What is red meat? Learn about its benefits, nutritional value, and more.

Red meat is the most widely consumed and oldest food item in the world. It has undergone many stages of evolution in terms of consumption and cooking methods as humans have evolved, varying across cultures. However, the question of the benefits of red meat, its nutritional value, and the factors affecting it remains unchanged. We will explore all of this together in this article. 

What is red meat?

The term red meat refers to the meat of mammals. The name stems from its red color before cooking. Red meat products vary according to their source, including: 

• Lamb products: meat of small ruminants such as sheep and goats . 

• Cattle and calf products: Meat of large ruminants such as cows and buffalo . 

• Hashee products : camel meat. 

What are the benefits of red meat ?

Red meat has many benefits and positive effects on various organs of the body and the immune system, as it contains: 

• Zinc: Beef and steak products are a rich source of zinc, which is essential for body growth and strengthening the immune system. 
• Selenium: Essential for many vital functions. 
• Iron, specifically heme iron , which is absorbed very efficiently by the body and is necessary to protect against anemia. 
• Niacin or Vitamin B3 : Essential for protecting against the risk of heart disease. 
• Vitamin B6: Essential for blood formation. 

• Phosphorus: Essential for body growth and strengthening immunity. 
• Vitamin B12 : An essential element in blood formation, and important for brain and nervous system functions. 
• Creatine: It acts as an energy source for muscles, which is why red meat is so important for bodybuilding. 
• Taurine: An antioxidant amino acid found in red meat that is important for heart and muscle function. 
• Glutathione: An antioxidant found abundantly in red meat. 
• Conjugated linoleic acid: A trans fat found in ruminants. 

What is the nutritional value of red meat ?

Red meat has a high nutritional value. Eating 113 grams of it means you get: 

• 287 calories​​ 
• 19 grams of protein . 
• The following percentages of your daily requirement for the elements shown in the table: 

What are the factors affecting the nutritional value of red meat ?

To benefit from the nutritional value of red meat, you must know that there are several factors that affect it, including: 

• The location of the meat cut, as the nutritional value is distributed differently in the animal's body. 
• Feeding method, as the nutritional value of red meat is greatly affected by the type of feed. 
• Age and gender of the animals whose red meat is taken. 
• How to cook red meat: Grilling and using less oil in cooking helps preserve the nutritional value of the meat. 

Finally, after learning all this information about red meat, browse the Meat & More online store and shop for the best meat and slaughter products that suit you .