With more people switching to vegan and vegetarian diets, there is a lot of confusing information concerning meat being shared on the internet. When consumers are bombarded with all kinds of information, it makes choosing meat products even more difficult.
To promote better decisions about eating and shopping for meat, here are meat myths you should know.
Red Meat Is Bad for Your Health
If you read somewhere that all red meat is bad for you, don’t be fooled. You shouldn’t lump all meats as the same since there is a clear distinction between processed and unprocessed meat. The latter is organic and grass-fed or grain-fed.
You should only avoid processed meats because they may contain carcinogens. However, studies do not support any risk of consuming unprocessed meat. The American Institute for Cancer Research actually recommends three portions of unprocessed red meat every week. This will give your body iron, zinc, selenium, Vitamin b12, and other essential nutrients.
Meat Rots in Your Body
Many people steer clear of meat because they think that it rots in the colon when it does not get digested. However, this isn’t true. When you eat meat, the digestive enzymes and stomach acid break it down into amino acids. The fats transform into fatty acids. Then, these substances get absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that there is no meat left to rot in your body.
Red Meat Causes Cancer
One of the most common myths about red meat is that it causes cancer. While this is true for processed meat, this accusation has not been proven for unprocessed meat.
The way that meat is cooked can also affect your health, especially if it is overcooked. To avoid this, stick to gentle cooking methods. It is also recommended to cut away charred or burned pieces of meat.
Meat Is Not Needed by the Body
Many people believe that meat is unnecessary for the body. While there is some truth to this claim, quality meat is actually good for you. There are a lot of important nutrients in meat such as creatine, carnosine, and protein that are lacking in some individuals who do not consume meat.
While people can actually live without meat, this presents challenges for your health. The same can also be said about other food groups such as vegetables, fish, and eggs.
Meat Will Make You Fat
Meat is high in calories and fat. This is why this myth makes sense to many people; but if you dig deeper, you will realize that meat is one of the most important sources of bio-available protein which helps weight loss. A diet with high protein can boost your metabolism by up to 100 calories per day.
Increasing your protein intake will also decrease your cravings. Therefore, you will eat fewer foods and cut your caloric intake by hundreds of calories. The protein found in meat is also essential for muscle mass.
How Do You Feel About Meat Now?
From cancer to heart disease, meat has been the source of unfounded accusations for decades. However, not everything plastered on headlines is accurate. Many of these claims are misleading. Without question, unprocessed red meat is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. So next time you want to treat yourself with a juicy steak, don’t feel guilty about it.
Interested in learning about other herbs and foods that are better for your health? Read more on our blog!
