7 Perfectly Good Reasons to Eat Meat ...

There are so many articles extolling the benefits of vegetarianism/veganism and pescetarianism that I thought I would redress the balance for us carnivores and explain some reasons to eat meat. I have no problem with any diet that anyone chooses whatsoever; my choice is to be a meat eater, including meat in a healthy balanced diet. If you are contemplating becoming a vegetarian and are not solely swayed by the ethical stance of not wanting to eat animals, these are some reasons to eat meat that will help you in your deliberations. And if you’re a carnivore, they will reinforce your position.

1 Fat!

Like many foods, meat contains fat. I think one of the issues of meat and fat is that unlike in so many other fat-containing foods, on meat, fat is actually visible and tangible. You can see you are EATING FAT! What you should know however, is that not all meat fats are bad. Some meat fat is monounsaturated – in beef for example, 50% of the fat is monounsaturated, and furthermore, the small amount of polyunsaturated fat in beef contains Omega 3s and Omega 6s. Not worrying excessively about fat is one of the good reasons to eat meat if you choose your cut wisely.

Dr ⚠️ Caution to readers. Meanwhile heart desease ca...

2 Protein

I know there are many sources of protein in the plant kingdom but somehow it all seems such hard work compared to simply eating meat. One of the genuine benefits of eating meat is that it is a major source of protein. You can easily opt for lean sources and cook in a sensible manner such as grilling or poaching it.

plantpowered Opening a can of beans is far less work than cooki...

3 Satiety

I’m quite happy to load up on veggies to get full but somehow, a meal of meat and two veg is more satisfying than a veggie meal and, to the eye also, looks more satisfying, thereby making you think you need smaller portions. Generally, meat takes longer to digest than many vegetables, meaning you stay fuller for longer. The meat appearing highest on the mendosa.com satiety index is beef. There are no reasons to give up meat if you want to lose weight – it’s all about choice of meat, cut of meat, cooking method and portion control.

Rohan Generally, meat takes longer to digest, meaning it...

4 Iron

There are some amazing sources of iron in the plant world but most meats are also rich in iron. When you know that the Center for Disease Control says that the iron in meat is able to be absorbed up to three times faster than iron from plant sources, you can understand that one of the benefits of eating meat is maintaining a healthy blood and oxygen supply throughout your body.

5 B12

B12 is an important vitamin and is only available naturally in animal products. Many non-meat eaters take a B12 supplement. I personally prefer to receive all the nutrients my body needs from food and I make sure I eat a balanced diet without EVER needing to take a synthetic supplement. And let’s not forget, meat also delivers our bodies a healthy dose of vitamins B6 and B2, phosphorous, selenium, and zinc.

plantpowered It's doubtful you're getting enough b12 through me...

6 Easy

I’m essentially a lazy person, always looking for the simplest ways for everything to give me an easy life. This involves my food choices. I know that as a non-meat eater I would have to be more careful and considered in my dietary choices to ensure my body was receiving all the nutrients it needs. I know that vegetarians/vegans and pescetarians have to work harder to achieve this balance. I eat a full range of meat, fish, dairy, grains, fruit and vegetables, so I know I do not have to look for specific sources of any particular nutrient or vitamin.

plantpowered Yes because worrying about cross contamination of ...

7 Versatility

I am never stuck for an idea of what to do with meat. There are billions of recipes for meat, and billions of combinations if you just go for the standard meat and two veg. There are tons of cooking methods for meat too. And, one of the most basic reasons to eat meat – it tastes good! How many vegetarians have you heard express a longing for a bacon sandwich? ^_^

I know meat isn’t everybody’s friend. I know there are arguments that meat production is bad for the environment. I will however, remain a confirmed meat eater. What’s your position on this?

