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Consuming sufficient protein in our daily life comes down to choosing the right protein sources. People are more familiar with protein sources such as chicken, fish, and soy. However, not many are aware of the differences between red meat vs white meat.
Understanding what is red and white meat can help boost your overall health in the long run while also ensuring a well-balanced, nutritious meal. In this article, we explore the key differences between red meat and white meat, what is considered red meat or white meat, the benefits, and more.
What is Red Meat?
Let’s understand what is red meat all about! It’s basically referred to by the colour when raw. The meat, when raw, is darker as it has a higher content of myoglobin, which is a protein that contains iron and carries oxygen within the muscle tissue. After the red meat is cooked, it will turn into a brownish shade. Red meat is also known as the muscle meat of mammals such as sheep or cows.
Examples of Red Meat
Now let’s talk about what meats are red meat! If you’re not sure what is considered red meat, below are some of the most common examples of red meat:
- Lamb and Mutton: Lamb is the meat from a young sheep, while mutton is from an older sheep. The most common cuts are roasts, ground and chop lamb.
- Beef: Beef comes from cows and includes cuts such as steaks, roasts and ground.
- Pork: Pork comes from pigs and has cuts such as tenderloin, bacon and chops.
- Goat: This is essentially meat from goats.
Benefits of Red Meat
After understanding what is considered red meat, let’s dive into the benefits of red meat!
1. Good Source of Iron
Red meat is a fantastic source of iron since it contains a high amount of heme iron, which gets absorbed quickly into the body. Thus, aids those who have an iron deficiency.
2. High-quality Protein Suitable for Muscle Growth
For people who are looking for high-protein meat sources, red meat would be ideal, especially for muscle growth. Red meat typically contains all nine essential amino acids, which are required to build and repair muscles.
3. Good Source of Vitamin B12
Furthermore, red meat is also a good source of Vitamin B12. This vitamin is important to improve nerve functions and the formation of red blood cells.
Read: Is Red Meat Healthy or Harmful? Science-Backed Guide
What is White Meat?
White meat is a type of meat that is lighter in colour when raw and cooked. This is due to the fact that it has low levels of myoglobin. It comes from various poultry and seafood such as chicken and fish. White meat may be considered healthy thanks to its low fat content and calories compared to red meat.
Examples of White Meat
These are some of the most common examples of white meat:
- Chicken: These are generally chicken breasts or thighs.
- Turkey: Turkey, which is a type of bird, also comes in breast or thighs.
- Fish or seafood: Generally, these include salmon, prawns and various other types of fish.
Benefits of White Meat
There are plenty of reasons why consuming white meat can help you live a healthier lifestyle. Some of the major benefits include:
1. Aids in Weight Management
Consuming white meat can be helpful for weight management. Whether you’re looking to build muscle or lose weight, since white meat has lower calories, it can be a healthier protein choice in the long run to keep you full longer.
2. Low in Saturated Fat
White meat generally has lower saturated fat content, which means it’s much leaner compared to red meat. Thus, it can reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease and aid in living a healthy lifestyle.
3. Rich in All the Essential Nutrients
Most of the white meat contains essential nutrients such as selenium, phosphorus and vitamin B3. All of these combine to help improve the immune system, aid in metabolism, and strengthen the bones.
Read: How Chicken Breast is Good for Weight Loss
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing between red meat vs white meat all depends on your personal preferences and goals. There’s no fixed answer as to which is better than the other. Both meats can be beneficial to one’s body and overall health. The key is to have a healthy balance of both and adjust according to your needs.
If you’re looking to purchase more protein sources, consider heading to our meat collection of beef, chicken, seafood, pork and lamb! We only offer the best quality red and white meat around at affordable prices. Consider buying from our collection for your next healthy and nutritious meals.