Magda Freedom Rod is an environmentalist and lifestyle guide. Through her website Visionary-Lifestyle.com, she helps people achieve their highest potential with conscious eating, yoga and meditation. If you've not listened to them yet, check out episodes 24 and 74 where Magda talks about her e-course Conscious Eating 101.com and how to set new intentions for Spring.

Earth Day is an opportunity to love Mother Earth and be thankful for all that she provides. "99.9% of people don't make the connection that their food choices impact the environment in a major way." Concern for the planet's health is what first made Magda switch to a plant based diet. She uses Earth Day to get people to think about their impact on the planet.

What is one thing that we can do to start reducing our carbon footprint and take care of Mother Earth? "Three simple words: Eat More Plants. The more plants you eat, the less meat you eat, and the lighter your footprint on the planet." Thanks to documentaries such as Cowspiracy (if you've not seen this, we highly recommend it!), more and more people are becoming aware of the destructive impact of intensive agriculture. The word is getting out! Going vegan is not just good for the body, it's good for the planet too.

Magda talked us through just some of the factors that make intensive animal farming so detrimental to Mother Earth:

• Climate change: animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change, which is the biggest threat to human survival. The methane from the cows and the deforestation of the rainforest for cattle grazing are the two main factors at play. And grass fed cows are just as guilty, if not more—they produce 40-60% more methane!
• Overfishing: in 90% of the oceans, big fish are gone. We're fishing at unsustainable rates and the ocean simply isn't replenishing. What's more, for every pound of seafood, there are 5 pounds of bi-kill (whales, dolphins, sea turtles, endangered species that are caught in the nets at the same time).
• Pollution: toxic waste from animal farms leeches into the soil and contaminates ground water. We were shocked by showing animal feces being sprayed into the environment.
• Species extinction through habitat destruction: a perfect example is the cute koala, which will be extinct by 2030 because its home is being cleared out to make space for… grass fed cattle! A great film to watch is Racing Extinction by Louie Psihoyos.
• Amazon rainforest destruction: the lungs of the planet are being destroyed at the crazy rate of an acre a second! 91% of the Amazon has been decimated for animal agriculture.
• Fresh water: it takes 2500-5000 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef. 50% of the water in the US is used for animal agriculture. Is that a sustainable practice on a planet plagued with drought? We don't think so!! Especially when a pound of quinoa, rice, greens or hemp can be produced using under 150 gallons of water.

We are facing a frightening situation, and yet if everyone switched to a plant-based diet, Mother Earth would regenerate itself. "Our personal choices are actually really powerful", says Magda. The more people are inspired to eat more plants and less animals, the faster the world can heal.

Magda's six-week program Conscious Eating 101 contains all the resources you need to start loving both yourself and Mother Earth. With recipes, videos, homework and books you can deepen your knowledge and transition into a healthier plant based diet. Be part of the solution. Honor Mother Earth and eat more plants!

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