This Earth Day, Americans will be talking about ways to combat global warming: hybrid cars, energy-efficient light bulbs, and other means of lightening our “carbon footprint.” But what about switching to a meatless diet?

As a dietitian, I know that vegetarian diets benefit us as much as the planet. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released a report in 2007 showing that farmed animals are a top contributor to today's serious environmental problems, including greenhouse gases. Reducing meat consumption could help slow global warming. A vegetarian diet would also help slow rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease that are climbing throughout the world as more and more countries “Westernize” their diets.

Studies have shown that people who follow a plant-based diet are slimmer than meat eaters and have less risk of the chronic illnesses that plague the tens of millions of Americans who follow a meat-heavy diet. Filling up on fruits, vegetables and other tasty vegetarian foods will take some pressure off the Earth - as well as our bodies.

Susan Levin

Washington, D.C.

Levin, R.S., R.D. is staff dietitian for the Physicians Committee for Responsible

Medicine