For some time now, the consumption of meat has been receiving a significant amount of negative press. Not only with regard to protecting animal rights but also because livestock farming has close associations with climate issues.
However, as opinions and science change, it appears as though meat is making a slow but steady comeback.
Exploring and understanding the role that meat and its products play in communities and societies across the globe illustrate how, despite changing trends and fads, there will always be a place for meat at many tables worldwide.
The Health Benefits Of Meat
Consumption of meat has a direct link with health. It contains the necessary nutrients beneficial for food. Though various observations say that eating meat has side effects, that is completely a misconception.Â
Moreover, meat contains vital vitamins and minerals and therefore benefits the human body. It is also rich in protein, fats, and carbohydrates, which is beneficial, especially for athletes worldwide.Â
Furthermore, some other benefits alongside the ones we mentioned here include curing skin disease, long-term energy, and triggering of hemoglobin.Â
Nutritional Value Of MeatÂ
As we mentioned, meat is an excellent source of meat vitamins and minerals; it provides a great energy source.Â
According to a study, every 100 grams of meat contain 73 mg of cholesterol,143 calories, 421 mg of potassium, 4 mg of zinc, 3.5 gm of fats, and 26 gms of proteins.Â
The following information can tell you enough about how vital meat is for your dietary nutrients. Now, about the observation that meat has a negative impact on health.Â
Well, everything in this world has benefits and side effects. All that you need is to keep the level of consumption within the limits so that you enjoy the benefits.Â
The Cultural Significance Of Meat In Many Cultures
In the same way that some religions revere animals and choose to follow a largely plant-based meat-free diet, the importance of meat in many other religions and cultures still has an important role to play. The inclusivity of meat in certain dishes and rituals remains strong.
For example, in Islam, the festival of Qurbani and its celebrations include the sacrifice of animals as a major symbolic test of faith and dedication. Equally, the distribution of meat is an important part of the charitable drive that underpins so many Islamic teachings.
This gesture brings positivity to the followers of Islam. Moreover, the trends are increasing with time in a world where the propensity is increasing. Now people are trying to give back to the society.
There are 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide who generally honor and revere animals as God’s creatures. While animal cruelty is not acceptable, the sacrifice and the ritualistic slaughtering of meat are intricately woven into the very fabric of the religion.
The Demand For Meat Is Going High
The production of meat is going according to different studies. One of the studies reveals the fact that the production of meat has doubled in the last 30 years between 1988 to 2018.Â
If you compare the present global consumption with that of what used to be in the 1960s, it has increased by four folds.Â
This means that by the year 2050, meat consumption is projected to reach 570 million tons. It denotes that the consumption of meat will be doubled by what it is at the present time.
Balancing Meat Consumption With Nutritional Needs
While a plant-based diet seems, on the surface of it, much healthier, there is no denying the importance of the protein that meat puts into our diet.
Omitting poor-quality meats and only consuming the best quality, organic meats means that the quality of the protein you are eating is the best and much better for you than excessive lower-grade meat that comes from factory farming methods carried out for quantity rather than quality.
A small piece of top-quality organic, locally sourced beef will be a nutritional powerhouse consisting of protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. It also contains zero sugar or carbohydrates, both are linked to the increasing obesity epidemic that the world is currently seeing in the Western, developed nations.
Over the last few decades, there has been a plethora of different studies and recommendations that have urged people to turn away from a traditional diet of meat and two vegs and load their shopping trolleys with foods that are laden with sugar and carbohydrates in the bid to eat less fat.
However, it is becoming more and more apparent that a diet containing better quality meat and less carbohydrate-based foods not only helps in the fight against obesity but is instrumental in improving the overall health markers of an individual.
Fighting Against Climate Change
While blaming cows for climate change is great clickbait fodder, the reality is that cultivating livestock for the meat market has been sacrificed. In the pursuit of larger and larger profits, unscrupulous companies seek to make fast money. They no longer consider either the animal’s welfare or the planet as a whole. In fact, there is an increasing number of studies that highlight how eliminating meat from your diet will only make negligible changes to improving the environment.
Individuals are beginning to understand the pseudo-science behind casting meat as the bad guy in the climate battle. However, the trend highlights the need to implement meat farming practices that are more sustainably relatable and seek to achieve quality over quantity. While the complete elimination of breeding beef will barely touch the sides of the climate crisis, the real culprits – the use of fossil foods deserve a significant amount of attention.
ConclusionÂ
If you closely study the given figures, it is not hard to come to a conclusion that meat eating is increasing in the present times. Moreover, the myths of meat causing havoc to human health are no longer in existence.Â
Controlled eating will not cause major harm to the body. Finally, you cannot undermine the energy and dietary benefits of meat. Therefore get fresh meat and relish it!
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