As Eid-ul-Azha is just around the corner, we are all dreaming of the delicious karahis, mutton chops and biryanis that we are going to devour. Whether you are going to sacrifice a cow or a goat, you will surely end up licking your fingers in the evening. Before we go into the cow meat benefits and its side effects, let us look at some opinions.
Cow meat was once thought to be a nutritious health food by our parents and grandparents. But what about now? Nowadays, things are much different. Opinions differ on whether beef is healthy or harmful to our health.
Some of the more extreme vegan viewpoints even call for the government to ban meat from the food supply. Yet, there are many significant cow meat benefits, whatever your thoughts may be.
Check out: Mutton Vs Beef: The Ultimate Face-Off
Cow Meat Benefits
There are numerous cow meat benefits. Following are some of them:
Cow Meat Benefits For Muscles
Don’t listen to those who say beef does more harm than good. Beef is one of the essential sources of proteins in the human diet. The amount of beef protein per 100 grams is 26.1 grams.
It helps in muscle growth and building. The amino acid L-carnitine is abundant in cow meat. It helps in fat metabolism, maintaining heart health, managing diabetes and weight loss. The amino acid profile of beef is just like our own muscles. So, if you plan on eating beef kebabs, don’t feel guilty!
Cow Meat Benefits For Males
Man’s liking for meat dates back to the Stone Age when people hunted for food. If you like steak and potatoes, you’re in luck. Cow meat can be beneficial to your health. In an interesting study, participants were asked to rate the “maleness” of many foods.
Steaks, hamburgers, and beef chilli were the top four most masculine choices. Besides men preferring beef, it provides many benefits to them too. Beef helps build muscles which in turn builds up stamina. It also provides a tone to your body that looks appealing as you build more muscle mass.
Cow Meat Benefits For Females
Iron deficiency is something many women have to face at a point in their lives. The monthly menstrual cycle demands enough iron in the body to overcome the losses. Cow meat is a rich source of heme-iron. It helps raise iron levels in the female body and provide enough iron to fill up the lost iron stores.
Cow Meat Benefits For Hair
Strong and healthy hair is what we all dream of. But you can turn this dream into a reality. Cow meat benefits include healthy hair. The proteins in cow meat help to repair, grow and nourish hair follicles. Healthy hair follicles give rise to shiny hair. Protein deficiency promotes hair loss.
Cow Meat Benefits For Immune System
The immune system is our first-line defense system. The zinc found in cow meat helps maintain a healthy immune system. Zinc helps to synthesize the soldiers of the immune system, aka the white blood cells. Give a boost to your immunity and eat cow meat.
Learn more about the health benefits of organ meats here.
Cow Meat Side Effects
Excess of anything is not good. There are many cow meat benefits, but there are some side effects as well. Portion sizes are vital while eating cow meat. If you consume cow meat in a large amount, the following side effects may be seen:
Risk Of Heart Disease
Cow meat has saturated fats in it. These bad fats give rise to heart diseases by raising blood cholesterol. If eaten in a large amount regularly, it can lead to an elevated cholesterol profile. So, keep your calm at the sight of juicy beef steaks and tikkas and eat proportionately.
Risk Of Food-Borne Illness
Cooking meat is an art. Rare, medium-rare and well-done are the precisely curated masterpieces. If you don’t take care of the cooking time, it can lead to the meat staying raw. Raw meat is harmful to health. You must kill the bacteria in raw meat by maintaining the required temperature.
Similarly, while defrosting frozen meat, keep other food products away to avoid the spread of bacteria. A widespread illness is a salmonellosis. It causes diarrhoea, fever and cramps in the stomach. So, cook your meats thoroughly.
Learn more about Salmonellosis (food poisoning) here.
Risk Of Cancer
According to a study, cooked meat may contain carcinogens. Carcinogens are harmful chemicals that promote the risk of cancer. The heavy smoke and flare-ups while cooking cow meat may give rise to toxins in it. However, there is not much evidence to support this theory.
Try to eat a proportionate amount of cow meat this Eid. Although, we all need an excellent beef platter once in a while to tame our inner carnivore. However, eating a balanced diet is the best way to maintain your health. You don’t have to give up cow meat; be smart enough to make better choices and not go overboard.
According to the nutritional food guide pyramid, you need to eat 5 to 6 ounces of dietary protein each day consisting of eggs, nuts, legumes, lean, red, or fish meats. Eat cow meat for its excellent benefits but do not replace it with other food groups.
FAQ’s
1. What are the lean cuts of cow meat?
The lean cuts of cow meat include the tenderloin, top loin and ground round cuts.
2. How much iron does 100 grams of cow meat contain?
Cow meat contains 2.6 mg of iron per 100 grams.
3. How much is a single serving of cow meat?
One serving of cow meat is 3 ounces. You can eat 2 to 3 servings of cow meat in a week to maintain balance.
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