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What You Eat (or don’t eat) Helps The Environment Most
By Admin | May 3, 2008
It may be surprising to most Americans is that what you eat affects our environment more than most anything else.
…more than switching to a hybrid car
…more than switching to mercury free lightbulbs
…more than recycling
Here are the facts. Raising food for human consumption creates 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than 130 times the total of human generated greenhouse gas emissions. The amount of pollution created just to grow and deliver animal food to our tables is extraordinarily high.
And water used to raise animals for human food is equally high. Here are some of the worst offenders:
- 4500 liters of water for one steak.
- 1000 liters of water for one liter of milk.
- 1170 liters of water for one chicken breast.
- 1440 liters of water for one serving of pork.
- 840 liters of water for one pot of coffee.
- 2500 liters of water for one piece of cheese.
Compare that to 70 liters of water used to deliver one apple.
And production of animal foods, especially meat, has been growing… and is projected to double over the next 40 years.
Reducing the percentage of animal foods in your diet is one of the most effective ways to help our environment. It’s also one of the best things you can do for your health at the same time. Two benefits in one!
Eating a diet of mainly raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and living grains is also:
- waste free
- better than driving a hybrid
- healthy
- sustainable
- eco friendly
I was amazed at the amount of garbage I reduced when shifting my diet. By not buying packaged and prepared foods, I went from 2 garbage bags a week, to one garbage bag every 2 weeks. And most of that is from fruit and vegetable scraps. My next project is to turn those scraps into compost and reduce my waste even further.
Imagine if just 1 in 100 people did this. Imagine the millions of pounds of garbage we’d save alone each week, not counting the reduction of greenhouse gases, fuel and other energy used by eating predominantly animal based foods.
Something to consider.
Keep it green!
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Topics: earth day, energy conservation, environment, green living | 1 Comment »
May 19th, 2008 at 5:42 am
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