(U-WIRE) If people went back to eating unprocessed foods from centuries ago, the earth would be a better place, and people would be healthier.

According to a recent New York Times article, the way food is currently grown and processed is harmful for the health of people and for the environment.

Michelle Gallant, a Syracuse University nutritionist and wellness educator, offered tips on how to eat better for you and for the preservation of the world:

Eat less beef. The environmental influence of beef is significant. The transportation of livestock accounts for 20 percent of the carbons emissions in the world today. In addition, cows are fed excess grains in order to quickly fatten them, but since cattle do not naturally eat grains they must be filled with antibiotics, and bacteria is becoming resistant to those drugs.

Make an effort to eat locally grown food. Food travels an average of 1,500 miles before it is consumed, and because of that, it is filled with preservatives to maintain freshness. In addition, the planes and trucks that transport food emit a great deal of carbon dioxide. Locally grown food will be much fresher and will taste better. Plus, it will help the local economy.

Eat in season fruits and vegetables. Significant amounts of fossil fuel would be saved if fruits and vegetables did not need to be transported. Currently, in-season produce includes apples, pears, carrots, potatoes and parsnips. Since they are in season there will be fewer chemicals and preservatives needed to preserve them.

Drink tap water. In industrialized nations like the United States, bottled water is not necessarily healthier than tap water. Additionally, bottled water is much more expensive than tap water, and the plastic bottles that contain them are rarely recycled.