Over half of US men think meat is masculine - but would ditch it for health
New research shows meat’s still tied to masculinity - but men could be inclined to drop it for their health.
Meat is still strongly tied to masculinity - but better communication around the health implications could change that, finds a new poll, commissioned by Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and Morning Consult ahead of Men’s Health Month in June.
Over half of the respondents, 53 percent, said that they view a carnivore diet (where only or mostly animal-based foods are consumed) as “masculine”. A higher percentage, 63 percent, said they’d change their diet if the foods they believed to be “masculine” were harming their health.
The research polled 1,020 US men in May this year, finding that men between the ages of 18 and 34 were more likely to associate food with gender. 35 percent of respondents saw soy foods - including tofu, edamame, and tempeh - as “feminine” and 49 percent viewed meat as “masculine”.
The rise of influencers promoting the carnivore diet could be behind these views: according to environmental charity Hubbub, 40 percent of 16 to 24-year-olds are eating more animal-derived proteins now than last year, as a meat-heavy diet is trending on social media. Around 67 percent of people following the carnivore diet are men.
“Meatfluencers and the manosphere are pushing the disease-causing myth that consuming meat and milk is manly,” said Noah Praamsma, registered dietitian with the PCRM. “But make no mistake, these foods can be detrimental to men’s health—from heart disease and prostate cancer to erectile dysfunction and reduced fertility.”
Several studies have found that despite the hype around it, the carnivore diet puts its followers at risk of heart disease and nutrient deficiencies.
“The carnivore diet is nutritionally unbalanced, unsustainable, and potentially harmful in the long run. While short-term benefits may come from eliminating processed foods, there are far healthier ways to achieve health goals without sacrificing essential nutrients,” said Dr. Shireen Kassam of UK organization Plant-Based Health Professionals.
Some of the diet’s formerly most vocal proponents, such as Paul Saladino, have publicly quit the carnivore lifestyle.
Research has also found that a diet heavily focused on processed red meat such as hot dogs and bacon is linked to lower sperm count and might affect men’s fertility.
In the PCRM and Morning Consult study, when asked what foods contain the female sex hormone oestrogen, 24 percent of men said both dairy and soy did. Dairy products do contain the hormone - but soy contains phytoestrogens, which have much weaker effects on humans than oestrogen. Furthermore, cutting back on processed red meat may help protect men from erectile dysfunction - which could be an early sign of heart disease.
“The good news is that men who want to improve their health by moving away from meat have plenty of healthy plant-based alternatives to choose from,” says Praamsma, “whether that’s veggie burgers or plant-based sausage from the grocery store or countless recipes using grains, beans, vegetables, and soy products.”
Join Species Unite's 30-Day Plant-Powered Challenge, a free month of recipes and tips to help you improve your health, one meal at a time.
We Have A Favor To Ask…
Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.
At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.
We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.
