The Nature-Approved Diet

The health detriments of eating meat can be obvious to spot when you’re eating too much. For example, you may not feel as well, you may gain wait, etc. The environmental affects of our nation’s meat intake are much less obvious when they're not directly placed in your face. For example, most people don’t know how much land is used for feeding or raising livestock, or how the industry is affecting our atmosphere, or the amount of water used in the process.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)of the United Nations (UN)  released a report in 2006 stating that, “livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet.” In other words, nearly a third of the earth is used for meat production, whether that is for raising the animals, growing feed crops, or grazing. The UN also specifies that, “Expansion of livestock production is a key factor in deforestation,” which, in turn, means that the land percentage for the industry is just getting bigger.

With temperatures and sea levels rising, and ice-caps and glaciers declining, global warming is an important environmental factor to consider when reviewing an industry. Livestock is a major contributor to climate change, and according to the FOA report, is responsible for “18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.” The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently quoted a more current Worldwatch institute report, stating that, “a staggering 51 percent or more of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture.”

The FOA report also looked into the water usage of the industry, and discovered that the industry’s deforestation contribution also adds to the globe’s freshwater crises by unwittingly increasing runoff and reducing dry season flows. The process accounts for “over 8 percent of global human water use…” 

The livestock sector is also a huge offender of water pollution due to, “animal waste, antibiotics and hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and pesticides used for feed crops, and sediments from eroded pastures.”

The impacts of the meat industry are surprising, and very overlooked. I try to be green as much as possible, though I know I could do better, but I feel better knowing I'm not adding to that portion of the problem. 

TOPIC RECIPE: Spinach Salad with Dried Cranberries, Walnuts and Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This salad recipe is very natural, sweet, and good for you. This is a good lunch meal, side dish, or snack.