The benefits of fasting
What happens to the body after giving up meat
March 11 begins Great Lent preceding the celebration of Easter. But even if you are indifferent to Christian traditions, it is not superfluous to find out how the human body reacts to the rejection of meat. Considering that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) meat products are recognized as "carcinogenic to humans", this information can be very useful for health.
Inflammation decreases
The complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens and damaged cells, is called inflammation. In fact, this is a protective response, which is considered a mechanism of "innate immunity". In many cases (for example, viral and bacterial infections), inflammation helps us recover faster. But during a meal, it is completely inappropriate.
"Animal products contain inflammatory compounds such as saturated fats and endotoxins," nutritionist Jim White told Vice, "Plant–based diets, on the contrary, are anti–inflammatory due to the high content of fiber and antioxidants. Studies show that plant-based diets lead to a decrease in C–reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation in the body."
The supply of some vitamins and minerals may be exhausted
Meat has a lot of protein, enough fat, valuable vitamins and minerals. The absence of some of these micro- and macronutrients for long periods of time can have negative health consequences. That's why vegetarians (and especially vegans) often have to look elsewhere for them.
"If you don't eat meat, you need to pay more attention to certain nutrients," says Atlanta–based nutritionist Marisa Moore. "You need to keep an eye on vitamin B12, omega–3 fatty acids and iron. They can be found not only in meat. B12, for example, is found in abundance in food yeast and artificially enriched foods, vegetarian sources of iron are beans and leafy (green) vegetables, and omega–3 are found in fish, algae, chia seeds or hemp."
The microbiome is changing
Microbiome is a term used to describe the trillions of microorganisms living in your body. These microorganisms are increasingly recognized as critically important for our overall health. They produce important nutrients, train our immune system, turn genes on and off, help protect us from cancer and support the health of intestinal tissues. Studies have shown that they play a role in the development of obesity, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, autoimmune diseases and liver diseases.
The bad news for meat lovers is that meat and other animal products can create something called trimethylamine oxide, or TMAO, in the intestines.
"Meat consumption leads to the fact that bacteria in the intestine produce a substance that the liver turns into a toxic TMAO product. Its overabundance increases cholesterol levels and, as a result, the risk of cardiovascular diseases," says White. "Plant-based diets of TMAO practically do not produce, and the high fiber content in vegetables and fruits promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine."
Moreover, studies show that people who have been following a plant-based diet for some time (for example, fasting before Easter) receive less TMAO after eating meat. It is possible to achieve this by giving up animal products even for a few days.
You live a little longer
Regular consumption of red meat and meat products is associated with a variety of chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney and liver diseases. In addition, there is evidence that plant–based diets at the DNA level prevent people from aging - literally.
"Studies have shown that a plant–based diet lengthens telomeres-the "caps" at the ends of chromosomes that maintain DNA stability. As a result, cells and tissues age more slowly, says White, adding that shortened telomeres are associated with earlier death and aging. "In addition, the nutrients in plant products optimize the process of repairing damaged DNA."
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