Got Meat?
For a lot of us, meat is a very important portion of our diet. Perhaps, that’s because we want protein or just that it tastes pretty good. Now let’s say you’re a newcomer and want to try eating meat for the first time in your life. There’s only one problem, there are a million types… what do you even pick? In this article, we talk about the benefits and concerns of the six most popular meats right now.
Pork:
Despite some confusion, pork is considered red meat rather than white as it contains large amounts of myoglobin. There are lots of types of pork itself: bacon, ham, hot dogs, salami, sausages, etc.
Benefits:
Pork is a significant source of thiamin (vitamin B1). This meat contains the highest amount of this vitamin and it plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism.
Cheap and affordable for many
Contains alright amounts of selenium and zinc: responsible for boosting the immune system and hormone production
Concerns:
Pork is very susceptible to bacterial infections, contaminations, and other food-borne illnesses compared to other meats
Beef:
Beef is probably the most typical red meat one could think of. It contains huge amounts of myoglobin and is in many different products such as hamburgers or rib-eye steaks.
Benefits:
Contains large amounts of iron, zinc, and vitamin B12
Contains oleic oil which is as beneficial as olive oil
Contains glutathione and linoleic acid which help reduce cell damage in liver disease
Concerns:
Excessive consumption can cause unhealthy levels of iron which can cause the risk of various cancers
Overcooking can lead to the formation of carcinogens
Mutton/Lamb:
Lamb and mutton are very similar types of meat, except lamb comes from sheep less than one year old and mutton comes from adult sheep.
Benefits:
The ratio of omega 6 to 3 is very low which is beneficial to overall health
Contains zinc, selenium, vitamin B, and other low levels of vitamins
Concerns:
Compared to other kinds of meats, lamb is pretty expensive
Chicken:
Chicken is one of the most popular meats alongside beef and pork. However, chicken comes under the poultry category as it is a white meat.
Benefits:
Chicken is cheap and affordable
Chicken offers a lower calorie-to-protein ratio and is protein-dense
Provides a decent source of gelatin which helps strengthen the bones
Concerns:
Although rarer than pork, bacterial contamination is still possible hence it has to be cooked thoroughly
Turkey:
Known for its appearance during Thanksgiving, turkey is another form of white meat just like chicken, but is a less prevalent form of poultry. The most popular kind of turkey is roasted turkey.
Benefits:
Extremely protein dense offering 17.5 grams of protein only for 149 calories
Offers huge amounts of vitamin B, selenium and phosphorus
It’s an inexpensive force of high-quality protein
Concerns:
Turkey is more likely to harbor foodborne pathogens than red meat
Fish:
There are millions of types of fish, however, for this article, we’ll write a general idea of the benefits and concerns of fish meat. We’ll break things down more in future articles!
Benefits:
Abundant in calcium and phosphorus, this excellent mineral-rich source also provides essential elements like iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium.
Contains omega-3 fatty acids which keep the heart and brain healthy
Also contains fatty acids that are extremely good for eye health
Concerns:
Fish can contain elevated levels of mercury which is a neurotoxin that is harmful to particularly children and fetuses
Due to the overwhelming demand for fish across the globe, overfishing can cause an environmental impact and the quality of the meat from the company producing it might be low
Sources:
Michael Joseph, MSc. “15 Fatty Fish High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids.” Nutrition Advance, 4 Aug. 2023, www.nutritionadvance.com/fatty-fish/.
Michael Joseph, MSc. “13 Types of Meat and Their Nutritional Values.” Nutrition Advance, 15 Sept. 2023, www.nutritionadvance.com/types-of-meat/.
Safety--EPH-EHS--4400, Environmental Health and. “Health Benefits of Fish.” Washington State Department of Health, doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/food/fish/health-benefits#:~:text=Fish%20is%20filled%20with%20omega,part%20of%20a%20healthy%20diet. Accessed 1 Jan. 2024.
