Why I Stopped Eating Meat (And Why You Should Think About It Too)
I used to eat meat at every meal. Steak for breakfast, Chicken for dinner, steak again for tea. I'd swear by a steak, nuts, and avocado to start my day. Protein from meat was king, and I had the fixed mindset that if you wanted to get strong, stay lean, and be healthy, meat was non-negotiable.
Then I became a dad. And I started to question my fixed beliefs about my diet and my health.
Not because some documentary scared me into it, though Game Changers and Cowspiracy planted the seed. But because I started asking a question I'd never bothered to ask before:
What if everything I've been told about meat is not entirely true?
So i started to read Micheal Greger’s books, How Not To Die, How Not To age and How Not To Diet, and my beliefs started to soften.
THE LIE WE'VE ALL BEEN SOLD
We've been told that meat equals health, strength, and vitality. That protein needs to come from animals, or we'll waste away. That real men eat steak, and eggs all day.
It's been drilled into us by the fitness industry, by marketing, by culture.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: too much meat, especially the processed, hormone-pumped, antibiotic-ridden stuff that floods supermarkets is linked to some of the worst health problems out there.
Heart disease. Cancer. Alzheimer's. Diabetes. Stroke. Obesity.
And it's not some fringe theory. It's backed by decades of research.
The World Health Organisation has classified processed meats as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same category as smoking.
Let that sit with you for a minute.
The bacon you're having for breakfast? The sausages at the BBQ? The processed meat in your sandwich?
Same cancer risk category as cigarettes.
Now, I'm not here to preach mate. I'm not here to tell you what to eat.
But I am here to challenge you to think differently about it.
Because when I did, a lot changed.
WHAT MADE ME QUESTION EVERYTHING
For years, I didn't question it. Meat was just... what you ate. It was normal. It was healthy. It was what strong people did.
And at that time in my PT career Charles Poliquin was a big influence and his whole philosophy was build around protein and fats.
But then I started paying more attention.
I watched Game Changers and Cowspiracy. Not because I was looking to go vegan, but because I was curious to learn more about plant based diets.
And what I saw made me uncomfortable.
Not just the ethical side, though that's a whole other conversation, but the health side.
The studies. The data. The links between excessive meat consumption and the diseases that kill most people in the Western world.
Heart disease. Cancer. Alzheimer's. Diabetes.
The more I dug, the more I realised: the meat industry has done a brilliant job of convincing us that we need their product to survive.
But the science? It tells a different story.
THE HEALTH RISKS NO ONE TALKS ABOUT
Let me break down what I found. Not to scare you, but to give you the facts I wish someone had given me years ago.
1. Heart Disease & Stroke: The Silent Killers
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. And one of the biggest culprits? Saturated fat and cholesterol from animal products.
I'm not saying a grass-fed steak here and there is going to kill you. But when meat is your main source of protein day in, day out, and you're stacking that with processed foods, sugar, and lack of movement, it's a recipe for clogged arteries, high blood pressure, and strokes waiting to happen.
And it doesn't happen overnight. It builds up over years, slowly, until one day, it's too late.
2. Cancer: The Connection No One Talks About
Studies keep piling up showing a strong link between red and processed meats and cancer, especially colon and rectal cancers.
My mum has had cancer. My dad is having a right scrap with stage 4 prostate cancer as we speak.
I know firsthand the terror cancer causes. And any food that studies are showing contributes to it? It can fuck right off out of my diet.
3. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Brain Fog You Don't See Coming
Most people don't think about brain health until it's too late.
But research is showing that diets high in saturated fats from meat can increase the risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline.
Think about it, what's the point of being strong and fit in your body if your mind is slipping away?
4. Type 2 Diabetes: It's Not Just Sugar
We all know sugar is a major driver of diabetes, but here's the cherry on top: excess animal fat also plays a role.
Too much saturated fat from meat contributes to your cells becoming insulin resistant, meaning your blood sugar stays higher for longer, increasing your risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.
So mate, cutting down on sugar is priority #1, but if you're still smashing through plates of meat every day, you're not off the hook.
5. Obesity: The Hidden Impact
Being overweight isn't just about eating too much and moving too little. It's about what you're eating, and how your body processes it.
High-meat diets, especially the ones loaded with processed meats, stack your plate with excess calories, saturated fats, and little to no fibre, the perfect storm for weight gain.
And when you combine that with ultra-processed foods, sugar, a cheeky few in the pub on a Friday, and lack of movement, your metabolism takes a beating, it becomes less flexible making it even harder to burn fat.
But life is not just about how you look, mate. Being overweight is a direct driver of serious health issues, diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers.
When your body is carrying more fat than it's designed to, your joints, your organs, your energy levels, all of it suffers.
