As the population grows, you’ve probably heard, read, or seen concerns about the health of the planet. After all, unless space travel and settlements on Mars actually become reality within a few years, Earth is the only home that human beings have to live on. With these rising concerns over global warming, many people are embracing the benefits of vegetarian and vegan diets.
There are a myriad of reasons that one should consider replacing meat with meat substitutes, plant based proteins, or just plain vegetables. Let’s look at four outstanding reasons to reach for vegan friendly meat products, chicken substitutes, and other plant based proteins the next time you get the urge to sink your teeth into something meaty.
Greenhouse Gases are a Serious Concern
An estimated 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are associated with livestock production. This staggering percentage includes 9 percent carbon dioxide, 37 percent methadone, and 65 percent nitrous dioxide. With all these gases floating around from meat production, the ozone layer that protects the Earth from the sun’s unforgiving and dangerous rays of light is continually disintegrating. Someday there will be no ozone layer left, and Earth will be subjected to even more extreme temperatures. By eating plant based proteins, chicken substitutes, and vegan alternatives to beef and pork, there’s less demand for meat products, which means an overall lower production.
Meat Recalls Happen Often
Think about how often you watch the news or check a social media account and hear about another meat recall. Contaminated meat can make people extremely sick, and may even lead to food poisoning and death, in extreme cases. E. coli and salmonella are two nasty diseases that can linger on the surface of chicken in particular, which is why it’s a safer idea to incorporate those chicken substitutes into your diet.
Meatless Meats Aren’t Fed Mystery Food
The basics for raising livestock are pretty simple: food, water, shelter. But do you know what kind of food those chickens, cows, and pigs are eating before you eat them? There have been numerous studies on the “food” that animals are fed when they are raised as livestock, and the results can be stomach-turning. With meat substitutes, you know what you’re eating, and you don’t have to worry about hormones or antibiotics or other nasty things that livestock can be pumped full of, never mind the questionable practices that go into livestock feed.
it may be surprising to hear that there are numerous health benefits that can come from switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet, but there have been multiple studies concluding that meatless individuals are living longer than their meat-eating counterparts. Plus, meatless diets have also been linked to heart health and an overall boost in energy levels.
Plant based diets have a whole host of additional benefits, both for yourself as a consumer and for the world at large. If you’re wondering if vegetarian or vegan diets are right for you, try it out for a few days. You’ll be surprised by how delicious and easy it is to eat a meat-free diet while simultaneously reducing your carbon footprint.