POLLUTION AWARENESS AND ACTIVISM
Eating Habits
Agriculture produces air pollution that can be fatal to humans. Greenhouse gases are found in animal waste, and the amount released into the environment increases as farmers breed more livestock due to an increasing consumer demand for meat. A study found that by eating more plant-based foods, consumers could decrease "agricultural air quality-related mortality by 68 to 83 percent" worldwide (inverse.com). Thousands of deaths each year are related to reduced air quality and associated with both ammonia found in livestock and fertilizer waste, and soot emitted by agricultural equipment. Eating chicken as opposed to beef or pork can lower the rate of anual deaths caused by air pollution from agriculture by 40%. Eating vegetarian, plant-based, or simply decreasing the amount of meat in one's diet can lower this statistic even more.
As we continue to buy food from around the country and around the world, it travels a farther distance to reach us, leading to more air and water pollution. Each component in an average American meal has traveled around 1,500 miles. Some tips for eating with consideration to the environment include: buy local produce whenever possible because it travels a smaller distance to reach the consumer and therefore emits fewer greenhouse gases; reduce the amount of processed foods eaten as their preparation produces pollutants; grow produce in a backyard or garden to completely eliminate the need for transportation in a vehicle-- therefore emitting no pollution into the atmosphere; and reduce meat consumption as much as possible.
Because approximately 17% of energy used in the United States goes to agriculture, a change in humans' approach to food and diet is necessary as billions of people suffer consequences from unhealthy eating and the earth suffers from humans' exploitation of its resources. Systemic changes are necessary to reduce agricultural pollution, but individuals can start the process by modifying their own diets. The best diet for the environment incorporates plant-based foods and unsaturated fats; avoids saturated fats, refined grains, processed foods, and added sugar; and refrains from overeating. This lifestyle allows individuals to absorb the nutrients they need without supporting polluting industries such as agriculture.
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