The current state of food systems is detrimental to both human health and the environment, even though they have the potential to nurture human health and support environmental sustainability. An immediate challenge is posed by the need to supply a growing global population with nutritious diets that come from sustainable food systems.
Even though global food production of calories has kept pace with population growth, more than 820 million people do not have access to enough food, and many more consume diets that are of poor quality, leading to deficiencies in micronutrients and contributing to a significant increase in the number of cases of diet-related obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.
These diseases include:
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes and more
Unhealthy diets pose a greater risk of morbidity and mortality than unsafe sexual activity, as well as alcohol, drug, and tobacco use combined. This is the case even when considering the impact of each factor individually. A significant portion of the world’s population suffers from malnutrition, and the production of food pushes the boundaries of many ecological systems and processes well beyond what is safe. Therefore, there is an immediate need for a global transformation of the food system.
According to research, if human beings keep consuming products derived from animals at the rate that they are currently doing so, we will not be able to adequately feed the growing population of the world by the year 2050.
The production of meat requires a significant amount of resources. The production of livestock alone is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector of the world (which includes cars, trucks, planes, and trains combined). Not only does farming livestock for beef, dairy, and pork products require a significant amount of land — land that could be used to farm plants for human consumption — but farming livestock also requires a lot of water.
Diets that are primarily composed of plant foods can significantly cut down on both the production of greenhouse gases and the consumption of land and water.
In addition, farm-to-table eating, which emphasizes the consumption of regional and seasonal foods, reduces the amount of fossil fuel required to transport food and educates consumers about the provenance of the food they eat. that having more information and eating more mindfully both contribute to a more positive relationship with food.
Food is like motherhood.
This connection can be strengthened through activities such as growing and preparing one’s own food.
The nutritional density of plant foods is largely responsible for their potency of these foods. “Dark leafy greens, berries, beans, nuts and seeds, and allium vegetables like onions, leeks, and garlic are examples of foods that contain a high concentration of essential nutrients in a relatively small volume. Other examples include nuts and seeds.” These foods include a high concentration of fiber, which is advantageous because it helps maintain stable blood sugar levels after meals, lowers cholesterol levels, and induces feelings of fullness, so preventing excessive eating.
The prebiotic fiber included in many plant foods provides nourishment for the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut microbiota. We are only just starting to get a basic understanding of the function that the microbiome in our gut plays in determining our overall health.
Plant-based diets cost less than meat. They also harm the environment less.
- Consuming a diet that is higher in plant-based foods has the potential to improve both the long-term viability of our global food system and our own personal health.
- Begin cautiously by eliminating meat from your diet at least once each week.
- You might try substituting tofu, tempeh, and pulses like beans, peas, and lentils for meat, chicken, and shellfish in your meals.
TIPS toward sustainable eating!!
- Eat more plant-based foods.
- Buy unpackaged foods.
- Buy seasonal foods, and buy fruits and vegetables, and groceries locally.
- Grow food in a container or backyard.
- See the food availability at home first and then go out and buy what is not available.
- Always prepare a list of items that you going to buy.
- Eat fresh fruits and food. Consume dried items too
- Learn how to cook at home.
- Use leftovers creatively and prepare some alternate food items.
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