Study Examines Environmental Impact Of Veggies. Oops, Lettuce Is More Harmful Than... Researchers trying to justify a mostly plant based diet for humans are reeling from the results yielded by a study that seems to put lettuce in the crosshairs of environmental righteousness. When one considers what it takes to get food to market in its totality water, sun, growing space, feeding, fuel, packaging, etc. the oh, so smart ones at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh started looking as the entire total impact of the human diet on the planet and made a startling discovery. Lettuce is over three times worse in greenhouse gasemissions than eating bacon, Researchers did not argue against the idea people should be eating less meat, or the fact that livestock contributes to an enormous proportion of global emissions up to 51 per cent according to some studies. But they found that eating only the recommended healthier foods prescribed in recent advice from the US Department of Agriculture increased a persons impact on the environment across all three factors even when overall calorie intake was reduced. The study was published in the Environment Systems and Decisions peer reviewed journal, and studied emissions, water use, and energy costs. While it is true that plants do soak up all that carbon dioxide that animals exhale, it is also true that they soak up a lot of water particularly kitchen garden fare that ends up being half water when it is eaten. Paul Fischbeck, study co-author and CMUs professor of social and decisions sciences, said: Lots of common vegetables require more resources per calorie than you would think. Eggplant, celery and cucumbers look particularly bad when compared to pork or chicken. People who have actually raised fruits and vegetables will not be shocked by this. No way, Jose. Ever see a garden or an orchard during a drought? Can you say dead as a doornail with teeny tiny yields if any? Obviously, these people dont cook, either. Veggies always cook down. Where was I? Oh, yes, the shocking discovery that lettuce uses up a lot of resources on its way to market in comparison to meat and poultry. Lets think about this, shall we? This is not to say that humans should not eat their vegetables and some fruit. Particularly lettuce with extra virgin olive oil (lowers blood pressure). But the leftie, looney liberal panacea of all humans eating vegan to save the planet is proving to be precisely the opposite of reality. Shipping high water content fruits and vegetables negates the environmental pluses of the foods. Yes, it is now safe to ask WHERES THE BEEF? 