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Comments

Berta #5 You only get b12 through meat because the animal has had a supplement injection. You're getting the b12 second-hand which makes this an argument against meat eating
Rohan #3 Generally, meat takes longer to digest, meaning it sits there in your gut for longer, putrefying.
Tony Hijacking a thread with "shaming" vegan rhetoric, simply weakens your message.
Dr #1 ⚠️ Caution to readers. Meanwhile heart desease caused by excessive meat consumption is the number one killer for men. This article is not backed up by scientific research but sponsored by the meat industry to proceed in lavishing their pockets. Very dangerous. And I'm not even going to the part where livestock is the main cause of global warming, destroying our only planet whilst frankly abusing farm animals. What a shame. Go vegan and you will see your health improving from night to day.
plantpowered #6 Yes because worrying about cross contamination of raw meat while prepping your meals is so very easy. Also, there's no guarantee you're consuming 100% of every macro and micro nutrient unless you track. Any serious athlete, such as myself, pays very close attention to this regardless of diet. Again, when was your last lab done? Have you verified you're receiving everything? Doubtfull
plantpowered #5 It's doubtful you're getting enough b12 through meat consumption alone. Most people need to supplement regardless of diet. When was the last time you checked your levels? Do you even know how the b12 got into your meat? Synthetic supplements SMH
plantpowered #2 Opening a can of beans is far less work than cooking any meat
Jayy This list is so weak.
Jayy This list is ridiculous. You admit to being lazy and frankly it shows with your complete lack of understanding or research on the subject.
Jayy B12 is a bacteria in soil. It's given to animals as a supplement. Cut out the middle man.
Jayy Many plants contain more iron that meat, without the harmful animal fats or death
Jayy Meat consumption is the single biggest driver of obesity
Jayy ALL protein comes from plants
Jayy Animal fats are the leading cause of the biggest killer of humans, heart disease
- plantpowered @Jayy: let's not forget diabetes! Meat is literally the number one cause of death in the US but people are too fucking dense to listen to objective facts.
mark The section about b12 is completely false. Maybe you should do more research before posting nonsense. The animals you eat are given b12 supplements which is why their meat has so much of it. Cut out the middle man and take the supplement yourself without causing needless death and suffering. And there are naturally occuring vegan ways to get b12 which is why vegan b12 exists.
DanJ A lot of animals and humans kill their food inhumanely. I like to have a healthy diet of meat, vegetables, seafood, dairy and nuts sourced from my local town.
Kelsey irmina- Some animals don't like having their basic rights taken away, being thrown into obscenely inhumane conditions and slaughtered. I think THEY should have their own choice and be free to do whatever they want.
Kelsey Aryanna- other animals don't kill their food humanely? and WE do?! that is the most ironic, uneducated thing I have read in ages!
- plantpowered @Kelsey: perhaps you should look up the definition of 'humane' in the dictionary. I'll help you. It means: having or showing compassion or benevolence. Please explain to me how any type of killing can be done with compassion.
sassy-girl Meat is Healthy and so good i am never going stop eating it
Aryanna Why is it that you think only humans are 'murdering' animals when every other animal kills to eat. and they don't do it humanly like most of us do. the human body was literally designed to eat meat. I attempted to go vegetarian but I couldn't do it. not because of cravings but because I was just too weak and tired,
- Dr @Aryanna: you were doing it the wrong way... You cannot go vegan or vegeterian without knowing what you're doing. If you do it the right way your iron levels (amongst other nutrients) should increase and there's no way you would be feeling tired. You will eat more, and never feel hungry. On the contrary a proper vegan lifestyle gives you strength and energy you have never experienced before. Going vegan is wisdom. And unlike this article, what I'm saying is backed up by research not sponsored by the meat industry.
beev I can't help but laugh at people commenting on this. Meat is murder... Really. Any animal would happy to maul us and stomp our faces in.
- Jayy So we should use the behaviour of wild animals as a moral compass? Okayyy
- Jayy @beev: so we we should use the behaviour of wild animals as a moral guidebook. This logic is so dumb.
Juliette this article missed something... meat is murder
Devan As a vegetarian for the last ten years, vegan for the last two, I would like to point out that beer have I had to take supplements to support my diet. Blood tests show all levels are good, and guess what no murder contributed to that! Every single point made by the author here comes from a selfish stance. How about you explain all this to the cow/sheep/pig/chicken who's life you are taking. You know, look em in the eye and say "so sorry to end your life before you're time, but you taste good and I want to maintain my B12 levels .
- Neecey @Devan, Sorry hunny - I'd happily walk up to a cow and say "boy you taste good between a bun or covered in gravy"
Irmina I really don't understand why there's so many mean comments on here. if you are against maltreatment and murder of animals simple do not choose to eat meat but you do not have any right to tell others what to do. some people do not like veggies some they don't like meat or decide not to eat it. everyone should have their own choice and be free to do whatever the want.
Jazz what freedom of choice did the slaughtered animals have?
Neecey It's called freedom of choice! People can choose to eat meat or not. I'm sure every human who eats meat has their reasons for doing so, just like vegetarians have their reasons for not doing so! i personally think people should be glad they have the choice and actually do have things to eat.
- plantpowered @Neecey: I'd argue most humans don't have a reason to eat meat other than it's all they know. Anyone who takes the time to seriously contemplate the ethics of meat consumption will ultimately arrive at the same conclusion, and that is, that is wrong on all levels.
youinspiremyinnerserialkiller 'you stay fuller for longer' you are literally promoting murder because it means you can go longer without eating
youinspiremyinnerserialkiller it is completely possible to be a vegetarian and get enough protein. also, have you considered the moral implications of this? you are butchering living creatures because it tastes good. if you are one of the people who says 'the taste is temporary, the weight gain is for months' or some line like that, remember: the taste is temporary, the death of a living organism is forever. this article is a mix of human superiority, laziness and selfishness.
Acbm How about the reasons to not eat meat? Oh, I don't know... Maybe because we are encouraging the maltreatment of the animals? Or because of the mass production of meat to feed our greedy mouths we are in turn hurting the planet in which we inhbabit! Why keep doing something we know is hurting ourselves and other just because "it tastes good"!
vanny Been a vegetarian is hard. I respect em tho, i would eat meat regardless
Djamila I can see why someone would state these as reasons, but there's a counter argument for every one of them. Basically making no reason "perfectly good" as far as eating meat goes. I can't imagine it being "ok" to eat a cow while saying I love my dog.. no meat for me.
Rhianna One of the reasons is because it is 'easy'! What a joke! 😂
Clarabella I choose not to eat meat out of compassion and mercy for the animals. I have been veggie for 5 years and probably eat more protein and iron from healthy lean sources now than ever before. I do not eat animals to satiate my appetite when there are other tasty and equally satisfying things to eat without mass butchering of animals.
Clarabella I choose not to eat meat out of compassion and mercy for the animals. I have been veggie for 5 years and probably eat more protein and iron from healthy lean sources now than ever before. I do not eat animals to satiate my appetite when there are other tasty and equally satisfying things to eat without mass butchering of animals.
Zrock81 i love meat we eat it raw (i'm lebanese), also to get the full nutrition choose the grass fed one 👍
Kaitlyn I was vegetarian and had to start eating meat again because my iron levels were so low and the supplements weren't working. I 100% agree with this!
- plantpowered @Kaitlyn: you do realize that some of the foods with the highest iron content are plants. Try eating some spinach, legumes, quinoa, seeds, etc. This is a pretty lame excuse