I don't think I'd draw the line as high as "gym rats." I was brought up in a family with a vegan mother, and at home generally had to conform to that same diet. During university, I had a majorly carb based (very unhealthy as well) diet. Across all three, when I finally had the money to buy good quality meat on a regular basis (3-4 times a week), I not only felt FAR better, but my rather light workout regimen (2 sessions a day, 3 reps of 30 set's of a variety of free weight exercises), became FAR more effective. I put on ~10-20 pounds within a few short months, and found myself far more capable in terms of both performing and recovering from the rather simple physical tasks I do as a sysadmin (staying on my feet most of the day, racking rather heavy servers)
Now, this is all anecdotal, I was just addressing that my body responded in a way that suggested that I did "require" the protein.
With regards to the more formal argument, I'd word it more that you put yourself more "at risk" for certain health hazards by cutting ANY core part of the diet out. It's certainly easy to prove meat is "bad" but most of the studies I had seen involved excessive consumption, which defaults back to the general statement of "all things in moderation". Do you have references that show the former (negative effects) without the latter? (ineffective dietary balance).
To summarize, I'd agree if we're only talking in extremes, that it's very easy to show that meat is bad. So I'd qualify all my previous statements with "a well balanced diet"
Now, this is all anecdotal, I was just addressing that my body responded in a way that suggested that I did "require" the protein.
With regards to the more formal argument, I'd word it more that you put yourself more "at risk" for certain health hazards by cutting ANY core part of the diet out. It's certainly easy to prove meat is "bad" but most of the studies I had seen involved excessive consumption, which defaults back to the general statement of "all things in moderation". Do you have references that show the former (negative effects) without the latter? (ineffective dietary balance).
To summarize, I'd agree if we're only talking in extremes, that it's very easy to show that meat is bad. So I'd qualify all my previous statements with "a well balanced diet"