Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Red Meat, White Meat and No Meat

Did you know that a steak a day, much unlike apples, does not keep the doctors away?

In fact, according to an article on naturalnews.com, 4*** ounces of red meat per day increases your mortality rate 30%** (in contrast to those who eat the smallest recommended amount of red meat).

If you create your meals with health and veggies in mind, you’ll have a lowered risk of colorectal cancer, heart disease and other cardiovascular-related diseases and deaths; you’ll have a healthier body.

For example, the Big Mac you had the other day for lunch wouldn’t adhere to these tips. Neither would beef, liver, pork, sausage, or pepperoni.

Now, you don’t have to cut meat out of your diet completely. Things are better in moderation, right? Also, there are an abundance of white meats that are more beneficial to your health: chicken, turkey, fish, poultry hot dogs and canned tuna, to name a few.

Certainly, red meat does have its advantages. It is a good source of protein and energy and, when lean, can aid in heart disease prevention. If you are going to eat red meat (which many do), the leaner the better. Too much of it, which means too much animal fat, can increase your risk for heart disease by 50%. If you simply can’t live without it, the recommended serving for optimum health is a little bit over one serving per week. (A typical serving is 3-4 ounces.)

Essentially, your plate should look more like this:

And less like this:

I’ve discussed how to be healthier while eating red meat but one of the best ways to achieve optimum health is through a vegetarian diet.

Just as with a diet that includes red meat, there are both right and wrong ways to go about a vegetarian diet. Growing up, I had a lot of friends ‘go’ vegetarian. Three weeks later, the cookies and candy diet proved to be exhausting and unhealthy.

Before you begin your vegetarian diet, it would be wise to research the best ways to obtain your nutrient requirements. The nutrients include fats; proteins; carbohydrates; fiber; enzymes; vitamins; minerals; beneficial bacteria & soil based organisms. Drink a lot of water, look up some good recipes and remember to use balance in obtaining your proteins, etc.

Remember, moderation is key!


**mortality rate means you will die sooner!

***edit: When I posted this initially, I mistakenly said '40' instead of
'4'. Thanks to "Matt" for pointing out my error!



http://www.csiro.au/resources/ps8l.html

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Live+longer+reducing+meat+intake+Study/1426309/story.html

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art30907.asp

2 comments:

  1. I agree with your post, but who eats 40 ounces of red meat a day? Even 16 is more than most people who really like red meat eat a day at least in my experience.

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  2. You're right! That was a huge typo; it was meant to say 4 ounces.
    Thanks so much for pointing that out.

    ReplyDelete