๐๐๐ฎ Eating Less Meat: Its Importance and Benefits ๐๐๐ฎ
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With more people becoming vegan people often wonder if eating no meat is truly the better and healthier option. While meat is rich in protein and vitamin B12, it is also high in unsaturated fats and cholesterol which can lead to many life-threatening diseases.
Do we all have to become a 100% vegan to protect our health? The answer is no. But many of us, however, drastically need to reduce their meat intake while making sure animal products come from a reliable, organic source to avoid hormones, antibiotics, and animal cruelty.
We have been flexitarians or semi-vegetarians for many years and we felt great. Since September 2017, however, we decided to try a 99 percent plant-based diet (wild Cambodian hiney, occasional egg, and homemade cultured yogurt are our exceptions) and we feel great.
Though this doesnโt mean you have to do the same. Meat coming from healthy sources with minimal processing steps can be part of a healthy diet. Avoid meat coming from big meat farms and deli meats. They are the worst kind.
Whether you choose to be a flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan, reducing your meat consumption will definitely benefit your whole body and hereโs why....
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1 Lowers blood pressure
Multiple studies have shown that dramatically reducing or eliminating meat helps to keep your blood pressure under control. Plant-based munchers generally have a lower and healthier blood pressure than people who eat a lot of meat.
2 Reduces the risk of colon cancer
High consumption of red and processed meat (deli meats) has been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer due to the high amounts of unhealthy fats and hormones as well as the way it is being processed or cooked.
3 Lowers the risk of overweight, obesity, and diabetes type II
Meat consumption has been linked to obesity and overweight since it is rich in fats and cholesterol. People who eat more vegetables and fruits usually have no issues to maintain their weight.
Furthermore, researchers found that eating less meat would reduce the risk of developing diabetes type II as it is closely related to being overweight or obese.
4 Healthy, glowing skin
Packed with water and antioxidants, fresh produce keeps your skin toned, hydrated, and smooth. People who eat a lot of meat and processed foods are more prone to develop acne, wrinkles, and other skin issues.
5 Reduces the risk of cardiovascular issues
Meat and other animal products contain a lot of saturated fat and cholesterol. Both contribute to clogged arteries, heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases.
6 Improves longevity
According to some studies, people who are on a plant-based diet live longer compared to those who eat meat on a daily basis. Processed meat in particular, like deli meats, cooked ham, and hot dogs, contain nasty chemicals and toxins which are associated with many diseases such as heart failure and cancer.
7 Youโll get enough protein. No worries ;)
Our body uses protein to build and repair cells, tissues, and organs. Proteins play a vital role in the formation of many hormones. Though meat is an excellent source of complete protein (meaning it has all 9 essential amino acids our body can not make itself), there are so many better, nutrient-dense, plant-based foods out there to meet your daily needs. These include lentils, quinoa, chickpeas, to name a few.
8 Saves more money
Meat is one of the most expensive foods. Especially when you buy them organic. Which you should to avoid hormones, antibiotics, and other nasty chemicals. If you reduce your meat intake to 2 to 3 times a week, youโll save plenty of money which you can spend on high-quality organic foods.
9 Help save the Mother Earth
Meat production is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases and climate change. Dutch researchers predicted that universal veganism could reduce agriculture-related carbon emissions by 17%t, methane emissions by 24%, and nitrous oxide emissions by 21%t by 2050.
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Changing your eating habits will not only do your body a big favor but the planet as well. If you eat a lot of meat, โMeatless Mondayโsโ or โVegan before 6 pmโ are great initiatives to get you started.
And if you thought eating a plant-based diet is boring and tasteless, think again. There are so many yummy and easy recipes out there. Itโs up to you to experiment with those new flavors and textures. Check out my blog or other vegan or vegan-enthusiastic cooks here on steemit. There are plenty to get your inspiration from!
Thanks for reading and until next time!
ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL!
PICTURE(s) TAKEN WITH NIKON D5600
Interesting article my dear! Am agree with you that the vegetarians more healthy than the others people which eat meat, we have to try to eat more vegetables because itโs the most important for our health.
If they don't fall for the vegan processed foods of course. I know some vegans that are the most unhealthy people. But you are right generally vegans are much healthier. Thanks for your comment!
So true @amy-goodrich - love this post, thank you for sharing
Thanks for the support!
So true! ๐
We are totally capable of being able survive without the need of meat, especially in modern day where we have alternative options on how we can provide ourselves with nutrients that would otherwise be missing from a plant-based diet; vitamin B12 for example.
