7 Healthy Reasons To Put Meat On Your Menu

With the holidays approaching, it’s time to talk turkey—and roasts and prime rib. Does meat deserve its bad rap? We asked health and medical experts to break it down. Hint: Don’t pick up that Tofurky just yet!

- Joanna Powell

CONFUSED ABOUT WHETHER MEAT IS GOOD OR BAD?

Welcome to the club. Veganism has increased an astonishing 500 percent in three years; meanwhile, meat-loving paleo followers (those who eat only foods prehistoric man supposedly could have hunted or gathered) are equally vocal. So the meat debate can be a head spinner.

On one hand, carnivores preach that eating animal protein is essential to vigor and longevity. They point to the Plains Indians, who survived on bison meat—and had the highest number of centenarians in history. Yet vegetarians hold up the Seventh Day Adventists, who eschew meat and are some of the longest-living people in the world.

The discussion intensified in 2015 when a red flag was raised by the World Health Organization (WHO), which released a report linking processed meats such as sausage, bacon, ham and certain deli varieties to cancer.

Even scientific studies don’t offer clarity. While some research suggests that carnivores risk increased heart disease and cancer, other experts point out that many of these studies included people who smoke, drink too much, eat too much sugar and processed foods, or don’t exercise.

No doubt, there are very real risks involving meat, not the least of which are health concerns as well as the ethical issues regarding the treatment of animals raised in feedlots. And climate scientists have long warned of the harmful effects of livestock farming on the environment.

But from a medical and wellness perspective, substantial arguments exist for a diet that contains meat—in moderation, of course! Let us count the ways.

1. PACK A PROTEIN PUNCH