You may have heard of the risks associated with smoking. But what about the risks associated with eating meat? For instance, did you know that research shows people who eat large amounts of red or processed meat are at increased risk of death from many causes? This means that eating meat could be as bad for your health as smoking! So, what are the consequences of eating meat? Read on to find out!
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Increased Risk Of Cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. For instance, in 2018, cancer was estimated to have caused about 8.2 million deaths globally. Research has shown that eating large amounts of red meat can increase your risk of developing cancer. For instance, in a review article published, researchers found that the risk of colorectal cancer is increased by 24% in people who eat more than 160 grams of red meat daily in western countries.
Increased Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke
Heart disease and stroke are among the world’s leading causes of death. For instance, heart disease and stroke caused about 17 million deaths worldwide in 2018. Many studies have found a positive association between eating large amounts of red or processed meat and an increased risk of death from coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. One study published found that an increase of 100 g per day in total meat intake was associated with a 28% greater risk of death from coronary heart disease.
Eating Meat Is Bad For The Environment
Meat production requires ten times more land and four times more irrigation water than grain production. According to one study, if all the grain currently fed to livestock in the United States were consumed directly by people, the number of people who it could feed would be nearly 800 million. Secondly, animal agriculture produces greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. According to an article published, raising animals for food is responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions, 50% percent of erosion, and 80% of deforestation worldwide!
Increases The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition that causes blood sugar levels to become too high. Around 422 million adults worldwide have diabetes, and in 2017 there were 1.5 million deaths related to the disease. Many studies have reported an association between eating large amounts of red or processed meat and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. One systematic review found that people who ate large amounts of processed meat in western countries were 48% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who consumed small amounts of processed meat.
