1

Eating your Years Away

How Does the Switch from Regular Meat to Plant-Based Meat Affect an Individual’s Health and
the Environment?

Kiana Mo
December 2021

Most of us can admit our diets aren’t the best and especially not the best for the environment.
Most people don’t even think about the environment when they hear food. The sale and
production of food are significant and deals with people from all different industries. The rise in
health awareness and consciousness on environmental regulation and sustainability has
contributed to a reduction in meat consumption (verfuert et al.), which means it’s becoming more
common. Though it will be challenging for many to convert, stated in, Consumer Attitudes
Towards Environmental Concerns of Meat Consumption: A Systematic Review, “Changing
consumer food behavior is a challenge. Taste preferences, culinary traditions and social norms
factor into food choices.” ( Sanchez and Sabate). Foods have advanced and people now have
options to purchase meat based on plants, which tastes and looks similar to animal-based meat.
Switching from regular meat to plant-based meat will lead to better health and environmental
outcomes.

Photo Credit: “Cow tried desperately to stay inside

truck after being brought to slaughter house to die”
(jimmy mccloskey) metro news

Meat derived from plants is healthy and may include a high protein content with less unhealthy
fats. Most individuals purchase meat derived from plants due to health concerns. In the past
years, plenty of research has related red meat consumption to issues such as diabetes, cancer, and
heart disease, author wrote “However, a high intake of red and processed meat is associated with
an increased risk for diseases, especially type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer, as several
epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have shown” (Eckmecioglu et al.). Plant-based meat
assists people in reducing processed meat consumption. The latter is regarded as dangerous to
individual health. By converting to plant-based meat, people can reduce the consumption of
animals which also decreases animal cruelty, leading to an improvement in health outcomes.

According to research, plant-based meat has fewer calories than a meat-based diet (Medical news
today).The reduction in calories assists in reducing the risk of disease. Furthermore, plant-based
meat assists patients to stay healthy by ensuring healthy guts and managing weight. Plant-based
meat assists in cleaning out the gut and weight management, leading to better health outcomes.
The two aspects are critical to improving the health outcomes of patients.

The California food center

 2

Animal-based products contribute significantly to global emissions of greenhouse gasses

compared to plant-based products. The main reason for switching to plant-based meat is to
secure the environment. Including the diet in individual lives reduces animal suffering and leads
to a lower carbon footprint, as stated in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, “Meat production
is critiqued for its overuse of water supplies, landscape degradation, and greenhouse gas
emission, and depending on production practices, environmental footprints may be lower with
plant-based meat alternatives” (Van Vliet et al).

Also the production of meat and animal-based products contributes to contamination of water,
land degradation, and deforestation. The production of animal meat requires many resources
such as land and water. The production of plant-based meat secures the environment by
maximizing the generation of calories on a small piece of land.

Plant-based meat does not contain the essential minerals and vitamins that animal-based products
contain. Compared to ground animal meat, plant-based meat has less vitamin B12, Zinc, and
Protein, “Most humans fall on a spectrum of omnivory: they satisfy some nutrient requirements
better from plant foods, while needs for other nutrients are met more readily from animal foods.
Animal foods also facilitate the uptake of several plant-derived nutrients (zinc and iron)” said by
the author, (Van Vliet et al). Plant-based meat requires additional vitamin supplements to achieve
the desired health outcomes.

Although plant-based meat lacks essential minerals and vitamins, it is still a healthy alternative
and there are always different ways to make up for the lack thereof. The meat does not have the
adverse effects of animal meat on individual health (Crimarco et al). When sodium is high in
plant-based meat, one may adjust by consuming less salt in their diet. There are various
plant-based meat options, where some contain high amounts and others low amounts of sodium.

Many may disagree with alternative plant based foods and rely on meat for the protein in their
diet. Another reason people can’t convert is that it’s more expensive or not available in their area.
Many families in low income areas who cannot afford healthy produce and groceries often resort
to fast foods or fast dinners, according to Keske. “Food-insecure families report facing
challenges purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables, including high costs relative to their household
budgets. Lack of time and resources for meal preparation also contribute to food insecurity”
(Keske). Not all meat eaters have the luxuries of affording steak or gourmet lamb shanks, a lot of
it is associated with the fast food industry.

So in order to help the environment and encourage lifestyle change, it needs to be accessible in
all stores and areas. As well as being affordable.

Overall, plant-based meat alternatives should be encouraged and included in diets due to their
health benefits. Plant-based meat reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, linked
to animal-based meat. The investment in animal-based meat and slaughterhouses for animals
should be reduced due to its effects on the environment. Animal-based agriculture contributes to
contamination of water and land degradation. Thus, the government should encourage research

The California food center

 3

on plant-based meat alternatives. Although various products are offered on the market, the
research is still ongoing to get the best alternatives.

Works Cited

Crimarco, Anthony, Sparkle Springfield, Christina Petlura, Taylor Streaty, Kristen Cunanan,
Justin Lee, Priya Fielding-Singh, Matthew M Carter, Madeline A Topf, Hannah C Wastyk, Erica
D Sonnenburg, Justin L Sonnenburg, Christopher D Gardner, A randomized crossover trial on
the effect of plant-based compared with animal-based meat on trimethylamine-N-oxide and
cardiovascular disease risk factors in generally healthy adults: Study With Appetizing
Plantfood—Meat Eating Alternative Trial (SWAP-MEAT), The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Volume 112, Issue 5, November 2020, Pages 1188–1199,
https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa203

“ Ekmekcioglu C, Wallner P, Kundi M, Weisz U, Haas W, Hutter HP. Red meat, diseases, and
healthy alternatives: A critical review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018 Jan 22;58(2):247-261. doi:
10.1080/10408398.2016.1158148. Epub 2017 Jun 28. PMID: 27128451.”
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2016.1158148

Keske, Katherine. “Fast food is comforting, but in low-income areas it crowds out fresher
options” The Conversation

https://theconversation.com/fast-food-is-comforting-but-in-low-income-areas-it-crowds-o
ut-fresher-options-136227
Ruben Sanchez and Joan Sabate “Consumer Attitudes Towards Environmental Concerns of Meat
Consumption: A Systematic Review” Environmental research and public health

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6479556/

The California food center

 4

Van Vliet, Stephan, Scott L. Kronberg, and Frederick D. Provenza. "Plant-based meats, human
health, and climate change." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 4 (2020)

https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00128

Verfuerth, Caroline, "Reducing meat consumption at work and at home: facilitators and barriers
that influence contextual spill over." Journal of Marketing Management 37.7-8 (2021): 671-702.

https://doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2021.1888773

The California food center