Most of us love a thick steak, a slab of roast beef, or a juicy hamburger.
Meat provides much needed iron and zinc sources that are more readily absorbed by your body than plant forms. Most females don't get enough of these two nutrients. A deficiency in either iron or zinc, however mild, has been linked to a lower resistance to infections like the common cold.
Meat also provides protein, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, B6, riboflavin and B12 - the elusive B-Vitamin that vegetarians are often deficient in.
But too much red meat ups your saturated fat intake which in turn ups your cholesterol which can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.
Do you give up red meat? No. Not if you love it. But you need to limit the amount and type that you eat.
Choosing extra lean and lean cuts like extra lean ground beef, sirloin, and tenderloin are a great idea and shy away from ribs and fatty cuts of beef. Lean cuts are more expensive but a serving size is only 2-3 oz. (55-85 g). Have you ever weighed your steak? Trust me 2-3 oz. (55-85 g) is tiny to what you may be used to. Size matters, always has always will. Dieticians will tell you that a deck of cards is a serving. If you have a kitchen scale weighing your portion will shock and amaze you. It really is tiny. That 12 oz (350 g) steak you polished off last week actually serves four.
Processed meats like bologna, hot dogs, salami, and sausages have been linked to higher rates of cancer due in part to the preservatives used to make them. Don't know what to make a sandwich with? Ditch the cold cuts and cook extra lean cuts of meat for dinner and use leftovers in sandwiches the next day. Save hot dogs for a day at the ball park.
In the journey down the health road this month's new behaviour asks you to cut out processed meats all together and limit red meat consumption to two or three times a week. Sound drastic? Depending on how much red meat you normally eat it may be. But give it a whirl. Choose poultry, fish, beans, nuts and eggs instead and embrace my favourite food group fruits and veggies. Your body will thank you.
Meat provides much needed iron and zinc sources that are more readily absorbed by your body than plant forms. Most females don't get enough of these two nutrients. A deficiency in either iron or zinc, however mild, has been linked to a lower resistance to infections like the common cold.
Meat also provides protein, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, B6, riboflavin and B12 - the elusive B-Vitamin that vegetarians are often deficient in.
But too much red meat ups your saturated fat intake which in turn ups your cholesterol which can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.
Do you give up red meat? No. Not if you love it. But you need to limit the amount and type that you eat.
Choosing extra lean and lean cuts like extra lean ground beef, sirloin, and tenderloin are a great idea and shy away from ribs and fatty cuts of beef. Lean cuts are more expensive but a serving size is only 2-3 oz. (55-85 g). Have you ever weighed your steak? Trust me 2-3 oz. (55-85 g) is tiny to what you may be used to. Size matters, always has always will. Dieticians will tell you that a deck of cards is a serving. If you have a kitchen scale weighing your portion will shock and amaze you. It really is tiny. That 12 oz (350 g) steak you polished off last week actually serves four.
Processed meats like bologna, hot dogs, salami, and sausages have been linked to higher rates of cancer due in part to the preservatives used to make them. Don't know what to make a sandwich with? Ditch the cold cuts and cook extra lean cuts of meat for dinner and use leftovers in sandwiches the next day. Save hot dogs for a day at the ball park.
In the journey down the health road this month's new behaviour asks you to cut out processed meats all together and limit red meat consumption to two or three times a week. Sound drastic? Depending on how much red meat you normally eat it may be. But give it a whirl. Choose poultry, fish, beans, nuts and eggs instead and embrace my favourite food group fruits and veggies. Your body will thank you.
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