By Paige Leigh Reist | Posted: August 13, 2019
There are countless benefits to eating a plant-based diet. From lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease to helping you get to your healthiest weight, plant-based diets also keep your cholesterol levels and blood pressure under control. But new research also shows that eating a diet that is focused on fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, seeds, legumes, and beans, isn’t only good for your body: it’s good for the environment, as well.
107 scientists banded together to present a document at the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that suggests that if farmland is utilized in a more efficient manner, we can cut down on the amount of carbon that is released into the atmosphere. The way to do this is to change the way we create and farm our food, leaning away from meat farming and towards a more plant-based food production cycle that is easier on the environment and on our health, too.
According to the BBC, almost 60% of carbon emissions linked to food production result from animal products, and half of those emissions come from beef and lamb alone. Not only do cows produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, but the agricultural practices required to maintain the dietary needs of cattle create excess amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide that harm the environment as well.
According to IPCC Co-Chair Eduardo Calvo Buendía, “The food system as a whole, which includes food production and processing, transport, retail consumption, loss and waste is currently responsible for up to a third of our global greenhouse gas emission.”
Although climate change might seem like an insurmountable problem, there are things that you can do in your daily life to help.
Eat plant-based
As we begin to more often choose organic fruits and vegetables, and purchase less and less meat, the demands for meat production decrease. If you’re worried about missing the taste of meat, try one of the growing numbers of plant-based meat substitutes that are sweeping through the market!
Eat seasonally and locally
By far, the best way to have an immediate impact on your area is to eat seasonally and locally. Frequenting your local farmer’s market will reduce carbon emissions used to transport out-of-season and out-of-area food products. We’re not saying that you can’t have a banana if you live in Canada, but try to fall a little more in love with your local fruits and veggies!
Grow your own food
There is little in this world that is more satisfying than growing and eating your own food. Not only does it save you money, but if you’ve ever had a tomato straight from the garden, you can attest that garden-grown food tastes amazing. Additionally, you can be certain that no pesticides have been used!
Combating climate change is a group effort. Even if you’re not ready to make the switch to vegetarianism, veganism, or plant-based living, you can begin to make decisions that have a positive impact on your lifestyle and on the world around you. Every little thing counts.
Paige Leigh Reist is a writer, editor, blogger, and creative writing instructor.
