Unlike most other foods, almost all the fat in meat is visible and can be trimmed away and reduced even further by appropriate cooking methods. One of the major differences between the Irish diet and the Mediterranean diet is that our fruit and vegetable consumption is almost half of that of the Mediterranean countries. Quite the reverse is seen when meat intake in Ireland is compared to that of Mediterranean countries. There is no nutritional justification for the exclusion of red meat from a balanced low-fat diet. Contrary to popular opinion the level of total fat and saturated fat in the diet of vegetarians is only marginally lower that that if meat-eaters.
Vegetarian diets are high in fibre and the iron and zinc present is poorly available.
Even with their higher intakes of vitamin C, which aids iron absorption, there is clearly documented higher incidence of low iron status among vegetarian women. Extensive medical research clearly shows that lean red meat can play a role in low-fat diets for the treatment of high blood cholesterol . Within such a healthy diet, lean meat has an important role to play.