Think of a culinary culture where every kind of meat plays a leading role. We are millions of people who grew up in such a culture. Stuffed meatballs, kebabs, lahmacun, lamb spit, stews and many more... We often react to those who don't like it by saying, "Oh, you can't eat stuffed meatballs? Is life possible without lahmacun?" That's why when a friend of ours tells us, "I stopped eating meat," we can't make sense of it at first, we think we can't live without meat.
Well, it is not abnormal to think like this in the midst of so many meaty dishes. But it is also possible to live without meat. In fact, when we stop consuming meat or start consuming it only once a month, incredible changes occur in our bodies and psychology. Let's open a small parenthesis here. Our subject is not being vegan or vegetarian, which we have heard a lot about lately. They are more of a lifestyle than a type of nutrition. When you become vegan or vegetarian, you do not only not consume meat or animal products, you also turn into a person who respects the rights of animals even on the other side of the world by never using cosmetic products that have been tested on animals.
Apart from these, we will share with you what happens when you reduce or completely stop consuming meat. If there are those of you who have made such a decision today, please listen to us. Here we go!
Note: We would be very happy if our friends who have not consumed meat or animal products for many years could share the changes in their bodies and psychology with us to inspire us.
What physical changes occur when we give up meat and animal products?
If you are a person who loves to consume meat and consume meat in all your meals, this decision will be serious and difficult for you. However, you will immediately start to notice the physical changes you will experience as a result. Science is always our leader. Let's start by shining its light on our path.
Let's take a look at a scientific study conducted by the American Diabetes Association and published in the Diabetes Journal .
In this study, 116 people of different ages and physical characteristics are applied to 3 different diets. Some of these people, who have syndromes in their metabolism, who complain about obesity or being overweight, and especially those with insulin resistance, are applied to a diet that consumes plenty of vegetables and fruits, is rich in fats, and allows them to eat meat only once a month. This group is given a diet program that is 500 calories less than the amount they should eat daily. These people, whose physical activities are always kept at the same level, are measured in the 3rd week and 6th month, and their blood values are constantly checked.
As a result of the process, it is observed that serious weight loss occurs, their metabolism accelerates, metabolic risks decrease and even these risks are completely eliminated in many. When compared to the other two groups, it is also seen that those who do not eat meat get faster results and that this diet is the healthiest and most positive diet. Despite their insulin resistance, their HDL cholesterol, or good cholesterol, increases and they get rid of toxins in their bodies. In addition to having stronger muscle structures, they feel better as a result of the weight loss they experience. Moreover, they start feeling this even in the first 3 weeks. As a result of the research, it is also emphasized that a meatless diet positively affects HDL cholesterol and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study also provides the answer to the question of "Will I lose muscle if I stop consuming meat?" Because foods with high protein and calcium values are consumed throughout the process. It also reduces triglycerides, which cause high cholesterol and blood pressure.
Red meat in particular contains a sugar called Neu5Gc, which can be spontaneously located and spread in human tissues. Experts have been conducting research for many years on the active role of the sugar in question in tumor formation. According to the research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it was explained that Neu5Gc found in red meat can accumulate in the liver and increases tumor formation in the body by 5 times. It is also emphasized that people who have stopped consuming red meat do not accumulate this sugar in their bodies and that the formation of cancerous cells is therefore less . In addition, this sugar can cause you to gain weight and consume more red meat. Consuming less red meat or not consuming it at all reduces the formation of these risks and also prevents type 2 diabetes.
We come across striking results in the research conducted by Harvard in 2012. In the experiments conducted on 37,698 men and 83,644 women between the ages of 22-30, it was observed that meat consumption shortens life spans . There are findings that especially red meat consumption affects your life span and quality due to reasons such as increasing the amount of cholesterol in the body and triggering the formation of cancerous cells. It is claimed that when you reduce or completely quit meat consumption, both your quality of life increases and you live longer.
Another consequence of consuming too much meat is that it increases the risk of experiencing abdominal aortic aneurysm. Studies show that individuals who frequently consume meat have a 15% increased risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysm. Again , these studies show that this risk drops to almost zero in individuals who stop consuming meat or consume less .
