4 Surprising Eco-Friendly Uses for Bamboo

Tess De Paula

September

2020

When you think of bamboo you probably think of those gorgeous forests of bamboo trees, or even panda food. You might even think of bamboo straws that have recently become popular as an alternative to single-use plastic straws. In reality, bamboo has many more uses on our planet than we may see on the surface. From rendering plastic straws obsolete to reducing the amount of water needed to grow, bamboo offers a more eco-friendly alternative in so many everyday products. Here’s an introduction to just a few: ### Clothing From t-shirts to pajamas to underwear, clothing made from bamboo is consistently softer and more comfortable than cotton alternatives.Bamboo also It requires much less water to grow than cotton plants. Water-use efficiency has proven to keep our environment healthier. What’s more, growing cotton typically requires the use of pesticides and fertilizers and causes soil erosion. Planting bamboo as an alternative can decrease runoff and allow for a healthier planet. Bamboo helps preserve soil through its long root system. Check out our friends at [Boody](https://boody.com/) to start making the switch to bamboo clothing. ### Building Not only is bamboo soft, it’s also incredibly strong. Together with its light weight and elasticity, this makes, bamboo is a popular building material in areas of the world frequently affected by earthquakes, hurricanes and typhoons. For the builders themselves it’s also easy to cut, handle, repair, reposition and maintain, without the need for sophisticated tools or equipment. Building with bamboo instead of wood is also better for the environment. decision. Reducing the use of timber decelerates the effects of global warming by slowing deforestation and increasing the amount of trees using photosynthesis. At the same time, bamboo decreases the amount of CO2 from air at a rate three times higher than other trees, which also helps to slow global warming. ### Skin Care Bamboo has been used in skin care treatments for millennia. In fact, if you look at the label of many Korean beauty products, you’ll often see bamboo extract or bamboo sap at the top of the ingredient list. Bamboo has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which help prevent breakouts and heal existing ones. It’s also rich in natural silica, which helps give your skin a natural glow, and is super hydrating. [Lather](https://www.lather.com/) is a good place to start your bamboo skin care journey - all of their products are cruelty-free and free from parabens, sulfates, and artificial fragrance. ### Toys As well as being an amazing alternative to wood, bamboo is also a great alternative to plastic. It’s biodegradable, eco-friendly, stronger, and longer- lasting than plastic. Bamboo takes only a few years to decompose, while plastic can take thousands of years. Plastic pollutes the oceans and congests landfills, endangers wildlife and even releases toxic chemicals that affect humans. While plastic is typically used to create toys, some manufacturers today are finding that bamboo toys are a more eco-friendly alternative. We love the options from [Made of Bamboo](https://madeofbamboo.com/).

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According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a warm-up is defined as “preparatory activities and functionally based movements that are specifically designed to prepare the body for exercise or sport”. Designing an adequate warmup is usually dependent on the athlete’s needs, goals, and abilities.¹ The goal is to mentally and physically prepare the athlete for a training session or competition; while reducing the risk of injury. Benefits of a well designed warm-up are as follows:² Psychological readiness and preparation Increased blood flow to active muscles Increased strength and power output Improved joint range of motion Increased core temperature Enhanced oxygen delivery Faster muscle contraction and relaxation There are many warm-up procedures that a coach or athlete may implement into their training routine. Learning about the advantages of different procedures is crucial to building an effective warm-up specific to yourself or another individual. This article will discuss traditional procedures like static and dynamic stretching; as well as some newer modalities aiding in the speed and effectiveness of a warmup.

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