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Eating the Environment

Kids that grow up not eating meat always end up being the weird kids in class. This is

what I told my cousin who had just informed me that she would be raising her son on a

vegetarian, almost vegan diet. I was disgusted, the only vegetarian that I had ever met was a boy

in my sixth grade science class who still picked his nose. She explained to me that people did not

necessarily need to eat meat to survive and that eating meat is not linked with survival. Growing

up, I ate meat with every meal, bacon for breakfast, turkey for lunch, and chicken for dinner, and

I had minimal information about what it meant to be a vegetarian. I had been learning about

health every year since first grade, but up until this point I never realized that there were people

who did not eat one of the most basic and major food groups, meat. After learning that people

willingly decide to not eat meat I had determined that all of those people, in my opinion, were

insane.

Years after determining that everyone that did not eat meat was insane, I heard about a

novel called The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Jr. The fictional novel, published in 1906, was meant

to portray the way that American immigrants were being exploited in industrialized cities like

Chicago. After publication readers quickly strayed from the intended message of the book and

focused on the imagery of the unsafe and unhygienic meat packing industry. Sinclair once said,

I aimed for the publics heart and by accident I hit the stomach. Although the novel is fiction

based many of Sinclairs assumptions about the meatpacking industry were actually proven to be

true. One quote that I vividly remember is, The meat would be shoveled into carts, and the man

who did the shoveling would not trouble to lift out a rat even when he saw onethere were

things that went into the sausage in comparison with which a poisoned rat was a tidbit, (Sinclair

127). Although it has been a long time since this novel was published and many changes and

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regulations have been made to the meat packing industry, many of the claims made in the novel

still prove true today. I was shocked at the conditions of these places and even more shocked that

people continued to eat meat from them. After reading about the conditions in the novel it made

me think about the other factors that these types of conditions affect and how regular people like

myself can help change them. I realized that one major thing that I could do was to stop eating

meat and supporting these companies with unsafe and unhealthy conditions, so in April 2016 I

decided to become a vegetarian and stop eating meat all together.

It has been nearly a year since I first became a vegetarian but I have continued to be

curious about other ways that this industry is affecting us every day and I began to research it. It

came to my attention the effect that the meat and animal product industries have on everything

around us, including the environment, which pushed me to the extreme. I asked the question: if

eating meat and other animal products was so destructive then how would eating a vegan diet

affect the environment?

Some of the biggest factors in recent environmental change are greenhouse gases. A

greenhouse gas is defined by Websters Dictionary as, Any of various gaseous compounds that

absorb infrared radiation, trap heat in the atmosphere, and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

These gaseous compounds include gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane (Causes

of Climate Change). Greenhouse gases warm the earth and help to lock in the heat. As sunlight

hits the earth it is either absorbed, causing the earth to heat up, or reflected, causing the earth to

cool down (Causes of Climate Change). There are natural gases in the atmosphere that prevent

the heat from leaving and if these gasses stay in the atmosphere for too long they begin to

force climate change (NASA). The compound most contributing to climate change is carbon

dioxide. Carbon dioxide is naturally released from the atmosphere through natural causes like

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volcanic eruptions and respiration but humans have tripled the amount of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution (NASA). 55% of the extra carbon has been absorbed

into things like plants and the ocean while the other 45% of extra carbon has stayed in the

atmosphere (Effects). Too much carbon is not good for the planet. When there is excess carbon

in the atmosphere it warms the earth, causing a spike in plant and land growth. Not only does it

affect land but it also causes the oceans to become more acidic making the environment more

dangerous for marine life (Effects). Its clear to say that an increase in carbon is bad for the

planet now and in the foreseeable future but where are all of these excess carbon dioxide and

other greenhouse gases coming from?

The biggest contributor to these gases in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels for

electricity, heat, and transportation. But the second biggest contributor is livestock, causing

14.5% of greenhouse gas pollution (Gerber, pg 12). Of that 14.5% the beef and dairy industry

produce 60% of the pollution (Gerber, pg 17). By feeding plants to animals and eating the

animals, people are producing more greenhouse gasses than we would be producing if people

just ate the plants themselves (Haspel). It has been proved that beef has the largest environmental

impact compared to just about any other food. According to a study by the Proceedings of the

National Society of Sciences, beef releases more than five times the amount of greenhouse gases

than any other meat (Boehrer). A study at Oxford in 2014 followed 2,041 vegans, 15,751

vegetarians, 8,123 fish-eaters and 29,589 meat-eaters to track their environmental footprint from

what they ate. The study showed that meat eaters produced nearly twice as many greenhouse

gases from the food they ate than the vegans, proving that a reduction in meat consumption

would lower the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Scarborough). Not only does a

meat-eating diet have a higher environmental impact than a plant based one it also uses up more

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of our natural resources like farm space and water. Nearly 90% of the Amazon Rainforest has

been destroyed since 1970 and is being used for grazing livestock (Meat). Red meat like pork,

beef, and lamb take up 28 time more land and 11 times more water than pork or chicken

(Carrington). These animal products are not only affecting the land, but also the oceans.

