Benefits of not eating meat for a week

Hot dogs at the baseball stadium, BBQ platters of burgers and sausages, date night roast chicken, Thanksgiving turkey, holiday roast—many of our most memorable moments revolve around eating meat.

So it might be surprising to learn there's been a huge increase in the number of people in the U.S. opting for plant-based diets. Whether it's for health, sustainability, or ethical reasons, more people are choosing to eat less animal protein, or none at all.

10 reasons not to eat meat

But what are the health implications of cutting meat from your diet? Is reducing or removing meat a panacea for all health woes? Or does it leave you lacking in important nutrients? And what should someone know when making the transition from a diet that includes meat to one that's plant-forward or completely vegan?

To answer some of these questions and find out what happens to your body when you stop eating meat, we turned to Dani Levy-Wolins, RD. If you're thinking of swapping out your carnitas for jackfruit, here are some key factors to consider.