What happens when we don't eat meat in and with our bodies? Have you ever asked yourself that? Here comes the answer!
Don't eat meat or do you? A question that divides society and even regularly leads to insults and abuse on Facebook. Even death threats are made.
I do not want to dictate anything to anyone here. Of course, everyone can eat what he/she thinks is right. However, one should really critically question the factory farming.
But anyway: Not everyone has to be a vegetarian. But it is mega exciting to dare a self-experiment.
I speak from experience. Eating no meat has been my motto for over 2 years. Now and then there is fish, but I have stopped eating meat.
Table of contents
Why not eating meat is the right way for me
Funnily enough, this had no particular reason. I just wanted to give it a try. And then I stuck with it. I can tell you something: you really don't need it.
At least I tried a vegan diet for 30 days. That was a very big challenge. I have recorded this self-test for you in a separate post.
30 days vegan: What I learned from the experiment!
I work out 3-4 times a week, but I have never lacked strength. I just wanted to get that off my chest - because that's exactly the most common argument of those who eat a lot of meat. And was also the No. 1 argument of my mother.
The benefits of a meat-free or at least meat-reduced diet are even emphasized by the WHO. Red and processed meat has been proven to cause cancer, the WHO website says.
Also very exciting is that a study by the National Cancer Institute in the USA concludes that a total of 9 typical common diseases can be traced back to excessive meat consumption. These include: Cancer, heart and respiratory diseases, strokes, diabetes, infections, Alzheimer's disease and liver and kidney diseases.
Meat consumption in Germany is 60 kg per person. According to nutrition experts, this is far too high and promotes many diseases.
I can only recommend it to everyone to try not to eat meat for a while.
If you're lacking inspiration for recipes and snacks, you can click together a meal plan with our "We Go Fit" nutrition plan. Just enter the ingredients and that you want vegetarian recipes and you'll get different recipe suggestions for each day ❤
Create your personal nutrition plan here!
Important: When B12 makes sense as a dietary supplement
I don't eat meat. Now and then fish. But meat at most 2x per year and of it once indirectly, because there is at our company Christmas party for the second year in a row fire pot. It is called Shabu Shabu in Japanese. This is a broth that you eat like fondue. So everyone can put in what they want.
And that's where meat ends up in the pot for the others.
In short: I really eat meat very very rarely. And that has an impact on the vitamin B12 budget. Because B12 is found in meat, fish, cheese and algae. I eat very little of that overall.
That's why I regularly take B12 as a dietary supplement.
So, I hold again: If you decide not to eat meat, then you must keep an eye on your vitamin B12 household! I do a blood test 1x per year and have my B12 game analyzed by the doctor.
What happens when you decide not to eat meat
A lot happens in your body when you keep your hands off meat. It's totally exciting. You don't have to worry about an iron deficiency either.
From my own experience I can say: I have better iron levels now than when I was still eating meat.
But I would like to emphasize again: Meat is not fundamentally bad. It contains protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc. Nevertheless, we humans are not necessarily dependent on it to be able to cover our nutrients. We can replace vitamins and minerals with plant products.
Except for vitamin B12. That's where it gets a little tricky. But that is difficult for meat eaters if the animals are not artificially supplied with vitamin B12.
But let's see what happens in the body when we don't eat meat.
Find delicious iron-rich foods without meat here!
1. you will lose weight
There are a whole series of studies that show that giving up meat causes kilograms to tumble on the scales. Vegetarians are more willing to experiment and eat more vegetables and other plant-based foods overall.
They contain a lot of fiber, which stimulates digestion and at the same time satiates very well.
A study by the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague shows: People who give up meat lose weight faster and improve their metabolism.
For this purpose, the participants of the study were put on a diet. The meat-eating participants lost 3.2 kg in 12 weeks. The vegetarians a whole 6.2 kg.
That's why you need to eat lots of fiber!
2. your intestinal flora will improve
Among other things, this is also due to dietary fiber. In a study by the University of New York, scientists found that vegetarians and vegans have more good intestinal bacteria than meat eaters.
Our intestines love fruits, vegetables and lactic foods such as yogurt. Vegetarians have more of these on their plates than meat eaters.
Healthy intestinal flora makes us healthier overall and strengthens the entire immune system.
You want to become a vegetarian? Here comes the instruction!
3. your susceptibility to diseases decreases
We already had this topic briefly. But there is simply much more to be said about it.
Vegetarians are much less likely to suffer from diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and also gallstones or kidney stones. According to other studies vegetarians are said to have a 29 percent lower risk of heart disease. And even an 18 percent lower risk of cancer.