When fishermen use techniques like trawling, a method of fishing that involves pulling a

fishing net through the water behind a boat, and longlining, a long piece of fishing line has

multiple hooks with pieces of bait to catch the fish, it negatively impacts the floor of the ocean

by destroying coral reefs and clearing out creatures that live there (Meat). Not only does the

fishing technique negatively affect the ocean, so does the amount of fish that are being captured.

As of 2016 people were eating nearly twice as much fish as they were 50 years ago (Meat ).

Since the demand for fish has gone up so much so fast, over fishing has quickly become a

serious problem. Overfishing is caused by fish being caught faster than they are able to

reproduce, causing a decline in the fish population overall. For every ton of ton of prawn caught

by fishermen three tons of other fish were killed (DUJS). Fisherman are not picky about what

they catch, if it finds its way into the net it usually does not go back into the water. Which means

endangered or threatened species of fish are not being preserved and protected because of this

reckless behavior.

It is not just the gases from animal products consuming our environment but also the

waste from them. A 2014 study showed that people were throwing away about 570,000 tons of

meat every year (Hird). That is estimated to be about 50 million chickens, 1.5 million pigs and

100,000 beef cattle. These animals all killed for food or product are then being tossed in the trash

as people disregard the impact that they are making on the environment. Animal waste is more

than just animal bodies being thrown out, it is things like run-off. Runoff comes from natural

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rainfall and the water follows the laws of gravity and runs down either into a lake, stream, or

ocean. As the water runs it picks up particles of bacteria from things like animal waste and

carries it into water sources. As the runoff picks up bacteria it also gathers more gaseous

compounds like excess nitrogen and phosphorous. These compounds are already naturally

occurring in marine life but having too much causes a higher reproduction rate of algae and other

marine plants. As these compounds enter the water and increase the rate of algae the marine

ecosystems quickly become over populated by the plant and cannot handle its exponential

growth (The Problem). Nitrogen is necessary for life, it makes up about 80% of our air but when

there is too much nitrogen in water it can lower the quality of water and harm the fish living in

the water. When nitrogen levels rise oxygen levels to decline and the fish that rely on that oxygen

to live start to die off (The Problem). Marine life is vital to the survival of the planet but

according to a 2016 Dalhousie University study fish could be extinct as soon at 2048 if nitrogen

levels do not decrease.

Evidently the environment is hugely affected by the meat industry and its processes.

People all over the world have seen the mistakes and errors made by the meat and animal

product industry and have decided to cut it out all together, these people are vegans. Veganism is

said to be on of the most challenging and restricting diets in the world. Vegan is defined as, ...an

attitude and a way of life that rejects the exploitation of and harm to animals (human and

nonhuman), (Definition of Veganism), meaning that as a vegan someone can not eat, drink, or

use any type of animal product. Although the concept of excluding animal products from your

life has been traced back to ancient Indian and Middle-Eastern times the term, vegan was

coined in 1944 by a british woodworker named Donald Watson. Watson decided to cut dairy out

of his diet because tuberculosis had been found in 40% of the country's dairy cows. Today only

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one in every 1,000,000 dairy cows test positive for tuberculosis (Humphrey). Watson created the

term because he had been a vegetarian for many years and once he decided to cut out dairy and

eggs he quickly realized he had no way to describe his dietary choices. After the term vegan was

created people began to see benefits to cutting these things out of their diet and the positive

effects that they can have on not only their bodies and lifestyle but also the environment.

