Top Ways a Plant-Based Diet Is Good For the Planet

You can do it for your health, you can do it for ethical reasons, but one of the most persuasive reasons to embrace plant-based eating is because it can give our planet a major helping hand. If you’ve been looking for a few more reasons to ditch meat, we’re here on behalf of Mother Earth to help you make your decision

Saving Lives

It’s hard to believe, but other than saving the lives of animals, a vegan lifestyle can save the lives of human beings – specifically yours. Cutting out meat and increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables can dramatically cut the risk of chronic disease and can add years to your lifespan, not to mention saving thousands of dollars in medical bills. But don’t just do it for you, plant-based eating can help the lives of those around you and everyone else who shares this planet.

Cut Greenhouse Gas

Greenhouse gas is one of the major players in climate change; in fact, it might be the deal breaker when it comes to saving our planet. It’s estimated that more than half of greenhouse gas emissions are a direct result of animal agriculture – imagine the difference we could make to the world if we cut out meat! Consider how much carbon dioxide it takes to raise farm animals – from the equipment to transportations. Just one calorie of protein from meat consumes 8.5 times more energy that protein from grains, incredible! That’s not even counting how much rainforest is cut down to create grazing pasture. Some studies have indicated that each person who switches to a plant-based diet could cut 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide from the environment every single year.

Carbon Footprint Reduction

The average North American diet, according to the USDA, creates 2.5 to 3.3 tons of carbon dioxide per year, per person. Meat accounts for more than half of that amount. As soon as meat is out of the equation your carbon footprint is cut nearly in half. To put it simply, embracing a plant-based diet is one of the most environmentally conscious decisions you can make.

What Else?

Besides cutting out meat, there are other food choices that you can make to help our planet. For example, choosing fruits and veggies that are local and in season can drastically cut the amount of greenhouse gases produced. So, head to your local farmer’s market, pick up some fresh fruit and veggies and enjoy while helping save our planet!