Vegetarians usually have lower level of heart disease,
and studies have also
shown that they have a lower risk of diabetes than people who eat meat. Most people don’t realize, however, that a vegetarian diet is also better for the health Of (1111' (fllVlI‘Ol’l l'IlC‘l’ll.
Recently, researchers from the Union of Concerned Scientists in the US. released a report on how consumer behavior affects the environment. Their study showed that meat consumption is one of the main ways that humans
can damage the environment, second only to the use of motor vehicles.
So, how can a simple thing like eating meat have a negative effect on the environment? The most important impact of meat production is through the
use of water and land. Two thousand five hundred gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef, whereas only twenty gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat. By producing crops instead of animals, we can make more efficient use of the land and water. One acre of farmland that is used for raising livestock can produce 250 pounds of beef. One acre of farmland used for crops can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 30;OOO pounds of carrots, or 50,000 pounds of tomatoes.
Furthermore, farm animals add tothe problem of global warming. All livestock animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep release methane by expelling gas from " their bodies. One cow can produce up to sixty liters of methane each day. Methane gas is the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Many environmental experts now believe that methane is more responsible for global warming than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that twenty-five percent of all methane released into the atmosphere comes from farm animals.
People are becoming aware of the benefits of switching to a vegetarian diet, not just for the health reasons, but also because it plays a vital role in protecting the environment. Some people go further, and eat a vegan diet, which excludes all products from animal sources, such as cheese, eggs, and milk. However, some nutritionists believe that a vegan diet can be deficient in some of the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need daily. Today, many people are concerned about improving their health, and about protecting the environment. Switching to a vegetarian diet—or just eating less meat-is a good way to do both of these things at the same time.