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Published on Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Switching To This Diet Has The Potential To Save Millions Of Lives And Billions Of Dollars Worldwide

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Switching To This Diet Has The Potential To Save Millions Of Lives And Billions Of Dollars Worldwide

In case you missed it, June 13th was “World Meat Free Day,” a day to consider going vegan or vegetarian. People worldwide were called upon to give up their carnivorous diets for the day to get a taste of the other side. More than ever, people are interested in reducing or eliminating the meat in their diets for their own reasons. World Meat Free Day wasn’t for them, it was for those who hadn’t really thought about it and hadn’t yet considered the impact their meat-free diets could have on their health and the health of the planet we all call home.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a comprehensive set of food recommendations for all age groups that mentions only fish as a meat. WHO recommends cutting excess sugars, avoiding processed foods, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy food plan. 

The health benefits of going vegan or vegetarian are undeniable if done right. WHO’s proactive food recommendations are a no-nonsense guide to people who are just starting out and are concerned about getting balanced nutrients, specifically the brain nutrients that are found mostly in animal foods like meat, fish, and eggs. If vegans or vegetarians are ignorant of their need of these critical nutrients, especially vitamins B12 and D3, their healthy diets could become unhealthy in the long run. WHO was careful to include diets that would maintain healthy brains and bodies in their plan.

World Meat Free Day serves another purpose: promoting veganism and vegetarianism in order to reduce food-based carbon emissions and push back global warming.
The big picture
Food-based carbon emissions are a real thing. Emissions from livestock are thought to be the second-greatest source of carbon emissions in the world. World Meat Free Day is aimed not only at the health of people’s bodies but at the health of the earth. 

Estimates are that a vegan/vegetarian world would reduce carbon emissions by 63-70% and save hundreds of billions of dollars yearly in global healthcare costs. Millions of lives would be saved, including those of food animals. Doubtless, there would still be cows for milk and chickens for eggs, but the numbers would be greatly reduced if they are not being slaughtered for meat. It sounds like utopia.

Unlike utopia, not everyone in the world will be on board with the plan, but that doesn’t change the benefits people can reap by basing their diets on WHO’s recommendations.

WHO’s going to make me?

WHO is not going to make any country or person follow their plans to reduce carbon emissions, curb global warming, or live healthier lifestyles, but they hope to persuade through information. Governments will be asked to adopt WHO health guidelines and carbon emission goals and to disseminate the information to the public. The idea is that pressure to consider change and promotion of positive change will make a healthier lifestyle attractive to more people. Education is key to any lasting change.


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Author: Vrountas

Categories: Food & Cooking

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