Red meat: guilty or innocent?

Red meat is known to be rich in high biological value proteins, vitamins and minerals. Its importance for human development is real. A fossil found in Tanzania indicates that at least 1.5 million years ago human physiology was already adapted to regular meat consumption – the finding was published in the journal Plos One.

At the same time, one of the arguments of those who advocate the reduction of meat consumption on a daily basis is that the food contains saturated fat, which in excess is related to the increase of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. A study carried out with more than 520.000 participants, followed for 16 years, associated the increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease with a higher consumption of fat, including saturated fat.

It is noteworthy, however, that eating meat fat from time to time will not be a problem for those who regularly practice physical activities and have a balanced consumption of meat with vegetables and fruits, avoiding excessive sweet consumption and ultra-processed food.

Carbohydrates aren’t the bad guys either. As with meat, everything depends on the quantity consumed, the quality of the food (whether it is processed or not, for example) and the person’s habits.

BARBECUE AND RED MEAT: INSEPARABLE FRIENDS

The main entities that indicate the balanced consumption of meat in the world, as well as renowned health periodicals, ratify that a person should consume a maximum of 500g of red meat per week. And among the forms indicated is grilling, notably from a premium quality charcoal, and which preferably is flameless, avoiding the carbonisation of food, whether red meat, fish, poultry, etc.

It is undeniable that the consumption of red meat at a barbecue is what attracts 10 out of 10 carnivorous barbecue lovers. Excessive consumption of red meat can, however, jeopardise the healthy control of this that is an inseparable friend of the BBQ. Therefore, it is always recommended to balance its consumption with vegetables, legumes, fruits, etc. These grilled foods are delicious and keep the BBQ a healthy gathering in every way.

It is a fact that red meat is the major focus in barbecues for those who love this gathering of friends and family. But it is worth pointing out that moderation is the key for a healthy mind and body.