Is it really bad to not eat red meat?

Question

or any meat for that matter? Are there any side effects or nutrition deficincies that are associated with not consuming meat? I eat lots of fruits, veggies, nuts and grains, and i do eat fish. I like egg whites too, just don't like meat all that much.

Answer 1

No, it is not bad to abstain from red meat. But neither is it bad to eat some if that's what people like. Many people, billions in fact, eat red meat and many of them enjoy a healthy life. Millions of people do not eat red meat or any meat at all (inclding fish) and enjoy a healthy life as well.

Ovrindulgence is what causes a lot of problems. People who eat too much of anything (meat or without) are the ones who face medical issues later on in life. On the other side of the equation, people who do not eat enough, or have very imbalanced diets (with or wothout red meat), also face health crises as they get older.

There are many ways to get healthy. Eating is the primary but not the only contributor. Excercise/activity (or lack thereof), genetics, vices (or lack thereof), environment etc all play a role in a person's overall health.

A friend of mine once said (he was drunk though) "You can excercise and  eat healthy all you want but it won't matter much if you step in front of a speeding bus..."

Answer 2

No as long as you get the proper amount of protein each day. It sounds like you are because you mention nuts,fish and egg whites. It actually is better not to eat red meat. Your health will be better off for it.

Answer 3

I was a HUGE red meat eater but now I am vegetarian. I play a lot of sport and since I went vego I have not lost any performance whatsoever. After a blood test (after being vego for 6 months) I discovered the only variation in my blood was a slightly lower level of iron but that was easily rectified with diet (or supplements if I was lazy). So from personal experience, NO you do not need red meat and any benefits people give to support it are refutable.

Only thing to really watch out for is B12. Take B12 supplements or eat veggies grown from your own garden and don't wash them too thoroughly.

Answer 4

It's not necessary to eat meat and research suggests we're better off without it.

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. It says that vegetarians have “lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; … lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer” and that vegetarians are less likely than meat-eaters to be obese.

http://eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs....

Good vegetarian sources of protein, iron, and calcium:

http://eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs....

Answer 5

I am a huge animal rights activist, and have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 2 years, meaning I still eat dairy and eggs. Recently I have a considerable decline in energy due to not getting a substantial amount of vitamin B12 in my diet. Get a blood test every so often to make sure your nutrient levels are where they should be, and make sure you eat alternative proteins and iron sources and you will be just fine. Living a vegetarian lifestyle is better for everyone. Check out the PETA website to view the cruelty to animals taking place in factory farms across the United States.

Answer 6

No, it is GOOD not to eat red meat. Red meat is associated with heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, not to mention all the chemical additives you get if the meat you are eating is not organic. It sounds like your diet is pretty healthy, and close to ideal. Now, some people get very defensive about their eating habits, especially people who eat lots of hamburgers, steaks etc, who seem to take it as a personal insult that you are healthier than them. You will probably get some grief for going on a completely vegetarian diet. But don't let it bother you - do what's good for you, for the animals, and for the planet!

Answer 7

no it is not!1!