Vegan diets are primarily based off of plant based, natural foods. Although there are

many unhealthy and processed vegan foods for the most part things are generally organic and

natural. Many people believe that since vegans are eating such natural and healthy things they

are healthier people, which in some cases is true. It has been proven that by eating seven or more

servings of fruits and vegetables a day a person's risk of cancer can drop by up to 15% (National

Center for Biotechnology). Many vegans say that fruits and vegetables make up about 50% of

their diets with the other 50% being things like beans, rice, nuts, etc. In my interview with

dietetic technician, Rebecca DLima, she told me, Many patients that eat a vegan diet are

healthier than the general public because they are eating less fatty processed foods. There are

many misconceptions with veganism though. A 2013 study took 290 people random people and

put 145 of them on a plant-based vegan diet and the other 145 were a control group and stuck to

their normal diets. The study went on for 18 weeks and at the end of that time the plant-based

group lost an average of 9.5 pounds per person while the control group lost an average of .2

pounds per person. Not only did the plant-based group lose more weight their blood pressure

dropped by .7% whereas the control groups blood pressure only dropped by .1% (Mishra). This

study and many other prove the idea that by eating a vegan diet people are improving their

health, they are losing weight and lowering things like blood pressure and cholesterol. Not to say

that a diet with animal products is bad or unhealthy, but often times especially in todays society,

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many people do not follow rules for moderation and portion size. Mrs. DLima said in our

interview, Americans today do not know that your rice portion and meat potion should not be

more than the size of your fist, (DLima). Educating ourselves and others is one of the best

ways to show people the different diuretic options and that not everybody needs to eat meat to

stay alive.

To further my studies in plant based diets and bettering the environment I volunteered at

the Veggielution Community Farm in San Jose, California. The farm was beautiful and filled

with the sound of animals, people, and farming equipment. The colors on the farm were vibrant

and intense especially at 10 AM. When I first walked into the garden it was very clear to me that

I was one of the oldest volunteers there. Most of the youth volunteers were between the ages of

six to thirteen and were accompanied by adults, I immediately felt out of place. I walked up to

the sign in desk and filled out my liability waiver before heading to the actual farm. The first

thing that I noticed was the large red farm house in the middle of the grass area. Next to the

farmhouse there is a chicken coop with 20 chickens that people can interact with as much or as

little as they would like. At the farm there are more than just chickens, there are sheep, rabbits,

pigs, and even peacock. Many of the animals roam around the area allowing volunteers to feed

and pet them. The grass area surrounding the farmhouse was vibrant and beautiful. There are

plots scattered around the area dedicated to specific crops such as green onions, tomatos, and

lettuce. Around the farm there are vivid murals and paintings of people and animals, adding to

the beauty of the area. At the farm I spoke with Veggielution worker, Mika Shibuya. Ms. Sibuya

told me about the farms history and about the Veggielution mission plan, to distribute their crops

at a low or free cost to the people of the community. Ms. Shibuya told me, At Veggielution we

are working towards a healthier community, with healthier people and a healthier planet,

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(Shibuya), after telling her that I was studying vegan diets and the environment she told me that

she is a strong advocate for vegan diets because she believes that a more natural plant based diet

is easier and healthier for the human body.

It is evident that eating a vegan diet would be beneficial for the environment. The amount

of air, water, and environmental pollution produced by animal products, slaughterhouses, and

factories is abundant and without that pollution the atmosphere would be in a much better state.

This pollution proves that eating a vegan diet can directly relate to the environment, whether

people cut down on meat and animal products or stop eating them all together it will help the

planet and the atmosphere itself. Not only is this way of living and eating helpful to our

environment it is clearly beneficial to the bodies of people who choose to live this way. Studies

prove that eating a vegan diet can increase weight loss and decrease a persons risk for cancer,

their blood pressure, and the cholesterol.

To truly test the idea that eating a vegan diet can have an impact on a person's body and

the environment around them I decided to switch to a vegan diet for six weeks while I researched

this topic. Before the start of this endeavour I went to Whole Foods Market to get all the supplies

that I would need to conduct this experiment. I bought things like Ripple, a milk substitute made

from peas, Vega One Bars, vegan protein bars to get me through the day, and many other vegan

substitutes along with an excessive amount of fruits and vegetables. Going into my first week of

eating vegan I was confident that the change would not be very difficult considering the fact that

I had already been meat free for nearly a year. I was wrong. Eating a vegan diet is much more

complicated than eating fruits and vegetables everyday because the human body needs more than

that. It needs proteins, fats, grains, etc. I quickly learned that I was going to need to do more

meal prep for this experiment than I had originally anticipated. My first two weeks were a

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disaster, I was constantly tired and unmotivated due to the lack of nutrients in my body. There

were some days in the first two weeks where I would get headaches that lasted up to 24 hours. It

was clear to me that if I was going to make this new diet work that I was going to have to look

into the foods that I was eating and making sure that I was getting the right amount of nutrients.

