Why stop eating meat? You hear it more and more in the media and around you: many people go vegetarian, even vegan (no products of animal origin). On the other hand, the advertisements continue to tout the meat as a delicious delicacy. So what about vegetarianism?
For a long time, vegetarians have been mocked, perceived as people who do not know how to enjoy good things. This is becoming less and less the case, as we discover the health benefits of a meatless diet. Here are some reasons to place yourself on the side of those who banish the meat from their plate:
1 - Preserving the environment
According to a study by the Smithsonian Institution, one shaves every minute the equivalent of 7 stadiums of forest football in order to make room for the billions of animals that we raise for our consumption. These generate tons of waste, many of which fail in rivers.
As for overfishing, there could be no fish in the oceans by 2048. We can imagine the consequences for marine life and the many ecosystems that depend on fish ...
2 - You have less risk of type 2 diabetes
The United States is the second largest consumer of meat in the world. At the same time, we know that 40% of Americans are pre-diabetic. Simple coincidence?
Several studies have shown that consuming meat more than doubles the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, a vegetarian diet helps keep several causes of diabetes, including weight and cholesterol, under control.
3 - You consume the right proteins
Many people are afraid to run out of protein if they stop eating meat. This is true if they do not take into account plant proteins. But conversely, consuming a lot of animal proteins exposes them to the risk of having too much, which causes health problems. Indeed, excess protein turns into fat, causing cardiovascular and cancer problems.
The solution is to adopt a balanced vegetarian diet. By eating foods such as pumpkin seeds, spirulina, walnuts, chickpeas, quinoa, oatmeal, dried beans and almonds, you will consume a quantity of protein equivalent to 10% of your Calorie intake, the ideal amount.
4 - You reduce inflammation
If you eat a lot of meat, you cause inflammation throughout your body, which can cause a heart attack, stroke or arthritis.
By not consuming it, you reduce your reactive protein C levels, those that appear in your blood in case of inflammation.
5 - Your bad cholesterol level drops
Processed meats (hot dogs, hamburgers ...) are stuffed with saturated fats. By eating a lot, you are skyrocketing your LDL cholesterol, increasing your risk of heart disease and cancer.
Adopting a vegetarian diet lowers your bad cholesterol level and keeps you healthy.
6 - You are serving your intestine
It is not for nothing that we speak of the intestines as a "second brain". Indeed, they contain a network of neurons that even affect the mood. Eating meat and dairy products in large quantities, affect this organ and can even cause very painful intestinal diseases and inflammations such as irritable bowel syndrome.
A study at Harvard University found that by opting for a herbal diet, you allow your intestines to regain a healthy balance, not to mention that eating less meat results in less acidity in the body.
7 - Improve your DNA
Research has shown that the vegetarian diet significantly reduces the expression of cancer genes. In addition, it extends the telomeres of your DNA chromosomes, which in principle shorten as you get older.
You will live older
Thanks to its many health benefits, a vegetarian diet will allow you to live 6 to 9 years more.
Do you want to become a vegetarian and do not know how to do it?
Tip: Go ahead gradually. In the beginning, reduce your meat intake once or twice a week. Obviously, try to choose local, organic and hormone-free meat. Keep this diet for a few weeks. Then, go to once a week for a while, before you stop completely.