Does red meat deserve the scorn that processed meats have received over the past few years?
Most people have heard that processed meats are bad for you. Salami's very appearance illuminates pockets of fat and an unnatural, manmade shape. Did you know, though, that many people are giving up red meat in addition to processed meats?
Those leading a vegan lifestyle are not the only ones avoiding red meat. With headlines proclaiming the negative attributes of consuming animal flesh popping up in increasing numbers over the past year, more and more people are ditching red meat in favor of plant-based proteins, fish, and poultry.
Those who are fervent advocates for red meat as both a business and a healthy food choice, meanwhile, denounce such headlines as sensationalistic if not altogether false.
Before diving into the pros and cons of red meat, we want to give you a quick refresher on what red meat actually is. It can come from mammals such as cattle, bison, lamb, deer, and swine, as well as from some flightless birds like ostrich, emu, and rhea. In most cases, the only processing involved occurs during the butchering (and possibly the aging) process, as opposed to processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, salami, sausages, and lunchmeat.
There are some important facets of red meat and its consumption that directly influence your health. The accompanying slideshow will help you decide whether red meat is for you.
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