Author: admin October 19, 2017

Everyone loves meat, after all, meat tastes delightful and offers us various healthy nutrients. However, people often argue about which is better, red or white meat. Of course, not only nutrition is a factor when comparing these two, but also taste and methods of cooking.

Myoglobin Makes Meat Red

You may be wondering, “what gives red meat its characteristic color?” Quite a simple answer, its slow twitch fibers contain more myoglobin, the molecules which transport oxygen from the bloodstream to muscles. Hence, muscles that an animal often utilizes becomes darker and reddish. For example, an ostrich consistently runs, and its muscles are quite active, explaining its red meat.

As for white meat, it has less myoglobin since these muscles are utilized less frequently and in short bursts. Its fast-twitch fibers work during emergency situations, and not in routine activity. For example, chicken breasts are whiter than their legs since it is less utilized.

Comparing Nutritional Value

People often say that it is unhealthy to eat much red meat, and it likely stems from the fact that red meat has a higher fat content. Yes, this is the comparison that people will give, “red meat is fat while white meat is lean.” However, when it comes to other nutrients, red meat contains a considerable amount of vitamins and minerals, particularly iron. Then again, red meat consumption shows a correlation with colorectal cancers. Such a correlation likely involves grilling, since it forms cancer-causing compounds in the meat.

Cooking Methods and Flavor

Cooking white meat is easier than red meat since you have the option of frying them. Furthermore, it takes less amount of time to prepare these meals. However, when it comes to taste, red meat has a deeper flavor than white thanks to the fat content. White meat tends to be bland and requires the taste of other sauces and toppings for it to be flavorful.

Eat Both Types for More Nutrition

Eating both types of meat will offer you the best of both worlds. You may add pork and beef to your stew to produce a well-rounded dish. Or, you may opt for a meat smoothie in which one can throw in various types of meat. Doing so may require a power blender, so check smoothiemaker.reviews to compare the top-quality models.

Conclusion

Red meat has its color thanks to dense myoglobin percentage, while white lacks them. Although red meat has higher fat content, it compensates by having more vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, it has a richer flavor thanks to having more fat. However, the healthier option is to eat both to benefit from the best of both worlds.