A Green Diet for a Green Earth: The Benefits of Plant-Based Eating
Posted on January 11, 2024
1-11.2024
Letter to the Editor: A Green Diet for a Green Earth: The Benefits of Plant-Based Eating
By Jane DeMarines, Executive Director, Sustainable Earth Eating
Our modern lifestyle is becoming unsustainable. Greenhouse gases are warming the planet more and more each year. Chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes are becoming the norm. And the world’s natural habitats are being turned into farms to feed the growing global population.
However, there’s a simple way we can all help solve these issues: eat more plants and less meat.
The meat industry produces huge amounts of greenhouse gases due to animal-released methane. It’s also massively inefficient, using 80% of all arable land worldwide but only fulfilling 20% of global food needs. On the other hand, plant agriculture has a lower carbon footprint, and the food created can be provided directly to consumers instead of animals. Without the need to support huge farm animal populations, we can more efficiently use our natural resources.
Not only that, but plant-heavy diets are healthier. Many studies have found that vegans and vegetarians have better health outcomes than meat-eaters. Legumes like beans, lentils, and peanuts are great sources of protein and provide gut-healthy fiber. Fruits and vegetables are extremely nutritious in general. Compare that with animal products, especially red meats, which have been shown to increase the chance of developing heart disease and diabetes, and it’s clear that we should all be eating more plants.
We can no longer sit back and watch the modern world collapse. Let’s all embrace a green future for the planet by eating a green diet.
Sustainable Earth Eating
4982 Sentinel Dr, Unit 104
Bethesda, MD 20816
Phone: 202-997-8785