Week 5: The Problem with Meat Flashcards
What is Meat?
The skeletal muscle and associated tissues harvested for human consumption from mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
- animal bones, ancient killing tools, cave drawings
Evidence for eating meat
Archeological evidence shows incontrovertible evidence that humans and their ancestors have been eating meat for hundreds of thousands of years.
Nutritional value of meat
- protein in meat is in both high quality and quantity
- animal flesh is complete protein containing all 9 essential amino acids needed to make new protein in the body
- plant based foods are incomplete proteins
- vitamins and minerals
Why are proteins essential for the body?
- build and repair tissues
- build hormones and enzymes
what are the nine essential amino acids?
histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Nutrients of red meat
- protein
- vitamin B3 (niacin)
- vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
- zinc
- selenium
- heme iron
what is the problem with red meat?
source of saturated fat and other substances that may contribute to conditions like colon cancer and cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular diseases
- coronary artery disease
- myocardial infarction
- stroke
Problems with raising animals for food
- Billions of animals die to feed us and many of them suffer
- antibiotic resistance due to industrial farming
- higher greenhouse gas emissions from raising ruminants like cattle
- effects climate change
- deforestation as forests cut down and grasslands pastured for grazing animals or to grow food for animals
- releases CO2
- loss of biodiversity
- Zoonotic disease
1 reason for deforestation in the amazon
cattle ranching
Pros of meat
- nutritious
- part of many cuisines
- is a ‘natural’ food that has been consumed for thousands of years
Cons of meat
- overconsumption associated with disease risk
- not all cultural/religious groups consume it
- environment impact
- ethical implications
