How Eating Healthier Benefits the Environment

Today we are advised to carpool or take public transportation to cut down on global warming, recycle re-useable materials, or participate in voluntary litter control programs that "adopt" stretches of highways or main roads. But by altering our eating habits, we can improve our health and promote a cleaner environment, as well.

According to the American Heart Association, 65% of American adults are overweight, men slightly more so than women. Logically, the more that people eat, the more solid waste that they generate. Reducing our intake of food will ultimately reduce the amount of solid waste produced in the United States annually, which is currently about seven billion tons. Less sewage means cleaner water and fresher air, and fewer pounds means fewer potential health crises.

We have long heard the argument that fast food clogs our arteries and threatens our overall health, but our addiction to fast food indirectly causes numerous environmental problems too, not the least of which is the razing of South American rain forests in order to make grazing land for cattle. These cattle in turn supply the beef for millions of burgers sold in the United States.

Many environmentalists predict that the rain forests could be gone within 25 or 30 years, which would lead to an ecological disaster. Also, a single beef cow produces about 60 pounds of manure per day, much of which runs off into rivers, streams and ground water. (Metro Region). The tremendous amount of methane from all of this manure can also contribute to global warming. Manure in small to moderate quantities is good fertilizer, but at current levels, dangerous to the environment.

Eating at fast food restaurants produces a lot more trash, much of which is non-biodegradable. Although McDonald's stopped wrapping their burgers in Styrofoam in 1989, and some other fast food giants followed suit, they still dispense plastic straws, coffee stirrers, cup lids, and utensils. About one-fifth of all litter is comprised of fast food trash, much of which is non-biodegradable. Instead of stopping at your favorite fast food joint or convenience store for a cup of coffee or a danish before work, get up a little earlier and eat at home. You will not only be helping the environment, but saving money.

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Associated Press. "Oakland first city to tax fast-food trash." USA Today 8 Feb 2006.
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