As you have said @amy-goodrich, the meat we consume these days are very much highly processed and have been contaminated with toxins and have been given unhealthy amounts of steroids and hormone.
It is todays addiction to food and gluttony that is really the problem here. Realistically, we don't need that much food to live a healthy life.
But when we pair that with the conditioning that we have always been led to believe since we were young - that meat is important if we want to grow up strong, or that we need to it to avoid deficiency and sickness, or if we want to build strong muscles, we start to see how the combination of food addiction and gluttony adds to the increasing desire for more meat, and the fear of a completely plant-based diet. ๐
It will take time and effort to recondition ourselves, through education and trial-and-error to find a plat-based diet that works for us individually, but when we do this and succeed - everyone wins ๐
Amen. You are so right. We sure have been tricked by the food industry to eat more meat and processed foods. As you said we are eating too much. Our ancestors surely didn't have 3 meals a day. Currently, I am experimenting with fasting periods and loving it... more about that later ;). Thanks for your comment!
hey @immaturetimes <3 I just wanted to come in here and upvote your comment and say what a wonderful response! I completely agree with both you and Amy and I love that we can all come together here to inspire change. People just need to break the habit, it's nothing about nutrition. We can come together and start a huge change! This makes me so excited (PS veganism grew over 900% last year alone!) YAY! XO
I'm really glad that you agree @heart-to-heart ๐
I too am very excited about the future ๐ I can see that more and more people are starting to realise and feel the motivation to change for everyone's benefit. As you have said, it's nothing about nutrition (we can get this all with a plant-based diet, and then some from supplements), it's about the compassion and taking responsibility for our actions, as we as the human species have the most power and influence on this planet.
Your comment is very thoughful and inspiring, let's keep doing what's right and help others along the way ๐
Aww... this part really jerked my heart "it's about the compassion and taking responsibility for our actions, as we as the human species have the most power and influence on this planet."
Now we just need to come together, act as a collective community and spread the word, inspiring others to feel that way too. I say feel instead of think because it needs to come from the heart.
I love it :) Happy to be here with you @immaturetimes
yes i also agree with u , buddy . human intestine is much different from carnivorus animals intestine . if nature have decided to make humen to vegetarian then we should not oppose to nature , history is proof that who strike against the natue , nature discarded them , destroy them . so please follow the nature as much you can do
Let food be the medicine and medicine be the food - Hippocrates..... we should indeed return to mother earth to provide food, health and wealth.
i really like your post , please upvote and follow me
We could feed the world twice over just with the grain used to feed cattle in the meat industry. There is no reason for anyone to be starving anywhere if you ask me.
I know. Crazy right. When you drive around Belgium I was astonished to learn all the corn you see there is to feed cattle. Thanks for stopping by!
I haven't taken the leap hehe, but my wife and O decided to incorporate more vegetarian food for the meals of the week, reducing our meat intake... It's a small step :P
It is a huge step my friend. I am so proud. We lived as flexitarians for many years and thrived, though we even feel better now on a vegan diet! Big thumbs up for you and your wife!
maybe some day we'll become vegans haha or we could try vegan for a while at least
I was always used to eating a lot of meat up until I moved in with @things who was raised without meat and eggs. She eats meat now, however she prefers it not too much, which is totally fine. As I generally prepared out dinners we sometimes ate no meat at all as I was too lazy to prepare some meat separately. I really do think that reducing it helps, but I still love my occasional ribs, steak and burger!
Nothing wrong with that. Like you said reducing meat (and eliminating processed food) is good enough. Just make sure the meat comes from a reliable source. Thanks for stopping by!
Well, supermarkets is as far as we went, hehe. Probably not the most reliable source but getting it somewhere else was quite difficult.
Cheers to you!
interesting posts I like your posts. because your post can be an insight for me and users steemit .. post interesting .. thanks for you.
Thanks @zainuddinibrahim!
It's a supereducative post. I actually don't like nothing but chicken (I am not vegeterian) and I try to eat meat. But I don't enjoy it actually. I feel it's lack in my body so I have to change my habits. Now trying to find some new recepes with pork, for example.
If you don't enjoy eating meat why not try the vegan diet? Not only is it healthy but you'll enjoy it more while saving the animals and our planet. Have a great day!
I am actually doing my research, I am still thinking about. Thanks for your advice. :)
Nice post, eating less meat is the way to go will be following you! Hope you follow me we have similar points of view.
Thanks @mindfulfllife! I'll take a look at your posts ;)