Another year later, how has the plant-based diet fared in Calgary, Alberta?

Short answer: not very well.

Alberta continues to see pushback on a whole-food, plant-based diet, despite new studies confirming the health benefits of the diet. Danielle Smith not only managed to introduce a $200 annual tax on electronic vehicles in Alberta, but even with the moratoriam on renewable energy ending, she has introduced strict guidelines on where Albertans can install renewables -- basically nowhere. Why? She said that "EVs [weigh down] on Alberta roads", but journalists suggest she has oil and gas companies in her pockets.

The pushback continues to rage on in social media, in platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X -- often driven and led by members of the Alberta Beef Association and our lovely premier, Danielle Smith. To add fire to the flames, Alberta beef consumption has actually increased in the past 3 months, driving sales.

We could chalk all this down to social media, but as with all politics, the situation is a lot more complex and nuanced; on one side, we have the social media advocates promoting "keto" diets like Dr. Berg. A lof of these scientists claim that a diet high in animal fats, specifically beef, leads to increased longevity. Dr. Berg, for example, pushes this invalidated science on his YouTube channel.

However, PlantChompers published a debunking video, which goes over the nutrition science, drawing attention to the fact that Dr. Berg's evidence is purely anecdotal.

The video reveals some fascinating new findings in the plant-based community:

  • Fish is actually better for you (even when cooked) than beef or poultry due to the omega 3 fatty acids which help keep fish warm in cold water. Fish, particularly cold-water fish like salmon, contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, but chemical pollutants like PFAS pose a growing health concern, especially in freshwater fish. Interestigly, however, Havard studies indicate that fish from North America (particularly from the Atlantic) have much more PFAs.
  • Beef today is much less healthy for you than beef 30-40 years ago due to the selective breeding of cattle to promote marbling (fat striations and higher fat content)
  • Beef production significantly impacts the environment:
    Eliminating beef could reduce agriculture's land use by 50% (from 4 billion to 2 billion hectares)
  • 80% of Amazon deforestation stems from beef production
    Beef accounts for about 50% of water use in the 19 southwestern U.S. states
  • Landmark epidemiological studies link animal foods, particularly beef, to chronic diseases
  • The Seven Countries Study found an 8-fold difference in heart attack rates between cohorts with the lowest (Japan) and highest (Eastern Finland) saturated fat intake
  • The Adventist Health Study revealed vegans had the lowest rates of diabetes, followed by lacto-vegetarians and non-vegetarians who ate meat twice per week
  • Modern beef contains much more fat compared to the past:
    Wild animals typically have 15% fat, while modern beef cattle have been bred to have up to 64% fat in their meat (e.g., McDonald's hamburger patties)
  • This higher fat content increases the caloric density of beef (9 calories per gram of fat vs. 4 calories per gram of protein)
    Plant-based diets offer health benefits, but some risks exist:
  • About 20% of Americans over 65 have B12 deficiency regardless of diet due to reduced absorption

No surprise here: another study confirmed that a diet of 90-95% whole plant foods appears optimal for longevity based on the available scientific evidence. The problem? Following a whole-food, plant-based diet is really hard -- especially when everyone around you eats refined carbs and animal products high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol.

But really, why does any of this matter when Alberta animal product consumption only continues to increase?

It probably doesn't. We can't expect to change anything here, but this certainly all begs the question: why do Albertans seem to hate a plant-based diet?

Why Does Alberta Dislike a Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet?

I did some research into this, and I have some suggestions, but no concrete answers:

  • Alberta beef industry. A large section of Alberta's revenue, valued at $11.6 billion CAD as of 2020, comes from beef. Danielle Smith, along with the unreliable first-past-the-post voting system, make it clear that Alberta does not like change -- especially when it comes to reducing fossil fuel emission or promoting a plant-based diet.
  • Corrupt politicians. With such a financially motivated industry, the beef industry incentivizes politicians, such as Premier Danielle Smith, to engage in promotional activities, evangalizing beef consumption (March 2, 2024). Not only that, but our lovely premier has even gone on record to claim that she will "double meat consumption [moving forward]".
  • Job Loss. What about all those farmers who would lose their jobs? We have always eaten beef, and in this housing crisis, do we really want to deny them financial stability?
  • Climate Change Deniers. Unfortunately, despite Alberta's literacy rates increasing, the advent of social media and platforms like TikTok (set to be banned outright in the US) causes students to reinforce their beliefs through post engagement with ideas that may have no scientific backing

I venture that tradition plays an even bigger part in this: we all know that Albertans don't like change. Of course, this is just my opinion, living in a province that prides itself in environmentally unsustainable oil and gas production. Albertans simply don't know or care about plant-based alternatives. The fall of Nabiti goning out of business indicates this — evan after striking a lucrative deal with Costco. Even with investors and funding, the plant-based meat alternative failed and went of out of business.

Calgary Vegan and Plant-Based Events

Perhaps, however, there is some light at the end of tunnel. While A&W continues to offer their Beyond Meat buger combo on sale at $8.99 (not exactly whole-food, plant-based, and must be ordered without cheese and mayo), a new Bubble Tea restaurant on McLeod trail, Calgary, opened offering vegan plant mylk substitutes on all bubble tea menu items.

And even though the Calgary plant-based community is very small, vegan activism seems to get more attention to the matter (though not focusing on the environmental side which, in my opinion, deserves far more attention in a province which favours fossil fuel emissions and even bans nuclear energy):

So yeah: the outlook for a whole-food, plant-based diet looks grim for Alberta, especially with our wonderful premier Danielle Smith in power. Don't expect things to improve. If you want to follow a sustainable diet that empowers you to live longer, reduce your risk for coronary heart disease, your Alberta friends might hark on you. If you get an electronic vehicle and solar panels, expect higher fees and taxes. Don't expect change if you live in this province -- even if you cry out on X. Instead, do your thing, as every other Albertan does, claim your slice of the "American pie", including your white picket fence, your electric meter powered by oil and gas companies, and bask in the lower taxes. If you drive a motor vehicle, enjoy the lowered gas prices.

But a plant-based diet? In Alberta? There's a small group here, but other than that, you're on your own.