Health Benefits of Eating Meat
Should meat be a part of your diet? This is one of the most controversial questions in the nutrition and science community. While there are different schools of thought to the question as a whole; the health advantages of eating meat as a source of nutrition are well-founded. Let’s take a bite and chew over the facts.
*Please note that this article will not be tackling the argument that eating meat is unethical and unnecessary.
Pork is often referred to as ‘the other white meat’; however, it’s actually classified as red meat, which, like poultry is a source of quality protein as well as macro (carbs, proteins and fats) and micronutrients (essential vitamins and minerals.) It’s low in carbohydrates and depending on the cut, has a moderate to high-fat content which is why it’s recommended as a staple food of the LCHF diet.
According to an academic study entitled, the Nutritional Composition of Meat, the authors state, ‘Meat ranks among one of the most significant, nutritious and favoured food item available to masses, which aids in fulfilling most of their body requirements. It has played a vital role in human evolution and is an imperative constituent of a well-balanced diet.’
The truth is that your body cannot function without protein; even vegetarians and vegans eat protein-rich foods – it merely comes from another source. If an individual is protein deficient, he/she may develop a disease called kwashiorkor. The abovementioned study also explains that meat ‘is a good source of proteins, zinc, iron, selenium, and phosphorus, followed by vitamin A and B-complex vitamins.’
So, there are no bones about it; protein is a vital part of a balanced diet, which, in turn, contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
One of the prominent counter-arguments is that processed meats contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) nitrites; this has been disproven.
So far, we’ve erred on the nutritional benefits of eating meat, but let’s cut to the chase, it’s delicious! There are a broad range of pork meat products which include but are not limited to
- Sausages
- Bacon
- Hock & Shanks
- Ham
- Ribs
It’s a popular belief that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, so if it makes sense that a quality protein should be a part of your meal: some bacon? Pork sausage? Take your pick, or have both!
Heart disease and obesity are two of the prevalent reasons why some individuals stay away from meat. Like any food, if eaten in abundance and not balanced out with healthy greens such as vegetables and salad, yes it can theoretically affect your body. However, so can carbohydrate-rich foods such as pasta and potatoes; diets that are high in carbs can contribute to obesity which is a significant contributor to heart disease.