10 Reasons Not to Eat Meat in for Health and Environment

For someone who loves to eat meat, ‘vegan’ and ‘vegetarian’ are nothing but fancy terms. Most meat eaters are either unaware or turn a blind eye w.r.t the environmental and health problems that follow. If you read these top 10 reasons not to eat meat, you might end up swapping your favorite steak for a nutritious vegan salad.

Is it a good idea to quit meat?

There’s a never-ending debate between meat eaters and vegetarians over the consumption of meat. Even if you are a foodie whose life revolves around chicken and mutton delicacies, the thought of quitting meat must have occurred to you once or twice.

Irrespective of your reasons to continue having meat, knowing how it can ruin your health on a deeper level is mandatory. So, this article explains in detail 10 reasons not to eat meat.

You may choose to enjoy meat even after going through these reasons. But you will have complete awareness and I’d know I did my best to explain.

So, why is it high time that you think twice before sticking to your meat-based diet? Let’s find out!

Health reasons

Many of us have an illusion that having different kinds of meat is great for human health.

While meat is rich in protein, you can get your daily dose of protein from several vegetarian options. The best part about those veg items is that they won’t harm your health.

Naturally, the biggest selling point for a no-meat diet is that your body will benefit profoundly. Here’s how:

1. Weight management

From teenagers to young adults to senior citizens – people of all age groups can be overweight. The best way to control weight gain is by being mindful of what you eat.

If you are struggling to lose weight, stopping yourself from savoring meat is the first thing you should do. Loaded with unhealthy fats, your delectable pork and mutton are making you gain weight.

Meat accumulation in the body ends up becoming plaque deposits. They may calcify, thus affecting bones and tissues. That explains why irrespective of working out at the gym, you aren’t able to lose significant weight.

Hence, dieticians advise people with obesity to adopt a veg-based diet regime containing plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

At the same time, you also need to limit the intake of meat to achieve the desired results. So, if you want to fit into your old jeans, you must learn to ignore pork chops, hamburgers, and bacon.

2. Improved heart health

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the largest causes of death in different parts of the world. The risks of developing a heart ailment are 50% higher in people who eat meat frequently.

Red meat, to be precise, is the biggest culprit here. The high content of saturated fat in red meat is bound to increase your cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol leads to high BP, strokes, and heart diseases.

Osteoporosis is another condition that you can prevent if you don’t have meat. So, when you don’t have meat, you are not doing any favor to others but yourself.

3. No transmission of foodborne infections

Microscopic contaminants like viruses, fungi, and bacteria often make us sick. Escherichia coli, for instance, can be responsible for abdominal cramps, kidney failure, and dehydration.

How can you be sure that the meat you eat is devoid of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli?

Like unpasteurized milk, cattle can also be responsible for transferring E. coli to your system. So, if you don’t want to be free from such danger, not eating meat can save your life.

4. Radiant and beautiful skin

One of the 10 reasons not to eat meat is also the fact that your skin will become youthful.

A vegetarian diet will make it mandatory for you to eat fiber regularly. These foods are incredible sources of antioxidants and can tackle a variety of dermal problems. Hence, your skin will be healthy and it will glow from the inside.

When you are not overweight, you have a strong immunity, and your cardiovascular system is in perfect condition – you have higher chances of living a long life.

It is also the reason why vegetarians outlive non-vegetarians and scientific studies have backed this theory.

5. Lower risks of several cancers

Did you know that bidding adieu to meat can also give you protection against various kinds of cancers? Cancer research institutes have collected valuable data that show how saying no to meat consumption is connected to lowered chances of developing cancers.

Wondering what types of cancers can you avoid by resisting meat?

Lymphatic, colon, hematopoietic tissue, and stomach cancers are some of them.

In addition to the diseases mentioned above, eating excess meat can also affect your immune system. If you search for foods that strengthen your immunity, most lists will recommend fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

That’s because these are the top immune stimulants.

Animal rights

People around the globe are switching to vegan diets to put an end to the suffering of animals. Animal rights activists opine that animal consumption is a cruel act as it involves subjecting helpless animals to the harshest living conditions and ultimately killing them.

Scroll down to enlighten yourself regarding the miserable lives of farm animals:

6. Animals go through pain

We humans are so fond of cats and dogs that pet them in our homes, cuddle them, look after them, and cannot imagine our lives without our adorable pets. Then how can we forget that like these animals, there are more living and breathing creatures who deserve to live.

Animals like cows and sheep are herd animals. They remain happy when they are together, but on farms, newborns are separated from their mothers. Separation from their families impacts their mental health until they are led to unfortunate circumstances.

Animals can neither express their grief nor complain about injustices. But they are sensitive and they feel pain. Do you still feel subjecting innocent lives to abuse is justified only to consume flesh?

