Ditching eating meat and opting for a vegetarian or all-out Vegan way of life has become more popular in recent years. The trend only appears to be heading upward. Omnivores eat meat and other animal-derived products. Vegetarians forego the meat but will consume eggs, milk, and other products that come from an animal. Vegans eat no animal products whatsoever.
So, what actually happens to your body when you give up meat and opt for a vegetarian or Vegan diet?
Goodbye Excess Weight
For starters, you will most likely lose weight. This weight will usually come off without you even trying. A study done at George Washington University revealed that those who pushed meat out of their diets lost about ten pounds on average without any effort. The only change was the lack of meat. They did not count calories or increase their physical activity in any way.
Healthy Gut
Giving up eating meat also has an impact on your digestion. A study conducted in 2014 revealed that there was a different level of gut bacteria in omnivores compared to Vegans or vegetarians. The largest differences were found between omnivores and Vegans, since they do not eat any animal products at all. Vegans were found to have a more protective species of bacteria in their guts.
Nutrient Deprived
One downside to those who don’t consume meat is that they may not be getting enough nutrients. It is important to have balanced nutrition. For a vegetarian or Vegan, it is difficult to intake enough iron, Vitamin D, or Vitamin B12, since these are naturally found in meat and not as densely offered in vegetables or fruit alone. While it is possible to get the required nutrients as a vegetarian or Vegan, it will require more thoughtful dietary planning to include foods such as beans, lentils, nuts, dark green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, or cereal that is enriched with iron, Vitamin D, and B12.
Lowers Cancer Risk
Processed meats have been labeled as a possible carcinogen. So, giving up meats like bacon or salami will reduce your risk of developing cancer. Higher intakes of especially red meat has been linked to higher risks of developing some form of cancer.
Lowers Heart Disease Risk
Red meat has also been linked to a higher risk of developing heart disease. So, giving up meat, especially red meat, will lower your risk. The carnitine in meat is what changes the gut microbe reaction to make you more likely to develop heart disease.
Bottom Line
Overall, the idea of giving up meat is generally a healthy one. That is, provided you are making sure you eat a balanced diet to ensure you are receiving all of the important nutrients you need for healthy living. If you can’t see yourself foregoing the animal protein in your diet, start by giving up red meat since a lot of the issues derived from eating meat is due to this type of meat. Obviously, if you are concerned about how giving up meat will impact your health, it is always a good idea to first talk about any dietary changes with your doctor before making any drastic decisions.