Changing Your Diet For the Sake of Your Grandchildren

[Guitarist]

Don't know that what I eat has anything to do with my grandkids as they are all adults
and I certainly don't question what they eat. I have reached the age where I eat for
enjoyment, my diet has always been fairly healthy, so if I indulge occasionally and have
to pay for it, I only have myself to blame.

I don't have grandkids but my oldest great-niece would eat nothing as a child but mac&cheese and Chicken McNuggets, neither of which I will touch ...

Her grandparents (who basically raised her) didn't seem to make any attempt to make her eat fruit and veg.

 

[BlunderWoman]

I agree with what you have said Debbie. I'm not sure if I have the will power to change so much, but am planning to make the effort.

 

[Debby]

Don't know that what I eat has anything to do with my grandkids as they are all adults
and I certainly don't question what they eat. I have reached the age where I eat for
enjoyment, my diet has always been fairly healthy, so if I indulge occasionally and have
to pay for it, I only have myself to blame.

I think you missed the point of the article entirely.

 

[Debby]

Four different scenarios were modelled, and it was only in the case of going to a Vegan lifestyle that realised the figue of 8 million lives 'Saved'. This actually would appear to mean a longer, possibly healthier life for a small proportion of the population . However something is going to get us in the end.
It was also suggested that this life would be free of various cancers, but high red-meat consumption is only one factor that may increase the risk (according to the NHS).
Perhaps the most reasonable and more importantly, achievable, scenario is that by adhering to the current recommended diet with regards to meat / fruit & veg, around 5 million lives could be 'saved'. although the drop in greenhouse gasses would be less.

I haven't read the full report, so I'm not sure if there is any suggestion that poultry and fish consumption should be reduced.

Ironic isn't it, not long ago, the Atkins diet was all the rage!

Gotta give you credit for trying hard Capt.

 

[tnthomas]

You're missing the point of the article.

'A global switch to diets that rely less on meat and more on fruit and vegetables could save up to 8 million lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds, and lead to healthcare-related savings. etc etc....'

It's about the future health of the earth which will affect the quality of life for our grandchildren and their children.

Yes, it's not about just individual nutrition and health, it's also about reducing the demand for red meat which will reduce the resources allocated to the production of red meat, including the clear-cutting of ecologically priceless rain forest.

 

[Butterfly]

I eat so little red meat anyway, that my giving it up totally would have little to no impact on anything.

Most seniors I know eat very little red meat, mostly because the cost of it has gone up into the stratosphere.

I think we, as a country, need to put more attention into our diets in general, if for no other reason than to reduce the epidemic of obesity.

 

[Ameriscot]

I eat so little red meat anyway, that my giving it up totally would have little to no impact on anything.

Most seniors I know eat very little red meat, mostly because the cost of it has gone up into the stratosphere.

I think we, as a country, need to put more attention into our diets in general, if for no other reason than to reduce the epidemic of obesity.

It isn't just the US that is obese. It's an epidemic in many western countries.

 

[Capt Lightning]

As it stands, all this is just theoretical modelling. I doubt if you would get many people to make radical changes in lifestyle, no matter what you tell them. You would probably also face a huge backlash from the meat industry, possibly producing their own research to support eating more meat as a healthy part of your diet.

At best, more people might be persuaded to follow a healthier life style and the problems related to obesity might be greatly reduced.

 

[WhatInThe]

Exercise of somekind is critical not just for cardio and strength but blood to flow to organs and cleaning out the fat cells & tissues where toxins sit until the fat is burned. Keep the body working the way it's supposed to including keeping the immune system working properly.

 

[Debby]

Yes, it's not about just individual nutrition and health, it's also about reducing the demand for red meat which will reduce the resources allocated to the production of red meat, including the clear-cutting of ecologically priceless rain forest.

Some people just don't get it Thomas. The effect of meat/animal product consumption is like the three legged stool. One leg represents their health, the second represents the effect on the animals and the third represents the effect on the environment. Each leg has proof as to the negative effects. Scientific proof, not just personal opinions. And frankly, we ignore those 'legs' at our peril.

It should be noted that while red meat is singled out as highly detrimental to individual health outcomes, the other animal products are no less damaging to health and the environment as those animals need to have food produced for them no less than cattle do and that means the wasting of water, fossil fuels, and loss of biodiversity. And of course, the heavy calorie load of animal products add to the obvious obesity issues our world faces now, not to mention the hormones that dairy cattle typically are fed in order to get milk production up and then of course there's the hormones and arsenic that's often fed to chickens....you are what you eat right? All those hormones and antibiotics and arsenic end up in people.

But hey, maybe we'll all be lucky and Russia and America will become embroiled in a nuclear war and none of this will matter eh? Fingers crossed right?