7. Unimaginable living conditions

Have you ever visited a farm where livestock is reared? The feedlots on such farms are filthy and stinky places with suffocating air and open sewers.

The cages are tiny and so overcrowded that the animals can neither move around nor relax. The stables and stations are infested with insects and rodents and are the breeding grounds of harmful microbes.

Other than the substandard living conditions, farm owners also give growth stimulants to animals. Recombinant bovine growth hormone and oxytocin are two such stimulants that make farm animals grow quickly.

Excessive amounts of these artificial hormones make many animals obese and lame. They are even carcinogenic and thus consuming meat every day is indirectly making you sick.

If you see the brutality with your eyes, will you still be enjoying meat the same way? Or would choose vegetable sources of protein that can provide nutrition without torturing anybody?

So, if you give up meat, you can raise your voice against animal cruelty. Now when someone serves steak to you, will you pause for a moment to think that the palatable fish on your plate was once swimming free.

Millions of helpless animals are killed daily so that humans can enjoy yummy food. But there are thousands turning vegan every day. You too can join the tribe.

Environmental reasons

Unlike other types of diets, being vegan or vegetarian does not just reflect a person’s food habits.

It is an ideology, a lifestyle choice, and in today’s world – the most environment-friendly option.

Read along if you are intrigued to know how meat-eaters are impacting the environment.

8. Water conservation

You must have heard the popular quote that if a third world war takes place, it will be because of water scarcity. But what is the link between the unavailability of water and the consumption of meat?

Many people residing in different regions like deserts do not get enough water to drink and perform their daily chores. We need water to bathe, cook, wash clothes, and drink. Other than increasing population, livestock framing also requires a lot of water.

1/3^rd of the total water of the world goes into livestock farming. To produce one kilogram of wheat, the amount of water we will need 1,790 liters.

On the contrary, almost 1,790 x 5 liters of water is mandatory for producing 1 kg of beef. So, it goes beyond saying that meat production is a costly process.

Even if we keep aside the extensive misuse of this valuable resource, how can we ignore water pollution? Farmland waste gets dumped into the oceans, rivers, and seas. So, it has to be one of the 10 reasons not to eat meat.

9. Preserving the biodiversity

The global population is on the rise and meat eaters are escalating the problem. That’s because livestock rearing requires large areas of land. The higher the demand for meat, the more forests will be wiped out to make farms. The Amazon Rainforest fires were caused by farmers to make space for growing industrial animals.

Deforestation deprives wild animals of their natural habitat and many species have already become extinct. Presently, several rare species are on the verge of extinction.

If widespread deforestation does not stop, the loss of biodiversity is inevitable. Hence, the more meat we eat, the more our wildlife will suffer collateral damage from drought, deforestation, climate change, and pollution.

Similarly, fishing activities can also cause disruption in the marine ecosystem. Our oceans cannot sustain the never-ending appetite of the rising population. By eliminating fish and meat from our diets, we can help the ocean as well as the planet.

10. Reducing carbon footprint

You will be shocked to know that according to the UN, animal agriculture produces nearly 14-18% of the greenhouse gases. You might think it is a small figure, but it exceeds the greenhouse gases that vehicular emissions release.

Moreover, we also burn a lot of fossil fuel to produce and cook meat. The cooking time for vegetables is far less compared to the time taken by meat to get fully cooked.

There’s a famed journal named ‘Science’ which accumulated data from as many as 119 countries. The research revealed that livestock consumes 83% of the world’s farmlands. However, when it comes to giving back, they return only 18% as food calories.

Additionally, more than 50% of the GHC is produced by them. Ruminant livestock like cows and sheep can produce extreme amounts of methane. So, only if more people switch to vegan diets, our Earth will start to heal.

Are you ready to sacrifice relishing meat to save the planet?

Final thoughts

Lastly, there is no denying that consuming meat creates issues not just for the eaters but also for farm animals and the environment. Poor animals are slaughtered, the environment gets polluted, and ultimately, we all suffer.

So, will our 10 reasons not to eat meat serve as an eye-opener for you? Or is your love for non-vegetarian dishes too powerful to let you quit eating meat? We have shared all the side effects with you and now it’s for you to decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are cows vegetarian?

One has never seen a cow eating meat because they are herbivores. They thrive on hay, legumes, and grasses, and many cows also have juicy fruits as snacks. So, the staple food for a cow is a combination of hay and grass.

2. Why meat is bad for body?

As meat is high in saturated fat, it can have negative effects on your health. Daily consumption may raise your cholesterol levels and you may get coronary heart ailments. Meat can also weaken your immunity, cause stomach cancer and colon cancer, and increase your chances of developing type II diabetes.

3. Can we live without meat?

Although meat provides several nutrients, this does not mean meat is compulsory for your survival. With proper plant-based diets and some health supplements, you can ensure your body gets all the essential nutrients.