The Health Benefits of Meatless Mondays
By Sara Butler
You've probably heard of the idea of a meatless Monday on social media. It may seem as if it's a trend, but it's actually something that can have a lot of benefits to your health and your budget. Here are a few of the benefits of going meatless one or more days per week.
Going Meatless Can Help Fight Cancer
Several studies have found that eating a lot of red meat can increase your chance of developing certain types of cancers, especially colon cancer. But even if you don't eat a ton of red meat, diets high in vegetables help to reduce the risk of cancer since they're full of nutrients and antioxidants that help to reduce your chance of developing cancer.
It's a Great Addition
You shouldn't view meatless Mondays as removing something from your diet, but as a way to add more into your diet. Extra vegetables in your diet help to add protein as well as fiber, iron, and zinc -- all while being low in saturated fat. It helps you get one step closer to giving your body what it needs to reach optimal health.
It Helps Your Heart
If your heart could talk, then it would tell you how much it loves vegetables. Diets that are full of whole grains and vegetables but low in meat can help reduce your risk for heart disease as well as type 2 diabetes. So, give your heart what it wants and go meatless!
Greens Can Helps You Go Green!
Greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming are made worse by the transportation and production of livestock. Eating less meat means you're reducing a little bit of your impact on the environment around you. It also helps to reduce water usage, since growing vegetables takes far less water.
It Helps You Maintain a Healthy Weight
When you eat fewer processed foods and up your vegetable intake, then you can reduce your risk for obesity and improve your ability to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Plus, vegetables are full of fiber and nutrients that can help you to eat less overall, reducing your calorie intake.
Going meatless just a few days per week can make a big difference in your health. Try cutting meat out one day per week and see how it can help improve your health and wellness.
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