Meat and dairy consumption is the highest contributor to both greenhouse gases and deforestation, and has a high impact on water consumption and pollution. The meat industry emits some of the highest amounts of nitrous oxide and methane, which are both greenhouse gases even more dangerous to global warming than CO2. Furthermore, high meat and dairy consumption is an unhealthy diet choice known to cause several diseases and cancers. The additional aspect of the problematic and inhumane practices used in factory farmed meat perpetuates these diseases and provides another reason to reduce or eliminate meat consumption. A meat and dairy based diet is still bewilderingly encouraged and normal by most of the global society, despite all of this knowledge.
While many think they can simply eat organic to be more environmentally friendly, this is not always the case, particularly with meat. Livestock is more likely to be humanely treated if local and organic, and likely to travel less and thus have a lower ecological footprint, but impacts are far more convoluted than that – traveling from New Zealand on a cargo ship might have a lower impact than a truck from a few hours away. Furthermore, an organically raised cow requires more land than a factory-farmed cow; thus, in a certain perspective, factory farmed meat can actually be more ecologically friendly. Thus, the most effective way to reduce your impact significantly is to become vegetarian or vegan. If of course this diet change is too drastic, becoming more aware of what type of meat and dairy you are purchasing (local and organic – though convoluted, it still may be better to put your faith in the farmers market), and making personal challenges such as meatless Mondays, meat for only one meal a day, or meat only on weekends. These challenges can function as a transition into a vegetarian diet or can remain consistent throughout your life. It is important to understand if you are the type of person who must eliminate it all at once in order to not make too many “exceptions” or if a slow transition is the most realistic method to become successfully vegetarian. It is also necessary to watch your iron and protein intake if you do chose to become vegan or vegetarian. While such a diet can make you feel far healthier, if you are not considering your protein and iron you may feel low of energy. Follow these links to discover high-protein and iron-rich foods to remain healthy during your new diet. Help keep the Earth, your body, and the inhabitants of this Earth happy and healthy.
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/8-foods-every-vegetarian-should-eat/
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/vegetarian/protein-for-vegetarians-00412000078915/
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20718479,00.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446?footprints=mine
http://vegankit.com/eat