HEALTH
Acacia leaves benefits may include:
- hemorrhoid treatment (in the form of ointment)
- boost immunity (taken nasally)
Acacia leaves side effects may include:
- being non-edible (acacia leaves and stems)
- acacia flowers are edible (eat fresh within a few hours after picking)
Additionally, acacia leaves are…
ENVIRONMENT
Water footprint: Low, it takes 322 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of vegetables / 39 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of vegetables.
Carbon footprint: Low, it takes 1.6 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of vegetables, a car driving equivalent of 3.75 miles or 6 kilometers.
Destruction: Low, acaica leaves production is relatively sustainable, there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, be sure to buy non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Acacia leaves are…
- Sustainable
ANIMALS
Kills: none, acacia leaves production does not directly kill any animals
Harms: none, acacia leaves production does not require the usage of any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from acacia leaves production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Acacia leaves are…
LABORERS
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Acacia leaves…
- May have laborer issues and human rights concerns (depends on brand)
Can you eat acacia leaves?
No, acacia leaves are not edible. However, acacia leaves have other uses that are beneficial to human health.
acacia leaves are gluten free.
Are acacia leaves gluten free?
Yes, acacia leaves are naturally gluten free.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
acacia leaves are likely have a low water footprint.
Do acacia leaves have a high or low water footprint?
Acacia leaves likely have a low water footprint.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
acacia leaves likely have a low carbon footprint.
Do acacia leaves have a high or low carbon footprint?
Acacia leaves likely have a low carbon footprint.
When calculating product emissions, some factors that may be included are… farm equipment, animal feed production, hothouses (greenhouses), processing, packaging, transport, refrigeration, freezing, package waste, and more.
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping…
Shopping locally reduces transportation emissions.
Food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint.
Refrigerated and frozen foods increases carbon emissions.
Seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses).
Growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint.
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
acacia leaves are sustainable.
Overall, are acacia leaves eco friendly? Sustainable?
Acacia leaf production is relatively sustainable. There is no known significant damage as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
A 2010 United Nations report said that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world the worst impacts of climate change.
acacia leaves are vegan.
Are acacia leaves vegan?
Yes, acacia leaves are vegan. Acacia leaves are not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it vegan.
Animals of factory farms and the livestock industry are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. They’re also injected with growth hormones to become fatter faster and live short lives, being slaughtered as soon as they finish growing and are killed prematurely, well before their natural lifespan.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
acacia leaves may or may not have labor issues.
Are acacia leaves a product that has known labor issues? A
t this time, there are no known specific reports of worker mistreatment regarding acacia leaf farming but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Acacia leaves may or may not have labor issues.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Sadly, many labor concerns exist around the world in both developed and developing countries. We must be vigilant to ensure what we buy is not contributing to industries that are unfair to their valuable workers. Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Sources:
Australian Government: Acacia forest, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Vegan On Board: Acacia Flower Fritters
Gaia Herbs: Acacia Benefits, Uses and History
