Is meat actually healthy for you?

Meat has been the main food type for the last few decades. Company are making millions if not billions of euros off selling meat, and because of this big money there is a lot of mixed messages out there. Companies and even the Government portray meat as a healthy nutritious option to get more sales. But how healthy is meat really?

Well meat has been become a strong link to many cancers over the last few years. Processed meats such as ham, salami, sausages and hot dogs are especially bad containing plenty of harmful chemicals! Red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork has been classified as a ‘probable’ cause of cancer. I don't think we should be completely taking meat out of our diet but rather reducing it.

Effecting performance:

As we can see meat isn't the glorious food we all used to think it was. Meat does contain Iron and important B12 supplements as well as plenty of protein (which can be found easily in vegetarian foods). But that is about it.

It is high in cholesterol, high in fat and doesn't really energize you. Yes meat should be eaten but only a few (3-4) times a week!

You can get all your nutritional needs from plant based food. Protein can be found in many vegetarian foods such as beans, lentils, quinoa, tofu and nuts!! A reduced meat diet definitely leaves you feeling fresher, healthier and more energized. The high cholesterol in meat clogs up arteries which is not ideal for distance running where you want them to be completely free so the blood can quickly move to the muscles.

Overview:

I think we definitely need to reduce our intake of meats to not only perform better, but to be healthier also! Meat still has many health benefits, however just like every food they need to be eaten in moderation.