We all know that one person, who would willingly label himself as ‘Carnivorous’ or a ‘24/7 Non-Vegetarian’. This particular person can’t live without his daily supply of meat and balks at the thought of having to eat a completely vegetarian meal. In fact if this person was asked what came first the ‘Chicken or the egg?’ he would rather eat them both than answer the question! Most often than not this, strictly non-vegetarian friend of yours will be found to be a little overweight and also a little bit unhealthy.
Now don’t get us wrong? We have nothing against all you carnivores out there; we are just trying to convince you to add a dash of green to your dinner plate.
Why should I eat ‘ghas phus’?
Vegetables or ‘ghas-phus’ as they are known by some are actually very healthy. Boiled or cooked vegetables contain a variety of nutrients and vitamins that are needed by our body to remain healthy. For example’s sake, the simple tomato is good for the eyes and skin; it boosts our immune system and also helps to prevent cancer. Similarly the ungainly beans are not so ungainly when it comes to the health benefits that they provide such as reducing the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, certain kinds of cancer and obesity… the health benefits are too much to count and these are just two vegetables that we have mentioned here! Still not convinced? Read on to know why you shouldn’t have too much meat, no matter how good it tastes.
But I love my chicken and beef, why should I stop eating it?
Sure, you love your Tandoori chicken cooked slowly on a medium flare and served with a coriander and lime garnish, plus we are not asking you to completely stop eating your beloved meat, we are just asking you to cut down on the quantity of it. Simple!
Following are some reasons why you should stop eating too much of non-veg food:
- Excess consumption of Red Meat lowers life expectancy
It’s true! We aren’t making this up. A study conducted on the same by the U.S National Cancer Institute found, that diets high in Red Meat and processed meat- found in burgers and other non-veg fast food items can not only lower your lifespan by increasing your risk for cancer and heart disease, but also cause Alzheimer’s, stomach ulcers and other such life threatening conditions. A similar study conducted on the effects of red meat on the overall health of an individual, found that it considerably increased the chances of suffering from Cancer and cardiovascular diseases along with diabetes, Alzheimer’s and ulcers. This rate of mortality was found to be more in those who consumed processed meat regularly.
- Too much chicken is not good either!
Yes, yes! We can hear your groans of ‘Oh no, Not chicken too!’ , but the truth is for all that the chicken is made out to be, its quite unhealthy for you. For starters (pun intended), even when you remove the skin of the chicken, boil it and use a non-fat cooking method, your chicken still retains a 23% fat content! Many people consume chicken because it is an excellent source of proteins, but too much of chicken can cause a protein over-load which can put a strain on the kidneys and can cause calcium loss increasing the risk of osteoporosis. The very yummy grilled chicken is known to contains HCAs (Heterocyclic amines) which are the same potent carcinogens found in tobacco smoke responsible for causing colon cancer.
- Eating too much fish has its health risks too
Over indulging in your favorite Sushi has its fare share of health risks now! With studies from various universities stating that over indulging in fish can increase your levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which have a negative impact on your heart and can also cause arrhythmias.
Moreover by eating too much fish, you are putting yourself at the risk of mercury poisoning as all fish contain a varying level of mercury! Research has proven that eating too much fish during pregnancy can cause developmental problems in the fetus.
Another reason why you must keep a tight leash on your inner carnivore is for your bowel’s sake! Meat in any form contains very less fiber, which is needed by the body to expel the roughage left after the digestion process is complete.
So, now that we have put forward our thoughts on why you shouldn’t be eating too much meat, we are sure that you’ll want to reduce your daily intake of meat and let a few chickens live to see the daylight!
