Is Red Meat Bad For Your Health?

The consumption of red meat is not harmful to health when it is done moderately. However, processed meats or improper cooking of them can pose a risk.

A few years ago,  an article linking the consumption of red meat to an increased probability of premature death appeared. However, the results of this study have been distorted by the press and the journalists’ conclusions have been shown to be wrong.

The article in question linked the consumption of processed red meat to an increased cardiovascular risk and cancer risk. However,  he did not link these diseases with red meat per se, but with the industrial process associated with the latter.

Indeed, in industry, a good amount of additives are added to meat, and these can actually endanger health in the medium and long term. But the press extended this risk to the consumption of red meat in general.

From there, red meat was demonized, favoring restrictive and vegan diets. It has also been recommended that food from animals be consumed on a very occasional basis, no more than once every two weeks.

Red meat is necessary

Human beings, as omnivorous animals, need a varied diet. Red meat should be part of the diet, even in moderate amounts,  as experts say.

It provides a good amount of proteins of high biological value, which have all the essential amino acids and have adequate digestibility. In addition, it is a food rich in highly bioavailable iron and it is a source of group B vitamins.

Red meat, under an adequate culinary process (plancha, oven), must appear at least once in the meals of the week. However, one should shy away from consuming processed meats, according to a study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology .

Cold meats, especially fatty ones, consist of a large amount of additives, nitrites and other substances necessary for their preservation, which can be harmful to health if ingested in the usual way.

Consumption of these processed foods should be done sporadically, no more than once every two or three weeks. A balanced and healthy diet must prioritize the ingestion of fresh products.

Eating meat prevents anemia

One of the problems with vegan diets is the increased likelihood of suffering from anemia. The iron present in plants has a low availability. And, to this, we must add the probable deficiency of vitamin B12, in the absence of supplementation. The result of this cocktail is possible anemia in the medium term.

Anemia is a disease that develops slowly. Often, therefore, its symptoms remain latent for a long time.

However, eating meat very effectively prevents the development of this pathology. In fact,  red meat has the greatest amount of highly bioavailable iron. Thus, the consumption of this type of food, at least once a week, would be enough to correct the deficiencies of these micronutrients.

Pay attention to cooking methods

Another of the problems with consuming red meat is the cooking method to which it is subjected. It is often fried, which increases the production of acrylamide and the risk to health. And, at other times, it is smoked or eaten over the embers, these two cooking methods being risky for the development of diseases in the medium term.

However, its consumption a la plancha (but it must not be burnt), in the oven or in a stew does not pose any risk to health. It is interesting to consume undercooked red meat instead of overcooking it, especially when it is a plancha preparation.

In these situations,  it is essential to guarantee the quality of the meat and its wholesomeness to prevent possible food poisoning.

Eat red meat, but in moderation

The consumption of red meat is not harmful to health. Quite the contrary: it is necessary. Consuming industrially processed meat and improper preparation of the meat through unhealthy cooking methods can, on the other hand, be dangerous.

We can include this type of food in our diet, but we must try to ensure that it is as varied as possible and balanced from an energy point of view. By doing this, we will improve our health and prevent disease in the medium and long term.