02/04/2026
Q. Does Diet cause our own carbon footprint, as a human, to be larger? A: Yes. The food you eat, especially a diet heavy in red meat, can influence the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) you emit when you breathe due to how your body metabolizes different macronutrients. Here’s how this process works and how it may affect circulating endocannabinoids:
When you consume food, your body breaks it down into energy. This metabolism process involves using oxygen to burn the nutrients, and one of the byproducts of this process is carbon dioxide. The more energy your body needs to extract from food, the more CO₂ you produce and release through breathing.
Red meat and carbon emission: Red meat is rich in proteins and fats, which require more energy for digestion and metabolism than carbohydrates. Fat, in particular, is calorie-dense, so when you consume red meat, your body generates more CO₂ as it breaks down these fats and proteins.
The excess carbon dioxide produced from metabolizing red meat can create physiological imbalances that affect the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Here’s how excessive carbon interrupts circulating endocannabinoids:
When your body generates too much carbon dioxide, especially from a high-protein, high-fat diet, it can contribute to oxidative stress. This is a condition where there’s an imbalance between free radicals (reactive oxygen species) and antioxidants in the body. Oxidative stress can disrupt the signaling pathways of endocannabinoids like Anandamide (AEA) and 2-AG, which are crucial for maintaining ECS balance.
Endocannabinoid degradation: Oxidative stress can also increase the activity of enzymes such as FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) and MAGL (monoacylglycerol lipase), which break down endocannabinoids like AEA and 2-AG. When these enzymes are overly active, they can reduce the circulating levels of these crucial endocannabinoids, thereby disrupting the balance of the ECS. -Mike Robinson, The Researcher OG
