How to Prevent Global Warming Through Diet

Did you know you can help prevent global warming through diet? The foods we eat have a direct impact on our environment. For the average U.S. household, food is the third largest contributor to their "carbon footprint," behind only driving and utilities. To learn how to prevent global warming through diet, read and follow the steps below.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Stop eating hamburgers. Beef production creates an enormous burden on our environment. Animal agriculture releases vast quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and is the single leading source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. These gases cause most of the global warming. Consuming one pound of meat causes the same amount of greenhouses gas emissions as driving an SUV 40 miles. This is because of the production cycle that created that one pound of meat. Reducing your beef consumption can help prevent global warming. See Resources below.

2. 
    

   Reduce consumption of other meats. If every American substituted a meatless meal for a chicken meal once a week, it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions as much as taking 500,000 cars off the highways. See Resources below.

3. 
    

   Become a vegetarian. This is the single most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. Trading your steak dinners for salads could reduce your carbon footprint as much as not driving a car two days a week. If you stop eating meat and dairy products, it could reduce carbon emissions as much as cutting out 8,100 miles of driving in a 25 mpg car. See Resources below.

4. 
    

   For more information on how to prevent global warming through diet, see Resources below or the section on this page titled More Articles Like This.

Tips & Warnings

• Diet is a daily choice that has a profound impact on our environment. Choose wisely.
• After switching to a "low-carbon" diet, you may need to buy smaller clothes.

Resources

• Diet for a New America
• The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World

[Melody]

on 4/9/2009 So this makes me wonder if consumption of venison and fish harvested from the wild also helps prevent global warming? You're not supporting animal agriculture and removing natural methane producers ...

[katearquette]

on 3/14/2009 Very informative! I definitely try to do this already, I am glad it is doing the planet some good! 5*

[DoctorSnot]

on 2/25/2009 Very true! This is one of many good reasons to stop consuming meat -Excellent article! -well written and researched! 5 Stars!

[elyria]

on 2/20/2009 Absolutely wonderful article and great topic to write about! 5*

[momsrule]

on 2/18/2009 5* I'm not a big meat eater. I know too much/love animals...including bugs. Once, you don't eat meat for a few months, at least with me, the taste isn't appetizing. But, a filet mignon I still can enjoy eating. But, that's it. Had no idea I was helping the environment.