Thinking more carefully about what we eat
Diet and exercise: these two complimentary strategies are often promoted as the way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. But for many people juggling between work and everyday responsibilities, committing time, energy, and resources to dietary and exercise regimens can be a daunting endeavour. Ironically, as our ability to work and perform well in our lives hinges a lot on our health, having a balanced diet and good exercise habits should be as important as meeting life’s other obligations.
Statistics Canada reports that about 40 per cent of adult Canadians are meeting the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables, while only about 15 per cent of Canadian adults get the recommended minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. Considering that much of our day (approximately 10 waking hours) may be spent in a sedentary state – likely seated at a desk slaving away at work or relaxing in front of a television – monitoring diet becomes essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But what are the environmental impacts associated with eating healthy?
Challenging the omnivorous lifestyle. Human beings are naturally omnivorous. Most of us live off a diet of plant and animal products in various proportions. Interestingly, a greater proportion of the human population is estimated to live off plant-based diets than off meat-based diets. The proportion of people living off plant-based diet has been attributed to the lack of land, water, and resources required to sustain more meat-encompassing diets. However, recent trends in the food industry show that the production and consumption of meat in both developing and developed countries has increased substantially over the last two decades. The consumption of meat is dependent on nutritional requirements, wealth, and personal preferences, as well as cultural and ethical factors.
In general, more land is required to produce food for a meat-based diet than a plant-based diet. This puts pressure on natural ecosystems to be converted into agricultural land. For example, the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has resulted from the need to create pastures for beef farmers. Different meats also have different land use requirements, and producing a kilogram of beef requires more land than producing a kilogram of chicken or pork. However, overall, producing a kilogram of animal protein requires more water and fossil energy input than producing a kilogram of grain.
Livestock production also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient flux within terrestrial and aquatic systems. Gas emissions from the production of meat and dairy contribute to 18 per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, methane production from digestive processes in livestock ruminants (such as cows) is estimated to account for between 17 to 37 per cent of anthropogenic methane production. Methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide are also released into the atmosphere in the decomposition of manure. Manure also contributes to nutrient inputs of ammonium, nitrates, and phosphorous in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Although animal manure increases soil fertility and can be substituted for synthetic fertilizers, nitrogen and phosphorous inputs can seep into groundwater and water bodies, affecting both water quality and the stability of aquatic ecosystems. Nutrient loading can also disturb freshwater and marine systems, leading to algal blooms that negatively impact aquatic organisms and alter the stability of aquatic ecosystems.
Changes in attitudes towards diet. Food production is greatly influenced by consumption. As an environmental science student concerned with both my health and the health of the environment, switching to a vegan diet would offer a logical solution. But as someone who was brought up on an omnivorous diet and who has become accustomed to meat, the decision to switch to veganism becomes less clear.
Proactively thinking about what kinds of foods (and how much of them) we are eating is important not only to our health but also to the environment. Consider reducing meat consumption by substituting meat for plant-based products equivalent in nutritional value. Consider consuming animal products that have less environmental impact and confer health benefits, such as milk, eggs, and chicken. Consider tailoring your diet towards your activity levels and metabolism. Most importantly, think about what you eat.