Englestead 1

Karlee Englestead
Dr. Sean M. George
English 1010D
November 1, 2015
Meat
You are what you eat this saying actually has some truth to it. From the beginning of time
humans have been eating what we call meat. Meat is a very nutrient dense food. With out this
food source humans would have not survived. Our species depended on hunting and gathering
their own food. This meant that their diet consisted mainly of meats fruits and vegatbales. So
why are so many trying to change their diet to be meat free? It has been proposed that cooking
meat allowed for evolution of larger brains that has led to our success as a species. (Klurfeld 1)
Theres many misconceptions about meat; vegetarians may feel that their is no major need for
meat. As simple as it sounds with out meat our diet wouldnt be complete. Eating the right
amount of meat makes the human body the healthiest it can be.
Meat is an essential part in everyday diet. The latest research and standards for our nations
nutritional and a portion controlled diet is called My Plate. My Plates standards state that 5 1/2
ounces of protein everyday. A primary source for protein is meat. Select a variety of protein
foods to improve nutrient intake and health benefits, including at least 8 ounces of
cooked seafood per week. (USAD 1) The most efficient way to get all nine essential amino
acids is to eat any kind of meat. Although on My Plate its suggested to choose lean meats. Such
as; turkey, chicken, fish, and other white meats. Without protein in your diet there is no way for
the body to replenish its cells and build new ones. Protein should be consumed daily and in the
healthiest way possible.
There are many more nutritional benefits of meat besides being an excellent source of

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protein. There are different vitamin and minerals in different varieties of meats. Copper is found
in sea food it helps your body process iron. Iron is found in dark meats its needed for red blood
cells and many enzymes. Phosphorus is found in meat it helps cells work normally, makes
energy, and is needed for bone growth. Selenium is found in organ meats it helps protect cells
from damage and helps to manage the thyroid hormones. vitamin B3 (niacin), B6, and B12 is
found in many different kind of meat. Zinc is found in red meats its important for reproduction
and supports your nervous and immune system. Fish oil has also been found to help reduce the
risk of heart disease. With out eating meat these vitamins and minerals would not exist in your
diet. Without meat your diet would be incomplete.
Vegetarians who dont eat meat have to substitute other foods for meat to be able to be
healthy. There are ways to substitute meat but theres no way to replace it.The most efficient way
to get the amino acids and omegas you need is through eating meat, fish and poultry. You can get
protein from bean and tofu but the rest of the vitamin and minerals that you get from meat dont
come in these substitutes. Because of this vegetarians take vitamin supplements. The problem
with this is that our bodies cant always absorb these; its much easier for our bodies to absorb
nutrients from real foods. Other risks of supplements is they dont always have exact
measurements for the daily requirement of the vitamins and minerals in them. This can be very
dangerous because it is possible for some of these vitamin and minerals to be toxic if consumed
to much of it.
Their are many misconceptions of meat now days. This is actually a big reason for people
becoming vegetarian because they believe meat is a bad thing. When in reality you can cause a
lot more damage to your body by being vegetarian then meat could ever do. People believe that
meat causes cancer, it makes you fat, and that it causes heart disease. We were eating meat before
any of these problems even existed. Therefore meat can not be the solo cause for cancer, heart

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disease, and becoming obese. However, there are many limitations of such studies including
inability to accurately estimate intake, lack of prespecified hypotheses, multiple comparisons,
and confounding from many factors including body weight, fruit/vegetable intake, physical
activity, smoking, and alcohol that correlate significantly either positively or negatively with
meat intake and limit the reliability of conclusions from these studies. (Klurfeld 1) Although
there are pros and cons to just about everything. The downfalls of meat are easily out weighed by
the benefits.There are many other reasons why you may be vegan or vegetarian and you can be
healthy as long as you consult with your doctor often.
Have you every heard the saying too much a of a good thing is a bad thing? It is very
dangerous if you have to much meat in your diet. There is an actual diet called the Atkins diet
where you can only eat meat; little amount of carbohydrates, no fruits, and no starchy vegetables.
This diet has skyrocketed in cancer rates and heart disease. Just because it is an effective way to
lose weight doesn't mean its healthy. Without enough carbohydrates to give the body energy the
body will begin to produce Ketones. This cant be detected until 80% of your kidneys are already
damaged. This diet isnt safe because Low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets are generally associated
with higher concentrations of LDL and HDL cholesterol and lower serum concentrations of
triglycerides than is the conventional intake of carbohydrates and fat. (William 4) The best diet
is to have a variety of foods to ensure you are getting all the nutrients needed for your body to
function properly.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong when in comes to improper dieting. As long as
you use the guide lines set by myplate and you have a variety of food in moderation there is
nothing to worry about. There is no reason to not eat something that has so much nutrients in it
that your body needs. The trends of dieting that come and go may help you drop a few pounds
but in the long run what matters most is your health and making sure youre giving your body all

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it needs to function. Eating lean and meats in the right portions of all other types of food are
import to eat daily.
Meat is an important part of our everyday diet it provides nutrients for our bodies that are
essential for life. Who doesnt want to be the healthy? Eat meat and be the healthiest you, you
can be. Before believing the everything you hear about dieting make sure and do your research
because it can be life threatening. When it comes to what your fueling your body with theres no
room for error. If all of the facts and research doesnt convince you just try biting into a nice
juicy steak or tender baby back ribs and youll never question the importance of meat again.

Work Cited
Fraser, Gary E.. Diet, Life Expectancy, and Chronic Disease : Studies of
Seventh-Day Adventists and Other Vegetarians. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press, 2003.
ProQuest ebrary. Web. 27 October 2015.
"The Raw Facts." New Scientist 225.3005 (2015): 1. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Oct.
2015.
"Quality Attributes and Their Measurement in Meat, Poultry and Fish Products." Google Books.
N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2015.
"8 Ridiculous Myths About Meat Consumption and Health." RSS 20. N.p., 26 Feb. 2014. Web.
09 Nov. 2015.

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"The Very Real Risks of Consuming Too Much Protein." Mercola.com. N.p., n.d.
Web. 09 Nov. 2015.
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.libproxy.dixie.edu/ehost/delivery?sid=9ea783fd-779a4eb1-a861-776c69114f54%40sessionmgr4003&vid=20&hid=4002&ReturnUrl=http
%3a%2f%2fweb.a.ebscohost.com%2fehost%2fdetail%2fdetail%3fvid%3d19%26sid
%3d9ea783fd-779a-4eb1-a861-776c69114f54%2540sessionmgr4003%26hid
%3d4002%26bdata%3dJmxvZ2luLmFzcCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmU%253d
N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/protein-foods