This Wednesday, March 20, 2019, is International Meat Free Day, the perfect day to learn more about the benefits of eating less meat. And when we say less, we are not necessarily advising everyone to become vegetarian (though…), but to reduce their consumption. Although the French have a reputation for being big meat eaters, The Conversation shows that our meat consumption has decreased by 10% since 2010. And to continue this momentum, we give you 3 good reasons to (continue to) eat less meat.
In 2017, 323 million tons of meat were consumed worldwide, according to planetoscope . By 2050, we should consume 465 million tonnes. And when you know that it takes between 700 liters (figures from the National Institute of Agronomic Research) and 7,900 liters of water (according to the L214 association) to produce 1 kg of beef, no need to be strong in math to understand the staggering amount of water needed to feed the entire planet. At a time when access to water is not guaranteed in all areas of the world, this is a criterion to be taken into account. By reducing our meat consumption, we also reduce our “water footprint”.
In addition to having an impact on the environment, eating too much meat would be bad for our health. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, each 50 g portion of processed meat (by salting, fermentation, smoking, maturation, etc.) consumed would increase the risk of having colorectal cancer by 18%. The WHO-linked agency goes further and declared in 2015 that the consumption of red meat is “probably carcinogenic to humans”. Being rich in cholesterol, meat can, if consumed in excess, promote cardiovascular disease. Eating less meat reduces these risks (which are not exhaustive) and is therefore better for our health. CQFD.
If most people eat meat, it's not just because they think it tastes good, but also because they think it's the best source of protein and iron. What is less known is that some cereals are higher in protein than chicken, such as quinoa or even oats. And iron can very well be found elsewhere than in meat, such as in spinach or almonds. So no need to force yourself to eat meat at all meals to reach the recommended daily protein intake since you can eat vegetable protein.
So, what are we waiting for to eat less meat?
