Initial Three-Week Period. There has been some serious, mainstream research into the possibility of meat addiction but in truth people can become addicted to just about anything. In the book, Breaking the Food Seduction, Dr. Neal Barnard argues that it takes three weeks to stop craving foods like meat or cheese.
Meat and fish can take as long as 2 days to fully digest. The proteins and fats they contain are complex molecules that take longer for your body to pull apart. By contrast, fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber, can move through your system in less than a day.
You may feel tired and weak if you cut meat out of your diet. That's because you're missing an important source of protein and iron, both of which give you energy. The body absorbs more iron from meat than other foods, but it's not your only choice.
Reduced Inflammation
If you avoid eating meat for a month, you should notice a decrease in your overall inflammatory markers. This happens due to the anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based foods that you consume instead of meat (5). They are rich in fiber and antioxidants and low in toxins and saturated fats.
Lower body mass index (BMI) Lower cholesterol levels. Reduced risk of heart disease. Lower risk of cancer overall (but a higher risk of colon cancer)
Your Skin Will Start to Glow
The benefits of going meat-free can be external too. According to holistic nutritionist Susan Tucker MD, the founder of Green Beat Life, the higher amounts of minerals, antioxidants, and fiber included in plant-based diets help detoxify and lead to clearer skin.
Supports good overall health and weight management
Limiting meat may also aid weight loss and maintenance. An analysis of 12 high quality studies found that people who followed vegetarian diets for an average of 18 weeks lost significantly more weight than those who ate nonvegetarian diets ( 3 ).
The bottom line: Eggs are not meat, but they do have a similar level of protein.
Not Enough Protein
As you make the switch from eating meat to a vegetarian diet, you might forget to eat all the protein that your body requires. This is a recipe for disaster as well as potential weight gain.
"Meat is high in protein and can be high in fat. It also doesn't have fiber. So all those things can impact your GI tract and can cause constipation or just general changes in ease and frequency when it comes to poops," explains Valente.
4. You might have more energy. Increased energy is something most of us could stand to benefit from to get us through our day. As it turns out, one benefit of cutting out red meat and replacing it with other sources of lean or plant protein is improved energy levels.
Most of the time, food poisoning will pass within 12 hours to 48 hours in healthy people. That's how long it takes for a healthy body to purge most foodborne infections. But your length of illness can vary based on several factors.
After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. Food then enters your large intestine (colon) for further digestion, absorption of water and, finally, elimination of undigested food. It takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon.
Because fish are cold-blooded, they would not be regarded as meat under this definition.
Eggs can also be a stellar way to get some of the protein and nutrients meat would provide. For just 140 calories, two large eggs give you 8 percent of the daily value for zinc, iron and B6, plus choline, vitamin D and many other nutrients.
The bottom line is that vegans don't eat eggs due to the fact that they are animal products. This can be for a range of reasons, from health to environmental variables, but primary motivators include a concern for animal welfare.
According to the research results, switching to a low fat, plant-based diet could boost the body's metabolism enough to burn excess weight and fat — even without vigorous exercise.
Eating Plant-Based and Ditching Meat and Dairy Reduces Your risk of Heart Disease. There are so many studies to support the fact that a plant-based diet is beneficial for your heart.
Sweet potatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, beets, avocado and squash are just some of our favorite vegetables to replace meats and create vegan-friendly dishes. Avocado's creaminess can easily replace dairy and egg-based sauces and spreads in almost any dish.
Eat beans, pulses, eggs and other sources of protein
Pulses are particularly important for people who don't get protein by eating meat, fish or dairy products. Other non-dairy sources of protein include eggs and meat alternatives, such as tofu, mycoprotein (such as Quorn), textured vegetable protein and tempeh.
The healthiest meat substitute will be natural vegetarian foods, high in protein and minimally processed. Great, healthy meat substitutes include beans, tempeh, lentils, jackfruit, mushrooms, nuts, and seeds.
While you may experience some indigestion right after you cut out red meat, it's mainly the result of eating more healthy, fiber-rich foods. In the long-term, you'll add healthy bacteria in your gut, which could lower body-wide inflammation and make you feel less bloated to boot.