Meatless Mondays is a relatively new way of being eco-friendly and organic. It’s just one day a week where you abstain from all meat and poultry. Of course, if you were to eat meat every other day of the week, you are encouraged to eat meat that is grass-fed, free range, and hormone-free. It is both beneficial to your health as well as the environment. Here are a few important health and environmental benefits from applying Meatless Mondays to your lifestyle.
- Decrease Cancer Risk: Studies have shown that the consumption of processed red meat and poultry increases the risk of developing colon cancer. Those who eat more fruits and vegetables in their daily diet, with limited amount of meat, lead healthier lives and reduce their chances of getting cancer.
- Heart Disease: According to the results from a study performed by Harvard University, you lower the risk of heart disease by 19% if you decrease the amount of saturated fat full foods, such as meats and dairy. You can replace these saturated filled foods with polyunsaturated fats, which are various nuts, seeds, and vegetable or coconut oil.
- Diabetes and Obesity: Decreasing red meat consumption reduces the risk of developing type two diabetes. Ultimately, red meat is filled with saturated fat, which decomposes into sugar in your body. Sugar build-up will lead to weight gain and diabetes. Also, chicken you buy at a local grocery store are normally not free-range and filled with hormones. Of course, meat and poultry provides required nutrients and protein for our bodies. But, if we are not careful, this can lead to diabetes and obesity.
- Eco-Friendly: According to the United Nations’ food and agricultural organization, the meat industry produces at least 1/5th of the greenhouse gas emanations, which has been accelerating the world’s climate change. This is far more than what transportation devices emit. The demand for meat only increases the amount of gases emitted. Abstaining from meat at least once a week will help decrease the demand that meat industries have to accommodate.
Mary Kate Seymour is a professional blogger with an English degree from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. She is one of seven children, raised in a Marine Corps family. She loves to read, write, explore new places; research new craft ideas and work on crochet projects.
She has become a frequent user of Pinterest this past year and, as a result, her “to-do” list for crafts has grown immensely. She’s an animal lover and has a miniature poodle named “Rosie.” Her long term goal is to secure a position as a high school English and Literature teacher. She thoroughly enjoys being a writer, nanny and tutor.