Plant-based foods have become popular in 2020, more than ever. Why is that the case? Well, because of the Coronavirus killing workers, slaughterhouses have been shut down. And because the meat-processing plants have shut down, farmers have had to kill hundreds of thousands of pigs. This is the spark, which has led people to consider vegetarian diets.
Vegetarian diets can be beneficial, as they can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Compared to meat eaters, vegetarians tend to consume less saturated fat and cholesterol and more of the good things like, vitamins C and E, dietary fiber, folic acid, potassium, magnesium (etc). As a result, they’re likely to have lower total and bad cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower body mass index (BMI), all of which are associated with a long life span. But you can only get these benefits if you have a good vegetarian diet, like including fruits and veggies and not including potato chips and soda.
Vegetarian diets are $750 cheaper than a meat-based diet. This suggests that moving from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian diet costs you nothing, if not saving you money, all while giving you a nutritious diet. It’s a win-win for your health and your bank account.
Vegetarian diets also have a less climate footprint than meat-based diets. Also, beef and lamb have the biggest climate footprint per gram of protein, while plant-based foods tend to have the smallest impact. By making this change, we can help reduce global warming. Global warming is an issue that needs to be addressed and can only be done if each of us does something to help the environment, so having more vegetables and less meat or a vegetarian diet is a good way to address it.
Vegetarianism or having a more plant based diet helps your health, bank account, and the climate. Why shouldn’t you switch today!
Works Cited
Corkery, Michael, and David Yaffe-Bellany. “The Food Chain’s Weakest Link: Slaughterhouses.” The New York Times, 18 Apr. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/business/coronavirus-meat-slaughterhouses.html?searchResultPosition=4&scrlybrkr=ab3e4036. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.
Foer, Jonathan Safran. “Opinion | The End of Meat Is Here.” The New York Times, 21 May 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/coronavirus-meat-vegetarianism.html?scrlybrkr=16610301. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.
Moskin, Julia, et al. “Your Questions About Food and Climate Change, Answered (Published 2019).” The New York Times, 30 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/30/dining/climate-change-food-eating-habits.html?mtrref=undefined&gwh=49ED780B9574649F661F9D2CD2156A58&gwt=pay&assetType=REGIWALL. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.
Nierenberg, Amelia. “Plant-Based ‘Meats’ Catch On in the Pandemic.” The New York Times, 24 May 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/dining/plant-based-meats-coronavirus.html?searchResultPosition=2. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.
Publishing, Harvard Health. “Becoming a Vegetarian.” Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/becoming-a-vegetarian?scrlybrkr=986baf1f. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.
“Vegetarian Diet: How to Get the Best Nutrition.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446?scrlybrkr=b4bdd613. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.
