Before a few months ago, I would always say that I would never, EVER give up meat. I grew up eating some type of meat at every meal and loved it. Don’t get me wrong, I still do love meat (red meat especially), but something clicked in me one day and I started watching documentaries and videos about being vegetarian/vegan, the animal industry, and things of that nature. No one tried to force it in my brain or tried to persuade me, it just happened. As you may know, judging from this blog, I live a pretty healthy lifestyle and eat well to begin with, but I want to take my health to the next level and I think eliminating meat will definitely do that. I’ve started to eat less and less meat and soon will eliminate it completely. I’ll continue to eat fish and seafood, becoming a Pescatarian. I won’t say goodbye to my beloved sushi just yet! Side note: Some friends and I went to a Brazilian Steakhouse this past weekend and my body did not agree with the meat I consumed at ALL.

Like before a lot of things I do, I did some major research before legitimately deciding on the switch and boy, did I learn a lot! Disclaimer: The point of the post is not to try and persuade you to give up meat as well or to push my views on you, but to share my experience and why I made the choice. Here are some of the things I learned about animal agriculture and the benefits of not consuming meat.

It contributes to world hunger. The majority of crops grown worldwide go towards feeding livestock, not people.

I want more energy and better skin! Animal products clog arteries, zap your energy and slows down your immune system. A lot of people that I’ve read about or seen videos of have said that eliminating meat from their diets have made them feel more energized and has made a significant difference in how their skin looks and feels. I also get sick easily and often, so I’m hoping this will boost my immune system. Lord knows I need it!

Animal agriculture has a huge impact on the health of our planet & its inhabitants. It is extremely destructive to the planet as it is the single largest contributor of gas emissions. It is estimated to produce more greenhouse gases than the whole transportation industry combined! Lowering meat intake can have a huge impact on climate change. It is also the leading cause of land and water use, deforestation and species extinction. 2,000 gallons of water is needed to produce just 1 pound of beef! 

But, I NEED to eat meat for protein!! False. Did you know that broccoli actually contains more protein than beef? That and a lot of other plant-based foods! The average omnivore consumes 1.5 times the optimal amount of protein, mainly from animal products. Many people don’t think this would be a bad thing, but excess protein doesn’t make us stronger or leaner, it just stores as fat in our bodies or turns in to waste – which leads me to my next fact.

Animal protein is a major cause of weight gain, heart disease (leading killer in the US), diabetes, inflammation and cancer. Protein from whole plant foods protects us from many chronic diseases. Plants are naturally anti-inflammatory because they are high in fiber and antioxidants. Saturated fat found in animal products is a major driver in rising cholesterol levels, which is a key risk factor for heart disease. Animal protein impairs the way insulin functions, so eliminating it form your diet can dramatically lessen your chances of getting diabetes, especially by eating whole plant foods instead. This includes whole grain carbs, since they are highly protective against diabetes! Yes, good carbs!

Raise my chances at living a longer life. Studies show that people who consume saturated fat found in animals have a shorter life span and more disabilities at the end of their lives.

Besides all of the health benefits for myself and the planet, I just love animals! The more I think about it, the more it makes me sad to say how much I love animals (dogs, cows, pigs, whatever) and express how cute they are, but end up eating them. I get sad when I see an animal getting abused, but I still eat them? Especially when they’re coming from those inhumane slaughterhouses? That just doesn’t sit right with me.