The book “How Not to Eat” by Mark Bittman and David L. Katz, MD points out that “no one is healthy on a cooked earth.” Climate change is his biggest global health threat of the 21st century, according to an article in the respected British medical journal The Lancet.st century. Doctors need to speak up about this.
It is disturbingly clear that the planet our children and grandchildren will inherit will not be as livable as it is today, and that human civilization will ultimately be endangered. “How to Eat” states that “the environmental impact of animal foods is … astronomically higher than that of plants.” Below is a summary of the environmental issues associated with eating meat.
greenhouse gas warming the earth. According to an article in Scientific American, growing red meat such as beef, lamb, and pork produces 10 to 40 times more greenhouse gases than growing plant-based foods. Raising 100 grams of beef releases 50 kilograms of greenhouse gases. Poultry 5.7; Tofu 2. Meat and dairy provide 18% of all calories consumed on the planet, according to a Forbes article published by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the LCA Research Group in Switzerland. , which accounts for 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. A World Bank analysis found that livestock is responsible for more than 50% of all greenhouse gases.
water As the world becomes hotter and more densely populated, and some regions, including the western United States, become drier, their numbers are becoming scarcer. Eating a vegan diet requires 13 times less water than a meat-based diet. Those who choose to eat a plant-based diet save 1,100 gallons of water each day.
deforestation It’s problematic for several reasons, but one important one is that trees absorb global warming carbon. A 2009 study showed that four-fifths of deforestation across the Amazon is associated with cattle grazing.
land: Raising animals for food occupies about 45% of the total land on the planet. A person on a plant-based diet for a year needs 1/6 of an acre of land. A vegetarian who eats eggs and dairy needs three times that he. People who eat meat, dairy and eggs need 18 times more land.
feed 7 billion people on earth: A well-researched paper by a local religious leader states that it is ethically important to “put grain from the mouth of an animal into the mouth of a starving man.” She points out: “Ethicist Dr. Will Tuttle says that the world produces enough food to feed 12 to 15 billion people, yet only about half of it exists on Earth, and yet About 1 billion people go hungry every day,” because “50% of the grains and legumes grown in the world are used for animal feed.” Animal activist and former rancher Howard Lyman agrees.
sewage waste: It is estimated that 70.4% of cattle, 98.3% of pigs and 99.9% of chickens are raised on factory farms. These farms generate large amounts of sewage, causing water pollution and other environmental problems.
Antibiotics It is also used in factories and conventional agriculture to prevent disease and make animals grow faster, contributing to antibiotic resistance.
animal rights concerns
Most of the meat Americans eat comes from factory farms. If you want to see how cruel factory farming can be, watch the documentary Food, Inc.
summary
The aforementioned Forbes article concludes, “A vegan diet is the single biggest way to reduce our impact on the planet.” It is especially important to avoid or at least reduce beef, pork and dairy products.
Dr. Feinsinger is a retired family physician with a particular interest in nutritional disease prevention and recovery. Free services from the Center For Prevention and The People’s Clinic include a one-hour consultation, doctor-led shopping at the Carbondale City Market, and cooking classes. For reservations, please call 970-379-5718 or email gfeinsinger@comcast.net..
