Join us in the Meatless Monday Movement

Meatless Monday is an international movement to help people reduce their meat consumption by 15% to improve personal health and the health of the planet. It’s a non-profit initiative of the Monday Campaigns in association with the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Research has shown that reducing your intake of meat can reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Meatless Mondays will also help save resources like fresh water and fossil fuels.

Over 50 college campuses in the United States have joined the movement along with the city of San Francisco, Baltimore City Public Schools, and Manhattan borough president Scott String along with many major food personalities, celebrities and leaders like Al Gore, Sir Paul McCartney, Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali as well as countless bloggers. Again, this is an international movement, you can also see Meatless Monday programs in countries such as; Brazil, Britain, Holland, Canada, Finland, Taiwan and Australia.

Key Benefits of Meatless Monday:

Reduce Heart Disease – Beans, peas, nuts and seeds contain little to no saturated fats. Reducing saturated fats can help keep your cholesterol low and cut your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Limit Cancer Risk – HUNDREDS of studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables can reduce caner risk. Red meat consumption is associates with colon cancer.

Fight Diabetes – Research suggest that plant-based diets – particularly those low in processed meat – can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Curb Obesity – People on low-meat or vegetarian diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices. A plant – based diet is a great source of fiber (absent in animal products).  This makes you feel full with fewer calories, ie. lower calorie intake and less overeating.

Live Longer – Red and processed mean consumption is associated with increased in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Improve Your Diet – Consuming beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron, and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.

Cut Weekly Budget – Food prices are continuously rising on packaged items and meat which require extra expenses like feed and transportation.

Curb Healthcare Spending – Treatment of chronic preventable diseases accounts for 70% of total U.S. healthcare spending. By reducing our risk for these condition, we can curtail healthcare spending nationwide.

Reduce Carbon Footprint – The UN estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change.

Minimize Water Usage – The water needs of livestock are huge, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef.

Reduce Fuel Dependence – On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. (compared to 2.2 calories of fossil fuel for plant-based protein).

You can join the movement at www.meatlessmonday.com and pledge with the rest of us!

I am joining this movement because I care about reducing my risk in every way possible when it comes to my health. I want to live a very long healthy life. I also care about this beautiful earth and the unfortunate large amount of pollution we all contribute to it. We all need to do our part. I know a lot of people I have talked to about recycling, conserving energy and water and they think they are just one person and it would never make a difference. The problem? Most people do feel that way. But guess what, everything, everything, everything counts in this world. Turn it around now and choose to be positive and make a difference for your life and your future children or grandchildren. Thanks!