Well, it looks like there’s a reason to go vegan besides animal activism, and that reason may surprise you. According to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, a government panel of nutritionists, a vegan diet isn’t only good for your health—but also for the environment.
Livestock release toxic chemicals such as methane and ammonia into the environment. These chemicals not only contaminate our water supply, but also contribute to global warming. Methane, which is produced in especially large amounts by cows, is actually 23 times more warming than CO2 is.
It’s no surprise that there seems to be a lot wrong with our meat industry as it stands. After all, how many among us have watched Food Inc. or Vegucated and gone vegetarian? Many meat lobbies feel that the Dietary Guidelines Advisory committee has no business telling people what is and isn’t good for the environment. “When you talk about the lens of dietary guidelines it’s just not appropriate for the advisory committee to enter that conversation when they were asked to look at nutrition and health science,” according to Kristina Butts of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.
This is not the first time this news has been pointed out. According to the UN animals bred for meat contribute 18 percent of worldwide climate change emissions.
Even celebrities have adapted to a more plant-based lifestyle. Beyoncé and Jay-Z even started a 22-day program to get people jump-started on a vegan diet. The opportunity to have Beyoncé’s body, while doing the environment some good? Veganism isn’t sounding so bad.
Is this news enough to make you try going vegan, collegiettes?