‘Meatless Monday’ Adopted in Philippine Schools
There might be hope after all!
After advocates spent decades promoting a plant-based lifestyle, the idea seems to be sinking in—especially throughout Asia, with many schools in the Philippines adopting a “Meatless Monday” policy. The timing couldn’t be sweeter either, with World Heart Day on September 29 raising awareness about health issues around the globe.
Meatless Monday, or Luntiang Lunes as it’s known in the Philippines, is a worldwide movement initiated by music legend Paul McCartney. By cutting out all animal products for one day a week, our own health is improved, while the future of our planet also looks brighter.
It’s a good thing, too, with Filipinos scoring some of the lowest rates of personal fruit and vegetable consumption in the world—a meager 40 kilograms per year, compared to 250 kilograms in China.
When you consider that one in every four Filipino children is malnourished because of a poor diet and 27 out of every 100 adults are overweight or obese, the time has come to make the transition to a plant-based diet.
Don’t take our word for it though! The American Dietetic Association (ADA) states that vegetarians and vegans enjoy a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease, lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and lower body mass indices, as well as lower overall cancer rates. The ADA concludes that vegetarian or vegan diets “are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”
As for the environment, a recent United Nations report concluded that a global shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change. A German study from 2008 concluded that a meat-eater’s diet is responsible for more than seven times as much greenhouse-gas emissions as a vegan’s diet is.
The verdict is in: If you care about your health, the environment, and, of course, animals—pledge to go vegan!
Posted by Ashley Fruno
