What Happens To Your Body When You Only Eat Meat Everyday

1. Digestive problems

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As humans, we have quite a lot of trouble digesting meat.  In fact, it is said to be one of the most difficult foods for us to digest.  Our bodies have a hard time breaking down the protein contained in meat, especially red meat.  And this can cause uncomfortable bloating and a slowed-down digestive system.

2. Increased energy levels and cognitive function

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Did you know that eating meat can make you smarter?  Sounds a little far-fetched, but the truth is, meat is high in Vitamin B12 which is essential for preventing brain fog, memory loss, and nerve damage.  And as our brains decrease in volume as we age, eating food rich in Vitamin B12 can slow this down too!

3. Higher cholesterol levels

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Along with fried foods, red meat is notorious for raising our cholesterol, particularly the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.  This is the kind that clogs up your artery walls and can lead to some serious heart problems.  So it is advised that if you have high cholesterol, that you cut down on your red meat intake.

4. Enhance athletic performance

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When we exercise, our muscles need as much oxygen as they can get.  Red meat is an excellent source of iron and iron is needed to make hemoglobin which helps red blood cells transport this well-needed oxygen to your muscles.  Red meat also has all nine of the essential amino acids that help us to repair our muscle tissue and allow us to reach peak performance when we exercise.

5. Increased risk of heart disease

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Unfortunately, scientific research has actually found that eating red meat, including beef, veal, pork, and lamb, on a regular basis can increase your risk of getting heart disease.  Despite this, some experts advise that you can eat meat regularly and still be healthy, you just have to be careful to make sure it's of high quality, unprocessed and low in saturated fat.

6. Increased omega-3 intake

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Omega-3 fatty acids are the "healthy fats" that are found in fatty fish, seaweed, chia seeds, and, also meat.  There has been some evidence that Omega-3 can help to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis.  The concentration is higher in red meat than in white meat.

7. Weight gain

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Research has found that eating meat every day, namely red meat, poultry, and processed meat, is associated with weight gain.  And it has been found that the more meat you eat, the more weight you're likely to gain.  This is because meat is generally high in calories, cholesterol, and often in saturated fat too.

8. Increase satiety

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Despite the risk of gaining weight though, because meat is so rich in protein, like eggs, fish, dairy products, and nuts, it is likely that eating it results in more satiety and increased metabolic function, and eating these foods regularly has even been linked to having overall less abdominal fat.

9. Higher risk of gout

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Red meat in particular has been found to contain high levels of purine.  And purines are chemical compounds that are found in food that are known to cause gout.  So it is advised that you avoid eating high-purine foods including some types of meat like turkey, veal, venison, bacon, and liver when you are trying to prevent a gout attack.

10. Increased intake of iron, zinc, and vitamin B12

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Including a regular intake of meat in our diets each day provides us with plenty of iron, zinc, and B vitamins, including Vitamin B12.  And despite being a valuable source of these vitamins, eating meat is not an essential part of a healthy diet.  Yes, it can contribute, but you can also get these nutrients from a plant-based diet too.

11. Increased risk of foodborne illnesses

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Poorly stored, raw, and undercooked meat and poultry can make you really really sick.  It can carry harmful germs and may contain Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, and other harmful bacteria.  So it's really important that you store your meat and poultry properly, cook it in the correct way so it's heated through at the correct temperature, and refrain from washing it before cooking.

12. Boost the immune system

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The iron, protein, and zinc, as well as B vitamins including Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, selenium, and even riboflavin that meat contains, are excellent immune-supporting nutrients.  So it's no wonder that eating meat as part of a balanced diet can provide your immune system with a boost.

13. Increased risk of developing osteoporosis

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Experts at Cornell University have found that those who eat less meat may help to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.  This is because it has been found that consuming too much animal protein can actually do more harm than good to your calcium levels as it tends to leach the calcium from your bones.

14. Higher risk of developing chronic inflammation

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Eating both red meat and processed meats excessively has been found to cause inflammation in the body and cause existing inflammatory conditions like arthritis to worsen.  Other foods that have a similar effect include refined grains like white bread, white rice, pasta, and breakfast cereals.

