Diabetes
Eating 0.22 lbs (100 grams) of unprocessed red meat daily is linked to a 10% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. (MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, 2024)
Consuming 50 grams (≈0.11 lbs) of processed meat daily, is associated with a 15% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. (University of Cambridge, 2024)
Substituting 5% of energy intake from vegetable protein for animal protein was associated with a 23% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). (Malik et al., 2016)
Replacing 50 g of animal protein with plant protein was linked to about a 14% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, while in the, vegans had around a 70% lower risk and lacto-ovo vegetarians about a 50% lower risk compared with meat-eaters. (Jardine, 2021)
Cancer
Consuming 0.11 lbs (50 grams ) of processed meat daily is associated with an 18% increased risk of colorectal cancer. (WHO, 2015)
Vegetarian diets were linked with a 12% lower risk of cancer overall, and vegans in particular had about a 24% lower risk of all cancers compared with meat-eaters. (Gajete, 2025)
Consuming 0.22 lbs ( 100 grams) of red meat daily may increase the risk or colorectal cancer by 17%. (WHO, 2015)
Consuming ≈0.11 lbs (50 grams) of dairy per day is associated with a 7% higher risk of developing cancer overall, a 19% increased risk of lymphoma, and a 17% higher risk of breast cancer. (Lancet Reg Health Am, 2023)
Consuming 0.44 lbs (200 grams) of milk per day is associated with a 3% increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Similarly, each additional 0.11 lbs (50 grams) of cheese per day correlates with a 9% higher risk of prostate cancer. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2023)
Cooking any meat or fish above 300°F (149°C) forms carcinogenic chemicals (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). (National Cancer Institute, 2023)
A 0.7 tablespoon (10 g/day) increment in butter consumption, which was associated with a 12% increased risk of death from cancer. (Zhang et al., 2025)
Hormones in dairy products could be counted as an important risk factor for various cancers. (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2015)
Mortality
Vegans had a 15% lower risk, lacto-ovo-vegetarians a 9% lower risk, pescatarians a 19% lower risk, and semi-vegetarians an 8% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to nonvegetarians. (Orlich & Fraser, 2014)
Each additional 3 ounces (85 grams) serving of red meat daily was associated with a 13% higher risk of all-cause mortality, while replacing red meat with fish or poultry was linked to a 7-8% lower risk of death. (Pan et. al., 2012)
Each additional 300 mg/day of dietary cholesterol is associated with an 8% higher risk of all-cause mortality and a 17% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. (Zhong et al., 2019)
Eating one tablespoon of butter per day is associated with 15% higher risk of total mortality. (Zhang et al., 2025)
Consuming more than 300 grams of poultry per week is associated with a 27% higher risk of death from all causes compared to consuming less than 100 grams weekly. (Bonfiglio et al., 2025)
Cholesterol & Heart
Consuming 0.11 lbs (50 grams) of processed meat daily is associated with an 18% increased risk of coronary heart disease. (Oxford University, 2021)
Flexitarian or vegetarian diets may drop our levels 10% to 15%, vegan diets 15% to 25%, and healthier vegan diets up to 35% within a matter of weeks. (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2019)
Consuming 0.11 lbs (50 grams) of unprocessed red meat daily is linked to a 9% higher risk of coronary heart disease. (Oxford University, 2021)
Each additional 300 mg/day of dietary cholesterol is associated with an 8% higher risk of all-cause mortality and a 17% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. (Zhong et al., 2019)
Other
Proteins in milk and wheat can trigger the immune system, leading to inflammation and increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, particularly in infants. (Vojdani, 2014)
Eating meat from animals treated with antibiotics can expose individuals to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making infections harder to treat. (Conceição, S., 2023)
Workers at an industrial slaughterhouse experienced higher prevalence of psychological issues compared to population-wide estimates. (NCBI, 2017)
The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains, with minimal meat, dairy, and eggs, and moderate fish, is associated with an 11% lower risk of dementia and a 30% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. (Zhang et al., 2024)
People who consume high amounts of meat are 27% more likely to be obese, and 33% more likely to have central obesity compared to those with lower meat consumption. (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2009)
Meatpacking plants in the U.S. report an average of two amputations per week, which equates to about 17 severe injuries per month, including hospitalizations and eye losses. (The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 2018)
