New diet
Thursday, July 17th, 2008Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever heard something a hundred times and only thought vaguely about it, and then the 101st time you think, “yeah! he’s right, I should!”? Well that’s what happened to me and food.
I have heard innumerable times about how important a good diet is, and I have heard several good diets. I’m not talking about Atkins, I’m taking about simple, healthy, still tasty diets. I have (mostly) given up processed foods, white bread and meat.
The trigger for this life change was the video “What’s Wrong with What We Eat”, from TED.com, which I recommend you watch here. I knew many of the things he talked about, but it made me realise that I should start eating more healthy. I go to the gym (started going about a month ago with the other King), I don’t smoke or drink (almost never, anyway), why shouldn’t I start eating right? I don’t know about you, but I plan to live to 100!
The other reason I decided to all but give up on meat (I’m not stopping entirely, just cutting down to maybe one small portion a day, which makes it easier than giving it up entirely) is when I learned, from the same video, the enormous hazard livestock poses to the environment. I had no idea that those cute little cows, pigs and chickens actually pollute more than transportation. The biggest sources of pollution in the world are, in order, energy production, livestock, transportation. I was mind boggled. When countries develop, in general, they eat more meat (and who can blame them, it’s delicious). With the rise of countries like China, Brazil and Russia (India is mostly vegetarian), we can expect more and more livestock production, and more and more cow farts. With all the energy I already consume, I can at least reduce the amount slightly while doing something good for myself.
A change in diet, if I keep it up, is a good way to be healthier now and in the future, and to do a small part to reduce my effect on the environment.