Read in EnglishHave you heard of Meatless Monday? It is an international health campaign organized by Monday Campaigns Inc. in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for a Livable Future, aimed at encouraging participants to improve their health and the health of the planet.Eating less meat each week has benefits for you, and if you are aware of what meat production entails globally, it will also be a good start to taking action for the sake of Mother Earth.Specifically, there is research on semi-vegetarian dietary patterns that has shown benefits such as a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, lower blood pressure, and better diet quality.Therefore, starting with Meatless Monday could be a great idea if you want to shift to a semi-vegetarian diet without completely giving up meat. Here are 7 more reasons to do it.Lower your saturated fat intakeRed meat is high in fat, especially saturated fat, which can lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood, according to the
Federal Consumer Protection Agency. High cholesterol, in turn, can lead to heart disease.Avoid fatigue or dehydration Eating too much red or processed meat can also cause side effects such as dehydration, as processing it through the digestive system can take a large amount of water from the body.On the other hand, digesting a meat-rich meal not only diverts energy from the brain and causes fatigue, but some types of meat like beef and turkey are also high in tryptophan, an amino acid associated with melatonin production, which can cause drowsiness or regulate your sleep cycle.Lower risk of heart diseaseAccording to a systematic review of 20 studies in 2010 analyzing the link between red and processed meat consumption and the risk of incident coronary heart disease, researchers found that consuming processed meat, but not red meat, seemed to increase the risk of heart disease by 42 percent.Avoid weight gainMeat consumption has a number of benefits that can lead to a healthier weight and lifestyle, as it helps reduce appetite, promote greater muscle mass retention, and increase metabolism.However, several studies have linked excessive intake of red and processed meat to obesity, as improper management of high consumption of red and processed meats can also lead to a higher overall calorie intake.You don't have to give up meat completely; in fact, consuming about 85 grams of cooked lean meat a day to maintain a healthy diet is recommended by some health authorities. It’s simply about eating these products in moderation, something you can practice with a meatless Monday or any day of your choice.Don't forget to check out our
vegetarian and meatless recommendations to achieve this, or get inspired with these recipes:
Nopal Tinga TostadasAvocado, Goat Cheese, and Spinach SandwichMining Enchiladas