What happens when you suddenly stop eating meat?

People choose to be vegetarian for many reasons. Some do it for their health, while others decide to stop eating meat for reasons of belief.

Going vegan certainly has a lot of benefits, but giving up meat suddenly carries the risk of some unwanted and rather unpleasant side effects. As with any major change in diet, cutting back on meat will put a lot of stress on your body.

Here are the possible body reactions if you suddenly stop eating meat:

Acne skin

If you’ve been dreaming of perfect, glowing skin, abruptly cutting meat out of your diet can come as a nasty surprise. Red meat is rich in amino acids necessary for collagen production. Not getting enough of these essential nutrients can cause skin to look dull.

Meat also contains zinc, and even when vegetarians and vegans take zinc-rich beans and cereals, the body may not absorb it well. Not enough zinc affects the skin in many ways, including the risk of acne.

Increased demand for snacks

Meat is one of the main sources of protein. If meat suddenly disappears from your diet, your body may respond by going into survival mode. You are easily attracted to unhealthy snacks.

Your body needs time to adapt if you decide to go vegan. Keep some healthy snacks, such as nuts or fruit, within reach to avoid being tempted by chips or crackers.

Mood swings

When you start a new diet, even though it’s a good change for your body in the long run, you may experience fatigue at first. Whatever you eat has a powerful effect on your mental health because the microbiome in your stomach secretes neurotransmitters that communicate with the brain.

Although this unpleasant side effect is temporary and will go away as your body adapts to the changes, some new vegans can experience stress.

Hair loss more

Although zinc is found in legumes and nuts, vegans still run the risk of not getting enough of this essential nutrient. When you have a zinc deficiency for a long time, your hair will suffer and fall out. If you are determined to stop eating meat, make sure you consume 50% more zinc than the recommended amount.

Stomach damage

Although eating vegetables will certainly ease your gut, suddenly switching from a lot of meat to not eating at all can upset the bacteria in the stomach.

When you suddenly eat other foods, you may experience abdominal pain and indigestion at first.

An Yen (According to Brightside)