By Sandy Braz

Jumping in the car to grab groceries grown and picked in far off places (think exotic fruit) could be doing a number on your waistline and the environment, say researchers.

According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, a car ride here and there may not seem like much, but stocking your fridge this way adds up, both in the ozone and on the scale.

Experts say gas emissions from long-distance food transportation and opting to drive your car versus a greener, fat-burning method like cycling, may contribute to a deteriorating environment and expanding American waistlines. So, what can you do? Go local.

Try this: Keep fat loss up and your carbon footprint down by walking or riding your bike to the local farmer’s market for fresh fruit, vegetables and lean protein. You’ll get in some extra cardio for the day to help excel your metabolism, plus help support local farms, reducing the reliance on carbon-emitting transport.

Making small changes could add up to big gains when thinking about how to improve your fitness, health and the planet.