While you may have heard of the Meatless Mondays trend, the health benefits of this diet change speak for themselves. Consider adopting this weekly practice to reduce inflammation, save money, and live longer.
October 2021. This article is independently written by Shelby Golding. All opinions given are hers. Shelby has been certified as a personal trainer and nutritional specialist since 2007. In 2008, she found her passion for writing about these topics and hasn't looked back.
According to the USDA, the average American consumed 144 pounds of meat in 2017. Meanwhile, the recommended daily intake is about a pound a week. That means that the average American consumed nearly three times as much meat as is recommended for a healthy, balanced diet. (This recommendation completely excludes processed meats, such as spam, hot dogs, deli meats, beef jerky, and anything you would purchase from fast-food restaurants and large-scale restaurant chains.)
Thankfully, you don't have to give up meat completely to start reaping the benefits of a meatless diet. Meatless Mondays are a trend in the health and wellness sphere, but what are the benefits? If you are going to give up meat for a day, you should know why you are doing it.
Less Disease
The first, and most compelling reason, to give up meat one day a week is to decrease your risk of developing a life-threatening disease. In particular, red meat has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and death.
Many of the studies that link the two are looking at the effects of processed red meat. Processed red meat usually contains a lot of trans fats created during manufacturing through the process of hydrogenation. Trans fats change meat's texture, consistency, and shelf life, but most nutritionists agree no amount is safe for consumption.
Many of the studies that link the two are looking at the effects of processed red meat. Processed red meat usually contains a lot of trans fats created during manufacturing through the process of hydrogenation. Trans fats change meat's texture, consistency, and shelf life, but most nutritionists agree no amount is safe for consumption.
Red and processed meats also contain saturated fats, which cause inflammation in the body.
Organic, grass-fed, locally raised beef has many health benefits and contains several essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and more. As long as consumption is limited, quality red meat can still be a healthy addition to your diet.
Lose Weight
The benefit of cutting out meat instead of going full vegetarian is that you do not have to change everything about how you eat. While meatless diets are often associated with weight loss, many new vegetarians and vegans require high-quality multivitamins to replace the essential amino acids that you get from beef, pork, and chicken.
Even a flexitarian (someone who is vegetarian most of the time but still occasionally eats meat and fish) can see weight loss benefits. This is a direct result of eating fewer trans and saturated fats- and replacing them with vegetables, fruits, and grains that are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Meatless Mondays are the first step toward flexitarianism.
Even a flexitarian (someone who is vegetarian most of the time but still occasionally eats meat and fish) can see weight loss benefits. This is a direct result of eating fewer trans and saturated fats- and replacing them with vegetables, fruits, and grains that are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Meatless Mondays are the first step toward flexitarianism.
Save Money
Meat is often the most expensive part of any meal. According to the US Bureau of Labor, the average American spent almost $1000 on meat (beef in particular) in 2018. That’s an average of $20 a week! And that doesn’t count the money spent on food outside the home. According to a 2019 survey, a third of participants said that they always eat meat when dining out.
Vegetables, by comparison, are dirt cheap. While a pound of red meat costs about $4.50 on average, the average pound of spinach costs about $3. Save a little cash by making a few of your meals vegetarian.
Live Longer
Not only does eating less meat decrease your risk of developing a life-threatening disease, but it also increases longevity. A Finnish study that looked at 2,641 men over 22 years found that those with a higher ratio of meat to vegetables in their diet had a higher mortality rate. The study ruled out protein in general, noting that the proteins in fish, eggs, dairy food, and plants had no noticeable effect on mortality rate.
While definitive evidence has yet to be discovered, many studies show a correlation between vegetarian/vegan diets and longer, healthier lives. One such study suggests that people with a meatless diet live longer on average, and men seem to benefit from the change more than women.
While definitive evidence has yet to be discovered, many studies show a correlation between vegetarian/vegan diets and longer, healthier lives. One such study suggests that people with a meatless diet live longer on average, and men seem to benefit from the change more than women.
Save The Planet
Last but not least, Meatless Mondays are better for the planet. Red meat consumption is awful for the environment and is a significant contributor to climate change. Livestock production contributes to the accumulation of harmful greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and affects water pollution and scarcity.
Our meat-heavy diets contribute more carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere than transportation and industry. Methane is produced in large amounts by the ruminant digestive process of cows and sheep (due to their four stomachs). It is also 34 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.
Our meat-heavy diets contribute more carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere than transportation and industry. Methane is produced in large amounts by the ruminant digestive process of cows and sheep (due to their four stomachs). It is also 34 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.
Everything in Moderation
While eating some meat (both red and white) is beneficial, multiple studies have shown that eating any processed meat is bad for your overall health. So, try Meatless Mondays and become conscious of your meat consumption. You never know, you may feel so good that you want to continue through the rest of the week!
Always consult your physician before making any changes to your current diet.
And don’t forget to use your Kailo pain patch as you fine-tune your health! Patients report near-instant pain relief, and pain management experts theorize that Kailo works with your body’s natural electrical systems to communicate with your brain. Try it and see the results for yourself!
Sources:
https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2019/december/us-per-capita-availability-of-red-meat-poultry-and-seafood-on-the-rise/
https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/limit-red-and-processed-meat/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-red-meat-bad-for-you-or-good#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26143683/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26138004/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1029664/interest-in-eating-meat-in-restaurants/
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/109/5/1462/5435773?login=true
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4191896/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7256495/
Always consult your physician before making any changes to your current diet.
And don’t forget to use your Kailo pain patch as you fine-tune your health! Patients report near-instant pain relief, and pain management experts theorize that Kailo works with your body’s natural electrical systems to communicate with your brain. Try it and see the results for yourself!
Sources:
https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2019/december/us-per-capita-availability-of-red-meat-poultry-and-seafood-on-the-rise/
https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/limit-red-and-processed-meat/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-red-meat-bad-for-you-or-good#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26143683/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26138004/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1029664/interest-in-eating-meat-in-restaurants/
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/109/5/1462/5435773?login=true
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4191896/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7256495/
