Myth of meat eating

FAISALABAD: In the Pakistani culture, meat eating is synonymous with getting more strength in the body. This is a myth and has no facts behind it. Meat is a part of the human diet in most cultures. It is mainly composed of water, protein, and fat. A study of 400,000 subjects conducted by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, published in 2013, showed “a moderate positive association between processed meat consumption and mortality, in particular due to cardiovascular diseases, but also to cancer.” Regular meat eaters shared the highest mortality ratio of 1.00. Health concerns have been raised about the consumption of meat increasing the risk of cancer. Red meat is carcinogenic to humans with higher risk of lung, esophageal, liver and colon cancers. Processed meat increases risk of coronary heart disease. Meat consumption is positively linked with weight gain in men and women. A healthy diet may consist mostly of whole plant foods with limited consumption of energy dense foods, red meat, and processed meat.

Power and strength in the body can only be achieved by adopting a balanced diet. From a psychological and cultural perspective, a healthier diet may be difficult to achieve for people with poor eating habits in our society. This may be due to tastes acquired during childhood and preferences for sugary, salty and fatty foods. People who believe that meat is necessary for getting more strength in the body should consider that on planet Earth, one of the strongest animals is the elephant and it does not eat meat. An elephant’s main diet is sugar cane and various types of grasses. In the same way, on planet Earth, one of the fastest animals is the horse and it does not eat meat; a horse’s main diet is pulses, green grasses, and carrots.

Engr Mansoor Ahmed

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2017.

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