Most of us come in to contact with it everyday, but how much do you really know about red meat? There’s a long history of debate on it’s health benefits and quality, but this list of 5 facts is tried and true, though they might surprise you.
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1The Juice You See In Red Meat Isn’t Blood
The juice we typically see when buying red meat isn’t blood- it’s just water! The water looks red because of a protein called myoglobin and the more myoglobin, the redder the meat. This is also how we differentiate ‘red meat’ from ‘white meat.’ So, no reason to get squeamish next time you’re throwing some steaks on the grill, your cow isn’t still mooing.
2Eating Red Meat Can Make You Happier
In an Australian study, women who ate red meat daily turned out to have less of a chance of disorders such as depression and anxiety than those who ate less. Turns out, red meat can improve your mood. Scientists think this may be because beef and lamb in Australia are ‘grass-fed’ so their meat is higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which has been shown to battle anxiety and depression. But we like to think the meat here in the States is pretty happy-inducing as well.
3It Can Actually Lower Your Cholesterol
There’s a lot of concern floating around about red meat destroying your cholesterol levels, and raising them immensely. But, in reality, it can lower and improve your cholesterol. Lean beef can improve risk factors for heart disease and lower cholesterol, and nearly two-thirds of the stuff sold in grocery stores is certified lean- so pick some up and start protecting your heart!
4The ‘Pink Slime’ In Ground Beef Is 100% USDA Inspected
And it’s real beef! Its name is actually ‘lean finely textured beef’ and it’s just boneless lean beef trimming, and the USDA inspects every bit of it. When the beef is cut into steaks and roasts, what are left behind are the trimmings, which have gotten the misnomer ‘pink slime.’ In reality, it’s not bad for you, and it’s totally okay to eat.
5The US Supplies 25% Of The World’s Beef With 10% Of The World’s Cattle
We’ve got a lot of big cows. You’re welcome, world.