Will you live longer if you stop eating meat?

You'll increase your life expectancy Eating less meat is naturally going to lower your risk of heart disease, cancer and obesity, and doing so will help you live longer.

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Medically reviewed in July 2021

By now, you’ve probably heard the hype (and the truth) surrounding the health benefits of eating less meat. It’s true that vegans, those who don’t eat any animal-based foods, and vegetarians are typically at a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, like breast cancer and prostate cancer, and obesity. Of course, vegetarians tend to have healthier lifestyles in other ways, too, and more research is needed to sort out which benefits are due to diet or other factors such as exercise. But how will your mind and body react when you reduce the amount of meat you consume, or stop eating it completely, especially if you’ve been eating it your entire life? Interventional cardiologist Nishant Kalra, MD, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, explains some of the changes you might notice, like increased energy levels and a better mood. Plus, he shares the number one way he helps his patients wean themselves off of meat-based proteins.

At first, you may still feel hungry

For the first week or two of going meatless, psychologically, you’ll probably feel like you’re still hungry, says Kalra. “Even if you’ve consumed all the food components—protein, carbohydrates and calories—you may feel unfulfilled.” Why? “If you’re accustomed to eating meat and a side of small vegetables at most meals, and you’re shifting yourself to mostly vegetables, you’ll probably feel like you haven’t eaten your main course,” says Kalra. And since some vegan diets may be lower in fat and protein, the unsatisfied feeling may be related to that, too. Kalra says this feeling may continue for a week or so, but your mind will get used to your new eating patterns in a few weeks. Foods like, avocado, nuts, quinoa, lentils and tofu are protein-packed vegetarian foods that will fill you up.

Your taste buds may change

Zinc, a mineral that assists in immune function and wound healing, can also affect your sense of taste and smell. Zinc is found in oysters, beef and crab, so if you’re not eating meat or fish, you may not be getting as much zinc as you need. And some vegetarian foods, like legumes and whole grains, contain phytates, acids that may reduce the body’s absorption of zinc. “Some people say that they lose their taste for meat after having gone without it, and that may be the case. Zinc is an important mineral that helps with taste buds and the sensitivity of the taste buds, and on a vegetarian diet you’re not getting as much of it,” says Kalra.

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Vegans and vegetarians should be aware of daily zinc recommendations. Adult women should aim for 8 milligrams of zinc per day, while men should aim for 11 milligrams per day. If your foods don’t have enough, dietary supplements can help, too. Fortified cereals, yogurt, cashews and oatmeal are some of the vegetarian-friendly foods that can help up your zinc intake.

Your gut will love you

The microorganisms that live in your body are called your microbiome. These organisms contribute to proper digestion, a healthy immune system and healthy gut tissue. The dietary fiber in vegetables, fruits and whole grains help your body maintain a healthy intestinal microbiome by contributing to the growth of “friendly” bacteria. That means a vegetarian diet may improve your digestive tract health, regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation. When you first start adding more plant-based foods to your diet, you may feel like you’re going to the bathroom more than usual. But if you’re going once a day, you’re actually becoming more regular.

You’ll increase your life expectancy

Eating less meat is naturally going to lower your risk of heart disease, cancer and obesity, and doing so will help you live longer. This theory was put to the test when National Geographic magazine, longevity researchers and best-selling author Dan Buettner joined together to gather lifestyle secrets from the world’s longest living communities. What did they find? The world’s healthiest communities adopted a plant-based diet, low in high-fat animal products like beef and chicken. The people within these communities mostly eat plant-based foods like legumes, tofu and leafy greens, and limit their meat consumption to five or fewer servings per month. Preliminary research presented at a 2018 American Heart Association conference supports this, as well. Scientists found eating lots of plant-based foods full of monounsaturated fatty acids—like avocado and nuts—was linked to a reduced chance of dying from heart disease or other causes. Comparatively, diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids from meat sources—like eggs, full-fat dairy and red meat—were connected to a higher risk of the same. To reach their conclusions, researchers analyzed data from more than 90,000 people over an average of 22 years, about 4,600 of whom died of heart disease. They also estimated that swapping out animal sources of monounsaturated fatty acids for plant sources could drop your odds of dying from heart disease—or any cause—by about 25 percent.

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You may notice the number on the scale drop

Simply reducing—or nixing meat from your diet completely—can help your weight loss efforts. “Studies show that people who stick with a vegetarian diet consume less fatty food, and are thinner than people who eat meat,” says Kalra. And a study from Loma Linda University showed that vegetarians, despite having the same calorie intake as non-vegetarians, tended to have a lower body mass index than those who ate meat. The study also found that vegans had the lowest percentage of people who were obese, just 9.4 percent, while meat eaters had the highest percentage of people who were obese, at 33.3 percent. Researchers believe these findings are largely due to the difference in nutrients vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters consume. In general, meat eaters consume less plant proteins, beta carotene, fiber and magnesium, and more fatty acids known to contribute to heart disease. On the other hand, vegetarians typically consume more fiber, potassium and vitamin C. While these findings indicate a link between a vegetarian lifestyle and a lower body weight, further studies need to examine other lifestyle factors such as exercise and how that plays into the equation.

It’s important that you start small

If you make drastic changes all at once, it’s going to be difficult to maintain. “I tell my patients to start by doing away with red meat first. It’s okay to indulge once a month or so, but I like to see them concentrate on lean meats like chicken, turkey and deer meat,” says Kalra. After that, he recommends they gradually stop eating lean meats, too. “I especially recommend a meat-free diet to those who have peripheral vascular diseases, blockages in the arteries, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes,” says Kalra.

Here are some easy ways to get started.

sharecare.com - 5 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Stop Eating Meat

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