I'm giving up red meat and going semi ‘flexitarian’

Lent is a period of fasting, moderation, and self-denial traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. It begins with Ash Wednesday (the day after Pancake Day) and ends with Easter Sunday. During Lent, participants eat sparingly or give up a particular food or habit.

BUT…

There good reason to observe Lent even if you’re not religious. The good thing about Lent is that is falls at around the time when some good intentions set as New Year’s resolutions haven’t really been stuck to. You could use this period of time as your second chance OR if you’re still smashing those New Year’s resolutions, turn it up a gear and add to your motivational challenges to reach whatever goals you have set for yourself this year.

I have decided to give up red meat YES I’m going semi ‘flexitarian’ but why?

Following information sourced from www.prevention.com

1. Eating red meat hardens blood vessels – a compound found in red mea meat called carnitine has been found to cause atherosclerosis - the hardening or clogging of the arteries.
2. A Harvard School of Public Health found an association with red meat consumption and increased risk of shortened lifespan. I could live longer – Eating healthier protein sources such as fish, poultry, nuts and legumes has been associated with a lower risk of mortality.
3. According to a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine, eating red or processed meat can, over time, increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
4. Eating red and processed meats also greatly increase the risk of colorectal cancer in people with a genetic predisposition. Affecting one in three individuals, the gene play a role in the immune system, according to researchers. If you have this gene, eating and digesting meat my trigger an immune or inflammatory response.
5. Hormones added to red meat boost breast cancer risk, according to a large study of more than 90,000 women published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Women who ate more than 1.5 servings (appox 6 ounces) of red meat per day had nearly double the risk of developing hormone-sensitive breast cancer than women who ate 3 or fewer servings per week. Researchers believe the hormones or hormone-like compounds in red meat increase cancer risk by attaching to specific hormone receptors on the tumors.

If I were to research some more I'm sure I would find more reasons to give up red meat.
 

WHAT WILL YOU GIVE UP?