Ditch the Dairy

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No question. Dairy is great for baby cows. But why do humans drink milk from a totally different species? While some cultures use dairy products as a traditional food source, it does not suit most humans.

With the growing health issues surrounding dairy, and with lactose intolerance being so common, many are ‘ditching the dairy’ and feeling a whole lot better. Trendy diets like Paleo do not include dairy at all.

If you want something that is liquid, user-friendly and doesn’t come with a health, cruel or environmental price tag, why not give the many plant-based versions a try? Soy, oat, almond, macadamia, coconut, rice … they’re all great on breakfast cereal, in cooking or on their own.

In modern farming milk production involves millions of calves being removed from their mothers and killed for meat. Further, a milk producing cow lives for just over five years. In their natural state they live more than 15 years.

According to a report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions (18%) than transport (13.5%). Added to that is significant land occupation and degradation (30% of the earth’s entire land surface for pasture, and 33% of the global arable land producing feed for livestock), water consumption (beef and dairy production are the highest water consumers in Australia) and enormous emissions of methane (which is over 20 times as powerful as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere) and nitrous oxide (which is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide). In all, 65% of total worldwide emissions come from the meat, egg and dairy industries.

So all those dairy cows farting, burping a pooping have a huge impact on the planet, too!

The VegPledge Challenge –  For one week, not having any dairy and replacing this with plant based milk.  You are welcome to share your plate with us through social media tagging #Vegpledge.

Are you up for it?

Click here to check out the Veg Rewards on offer!

 

 

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