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The meat industry blocked the IPCC’s attempt to recommend a plant-based diet

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Re: The meat industry blocked the IPCC’s attempt to recommend a plant-based diet

#4

[flagged]

Why do you think this is good?

I think animal foods are very healthy and the CO2 emissions/environmental effects of cattle are usually overblown.

One "study" I saw claimed cattle used 1000000x more water than grains. But they counted the rainfall on the entire grazing area as consumed by the cattle, which is obviously nonsense. It goes back into the cycle. (As does the water the cattle consume, of course.)

Re: The meat industry blocked the IPCC’s attempt to recommend a plant-based diet

#6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think this is good?

I think animal foods are very healthy and the CO2 emissions/environmental effects of cattle are usually overblown. One "study" I saw claimed cattle used 1000000x more water than grains. But they counted the rainfall on the entire grazing area as consumed by the cattle, which is obviously nonsense. It goes back into the cycle. (As does the water the cattle consume, of course.)

That study (if true) is obviously exaggerated, but the main issue is water diverted from rivers like the Colorado. Cows milk requires something like double the water of almond milk and an order of magnitude more water than oat milk.

Re: The meat industry blocked the IPCC’s attempt to recommend a plant-based diet

#8

I'm actually surprised how much dairy products contribute to global warming. It's only veganism that really cuts down on carbon emissions.

Not really. I looked at the different scenarios and we would probably do fine on chicken and cheese in terms of water consumption, CO2 and land use.

Pork is where it starts being risky.

Beef, lamb etc. are the most problematic parts.

Re: The meat industry blocked the IPCC’s attempt to recommend a plant-based diet

#9
The discussion around plants, meat and dairy need to become much more nuanced.

Let's take dairy as an example - has a great effect in boosting mTORC1 activity which causes better growth in children. Now, a non-insignificant set of people who have bought into zealous veganry are raising children who will be physically more fragile just because they've been marketed with the idea that dairy == bad.

On the other hand, overactivation of mTORC1 is a driver of "growth-related diseases" like cancer, which suggests you should limit it post-adolescence.

In conclusion, I think it is right for us not to listen to political panels who are sticking their finger up in the air to measure what is the politically correct thing to say today and prescribe policies based on that. People should have the freedom to research and choose.

I am a layman on this topic; feel free to correct any errors in my claims.

Re: The meat industry blocked the IPCC’s attempt to recommend a plant-based diet

#10
post #7

[flagged]

What a baseless, fearmongering comment that isn't even relevant to the post. There are plenty of arguments for why our future may be leading to what you describe, but less meat in your diet is not one of them...
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