these at home also reduces the need for store-bought packaging and transportation which cuts down on waste and helps you reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, potted herbs can add a vibrant pop of color to your porch or windowsills!

And of course, sipping kombucha is another easy way to show your gut some love. With living probiotics and organic acids that support your gut health, drinking Health-Ade Kombucha can be a simple and refreshing ritual that benefits your body. And when that Health-Ade bottle is empty, it’s perfect for upcycling into something useful (or beautiful) around the house.

Buy Less, Upcycle More

Upcycling is a great way to minimize waste, conserve resources, and reduce the environmental impact of constantly producing and discarding new items. Here are a few of our favorite upcycling ideas:

Repurpose your Health-Ade bottles. You already know that every bottle of Health-Ade kombucha is filled with delicious flavors and bubbly probiotics, but the goodness doesn’t have to end once it’s empty. Give your bottle a rinse and reuse it as a vase for cut flowers or to propagate new house plants! You can also fill leftover bottles with your favorite cleaning products, screw on  a spray nozzle, and use for spring cleaning. Lastly, try pouring olive oil into one and balsamic vinegar into another to use for homemade salad dressings and drizzles.

Blueberry syrup anyone?

How about a new soap dispenser?!

Check out more fun bottle upcycling ideas!

Compost food scraps. Instead of throwing away all of your food scraps, start composting them! Items like eggshells, coffee grounds, grains, vegetable peels, and fruit rinds can all be composted and turned into nutrient-rich soil to nourish your garden or house plants.

Buy in bulk. When possible, purchase food and household items in bulk to reduce packaging waste. Bring jars and other containers to the store when purchasing items like bulk grains, nuts, and spices—and don’t forget those reusable shopping bags!

Get creative with leftovers. Repurposing leftovers is easy (and delicious!) way to reduce household food waste and save on your grocery bill. And no, it doesn’t have to mean eating the exact same meal twice.Consider transforming rotisserie chicken scraps into a nutritious broth for soups or toss leftover veggies into a skillet with eggs for a colorful morning frittata. You can also repurpose stale bread into croutons for spring salads, freeze and blend slightly overripe fruits into smoothies, or create a leftover stir-fry with veggies, a protein, and soy sauce!

Support Companies That Give Back to The Planet

Here at Health-Ade, we're committed to helping you feel good from the inside out. And we know that supporting companies that are kind to the planet plays an important role in helping you feel good. Our Sustainability & Company Responsibility Committee leads the charge on initiatives like waste diversion, carbon footprint reduction, water stewardship, and donations (both monetary and product-based). Here’s a look at some of the progress we made in 2024:

• Freight Optimization: We’re ALWAYS focused on reducing our carbon footprint on the road and this past year, we reduced truck mileage per case by 8.8%, saving millions of miles and cutting carbon emissions related to freight by an estimated 184,000 lbs.
  
  
• Product donations: We donated over 27,000 bottles and cans to community organizations.
  
  
• Employee Volunteering: Our team gave back with 741 hours of volunteer work.
  
  
• Waste Diversion: We diverted 88% of total manufacturing waste—well above LA County’s standards for recycling and recovery.
  
  
• Water Stewardship: Despite increasing production volume, we reduced cleaning water used per case by 32%, saving over 800,000 gallons through process improvements. This was all accomplished despite increasing our overall production volume.

We also proudly donated over $145,000 to the following organizations in 2024

• LA Compost
  
  
• Whole Planet Foundation
  
  
• Garden School Foundation
  
  
• FEAST
  
  
• Surfrider Foundation (Coast Sponsored Beach Clean-up)

If there’s one thing to keep in mind this Earth Day, it’s that sustainability doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with one change at a time and celebrate your progress along the way! Whether you’re adding in a greater variety of plant-based and fermented foods to your diet or upcycling to reduce your household waste, small changes can make a big impact on both your health and the health of the environment. Show kindness to your gut and the planet!

Sources:

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9156379/#:~:text=We%20identified%2012%20clinical%20trials,strengthen%20the%20evidence%20is%20recommended
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9572406/

This blog post was written by Claire Chewning, RDN & Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor

Claire is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor who's not on board with restrictive diets. She’s the owner and founder of Yours Chewly Nutrition, a virtual private practice where she helps individuals heal from chronic dieting and disordered eating so that they can discover peace and trust in their relationships with food + body. She’s also Health-Ade’s Registered Dietitian Advisor and loves educating employees and consumers about all things gut health from a non-diet perspective! She even writes a few blogs from time to time. Cheers!