In general, red meat refers to beef, pork and lamb in main dishes and is used to differentiate from processed meat, which refers to products such as sausages, burgers and smoked, cured and tinned meats.
Meat is an important dietary source of proteins, minerals and trace elements, in particular iron and zinc – which play an important part in many metabolic processes and are guaranteed to boost your hormone levels, help improve your concentration and aid male potency.
Trends in consumption of individual meats vary widely. Pork is the most widely consumed meat in the EU and consumption has been steadily increasing. While it is less commonly consumed in New Zealand and Australia, consumption has also been increasing in these areas as well. In developed countries there has been a general decrease in the amount of red meat consumed, which can primarily be attributed to the incidence of BSE (mad-cow disease), while the variation in consumption of lamb/mutton has been minimal. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as Mad-Cow Disease (MCD) killed more than 160 people in Britain and over 40 elsewhere by 2009 – in the United Kingdom alone, the country worst affected, more than 179,000 cattle have been infected and 4.4 million slaughtered during the eradication program.
Red meat is found on dietary recommendations for men everywhere, from tabloid articles to self-help books and websites. This relatively simple addition to diet is considered a valuable aid to male potency because of its high content of zinc by comparison to other foods. But is it the solution to male potency problems?
Meat Consumption and Mortality risk
A study regarding red, white and processed meat consumption as risk factors for total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was initiated in 1995. Over the 10 year follow-up period until 2005, there were 47,976 male deaths and 23,276 female deaths. Overall, there was an increased risk of total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in both men and women. Based on a 2000 calorie/day diet, men eating 4.8 ounces (136.2 grams) of red meat daily had a 31% increased risk of mortality over a given decade than men that consumed just 0.7 ounces (18.6 grams). Women eating 4.6 ounces (131.8 grams) of red meat daily had a 36% increased risk of mortality over a given decade than women who consumed just 0.6 ounces (18.2 grams). The study also showed an increased risk of total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in the group with the highest intake of processed meat compared to the lowest.
As a conclusion, the researchers calculated that 11% of the deaths in men and 16% of the deaths in women could be prevented if people decreased their red meat consumption to the level consumed by the first 20%.
The difference in daily red meat consumption between the highest and lowest groups studied was approximately 4 ounces (113.4 grams) or the equivalent of a quarter-pound hamburger.
Alternative Ways of Bringing Home the Bacon
The figures above should be enough to make any of us consider seriously if that Argentine steak is really on the menu anytime soon. But is this the end of red meat as popular cure for potency problems?
I think each man should find the answer for himself – but be aware of the information above and the increased risk of mortality proven by scientific research. That taken into account, there are other ways of supplementing your diet and achieving both potency and a healthy life: protein-rich foods like fish, chicken and tofu, eggs and dark green leafy veggies for iron or multi-grain bread and oysters for the zinc intake, so there’s no excuse for poor performance. The cows all over the world let out a sigh of relief: pfhew!