Page 61 - Prevention - USA (April 2020)

MYTH #4
Grass-fed organic beef is better for the planet.

MYTHBUSTER Sorry, but most meat is terrible for the planet, even if
the animal is raised on a bespoke farm just down the street. That’s
especially true for cows and sheep, which grow and reproduce
much more slowly than poultry or pigs. When you compare beef to
beans, as the World Resources Institute did, the stats are staggering:
Beef requires 20 times as much land and emits 20 times as much
greenhouse gas per gram of edible protein as common plant
proteins. In fact, the production of grass-fed beef tends to lead to
greater emissions, as the cows gain weight more slowly and thus put
out methane gas longer. And eating plants is good for your health.
Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., the Good Housekeeping Institute’s
dietitian, says, “Eating a plant-based diet rich in whole grains,
vegetables, fruits, and beans is beneficial for combating several
chronic diseases including heart disease and cancer.” In short,
cutting back your beef (and lamb) consumption will do more for the
planet, and possibly your health, than buying grass-fed ever could.