In recent years, we have been encouraged to reduce the amount of meat we eat — for health reasons and to help protect the environment. Red meat, in particular, has been shown to increase the risk of some health problems, while the farming of cows for food has a negative impact on the planet. And these days, restaurants around the world that have traditionally focused on meat-based meals, including places like McDonald's and KFC, have begun to add more plant-based choices to their menus. But the question some people are asking is: Can I eat less meat and still be healthy? According to 2022 research, the answer could be "yes." Researchers in Italy and Spain compared studies on the health benefits of animal proteins and plant-based or vegetable proteins. We all need protein in our diets, wherever it comes from. Plant-based or vegetable proteins include things like chickpeas, beans and nuts, as well as broccoli, kale and tofu. And the study found that vegetable proteins can reduce the risk of things like heart disease and strokes, compared to animal proteins. The researchers said that animal and vegetable proteins had similar effects on muscle and bone health. However, they did find that vegetable or plant-based proteins might not give quite enough vitamin B12, although they were not able to explain why the two proteins have different effects on the body. The researchers added that the lower environmental impact of plant-based proteins was too important to forget. The health of the planet, they said, cannot be separated from the health of our bodies.