What are the benefits of eating meat? Is meat necessary?!


Question: What are the benefits of eating meat? Is meat necessary?
I'm not a vegetarian. I have recently transitioned into a 100% organic diet. The only dairy product I eat is organic Greek yogurt. I'm not yet ready to give up eating meat, but I have been cutting back severely the past year or so based on my body's reactions to the meats I consume. I don't eat any type of pork or beef since they make me feel awful.

What are in your opinion the healthiest meats and the unhealthiest? Eventually, I hope to cut out meat from my diet if it proves to not be beneficial or agree with my body. Of course, I don't like what non-organic companies do to animals, I believe in animal rights but I'm not an activist/ fundamentalist. I still eat animals and use animal products. But is it beneficial to the human body in any way to eat meat?

Of course, I am going to eat what makes me feel good in the end, but hearing from other people always helps and is always informative. Thank you :D

Answers:

There is nothing in meat that you can't get from other sources. Meat is not a particularly good source of most nutrients except protein and iron.

Despite the high amount of protein in meat, you almost certainly get enough protein, and more is not better.

It is worth paying attention to iron if you don't eat meat. Make sure you choose foods with high iron contents. (BTW - spinich is not as high in iron as commonly thought. Look it up, and don't get nutrition advice from Popeye cartoons.)



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There are no benefits from eating meat and humans are not designed to digest meat. There are no nutrients that you cannot obtain from a vegetarian diet.



About the only thing that you'll find in meat (and eggs, dairy) that you can't get from plants is vitamin B12. If you don't eat any animal products, you will need to supplement for B12. You can get pills, shots or eat highly processed foods that have had B12 added. BUT you are an omnivore and there are several other nutrients that your body gets better from meat (eggs, dairy) than from veggies.

Protein is made up of amino acids. While meat, eggs, dairy contain all the amino acids needed for complete proteins, most veggies only contain some (or weak versions). You'll need to eat a wide variety and a lot of veggies every day (not every meal) so your body can combine the various amino acids in each to make the complete protein it needs. Iron in meat, eggs, dairy is heme iron and much easier for your body to use than the non heme iron in veggies. You need vitamin D. With enough sun exposure, your body makes Vitamin D(3). Vitamin D(3) supplements contain animal products. Vitamin D(2) supplements are vegetable sourced and your body just doesn't use them as well, either. Also some of the high iron veggies also contain oxalates which inhibit your body's ability to absorb iron AND calcium.

In the US, ALL meats are healthy. They contain good stuff and not such good stuff....just like all other foods. Everyone recommends fresh, natural food. Fresh meat fits that category. Your body is an individual and may respond to different foods in different ways than my body. But my guess is that you've been eating meat all your life and are pretty healthy.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname…

http://www.livestrong.com/article/155502…



Meat contains a number of important nutrients that are needed by your body for carrying out vital metabolic functions. These are proteins, fat, vitamins and minerals. All these nutrients are responsible for providing you with energy and keeping you healthy. You will understand the benefits of eating meat better by going through the following description of the nutrients present in meat.

Nutrients Present in Meat

Proteins: Meat is a rich source of proteins, which is required by your body in very high amounts. Proteins play numerous roles that are essential for your body's functioning and over-all well being. The most important among them are building and repair of body tissues and formation of antibodies that fight against infections. As a general rule, proteins form 19-20% of meat. Some may be present in the form of amino acids and small peptides. These are readily absorbed by the blood. Meat is considered to be a high quality protein because it contains almost all the essential amino acids known so far. Thus, the health benefits of eating meat include a strong immune system along with a fast recovery and regeneration capacity of the body.

Minerals: Meat contains a number of minerals. It is especially rich in iron. Your body needs iron to form hemoglobin that is necessary for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body. Another mineral present in meat is zinc. It boosts metabolism and helps in tissue formation. You will also receive selenium from meat. Selenium assists in the breakdown of fat and other chemicals in the body. Therefore, meat provides you with some very important minerals, whose availability in your body is necessary for its proper operation. These are some of the benefits of eating meat.

Vitamins: You will find a number of vitamins in meat. The most prominent ones are vitamin A, B and D. Vitamin A promotes good vision, supports bone and teeth development and maintains the health of the skin. Vitamin B supports central nervous system and enhances mental health. Similarly, vitamin D promotes calcium and phosphorus use, which in turn, maintains healthy bones and teeth. Therefore, the welfare derived from the vitamins present in meat are other health benefits of eating meat.

Fat: The fat present in meat are linoleic acid and palmiotelic acid. They prevent your body from cancer and harmful viruses. This improves your body's resistance to surrounding environment and unfavorable conditions. Your body needs fat for the development of brain. So, meat is required to have intelligent brains as well.

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