Meat is an extremely popular type of food and is often found in people’s diets. One reason for this is that meat can fall into the category of red meat, which can be very healthy and delicious.
Not all meats are red meat, however.
In this article, we will discuss what counts as red meat, the benefits and risks, and finally, how much you should eat. By the end, you’ll know everything you need to know about red meat.
Contents
What Counts as Red Meat?
Before we go into what meat counts as red meat, we should address just what it is first. Red meat is meat that comes from mammals. What sets it apart from other meats is that it is red when it is raw. Hence, the name red meat. Several foods fall into the red meat category. This includes:
- Beef and Veal (both come from cows. The type of meat it is depends on the age of the cow.)
- Goat
- Venison or deer
- Pork
- Lamb and Mutton (both come from sheep. The type of meat it is depends on the age of the sheep.)
All of these meats are considered to be red meat, but all of them provide their benefits. The foods that don’t count as red meat are meat from birds, fish, and rabbits.
Benefits of Red Meat
As you have figured out by now, red meat has a lot of benefits for your health.
- Red meat has a lot of protein in it. Proteinis important because it keeps parts of your body healthy suchas hair, bones, nails, skin, blood, and cartilage. It makes sure the inside and outside are kept healthy!
- There is also a decent amount of iron in red meat.If you don’t have a lot of iron in your body, it can lead to you becoming anemic.
- There are micronutrients in red meat besides iron. This includes zinc and B vitamins. Both of these help your body function properly and remain healthy.
These are some of the biggest benefits of eating red meat, provided it is eaten in moderation. If eaten in moderation, your body is going to reap all these benefits.
Risks of Eating Red Meat
Red meat can come with a lot of risks. These include:
- Eating a lot of red meat can cause you to be at risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and colorectal cancer, and finally, stroke.
- Red meat is also high in cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fats. These can all affect your help in a multitude of ways. Cholesterol is especially a problem because it can cause a lot of health issues and give you high cholesterol. There are no symptoms, and the only way to even tell if you have it is if your doctor runs a blood test.
- The risk of cancer depends on the type of red meat you are eating.If you are eating unprocessed red meat every day, then this gives you a 13 percent chance of dying from cardiovascular disease or cancer. If you are eating processed red meat,then it’s 20 percent.
Sadly, some risks come with everything in life, and eating red meat is no different. However, if you eat red meat in moderation, you can lower your chance of facing any of these risks.
How Much Red Meat Should You Consume?
There is a certain amount of red meat that you should consume every week. This prevents you from facing any health consequences.
Assuming you are in good health and not at risk of heart failure or stroke, it is recommended that you eat 6 to 8 portions about once or twice per week.
Also, make sure you pay attention to the cut. The leaner it is, the healthier it is. The same goes for if the meat is processed or not.
Now, if you have any health risks, it’s best to limit the red meat you eat even further. This way, you won’t put your health further at risk.
Final Thoughts
And there you go, all you red meat lovers out there! Now you know what types of food count as red meat, what the benefits and risks there are, and finally, how much you should eat.
The next time you go to search for red meat, you’ll know exactly what you are looking for.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and purchase some red meat!
You might also be interested in the following:
- Is Egg Considered Meat?
- Is Shrimp Considered Red Meat?
- Is Seafood Considered Red Meat?
- Is Pork Considered Red Meat?
- Is Lamb Considered Red Meat?
- Is Ham Considered Red Meat?
- Is Fish Considered Red Meat?
- Is Chicken Considered Red Meat?
- What Is Considered White Meat?
- What Is Considered Processed Meat?
- What Is Considered Lean Meat?
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.