Many of us grew up eating meat (dairy, fish, eggs, or beef) at least three times a day. So it is quite natural to not know or not to believe that meat is not as good for your health as you were brought up to believe. Not long ago, I didn't understand as well why eating meat is so bad. Until I did some research and found out that eating meat…
It’s linked to heart disease
It's true that some heart disease patients could be genetically predisposed to it. However, we still can alter the environment where those genes will live. We should actually be more aware of inherited eating habits.
What is heart disease?
Heart disease, also known as atherosclerosis, affects many people today. It is also known as the hardening of arteries, where a 'plaque' is formed inside the blood vessels, blocking the normal blood flow and causing injury to the endothelial lining of arteries.
What causes the plaque in the first place?
The western diet rich in meats, fish, dairy products, caffeine, sugar, and oils. Looking at cultures like the Okinawans which ate a plant-based diet predominantly, we see the connection, and why they did not have heart disease among them.
3 reasons animal products contribute to heart disease:
It decreases the production of nitric oxide, 'a gas which is the guardian and lifejacket of our blood vessels' - Dr. Esselstyn, CB Jr.
The bacteria from meat-eaters gut produce TMAO- trimethylamine, which in turn promotes injury in the blood vessels.
Increases cholesterol and fat, acting as pro-inflammatory agents. Which are not only causing blood vessel injury but also kidney failure in connection with diabetes (no wonder many people with diabetes develop heart disease).
It’s linked to obesity
High protein diets (especially from animal sources) are toxic, acid and mucus-forming. They burn and create inflammation in your tissues. When high protein diets are consumed over a period of time, the kidneys fail to filter and eliminate toxins properly. Therefore, animal foods highly affect the normal functioning of your Adrenal and Thyroid glands, responsible for weight management. To overcome this highly acidic environment, the body increases its natural anti-acid, cholesterol to fight it.
Not having our adrenal and thyroid glands functioning, puts us on the obesity, and worse, on the disease route.
Animal foods come with fat and cholesterol. They don't have fibre, so they won't help you during the digestion process. Animal foods deprive you of not only eating enough fibre but also from all the essential nutrients that come from a plant-based diet, like antioxidants, astringents, vitamins, minerals, not to mention water, that keeps you highly hydrated.
It's bad for the environment
3 ways mass meat production affects our planet
According to one report, it takes about 15415 litres of water to produce one kilo of bovine meat. In which 98% accounts for the crops that feed the animal, and 2% for the water that cows drink. That's a lot of water!
• Land Footprint
Another aspect is, it takes much more land to grow crops for feeding the animals than to feed people.
The ruminant's manure (poop) decomposition contaminates the soil, water, and air, potentializing the release of gases like methane and nitrous oxide from extreme amounts of pesticides and fertilizers used on crops. Carbon dioxide release is also released due to the deforestation for cropland use. As a result, the environment and human health are affected.
Do you want to learn more about foods that are beneficial for your body, and want to improve your diet? Join the Grow Community, a space for women who are interested in learning about food, nutrition and lifestyle routines that will give them more energy, promote self-love and contribute to their overall health. There you will find tutorials, recipes, shopping lists, you will have a monthly live group coaching session with me and much more.
And if you are willing to take a further step towards a more balanced diet, to clean your body from toxins and refresh your health so that you can feel stronger, more energetic and happier, take a look at my detoxification program.
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