Eating meat is a daily routine in today’s world. Most people don’t think twice about ordering a cheeseburger rather than a veggie burger, but if they did, the world would be a lot happier and healthier than it is today.

The best way to help the environment and your body is to be vegan. While being vegetarian consists of a meat-free diet, veganism deletes any animal product from consumption. Vegans do not eat meat, eggs, milk, cheese or any other dairy product.

Everyone should cut as much meat out of their diet as they can. For some people, completely cutting meat out of their diet is nearly impossible. For others, eliminating meat can cause health issues, like abnormal weight loss or an iron deficiency. But for those without a need for meat, eating as little meat as possible should become a habit.

Meat should be avoided as much as possible because meat can cause health problems after years of consuming it.

Health problems revolving around meat usually stem from one kind in particular: red meat. Bacon, beef, lamb, veal and other types of red meats are proven to raise a person’s chance of cancer, kidney failure, heart disease and colon problems.

However, red meat does contain vital vitamins like iron and vitamin B-3. Vitamin B-3 helps the body break down carbohydrates, fats and protein into healthy energy while iron also increases energy and strengthens blood flow.

While iron and vitamin B-3 are found in meat, they are also found in other foods. Iron is found in white beans, tofu, spinach and even dark chocolate. Vitamin B-3 is present in mushrooms, corn, nuts, beans and lots of green vegetables. Gaining nutrients from these vegetables is a healthier habit than attaining vitamins from meat.

Taking meat out of as many meals as you can also helps the environment in massive ways.

More than half of global gas emissions, 51 percent to be exact, are caused by animal agriculture. More than 90 percent of Amazon rainforest land is used to feed livestock. More than 2,400 gallons of water are used to produce one pound of beef, while one pound of tofu only requires 244 gallons of water. That difference is drastic.

Along with the well-being of your body and the environment, people should also stop eating meat for the happiness of animals.

The animals used for meat-eating purposes are usually stuck in small spaces, bred simply for people to eat. Antibiotics are fed to the animals in order to make them survive in unsanitary environments. Over time, the animals in small places are genetically modified to breed larger animals that produce more fat.

“I eat for my own survival and I do my best to make sure that it isn’t at the expense of any other animal, because it doesn’t need to be,” said 25 year-old Iowa State student Jesse Ledbetter, who has been vegan for two years.

Being vegan or vegetarian is more challenging for some than others. But simply cutting meat out of your diet for one day is a small step that helps the environment and your body. Doing small things, like meatless Mondays, can become an easy way to decrease your meat consumption, while completely cutting out meat and dairy from your diet can become a lifestyle for others.