15. Constipation and bloating

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If you eat meat, especially red meat, every day, it's likely that you're probably feeling the bloat.  You're probably pretty constipated too which will cause lots of discomfort.  And this is because red meat has absolutely no fiber which is an essential nutrient for a healthy digestive system.

16. Dental problems

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One study found that people with a meat-only diet were more likely to lose a few teeth, and have bleeding gums than those with a plant-based diet.  However, a compound called L-arginine that is found in meat can actually help to prevent the formation of dental plaque.

17. It can affect your mental health

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Meat might even be negatively affecting our mental health.  This is believed to be because of the high levels of Omega-6 which is said to lead to mental health issues.  However, other research has found that meat eaters are actually less likely to have depression or anxiety than meat abstainers.

18. Skin problems

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Eating too much meat can lead to increased inflammation which can affect the skin and make existing skin conditions like acne worse.  But it's the processed meats that cause the most problems with the skin as they're full of sodium and nitrates which can both damage the skin.

19. Higher risk of developing liver disease

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If you eat an excessive amount of animal protein, you're much more likely to develop liver disease.  This is because the consumption of a lot of meat may make you more likely to gain excessive fat around the liver than those who get most of their protein from plant-based sources.

20. Increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases

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Recent research has found that eating meat can contribute to the risk and development of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS).  In fact, the data showed that meat eaters were more likely to develop these conditions than vegetarians.

21. Allergies

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Meat allergies are quite uncommon, but research has found that there is an increasing risk that consuming meat from any kind of mammal can cause an allergic reaction.  If your allergy is sudden, it might be that you have been bitten by the Lone Star tick which can make you develop a type of allergy called Alpha-gal syndrome which makes you allergic to red meat.

22. Higher risk of developing arthritis

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If you consume a lot of red meat each day, you might be putting yourself at risk of developing inflammatory arthritis.  In a study of over 25,000 people, data found that those who had a high intake of red meat were more likely to develop the condition.  Interestingly, those who had plant-based diets that completely excluded red meat had improved arthritis symptoms.

23. Increased muscle growth and repair

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Meat is rich in a number of vitamins and minerals that are essential for muscle gain.  And consuming high-quality protein like lean meat, fish, or legumes, alongside veggies and carbohydrates can really aid muscle repair, especially if you consume it after exercise.

24. Increased risk of certain cancers

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Eating a lot of red and processed meat can certainly increase your risk of certain cancers, particularly bowel (colorectal) cancer.  An Australian study found that consuming too much red and processed meat contributed to 18% of the world's bowel cancer cases and the WHO classified processed meat as a Class 1 carcinogen.

25. Nutrient deficiencies

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Although eating meat can provide you with many essential vitamins and nutrients, only eating meat can really lead to detrimental nutrient deficiencies.  Firstly, red meat, in particular, is completely void of fiber, and it is also really difficult to get many nutrients that we need for optimum health, including Vitamin C, boron, Vitamin A, and antioxidants.

26. Increased risk of kidney disease

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If you eat too much animal protein, you are also putting yourself at risk of developing a condition called acidosis.  This is because consuming too much meat generates high levels of acid in the blood and acidosis occurs when the kidneys can't eliminate the acid fast enough.  This puts a lot of stress on your kidneys and could lead to kidney disease.

27. Increased risk of type 2 diabetes

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If you eat low-quality and processed meat each day, you're certainly going to be consuming lots of sodium, saturated fats, and trans fats which can cause a whole heap of health issues like high cholesterol and heart disease.  And it can also put you at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

28. Increased risk of stroke

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According to HealthShots.com, a study found that people who consume more than two servings of red meat per day were at a significantly increased risk of suffering a stroke than those who only consumed a third of a serving.  It is recommended that low-fat and lean meat is the best for your health.

29. Increased risk of developing kidney stones

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If you eat a large amount of animal protein, like red meat, poultry, eggs, and fish, you might also be putting yourself at a higher risk of developing kidney stones.  This is because consuming high levels of these foods increases the levels of uric acid in your system and could lead to developing kidney stones.

30. Varied diet

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Considering all of these benefits and risks of eating meat on a regular basis makes it clear that, as humans, we are better off and a whole lot healthier when we eat a varied diet with plenty of fiber, protein, and other essential vitamins and nutrients.  And it's your choice on whether your diet includes meat or not.