Power of the Fork

The answer to the most pressing questions of our time is sitting in your kitchen drawer. Amongst your cutlery collection is the solution to climate change, world hunger, and rising epidemics. Functional to food and four pronged, this useful tool holds the secret to good health and longevity. Known as a fork, this clever and concise device will soon be revered for its role in reducing green house gas emissions, mitigating obesity, lowering health care costs, and improving the struggling economy. How can a fork possibly do all this you ask? Well, it depends how you use it.

The relationship between food, nutrition, and good health is becoming more evident as rates of obesity, diabetes, and cancer continue to rise. The prevailing food system is beginning to accommodate the health conscious consumer with organic brands and whole grain guarantees. While the health food craze continues to gain momentum, conditions like osteoporosis and celiac disease are still dramatically on the rise. Eating high intakes of red meat and other animal products is considerably gaining mention for causing many adverse health effects and degenerative diseases. Americans consume more meat on average than any other country. They also have the highest rate of obesity and diabetes in the world.

The costs allocated for patient care in regards to obesity and diabetes is paramount. Reducing the consumption of animal products has shown through consistent studies to reduce weight gain, stabilize insulin production, lower blood pressure and decrease LDL cholesterol levels to zero. Health care costs represent a major expense to both the Canadian government and governments of the world. A transition into more natural foods would ultimately lower health care costs by decreasing levels of common illnesses and preventable diseases. This extra money could be distributed to social programs and improve community initiatives for the unfortunate.

The choices we make with our fork have far outreaching implications. Our dietetic tendencies can have serious consequences concerning our health; and especially so, the types of food we eat can have significant negative impacts on our environment. Selections of fresh organic vegetables and fruits require very little energy to grow, especially when produced by local farmers or heroic backyard gardeners. Foods that are shipped long distances; to northern regions during winter months, typically do make more of an impression on the environment. Animal products however, have the largest carbon footprint in regards to food. In a study carried out by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, meat production was observed to produce more green house gases than the entire transportation industry worldwide.

The distribution of food amongst humanity is also a cause for concern. In 2008, the World Health Organization claimed for the first time that there are now more people overweight than starving. Even more surprisingly, there are more cows grown globally at any one time than the total number of people going hungry. It takes seven pounds of grain to produce just one pound of beef, where a full-grown steer can weigh well over a thousand pounds. For every beef lover who gives up steak, six more people will be fed directly as a result. If one in four omnivores went vegetarian, world hunger would virtually be abolished.

Transitioning into a plant-based diet can mitigate disease, reduce global warming, and support humanitarian aid. A continued reduction in animal consumption would drastically improve public health concerns. Cow Disease, Bird Flu and Swine flu emanate from factory intensive farming operations: animals. This year, as the Swine Flu pandemic reached unprecedented concerns, many institutions failed to acknowledge the true solution: mitigate factory farms. Animals grown in intensive operations are confined so closely to one another that they risk spreading disease. In order to continue production unabated, the animals are administered high levels of antibiotics on a regular basis. This overuse promotes the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria and potential superbugs. Satirically, the simple solution to reducing worldwide health risk from pandemic disease is to reduce the consumption and production of farm animals.

It can be frustrating to observe how much agony is going on in the world. Many people are suffering from themselves, from others, and from a lack of positive perspectives. There is so much hope and determination to bring the world together into prosperity and equality that we sometimes discredit the most simple and effective solutions. Changing your eating habits can do more than just trim your waste line. It can empower an entire civilization accustomed to derelict and failed promises. Your most powerful tool is your fork, and your most powerful weapon is your mind. Start by investigating into the benefits of vegetarianism, there are many resources online. For a local resource, get to know your friendly neighbourhood Hamilton Vegetarian Society.