Why you should turn vegetarian: How a diet can effect the planet

 We've all been aware of the simple steps that help solve the issue of global warming: following the 5r's, going sustainable, using less private transport and installing appliances that use renewable energy. But have you heard of the impact caused by a single diet?

Food too, can have an affect towards global warming. Diets rich in vegetables, rather than meat can contribute towards a significantly lower carbon footprint. Well, this is because animals farmed for meat take up much more space, resources and money to maintain than plants. Certain animals farmed for meat such as cows, give out carbon emissions in the form of burps and farts. Being vegetarian is also more ethical as it spares life and also has significant health benefits.

To produce 1 kg of beef, 326.1 sq. m is needed, compared to the 0.38 sq. m needed for most vegetables. Having a vegetarian diet can reduce carbon emission by 2.5 times compared to a meat-based diet.

However, it is understood that everyone cannot switch to a vegetarian diet due to health restrictions or other reasons, but cutting out a little bit on red meat and eating locally and seasonally can help in reducing your carbon footprint.