this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2023
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Dataset confirms that a vegan diet is dramatically better across a range of environmental measures (phys.org)
submitted 1 year ago by floofloof@lemmy.ca to c/science@lemmy.ml
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[–] lankybiker@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's an article about environmental impact

"The impacts of vegans were a quarter of those of high meat eaters for greenhouse gas emissions, and land use, just 27% of the impacts for water pollution, 46% for water use and 34% for biodiversity. "

But let's be honest, you probably dont care, no one seems to care. People who do care are unusual and caring and taking action is unusual and might even earn you derision.

Personally I'm still trying to figure out whether there's any point in trying to change anyone's mind. I have a feeling it's a hopeless waste of energy, which is terrible. If the people do do care lose all will to try to encourage others to see what seems obvious then nothing will get better, it will probably get worse.

[–] darq@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think a solution is going to be less about changing minds, and more about changing incentives.

Meat-free food should be cheaper and easier. Walking into a supermarket or convenience store, one should be greeted with affordable, tasty, plant-based meals. The more affordable and accessible we make plant-based meals, the more people are going to eat them. And showing people that they can taste just as good as meat-based meals, will mean people won't immediately steer clear of them.

[–] Custoslibera@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’d also be great if they were nutritionally equivalent.

Plant based meats aren’t equivalent to animal meat on that front.

[–] darq@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Plant-based diets are usually superior, health-wise, to meat-based diets.

There are a couple of nutrients that vegan diets at one point may have fell short in, like B12 and D being common examples, but at this point those are present in fortified vegan milks or breads.

The only other ones I can think of off the top of my head are a fatty acid present in fish, that is easily supplemented. Or less essential nutrients like taurine, which are also easily supplemented if one finds that they really need higher levels.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It can be difficult to get enough protein with vegan options for people who aren't knowledgeable about the options.

[–] mildbeard@lemmy.today 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

There have been multiple scientific studies asking whether vegans get enough protein. The conclusion is always that they do. Here is one of them.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893534/

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.ml 1 points 8 months ago

I didn't say they don't, I said it's difficult for people who don't know how. You have to spend time on education when you go vegan.

[–] darq@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Not really. Protein is not something particularly difficult in a reasonably balanced vegan diet, for most people. There are plenty of dietary sources of protein in vegan cooking.

Anybody requiring particularly high levels of protein is probably already supplementing it. Usually with vegan sources anyway.

Of all the possible deficiencies in a vegan diet, protein is by far the least of people's, already small, worries.

[–] blazera@kbin.social -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah but people will continue to be misinformed about dietary protein, and think eating fruits and vegetables is for wusses.

[–] BruceTwarzen@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My dad is old and fat and is out of breath when he gets into a car. He eats cheap sometimes spoiled meat 3 times a day, everything he cooks is somehow the greasiest food i have ever seen.
I have a BMI of 21. I do an average of 18000 steps a day and mountain bike on the weekend.

Somehow he's embarrassed about my vegan diet and gives me tips on how to eat right and tells me that i'm godda die soon for the past 5 years.
I have many friends like that. Bro, i need that protein. You are overweight and you don't do any sports at all.
I dunno, i find it very odd.

[–] blazera@kbin.social -1 points 1 year ago

From what I've seen its often just genuine ignorance. Thinking plants are entirely carbs, needing protein for muscle so of course you only get protein from animal muscle, and that old myth of incomplete proteins. Ill be honest I had the same assumption that something like a potato is entirely carbs

[–] vlad76@lemmy.sdf.org -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But at what cost...?!?

[–] max@feddit.nl 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's the fun part. None, really. I still eat like a king, my meals might even be tastier nowadays.

[–] vlad76@lemmy.sdf.org -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I actually have no problems with vegans or vegetarians. If you're doing it for your own reasons that great. If you're yelling at me that "meat is murder and chicken eggs are rape" then you're a crazy person.

I just like the taste of meat, and the benefits of vegetarian or vegan diets are not worth the trouble right now. If plant alternatives price out eggs, then I'll switch. Until then, I'm just buying the best food I can afford.

Edit: fixed "have to problems" to "have no peoblems"

[–] max@feddit.nl 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’ll be the crazy person. Where does meat come from, it not from murder?

[–] vlad76@lemmy.sdf.org -1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, but that murder is worth it.