Your healthy diet can make our planet healthy too

Busy human life has promoted the trend of eating unhealthy food that primarily consist of fast foods, snacks or highly unprocessed food. Eating of which has detrimental effects on human body since it has low nutrient values and high calories. And this is not it, consumption of unhealthy food deteriorates not only your body but our planet too. Yes, you heard it right, unhealthy food is unhealthy for the planet too. Lets see how it is so:

The intake of junk food/ fast food/ highly processed food makes your metabolism weak, increases the chance of obesity, depression, heart disease, early death etc. The practice of eating such things is also linked with other harmful impacts including headache, acne, dental distress, lung problems, and weight gain. The major ingredients in such type of diet are primarily dairy products, eggs, and meat. The increased consumption of which is linked to negative social and environmental impacts. Some of the factors include:

Impacts of unhealthy food

1. Carbon emissions

Animals products are widely used in fast food be it meat, dairy products or eggs. Animal agriculture is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after fossil fuels. This is also the reason for deforestation, air and water pollution. Animal agriculture approximately contributes to about 14.5% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions.

2. Water consumption

Fast food industry is the leading consumer of water footprints. This industry is responsible for 10% global water footprints [1]. Making of fast food results in plenty of pathogens, drugs and fertilisers going into the water bodies.

3. Land use:

Land consumption for meat production is huge. It is estimated, 30% of global land is being used for animal farming [2]. Almost one-third of the earth's area is covered by farm animals, facilities producing meat, eggs and dairy products. Increase in the demand for animal products (which is the major constituent in fast food/ junk food) has been the reason for conversion of forest land into farmland or grazing land.

4. Hunger

Animal farming has enormous grain requirement. Did you know about 25 kg of grain is required to make 1 kg of beef? Yes, 25 kg of grain just to produce 1 kg of beef [2]. This huge grain requirement for meat production lessens the grain supply and increases its price. As a result, it reduces the affordability of poor to buy the grain to feed themselves.

5. Suffering for the animals

There is no surprise, animals are tortured in the worst possible way, so that they or their products can be served on our plates. Whether its meat, dairy or egg animals are ill treated. They are forced to live in a congested space, restricted to go outside, deprived to meet their loved ones.

(Source: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/197623/icode/)

6. Solid Waste

This is undeniable, industrial fast food chains generates a lot of waste in the form of packaging waste. Fast food comes with a huge amount of packaging waste (e.g. bags, boxes, tissues straws). Styrofoam is used in 40% of all these packaging waste. And this takes 900 years to decompose in landfills [3].

7. Labour

Eating junk food has become cheap because cost cutting is done at every possible corner. Even employees are not paid well, they are forced to work for longer duration. They are pressurised to slaughter more and more animals every hour.

8. Transportation

Ready to eat products e.g. chips, nachos are now transported everywhere to serve the increasing demand. This is impacting our planet very badly as this process has high carbon footprints and also multiplies the amount of solid waste.

9. Health

You may now understand, eating unhealthy food is putting our planet at risk. Not only this, eating junk food is killing you as well. The health risk is severely high, some of them are explained:

Consumption of fast food is linked with depression. About 51% of the fast food consumers are likely to get into depression [3]
Taking sugar, carbs and extra calories may push your body to speed up the ageing process of yours and may cause premature ageing
Intake of heavy amount of sodium, common element in junk food increases the risk and frequency of headaches. Increase amount of sodium can also cause puffiness, swelling.
Presence of trans-fat, increase cholesterol which in turns promotes weight gain and can also result in shortness of breath
Taking huge amount of carbs may cause acne breakout

Promoting sustainability through your food choice

Now that you understand consumption of junk food is threatening our health and planet. Choosing healthier diet (e.g. nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and olive oil) has always been good for our mother earth. Their are only a few exception to this e.g fish which is considered healthy has higher negative impact on earth whereas sugar beverages which are considered bad for consumption has lower impact on our planet. But on a broader range, leaving few exception on side healthy food can be associated with healthy planet. Choosing diversified healthier diet also adds sustainability for our planet. As it promotes proper utilisation of resources and also prevents over-consumption of popular meals. To promote sustainability, adoption of plant based diet and limit animal based product is the best choice. Choosing healthier diet has the potential of providing our planet with good return.

Here are the few indicators to promote sustainability through your food

Do not waste food. Food wastage has enormous carbon footprints.
Choose sustainable and healthier diet options
Try to adopt diversified diet option
Resist yourself from buying things in excess. It is always a good practice to make shopping list before you go out

Environment

Search This Blog