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This is Plant Based Briefing, rethinking Easter, choosing lentils instead of lamb, by Dr.
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Shireen Kasam at Plant Based Health Professionals UK at Plant Based Health Professionals.com.
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And I'm Miri and Eric Sin this is the Curated Content Plant Based Podcast, where I narrate
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articles on plant based and begin living with permission in about 10 minutes or so every
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Tuesday, and I'm pleased to have permission from plant based health professionals to share
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Now let's get to today's Plant Based Briefing.
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rethinking Easter, choosing lentils instead of lamb, by Dr. Shireen Kasam at Plant Based
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Health Professionals UK.
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Easter is a time of celebration, family gatherings, and feasting.
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Traditionally, roast lamb has been the centerpiece of many Easter meals, symbolizing renewal
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However, as we become more aware of the health, environmental, and ethical implications
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of our dietary choices, it's worth considering a delicious and nutritious alternative, lentils.
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These tiny nutrient-packed legumes offer a delicious, sustainable, and compassionate alternative
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to lamb, aligning with modern values of health consciousness and environmental responsibility.
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Health benefits of lentils.
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Lentils are edible seeds of the legume family that grow in pods, their nutritional power
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houses that provide an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and essential
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vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium, B vitamins zinc, and folate.
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Higher intakes of lentils and other legumes have been associated with better cardiometabolic
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health, lower risk of cancer, and a reduction in premature mortality.
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Lentils have a low glycemic index, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing
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the risk of type 2 diabetes, and improving glucose control in people with diabetes.
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Lentils have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties while promoting
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gut health and immune function.
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Health concerns around lamb.
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In contrast, consumption of red meat such as lamb has been consistently associated with
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adverse health outcomes, including an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes,
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In fact, the World Health Organization has classified red meat as a group 2 carcinogen, a probable
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These negative impacts on health are due in part to the presence of saturated fat and
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hemiron in lamb, plus the generation of cancer-causing chemicals when cooking red meat at high heat.
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In addition, lamb lacks beneficial nutrients such as fiber and other anti-inflammatory
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and antioxidant compounds present in plant foods that support gut health and immune function.
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The environmental impact of lamb.
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The environmental consequences of raising ruminant animals such as lamb for food is staggering.
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Not only is there the issue of carbon emissions, but methane emissions from burps and manure
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have a greater warming potential, and will prevent us from meeting our climate commitments.
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In the UK, more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions from farming arise from the production
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of red meat and dairy.
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The production of meat from lamb is hugely inefficient.
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In the UK, around 20% of our farmland is dedicated to raising sheep, but these roughly 32
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million sheep provide only 1% of our energy intake.
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The conversion of feed for the animals into energy for people is a ratio of 5 to 1.
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The UK is the sixth largest producer and third largest exporter of lamb, a food we do not
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need for maintaining good health.
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This vast amount of land dedicated to raising sheep is leading to the degradation of soil,
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habitat destruction, water and land pollution, and biodiversity loss.
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It is often stated that the uplands of the UK, hills, dails, moors and mountains, are
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not suitable for anything other than grazing animals.
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This is far from true.
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These areas could instead be used to grow tree crops, fruits and nuts, rewilded to restore
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natural habitats, and provide other ecosystem services such as natural flood barriers in
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watershed management.
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Lentils, a climate-friendly protein.
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Lentils on the other hand have an exceptionally low environmental footprint.
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They require minimal water and land compared to farming animals and can even improve soil
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health by fixing nitrogen and thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
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The production of lentils generates far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than meat production,
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making them a climate-friendly food choice.
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By shifting to consuming plant sources of protein, we would free up 75 percent of farmland
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in the UK, that is the landmass the size of Scotland, which could be used to restore
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nature and capture carbon.
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For food security and sovereignty, we need to vastly increase our domestic production
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of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, which this land could also be used for and
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thus further support rural livelihoods.
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Currently we only dedicate 15 percent of farmland to growing fruits, vegetables and legumes
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in the UK, relying heavily on imported fruit and vegetables.
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Even then there is insufficient availability of these foods for people to consume the recommended
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five portions a day.
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By opting for lentils this Easter, we take a small but meaningful step toward reducing
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our ecological impact, preserving the planet for future generations, and ensuring food security.
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Ethical considerations, compassion over tradition.
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There is a celebration of renewal and life, yet the tradition of eating lamb contradicts
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Millions of lambs are slaughtered for Easter worldwide, with more than two million killed
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in the UK at the mere age of six months.
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Contrast this with the natural lifespan of sheep around twelve years.
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These young animals we love to observe in the fields around the UK are removed from
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their mothers and rendered unconscious by firing a metal bolt into their heads or electrically
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stunned before being killed in a slaughterhouse.
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By choosing lentils over lamb, we embrace a more compassionate approach to food.
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Lentils provide all the nourishment we need without the suffering that comes with meat
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In an age where plant-based alternatives are more accessible and delicious than ever,
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there is no need to take an animal's life for our celebrations.
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Instead we can honor Easter's themes of renewal and kindness by embracing plant-based meals
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that are nourishing for both body and soul.
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A delicious Easter alternative.
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Lentils are incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of Easter dishes.
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From hearty lentil stews, lentil loaf, shepherds pie to lentil-based curries, there are
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countless ways to create a festive, flavorful meal without relying on meat.
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Lentils absorb seasonings beautifully, allowing for a range of culinary possibilities that
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can delight even the most devoted meat eaters.
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You can add flavor to meals with onion, garlic, bay leaves, herbs, and vegetable stock during
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Lentils also add a wonderful texture and boost fiber and protein in salads.
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Why not try our 21-day plant-based challenge linked here to receive free tips, email
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support, and recipes for delicious and nourishing plant-based meals?
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This Easter let us challenge tradition and make a conscious choice for health, sustainability,
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Swapping lamb for lentils is a simple yet impactful way to align our celebrations with values
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of health, compassion, and environmental stewardship.
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By making this change we nourish our bodies, protect the planet, and extend kindness to
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It's time to embrace a new tradition, one that celebrates life in all its forms, not
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just for Easter, but potentially for generations to come.
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We just listened to rethinking Easter, choosing lentils instead of lamb.
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By Dr. Shereen Kasam at Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, at PlantBasedHealthProfessionals.com.
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And I'm your host, Marion Erickson.
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I always put a link to the original post in the show notes, which you can find in the
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YouTube description field, or at PlantBasedBreafing.com.
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And in that article you can find the link to their 21-day plant-based challenge.
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There are so many great recipes and ideas.
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So please check that out and please share this episode with anyone who might benefit
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and thanks for listening.