My apologies to any non-meat eaters in the class, but
I have uncovered evidence of animal-products being beneficial to health. Having animal-products in the diet requires a
delicate balance. Overconsumption of animal-products
is detrimental to human health. Animal-source foods are an excellent source of
energy, essential micronutrients, and protein.
These foods provide the nutrients necessary for physiological
functioning, development, and overall good health. Smith et al. give the
example of food security as when everyone in the population has adequate,
nutritious, and safe food at all times (2013).
Food security places an emphasis on food quantity. Nutrition security is the focus of the
quality of food. Livestock is a direct
contribution to nutrition security and is one of the best sources for quality
protein. Because of this, animal-source
food can enhance food and nutrition security.
Additionally, livestock can provide an income for people and increase
chances for education. This can
ultimately improve a community by providing education to children in poverty
and make these children into healthy and well-educated adults (Smith et al.,
2013).
Animal-products can also have a negative impact. Keeping livestock decreases the food supply
for humans because livestock consume a large portion of the world’s production
of grains. Smith et al. reported ½ of
the world’s production of grains being consumed by monogastrics (2013). Another factor against animal-source foods is
that they are expensive. People in
poverty tend to sell the animal products they make instead of consuming them. It is estimated that animal production is
contributing a large and essential part of income for more than one billion
people in Asia and Africa (Smith et al., 2013).
Livestock agriculture currently supports the
livelihoods of approximately 675 million of the rural poor, who can depend on
livestock for part or all of their income/food (Steinfeld, 2003). Raising livestock can supply a stable source
of food and income. This provides the
opportunity to raise a farm’s whole productivity. Livestock is sometimes the only viable option
for the landless in developing countries.
Availability of land will limit expansion in some regions. Increased
productivity will come from more adoption of current and new production and
marketing technologies (Steinfeld, 2003).
Resources:
·
Smith, J.W., Sones, K., Grace, D., MacMillan,
S., Tarawali, S. and Herrero, M. (2013). Beyond milk, meat, and eggs: Role of
livestock in food and nutrition security. Animal Frontiers 3(1): 6-13.
Permanent link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10568/25105 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2527/af.2013-0002
·
Steinfeld, H. (2003). Economic constraints on
production and consumption of animal source foods for nutrition in developing
countries1. The Journal of Nutrition, 133(-), 4054S-4061S. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/docview/197452077?accountid=13360
Excellent post Erin!! And also there is evidence that increased livestock/ animal product consumption contributes to climate change. So, what steps do you advise we should take to not create further imbalances in the already complex situation in global health?
ReplyDeleteIn respect to climate change, one of the suggested solutions is to move meat consumption towards less beef. Beef production is always blamed for the overabundance of methane in the environment. Fish and broiler production are less likely to be as problematic, so encouraging the human diet towards these types of meat is not only healthy for the human, but also the environment.
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