Over the past few years, I have tried to think about ways in which I could be “green” and start to preserve our environment. So many things in the world we live in today create a very unstable environment for our future generations to come. Through college I became a vegetarian and now am a vegan. There are many benefits of being a vegetarian, and if we only committed to eating meat once or twice a week, or cut it out all together, our earth’s carbon footprint would decrease dramatically. I have put together a list of reasons why everyone should live a vegetarian diet, not only for our earth but for our health as well.
1. Save the rainforest: It has been reported that up to 70% of our earth’s rainforest have been cut down to make land to raise cows. Before we know it the world will be wiped out of its forests, killing off thousands of species.
2. Save our water: It takes 10 gallons of water to make/ grow a pound of chicken while it takes a jaw dropping 150 gallons of water just to make a 1/3 pound hamburger!
3. Avoid drugs: Our meats in the United States are stuffed with hormones, antibiotics and chemical preservatives. These chemicals are not good for our long-term health and can often make us feel sick. If you cut out meat you reduce your risk of food borne illness dramatically.
4. Help the economy: 70% of the grain used in the United States is given to cattle for food. These cattle eat five times more than any human. If we were to export all of the grains used to feed our cattle, the United States trade balance would increase by $80 million! It would also help to reduce world hunger by providing food for more people.
5. Stop the cruelty of animals: This is one that really hits home for me. Animals today are treated horribly. They are shoved into tiny cages while being pumped up with hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics that will eventually kill them. Go to the PETA website and watch an undercover slaughterhouse video, you will change your view on eating meat… trust me.
6. Clean Air: Meat is one of the leading producers of greenhouse gas emissions in our world today. Overall farm animals produce more greenhouse gas emissions then our entire transportation system!
7. Feel energized: By switching your diet to whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, you will start feeling more energized and maintain a stable blood sugar throughout the day.
8. Save money:On average, vegetarians save about $4,000 in groceries every year. That’s two spring break trips to Mexico! Think about that!
9. Prevent heart disease: Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. today. By decreasing the amount of meat you eat or stopping altogether reduces your risk of developing heart disease in the future. Meat clogs arteries and puts you at risk for many long-term health complications. There are many other ways to get protein and still not eating meat. This can be from beans, tofu, and even peanut butter.
10. Crazy Fact: If we had one acre made of soybeans, it would provide us with 30 times more protein than an acre made just for cattle!
Overall there are many more positives to being vegetarian than negatives. Everyone should stop and think about what good meat is doing for them, and if it is really worth all these harmful effects. Being vegan for two months now I can honestly say that I have never felt better!