I read here on World Changing that after the age of 50, Europeans . . .
. . . are only about half a likely [as Americans] to suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even cancer. They are only half a likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, and they spend only half as much on average as we do for health care. Studies show their better health results from more exercise, more socializing with friends and families, less stress and more sleep; all of these are made possible by having more time.
I wondered . . . ‘heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer… these are the exact conditions that are directly linked to meat consumption.’
I thought further . . . I wonder if, by chance, Europeans eat half as much meat as Americans?
A few clicks on Earthtrends and I discovered they almost do!
Total populations:
Europe 729,391
North America 322,266 (millions)
Total meat intake:
Europe 53,996,792
North America 39,716,290 (metric tonnes, could you believe it?)
So Americans eat 1.6 times the meat that Eurpoeans do! I think this must account for the higher portion of the diseases which are scientifically linked to meat consumption - just as much as - or more than - the lifestyle factors mentioned.
Meat consumption in Argentina is much higher than the United States yet Argentines have much lower rates of heart disease….Because Argentine beef is free-range (i.e., grass fed) whereas American beef is corn fed. Cows are designed to eat grass, not corn which has too much oil & sugar resulting in cow meat loaded with a lot more fat and the wrong kind of fat! Beef is NOT unhealthy if grass fed.
Thanks Forrest for the comment.
I’m sure there are a range of lifestyle factors that support the good health of Argentinians. According to WRI Earthtrends they also eat only 2/3rds of the meat per-capita that Americans do.
That said, I’m sure naturally fed beef is better for people than grain fed. However both are still devastating for the environment. Argentina suffers its share of ecological damage and land degradation due to cattle grazing.
“Grass fed beef is not unhealthy” is a bit of a long-shot considering the argument you supplied.
Even if it were true, the damage that grass fed animals are doing to the world atmosphere is causing and will (hopefully not) continue to cause more and more damage to human health by way of increased droughts and downpours and decreased agricultural yields. See Livestock’s Long Shadow by the UN’s FAO for more information regarding this.