Is Meat Bad For You?

There has been a lot of discussion lately about if meat is healthy or not. People have been questioning if meat leads to premature death, cancer, and illness. The articles “Meat in Your Diet” and “What’s the Beef With Red Meat?” discuss the benefits and consequences of eating meat. The film “The Game Changers” on Netflix promoted veganism and the consequences of eating meat. The podcast episode “Losing Fat Without Counting Calories, “The Game Changers,” Plant-Based Politics” hosted by Max Lugavere discusses “The Game Changers” film on Netflix. Due to the popularity of “The Game Changers”, many people are confused about if meat is healthy or not. Over the years, several food groups have been claimed to be unhealthy such as fats, carbohydrates, eggs, etc. I believe that the argument about meat is mainly an outcome of the false press and misleading research about meat.


The film “The Game Changers” on Netflix was released on September 19, 2019. The movie promoted veganism and interviewed athletes and performers who are vegan, including the famous Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film is not considered credible because it was not a documentary. Also, many of the studies that were used as evidence in the film were bias. For example, a study named “Hass Avocado Modulates Postprandial Vascular Reactivity and Postprandial Inflammatory Responses To a Hamburger Meal In Healthy Volunteers” was supported by the Hass Avocado Board. In the movie, they pointed out studies that were sponsored by meat companies and claimed that the study was biased. Plant-based and meat studies are both oftentimes supported by companies that are meat or plant companies. Another misleading example that was provided in “The Game Changers” was the plasma samples of college athletes when eating meat versus a plant-based meal. The experiment showed that a plant-based diet, not surprisingly, made the participant’s plasma more clear; however, many variables were not considered. Many of the claims that were stated were misleading and not scientific.


The podcast episode hosted by Max Lugavere discusses the false information and bias that “The Game Changers” promoted. Max Lugavere is a nutrition expert and is well known for his New York best-selling book, “The Genius Life”. Max hosted a podcast called “The Genius Life” and interviews experts involving all aspects of health. He interviewed Sal Di Stefano, a retired personal trainer, who is famous for debating and discussing controversial health topics. Sal Di Stefano and Max Lugavere are good friends and they discussed on the podcast what they liked and hated about the film “The Game Changers”. Max and Sal agreed that many people think that “The Game Changers” was a scientific documentary; however, it was a movie film that stretched the scientific truth. The men agreed that many of the studies that were used in the film were misleading. For example, one study mentioned in the film was a comparison between a keto diet and a vegan diet. The participants who consumed the vegan diet had more energy. This is misleading because a keto diet is low in carbohydrates while a vegan diet has more carbohydrates. Carbohydrates make people have more energy; therefore, the way that the film portrayed the study was deceitful. Max and Sal are considered authoritative because they both are constantly researching and learning about the science of nutrition and fitness. Sal and Max believe that there is not a specific diet that will work for everyone. Everyone’s gut and needs are different; therefore, veganism will benefit some people while others will benefit from eating meat. The podcast is credible because Max interviews professionals and provides scientific truths.

“Meat in Your Diet” focuses on the nutritional aspects of meat and what types of meat people should avoid. For example, the article pointed out that meat is one of the richest sources of iron and vitamin B12. Also, meat can provide lots of protein. Some meats are high in saturated fat, which can raise cholesterol and increase one’s chances of heart disease. The article provides advice on how to cook, store, and freeze the meat. Also, it provides advice for women who are pregnant and how to safely eat meat. Additionally, liver consumption was mentioned and highly recommended. The liver contains large amounts of vitamin A; however, too much vitamin A can have negative results. The article concluded that if people eat meat, they need to take precautions and make sure that the meat is properly cooked. Otherwise, meat is very nutritious.


“What’s the Beef With Red Meat?” was published by Harvard Medical School. The article mentions studies that supported and opposed eating meat; however, the article mostly opposes eating meat. According to the article, there was a study that followed 121,000 men and women over 24 years. Throughout the 24 years, 24,000 people died. There were more meat-eaters than vegans that died. There were no inspections on if meat was the cause of many of the deaths since many of them could have been circumstantial, such as a car wreck. Another study mentioned in the article that was conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found no correlation between eating meat and premature death. The article concluded that people should try the Mediterranean diet. A Mediterranean diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and very little meat. Also, the article claims that not eating meat will help the environment. A book that the article used as evidence was from the Union of Concerned Scientists called The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices claims that “meat consumption is the second most environmentally expensive consumer activity.” The article concluded that people should eat a plant-based diet. 

In my opinion, it is not correct to say blanket statements about nutrition and health. Someone should choose to eat or not eat meat based on how it makes them feel. It is true that meat has lots of protein, iron, and B12; however, people who do not want to consume meat can get their protein from lentils, tofu, seitan, etc. Meat provides lots of nutritional value; however, it can be dangerous if it is not cooked properly. “Meat in Your Diet” did not push an opinion throughout the essay, the writer simply stated the facts of the nutritional value. “What’s the Beef With Meat?” ultimately pushed the opinion that people should not eat red meat.  “The Game Changers” promoted veganism and claimed how it is beneficial to the environment and healthier for humans. The podcast episode by Max Lugavere compared veganism versus eating meat and concluded that veganism is not the perfect diet for everyone and that people need to listen to their bodies and determine what diet is best for them. Social media influencers are constantly posting content that contradicts with other influencers. Rather than believing what every influencer says or does, people need to seek professional help and determine what diet is best for them.

Love,
Gabby

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