Canadians consume red and prepared meat well within Canada’s Food Guide recommendations, and are knowledgeable about the essential nutrients that meat provides.

Canadian Community Health Survey (Statistics Canada) 2017

Nutrition – Meat consumption in Canada…

Meat consumption in Canada is similar to that found in Mediterranean countries, places where diets are widely recognized as being amongst the healthiest worldwide

Nutrition – Facts

 
Canadians consume
41 grams
of cooked fresh meat, such as beef, pork, lamb
and veal, a day – that’s about half the size of
the palm of your hand.
1 serving of fresh meat is
75 grams
An Ipsos poll conducted in September
2017 of 1,000 plus Canadians found that
72 percent
of respondents reported to eat three
or less servings of red meat a week.

Nutrition – Food Guide

Nutrition – Did you know…

Did you know that red meat is a superfood?

The nutrients in meat strengthen the immune system, contribute to the formation of red blood cells, hormones, and muscle tissue, and ensure proper functioning of the nervous system. These nutrients also impact our senses of taste and smell, benefit our thyroids, and support antioxidant production

Natural & Complete Protein

B12

Blood Sugar Control

Muscle Health

Heart Health

Iron Rich

Hunger Curbing

Selenium-Rich

Zinc Immunity

Natural & Complete Protein
Protein found in meat is “complete” because it contains all the amino acids essential for health (builds muscle, strengthen the immune system, help maintain a normal metabolism).People cannot naturally produce all of the necessary amino acids, making adequate dietary consumption critical.

B12
Vitamin B12 plays a key role in maintaining brain and nervous system function, normal metabolism, and high energy levels. Followers of a vegan diet, which contains no animal foods, must add Vitamin B12 through supplements, fortified foods, or certain types of seaweed or nutritional yeast.

Blood Sugar Control
A high protein and low carbohydrate diet, which could include lean meat can help to control blood sugars.

Muscle Health
High- quality protein found in meat have been shown to prevent muscle loss as we age more effectively than other protein foods.

Heart Health
Mounting, recent evidence shows that lean meat protein could help maintain healthy cardiovascular function.

Iron Rich
Meat, fish and poultry contains heme iron, which helps to prevent anemia because the body absorbs this iron better than non-heme iron found in plant foods such as vegetables. Heme iron foods help the body absorb non-heme iron.

Hunger Curbing
Consuming meat helps you feel full longer, while curbing hunger and satisfying food cravings. Research has shown that animal protein has a greater positive effect on weight loss than plant protein.

Selenium-Rich
A serving of beef or lamb delivers half a human’s daily selenium needs. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage, promotes proper thyroid function, and may contribute to cancer prevention.

Zinc Immunity
Zinc helps maintain optimal immune function and promotes wound healing. Beef is the top dietary source of zinc in the diet.

Nutrition – Encouragingly, 3 out of 4 … 1

Encouragingly, 3 out of 4 respondents understand the important role that red meat plays in getting essential nutrients for health.

Nutrition – Encouragingly, 3 out of 4 … 2

There is no conclusive link between meat consumption and colon cancer. Some research has shown weak associations between over consumption of meat and colon cancer. However, no one food, including meat and prepared meat, has ever been found to have a cause and effect relationship with cancer. The best advice to improve all aspects of your health is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, which includes lean meat, maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and of course, don’t smoke.