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The impact of diet on the environment how to eat more organically
Table of Contents
1. How food affects the environment
First of all, it is worth considering how much carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other compounds can impact the environment. However, their increased concentration in the atmosphere is a major cause of climate change, leading to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from food production, as well as the use of land and water resources. The greenhouse gases include m. in. Carbon dioxide and methane and nitrogen dioxide and other substances in the environmental impacts of the food industry. The increase in atmospheric concentrations is the main cause of this climate change.2. The environmental impact of diet coffee and chocolate
When analysing greenhouse gas emissions data, the high values observed for coffee and chocolate can be considered. It turns out that this is not related to the requirements of the plants but to the current methods of growing them. In order to obtain land for the cultivation of coffee and cocoa, forests are often cut and burned, causing environmental pollution and depletion (meaning also fewer trees that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen). Similar practices are also used in the production of palm oil. Producers are encouraged to introduce cultivation methods that are more environmentally burdensome. They can then apply for their products to be certified by the Rainforest Alliance 2020, which has also taken into account the environmental and human rights of the local forestry and forestry workers.3. Local food environmental impact of transport
However, air transport generates 50 times more greenhouse gases than shipping. However, most foodstuffs are transported by water, which is only about 5% of the greenhouse gas emissions from the country's coal-fired power plants and other energy-efficient power stations. In addition, it is necessary to calculate the cost of natural gas production in the long term. It is therefore more cost-effective to produce more than 48% of the natural gas produced in the country (e.g. about 5 kg of CO2 per day).4. Type of diet impact on the environment
As noted above, the production of food of animal origin meat, in particular beef and lamb, poultry and eggs is the biggest environmental burden on the two large studies. It seems therefore that their dietary contribution will mainly determine the impact of the chosen dietary approach on the environment. This is reflected in the results of studies involving vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters. Analysis of the dietary patterns of the participants in the two major studies has led to a decrease in the overall trend of dietary greenhouse gas emissions, along with a reduction in the proportion of the carbohydrate-causing products in the diet.5. An environmentally friendly diet is a planetary diet
In 2019, the EAT-Lancet International Commission report was published, proposing a dietary model that incorporates recommendations for healthy foods and environmentally friendly products. It was named the planetary diet. Its main objective is to maximise the consumption of red meat, added sugars to products (e.g. in the form of white sugar, honey, glucose-fructose syrup, etc.), high-processed foods (sweets, ready-to-eat, salted foods, etc.) and starchy vegetables (e., potatoes or popular in the Asia Pacific, Africa and the Americas). The diet should consist of a total of 200 (less than 200) fruits and vegetables per year, as well as vegetables and vegetable oils (more than 600 oils per year).6. The impact of diet on the environment Guidelines
To be more environmentally friendly, it is worth: limiting meat (especially red) and animal products in the diet to vegetable foods. This does not mean, however, that they should be completely discontinued. Decide, for example, to replace two meals a week with vegetarian meals or to introduce meat-free meals once a week.
