Reduce Meat Intake and Lessen Your Environmental Footprint

One of the modern-day reasons that Meatless Mondays has become so popular is concern about the environmental footprint we leave.

Our environmental footprints are directly measured by the amount of demand we make on Earth’s ecological system.

To calculate the impact of environmental footprints, scientists figure how much land and sea resources are needed to supply us with the food we consume.

A recent report indicated that the Earth’s population now uses resources 1.4 times faster than the Earth can reproduce them.

Most of us are concerned about our planet’s future and want to do what we can to reduce the carbon footprint.

We now know that going meatless at least one day per week can drastically reduce the impact we leave on the planet.

Raising animals for consumption is a highly expensive pursuit, and that’s passed on to you at the supermarket.

And, besides environmental concerns, there are concerns about the way these animals are treated on so-called ‘factory farms.’

Diseases happen at epidemic levels in these fast-production farms, and contamination of the meat also becomes a concern.

Clearly, there’s something wrong with the way we raise meat for human consumption.

Another way that going meatless can help the environment is the minimization of water for livestock – much higher than that of grains and vegetables.

Between 1,500 and 3,000 gallons of water must be used to produce one pound of beef.

In contrast, the soy that goes into vegetarian meals only needs 220 gallons of water per pound. Water is one of the top concerns of our world today.

The droughts in America and elsewhere in the world have left some people starving for food. Going meatless at least one day a week is a good way to lessen the impact of having less water.

Here are some other ways that taking part in Meatless Mondays can help the environment:

Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependence

An exorbitant amount of fuel is used in the production of meat compared to that in plant-based protein. When you reduce your meat consumption, you’ll help conserve energy.

Livestock emissions

The FAO reports that livestock is “responsible for approximately 18% of greenhouse gas emissions.”

One report states that raising livestock for food puts out more greenhouse gases than the total of all the cars and trucks in the entire world.

Topsoil and rainforest destruction

Agricultural grazing land takes up about thirty percent of the earth’s surface. We’re ruining natural habitats for animals and plants by clearing land to use for raising livestock.

Water Pollution

Pollution of our precious water supplies by animal waste and fertilizers and pesticides used to produce feed crops is a top concern to environmentalists.

By consciously choosing to pursue the advantages of a vegetarian diet – even if it’s just one day a week – you can dramatically reduce the amount of oil, land and water that’s now used because of animal consumption.

As the world’s population continues to grow, we must find new and innovative ways to sustain the Earth’s resources.

More people means an increase in food requirements – and, as it stands now, our appetite for meat continues to grow. Reducing your meat consumption can slow down the impact.

Meatless Mondays is just one way you can reduce your environmental footprint on the Earth. But, keep in mind that you’ll also reap the benefits of better health, saving money and losing weight.

Try Meatless Mondays for yourself and your family and you’ll feel better about yourself and what you’re accomplishing.

Related Reading: https://www.discoveryhub.net/vegan-diet-guide.html

Do Vegetarians Have a Stronger or Weaker Immune System?

Over the past few years, vegetarian diets have become increasingly popular for a number of reasons. Some people do it because they believe it to be morally right, while others try it out to see weight loss benefits.

Many have claimed that by going vegetarian and maintaining a plant-based diet you will boost your immune system, while others believe it will actually hurt you in the long run.

The reason people believe that a vegetarian diet is better for your immune system is because so many of the immune boosting foods that you need are plants and plant based, so revolving your diet around that will give you more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need to boost your immune system.

It’s very true that vegetables and fruits contain many important nutrients, and they’re essential to your diet if you want to maintain a strong immune system.

However, some people take issue with the lack of meat in a vegetarian diet, citing the fact that you also need protein to keep your immune system strong.

While meat is a very plentiful source of protein, it’s not the only source of protein. These days, vegetarians can get protein from all kinds of different sources, all of them without any meat.

Protein is important to your immune system because it helps build white blood cells and antibodies, both of which specialize in fighting off diseases.

So vegetarian diets that have alternative sources of protein are able to keep the body well stocked with the building blocks it needs while also preventing diseases with an array of vitamins and minerals.

That must mean that vegetarian diets are simply better for your immune system. However, that may not fully be the case.

While going vegetarian is a surefire way to ensure that you get enough fruits and vegetables, it’s not required for you to get enough.

Just like if a vegetarian doesn’t eat enough protein, they’ll suffer, a person who only eats meat without any vegetables will also suffer the consequences.

You can still eat meat if you want to - it’s not going to ruin your immune system or anything.

What you do need to do is simply increase your intake of vegetables and fruits. If you’d like to go vegetarian, you’re still going to reap the same rewards, but don’t think that it’s the only way you’re going to have a good immune system.

Related Reading: https://www.discoveryhub.net/vegan-diet-guide.html

Healthy Eating on a Tight Budget

Being on a tight budget can be frustrating, but even more so if you are also trying to improve the nutrition of your food ands tick to a healthy diet.

It can be done, but it does take a bit more strategy and planning. Here are some tips for eating healthy no matter what your food budget is.

1. Eat More Plant-Based Foods

The plant-forward way of eating involves eating more foods that come from plants, and less that come from animals.

If you can start implementing this into your lifestyle, you will save money since meat, poultry, and seafood tend to be among the most expensive food ingredients.

This isn’t about going vegan or completely plant-based, but having your meat and poultry products more of a side dish on your plate, with the cheaper plant-based foods as the main course.

2. Shop Your Kitchen First

Always start with your own kitchen first when you are looking to stick to a tight food budget, but still want to eat a healthier diet. You probably have some ingredients you can use up in your refrigerator, freezer, or pantry.

Start with ingredients that are going to expire soon so that they don’t go to waste.

You can then consider any pantry staples that would work for healthy meals, like beans or rice, canned vegetables, or meat in the freezer.

3. Choose Cheaper Cuts of Meat

When you do want to eat meat or poultry in your diet, go for the cheaper cuts of meat.
For example, chicken and turkey are typically less expensive than red meat like your steak and pork.

When you do want red meat, go for ground beef or flat steaks like flank steak. These are tougher cuts of steak, so they work best when sliced thin and used for tacos or fajitas.

4. Be Smart When Buying Produce

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet, but it is easy to spend more than necessary. To avoid this, start by buying produce that is currently in season.

This might vary based on where you live, but for example, summer produce often includes peaches, strawberries, watermelon, carrots, zucchini and tomatoes.

You can also look for year-round produce that tends to be cheaper for most of the year than other produce.

For a comprehensive and day by day guide for how to lose weight on a healthy diet you can grab a copy of my new kindle/paperback book "7 ways in 7 days to Lose 5 Pounds" that has just been published as part of my Natural Health and Beauty book series that are available to buy online at places like iTunes, Amazon and Lulu.



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 Cheers, Helene Malmsio

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