Did you know that green living can actually help you live longer? It might sound strange, but it's really true - many of the same things that help the earth will help you, too. If you drive less, eat fresh organically grown foods and do many other ecologically friendly things, you'll live a lot longer.

By eating healthy, organic foods you are not only helping your body by giving it fresh food, you are saving the earth from being contaminated by pesticides. Organic meats help by keeping the environment free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Plus you're avoiding all those nasty things from going inside of you! By eating fresh, organic foods, you are avoiding all the processed foods that do a better job of clogging your arteries than they do of providing nutrition.

Try to drive less. By combining your errands, you not only save fuel and reduce the traffic on the roads; you are giving yourself less stress from dealing with traffic jams and other drivers. Carpool or use public transit when you can. If you choose to ride a bike or walk for some of your errands, you also get needed exercise. This will help keep your heart healthy and keep you limber and toned.

Composting is a wonderful way to save money, keep organic material out of the landfill, and provide rich soil for your own landscaping and gardening efforts. Add vegetable and fruit waste, coffee grounds, egg shells, grains, and yard waste to the pile. Take care with animal products, however - they can take a long time to compost and attract pests. Keep a compost pile moist so it stays active, and you'll soon have great soil and less trash.

There are a lot of things you can do to make your home a lot more comfortable and save energy. Larger, well insulated windows let in more natural light, allowing you to keep your lights off for longer periods during the day. Turn your air conditioner off when you're not at home and make use of energy efficient appliances to save money and resources.

Recycling cans, bottles and packaging will also help you reduce your trash bills and your carbon footprint. Consider using cloth bags instead of paper or plastic - you'll save resources and avoid that ever growing pile of bags in the kitchen. Some stores will give you a small discount for using your own bag. These things all reduce pollution, allowing us to live in a cleaner world.

Once you start, you'll be surprised at how easy a greener life really is. You'll feel a lot better and you'll be able to know you're doing your part when it comes to keeping the planet healthy. Living greener helps you live happier and longer - give it a try today.