Men’s eating habits are worse than women’s for the planet. Find out why

You might have already heard about the climate emissions caused by your diet, especially from non-vegetarian diets.

Researchers have now found that men’s meaty diets contribute towards 41 per cent more emissions than women’s diets. This was largely due to eating more meat and indulging in more drinks but could also be due to men just eating more in general, explained the team.

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The UK study also discovered that at least one-fourth of our diet-related emissions are 'optional’ foods such as coffee, alcohol, cakes and sweets.

Assessing emissions of around 3,200 food items, the study appearing in PLOS One has revealed that animal products were responsible for almost half of the average diet’s greenhouse gas emissions, with 31% from meat and 14% from dairy. This was followed by drinks at 15% and sweet confectionery at 8%.

In conclusion, while reducing meat intake, especially red meat, is a bigger gain, things like cutting back on sweets and optional drinks can also have a significant positive impact.

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