Should Humans Survive on a Plant-Based Diet Alone?

Although it is possible to survive on only a plant-based diet, we as a human population should not try to survive on one.

Not Enough Nutrients

• Deficiencies in nutrient intake can lead to muscle loss and fatigue
• Zinc is important for your immune system function, wards off immune system diseases, and derive from animal sources

Lack of Protein

• Meat is high in protein, those on a planet-based diet have to be conscious of whether or not they are consuming enough protein

Missing Vitamins

• Plants do not contain vitamin B12, which is important for strength and energy
• Can only be obtained through meats

Environmental Reasons

• It is believed that the Earth has a Human Carrying Capacity of 10 billion
• Even if all of our grains and plants go towards feeding humans instead of livestock in the case of maximum efficiency, the limit of how far we will be able to stretch our food is still present
• As the years go by families are beginning to get smaller
• The human population is said to stabilize between 9 billion and 10 billion, therefore even if we continue eating meat we will still be able to sustain the Human Carrying Capacity.

If we keep meat in our diets, what should we be consuming?

The key is to be eating more vegetables than meat, maintaining a healthy ratio of both, and knowing what meats to eat

• Non-processed meats: Closest to their original form, and have the fewest amount of added ingredients (will not have an ingredient list because it should just be the meat)
• Grass-fed beef: Have greater amounts of omega-3 fats than grain-fed cattle (healthier the animal is, the healthier the animal is for us)
• Eggs: "Fruit" of chickens, high in vitamin A, vitamin B, minerals, and nutrients, and offer the highest biological value of protein
• Small Fish: Offer high levels of omega-3 fats, are the most sustainable, and have lower mercury levels

The most beneficial and environmentally friendly diet is a plant-based one with meat.