The 5 Types Of Meat, Their Properties And Disadvantages
Meat has always been one of the main ingredients used in diets of a good part of human cultures and societies. Its consumption is as old as the origins of our species, and its nutritional characteristics, as well as the methods by which it was obtained, have had a clear influence on the development of history.
But this food is not something totally homogeneous and without variations, but rather there are different types of meat which is good to know. Ultimately, the only thing these pieces of food have in common is that they are part of the muscle mass of a wide range of animal species, and many of them look nothing alike.
But knowing how to recognize the types of meat is not a matter of pure interest in theory; It also has very practical uses. For example, you should know that abusing some of them can lead to significant health problems, so to maintain a balanced diet it is necessary to be clear about the characteristics that define them.
To begin this classification, it is good to know the two large categories of types of meat. YesIt is about red meat, on the one hand, and white meat, on the other
red meat
Red meats, in general, are less healthy than white meats, and that is why it is necessary to moderate their consumption more. One of the reasons for this is that it contains a greater amount of purines, substances that have once passed into the body pasan to transform into uric acid which is harmful if its amount reaches a certain level.
White meats do not meet the characteristic that we have seen that describes red meats, and They are also usually lighter But that does not mean that they are healthy in any context. For example, it is common for them to contain a large amount of bad fats, although this is not always the case and depends, in part, on the area from which the cut comes: thigh, loin, etc.
types of meat
We have already seen what the main categories that describe the types of meat are like, but we can still go to a greater level of detail. To do this, it is necessary to pay attention to the type of species or family of species from which this food comes.
Below you will find a summary of the types of meat that are most commonly consumed in Western countries.
1. Beef
This type of meat is one of the most consumed. However, since it is red meat, it is preferable to include it in the menu at most once every two or three weeks, and no more, because of its concentration of purines and bad fats Or, better yet, don’t consume it at all and opt for other protein sources. However, it is also known for being very popular for its flavor.
2. Of birds
This is a type of white meat that is also highly consumed, usually using chicken. Furthermore, in most cases the fat concentration in this class of animals is low; This means that this food is used by people who are interested in developing their muscles without gaining fat. An exception is the case of duck meat, whose consumption is preferable in moderation.
It is another type of white meat, and one of those that contain less fat (This, in addition, is mostly healthy, being unsaturated). On the other hand, it is also characterized by being a food rich in vitamin B.
3. Pork
As much as red meat is usually associated with large mammals, the truth is that most of the pig is made up of white meat. In addition, the fat it contains is usually relatively low.
Despite what we have seen about this food, you have to be careful when cooking it since many times these production processes involve a lot of frying, which increases the fat and calorie content considerably.
4. Goat and sheep
Unlike rabbit meat, for example, the fat it contains is saturated, making it unhealthy. However, goat meat is rather low in fat, so It can be consumed occasionally in diets aimed at losing weight or not to cover muscle.
5. Fish
Fish is usually high in Omega 3 , a very healthy type of fat that we also find in dried fruits such as walnuts. Plus, it’s generally low in fat, so it’s a good source of protein.
A balanced diet
To live a healthy life, we must keep in mind that our lifestyles lead us to consume, as a general rule, more meat than we need. It is true that protein is essential, but There are many more sources from which to extract these macronutrients : for example, tofu or seitan. Specifically, red meat has become the second dish par excellence. Replacing it with healthier options, instead of giving in to simple habit, can contribute a lot to our well-being.
