4 Great Reasons To Eat Less Meat

The desire to eat less meat is far from a foreign concept in today's society. In fact, a third of Britons have now made an effort to reduce their intake, and the government seems to be in favour of this switch, too; as a report released earlier this year claimed that we should all be cutting meat and dairy intake by a fifth to combat climate change.

Reducetarians or flexitarians are groups of people who are committed to reducing their consumption of animal products. These diets promote the idea that it's not an all or nothing approach, which means you can reduce as little or as much as you want. For some, these diets are more realistic than cutting out animal products altogether, and that's totally okay!

So without further ado, here are just a few of the many reasons why eating less meat is a great idea.

All it takes is a quick Google to find that most energy-boosting foods come from plants, such as oatmeal, apples, and nuts. Plant foods are bursting with nutrients, and they're also easier for your body to digest (whereas meat takes a long time to digest and makes your body work harder while doing it).

B vitamins play a vital role in converting food into energy. So anyone eating less meat needs to make sure they're replacing animal products with items such as fortified breakfast cereals, milk, and other plant foods rich in B vitamins. 

It's undeniable that cutting down on meat products will help to reduce your shopping bill costs. In 2018, cutting down on meat saved British people more than £2.8bn! However, you will only save money if you substitute meat for whole foods, as opposed to processed convenience foods. The most cost-effective diet that you can follow is one that's rich in plants!

The negative impact of the meat industry on the environment has dominated the news in recent years, with good reason. Humanity is facing a horrific climate crisis, and it's going to take more than recycling and saving household energy to combat it.

Animal agriculture emits a considerable amount of greenhouse gases, is responsible for deforestation in vital rainforests, and water pollution around the globe. This means, in order to feed the earth's burgeoning population, a more sustainable food system needs to be put in place. The less meat we eat, the more people we can feed. 

At least 200 species of large animals are decreasing in number, and more than 150 are under threat. New research suggests that our meat consumption habits are to blame. Maintaining the biodiversity of life on earth is an essential part of keeping our home healthy, as every single living thing (no matter how small) has its own role to play. So by eating less meat, not only are you saving farm animals from being slaughtered, but you are indirectly saving other animals from the threat of extinction, too.

Red and processed meats have been linked to a higher risk of certain serious illnesses, such as diabetes and cancers, whereas, a plant-based diet has been linked to a lower risk of these diseases. Therefore, following a diet that's rich in fruit and vegetables but low in meat will improve your cholesterol levels and help you maintain a healthy weight - two factors that are certainly important in regards to warding off disease.