Halal Meat as Part of a Healthy Diet

The global halal food market is set to reach over R29 trillion, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc. The report notes that efforts by both Islamic and non-Islamic nations to market and educate customers about halal products. The result is a growing confidence and interest in halal which is not just limited to meat; carbonated drinks, packaged juice and sweeteners bearing the halal certification area also expected to enjoy a growing demand, with many of the world’s largest companies (including Kellogg’s and Nestlé) operating in the industry. In this post, we celebrate the burgeoning popularity of halal foods by revealing the top three myths regarding what is still arguably the industry’s best known product: meat.

Myth 1: Meat Causes Heart Disease

Meat and Heart Health can be Compatible –
For many decades, we were taught that meat could not form part of a healthy lifestyle because it could raise the levels of bad cholesterol. If studies have shown us one thing, though, it is that new discoveries are constantly being made. For instance, in decades past, we were told to eat polyunsaturated oils, which in fact turn rancid when heated and become potent sources of free radicals that attack our cells and DNA. Reliable studies have shown a link between these oils and diseases such as cancer and heart disease. As for the saturated fat in meat, take note: a meta-analysis which collected data from 21 studies and looked at heart disease and stroke risks between almost 350,000 adults, found that “the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person’s serum cholesterol. The opposite of what… Keys et al would predict…We found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the most calories, weighed the least and were the most physically active.” This relatively new finding would suggest that as long as we obtain protein from fish and white meat, we can still enjoy read meat, perhaps once or twice a week instead of every day.

Myth 2: Meat Makes You Fat

Meat can Form Part of a Weight Loss Diet –
Meat, as part of a low-carbohydrate nutritional regime, can help you lose and keep off weight. Some of the most fascinating research on the success of weight loss diets indicates that the myth that low fat is the answer, no longer holds sway. A recent study from the University of Michigan also revealed that this type of diet can lower insulin resistance, a condition that leads to prediabetes and diabetes. This research indicates quality meat can be eaten frequently with no ill effects on our health.

Myth 3: Meat can Shorten Your Lifespan

Meat does not Affect Lifespan Negatively –
A recent, large-scale study, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer, followed over half a million people in numerous European countries, finding that meat, when consumed wisely (at a quantity of less than 80 grams per day) has no effect on lifespan.

Halal meat and products are growing exponentially in popularity all over the world, and the good news is that it can play an important role in a healthy diet. Meat can help keep you trim, will not cause heart disease and will not stop you from leading the long, healthy life you strive so hard to achieve.

Article by guest writer Jane Sandwood