Six Degrees of Separation

I am a vegan, so I don't eat anything that comes from an animal. Basically this means that I don't eat meat, dairy or eggs. Because of this, I need to get my protein from other sources, such as tofu!

Tofu is basically soybeans and water compressed together into a block. Soybeans are typically grown in North and South America, as well as several Asian countries. Often, the soybeans will be sprayed with pesticides or other chemicals, which can both cause health problems and ruin the flavor of the tofu. Because of this I only buy 100% organic tofu. Soybeans are incredibly high in protein which is great for people that don't eat meat. Unfortunately, soybeans can cause several health problems, such as deformities in babies, (there are properties in soybeans that mimic estrogen) and other health problems.

Once the beans are harvested, they are shipped off to different tofu factories worldwide. The company that I buy my tofu from is called San Diego Soy Dairy. SDSD is entirely organic, so they don't use any chemicals when processing their tofu. Because of this, the taste is greatly improved and there are more health benefits, (tofu is proven to help and reverse the effects of osteoporosis and heart disease). Unfortunately, the machines in the factory do have to be run off of energy from power plants, but otherwise there are very few negative effects on the environment.

After this, the tofu is shipped to the stores. I have yet to see a single package of tofu that wasn't wrapped in plastic, which is a problem since it can't be recycled. Once the tofu gets to my house, I have to throw out the packaging, then I begin the preparation process. I will often chop up other vegetables to throw in with the tofu, (since it doesn't really taste that good on its own). Sadly, the more vegetables you use, the more trees that have to be chopped down in order to make room for plants. However, when you think about it, the more soybeans that are planted, the more tofu there is. The more tofu there is, the less animals have to die. So rather than killing an animal for a couple of pieces of extremely expensive meat, why not just buy a package of tofu?

So, over all, here are some of the ways that tofu affects the environment, both good and bad:

1) Trees get cut down in order for crops to grow2)Soybeans can cause birth defects and other health problems
3) Tofu manufacturing plants have to use energy from power plants
4) Some tofu/soybean manufacturers use pesticides5) Tofu comes in plastic packages
6) A lot of soybeans are grown in the US, (less fuel used on shipping)
7) Tofu prevents osteoporosis and heart disease
8) Tofu is high in protein
9) Tofu helps keep animals alive

So the next time you are going to the store, please consider trying tofu. It is delicious and is extremely good for you in reasonable portions.