By Emily Saunders

During high school and college I “despised” red meat.  I wouldn’t eat it.  I thought it was fattening and unhealthy and I avoided it like the plague.  Meanwhile, I wasn’t afraid to scarf down bagels, “healthy” cereals, baked chips, low fat cookies etc.  You get the picture. A few years ago I learned a little secret.  Red meat has a plethora of health benefits that cannot be matched elsewhere.  I also learned that the fats in lean beef can be beneficial to the body and practically speaking- a good steak satisfies my indulgent cravings without throwing me off the deep end  which happens with fries and sweets.

Last week I had two separate people describe their diet as “healthy” and then proceed to use the example that they do not eat red meat.  While I am not a red meat pusher- I have found in my practice that many women find a good steak or lettuce wrapped burger satisfying and a little indulgent once they understand that it’s ok to eat it.

Why are people so afraid of red meat?  The media has done a great job scaring people into thinking that red meat will cause cancer and high cholesterol.  Now, this is a controversial subject and many people will disagree, but from my research there does not appear to be clear evidence that shows red meat CAUSES either of those conditions.  However, do you know what does? …..being overweight.  Having excess weight is one of the biggest risk factors for developing cancer as well as pretty much all forms of chronic disease.  From my experience working with clients, friends and family members I have found that adding more meat into the diet and decreasing starchy carbohydrates can really help people lose weight and reach their health goals without feeling deprived.

So, let’s look a little deeper at the benefits of red meat:

1. First and foremost Protein- Red meat- like all other meat- is a great source of protein.  Red meat uniquely offers a bit more than white meat ounce for ounce but it’s negligible.  Red meat does contain ALA- an antioxidant not found in other meats.

2.  Iron:  The iron (heme iron) found in red meat is better absorbed by the body than that found in plant sources.

2.  B-Vitamins:  Red meat is rich in Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins.  A deficiency in B Vitamins leads to aging, neurological disorders, and mental illness, to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infertility.

3.  Vitamin D:  If you do not get much direct sun exposure or eat oily fish then you are likely not getting much Vitamin D in your diet.  A large majority of Americans are Vitamin D deficient and red meat has a unique metabolite that seems to be absorbed well by the body.

4 few tips on selecting red meats for consumption:

1.  Choose lean cuts:  80%+ Lean Ground beef, flank steak, filet, sirloin, skirt steak, tenderloin and rump roast are the leaner cuts of meat.

2.  Choose grass fed where possible-  Sadly many conventionally raised cattle are pumped full of corn, grain and steroids to make them fatten up more quickly.  Grass fed, free range cattle are leaner and void of harmful steroids not to mention treated much better!

3.  Explore Game Meats:  Wild game like Buffalo, Bison, and Venison are quite tasty and typically very lean.  If they are wild rather than farm raised then their natural diet also makes them healthier.

4.  Because of the higher fat content of red meats pair them with lots of leafy green vegetables rather than starchy options like baked potatoes, fries and bread.  The combination of fat and starch together turns on fat storing hormones.

So Moms- tell us- Do you love a juicy steak or does red meat make you want to run the other way?