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The last decade or so has brought ample evidence that Americans are gradually changing their diets, driven by health concerns and other factors.
But a new study points to one change that is starker than many have thought: Americans cut their beef consumption by 19 percent — nearly one-fifth — in the years from 2005 to 2014, according to research to be released on Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The environmental group found that consumption of chicken and pork fell as well, though less drastically, as Americans ate more cheese, butter and leafy greens.
The council is hailing the plummeting popularity of beef as a victory in the fight against climate change, because greenhouse gases are produced when cattle are raised. The group estimates that the resulting reduction in pollution would equal the emissions of 39 million cars, or about one-sixth of the number of cars registered in the United States in 2015. (Some of those environmental benefits, the group says, were erased by increased consumption of other foods that also create emissions.)
The research, which is based on data from the Agriculture Department and calculations using the same methodology as the Environmental Protection Agency, found that changes in the overall American diet reduced emissions by the equivalent of pollution from 57 million cars — despite population growth of about 9 percent.
I switched to eating people. Mmm, tasty.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday March 23 2017, @06:23PM (6 children)
I am a filthy omnivore, and something about red meat reaches deep into me and flicks some weirdly calming switches, but I also almost never eat beef or similarly large animal anymore. It's not necessary, it's WAY too expensive for me, and if what they say about colon cancer is true it's best to avoid it anyway.
Vegetarianism isn't an option for me yet; tried it and got really anemic and weak and irritable, and that's *with* zinc and B-complex supplements. But as soon as they get lab-grown meat in the market at a reasonable price, odds are I will never eat the products of slaughter again. Even if it's just mince, that's fine, as that's what I use for most meat dishes like my takes on curries or casseroles.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 23 2017, @07:15PM
Completely with you. I find it hard to think how I love my pets and yet subject similar animals (pigs for example) who have family bonds and love for eachother to lifetime of torture in order for me to be able to eat them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KArL5YjaL5U [youtube.com]
Once they get petri dish meat I am done with regular meat.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Phoenix666 on Thursday March 23 2017, @07:29PM (1 child)
Then how are you going to thank the animals spirits for giving their lives that you may eat? It completely messes with the karmic balance of the universe, my friend.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 23 2017, @08:55PM
Well, that serves them for not taking out a patent on their genetics!
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 24 2017, @01:12AM (1 child)
Vegetarianism isn't an option for me yet; tried it and got really anemic and weak and irritable, and that's *with* zinc and B-complex supplements
You didn't mention an iron supplement, generally recommended for women.
Iron deficiency is a major cause of anemia. [webmd.com]
Another cause is vitamin deficiency.
That leads me to believe that the brand you were taking was crap--or at least poorly suited to you in particular.
After quitting animal-based foods, the standard replacement for the amino acids necessary to build/rebuild proteins is a combination of a grain and a legume e.g. combining wheat and frijoles. [geisswerks.com]
Sounds like you omitted/skimped on something there.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday March 24 2017, @02:41AM
Iron supplement, probably. I usually have very light periods so I didn't think one was necessary, and was eating lots of spinach too.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 1) by Anonymous Cowherd on Friday March 24 2017, @04:52AM
Such products already exist.
http://www.memphismeats.com/ [memphismeats.com]
http://beyondmeat.com/ [beyondmeat.com]
Can't remember the guy's name but there was this fireman who stopped eating meat because the smell of meat cooking reminded him of a guy who died burning in a fire that the fireman couldn't reach on time.