International Meatless Day: Go green for a fitter you

With an increasing number of people making healthier lifestyle choices, going meat-free seems to be a popular option. Globally as well as back home, many celebrities are either turning vegetarian or reducing their consumption of animal-based products, thus inspiring others to do so. Prior to their wedding, Prince Harry took a cue from Meghan Markle’s mostly vegan diet and weaned off meat. On International Meatless Day, we asked experts what are the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle... 

BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Dr Nandita Shah of Sharan, an organisation that spreads awareness about holistic health and an ecologically-sustainable lifestyle, shares some interesting insights. She states, “Animals that are kept in confinement generate a lot of excrement, giving off ammonia and greenhouse gases, thus contributing to air pollution. Cow dung produces methane. Therefore, when one eats meat, the carbon footprint also goes up. As livestock rearing occupies more land, wildlife continues to diminish as their natural habitat is being grazed. Though India boasts of vegetarians, it is a major exporter of beef as well as leather and consumes a massive amount of dairy. Meat consumption adds to transportation costs and the emission of air pollutants, fuel and plastic consumption, thus causing damage to the environment.” 

FINDING A BALANCE

According to Luke Coutinho, holistic lifestyle coach — Integrative Medicine, one needs to maintain the right balance in their diet. “On one hand, we see patients who eat meat daily but are fit, while on the other hand, there are strict vegans who have health issues. If you are a non-vegetarian, just make sure you focus on the quality of meat, the quantity you eat, frequency and the method of cooking. That’s what matters more,” he opines.

However, he maintains that in certain health conditions such as acidity, chronic inflammation, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hormonal imbalance, reduced intake of meat has a positive impact.

WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS

Coutinho advises that one should also weigh the pros and cons before turning non-vegetarian. “Meat is no longer safe as the animals are pumped with growth hormones, antibiotics and fed grains as well as soy to fatten up. This definitely affects our health in a big way, right from metabolic disorders to cancer,” he informs. He adds that if you have been eating a plant-based diet all your life, sudden consumption of animal-based products will not necessarily meet all your protein requirement. “A well-balanced, smartly-designed vegetarian diet is sufficient to fulfill the protein needs of a normal human body. Similarly, levels of vitamin B12 doesn’t necessarily have to be high in non-vegetarians. There are pure vegetarians who are able to maintain their B12 levels, too,” opines Luke. 

BETTER FOR HEALTH

Nutritionist Pooja Makhija observes, “Today we are consuming double the amount of meat than we did 30 years ago. Though we Indians don’t eat so much of it as compared to the West where it’s a part of their breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s still a good idea to reduce one’s consumption of such products. Even in the West, there is a tilt towards adopting vegetarianism, going vegan and eating clean.” She advises that the best way is to follow a middle path. “One could probably do meatless Mondays or consume it once a week. By doing so, we can reduce the toxic effect on our bodies and also benefit the environment,” she signs off.

INDIAN CELEBS WHO DON’T EAT MEAT

• Sonam K Ahuja (vegan)
• Anushka Sharma- Virat Kohli (vegans)
• Kangana Ranaut (vegan)
• Shahid Kapoor
• Alia Bhatt
• Kartik Aaryan