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Reasons To Stop Eating Animal Products

 

I know what you’re thinking, “I’m a human. I need to eat meat.” Well, not so fast. Unless you want to be anemic and have all sorts of health problems in the future, it’s time to take a look at your diet and examine whether or not animal products should still be on there. This blog post will explore why it might just be a good idea for you to stop eating animal products altogether. Also, discuss how easy it can be! So if you’ve been wondering about going vegan but weren’t sure where or how to start- read on!

Eating Meat Is Bad For The Environment

Around 10,000 years ago, humans started to transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agricultural. This resulted in the domestication of animals like sheep, cows, and chickens. These new types of farming created entirely new problems for the environment which didn’t exist before.

The main problem with animal agriculture is that it creates methane gas- an extremely potent greenhouse gas that traps heat within our atmosphere. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, methane is 86 times more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). Another issue with animal agriculture is that it requires vast areas of land where forests once stood. While farming might seem like an obvious solution to end world hunger, we can see that factory farming has had some seriously damaging consequences for the environment!

Increase Protein Intake With A Plant-Based Diet

Suppose you’ve been thinking about going vegan, great! Vegans get to eat all sorts of yummy foods while also increasing their protein intake. While animal products are high in protein, they do not contain all essential amino acids. Some plant-based foods like soybeans and quinoa have more protein than animal products! The key is to mix up the type of proteins you’re consuming throughout the day to ensure that your body gets what it needs. For example, if you eat a lot of hemp seeds for breakfast, try having lentils or tofu for lunch and peas for dinner. Mixing up your proteins can give you just as much protein as you would get from eating meat.

Improve Your Mood And Reduce Anxiety

Animal products contain hormones and toxins that can negatively affect your mood and increase anxiety levels. For example, the hormone estrogen is found in high levels in dairy products. Too much estrogen can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Plant-based diets are low in these hormones and toxins, which can help improve your mood over time. Anxiety and depression can be debilitating, so it’s essential to make changes to your diet to help you feel your best.

Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer

Cancer is a severe disease that can harm your life. Animal products are high in carcinogens, which are cancer-causing agents. The World Health Organization has stated that there is convincing evidence that eating processed meat increases the risk of colon cancer. Plant-based diets are low in these carcinogens, which can reduce your risk of cancer over time. Cancer can take a toll on your life, so try eating more vegan dishes to reduce your risk.

Live Longer And Stay Healthy Into Old Age

The final reason you should consider going vegan is that plant-based diets can help you live longer. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that those who adhered strictly to a vegetarian diet had a lower risk of death over the next six years than nonvegetarians. While we all want to live as long as possible, it’s essential to make changes early before chronic conditions like obesity and heart disease do irreparable harm. So if you’ve been thinking about becoming vegan but not sure where or how to start- now is the time!

Try giving up dairy first before trying other animal products. There are plenty of delicious vegan recipes out there that you can try, so don’t be afraid to experiment in the kitchen!

Reduce Inflammation In Your Body

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to harmful stimuli, such as tissue damage. While inflammation should go away once the harmful stimuli have cleared, it can become chronic with continual injuries or infections. Chronic inflammation has been linked to numerous illnesses, including heart disease and cancer. Many vegans have discovered that their inflammatory conditions have improved since going vegan- because animal products promote chronic inflammation! Plant-based diets are rich in antioxidants which help reduce inflammation throughout your entire body.

Reduce Your Blood Cholesterol Levels

The biggest reason to give up animal products is for your health! Animal products are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, leading to heart disease, stroke, and other chronic conditions. In fact, according to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians have lower blood cholesterol levels than meat-eaters do. A plant-based diet can improve your cardiovascular health over time.

Boost Your Immune System

Our immune systems are our first line of defense against illness and infection. There are many ways you can boost your immunity naturally through diet alone- for example, by increasing your intake of vitamin C and zinc. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that children who consumed vegan diets had higher zinc levels.

Children in the study who ate vegan diets also had much lower intakes of pro-inflammatory omega-six fatty acids than children on omnivorous diets. While there are many supplements you can take, it’s best to get your nutrients through whole foods whenever possible- and plant-based foods tend to offer more immune system-boosting nutrients than animal products!

Improve Digestion

Animal products contain hormones and toxins that can lead to digestive conditions like heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome. Plant-based diets are free from these potentially harmful substances, so you may experience relief after switching to a vegan diet. This is because plant-based foods contain fiber which helps balance your digestive system. When bacteria in your gut consume fiber, they produce short-chain fatty acids, which help protect the lining of your colon and improve regularity.

Enjoy A Healthier Relationship With Food

Finally, many people find that their relationship with food improves when they eat more vegan dishes. People who eat animal products often have negative associations with food because of how the animals were raised or treated. Animal products are also typically loaded with hormones and antibiotics, which can cause cravings for unhealthy foods packed full of sugar and fat. Plant-based diets offer an alternative to this cycle and may help you feel more satisfied without relying on processed snacks and fast foods!

Try eating vegan one meal per week initially, so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Once you’re comfortable with that, add in another vegan meal, and so on. You’ll be a vegan sooner than you think!

Conclusion

There are plenty of reasons to go vegan- from improving your health to reducing your impact on the environment. Animal products promote chronic inflammation, lower immune system function, and lead to digestive problems. In contrast, plant-based foods are high in antioxidants, fiber, and nutrients which can improve your health in many ways. So if you’re looking for an easy way to improve your well-being, switching to a vegan diet is a great place to start!