Save the Planet One Bite at a Time
Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve heard about climate change and the real dangers we face as a planet. These dangers are expected to become more evident in our lifetime and more importantly, our children’s lifetime.
I’m sure you’ve heard that taking shorter showers, recycling, using less electricity, and carpooling are ways to reduce our use of fossil fuels.
Currently, we are using very dangerous practices to offset our diminishing supply or natural resources (natural gas, oil, and coal). Off-shore drilling for oil, removing mountain tops for coal, and fracking for natural gas thus damaging and decimating our beautiful land and wildlife.
But what if I told you that we could make a much BIGGER impact if you ate less animal meat? Even better, NO animal meat.
Sounds crazy I know…
How can this be?
Let’s take a look at a 2006 UN report that states, “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems,” senior UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official Henning Steinfeld said. “Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.”
What do cows have to do with climate change?
Cows eat grass. The grass then ferments in their stomach where it interacts with microbes and produces a gas. This results in burping and flatulence in the form of methane gas. Every molecule of methane is the equivalent of 23 molecules of carbon dioxide making methane a very powerful greenhouse gas.
So, you’re saying that a cow’s poor manners are responsible for our environmental problems?
Research says YES and methane gas is just one of the problems when it comes to livestock. Did you know that it takes approximately 500 gallons to produce 1 pound of chicken and approximately 450 gallons of water to make 1 pound of beef? That’s almost 1,000 gallons to produce 2 pounds of meat!! (1) According to data published by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), consumers are expected to eat 222.2 pounds(100.8 kilo) of red meat and poultry this year, up from 216.9 pounds per person in 2017. This means that each meat-eating American uses approximately 105,545 gallons per year due to consuming red meat and poultry! That’s disheartening and even more alarming is that 2018 was a record year for meat consumption. Also, according to experts, food demands are expected to grow by more than 50% by 2050. (2)(3)
In a 2009 interview with ABC Al Gore said, “It’s absolutely correct that the growing meat intensity of diets around the world is one of the issues connected to this global crisis—not only because of the CO2 involved, but also because of the water consumed in the process.” He subsequently went vegan in 2017 and has reported feeling better as a result.
Did you also know that livestock systems occupy 45% of the global surface area? (4) As we make more room on our planet for animal agriculture, we clear more rainforests, bring more species to extinction, create more ocean “dead zones”, and deplete our resources. (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)
In the United States, livestock production is responsible for 55% of erosion, 37% of all applied pesticides, and 50% of antibiotics consumed, while the animals themselves directly consume 95% of our oat production and 80% of our corn, according to the Sierra Club. (10) Just think of the impact you could have by just switching from beef to poultry!
Research has proven over and over that a plant-based diet is better for our health and our environment.
The result of this 2018 study found that, “Participants with diets rich in plant-based foods (fifth quintile) were more likely to be older urban dwellers, to hold a higher degree in education, and to be characterized by an overall healthier lifestyle and diet. A higher provegetarian score was associated with lower environmental impact.” (11)
For more research on the health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, check out my Part 1 article here: https://www.thrivekin.com/…/i-m-going-plant-based-in-2019-h…
You can make a difference with every bite of food you take and every dollar you spend. It’s really that easy.
It’s been a personally amazing and fulfilling journey. Won’t you join me?
Looking for some great documentaries on this topic? Check out Before the Flood and Cowspiracy on Netflix!!
Sources:
1. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-watercontent.html
2. Searchinger, T. et al. Creating a Sustainable Food Future. A Menu of Solutions to Sustainably Feed More Than 9 Billion People by 2050 (World Resources Institute, Washington, 2014).
3. Valin, H. et al. The future of food demand: understanding differences in global economic models. Agric. Econ. 45, 51–67 (2014).
4. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/…/han…/10568/10601/IssueBrief3.pdf
5. https://comfortablyunaware.wordpress.com/
6. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ocean-dead-zones/
7. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/…/ocean-dead-zones-are-gett…/
8. https://www.takeextinctionoffyourplate.com/meat_and_wildlif…
9. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature01014
10. https://content.sierraclub.org/…/Livestock%20and%20Climate%…
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5811770/
Questions? Just ask!
Want to work with me 1:1 to create the perfect diet for you and/or your family? Contact me today at dana@thrivekin.com.