Is A Plant-Based Diet The Answer To Our Problems?
I’m sure we all want to know the secrets to solving and avoiding any further problems that inconvenience life on earth. Whether it be global warming, common health risks or more drastically, ridding the earth of inhumane behaviour. I present to you a realistic and proven solution: eat less meat. great for the environment, your health and the animals.
Scientists are continually revealing more about the destructive impact of animal agriculture. Constantly fuelling climate change, polluting landscapes and waterways, the massive health disadvantages, and not to mention the inhumane slaughter of innocent animals.
When modern-day society thinks of helping the environment, they automatically think of recycling and taking the bus, when in reality, this is the very least you can do. Only 13% of all greenhouse gases come from all forms of transport, while 51% is directly from animal agriculture. As well as polluting the earth, animal agriculture uses 55% of Earth’s pure water, while only 5% is for domestic use. This is because it takes at least 2,500 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef.
If I were to ask you what you believe is responsible for the destruction of 91% of the Amazon Rainforest, what would you say? Most likely, you would have said mining, infrastructure development or natural causes such as hurricanes or fires. Well, believe it or not, it is yet again animal agriculture. With one acre cleared every second, it is also the leading cause of species extinction.
A plant-based diet is also the best thing you can do for your personal health. Eating less meat reduces inflammation in the body, meaning that your blood pressure will lower and you will have a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and possibly even cancer. The increased intake of root vegetables (which absorb nutrients from the soil) will increase your fibre and vitamin C intake, while your cholesterol and saturated fat intake will drastically lower.
Finally, what I believe is the most important factor in a plant-based diet is animal rights. According to the Food Standards Agency, the humane way of killing an animal is to use a bolt gun to stun the animal and then slice its throat open. However, in my mind, there is no possible way of humanely killing an animal. Commonly, many of the animals die before even being slaughtered due to the conditions of disease, starvation and being crushed because of the tight spaces.
Eggs and dairy are also a large problem contributing to brutal behaviour due to the artificial insemination and the grief mothers go through after their babies have been taken from them. The topic of free-range eggs has lots of myths surrounding it to make it appear safe and kind to the hens, when in reality, the hens only get one square metre to live the rest of their lives in.
Overall, a plant-based diet is pretty much the answer to most of our problems: The environment, our health and inhumane behaviour. Why let your appetite overrule what is best for the world when you know what is right?