A diet in green veggies is healthy for you and planet. We all know vegetables are good for us. Now it seems that eating veggies are is also good for the environment. “Eating green” is as beneficial as “eating your greens”. Some facts that have emerged in recent years may encourage even keen carnivores to cut back their meat intake.
So why are vegetables-based diets better for the planet? For a start, research has found that it takes 15,000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of grain-fed beef. It’s also claimed that if all the grain used to feed cattle in the US were given to people worldwide, almost 800 million people could be fed. And a study by the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science in Japan has shown that the production of one kilogram of beef causes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving car for three hours while you leave all the lights on at home.
Starting to feel guilty about popping into your mouth? Well, instead of rushing to the greengrocer, consider growing some of your own veggies.
Start with one of the super foods, such as broccoli. Broccoli is full of goodness – it contains no fat, is high in fiber, is a good source of folic acid and is high in vitamin C.
Researchers have found that the star component in broccoli is the phytochemical sulforaphane are found in sprouted broccoli and young shoots but sulforaphane is also found in mature broccoli, and other members of the Brassicaceace family contain it in smaller amounts. Commonly called brassicas, these include cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage and Asian greens.
Brassicas will grow during the cooler months. You can sow seed or buy seedlings from your local nursery. For the best results, give them a sunny position and rich, well-drained soil.