In these trying times, we naturally look to do everything we can to keep ourselves healthy within the confines of our budgets. The cost of living today means that many of us struggle to find easy ways to retain good health without cutting corners in our diets. Eating cheaper, lower-quality produce is a common side effect of financial hardship. With that in mind, more people are turning to eat meat-free diets as they can, in many cases, be a more affordable alternative.
For years, it has also been mostly accepted that eating a meat-free diet would be healthier than eating meat. Plant-based meats, for example, have become a sustainable solution in the eyes of many that will help improve personal health and reduce environmental worries about the meat industry. In the past, studies have shown that eating more plant-based foods will benefit their pocket, their health, and the planet.
Many who turn from eating meat as a primary part of their diet will first transition to eating meat-free equivalents. These products are made using plants, but they are made to mimic the style of a meat product. For example, a burger, a sausage, or seafood can all be mimicked using plant-based alternatives. The challenge is what is used in replacement of the meat.
The majority will include ingredients such as soy and tofu, or will be primarily made using beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and/or vegetables. They might also include proteins from things like soy or peas. It has been shown in research previously that these are useful sources of vitamins, minerals, and more. they also are linked with reducing weight gain.
So, from the sounds of it, meat has its work cut out to be seen as the ‘healthy’ alternative. Studies have been carried out for years to show that plant-based meats can be healthier than animal products.
Yet one only has to look around for a reasonable counter-argument, such as the University of Graz study, which found that meat eaters were generally healthier than their vegetarian counterparts. The study found that vegetarians were more likely to suffer from general illness while also being more susceptible to mental health challenges. So, what is the right answer?
For every study for or against eating meat over meat-free diets, there is a counterargument that goes the other way.
The answers are hard to find, and there is no cut-and-dried solution that suits everyone. Some cannot enjoy eating plant-based foods or going 100% meat-free. The solution, then, comes down to balancing quality with quantity. Buying higher-quality, organic meats might cost more, but reducing portion sizes means that one meal can become two.
Meat-free diets can be healthy, but eating high-quality meats can help to offset the risk of the issues raised by the carcinogens found in processed and red meats. The choice cannot be made easily, but there are options – for many, though, going meat-free is a step too far, regardless of the potential benefits.