There are different types of meat depending on the animal, safety taken during the slaughter and overall care taken on the meat. Many companies sell meat that is not safe as they do not take the necessary safety steps. However, some companies like Grutto stand as a source of safe meat. For more information on their products, visit Grutto’s website.
Meat has a bad reputation in regards to health issues such as increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. When starting your health journey, a key thing you should do is adjust your meat intake. You can do this either by cutting it out completely or by reducing the amount you consume.
Although there are some types of meat that are generally worse for your health, there are healthy options that you can consider. In this article, we will look at some types of meat that are good for you. Read on below as we explore these types of healthy meat:
Which Type of Meat is Good for Your Health?
There are several types of meat that are good for your health. They include:
- Chicken
- Pork
- Turkey
- Buffalo (Bison)
- Fish
- Chicken
White meat has many health benefits compared to red meat. For this reason, chicken that isn’t deep-fried is an excellent option to help you cut out red meat. If prepared correctly, chicken without the skin has low-fat content and is tasty. Besides, chicken is relatively cheaper compared to beef and an excellent source of proteins.
However, when you are dealing with chicken, you are not completely free from the risk of E. coli infection. For this reason, it is crucial to kill bacteria by heating the chicken until it attains a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. Therefore, it is advisable to limit the amount of chicken you consume since it can have chemicals like heterocyclic amines that may cause cancer.
- Pork
This white meat is another excellent red meat alternative. A pork chop is pretty good for your health if consumed in moderate quantities. A pork chop is relatively lean. However, it has a high-fat content as compared to fish or chicken.
By contrast, a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin and Maryland showed that an 85g (3 oz.) of skinless chicken breast has 3.03g (0.106 oz.) of fat while the same quantity of pork has 2.98g (0.105 oz.) of fat. When buying pork, ensure you find lean pork chops. Before eating these chops, it is advisable to trim the fat. A pork chop whose fat is trimmed off has less fat, making it healthier. Nevertheless, be cautious of cured pork such as bacon and ham as they may contain preservatives such as nitrites and nitrates that can cause cancer.
- Turkey
Among the best protein sources is turkey, as it has many health benefits. It is white meat and has more flavour as compared to chicken. Apart from turkey’s dark meat being gamy, it has a relatively low-fat content. One 140g (4.9oz.) serving of skinless roasted turkey has about 7g (0.25oz.) of fat.
There is a belief that consuming turkey meat tends to make one sleepy. This belief is true as turkey meat contains tryptophan – a sleep-inducing amino acid. However, the tryptophan amount isn’t enough to put you to sleep. An average Thanksgiving feast’s sheer size, particularly when combined with a pleasant atmosphere and alcohol, has a higher chance of influencing your post-meal slumber.
- Buffalo (Bison)
Even though white meat has more health advantages than red meat, it can never satisfy red meat cravings entirely. However, buffalo can. Buffalo meat is one of the best red meats available, and unlike beef, it is better for your health. As buffalo are typically grass-fed, their meat is much healthier. Besides, a buffalo’s hunk has a low-fat content as compared to steak.
Using burgers in this comparison, you will notice that a lean hamburger has about 9g (0.32 oz.) of fat while buffalo burgers have about 4g (0.14 oz.). That is less than half of what lean hamburgers contain.
- Fish
If cooked properly, fish can be as great and satisfying as steak. In addition to this, some types of fish, such as tuna and salmon, have numerous omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are known to reduce the chances of getting heart diseases. Furthermore, eating fish reduces the chances of one developing colon cancer.
However, it is advisable to avoid consuming big fish such as swordfish and tuna as they contain high levels of mercury. On the other hand, smaller fish have relatively low levels of mercury.
As seen above, there are different types of meat that are good for your health, such as turkey and fish—consuming these types of meat while avoiding others that are not good for you has enormous health benefits.