The Beef With The Meat Industry

Beef. Chicken. Pork. Lamb. Some of us eat it every day, while others get by without it. No matter who you are, the meat industry is an integral part of our society today. What you may not know is the harmful effects of this trade on the environment. It does a lot more than what people may think.

The meat industry sucks up a lot of land and resources. If you’re rearing cows, you need land for them to live on. Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of cattle, has cut down many trees in the Amazon rainforest. 137 species of plants and animals are squandered every day. Along with that, we kill roughly 200 million animals daily and 74 billion a year. At the end of the day, we only get 4% of the proteins and 3% of the calories that the cows receive from the plants they eat. On top of that, we could feed nearly 3.5 million more people if we just ate the plants we feed to cattle.

Furthermore, an overconsumption of meat is detrimental to our health. Current research has shown that the consumption of red meat (beef, veal, mutton, etc.) can increase an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease. The meat isn’t the real problem, it’s the amount that is consumed. The ordinary first-world customer eats twice as much protein as is needed due to defective advertising and nutrition publications. In the end, fruits, vegetables, and other sources of protein contain the essential nutrients necessary for humans to be healthy without the danger of cancer or obesity. Meat is not the only contributor of proteins; rather, it has become one because of people’s desire.

After hearing all this horrible news, you may be thinking, “How can I help reduce the abuse we inflict on the environment while not giving up meat entirely?” You can cut down on the amount of meat you eat while not completely cutting it out. For example, you may decide that you’ll only eat meat 2 days a week. Another thing you can do is buy white meats (chicken, pig, etc.) more than red meats, as their feed is converted more efficiently into meat. Hopefully, in the future, we can stop this unsustainable way of producing meat and find a better way to enjoy our burgers and steak.