Western diets center around meat, but here are eight reasons you will want to change what you put on your plate.
1. Humans Are Vegetarian By Design
Did you know our biological make-up is like that of other herbivores? Our intestines are very long, and our hands are perfect for gathering fruits and vegetables: they don’t have sharp claws that can grab and hold onto prey. On the other hand, natural carnivores have short intestines that quickly digest their diet of rotting flesh. Unlike us, they also have the instinct to chase animals, kill them, and eat their raw carcasses. (If you are experiencing this instinct, please consider seeing a professional.)
2. Reduce Global Warming, And Conserve Water And Fossil Fuels
You might have heard of this guy: Albert Einstein. He said, “Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” The real step in preserving the earth isn’t changing to energy-efficient light bulbs or taking five minute showers. According to the US government, it can take as much as 18,000 gallons of water to produce enough meat for a one-third pound hamburger. In addition, about 75% of deforestation is due to industrialized livestock. You can reduce your carbon footprint easily by reducing your meat consumption.
3. Lose Both Acne And Extra Weight
Acne is shown to be an effect of high-calorie, high-glycemic, high-fat diet and meat intake. That pesky bump on your chin is also a sign that you’ve done something that your body didn’t like. In a study at the University of South Carolina, a group of people were given healthy diets that ranged from vegan to omnivore. The vegans, vegetarians, pesco-vegetarians, and semi-vegetarians all lost more weight than the omnivores did, with the vegans losing about 7.5% of their body weight. However, if you do decide to go vegan, make sure you keep up your protein intake with food items like nuts to keep you energized.
4. Prevent Cancer And Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Disease
In his book titled The Power of Your Plate, Dr. Neal Barnard writes that “meat eaters have a higher incidence of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other problems.” Stepping away from a heavily meat-based diet could potentially save your life. New studies show that consuming beef, bacon, and lamb can trigger a chemical reaction inside your body. In addition, the high levels of fat in meat will begin to clog your arteries, making it harder for your heart to circulate blood.
5. Improve Your Mood
A study in "Nutrition Journal" had 39 meat-eaters change their diets to either a vegetarian diet, a meat-based diet, or a meat-and-fish-based diet. After only two weeks, guess who scored noticeably better on mood and stress tests? The tests measured depression, anxiety, and stress, and the vegetarians scored much better than the people with meat-based diets did.
6. Save Money
Typically, the produce section will have you leaving the grocery store with more money left in your bank account than if you spent the majority of your time with the butcher. To my fellow broke college students: think about the extra money you’ll have left over if you skip the bacon and the steak.
7. Think About Their Cute Faces
Paul McCartney once said, “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” I actually don’t want to write about the horrors that happen inside slaughterhouses. If you are so inclined, feel free to research this yourself. However, be forewarned of the possibility of seeing footless or beakless chickens (at the very least.)
8. Free Guac, Duh
Um, hello. You probably already know this, but if you opt out of meat in your Chipotle burrito, you get FREE GUACAMOLE!! Enough said, honestly.
You shouldn’t feel ashamed about craving that Double-Double from In N’ Out. It’s been years, and I still get the impulse to bite into one. But I feel so much better since I’ve changed my diet. If you feel like trying something new, challenge yourself to stop eating meat, and see how different you feel after a few weeks.
