Benefits of Going Vegetarian and Some Tips For Those Who Love Meat

I love meat just as much as the next guy. But I hate to say that going to a vegetarian diet is good for the environment and apparently a lot better for your health. Here is an article from Grist.com that points out that industrial meats are laced with toxic chemicals and antibiotics. By limiting intake of meats and dairy, pesticides and other toxic chemicals in the body dropped dramatically when urine samples were studied. One of the chemicals of concern are phalates which are considered the "other BPA" because of their prevalence in common consumer products and their effects on the body. We will leave phalates for another day.

A few tips to reduce exposure to chemicals and help the environment without having to go vegetarian:

Eat organic-Not nearly as many chemicals used and less exposure to pesticides
Limit red meat and processed foods-These foods have a much higher fat content which dissolve many of these chemicals. Not to mention, studies have shown that reducing these meats helps to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Try to buy meat with minimal packaging-The plastic that wraps around meats can seep in endocrine disruptors and chemicals that cause hormone changes. This will also help you go green.
Eat more fish-Although some fish have high levels of some chemicals (mercury, PCBs) fish have high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids that boost your heart health and other functions of the body

A vegetarian diet is a good idea, but is not ideal for all of us. Simply limiting your meat intake is a good idea for reducing exposure to chemicals and reducing you carbon footprint.