Meatless Mondays

PROS
▪ Red meat is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Our bodies need vitamins like B12 and Vitamin D in order to function properly, and red meat is a good source of both. However, these vitamins aren’t exclusively found in red meat. You can get these vitamins from dairy and lean meats like chicken or fish.
▪ Red meat is a good source of protein. Meat, not just red meat, is loaded with protein which an essential part of a healthy diet. Eating vegetarian or vegan can make getting protein a little more difficult.

CONS
▪ Red meat can be high in saturated fats. While your body does need fat, it is possible to overdo it. Saturated fats can clog arteries, leading to health complications.
▪ Red meat can also be high in cholesterol. While new studies are calling some earlier ideas about cholesterol into question, that doesn’t mean we want to eat as much as possible.
▪ Red meat eaten in large quantities is associated with higher levels of colorectal cancer.
▪ Meat cooked at high temperatures can create chemical reactions leading to high levels of harmful compounds.
▪ At present, the US livestock population consumes more than 7 times as much grain as is consumed directly by the entire American population. The amount of grains fed to US livestock is sufficient to feed about 840 million people who follow a plant-based diet.
▪ Producing 1 pound of animal protein requires about 100 times more water than producing 1 pound of grain protein. For example, producing 1 pound of fresh beef may require about 13 pounds of grain and 30 pounds of hay. This much forage and grain requires about 12,008 gallons of water to produce the 100 pounds of hay, and 648 gallons for the 4 pounds of grain. On rangeland for forage production, more than 24,016 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of beef.