‘There’s An Urgent Need To Reduce Meat Consumption Globally For Human Health’ Says Doctor

A doctor has warned that there is ‘urgent need to reduce meat consumption globally for both human and planetary health’.

Dr. Shireen Kassam, founder of non-profit organization Plant Based Health Professionals UK and consultant hematologist, says that industrial-scale factory farms ‘provide the perfect conditions for the generation of novel infections with epidemic and pandemic potential’.

She added that more than 90 percent of the meat we consume is produced theses types of facilities. And the health issues don’t end there; antibiotic use on these factory farms is contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance.

Post antibiotic era

“Intensive farming of animals necessitates the widespread use of antibiotics, which has contributed to a dramatic rise in the number of antibiotic-resistant infections affecting humans,” Dr. Kassam said in a statement sent to Plant Based News.

“We have now entered an era where it is not uncommon for doctors to find themselves treating patients with bacterial infections for which there are no effective antibiotics.”

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The latest plant-based nutrition news review. Topics covered include the best diet for cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, plant-based diets and NAFLD, carotenoids and brain health and dairy and bone health . Link in bio . https://medium.com/shireenkassam/a-review-of-the-weeks-plant-based-nutrition-news-may-17th-2020-be48c0eb7b8f

A post shared by Shireen Kassam (@plantbasedhealthprofessionals) on May 17, 2020 at 12:44am PDT

Public health

According to Dr. Kassam, the current coronavirus pandemic is showing how important improving public health is, as almost 90 percent of people who have died from the infection in the UK have at least one underlying health condition.

Minimizing the potential for underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes is therefore crucial. As fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans help reduce inflammation in the body and promote a healthy immune system, diet could play a significant role.

She said: “We have known for decades that a healthy plant-based diet, which minimizes or eliminates meat, is associated with some of the lowest rates of chronic disease and a longer and healthier life.”

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So many of you when joining us on this challenge committed to a vegan diet for the month of May. But maybe now, without the intake of dairy, you are wondering exactly where you Calcium will come from?! ?? ? Fear not… Calcium can be found in many plants sources! Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth, and also plays a role in muscle contraction and relaxation, blood clotting, nerve function and regulation of blood pressure – so it’s a pretty important part of a healthy diet. ? ? So here’s our top tips for ensuring an adequate Calcium intake in your new plant-based diet:? ? 1. Consume calcium-containing plant foods daily – include kale, broccoli, Asian greens, hard tofu, almonds, unhulled tahini (sesame seed paste), dried figs and legumes like chickpeas and kidney beans.? ? 2. If you are avoiding dairy products, consider a calcium-fortified plant milk such as soy, oat, almond or rice milk (but it’s important to check labels as not all non-dairy milks are fortified with calcium).? ? 3. Limit your salt intake and intake of caffeine found in tea, coffee, cola and ‘energy’ drinks. Sodium and caffeine reduce calcium absorption. ? ? 4. Make sure that you get enough vitamin D from sensible sunlight exposure or a supplement. Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. ? ? And that’s it… it’s pretty easy to ensure you are getting that much needed calcium into your daily diet! ?? ? For more information on #plantbased nutrition head to our website >> Link in Bio! ? ?

A post shared by No_Meat_May (@no_meat_may) on May 13, 2020 at 1:00am PDT

No Meat May

Dr. Kassam has partnered with No Meat May this year. The organization, which provides free support to those who sign a meat-free or plant-based pledge, believes the current pandemic may have played a part in this year’s record-breaking number of sign-ups.

Around 33,000 people have signed-up this year – a huge leap from 2019’s 10,000 participants, with No Meat May’s co-founder Ryan Alexander saying it is difficult to gauge the ‘COVID-19 effect’ but believes it is clear that people are drawing the connection between intensive factory farms and public health concerns.

“[This] has been demonstrated by the record number of sign-ups to this year’s campaign,” he said.

You can find out more about No Meat May here