What are the health benefits of red meat? When it comes to meats, you cannot afford to make mistakes in what you choose and how you choose it, mainly because you have to avoid certain diseases like cancer and severe food poisoning, but they can also form a good part of your daily diet and give some considerable health benefits when included in your diet. How about red meat, is it safe to eat? I am sure there are many times you have wondered – is red meat bad for you?
Let’s cut to the chase, red meat is not as dangerous as it is said to be, at least, not from the very beginning. Humans have consumed red meat for many years till this same day. One significant difference between the red meat of then (past) and the ones we consume now is how it is bred.
The red meat in those times roamed freely and fed on grasses, insects, etc., but the ones bred these days are mostly conditioned.
What is red meat?
Red meat mainly refers to reared animals, especially adult mammals, but it doesn’t have to be necessarily raised. They are usually red when raw and could turn black after cooking (boiled, fried, smoke, etc.); this is opposed to white meat.
The redness is as a result of a large quantity of myoglobin present in the cells, red meat also has a high amount of saturated fat, which is also known as bad fat, and that is the reason many people run away from consuming red meat (for fear of related heart diseases). I think there is a lot linked to heart diseases than just red meat, and that is because a lot of people still eat red meat to date and are in good health.
What Are The Benefits Of Red Meat
Some red meat examples include pork (some cuts of it), beef, veal, lamb, goat meat, etc.
Now, you must note that there is a difference between red meat and processed meat, you should stay away from all processed meats as much as you can, and I will tell you why – processed meats are four times saltier with more fats and calories than red meat, this is not to mention the possibility of the danger that some preservatives could cause to the human body. So, I advise that if you have to eat red meat, you should go for the unprocessed one, which healthier.
All this is not to insinuate that red meat is perfect for you. In fact, the dangers that lie in consuming it in a considerable quantity or without taking into consideration if you have any underlying conditions could be very consequential.
White meat vs. Red meat
Generally speaking, you could say white meat is better than red meat. By white meat, we mean meat that looks pale and has a lower myoglobin content in its muscle than red meat. However, it could also affect the body’s cholesterol level by increasing it (which isn’t a great idea). If we look at the fact that it has little fat than red meat, it is probably a safer option.
Looking at them critically, you might realize that both their positive and negative effects on the human body make it impossible to choose which is truly the better choice.
White meat has lean fat and a reasonable amount of protein, and some other essential minerals. In contrast, the red heart, on the other hand, has more iron, zinc, vitamins than white meat, which is good. The primary issue is with the presence of more saturated fats, which is relatively less in white meat.
What Are The Benefits Of Red Meat
Why is red meat bad for you?
Well, notwithstanding all this information, why is red meat bad for you?
The answer is simple, so here are some reasons below;
- Overweight or Obesity – Studies have shown that you could gain a reasonable amount of weight by eating high saturated fat foods. So, it is best to limit the amount of red meat you consume since it is actually very high in saturated fat.
- Heart Diseases – As you might already know, red meat raises your blood cholesterol level, which negatively affects heart health; it is the primary cause of many heart diseases. People prone to heart diseases or who already have underlying heart diseases are usually advised to stay away from red meat to not complicate their condition.
- Cancer – The studies that showed that red meat is responsible for most cancer-related diseases such as prostrate, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer has lately been evaluated by other studies which debunked this so-called evidence they had and said it does not suffice to be evidence against eating red meat, of course, we know too that cancer has other causes other than red meat, but this is not to serve as a valid reason to start eating red meat in large quantity again, caution should be taken till the truth is ascertained.
For this reason, too, you may want to stay away from red meat.
Below are some nutrients in red meat
Red meat is rich in minerals and several vitamins. It is rich in the following;
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B6
- Protein
- Iron
- Riboflavin
- Zinc
- Phosphorous
These are just a few of the nutrients present in red meat, and they have useful functions in the body. You can also find vitamin D, polyunsaturated fats, selenium, etc.
Red meat dishes
For instance, we will be experiencing winter in a couple of weeks. As the autumn seasons close up, folks are preparing themselves for winter, and you may be wondering what do I eat? This is not because you are clueless about what to consume for that period, but the ideal question is, what are my best choices?
Many foods fall in this category, but red meat will also be a great choice depending on the quantity you will be taking but avoid processed meat. Why red meat?
This is why, red meat has a lot of zinc and iron, which is needed in autumn and much needed in winter periods, and then it also has vitamins in at least a reasonable quantity. Vitamin D is much required during winter.
Below are some examples of dishes made with red meat that are the right choice for autumn and winter periods;
- Winter warm-up beef simmer
- Beef stew
- Beef and barley stew
- Goat meat winter stew
- Sweet and sour pork with winter vegetables.
There are several other foods to try that include red meat, but I leave it to these few, but you can always try more.
Yes, red meat could be bad for you, but you may be doing yourself more good if you look at some necessary precautions.
* You can download a free copy of the eBook on “Ketogenic Diet 101”