By the way, there is no evidence that vegetarians or vegans live. An Australian study has only shown that non-meat eaters die healthier.
However, because they are less susceptible to disease overall, this may well have a positive effect on overall mortality.
A of these studies is published in 2013 has been carried out. Here, the relationship between vegetarian diet and mortality rate was studied.
Red meat has been classified as "probably carcinogenic" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A U.S. study also shows that red meat (pork, beef and lamb) can increase the risk of colon cancer by up to 25 percent. And the risk of liver cancer, lung cancer and esophageal cancer is also significantly higher in meat eaters.
Heart attacks occur less frequently when people avoid meat. The reason for this is that blood fat and cholesterol levels are much lower and therefore do not clog the arteries.
Try this delicious kidney bean burger!
4. you will smell better
What? Yes, you read that right. A study by Charles University in Prague has confirmed just that.
For two weeks, the study participants were put on a diet. One part was not allowed to eat any meat, the others ate a very meat-rich diet. And after a month, they had to eat exactly the opposite. So those who had previously been in the meat group now had no meat.
The study confirmed that vegetarians themselves smell better on average. And at the same time, their sweat smell was also perceived by others as more pleasant than the smell of meat eaters.
Mega delicious: Lentil Dal with coconut milk!
But what you have to keep in mind
Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? But you need to know that meat contains many B vitamins. So B1, B2, B6 and B12.
The human body can utilize animal iron better. You should therefore always keep an eye on your iron balance and preferably take a blood test once a year.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also occur. It can lead to anemia, fatigue, concentration problems and nerve damage.
You should therefore take vitamin B12 as a dietary supplement if you eat a purely plant-based diet. Plant foods contain very little of it.
However, you can find enough of them in eggs, milk and some other non-meat foods. It's best to get your levels checked before you start taking supplements. B12 is already added to many plant-based drinks or spreads.
These foods are particularly high in vitamin B12!
By the way, just because you eat vegetarian doesn't mean you eat healthy. You can eat just as unhealthy or gain a lot of weight.
There is a whole range of ready-made vegetarian foods such as burgers, sausages and the like. I try to keep my hands off highly processed foods. No matter if they are vegetarian or not.
What not eating meat feels like
The decision is made quickly for some, but then persevering is difficult. Why is that? Well, mostly it's because we're used to our 10 recipes and they contain meat.
Sausage in the morning, chicken for lunch and sausage again in the evening.
For those who are like that, it will be difficult. Because we are and will remain creatures of habit. A lot of things have to be turned upside down. What am I supposed to eat in the morning if I'm no longer allowed to eat sausage?
Lunch without meat? I'll be hungry all day! No, you're not. Because contrary to what many people think, you don't just eat the side dishes. You simply replace the meat with legumes, for example.
And no: I don't eat soy all day. I don't eat soy at all because it doesn't taste good to me.
You can prepare delicious spaghetti bolognese without meat by using lentils. Meatballs without meat are also no art. And burger patties thanks to beans certainly not.
I have never been hungry a day. In the beginning, however, it is actually a little difficult to adjust the head and body. Especially the head. It is easier if you set up a meal plan and plan at least 5 days in advance. Then you won't feel so lost.
Your "no meat eating" weekly plan might look like this:
- Kidney beans burger with salad
- Lentil balls in curry sauce
- Beet gnocchi
- Low carb wraps with quinoa
- Tarte flambée with feta and beet
- Zucchini pancakes with spinach
- Sweet poppy seed casserole with cottage cheese
and much more. Browse through our recipes! Here you will certainly find a lot of inspiration!
I can promise you one thing: You will not leave the table hungry on a single day. :)
One of the great advantages, which I can absolutely confirm, is that you definitely become more experimental in the kitchen. For example, I very rarely ate lentils before. And beans also usually only a few times as a salad. You can conjure up tons of delicious recipes from these two ingredients alone ❤.
Our conclusion
Not eating meat does not necessarily mean a healthier lifestyle. But if you pay attention to a meat-free and at the same time healthy diet, there can be many advantages for your health. Many common diseases are due to excessive meat consumption.
You don't have to become a vegetarian now, but just reduce your meat consumption if you want to stay healthy. 1-2x per week is perfectly sufficient. Give it a try! You will see how many new recipes you will discover!
To browse further:
* Advertising & affiliate links: Our website is financed by advertising and affiliate links. As a partner of linked stores (e.g. Amazon) we earn from qualified sales.
Read more