Food Matters

Livestock production on a global basis is responsible of one fifth of the green house gases. This is according to a report released two years ago from the United Nations and Food and agricultural Organization (FAO). This is a signal moment for Mark Bittman, as he had to face the personal health problems and issues to do with the increasing concern of the animal products. In regard to this issue, Bittman developed a perspective towards food, ranging from the meat quality, wild fish endangerment, the way they raised the animals and the impact our diet has to the environment.

According to Bittman, he realizes that food matters, global health and personal issues intersect in a way. This explains why the planet’s destiny and that of the human race is upon the choice of individuals and society as a whole. A natural lifestyle choice can make a person lose weight at the same time reduce the risk of long term and chronic diseases. The choice we make about food help us to save finances and reduce on the issue of global warming. In this article, Bittman intends to create awareness on a change of diet that is pleasant, easier and demands no sacrifice by taking less time and efforts during exercise.

Bittman begins by highlighting the consequences of modern agriculture, which has led to food production and development that resulted in intolerable costs. The practices of the modern agriculture have provoked the production of less nutritious meals, and the entire process causes damages to the earth. This includes the acceleration of global warming. In addition, the industrialized production of meat contributes to changes in climate. It also stimulates a fundamental change in the diet that causes side effects to our body. This leads to an individual becoming overweight, obese and subjects us to diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

Bittman adds that eating animal products will not make us fall ill, but we fall sick because of consumption of over refined carbohydrates and junk food. These kinds of meals tend to be expensive when we consider on the aspects such as their nutritional profiles, hence, big contributors to environmental damage and change in climates. The meals such as junk food happen to be the twentieth century America diet and contain a destructive form of food production. Raising livestock in a desirable way protects the environment from facing the issues of climatic changes. It is achieved by avoiding to feed on meals that have the high quality of meat which makes us suffer. It is evident that, cases of lifestyle diseases and syndrome occur because of relying too much either directly or indirectly on animal products as our diet. This causes us to consume many fats, calories and proteins, which end up harming our bodies.

In analyzing the issue on why food matters, Bittman reveals that the current crisis in health is not accidental. On the contrary, when people think about eating much of dairy products tends to bring side effects when it comes to our heath. The industries such as the “big food” deal with the production of meat support, the issue of food intake that affects our heath. The only guiding principle behind the matters that concern food is to consume less junk food and meat and concentrate on eating whole grains and vegetables.

The writer does not suggest that people should become vegetarians or eat organic meals, but the point is that this will save on expenses in our lifestyle. For instance, it will save individuals from buying the exotic meals and shopping in expensive markets. People should learn to eat less of some meals and more of others to keep fit. Rethinking about consumption, it is beneficial when we consume nutritious meals as an average person will not spend too much on meals.

The general increase in food prices is five percent annually; therefore, it is apparent that there will be a difference in costs between the animal products and meals such as vegetables. The most significant thing is to feed moderately, and limit our diet to real food. Although a small section of individuals will respond to this issue positively, the impact is large. People will start eating in a local way and concentrate on organic meals by treating the animals humanly and in a natural way. Based on the arguments, people claim that it is advisable to eat less and better meat, but Bittman stresses on the importance of consuming less meat.

As most individuals crave for meat, they should also put in mind that, they are relying on meals that will not benefit them nutritionally despite their deliciousness. Focusing on a new word of meat eaters, the U.S. people consume meat averagely when contrasted to the developing world, where its rates are high. Overconsumption of meals from the animal products creates an impact to the environment because it affects the raising of livestock and leads to global warming when contrasted to crop farming. It is essential to consume meals moderately, because overproduction leads to overconsumption, which affects the environment and our bodies. Every moment a person feeds on a salad instead of a burger ends up saving energy.

Bittman identifies ways in which we can mix up meals to end up with an effective diet. One of his ideas is to take cauliflower and cream into macaroni while mixing it with cheese. Other ideas that may enlighten people to try new diets, which are nutritional, include; mixing black beans with red onions and beets and cook them until they turn purple. These are examples of meals that average people can afford, while still remaining nutritious and do not affect the environment and our health.

The book Food Matters is significant to individuals because it provides us with ideas on how we can prepare food that is nutritional. This book also explores on the side effects that food from the animal products causes and its repercussion to human beings, such as obesity and lifestyle diseases. Based on Bittman’s view, we learn about the environmental challenges, including global warming that occurs because of excess consumption and production of animal products. This article also presents a series of easy strategies that all people can adopt when it comes to planning on how to feed on nutritious diets that do not affect our health.

According to Bittman, he relates issues that concern food to a “section of a marriage that involves people and the entire world” (Bittman, 2009). A part from guiding us on our eating habits, we learn about the economics of food, its ethics and cultures. Bittman concludes that people should be conscious when choosing meals as it is what determines their lifestyle.