Why I became vegetarian

It's not for ethical reasons, to avoid killing animals, and it's not for environmental reasons, to reduce my carbon footprint. It's because I've realized it's better for my overall health. My body simply works better on a plant-based diet.

It started with some stomach problems I'd been having. That pushed me into a deep dive on nutrition, and the more I read, the clearer it became: for longevity, a predominantly plant-based diet seems to come out ahead. So I cut out beef, chicken, and pork. Here's why.

1. Meat's track record. This is the one that surprised me most. In 2015, the World Health Organization's cancer agency reviewed over 800 studies and classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans, based on sufficient evidence that it causes colorectal cancer, and red meat as probably carcinogenic. Each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily was found to raise colorectal cancer risk by 18% — roughly two slices of deli meat. High red meat consumption has also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, and to a higher risk of dying from them.
2. A better nutritional profile. Most plant foods simply have better nutrition overall. You cut down on saturated fat, which supports better cardiovascular health, and you take in more bioactive compounds — plant substances with protective effects on the body.
3. More fiber. A higher fiber intake means a healthier gut, and it helps your body eliminate the toxins it has accumulated.
4. Fewer contaminants. As I talked about in the microplastics post, toxins are everywhere now, and it's very hard to find high-quality meat that's free of them — with good traceability, and without the antibiotics routinely given to farm animals to make them grow. With plants, it's the opposite: you can walk into an organic shop and get high-grade food easily and cheaply.
5. Bioaccumulation. Toxins build up as you move up the food chain, so the animals at the top carry the most. Eating lower on the chain means taking in less of what's accumulated along the way.

The one exception: fish. I still eat fish and seafood occasionally, in small quantities. Yes, they have contaminants too, but from a good source they seem to be a better choice for longevity than meat — as long as you avoid top-of-the-chain species like tuna and swordfish.

How it's going

Overall, I feel good. Hitting my macros hasn't been that hard. I track calories, and I won't lie — protein takes more effort — but it's completely doable. Some micronutrients will probably need supplementing, and that's fine too.

The real open question is muscle growth. I've learned that hitting your macros is one thing; if the food quality is poor, I don't grow. So can I build muscle on a plant-based diet as well as I did eating meat? We'll see — I'll keep you updated.

What are your thoughts on this? What's one change to your diet that made a real difference for you?