In the first part of the article, we discussed the types of vegetarian diet and the environmental impact of meat production. Today, we will address the correlated topics of meat production and animal health and suffering.

"Diet w" and health

An aspect of vegetarian diets that often seems controversial is their impact on health. So let's start with the deficiencies that meat withdrawal can cause. This product is a rich source of protein, containing all nine amino acids that are essential for us. It also provides us with iron and zinc - elements without which our body would not be able to function. So, by eliminating meat from our diet, are we not putting ourselves at risk of malnutrition? The answer is quite simple - of course, if our diet is not balanced, we put ourselves at risk. However, for the most part, vegetarians do just fine in supplementing these ingredients. Excellent sources of protein are eggs, dairy or soya products. As far as iron is concerned, it is worth betting on tofu or spirulina, a type of algae available in larger shops, and zinc , on the other hand, can be found in beans and nuts, for example.

If we eat sensibly and take appropriate supplements (especially vitamin C, B12 and D), we need not worry about deficiencies. Instead, we can enjoy the benefits of reducing our meat intake. The main benefit is better heart health. For vegetarians, the likelihood of dying or being hospitalised for heart disease can be up to ⅓ less. Studies also show a reduced risk of cancer. A healthy 'diet in' also helps to prevent type 2 diabetes and lower blood pressure.

Animal suffering

While many of us imagine the lives of chickens, pigs and cows as peaceful and taking place on friendly, family farms, in most cases this is far from reality. What happens in many cases is more like a bad dream. Breeding on a mass and systemised scale often seems more profitable, which means that companies are willing to keep animals in very poor conditions. Many not-for-profit organisations document the conditions in which animals are raised, for an illustration of the situation we recommend searching for them on the internet and seeing pictures or videos. In addition to this, young cattle are often given injections containing antibiotics and hormones to make the animals grow unnaturally fast. This is done, of course, because the faster the growth progresses, the faster they can be killed and generate profit. The side effects of the aforementioned practices on those who subsequently consume such meat are not often mentioned. The effects of large doses of oestrogen and other chemicals can have drastic effects on our health. We encounter a similar problem in the industrial breeding of chickens. Poland is one of their biggest exporters in Europe. The type often grown is the so-called boiler - overgrown organisms with many diseases as a result of their size. The fowl's legs often break from the weight, and the scale can be compared to a human 5-year-old weighing 150 kilograms.

Summary

For some, giving up meat seems like something impossible. Nevertheless, for the above reasons, we encourage you to limit its consumption. We can, for example, set ourselves a day on which we eat plant-based. And there is no shortage of vegetarian and vegan recipes, which are often extremely creative and, above all, very tasty. Equally, there is no shortage of meat substitutes. If we miss its taste, we can try vegan sausages, wieners and even kebabs. Small steps like cutting down on meat consumption, deciding to carry your own shopping bag or recycling make a big difference. So is it worth doing? Definitely yes, but with care and peace of mind!

way4cure.com

Why limit meat consumption? - part 2.

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