During the olden days, animals were hunted down and consumed, but now meat comes from domesticated animals, and there is a big ol’ meat industry that caters to the ever-increasing demand. There are meat lovers worldwide who eagerly look forward to eating meat at least once a week, not to mention the overall consumption of meat is increasing day by day. While many people around the world believe and/or debate that eating meat is unhealthy, it is not only rich in protein, but it contains a variety of other vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are essential for the human body. Consuming the right amount of meat is part of a balanced diet and has a lot of health benefits.
Red Meat vs White Meat
People have their preferences towards different types of meat like red meat, white meat, and processed, also known as Deli meat. Each type of meat has its unique qualities and taste; Red meat is mostly from larger mammals while white meat is from birds. Both types of meat have different textures and tastes, and when some times are processed through salting, drying, smoking to enhance the taste, smell, and texture. Contrary to popular belief or what they show on TV, the USA is not the highest meat-eating country when taken per capita, but Denmark, New Zealand, Luxemburg. Consuming meat can be healthy and unhealthy depending on the amount, the temperature, and the way one cooks it. Another key factor of having healthy meat is to know how the animals have been farmed because of the number of chemicals injected into the animals when being mass-produced.
What Is Red Meat?
There are various health benefits from red meat as they are a rich source of protein, and they also help cure certain diseases. Red meat is rendered from animals like beef, goat, lamb, pork. The red color in the meat is because of its red pigment and due to the high content of myoglobin. Certain parts of the meat are redder because myoglobin transports oxygen to the muscle areas, and since these parts are always being worked, the amount of blood flow is also high.
Health Benefits Of Consuming Red Meat
Red meat is rich in iron, vitamins, and a very good source of protein but also has a high percentage of fat. People who tend to have a weaker immune system are suggested to consume red meat as it is rich in vitamin B, which increases the immune power. It comprises B-12, which supports building a healthy nervous system. Riboflavin content present in red meat is also good for people who are having skin and eyesight issues. Red meat contains more iron content than plant-based foods. Red meat is also rich in zinc; when consumed in the right amount, it will help one’s defensive system function properly and keep brain health in good condition. Zinc is also required for the human body, which aids in metabolism and helps build muscle and cell growth for wound healing. I eat red meat; some of my favorite dishes are Steak with Red Wine / Brandy Pepper Sauce, Pork Vindaloo, Mutton Biryani, or Chukka.
Risk Factors Involved In Eating Red Meat
One of the major disadvantages of red meat is that it contains more fat content than white meat. High consumption of red meat increases the body’s fat level, which leads to a higher probability of various types of risk like heart diseases and even cancer, especially colorectal cancer. A recent study showed that high consumption of red meat has the overall deterioration of health in the long run and reduces the lifespan of the individuals.
Red meat is more likely to cause food poisoning if it is not cooked properly as they carry a higher concentration of bacteria. Usually, cooking red meat at high-temperature releases carcinogenic compounds, which increases the risk of cancer. This is especially true for grilled meat because the fat content that drips out of the meat when it falls on the heated base releases chemical compounds that settle on the meat’s surface, which also causes cancer. As red meat also contains a high concentration of fat content, when consumed in high quantities, it leads to diabetes.
What Is White Meat?
Like red meat, even white meat is enriched with health benefits when consumed properly with our daily diet. The difference between red and white meat is the color due to the lower concentration of myoglobin. White meat can be obtained especially from ground-based birds like chicken, duck, goose, and turkey.
Health Benefits Of Consuming White Meat
White meat is rich in calcium. Consuming it daily will increase bone strength and provide essential vitamins and minerals that support the kidney, liver, and entire nervous system functions. This is especially beneficial for those with joint pain and weakened bones. Consuming white meat, especially chicken breasts, reduces the amino acid homocysteine, resulting in a healthy heart and lowers the probability of heart diseases. Like red meat, white meat has riboflavin, which reduces skin problems. People with skin damage can consume chicken liver by getting it cooked properly, repairing the cells, and boosting metabolic activities. White meat is the best if you are looking for lean protein. All of you will have at least one friend who works out and will talk nonstop about how much chicken legs and breast they eat. White meat helps with muscle growth will ensuring very little fat is added to the equation. My personal favorite is chicken, and I love easy to prepare dishes like Honey Mustard Chicken, Grilled Rosemary Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce, Chicken Pilaf.
Risk Factors Involved In Eating White Meat
White meat can increase the bad cholesterol leading to cardiovascular diseases. When eating white meat, it is best to avoid the skin as it is saturated with fat. Cooking the white meat properly plays a vital role to avoid risk factors as the meat, if not cooked properly, the fat content could cause heart disease, charred meat could cause cancer and many others. Too much consumption of white meat causes diabetes, which in turn leads to many other health problems like red meats.
The Bottomline – Whether it is red or white, there are always both benefits and risks when it comes to meat. If you are into fitness, it is best to go for white meat, but otherwise, it all comes down to your taste buds. As long as the meat is clean and cooked properly, you can have a wonderful time experiencing the texture of the meat with different sauces and marinades. Just make sure that you eat everything in moderation with both types of meat.