Stephanie Singroy

While taking my walk, the most common thing I came across is new construction buildings and roads being closed of, it appears that new lines are being installed and sidewalks are being fixed. Infrastructure is vital for economic development and prosperity. Infrastructure enables trade, powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs, creates opportunities for struggling communities and protects the nation from an increasingly unpredictable natural environment (Puentes, 2015). Clean energy and public transit can reduce greenhouse gases as well as broadband networks, water systems and energy production. Energy projects, pipelines, water, parks, transportation and broadband networks are some of the components of a healthy economy. However what is disrupting infrastructure but is a good thing in the long run is rooftop solar panels and natural gas which new trucks, pipeline and rail networks are needed. 

 

 

Reference:

 

Puentes, R. (2015, January 20). Why infrastructure matters: Rotten roads, bum economy. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/why-infrastructure-matters-rotten-roads-bum-economy/

Research clearly signifies that a diet heavy in meat increases the risk of obesity, cancer and heart disease. Reducing the level of meat in our diets positively contributes to our health, as well the more people aware developing meat consciousness can also have a ripple effect by also reducing the level of meat in their diets. Our planet is suffering, the livestock to raise cows, pigs and chickens contributes quite more then cars, trucks and automobiles greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting to plant based foods can positively affect our planet by combating climate change, industrial livestock production, soil, air and water pollution. Together eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat can have a huge impact on our health and our planet. 

 

 

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. 

 

I definitely agree with this statement based on my own eating experience, usually I watch t.v. while eating, I have notice that I am not completely content of all what I was eating and later on I would get something else to eat. However once I lay off all my distractions and just focused on enjoying my meal, I tend to be fully satisfy and full. Referring to the Harvard Health Publishing, being distracted or not paying attention to a meal tended to make people eat more at that meal, and paying attention to a meal was linked to eating less later on (LeWine, 2013). 

The main difference in eating with no distractions is slower eating which can control your intake, on the other hand distracted eating can prompt you to eat more. Definitely mindful; eating is the way to go because you are likely to make healthier food choices as well can help reduce your daily calorie intake. 

 

The main determinant that comes to mind of people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places is economic development meaning as income rise so does the the consumption of eating meat. Their is also religious and cultural reasons that could be involved as well. 

Consuming meat has a compounding effect, for example it takes 1.7 pounds of animal feed to produce 1 pound of chicken and 6.8 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of beef. Eating more meat does major harm to our bodies. The World Health Organization declared processed meat a carcinogen that increases your risk of colon cancer by 18%. Besides significantly increasing the risk of cancer, their is also risk of heart disease and diabetes, it is harder to maintain a healthy body weight, meat carriers the highest risk of foodbourne illness, most meat has hormones in it, make you resistant to antibiotics and it could even increase your risk of death according to Bustle. Eating more meat affects our planet by raising animals for food requires land, food, energy, water as well animals  are suffering because they being slaughter for consumption. Eating more meat also affects people as well, it causes deforestation and forest fires. Forests are destroyed to clear space for cattle and to grow industrial animal feed. Billions of tons of CO2 are released when this happens which accelerates global warming. Healthy trees are important to us for absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, when their are being destroyed they can no longer help us fight against climate change. 

I disagree with this statement, organic methods can compete with and outperform conventional yields. Our agricultural system can transform with organic methods producing nutrient dense foods all while protecting the environment. According to Rodale Institute, organic outperforms conventional in adverse weather conditions like drought up to 40%. The additional benefits of organic methods is no toxic chemicals into the waterways, 45% less energy, 40% fewer greenhouse emissions and farmers earn a higher profit.