Lifestyle Works

Meat is Heat: Global Warming

One of the most prestigious medical journals in the world editorialized that climate change represents “the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.” Currently, chronic diseases are by far the leading cause of death. Might there be a way to combat both at the same time? For example, riding our bikes instead of driving is a win-win-win for the people, planet, and pocketbook. Are there similar win-win situations when it comes to diet?

In my video Diet and Climate Change: Cooking Up a Storm, the foods that create the most greenhouse gases appear to be the same foods that are contributing to many of our chronic diseases. Researchers have found that meat (including fish), eggs, and dairy had the greatest negative environmental impact, whereas grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables had the least impact. And not only did the foods with the heaviest environmental impact tend to have lower nutritional quality, but they also had a higher price per pound. So, avoiding them gives us that triple win scenario.

The European Commission, the governing body of the European Union, commissioned a study on what individuals can do to help the climate. For example, if Europeans started driving electric cars, it could prevent as much as 174 million tonnes of carbon from getting released. We could also turn down the thermostat a bit and put on a sweater. But the most powerful action people could take is shift to a meat-free diet.

What we eat may have more of an impact on global warming than what we drive. Just cutting out animal protein intake one day of the week could have a powerful effect.

A strictly plant-based diet may be better still. It’s responsible for only about half the greenhouse gas emissions. Studies have suggested that “moderate diet changes are not enough to reduce impacts from food consumption drastically.” Without significant reduction in meat and dairy, changes to healthier diets may only result in rather minor reductions of environmental impacts. This is because studies have shown that the average fossil energy input for animal protein production systems is 25 calories of fossil energy input for every 1 calorie produced—more than 11 times greater than that for grain protein production, for example, which is around 2 to 1.

Researchers in Italy compared seven different diets to see which one was environmentally friendliest. They compared a conventional omnivorous diet adhering to dietary guidelines; an organic omnivorous diet; a conventional vegetarian diet; an organic vegetarian diet; a conventional vegan diet; an organic vegan diet; and a diet the average person actually eats. For each dietary pattern, the researchers looked at carcinogens, air pollution, climate change, effects on the ozone layer, the ecosystem, acid rain, and land, mineral, and fossil fuel use. In my video one can see how many resources it took to feed people on their current diets, all the negative effects the diet is having on the ecosystem, and the adverse effects on human health. If people were eating a healthier diet by conforming to the dietary recommendations, the environmental impact would be significantly less. An organic omnivorous diet would be better still, similar to a vegetarian diet of conventional foods. Those are topped by an organic vegetarian diet, followed by a conventional vegan diet. The best, however, was an organic vegan diet.

The Commission report described that the barriers to animal product reduction are largely lack of knowledge, ingrained habits, and culinary cultures. Proposed policy measures include meat or animal protein taxes, educational campaigns, and putting the greenhouse gas emissions information right on food labels.

Climate change mitigation is expensive. A global transition to even just a low-meat diet, as recommended for health reasons, could reduce these mitigation costs. A study determined that a healthier, low-meat diet would cut the cost of mitigating climate change from about 1% of GDP by more than half, a no-meat diet could cut two-thirds of the cost, and a diet free of animal products could cut 80% of the cost.

Many people aren’t aware of the “cow in the room.” It seems that very few people are aware that the livestock sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. But that’s changing.

—Written By Michael Greger M.D. FACLM, December 5th, 2017

Recipe of the Month

Lemon Pie

    ½ c (120g) almonds          
    ½ c (120g) brazil nuts           
    ½ c(120g) sunflower seeds           
    2 c  (150g) dessicated coconut        
    1 c (160g) buckwheat flour
    ½ t celtic salt 
    1 T maple syrup           
    ½ c (100g) honey
    ½ c oil - (coconut, olive)

1) Put nuts in blender and blend till fine.
2) Add rest of ingredients and blend till it holds together.
3) Press mix into base of prepared baking dish. Prick with fork.
4) Bake at 180°C till browned.

    2 x 440g tins pineapple (natural juice)
    2 c (300g) cashew nuts
    2 x 270g tins coconut cream
    1 t ( heaped) agar agar
    3 T (heaped) arrowroot/tapioca flour
    2 t celtic salt
    1 c (200g) honey
    Juice of 2 lemon / rind of 1 lemon

1) Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.
2) Heat in saucepan, stir until thickened.
3) Pour onto prepared base.
4) Chill.

N.B. (recipe makes 2 dishes 20cm x 30cm)