Experts keep telling us that a diet that is low in meat could help to reduce greenhouse gases and lead to a more sustainable lifestyle, but a recent study suggests that this may not be the case. In fact, this switch could actually increase the number of greenhouse gases. In a study carried out by the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, in Aberdeen, researchers found that between 20 to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions came from dietary intake, with the most common being from meat and dairy. However, they also noted that replacing these food groups with fruit and vegetables didn’t necessarily lower these emissions – they actually increased them.
A lower intake of meat and fish doesn’t just affect the planet – it also affects your health. For example, you may be missing out on health boosting omega-3 fatty acids, which are hugely beneficial to your body. While fish is great for your health, over-fishing could deplete the stocks in the sea. Balance is everything, especially when it comes to your diet. In order to save the planet and stay healthy, we need to find ways to keep things balanced. Researchers who carried out the study explained that part of the problem with keeping the greenhouse gases low is that many people don’t have enough knowledge of the subject to make informed choices. Because the issue is so complex, researchers claim that further study would need to take place to determine how we can combine a healthy diet with one which helps the planet.
The best way to stay healthy is to ensure you don’t rely too heavily on one food group – there are benefits to be had from all of them in one respect or another, so keep things varied. Fruit and vegetables are obviously loaded with vitamins and minerals, but meat, fish and dairy all play an important role too, so keep your diet mixed and interesting.
