Superfood - March-April 2017

SUPERFOOD 5

SHOULD WE EAT MEAT?

IMAGE: EUGENIA LUCASENCO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

M

eat has been eaten by humans

since prehistoric times. This

includes pork, lamb, beef and

poultry, such as chicken and

turkey. Here we look at the benefi ts of meat,

how to recognise if you’re eating too much

of it. We include meat alternatives – as well

as how to eat a healthy vegetarian diet.

Meat is a good source of protein as well as vitamins and minerals,

but are we eating too much of it? By Nichola Whitehead

THE BENEFITS OF EATING MEAT

Meat is a source of high-quality protein

and as a complete protein, it provides all

of the nine essential amino acids. Amino

acids are the building blocks of protein and

the ‘essential’ amino acids are the ones

that our body cannot make; meaning that

we need to acquire them from our diet.

Red meat in particular is a good source of

iron and meat is one of our main sources

of vitamin B12, which helps to make our

red blood cells and keeps our nervous

system healthy. Meat also provides

selenium, a trace element that plays

an important role in our immune

system’s function as well as niacin,

SHOULD

W E E AT

Meat?

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