In an open letter to the National Health Service (NHS), doctors urge Scotland to ban meat in hospital meals to improve patients’ health and save the environment.

Source: Sundal Roy/Youtube

The letter, sent to Caroline Lamb, the chief executive of NHS Scotland, urged the NHS to only serve plant-based meals as it would save a significant amount of money, improve the health of patients, and be better for the environment. The letter estimates that the NHS could save £30 billion a year if all meals served were vegan.

According to The Times, the letter claimed that giving patients meals that contained red and processed meats was the same as “distributing cigarettes in the pulmonary-care unit.”

The Scottish GPs and clinicians who supported and signed the open letter include Alan Desmond, NHS consultant gastroenterologist, and the GPs Nick Browne, Miriam Maisel, Olga Morton, and Fiona Bullions, reported The Times.

The letter states, “At this time of health and climate crises, we, the undersigned, urge NHS Scotland to switch to vegan menus for patients in hospitals. Replacing meat, eggs, and dairy with vibrant vegan foods is vital if we are to protect the health of Scottish people and the planet.”

“It is a dereliction of duty that meals offered in hospitals are often far from healthy and can even include red and processed meats, which are known to be carcinogenic.”

Eating a plant-based diet is better for your health, the environment, and animals worldwide. While meat and dairy products can be linked to a slew of diseases and conditions, the same cannot be said about vegetables.

The letter added, “Switching to 100 percent vegan menus … would help NHS Scotland improve patient recovery, reduce costs, prevent animal suffering, and meet its commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions.”

Animal agriculture is a driving force behind the climate emergency, and meat continues to be linked to cancer and other diseases. However, there have been many opposers and Scottish farmers furious about this letter.

Source: GBNews/Youtube

Jake Swindells, Director of the Scottish Countryside Alliance, told the Scottish Daily Express, “As well as this, NHS Scotland should consider the benefits of using more game meat in its menus too. As well as being incredibly low in fat and cholesterol it is also very sustainable”.

We know that this is not true as reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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• New York Hospitals and Nursing Homes May Soon Be Required to Offer Plant-Based Meals!
• Governor Brown Signed Law Requiring California Hospitals, Healthcare Facilities, and Prisons to Offer Plant-Based Meals
• Incogmeato™ Coming to Hospitals and Schools
• Congress Considers 100% Plant-Based Meals at School

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