Increasing amounts of meat are consumed annually across the globe. The consumption of meat is associated with higher obesity rates, bad cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.
Animal protein is one of the main risk factors for cancer and 23 percent of global water usage is used to raise livestock. This includes 80 percent of freshwater in the U.S. These numbers can be overwhelming and you may wonder where you fit within all these statistics, but there is great deal that can be achieved by one person. It can start with a change in diet.
First we must realize that vegan and vegetarianism are lifestyle choices and should not be treated as fads to adopt and discard carelessly. So consider them wisely if you choose to make a change in diet. Even if you do not eliminate your meat consumption completely, you can do a great deal by cutting your meat intake down. Each time you cut out a quarter pound of animal protein from your diet, you are saving 1,000 gallons of water.
Overall, it takes 300 gallons of water a day to sustain a vegan diet. It takes 4,200 gallons of water a day to sustain a meat eating diet.
Plant-based diets greatly lower the chances of obesity. In the U.S. alone two thirds of meat consumers are obese, where as 2 percent of vegans are obese. And a vegan diet can contain a great amount of protein, usually at a lower cost than meat. At my local Kroger store black beans run about 69 cents a can. With over 400 grams of beans in a can and 9 grams of protein per 100 grams, 69 cents can get me over 4 servings of protein. On average, vegans and vegetarians live six to ten years longer than their carnivorous counterparts.
References:
www.usda.gov
http://www.cspinet.org/EatingGreen/pdf/arguments4.pdf
Brandy Morris September 6, 2012
Are the statics on water consumption and obesity based on the factory farming as opposed to “local” farming? The problem with our meat is that the cows and pigs are feed corn instead of grass, which is very harmful to the animals themselves because nature intended for them to graze. Corn produces fattier meat as opposed to the leaner meat you get with grass fed. On top of that you have all the hormones and only god knows what else being injected into them. Could this be a contributing factor to the obesity? Great article, just curious.