Health

Healthy Body, Healthy Earth: Go Green!

pveg_misc_food_plated_vegan_food_3_2013_002 (2)Need some more reasons to be happy that you’re vegan (or some motivation to stick to your New Year’s resolution to give meat, eggs, and dairy products the boot)? Check out these recent stories from the news:

  • Consumer Reports tested more than 300 raw chicken breasts from stores nationwide and found high levels of bacteria, including salmonella and campylobacter, on 97 percent of the samples. But don’t trust the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to protect you from these nasty bugs: Following a major salmonella outbreak linked to chicken that sickened nearly 400 people earlier this year, the Pew Charitable Trusts called out the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service for its weak response and for not doing enough to curb other outbreaks.
  • The Journal of the American Medical Association has revised its blood pressure guidelines for people aged 60 and older, claiming that older people can handle higher systolic readings of up to 150/90 (up from the previously recommended 140/90). Of course, the best way to stay within the safe range and avoid strokes, heart attacks, and the other not-so-fun problems associated with high blood pressure is by loading up on veggies and avoiding meat, eggs, and dairy products.
  • A study from France suggests that vegans may have a double dose of protection against type-2 diabetes. The study found that the high acid content of animal products can cause an acid load in the body, which can, in turn, cause reduced insulin sensitivity. Eating more fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, will help you maintain a lower acid load.
  • A study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
    suggests that raising animals for food takes an even greater environmental toll in developing countries. While cows in North America and Europe must consume about 75 to 300 kg of grass or grain to produce 1 kg of protein, in sub-Saharan Africa, cows may need to eat 500 to 2,000 kg of feed to produce the same amount of protein because feed quality is so poor and mortality rates are so high. Another surprising finding: Developing nations have the highest total of livestock-related greenhouse-gas emissions.

Has this food for thought whetted your appetite for fare that’s kind to your body, the Earth, and animals? We’ve got you covered.