Although it can seem like a bit of a contradiction nowadays to talk about eating meat and being healthy, it is totally possible.
Not only is it possible to live a healthy life as a meat-eater, many studies have shown that it is recommended in moderation. Besides being good for your body, the right types of meat can also be good for the environment.
But, of course, not all meats are healthy, and many popular types of meat are risky in themselves or if they’re consumed too often.
So what are the healthy meat options? Today we’ll give you the top five types of meat you can eat to boost your health and help the environment.
Canned Fish
It might not seem like it, but canned fish (as long as it’s sustainable) is actually great for your body. It is chock full of Omega-3 fatty acids. For example, a can of sardines has 1,362 mg of Omega-3s, while canned salmon has 1,125 mg.
Even better, canned fish is also very cost-effective. While getting fish that isn’t loaded with industrial contaminants, canned fish (like canned salmon) is both cheap and super healthy for you.
Grass-fed beef
Grass-fed beef, compared to regular, more-available grain-fed beef doesn’t just taste better. It’s much healthier for you as well.
It has slightly higher levels of protein with half as much fat as the other beef and is in fact much leaner.
It also has a great amount of Vitamin E. This antioxidant helps protect your body from free radicals that are linked to aging. It also helps you to keep your immune system healthy and running.
Of course, you can enjoy grass-fed beef just as you enjoy the conventional grain-fed beef in any number of stews, hamburgers, or even just a simple, delicious piece of pan-fried steak.
Organic Chicken
Chicken is one of the most popular types of meat in the world, and there’s good reason why. Not only is it absolutely delicious with a great variety of ways to cook it, but it’s also very easy to make and quite inexpensive to buy.
But besides that, there’s also another amazing benefit: chicken has one of the highest levels of protein of any meat that is readily available for you to buy. By the way, protein helps protect against a wide variety of health issues, including diabetes, obesity and heart disease. It can also help stave off hunger so you don’t overeat.
As with every other kind of food, eating the organic (rather than conventional) kind will bring a whole host of benefits. Organic chicken is less likely than conventional chicken to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Organic Turkey
This is one that’s definitely a great go-to poultry, especially if you want to take a break from chicken. Like organic chicken, organic turkey is a great source of protein. However, it has something else that’s also wonderful for you: selenium, the mineral that helps to improve your immune system’s fighting abilities. In fact, by just eating one 3-ounce serving of organic turkey, you get almost a whole day’s worth of selenium.
Organic turkey will be better than the conventional-raised turkey you get in the shops. This is because organic turkey, like organic chicken, will be less likely to have drug-resistant bacteria. And, of course, it’ll also taste much, much better.
Wild Boar
You may not have seen a too much wild boar in your local supermarket, but if you look a bit harder you’ll find it.
Not many people know that wild boar is actually considered an invasive species, as they tend to eat small livestock and can destroy crops. That’s why there isn’t a problem with eating wild boar on a more regular basis, as you’ll be helping balance the natural way of things.
After all, wild boar has spread to more than 45 states in the US and they’re busy destroying forests and competing with native species found there.
Wild boar also happens to be quite tasty and healthy. If you eat just one serving of wild boar, you’ll get more than 70% of a type of B vitamin known as niacin, which helps to lower bad cholesterol and boost the good cholesterol.
The best meats for a healthier body and planet
One important thing to note, however, is that while all this meat is great for you, it’s important to do things in moderation.
That is one crucial way that you can go about eating healthier and making the world a more beautiful place. By eating less conventionally-raised meat, and perhaps less meat in general, you can overcome all the negative aspects of eating conventional, grain-fed meat.
By making the right choices today, you can enjoy a happier life with better health and a more beautiful environment.
About The Author:
Bryson Telling is a writer for Lima France, a world leader in developing innovative food manufacturing machines.
