What you eat and the Environment

Mean, Lean Vegans (from ThreeHugger.com)

This isn’t the first time here on TreeHugger where we’ve shown support for plant-based diets. We’re usually hyping up its lower carbon footprint and its myriad of nutritional benefits, including low levels of saturated fat and cholesterol and higher levels of cancer-fighting fiber, folate, antioxidants and phytochemicals.

Lesser mentioned though is the link between the growth hormones found in conventionally raised meat, poultry, and dairy products—and weight gain. According to Sustainable Table, though the USDA and FDA claim that there is no connection, there is growing concern that the hormone residues can disrupt human hormone balance leading to weight gain, among other scary health risks.


Very Svelte Vegetarians

Though PETA tells us that, "Vegetarians are, on average, up to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters," not all veggies are created equal. If you’re a vegetarian who considers polishing off a box of Teddy Grahams dipped in non-organic peanut butter part of a nutritionally complete and slimming meal—think again.

We’re talking about eco-conscious vegetarians eating primarily plant-based and organic diets in moderation. Here’s why. While peanut butter might seem a smart meat-free source of protein, if it’s not organic you may be doing more harm than you think. Pesticides and fertilizers are fat soluble. So when you down that chunky, nutty goodness—you could be getting a good dose of toxins, too. Research is showing that when the body—especially organs like the liver—get overwhelmed with toxic matter, it becomes more difficult to shed pounds.