What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Eating Meat?

Key Takeaways

When you stop eating meat, your cholesterol levels may go down.

Eating less meat can help improve your gut health.

Cutting out meat may help lower your risk of chronic diseases.

Your body changes when you stop eating meat. Reducing meat and prioritizing more plant-based foods benefits your health, reducing your risk of many chronic conditions.

1. Your Saturated Fat Intake May Decrease

Saturated fats increase cholesterol , raising your risk of heart disease . When you stop eating meat, you reduce how much saturated fat you consume. One report estimated that 22.1% of people’s saturated fat intake came from meats, including cured and unprocessed red meat and poultry.

2. You May Lose Weight

Reducing red meat in favor of whole plant foods supports weight loss and lon