During my third week of eating a vegan diet I decided to do it the right way, I asked every vegan

I knew if they had any special recommendation as to how I could be vegan and still have the

energy to do daily activities. Through word of mouth, online, and book research I learned that I

was going to have to put in more work. I began planning out my meals on paper, almost like a

menu. For breakfast I had toast with avocado, at around 10 am I had a snack like fruit or

hummus, at around 12 I had lunch which usually consisted of a grain like rice or bread a protein

like nuts and peanut butter. For the rest of the day I would eat a snack again when I arrived home

from school, usually nuts and fruit, and for dinner I made different vegan variations of my

favorite foods.

My research online and in books was very helpful because there were many different

visual representations to show me the right and wrong ways to be vegan. At the beginning of my

experimental diet I was doing it all wrong, my body was tired, my head hurt, and I could barely

focus. The first two weeks were the hardest for me, as my body was adjusting to the new way of

eating I was having a very hard time. My lack of energy was affecting me in every way of life, to

the point where I was genuinely considering ending my experiment early. Although I am happy

that I pushed myself to continue it was incredibly hard. The following weeks were much better

and it was very evident in my life that I was eating a healthier vegan diet. I began to feel normal

again, I was no longer getting migraines and I finally had the energy to do everyday things again.

During my experiment I lost more than 10 pounds and my skin began to clear up. This

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experience has opened my eyes to a new way of eating and a new way of living. Being vegan

was one of the most challenging things that I have ever done but ended up being one of the most

rewarding.

Works Cited

In-Person

DLima, Rebecca. Personal interview. 14 Mar. 2017.

Shibuya, Mika. Personal Interview. 25 Mar. 2017.

Electronic

Boehrer, Katherine. "Study: To Cut Down On Environmental Impact, Eat Less Beef."

The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 July 2014.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/21/beef-environmental-impact_n_5599370.html.

Accessed March 5, 2017.

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Carrington, Damian. "Giving up Beef Will Reduce Carbon Footprint More than Cars,

Says Expert." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 21 July 2014.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/21/giving-up-beef-reduce-carbon-

footprint-more-than-cars. Accessed March 18, 2017.

Causes of Climate Change.EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, Published 20 Mar.

2016. https://www.epa.gov/climate-change-science/causes-climate-change#main-

content. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

"Effects of Changing the Carbon Cycle." NASA. NASA, 2014. Web.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/page5.php . Accessed March 7,

2017.

"Definition of Veganism." The Vegan Society., 09 May 1970. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.

https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism.

DUJS. "The Threats of Overfishing: Consequences at the Commercial Level." DUJS

Online. N.p., 29 May 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2017. http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/2012/03/the-

threats-of-overfishing-consequences-at-the-commercial-level/#.WP0mq1Pyv-Y.

"Dictionary: Search the Merriam-Webster Dictionary First. Here's Why..." Merriam-

Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. https://www.merriam-webster.com/.

Haspel, Tamar. "Vegetarian or Omnivore: The Environmental Implications of Diet." The

Washington Post. WP Company, 10 Mar. 2014.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/vegetarian-or-omnivore-the-

environmental-implications-of-diet/2014/03/10/648fdbe8-a495-11e3-a5fa-

55f0c77bf39c_story.html?utm_term=.8ac7b8614442. Accessed March 4, 2017.

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"Meat and the Environment." PETA. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/meat-environment/.

Mishra, S. "A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of a Plant-based Nutrition

Program to Reduce Body Weight and Cardiovascular Risk in the Corporate Setting: The

GEICO Study." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. U.S. National Library of

Medicine, n.d. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23695207. Accessed March 17,

2017.

Scarborough, Peter, Paul N. Appleby, Anja Mizdrak, Adam D. M. Briggs, Ruth C. Travis,

Kathryn E. Bradbury, and Timothy J. Key. "Dietary Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Meat-

eaters, Fish-eaters, Vegetarians and Vegans in the UK." SpringerLink. Springer

Netherlands, 11 June 2014. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10584-014-

1169-1. Accessed March 5, 2017.

"The Problem." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 10 Mar. 2017.

https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/problem\. Accessed March 19, 2017.

Print

Gerber, P.J., Steinfeld, H., Henderson, B., Mottet, A., Opio, C., Dijkman, J., Falcucci, A.

& Tempio, G. 2013. Tackling climate change through livestock A global assessment of

emissions and mitigation opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United

Nations (FAO), Rome.

Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle. Middletown, DE, SnowBall Classics Publishing, 2017.

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