Summer is just beginning, and where I’m from that means barbeques. Grilled chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, baby back ribs, marinated steaks, kebobs. The list of grilled meats is almost as long as the grocery checkout line the day before the 4th of July. But while a meat-heavy cookout may be an American staple, it certainly doesn’t do your health any favors. Here are 3 major reasons you may want to stop eating meat this summer.
3 Reasons You Might Want to Stop Eating Meat
Plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular. But even with all the vegetarians and vegans of the world, meat-eaters still seem to make up the majority. If more people became aware of these 3 points, I’m betting the tables would turn and be filled with more veggies and fewer steaks.
1. You Reduce the Risk for Heart Disease
You may love meat with all your heart, but are you willing to actually give up your heart for it? Even as little as 8 ounces of meat a day for just one month can substantially raise the level of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in your blood. TMAO is a dietary byproduct linked to a higher risk of heart disease. So basically, two quarter-pound beef patties a day could put your heart in serious trouble. I know plenty of people who eat more than that at the neighborhood potluck. (1)
But in the same way that meat (specifically red and processed meat) could increase your risk of heart failure, a plant-based diet could decrease it. Getting your fair share of fruits and vegetables can be extremely beneficial for your heart. Do your heart a favor and switch your steak knife out for a salad fork. (2)
2. Your Chances of Type 2 Diabetes Go Down
Meat can also increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers are constantly evaluating how meat consumption affects diabetes, and the results are always the same. The more you eat meat, the more you are in danger of developing the disease. (3, 4)
On the other hand, plant-based diets have been shown to decrease your risk for diabetes. A plant-based diet has the potential to positively affect your weight and HbA1c levels (blood glucose levels over 2 or 3 months). In turn, your chances for diabetes become much less. (5, 6)
3. Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation is your body’s way of attempting to protect against potential health threats. But, ironically enough, having constant inflammation can prove a health threat in and of itself. And, as you’ve probably guessed by now, meat is a common contributor to inflammation in the body. (7, 8)
Once again a plant-based diet comes to the rescue with anti-inflammatory benefits. Focusing your diet away from meats and instead on plants such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts has the potential to keep inflammation at bay. Medical professionals highly recommend plant-based diets for inflammation, especially if you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. (9, 10)
Stop Eating Meat This Summer
The summer season may be a difficult time to stop eating meat. Especially when it seems like every special occasion includes a cook-off of some sort. But if you’re new to the plant-based diet, try starting with small steps. Shoot for at least 2 servings of fruit per day. Add a veggie side-dish to every lunch and dinner. Start reducing your meat intake to once or twice a week. Before you know it, you’ll be living your best life as a devoted and healthy vegetarian!
