Red meat: it’s what’s for a healthy dinner


Just as ubiquitous as sizzling sausages on summer barbecues is advice from doctors saying to reduce red meat intake in order to keep our hearts in shape and our blood pressure counts down.

With that kind of medical advice, why bother eating red meat at all? Given how much meat is consumed in the United States, cutting it out of everyone’s diet seems unlikely. So can red meat like beef, venison and lamb be healthy?

According to the website, funded by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Beef Checkoff Program , the answer is yes. The site states that red meat, beef in particular, provides essential nutrients, including iron for oxygen and zinc to maintain a healthy immune system. Protein helps preserve and build muscle.

The Beef Checkoff says a 3-ounce serving of lean beef is good for 25 grams of protein, which is about half the recommended daily value. The site also says research shows that a daily intake of lean beef can be part of a heart-healthy lifestyle and improve cholesterol levels.

That the Beef Checkoff promotes consumption of its product is unsurprising. So what about those in the health and wellness field? Diane Madrigal, a nutritionist and naturopath at Healthy Counsel in Temecula believes red meat can be part of healthy diet, but with a catch. Red meat consumers should always consider the source of what they’re eating.

“All foods God made are healthy if prepared in the form he created them to be eaten,” Madrigal said. “For beef that means grass-fed, no hormones, no steroids, no antibiotics, not GMO corn-fed, et cetera. If the source is healthy, red meat can be part of a healthy diet.”

Also, while beef can be good for some, others may have no choice but to avoid completely. It really comes down to the person and his or her dietary needs, said The Kitchen Skinny weight loss center co-founder Karen Friend Smith.

“I believe nutrition is individually based,” Smith said. “Our bodies react to foods differently. (Eating red meat) also depends on your health goals; if you have issues with heart disease or have metabolic issues, you should be very careful of the amount of red meat you eat. If you’re not as concerned about that, you should still be cautious about the source of the meat.”

Eating meat from cows that are properly fed is paramount. According to the Mayo Clinic, beef from grass-fed cows may offer less fat and more healthy acids and antioxidants when compared to beef from conventionally fed cattle. It’s also important know one’s body; someone who runs four or five days a week may be better off after eating a burger than someone who is less active.

Moderation is also important. Madrigal contends that although it’s important to keep the meat intake amount reasonable, it still comes down to where it’s coming from.

“I couldn’t put a number on (how much red meat is too much), but like everything else, if eaten in moderation, it’s fine,” Madrigal said.


