Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications  and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about how going green with your diet can be good for both your body and the planet. Buying locally grown produce in season, avoiding processed or packaged foods and being creative with leftovers are all ways to minimize your carbon footprint while being good to your body. Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say you can also reduce your environmental impact by changing the kind of meat you eat.

You don’t have to go vegetarian, but reducing the amount of red meat you eat does reduce your carbon footprint. Replacing some red meat with chicken or eggs can make a difference. It may also reduce your cholesterol levels. When you do eat beef, look for grass-fed beef. When cattle are grass-fed, that reduces the amount of resources needed to produce the meat because cattle feed doesn’t have to be produced. You may be able to find locally rasied, grass-fed beef at farmers markets.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/nutrition to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in nutrition.

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