Many adherents of good nutrition constantly ask themselves the question: which meat is healthier - white or red? It is quite difficult to give a definite answer. But still try to figure everything out in order.
What is red meat?
Red meat is horse meat, beef, lamb, pork. Partially rabbit meat also belongs to this type. This animal has red and white meat in a percentage of 40:60. When an animal grows older, there is more white meat than red.
Beef is the most popular type of meat. But the statement that it is red is debatable. If the animal is young, its meat is lighter. With age, it becomes darker. So, the meat of a one-year-old animal can be attributed to white.
Why meat of a certain color
What is red meat? Myoglobin gives color to it. This is a type of muscle protein of the heart and skeleton. Myoglobin is found in all muscles, but in varying amounts. This protein is saturated with oxygen in different ways. It is from this that a certain color of meat depends. Also, the age of the animal and its activity (a certain load and degree of movement) affect the color. For young animals, the type of food is extremely important. Often the meat of males is redder than that of females. If the animal’s muscles are better developed, its meat has a richer color. Myoglobin is very small in young meat breeds.
Is red meat harmful
Which meat is red meat? Does it benefit the body? It is generally accepted that it is really harmful, since it contains a lot of cholesterol. It is also oily. When cooking from red meat, cholesterol is released, which provokes the appearance of cancer. By tradition, white meat is recognized as useful. Nutritionists of America conducted a series of experiments and studies. They found evidence supporting the harm of red meat. But then these judgments were refuted. The studies were conducted mostly in the USA. Here, people preferred to eat delicious beef steaks with a delicious crust. It may well be carcinogens in it. But this does not mean that beef should be completely abandoned.
What meat is considered red? Is it really as harmful as they say? It’s not meat itself that is harmful, but the way it is cooked. If it is fried, then it is necessarily harmful. Moreover, it does not matter whether it is white or red.
The same scientists of America found that if women exclude red meat from the diet, this will immediately affect their appearance. The source of animal protein is simply irreplaceable.
If you like red meat, you should eat its lean varieties. As a result, all risks can be significantly reduced. At the same time, the method by which it is prepared is no less important. So, a meatless meat patty that you cook on the grill will bring more benefits than fatty, fried in a large amount of oil.
Red meat has a lot of iron. Is this useful?
What meat is called red - we already found out. Does it have at least some benefit to the body? Today it is customary to discuss such a thing as vitamin deficiency. Very little is said about the overabundance of minerals and vitamins. Red meat is an important supplier of iron in our body.
How much of this mineral does a person need? It often happens that our body needs iron. As a result, anemia is noted in a pronounced form. If iron builds up in our body and is not excreted, then this can become a serious threat to our health. Probably the emergence of such a terrible disease as cancer. It is quite difficult to understand how much iron is accumulated, whether there is an overabundance of it. There are only indirect signs. One of them is too much pigmentation.
But it is iron that is involved in the formation of red blood cells. During menstruation, some of these cells are lost. As a result, fatigue appears, performance decreases, sleep is disturbed, and depression occurs. All these reasons affect the condition of the skin and nails.
White meat
Which meat is red and which is white? There are both types of meat in poultry. Wings and popular breasts - white; beloved by many legs - red meat. The same can be said of the turkey. Lean young pork is also referred to white. This, for example, tenderloin. But for the most part, pork is red meat. It has a lot more protein than fish or chicken.
What is red meat? Why is white considered more beneficial to the body? Maybe because it is less caloric. White meat has a lot of unsaturated fats. The protein found in fish is very healthy. Nutritionists say that white meat contains extremely little protein. But this does not mean its lesser benefits. If a person wants to lose weight, lower cholesterol in the body and eat right, you should choose white meat.
What to eat during a diet
What is red meat? Is it allowed during the diet? If a person observes a special diet, in which there is extremely little cholesterol to enter the body, pork, lamb and beef should be completely excluded from the diet. Ideal - lean varieties: poultry, fish, pork tenderloin, veal.
There are also types of diets in which red meat is completely excluded from the diet. In this case, you only need to eat turkey, chicken, lean pork and fish. It is best to boil them.
The utility coefficient of meat is affected not only by a certain variety. The heat treatment method that was used is also important. In order for the body to get the maximum benefit, you should completely abandon smoked and fried meat. In such a delicious crust, carcinogens necessarily accumulate. It is best to boil such a product, bake in the oven or grill. In this case, it will not turn out to be bold and will retain maximum benefit.
Eat right and be healthy!