Big Mac at McDonald’s. Steak tips at Capital Grille. Juicy hot dogs and burgers at Fenway Park.
Does the thought of not having turkey on Thanksgiving send you into a tizzy?
From fast food to sit down dinners, meat is embedded into the way that humanity eats. As a rule, meat is everywhere and humanity is hooked. But it’s no secret that people know that we should all be eating less meat. Yet still, as a whole, humanity is resistant to the meatless movement. The second meat-eaters hear the words “vegetarian” or “vegan” from the like people tend to go on the defensive, hearing only reasons why their meat eating is wrong.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s impossible for the human race to use an all-or-nothing in approach to this problem – it simply won’t work for most of the population. When someone says “I’m starting my diet tomorrow and going completely hardcore,” does it actually happen? How long do they last – 2 days? Less than a week? It’s also important that people do not feel forced. People have to be willing to make the lifestyle change. It’s critical to remember that people do not have to go full vegan or vegetarian for the positive impact to begin. Marta Zaraska, author of Meathooked: The History and Science of Our 2.5-Million-Year Obsession with Meat, says “Think about it: What is better for the planet, if 100 people go vegan, or if 100,000 reduce their intakes by 5 percent?”
Is it necessary to cut OUR consumption of meat? Absolutely. Our excessive meat eating has critical effects on the food system, the environment, and health.
Of course, the desired end goal would be for the majority part of the population to be completely meat-free. With people that enjoy the taste of the meat, it is a lot harder to give it up completely.
The proposal?
Start small. People are turned off by the labels “semi-vegetarian,” “meat reducer,” or “flexitarian.” Forget the labels – be a “conscious meat eater.”
Read about why eating less meat is important for most aspects of life.
The Food System
In the United States alone, livestock consume over 7 times the amount of grains as the entire human population, which is not an efficient practice. According to National Geographic, “For every 100 calories of grain we fed animals, we get only about 40 new calories of milk, 22 calories of eggs, 12 of chicken, 10 of pork, or 3 of beef," meaning that we are wasting huge amounts of food. If less people in high-income countries consumed meat it will most likely help decrease the amount of people in low-income countries experiencing hunger and malnutrition.
Seafood consumption is not safe either; high rates of demand have led to the destruction and disruption of global fish populations. This has happened due to climate change, habitat loss, and a specific demand for mass consumption of a select few species. The fish populations need time to recover – in order to do this, humans must reduce consumption of the high-demand species and turn to local species that are more actively and abundantly available.
The Environment
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the meat industry accounts for almost 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cattle produce releases methane, which is more potent than carbon dioxide.
it takes about 2,000 gallons of water to make one pound of beef, compared to the approximate 200 gallons per pound it takes to make a pound of potatoes.
It’s been known that animal waste has leaked into local water from factory farms, which spreads contaminants to residents of the area.
Meat consumption is a major causing factor for deforestation, more specifically the Amazon rainforest. The higher the demand for meat from the population, the higher the use of land for farming. The Amazon has been affected the most by the search for land.
To keep up with the high demand for seafood, fishermen have turned to new fishing practices to catch more. There is a practice called trawling, which is when nets are dragged along the bottom of the ocean. This practice causes huge damage to the natural habitats of the fish, especially coral reefs.
Health
Studies show that a high consumption of red and processed meats are linked to an increased risk for esophageal, stomach, and colon cancers.
Plant-based diets are usually less energy dense, allowing humans to eat bigger portions which leads to feeling full.
Meat products provide 24% of the saturated fats, whereas plant foods are low in saturated fats and some are high in unsaturated fats. Less saturated fats and high unsaturated fats help humans maintain a healthy cholesterol level.
By reducing meat and dairy intake, it could help reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, in addition to cancer.
Convinced now?
If every person cuts out meat in some way, it will affect the environment and human and animal populations in a positive way. Humanity can do this by making one meal a day meatless, participating in Meatless Monday, being a “weekday vegetarian” or going headfirst into full-on vegetarianism or veganism. The current way that humans are consuming meat, excessively and constantly, is not a sustainable way of living for anyone.
