Effects of Diet on the Economy
Besides the health, environmental and humanitarian benefits of a vegetable based diet the economic benefits are significant as well. A shift from meat/fish to vegetarian/vegan diet will definitely reduce the cost of health treatments as well as the direct and indirect costs induced by abnormal environmental disturbances. As you know, the occurrence of extreme weather conditions (higher or lower than normal temperatures, large and rapid temperature variations, etc.) have caused catastrophic fires, floods, and the destruction of huge amounts of agricultural products, houses, and caused a lot deaths and health problems. Clearly, if we go plant diet, the economic losses due to environmental pollution issues will be greatly reduced as it is demonstrated here at the two reference tables, and the Reference study.
By switching to a plant based foods, the United States, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) study, could save about $200 billion per year in healthcare costs alone. In addition, it is estimated that more than 300,000 lives will be saved yearly as a result of reduced cases of chronic diseases and obesity. We think that similar effects can be observed in Europe and other countries.
Billion $ savings in worldwide healthcare costs till 2050
Saved lives per year
From what we know, it is interesting and encouraging to observe that the current worldwide trend is to minimize meat and fish consumption. Nowadays, there are numerous supermarkets and restaurants everywhere that make plant based foods available for the consumer, and alternative food industries are on the rise. In the United States and in other countries as well, the sale of plant based foods is increasing fast every year, and this trend is getting stronger every day..
A word of caution: It should pointed out here that since the current meat and fish industries are very profitable, it will be prudent and smart for them to become vegetarian/vegan oriented, over a reasonable period of time. This will help them absorb the economic shock caused by such a change.
