Red meat is one of the most consumed foods, but the effects it could have on the body are also overlooked. If it's a vegetarian turnaround or an urge to preserve the environment, when you say good-bye to red meat, the body responds in a very particular manner.
Here's all that happens to a person when he or she removes this food from the diet.
Your gut microbiome is going to thank you
Eating red meat allows the intestinal bacteria to develop TMAO (trimethylamine oxide). TMAO is very dangerous at elevated doses, as it can increase cholesterol intake, which also raises the risk of cardiovascular disease. That said, a study has shown that plant-based eaters do little to no TMAO after consuming a meat-containing meal because they have a distinct intestinal microbiota.
If you're concerned about your intestine hygiene, you'll be glad to hear that it only takes a couple of days for your intestinal bacteria to adjust once you've cut off animal products.
You'll protect your heart health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, largely due to our dietary habits. Red meat has been related to higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, so it's fair to assume that it's not the healthiest thing in your core.
For example, a study published in Nature Medicine showed that consuming red meat provides L-carnitine to bacteria living in the human intestine, and this stimulates the development of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). TMAO has been found to increase the hardening and thickening of the artery walls, which in turn causes heart attacks.
You're going to live longer
Seventh-Day Adventists seem to live many years longer than the national average, as this may have to do with the fact that they are non-meat eaters.
Harvard Medical School once reported that consuming untreated red meat increased the risk of dying prematurely by 13% while eating processed meat increased the risk by 20%.
Also, evidence has shown that plant-based diets tend to lengthen telomeres - caps at the end of chromosomes that help to keep DNA intact, allowing cells and tissue to mature more slowly.
You will protect the environment
It's not just your health that would benefit if you cut down on steak and cheeseburgers. You'll be glad to hear that you're going to do a big favor to the environment, too.
About 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture, and animal agriculture further leads to world hunger as the majority of crops cultivated worldwide feed animals rather than feed humans.
In short, even if you aren't already a vegetarian, cutting out some meat, especially red meat and large predatory fish, and eating lower on the food chain overall can help significantly lower your greenhouse gas emissions.
