Actor Martin Freeman recently disclosed that he has abandoned vegetarianism, marking a significant shift after 38 years of abstaining from meat consumption.
The 52-year-old, known for his roles in “Sherlock” and “The Office,” shared that he adopted a vegetarian diet as a teenager in January 1986 because he “was never comfortable with the idea of eating animals.”
However, Freeman admitted to reverting to eating meat due to concerns about the highly processed nature of some meat replacements. He expressed his desire to consume less processed food during an appearance on the Dish podcast hosted by Nick Grimshaw and professional chef Angela Hartnett.
During the podcast, which features guests enjoying a meal with the hosts, Hartnett served her signature bolognese for the latest episode, which Freeman praised as potentially the best he’s ever tasted, although he acknowledged his mother’s cooking skills as well.
The transition back to an omnivore diet is recent, according to Freeman, who mentioned that it began “in the last couple of months.” He noted that while he appreciated vegetarian replacements for meat, he was cautious about their high level of processing.
Freeman’s concerns about processed foods align with recent studies warning about the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods, which may include increased risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
However, a recent study highlighted that plant-based meat and dairy alternatives tend to have lower levels of saturated fat and higher fiber compared to animal-derived products.
Nonetheless, researchers cautioned that the nutritional quality of plant-based alternatives can vary significantly between products.
Host Nick Grimshaw also shared his experience with plant-based eating, revealing that he mostly followed a vegan diet while living with a vegan friend but “broke” his veganism when tempted by a scotch egg at a party.
Freeman, now enjoying meat again, expressed his delight in indulging in scotch eggs and pork pies, which he humorously described as the “food of the gods.”
