10 reasons to ‘almost’ become a vegetarian
There are so many reasons to become a vegetarian yet it is very difficult to completely give up meat. If like me you find old habits difficult to break here are some reasons to cut back on meat. And perhaps save enough money to have really good meat when you do break the healthy diet!
1. Reduce risk of Heart Disease & Cancer and live longer
No meat means no animal fat so much less saturated fat to clog up your arteries. Likewise consuming lots of fruit and vegetables means more anti oxidants to reduce the risk of some cancers. Red meat can take up to 3 days to digest and stick to the gut wall. Evidence proves that vegetarians tend to have a lower overall rate of cancer compared to the general population.
2. Lose excess weight and keep it off.
Vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index. A recent study found that BMI levels are lower in vegetarians of all age groups probably due to consumption of fibre-rich fruits and vegetables
3. Avoid toxins.
Meat often contains hormones, herbicides, pesticides, and antibiotics. As these toxins are all fat-soluble, they concentrate in the fatty flesh of the animals. Not to mention the viruses, bacteria and parasites such as salmonella, trichinella and other worms, and toxoplasmosis parasites. Yuck!
Very healthy mixed salad
4. Reduce Global Warming.
Livestock generate more greenhouse gases, such as methane, than all the cars and trucks in the world combined.
5. Save money
Vegetables and pulses are much cheaper than meat, even the cheap factory farmed rubbish.
6. Feed the world
Beef cattle require 8kg of grain to produce 1kg of meat. If current trends continue by 2050 there will be enough grain fed to animals that could instead feed 4 billion people, over half the world’s population
7. Animal welfare
The demand for cheap meat has meant the growth of factory farms and decreasing standards of animal welfare. We have all seen pictures of tortured pigs in crates and featherless chickens crammed in to vast sheds. Avoid the worry of not knowing whether the meat you are eating has lived a horrible life and might contain toxins and antibiotics!
8. Sleep better
The toxins and slow digestion of meat often causes fitful sleep.
9. Get the satisfaction cooking vegetarian cuisine.
Often the lack of meat means a bit more effort is required to find a vegetarian meal. However, with millions of recipes and videos meals can be tasty, fast, easy and extremely satisfying.
10. When you do have meat get quality
If you do have meat make sure it is the best. By switching to a mostly vegetarian diet you will have saved money and can afford high quality meat with vastly improved flavour and texture. It might also be high animal welfare, like free range or organic, dry hung, aged, and low in toxins.
So there you have it a healthier diet, longer life, better sleep and something to look forward to.
For the best meat and veg, of course, use our Local Food Map to buy direct and fresh from you local producers so you can find out about how the food has been grown or the animals looked after.