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How does this juicy hamburger appeal to you? As college
students, this can be your usual meal, several times a week! It is convenient,
ready in minutes and incredibly tasty. As a meat lover, I would not turn down
the opportunity to devour this meal.
So, how many of us don’t enjoy a nice steak or a couple of
carne asada tacos once in a while? In some of our cultures, red meat is
essential on our plates and eat it almost, if not, daily. However, what we don’t
know is how harmful it could potentially be on our lifespan. Recent studies
have shown that the more red meat we eat the higher the risk of death is.
Researchers are not sure what can possibly shorten our lifespan, but saturated
fat, sodium, carcinogens, and nitrates have been pointed to. We usually eat more
than the recommended serving size of 3 oz., which is the size of a deck of
cards. Isn’t a hamburger patty larger than a deck of cards already? Now, add
that to the bacon or sausage patties you ate for breakfast. Got you thinking
now, huh?
However, not all is harmful. Red meat is full of nutrients.
It does provide muscle and bone-building protein; it is high in iron, Vitamin B12,
and zinc for our diets. Just remember variety and moderation is key for a
healthy diet. Try alternating with fish and poultry.
Have you ever put
much thought as to how often you eat red meat? Learn the facts of eating red meat at http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Health-and-Wellbeing/Prevention/The-facts-on-eating-red-meat.aspx
I like this point of view. Red meat in large quantities may be unhealthy but it does still offer essential nutrients. I agree that eating it sparingly is a good idea and really like your suggestion about alternating it with fish or poultry.
ReplyDeleteThe key in all aspects of life is moderation, and this of course includes red meat. When people decide to begin eating healthier they often think that they need to stop eating red meat all together but as you pointed out this is not true. A minimum of 6 oz of meat should be consumed daily which amounts to two servings daily. However we often see people consuming much more than 6 oz in a single meal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that meat is something that we eat too much of and too often. I am one of those people that grew up in a home where if you didn’t have some animal protein (usually beef) in your dinner then you did not really have dinner. As I have grown up and learned the truth about meat I have tried to reduce my intake of meat. This has been quite difficult as I grew up in this mindset. In my other classes I have learned the actual serving size for a portion of meat. I am astounded that the cut of steak of many restaurants is at least 8 oz. That is almost 3 servings.
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