Meat as an Important Part of the Diet

Meat is an important part of a healthy diet. These days, there are many different dietary preferences, ranging from raw foodists, vegans, and vegetarians to those following the keto diet and other diets. This time, we want to focus on meat and its role in the diet, and we’ll answer the question , “Why should we eat meat?”

Meat—Why Do We Need It?

Meat contains protein, which is one of the main nutrients necessary for sustaining human life; it is needed to maintain and build the body. The body must obtain protein from food every day, as it does not store protein. The amount of protein depends on the protein value of the food—that is, its amino acid composition—which determines the structure and function of the protein; so it is important that the majority of dietary protein come from animal-based sources, specifically eggs, lean pork, lamb, beef, poultry, and fish. It is proper and beneficial to structure your daily diet so that one-quarter consists of animal-based products and the remaining three-quarters consist of plant-based products.Meat is considered one of the most nutritious foods, promoting muscle fiber growth and providing the body with strength and vitality.

Meat and Its Composition

Meat contains about one-fourth protein, with the rest being water, fat, and minerals. The fattier the meat, the less protein it contains, and vice versa. The essential amino acids contained in meat proteins are present in proportions suitable for humans. Meat is low in carbohydrates and contains glycogen (a polysaccharide composed of glucose molecules and found in all human cells). In humans, glycogen is primarily produced and stored in liver cells and muscles. Glycogen serves as an energy reserve. The largest energy reserves are the fats found in adipose tissue, but glycogen is the most important of the carbohydrates used as energy reserves in animals. Glycogen in the muscles is converted into glucose and used locally, while broken-down glycogen in the liver is transported in the form of glucose to any organ in the body. It is found primarily in the meat of wild animals, and therefore also in meat produced on organic farms.

Why should we eat meat?

Organic meat contains far more minerals than other types of meat, and is particularly rich in iron. The body absorbs iron from organic beef—or red meat—very well, and this iron is necessary for the formation of blood and hemoglobin. That is precisely why it is recommended that people include red meat in their diet at least two or three times a week. A mere 50 grams of meat per meal is sufficient to meet the body’s iron requirements. Meat also contains B vitamins. Vitamin B12 is considered the most important and beneficial for blood circulation, but fattier cuts of meat also contain vitamin A, which has the ability to dissolve fats

Organically raised meat

Nutritionists recommend including organic meat in your diet, with a daily intake of at least 100 grams; for larger men, the amount should be twice as much. Organically raised livestock has eaten fresh grass or organically grown feed and lived in the fresh air. Born as an organic animal, it lives out its life in conditions as close to nature as possible, grows at a leisurely pace, and receives personal care. Hormonal preparations and antibiotics are not used in organic livestock farming; animals are given chemical medications only in exceptional cases. That is why organic meat is pure; it is leaner than conventional fatty meat, and, as gourmets say, it has a wonderful, rich flavor—you need less of it to feel more satisfied.

The volume of organically produced meat in Latvia is gradually increasing, and the share of beef and lamb is growing steadily. Organic farmers and small-scale producers also offer processed meat products.

For a meat product to receive organic certification, it must undergo rigorous inspections at every stage of the supply chain—including farming, feed, slaughter, cutting, and processing. Only if all these stages meet the requirements of organic farming is the final product certified, and we can be sure that it is the real deal.