If meat is 'bad' now...

[Chokkii]

Lots of messaging these past few years about meat reduction and health, from the NHS to BHF, etc. Most of the stuff I have read about animal protein in general seems to get some pretty bad press nowadays, from increasing cancer risk to cardiovascular disease. And I don't just mean fatty, or processed meat, either!

I read a study, can locate it if anyone cares, that eating animal protein prior to 65 years old actually increased rates of cancer and all cause mortality, whilst after the age of 65 it was actually beneficial.

So! My question is, if living a vegetarian lifestyle is so much healthier, why would we require supplementation?
We are also told that women need so much iron and calcium per day - which is most readily absorbed/provided through meat/dairy consumption. Yet even the HNS seems to contradict itself by urging us to eat much, much less of it.

I recall reading that even the Dalai Lama had to begin eating animal protein due to health issues, and I am certain he was a dedicated veggie prior.

I find the messaging confusing tbh.
I eat meat in moderation myself, but I am curious what all of you think, if you've heard anything about this stuff at all?

Worth adding here: I do not have a personal bias and just want to hear people's thoughts. If I had to give meat up for eternity I can't say I would care one way or the other.

Your mother likely had osteoporosis from a lifetime of restricted diet and diet pills. That’s not the same as just eating no meat.

I once considered dabbling with becoming pescatarian, since I only eat chicken and fish, and not overly fond of the chicken....

I didn't do it because after a bit of research, so many people said they felt tired and run down.

I am not sure how, considering they both contain similar nutrients (apart from omega 3), and chicken only really packs in iron if on the bone (the darker parts of the bird).

Anyone know about this type if thing??

Honestly I think that’s just something that’s in peoples head. Similar to the vomiting from meat. People’s bodies aren’t generally this fragile. They’re perfectly capable of functioning without needing something as random as a bit of chicken

Lentils aren't grown in the UK. Canada exports the most, and it's only grown in one state, just imagine if their crop failed due to climate change.

Most meat is exported and expensive in the UK. You can grow lentils in the South under cover in the UK.

I classify myself as a meat eating vegetarian. Most of my diet is plant based. Beans, nuts, veg, fermented veg & wheat, fruit, grains. I also eat a lot of fish, cheese and eggs. I try to have small amounts of meat with a lot of veg. I avoid processed meats: bacon, ham & supermarket sausages. I avoid UPFs. I think meat is important but only needed in small amounts.

I didn't say anyone on this thread had? Was talking specifically about my HV and other people I have met.

@Theyreeatingthedogs Flexitarian?

Yes but according to the recent David Attenborough documentary, we're not supposed to eat fish now either?

So we're supposed to be vegan??!

Fuck that. I don't mind cutting down, but not out

I respect vegans but I don't want to be one.
I could happily turn vegetarian, but it seems even vegetables are killing us if you dig deep enough online.

People say wheat is sprayed with bad pesticides but are happy to eat other plant foods.
The internet is stressful

Only meat I’m dubious about is processed products with nitrates and nitrites. We eat mammal meat maybe twice each week and lots of fish.

I was a vegetarian for years and honestly feel better since reintroducing meat (because of severe anaemia during last pregnancy).

The quinoa myth is really dangerous. Yes, it has all the amino acids, but in really small quantities, so the amount of quinoa you'd have to eat daily to actually get all those amino acids is completely impractical. It's a lie by omission to claim you can get all your amino acids from quinoa just because they're all present in some quantity or other. Look at the actual back of a packet of quinoa in your cupboard at the amount of protein per 100g. While that's not broken down into individual amino acids, it's a fairly good yardstick of why it's silly to even think about relying on quinoa for protein and why I wish that myth would die.
Nuts and seeds are the best non-meat source of protein by a country mile.

No. I don't eat flexs.

Not sure I could ever quit dairy, but will likely remain a fussy omnivore with fish and chicken.

I am still intrigued by the studies about animal protein before the age of 65 - it certainly won't fit the current trends for high protein food stuffs.

Even Jason's sourdough ranges have a PROTEIN loaf now. It's getting silly, and is just another way to extract money via macronutrient hyperfocus.