Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Less Flatulence for a Healthier Planet?

I was rating articles in Helium.com and came across an article that was written under the category "Daily Choices for a Healthier Planet." I do not know the name of this article's author because rating is done anonymously. Here is part of the article:

You are probably taking steps towards conserving energy to protect the environment. More people are carpooling, turning down the thermostat and recycling than ever before; but have you considered how your diet affects global warming? Here is what you need to know about eating for a greener planet.

The Basics

A green diet is about reducing consumption of processed foods and meat-based products. This method of eating reduces methane emissions, saves energy and lessens waste.

The Problem with Methane

Focusing on reducing carbon monoxide emissions is important, but methane is much more harmful to the environment. Methane gas is 23 times more damaging to the environment then Carbon Dioxide.

The primary producer of methane gas on this planet is cattle farming. The flatulants and manure from raising cows, pigs and poultry increases methane in the atmosphere and can create a snowball effect, hastening global warming. The release of methane "can cause greater microbial activity causing further increases in methane emissions. Thus, climate change induced by humans could actually trigger the release of more greenhouse gases from natural systems."

Ok, so, as I read this, I wasn't too clear on what the point is. If we eat less meat and processed foods, then there will be less gas emission . . . from . . . . people? . . . from cows because we would raise fewer cows ?

If we quit raising cows, pigs, and chickens, there will be fewer animals to fart? Less farting means less methane gas? Well, then what about dogs, eight-year-olds, and men? Are they saying the animals are farting too much; or are they saying people are farting too much because of eating the animals? I don't know, but isn't it true that when we eat fresh vegetables and beans for our health, we eat more roughage which produces more flatulence?

What if we feed Beano to all the cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, eight-year-olds,or men (and some women)? Then there would BE NO gas!

2 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I heard about it too and I thought it's more of flatulence from livestock that produces methane. I guess it's animals farting more instead of humans farting because of meat diets. Not sure if the same chemical is produced by humans and other animals. For humans, here's a good source:

    http://www.hsbc.com.hk/1/2/hk/insurance/healthnet/archive/s0808-1

    ReplyDelete

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