In addition, it is emphasized that you can have a younger and more vibrant skin when you reduce your meat consumption and increase your fruit and vegetable consumption. It has an effect ranging from acne to eczema. Because when you reduce your meat consumption, your skin renews itself much more easily thanks to the antioxidants it receives from plants and it is said that your skin disorders will start to decrease. The decrease in the amount of acid in your body is also a plus. Another feature stated is that you will have less acid in your body because you will use plants instead of meat as a source of protein and calcium. Studies also frequently mention that you will feel more energetic, lighter and healthier. The fact that you will get sick less with the healing you receive from plants and that your body will be more resistant are among the other topics mentioned in many articles.
What kind of psychological changes occur when we give up meat and animal products?
There are also psychological aspects to this. Everything you eat and drink affects your body as well as your psychology. Remember the unhappiness and restlessness that comes over you when you eat heavy meals. And how much more enjoyable you feel when you eat light. So, when you start getting more support from vegetables and fruits, it is possible that you will automatically feel lighter, healthier, more energetic and happier.
Stress is considered the biggest disease of our age. Stress, which arises from the chaos of modern life, can increase due to what we eat and drink, and we can become more stressed. For example; arachidonic acid. This acid is also found in red meat. According to research conducted by APHA (American Public Health Association), this acid changes your daily mood. Stress triggers psychological problems such as anxiety. Arachidonic acid, which is related to the brain, helps you combat stress and experience less anxiety by reducing meat consumption. In short, it is claimed that you will start to become a less stressed, calmer and less anxious person.
Another study also says that meat and other animal products, except fresh cow's milk, are low in antioxidants. It says that people who reduce their meat and animal food consumption and eat more vegetables and fruits have a diet richer in antioxidants, and therefore are less stressed. Plants that have the ability to reduce stress support people more in their fight against stress. It is even said that people who eat more meat are more easily angered.
In addition, it is emphasized that you will feel better psychologically because you will feel more respectful towards the existence of a living being and the world. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why many people stop consuming meat, in addition to health reasons.
So what benefits do these have for nature or the economy? What would happen in the world if no one consumed meat?
We talked about the many benefits of quitting meat consumption for our bodies and mental health, in light of research. We also need to talk about its great benefits for the world we live in and for the ecology, whose course we worry about every passing day.
It is said that a plant-based diet and reducing the consumption of animal products, especially meat, not only ensures the survival of millions of living beings, but also has the power to eliminate the greenhouse effect. The news report by Oxford Martin School reveals many facts on the subject. Four different scenarios are mentioned. Let's talk about the two most striking ones.
In the first scenario, he talks about what will happen if the consumption of vegetables and fruits decreases significantly in the world and the consumption of meat and animal products increases. If such a scenario becomes real, an average of 5.1 million animals will be destroyed every year until 2050. If such consumption occurs, it is also signaled that obesity will become one of the most incurable diseases in the world. However, the opposite situation is also the case.
If the consumption rate of meat and animal products decreases all over the world, it is said that the lives of these animals will be protected, global warming and the greenhouse effect will be seriously prevented, people's quality of life will increase and their life expectancy will increase by 9-13% by 2050. Moreover, it is said that an annual saving of 700 million - 1 billion dollars will be achieved in the field of health.
Imagine this. What would the world be like if no one in the world consumed meat? The World Economic Forum has pursued this question before us and published a wonderful study . If the world did not consume meat at all, we would live healthier and healthier generations would exist. There would be less carbon dioxide emissions and we would live in a world with plenty of oxygen. Animal production is done to consume meat. Tons of water is used during the production of these animals. However, much less water is used during the cultivation of plants than animal production. This prevents the world's water resources from being at risk and paves the way for more water resources. Many more results are mentioned in the study.
We have tried to explain in many ways what can happen when we completely stop or reduce meat consumption in the light of science. This is information that will touch our world, the creatures you live with, yourself and even your future. Remember.
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