What to Know About the Reducetarian Lifestyle
If you are looking for a healthier approach to eating, where you do what’s best for your body and the planet, then consider the reducetarian lifestyle. Reducetarians have the desire to eat less poultry, red meat and seafood, but instead of going all in on becoming a vegetarian, they take it one step at a time. There are many perks to the reducetarian lifestyle, including the ability to improve your overall wellness and help the planet.Â
If you are looking to make a change in your life, then we are here to help with advice on the perks of changing your eating habits and how to make the transition less jarring.
Benefits Of Eating Less Meat For Your Health
While many people enjoy the taste of meat, there are several benefits associated with adjusting your diet to include more vegetables, leafy greens and other natural foods. One of them is the fact when you eat right, you can enjoy a healthier and more active lifestyle, which can help you to stay fit and live longer. For instance, almonds, pistachios and other nuts provide the protein you need to get through the day. On the flip side, fast food burgers and processed meats, like hot dogs and ham, can clog up your system and slow you down so you don’t feel like engaging in any activity at all.
Also, when you eat less meat, you reduce your chances of moderate to extremely dangerous health issues. For instance, eating excessive amounts of red meat and processed meats can lead to chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cancer. Then there are other threats you may not realize. As an example, a diet rich in meat and fast food meals can alter the function of your esophageal sphincter, and the food can stay in your stomach longer, which increases your chance of acid reflux and GERD. Both of which can be painful and uncomfortable.Â
Meats can also be expensive, especially when purchased on a recurring basis. People who live in rural areas without a lot of resources (food deserts) may not have the money or the access necessary to get the meat they desire. By becoming a practicing reducetarian, you can change your mind frame about meat and eat more vegetables, or meat-free alternatives at restaurants, and be just as satisfied without breaking the bank or feeling left out.
Reducetarians Help The Planet
Perhaps the most significant perk, and the reason many people become reducetarians, is this modified diet also does wonders for our world and ecosystem. These days, more people are thinking about what they can do to help the planet last for their children and grandchildren. By changing how they think about food, they can improve the ecosystem and their well-being.
There are countless ways being a reducetarian helps the planet. For starters, in order to have meat, we need to raise animals (of which raising animals for consumption is a whole other topic in and of itself), and it takes 100 times more water to raise those animals than it does to grow a pound of vegetables. Water is a precious resource we all require, so any chance to save what we have is essential. Then there is the fact in the United States, we waste or throw out about 40 percent of the food we don’t eat. If we don’t eat vegetables, we can compost them and grow new healthy food. However, meat cannot always be composted, so we are creating more unnecessary waste.
Finally, there are a lot of resources that go into raising animals for our food. The animals need to be sheltered, transported and processed, and this leads to a lot of unnecessary energy usage which contributes to the burning of fossil fuels. When compared to the utilities necessary to grow plants and vegetables, reducetarianism is a no-brainer in the fight for the environment.Â
How To Ease Into A Reducetarian Lifestyle
While there are perks to not eating meat at all, the difference between a reducetarian and a full-scale vegetarian is the former is not yet ready to give up meat altogether. The good news is there are ways to do your part and enjoy meat from time to time. For instance, you could practice the trend of having meat-free Mondays. It is just like it sounds. Dedicate just one day of the week to not eating any animal products. It is a great way to ease into the reducetarian lifestyle and decide if you want to expand your efforts from there to maybe become a vegetarian or vegan.
Another tactic is to become a social omnivore. An omnivore is a person or animal who eats both plants and meat. If you decide to follow the social omnivore movement, then you have several options. You could choose to only eat plant-based products at home, but enjoy a steak or piece of chicken when you go out to a fancy restaurant. You could also primarily enjoy a vegetarian-based diet, but eat meat when you are over at a friend’s house for a BBQ or a nice dinner. By choosing between both worlds, you can enjoy hearty meals while still helping the planet.
You could also find little ways to prioritize plant-based meals and snacks throughout the day. That might include having a plant-based smoothie every morning or adding almond milk to your coffee instead of traditional dairy. Finally, if you do find yourself at a fast food restaurant, ask about a meat-free alternative, like the Impossible Burger at Burger King or Beyond Taco at Del Taco.
As you can see, committing to a reducetarian lifestyle is a great way to live a healthier life, while doing your part to help the planet in your own unique way. Have you committed yourself to becoming a reducetarian? If so, tell your story or share your favorite new recipe!
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