OPINION
BY CLAIRE DUPRE, Freshman
BLYTHEWOOD- Eating red meat can cause difficult health risks, so should people really be eating it?
Eating red meat could lead to heart disease because some meats are high in saturated fat. Leading to high blood pressure and cholesterol, which increases the chance of heart disease.
According to WebMD.com “Those who ate about 4 ounces of red meat a day were more likely to die of cancer or heart disease than those who ate the least, about a half-ounce a day.”
There is a compound that has been discovered inside of the red meat, called carnitine, causing people's arteries to clog.
Carnitine is produced by the body in the liver and kidneys. They produce the amount needed in order to live.
If someone gets too much carnitine there can be side effects, like nausea, cramps, muscle weakness, odor, etc.
“A plant-based diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, legumes and nuts, is rich in fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. And people who eat only plant-based foods -- aka vegetarian -- generally eat fewer calories and less far, weigh less, and have a lower risk of heart disease then nonvegetarians do,” MayoClinic.org said.
My personal experience with a plant-based diet is my family tried a plant-based diet one time. All five of us completed the diet for six days out of the week and ate meat on the seventh day.
We tried to lose weight and lower blood pressure levels, and it worked. We all lost some weight and one family member lowered his blood pressure.
According to Prevention.com “A study from Harvard School of Public Health found an association with red meat consumption and increased risk of a shortened lifespan. Eating healthier protein sources... was associated with a lower risk of mortality.”
The graph on the right is from USDA and it is showing the U.S. consumption of pounds of meat per year.
As it is showing the amount of meat consumption is increasing yearly. Meaning the U.S. is consuming more meat every single year.
Around 1910, people ate mostly beef, but today they eat mostly poultry.
Pork consumption is on a steady increase because there is more pork to be eaten.
There are some nutritional benefits from eating red meat, such as it is high in iron which women are lacking because the body absorbs iron quickly.
It also gives off vitamin B12 which helps make DNA and red blood cells stay alive and well. Zinc is in red meat too, allowing the immune system to function correctly, WedMD.com said.
Saturated fat is a harmful fat. It comes from animal products, raises cholesterol levels and can increase the chances of getting cardiovascular disease.
Monounsaturated fat is a healthier fat, it is in oils of foods. Eating it improves cholesterol levels and can decrease the chances of getting heart disease.
Protein is the biggest part of meat, it helps build muscle and bones to become stronger.
“You get protein from meat, you need a certain amount of red meat,” Coach Barry Mizzell said.
According to Eatingwell.com, people who eat about one to two ounces of meat a day are less likely to become depressed and get anxiety.
Protein can come from many other foods besides meat, such as eggs, milk, beans, peas, nuts/seeds.
“I don’t think it is necessary to eat meats, but it is good to have a certain amount,” Mizzell said.
People don’t need to give up red meat, just need to watch all the serving sizes. A good serving size for a day is about the same size of the palm of a person's hand.
