Fourth, many parents fear eating red meat because of food scares by some in the media and the health community that animal fats may raise cholesterol levels, even though there appears to be no basis for health concerns related to eating lean meat. For example, reindeer herders in Siberia and cattle raising tribes of East Africa, whose diets consist mainly of animal products, have very low cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Excess fat in the diet should be avoided, like too much sugar, salt or alcohol. However, fat is essential for good health. Again, we are reminded to avoid overemphasizing one aspect of diet or health when it may negatively impact other areas.
All foods can fit in a healthy eating plan.
It makes good nutrition sense to balance what we eat from all five food groups, choose a variety of foods from each group, and to eat moderately. Yet eating disorder specialists and pediatricians are seeing alarming numbers of young children today with stunted growth, fragile bones and stress fractures who have stopped eating meat and other animal-source foods. The long-term Bogalusa Heart Study finds that children who eat more meat are less likely to have deficiencies than those who eat little or no meat. Kids who don t eat meat and especially if they restrict other foods, as many girls are doing are more likely to feel tired, apathetic, unable to concentrate, are sick more often, more frequently depressed, and are the most likely to be malnourished and have stunted growth. Meat and other animal-source foods are the building blocks of healthy growth that have made America s youngsters among the tallest, strongest and healthiest in the world.