Red Meat - Types and Nutritional Value

Red meat refers to meat that is red when raw, such as beef and lamb. It is a rich source of protein, iron, and B vitamins that are essential for overall health and wellbeing.
Category
Food
Where to get
Available in butcher shops, supermarkets, and restaurants
Nutrients
Protein, Iron, B Vitamins
Benefits
Essential for Health and Wellbeing
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Red Meat FAQ


Image credit: diabetes.co.uk

What is considered red meat?

Distinguishing between the age of the animal, gastronomy considers meat from adult mammals as red meat. This includes beef, horse, mutton, venison, boar, and hare. While young mammal meat including rabbit, veal, and lamb may be considered white meat along with poultry and fish. Pork and duck are gray area meats.

Why is meat a red meat?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), all meats obtained from mammals (regardless of cut or age) are red meats because they contain more myoglobin, which gives them their red color, than fish or white meat (but not necessarily dark meat) from chicken.

Where does red meat come from?

Red meat comes from mammals. When raw, it usually appears dark red because it contains a lot of myoglobin, the iron-rich protein that stores oxygen in animal muscle. The red meat category includes beef, pork, lamb, veal, goat, bison, venison, and other game. Red meat can be fresh or processed.

What is red meat?

Red meat is the meat of non-bird mammals, which is normally red when raw. This article reviews the evidence on the health effects of red meat, including possible benefits and downsides of incorporating it into your regular diet. Before discussing the health effects of red meat, it’s important to distinguish between different types of meat.

What is red meat & why should you eat it?

Specialists usually classify red meat as muscle meat from beef, pork, lamb, goat, or other land mammals. On one hand, red meat is a good source of certain nutrients, especially vitamin B-12 and iron. The human body needs these nutrients to produce new red blood cells.

Is red meat a good source of protein?

Red meat contains several important nutrients, including protein, vitamin B12, and zinc. For example, 4 ounces (oz.) or 113 grams (gm) of 80% lean ground beef provides ( 3 ): The protein in beef is complete, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids that humans must get from food.

Is raw beef red or white?

Thinly sliced raw beef is red. Roast beef is a darker brown color. In gastronomy, red meat is commonly red when raw (and a dark color after it is cooked ), in contrast to white meat, which is pale in color before (and after) cooking. In culinary terms, only flesh from mammals or fowl (not fish) is classified as red or white.

Red Meat References

If you want to know more about Red Meat, consider exploring links below:

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