Most people think of cows as creatures that provide us the most delicious and healthy foods; milk, cheese, and meat. Cows are the most harmless, and mundane animals there are, but are they really that harmless? The hard truth is that cow agriculture is ruining our lives and the planet. Agriculture is one of the leading causes for issues such as; environmental degradation, and nutrient pollution. Even with these issues, the calcium and protein that are provided by these cows are essential for life, or are they? Recently, dairy products have come under speculation as a true health food. In the essay, “Is Milk a Health Food?”, written by a student, Arthur Knopf, he explains the negative characteristics of dairy and the cattle industry on our
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He explains that milk does not fit his standards of a healthy food through different classifications. Knopf believes that, “if you define ‘health food’ based on science … and if you include in your definition of health food concerns for the planet as well as individual bodies, then milk might not fit the category of health food at all.” He establishes this claim by pointing out the problems with; the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s way of presenting dairy, promotional campaigns for unhealthy dairy products, and negative environmental impacts of raising cows. Knopf acknowledges the need for nonfat dairy, but also warns people that not all dairy is healthy. Overall, Arthur provides evidence that dairy is only healthy if it is nonfat, and that raising cattle leads to environmental …show more content…
Knopf’s essay mentions that cattle negatively affect the environment through “methane and crop consumption”, but there are several other ways that they are detrimental to the environment. One of these ways that cows damage the environment is through nutrient pollution in water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports, “The primary sources of nutrient pollution are; agriculture,” where, “[a]nimal manure, excess fertilizer applied to crops and fields, and soil erosion makes agriculture one of the largest sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the country.” As one of the leading causes of nutrient pollution, cows should not continue to be raised in current
He explains that milk does not fit his standards of a healthy food through different classifications. Knopf believes that, “if you define ‘health food’ based on science … and if you include in your definition of health food concerns for the planet as well as individual bodies, then milk might not fit the category of health food at all.” He establishes this claim by pointing out the problems with; the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s way of presenting dairy, promotional campaigns for unhealthy dairy products, and negative environmental impacts of raising cows. Knopf acknowledges the need for nonfat dairy, but also warns people that not all dairy is healthy. Overall, Arthur provides evidence that dairy is only healthy if it is nonfat, and that raising cattle leads to environmental …show more content…
Knopf’s essay mentions that cattle negatively affect the environment through “methane and crop consumption”, but there are several other ways that they are detrimental to the environment. One of these ways that cows damage the environment is through nutrient pollution in water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports, “The primary sources of nutrient pollution are; agriculture,” where, “[a]nimal manure, excess fertilizer applied to crops and fields, and soil erosion makes agriculture one of the largest sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the country.” As one of the leading causes of nutrient pollution, cows should not continue to be raised in current