Meat is a very good source of protein and other nutrients. It is also a good addition to a meal. While some people might settle for just one or two pieces of meat a day, there are those who like to eat several pieces of meat with every meal, no matter the type of food or the time of the day they are eating it.
There is nothing wrong with eating meat, but doing it in excess or consuming more amounts than necessary is bound to have effects on the body. This is what normally happens when you consume too much of a particular thing, no matter how good it is.Â
With meat, the health effects may not seem quite serious, but they are still important to take note of nonetheless. We will be looking at some of these health effects below:Â
1. May lead to digestion problemsÂ
One of the effects of having a diet that is largely comprised of meat is that you would have a problem digesting food. This is because your diet would lack fibre, which is necessary for healthy digestion.
Meat and fish can take up to 2 days to fully digest. The proteins and fats they contain are complex molecules which makes it take longer for your body to pull apart.
You may experience constipation or irregular bowel movements. This would continue to happen as long as you consume more meat than other kinds of food.Â
In addition, meat is high in fat and can be difficult for the body to digest. Moreover processed meats such as bacon, sausages, and deli meats often contain added salt and preservatives, which can contribute to digestive problems.
You can reduce the meat on your plate and eat more fibre-rich foods like oats, brown rice, whole wheat, and so on.Â
2. Could cause weak bones
Another problem you might face from eating too much meat is that your bones would become weaker. This is because consuming that much protein could lead to urinary loss of calcium.
Excessive intake of animal protein via meats may lead to acid load in the body, which could lead to bone loss.
Animal protein is acidic and when metabolized, it produces sulfuric and phosphoric acids that need to be neutralized. The body neutralizes these acids by drawing on alkaline reserves in the bones, which can lead to demineralization and weaker bones.
Furthermore, high protein diet may also decrease the absorption of calcium, a mineral essential for bone health. A diet that is high in protein and low in calcium can increase the risk of osteoporosis.
If you do not consume enough calcium-rich foods to make up for the loss, you might be at risk of osteoporosis, which is a condition caused by calcium deficiency.Â
3. Constant dehydrationÂ
If you eat meat all the time, you might begin to feel constantly dehydrated. This is because protein takes a lot of water to break down, and the more meat you eat, the more water your body requires.
This means that you would be getting dehydrated faster than normal. Drinking water regularly would help prevent this and limit or reduce your meat intake to avoid getting dehydrated regularly.Â
4. Meat sweats
Meat sweats, also known as “meat flush,” is a phenomenon where some people experience sweating, flushing, and a feeling of warmth after consuming large amounts of meat.
Yes, one other thing you would notice if you eat a lot of meat is that you would sweat profusely, especially after a meal.
While it is normal to sweat after eating, the level of sweat that comes after eating a meal with plenty of meat is quite noticeable.
This is because your body uses a lot of energy to break down and process protein, and your internal body temperature could rise during the process, resulting in you sweating after or during your meal.Â
This is an unavoidable side effect of eating too much meat.
5. FatigueÂ
You are likely to experience fatigue more if you eat foods with plenty of meat. This is due to the fact that a lot of energy has been used in breaking down and processing the food, leaving you feeling a bit weak.
Although, this is something you are likely to recover from very fast. You see, even though meat does provide iron, an energy booster, red meat is also high in fat which is more difficult for the body to break down. Eating a large amount of red meat will surely leave you tired after a meal.
Conclusion
As you can see, the consumption of excessive amounts of meat can have negative effects on one’s health. Other possible health effects of eating too much meat include increasing the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, as well as causing weight gain.
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Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
