Lower meat diet could save 45,000 lives

A new report by Friends of the Earth, Healthy Planet Eating publishes the results of research carried out by Oxford University modelling the impact of a fair less meat diet, as defined by Friends of the Earth, on the health of the population.

According to the research eating meat less than 3 times a week could prevent 45,000 early deaths and save the NHS £1.2 billion each year. Lower meat diets could cut deaths from heart disease by 31,000 deaths, from cancer by 9,000 and from strokes by 5,000 each year.

There is a clear evidence of a link between high meat diets and higher incidence of bowel cancer and heart disease with some evidence of a link between high meat diets and other cancers, diabetes and obesity. Processed meat in the diet has a more detrimental effect on health than unprocessed meats.

The way meat is produced has an impact on its nutritional quality. Grass-fed beef has nutritional advantages over grain-fed options. And some meat produced under modern farming methods has a lower nutritional value with higher fat and lower protein content.

Apart from its health benefits a lower meat diet would benefit the planet. The livestock industry generates a fifth of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and is also driving deforestation in South America.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to change advice on healthy eating to include the benefits of eating less meat and shift support from factory farming to the production of better-quality meat. They would like the latter changes to be implemented within the framework of a sustainable Livestock Strategy. If you would like to support the Sustainable Livestock Bill or access the full report, please click here: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/press_for_change/moodunnit_….