With the current statistics about how the meat industry has on the world around us. It has become increasingly more important to understand what we are eating and how this impacts on ourselves and the people around us. We are therefore pledging a #MeatFreeMarch.
The positive impacts that cutting meat has on our bodies include:
Reducing the possibility of developing type two diabetes. A study has show that by eating meat increasing your chances of diabetes by 74% (Singh, Lee, Haddad & Brinegar, 2008). Therefore the positive impacts of going without meat will help you towards a healthier lifestyle.
It can also has been identified that having a meat free diet can help with weight loss. Moreover, it has also been indicated that it can reduce the impact of heart disease and high blood pressure. By having these diets, it helps to use more complex carbohydrates therefore enable a more sustainable diet (Tusa, 2013, p62)
The positive impacts that cutting meat has on the environment include:
The impact of eating meat can also have a significant impact on our environment. Animal agriculture is responsible for impacting the world with 18% of the greenhouse gases which is larger than the transportation emissions, indicating impact this has on the environment (Steinfiled et al, 2006, xxi). With this, increasing population, increases the number of land need for agriculture, often leading to greater land use, and therefore deforestation. An example can be seen that 70% of the Amazon is now used for pastures (Steinfiled et al, 2006, xxi). This therefore shows the importance of going meat free.
These are a couple of alternatives which you can use during your #MeatFreeMarch:
- Replace meat with beans. Beans a full of protein that meat may normally provide, with this they work with a variety of meals from salads to soups
- Alternatively quinoa is a trend on the rise which provide a large amount of fibre and iron to name a few. This will allow to try something different which may be a long term alternative to meat.
(Laura Newcomer, 2013, https://greatist.com/health/7-alternative-proteins-meatless-mondays)
Steinfeld, H., Gerber, P., Wassenaar, T.D., Castel, V., Rosales, M., Rosales, M. and de Haan, C., 2006. Livestock’s long shadow: environmental issues and options. Food & Agriculture Org..
Tuso, P.J., Ismail, M.H., Ha, B.P. and Bartolotto, C., 2013. Nutritional update for physicians: plant-based diets. The Permanente Journal, 17(2), p.61.
Vang, A., Singh, P.N., Lee, J.W., Haddad, E.H. and Brinegar, C.H., 2008. Meats, processed meats, obesity, weight gain and occurrence of diabetes among adults: findings from Adventist Health Studies. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 52(2), pp.96-104.
