Sorry I should of clarified I meant red meat, I myself don't eat it because I get enough protein through fish, poultry, eggs ect. Eating red meat really isn't necessary in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, in fact I heard of a vegetarian body builder! And of course early humans needed to eat meat, but today we have such a diverse range of food that it is unnecessary.
Unnecessary... yes, but it is also unnecessary to eat fish... maybe we could evolve to not need to eat at all. Maybe just pop a few pills. Red meat is an important source of iron... oh to hell with doing it in my own words, just read this:
"Meat is the single richest source of iron and zinc and contributes significant amounts of vitamins," says Mary Abbott Hess, a registered dietitian and former president of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Meanwhile, a three-ounce serving of beef provides 50 percent of the daily recommended protein, along with beneficial B vitamins. And as for all that saturated fat, according to the ADA "more than half the fatty acids in beef are monounsaturated, the same type of fatty acids found in olive oil and championed for their heart-healthy properties. In addition, approximately one-third of the saturated fat in beef is stearic acid, which is shown to have a neutral effect on blood cholesterol."
Grilling red meat can lead to the formation of cancer-causing heterocyclic amines.
The ADA advises that Americans can eat six ounces of lean red meat five or more days a week and still be eating a diet that could
decrease cholesterol levels. Surprisingly, they say lean beef is just as effective as skinless chicken when it comes to lowering cholesterol.
If You Eat Red Meat, What Kind is Best?
There are those in the natural health field who oppose red meat for ethical reasons, and there are those who are fans of red meat ... as long as it comes from quality sources.
Conventional meat is typically raised on corporate factory farms that are inhumane to animals and unhealthy for you. Animals raised in mass factory farms are pumped full of antibiotics, hormones and other drugs (about 70 percent of all antibiotics and similar drugs produced in the United States are given to livestock and poultry), while being fed an unhealthy mix of pesticide-laden grains.
If you are not familiar with factory-farming practices and what that means for the food you feed your family,
The Meat You Eat: How Corporate Farming Has Endangered America's Food Supply, is a highly recommended book on the topic. It's a quick read, and one that can help lead to a positive transformation in both a big-picture and personal sense.
When it comes to red meat, choosing sources that have been raised in humane, natural ways --- which means being
raised on pasture, or grass-fed -- is the healthier choice, according to many experts. Grass-fed beef has been found to contain less fat and more omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and other beneficial compounds compared to grain-fed beef.
What About Cooking and Processing?
Adding to the complexity, the way red meat is cooked and processed can also impact its nutritional value. Processed meats are known to be among the worst way to consume red meats because they
contain a number of additives, one being
sodium nitrite, a preservative that's been linked to cancer.
Cooking red meat at high temperatures, such as frying, searing, grilling or broiling, is also problematic. It's known to produce heterocyclic amines, chemicals that may cause cancer.
Add up all of the above and you're left with a personal decision that only you can make. While some say you're better off avoiding red meat entirely, others point out its beneficial nutrients, particularly when it comes from a healthy, humanely raised grass-fed animal.---end.
I only eat British beef.
I know I sound like I'm not playing with a full deck of cards, but I am not lying. R.I.P., "The Dude"
yeah, I'm all there with you with the *subversion* hehe of the english language. i hate hearing people say things totally in the wrong way, and when cultural understandings of terms are dumbed down due to misuse.