I don't understand the new push for plant based diets..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cow farts are apparently bad for the environment. I can see why they'd be unpleasant but don't really understand why they're an actual problem.

https://www.thoughtco.com/methane-as-a-greenhouse-gas-4122208

Cows fart methane which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2

I get it that cows are the worst of all meats. But how about fish and chicken?

This explains chicken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cow farts are apparently bad for the environment. I can see why they'd be unpleasant but don't really understand why they're an actual problem.

https://www.thoughtco.com/methane-as-a-greenhouse-gas-4122208

Cows fart methane which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2

I get it that cows are the worst of all meats. But how about fish and chicken?

This explains chicken.

https://slate.com/technology/2009/04/which-meat-harms-our-planet-the-least.html

[Anonymous]

I think over consumption, and food waste are the leading causes in these environmental issues. Since I started logging my meals, I significantly reduced food waste because I buy less produce and meat. I would never go plant based, but am willing to be more mindful about the amount of food consumption/purchases. I'm sure the buffet culture that is popping up all over the world is contributing to the issue as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cow farts are apparently bad for the environment. I can see why they'd be unpleasant but don't really understand why they're an actual problem.

https://www.thoughtco.com/methane-as-a-greenhouse-gas-4122208

Cows fart methane which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2

I get it that cows are the worst of all meats. But how about fish and chicken?

Bad in different ways. Overfishing is killing the oceans.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/09/seas-stop-eating-fish-fishing-industry-government

Chicken farming uses a huge amount of water, and is massively polluting. Not to mention unspeakably cruel.

The OP is a clever troll. Yes, there are better and worse plant-based foods to eat - I've stopped drinking almond milk; I drink soy milk now instad, and might switch to oat milk. Animal products are the real enemies, though. It's the pollution, it's the resources used, it's the habitat loss. That, and the incredible cruelty.

[Anonymous]

Plant-based diets are for stupid ideological zealots. It is hilarious that they're not actually healthy for you, especially if you eat those processed fake meats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plant-based diets are for stupid ideological zealots. It is hilarious that they're not actually healthy for you, especially if you eat those processed fake meats.

These are the same sanctimonious people who think their electric car is saving the planet when most of the electricity is still coming from fossil fuels and they are creating a huge environmental waste issue with the production and eventual disposal of the batteries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plant-based diets are for stupid ideological zealots. It is hilarious that they're not actually healthy for you, especially if you eat those processed fake meats.

When people talk about plant-based diets, they shouldn't include processed fake meat. Clearly no one is going to convince you, but it is true that eating less meat--especially red meat--is absolutely healthy and better for the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand people who want to eat only plant based food because they don't like the taste of meat, they are animal rights activists, or its their religion. I don't get the position though that its about climate change,

Many of the foods on a plant based diet are very bad for the environment. Nut trees require a huge amount of water and are grown in areas experiencing drought. People need to consume more volume to get the protein and calories from plants and clearing fields for plant production hurts the environment. Many of the plants get shipped from far away so there is the fuel cost.

I could see taking an eat local approach for climate change, avoiding single use packaging, buying in bulk or paper packages but I get the feeling the plant based angle is not really environmental.

You get the feeling...
Well I guess gut instinct supersedes any and all science-based conclusions that researchers have come to.
Kudos to OP and her feeling of skepticism for shedding the light on what's truly environmental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plant-based diets are for stupid ideological zealots. It is hilarious that they're not actually healthy for you, especially if you eat those processed fake meats.

These are the same sanctimonious people who think their electric car is saving the planet when most of the electricity is still coming from fossil fuels and they are creating a huge environmental waste issue with the production and eventual disposal of the batteries.

Over their lifetime, electric cars are very much better for the environment (including the impact of producing the electricity to run them and battery manufacture and disposal). This has been studied extensively, and it's not close. Here's a 2019 article that covers it pretty well.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/05/20/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-environment/#2e5ee0f776d2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cow farts are apparently bad for the environment. I can see why they'd be unpleasant but don't really understand why they're an actual problem.

https://www.thoughtco.com/methane-as-a-greenhouse-gas-4122208

Cows fart methane which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2

So then you'd all be cool with it if we just got rid of all the cows, then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plant-based diets are for stupid ideological zealots. It is hilarious that they're not actually healthy for you, especially if you eat those processed fake meats.

When people talk about plant-based diets, they shouldn't include processed fake meat. Clearly no one is going to convince you, but it is true that eating less meat--especially red meat--is absolutely healthy and better for the environment.

Very true. You need way less protein than what the typical American diet is. There are several studies on how meat, specifically red meat and processed meat, increase your risk for several cancers mostly gi; in the colon, liver.

[Anonymous]

I thought that all the old studies saying eggs and all red meat was bad for you were debunked. Lean red meats, especially bison, emu and lean cuts are supposed to be healthy. Eggs are considered healthy now too.

[Anonymous]

Eating more plants is hardly a "new push".

[Anonymous]

OP, do like the smallest amount of reading and you can answer your own question.

[Anonymous]

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/these-plants-can-replace-meat-but-will-doing-so-help-the-environment/

So moving to a plant based diet would increase water consumption by 15% and reduce green house emissions by 6%. The article recommends focusing on manufacturing, transportations and power grids as more effective way to combat climate change than switching our meat for asparagus.