6. All-Cause Mortality: The Bigger Picture
Here's a brutal truth, mate: the more processed and red meat you consume, the higher your risk of dying early.
Multiple studies show that diets high in red and processed meats increase all-cause mortality, meaning, they up your chances of dying from ANY major disease.
Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, it all links back to diet.
I'm not about shitting you up, I want you to improve your awareness. If you knew that swapping out a portion of meat for plant-based proteins, whole foods, and fibre-rich meals could extend your life, why wouldn't you?
WHY I MADE THE SHIFT
This wasn't some overnight epiphany that came to me in a dream. It was a gradual shift based on facts, experience, and what felt right for me.
The final push? Becoming a dad.
When Raffy was born in February 2024, a lot of things forced their way into the front of my mind.
I started looking at my health not just for me, but for him. I’m 41, fucking middle aged, I don't just want to be around, I want to be healthy, strong, and full of energy for years down the line. I want to be a rock-solid role model for him. Especially with healthy habits and disciplines.
And when I took a hard look at the state of the meat industry, what animals are pumped full of, what they eat, how it all ends up in our bodies, it lost its appeal.
So, I changed things up. More plants, less animal products. More whole foods, less processed rubbish.
I didn't cut meat out completely. I still eat chicken and fish maybe 3-4 days a week, and I might have red meat once every other month if I'm out.
But I moved towards a diet higher in whole grains, vegetables, beans, lentils, split peas, chickpeas, fruits, and nuts, because it made sense for my health, my future, and my family.
WHAT CHANGED WHEN I MADE THE SHIFT
Here's what I noticed within a few weeks:
My energy was more consistent. No more post-meal crashes. No more feeling sluggish after dinner. Just steady, reliable energy throughout the day.
My digestion improved. Less bloating, less discomfort, less feeling like I'd swallowed a brick after every meal.
My mental clarity sharpened. I felt clearer, more focused, less foggy. Like someone had turned the lights back on.
My training improved. Recovery was faster. Inflammation was down. I felt lighter, stronger, more capable.
And here's the part I was worried about: I didn't lose any muscle. I didn't get weaker. I didn't waste away.
All those fears I had about "not getting enough protein"? Complete bollocks.
You can get more than enough protein from plants. Beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, nuts, seeds, plat based protein powder, it's all there.
The difference? It doesn't come with the baggage that processed meat does.
I'M NOT HERE TO PREACH
Listen mate, I'm not here to tell you to stop eating meat.
You do you. If meat's always going to be part of your diet, that's your choice.
But I will challenge you to think differently about it.
If you're smashing through meat 2-3 times a day, every day, and your energy is all over the place, your waistline's creeping up, or you're just feeling a bit… off, it might be time to rethink what you eat.
Not because you "should." But because you deserve to feel good, live longer, and stay strong for the people who matter most to you.
THE STOIC ANGLE: MEMENTO MORI
I’m a practicing Stoic, It’s a big reason that I’m clean, sober and still breathing.
The Roman Stoics had a phrase: Memento Mori. Remember you will die.
It's not meant to be morbid. It's meant to be a reminder: your time here has a use by date.
And how you spend that time, how you treat your body, what you put into it, how you show up for the people you love, that matters mate.
Every meal is a choice. Every day is a choice.
You can choose to ignore the research, to keep doing what you've always done, to hope for the best.
Or you can choose to pay attention, make informed decisions, and take control of your health while you still can.
Because here's the truth I learned fast: ignorance isn't bliss. It's a ticking time bomb.
And by the time it goes off, it's too late.
WHAT I'D SAY TO YOU
If you're reading this and something's resonating, that's worth paying attention to.
You don't have to go vegan, I’m not and won’t ever be. You don't have to cut out meat completely.
But maybe, just maybe, it's worth thinking about how much you're eating, where it's coming from, and what it's doing to your body.
Maybe it's worth experimenting. Cutting back a bit. Swapping out a few meals a week for plant-based options. Seeing how you feel.
Because the goal with this blog isn't perfection. It's awareness.
And once you're aware, you can make better choices.
Not because I’ve told you to. But because you decided it was worth it.
FINAL THOUGHT: DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR HEALTH
I'm not here to convert you. I'm not here to judge you.
I'm just here to share what worked for me. And to challenge you to think critically about what you've been told.
Because when it comes to your health, the stakes are too high to just go along with what everyone else is doing.
Do what works for you, but do it with awareness, facts, and your future in mind.
Memento Mori: Your Time Is Limited
The Stoics remind us: remember you will die.
Not to be grim, but to be intentional. To make choices that matter. To take control while you still can.
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Yours in health
Rick
