25/05/2021
A recent study showed that if the US eliminated ALL MEAT from our diets, we would only decrease GHG emissions by 2.6%, or 0.36% globally, and at the same time, it would cause more obesity and diabetes through more overall calories and more overall carbohydrates. Additionally, we’d suffer from nutrient deficiencies. In a time when staying healthy is on the top of everyone's mind, we need a diet optimized for health.
Humans need many essential micro- and macro-nutrients to maintain good health. Without livestock, key nutrients like calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Arachidonic Acid (AA), EPA, and DHA would be lacking in our diets.
Interestingly, consider all of the GHG emissions from more diabetes - the syringes, lancets, hospital stays, amputations, dialysis… (this wasn’t considered in the above analysis, but it’s important to mention). Obesity and diabetes are set to cripple our economy, we don’t need even more calories and empty carbs on our plates, we need more nutrients.
At the same time, we need better agriculture across all systems, both for plants and animals. There are zero studies showing that Meatless Mondays would do anything to move the needle on GHG emissions or improve the health of school kids.
Climate change demands our attention, but if we divert our energy away from the real culprits (ahem, fossil fuels) at the expense of our soil and health, the full array of consequences that would ensue will propel us into a far more compromised future than we can imagine.