By: Annie Morgan
Many self-proclaimed health fanatics claim that a vegetarian diet is the healthiest way to live.
They post articles about the dangers of red meat, and show pictures of sick looking slaughtered animals claiming eating meat is the surest way to die.
But is it really healthy to give up meat?
Vegetarians and vegans (who eat no animal products at all) claim yes.
But health experts say no, and here’s why.
Meat Is Full Of Nutrients
Eating meat is one of the healthiest things you can eat. The protein is high. The carbs are low.
And… it actually fills you up!
Instead of having to pop a bunch of synthetic vitamins and eat dozens of different foods just to get your vitamins for the day, all you have to do is eat some beef.
Healthline reported:
“Red meat is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat.
It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and various other nutrients that can have profound effects on health.
A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of raw ground beef (10% fat) contains (2):
- Vitamin B3 (niacin): 25% of the RDA
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin): 37% of the RDA (this vitamin is unattainable from plant foods)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): 18% of the RDA
- Iron: 12% of the RDA (this is high-quality heme iron, which is absorbed much better than iron from plants)
- Zinc: 32% of the RDA
- Selenium: 24% of the RDA
Plenty of other vitamins and minerals in smaller amounts.
This comes with a calorie count of 176, with 20 grams of quality animal protein and 10 grams of fat.”
This doesn’t mean it’s bad to eat vegetables, as healthy vegetables and fruit should be a part of your diet regardless.
But with your veggies, don’t forget the meat!
With that said, quality matters.
Make sure the label on your meat says free-range chicken or grass-fed beef.
And stay away from processed meat or cheap generic stuff laced with hormones.
Many Vegetarians Eat Processed Foods
Many of the vegetarians who forgo meat, claim they are eating healthy.
But as it turns out, much of what they eat is processed and synthetic food, full of preservatives!
Much of the “meat imitation” food that is supposed to “taste like chicken” is full of soy, gluten, and so many chemicals you can’t even pronounce them.
In addition, many vegetarians eat a high-carb diet which include bread, pasta, rice, and other grains.
So when a vegetarian claims they are “healthy” for not eating meat – challenge them to take a look at what they are actually eating!
Your Body Works Best With Meat Protein
Protein is critical to maintaining good health.
In fact, your body can’t function without it.
Vegetarians talk about getting “plant protein”, which can be done, but your best bet is with meat.
A 4-ounce broiled sirloin steak contains 33 grams of protein!
Compare that with ½ cup of black beans which only has 7 grams of protein.
And you might be surprised to learn just how much protein you actually need.
Harvard Health reported:
“The National Academy of Medicine recommends that adults get a minimum of 0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight per day, or just over 7 grams for every 20 pounds of body weight.
For a 140-pound person, that means about 50 grams of protein each day.
For a 200-pound person, that means about 70 grams of protein each day.
The National Academy of Medicine also sets a wide range for acceptable protein intake—anywhere from 10% to 35% of calories each day.”
Just Eat Meat
Even though the latest health trend might encourage people to adopt a vegetarian diet, eating meat is something you should not give up.
If anything, give up eating high-processed food and high-carb items like white rice and grains.
Just make sure you find meat from healthy sources – and focus on eating grass-fed food vs processed lunch meat.
And when you do, rest assured you are loading your body with nutrients and vitamins.
Not to mention the best part – it tastes good too!
Do you think a vegetarian diet is healthy?
What is your favorite type of meat to eat?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with your friends and family to let them know why eating meat should be an important part of your diet!
