American and European are best known as the world’s biggest consumption of meat but goat meat is not on their top list. Goat meat which is also well known as mutton or chevon is only popular in Asia. Especially, in India though there are some cuisines made from goat meat found in Mexican’s table. The health benefits of goat meat are also better known in Asia than in western countries. However, don’t be mistaken goat meat with lamb meat because they are totally different animal. Meanwhile, goat meat can be processed as soup, steak, or another cuisine menu with high nutrients.
Why You Should Consider Consuming Goat Meat?
With so much popularity of beef, chicken and pork, why goat meat should become one of your options? The problem with goat meat is, it’s closely associated with some cardiovascular conditions especially hypertension or the raise of blood pressure. People with those health conditions should avoid goat meat entirely. However, do all types of meat could cause the same conditions if consumed in big portion? Furthermore, there are more about goat meat that you should known first and some of them are probably the good reasons you’ve been looking for why goat meat should be in your dinner table.
- Goat meat is the leanest meat. Well, believe it or not but fat contained in goat meat is lesser than fat contained in chicken. So, chicken breast is not the only source of fatless protein for your healthy lifestyle, goat meat could be the alternative.
- Compared to beef, pork and chicken which were factory farmed, goat meat was cleaner since the goat was raised in small-size farm where the goat are wandering around eating bush and weed that grow naturally. You should aware that factory farmed meats from the cows, pigs and chicken were not naturally raised, hormones and antibiotic may be the part of their growth. That’s why goat meat could be a healthier choice to avoid all those negative effects from how a factory farm grows their meat.
- Until now, most of goat meat you found in the market is from the local farm. So, it is still possible for you to get the meat fresh from the local butcher or get it directly from the farmer who will slaughter the goat based on the direct demand.
In summary, goat is good for environment. Well, at least for now. It is good for environment because so far the demand of goat is not as high as beef, pork or chicken, so it is still possible to raise the goat naturally since the demand is not a pressure. However, one day in the future when people are starting to realize the health benefits of goat meat, perhaps the three points mentioned above are no longer relevant.
Nutritional Value Contained in Goat Meat
| Goat Meat | Serving Size: 100 gr |
| General | Value – DV% |
| Energy | 109 kcal |
| Protein | 20.6 gr |
| Water | 75.84 gr |
| Ash | 1.11 gr |
| Total Fat | 3 gr |
| Saturated Fat | 0.71 gr |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1 gr |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.17 gr |
| Cholesterol | 57 gr |
| Vitamins | |
| Thiamin | 0.11 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.49 mg |
| Niacin | 3.75 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.26 mg |
| Panthothenic Acid | 0.45 mg |
| Folate | 5 mcg |
| Vitamin B12 | 112 mcg |
| Vitamin A | 3 µg |
| Vitamin E | 1 mg |
| Vitamin C | 1 mg |
| Vitamin K | 2 µg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium | 13 mg |
| Iron | 2.83 mg |
| Phosphorus | 180 mg |
| Zinc | 4 mg |
| Copper | 0.25 mg |
| Manganese | 0.038 mg |
| Selenium | 8.8 mcg |
| Electrolytes | |
| Potassium | 385 mg |
| Sodium | 82 mg |
Since you already have found reasons to put goat meat in your dining table perhaps learning more about the health benefits will ensure you that consuming goat meat is highly recommended.
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1. Lowers the Risk of Inflammation in Blood Vessel
One of the amazing benefits of goat meat is it is able to lower the risk of inflammation especially in blood vessel. It is due to CLA contained in goat meat. CLA or conjugated linoleic acid is one of the fatty acids that is able to prevent and reduce the risk of inflammation condition.
2. Stabilizes the Heartbeat
Believe it or not but goat meat is actually effective to stabilize the heartbeat. That’s why goat meat is closely related to the health of coronary heart. It is because the amount unsaturated fat contained in goat meat is more than the amount of saturated fat, so it is good for the heart rhythm.
Also Read: Benefits of Garlic for Your Healthy Heart
3. Contains Cancer Preventing Fatty Acid
One type of fatty acids that also could act as cancer prevention is CLA or conjugated linoleic acid. Furthermore, related to the development of cancerous cells, goat meat also contains relatively high of vitamin B complex like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and panthothenic acid, and then selenium and choline which are also beneficial to prevent cancer.
Also Read: Benefits of Vitamin B6 – Vitamin B1 Benefits
4. Relatively High in Protein
What protein could do for your health? The answer is a lot. Without protein, your working out session is useless because though you could burn your fat but there will be no muscle. Furthermore, protein is good for diet but if you want to optimize your protein intake from goat meat, you have to make sure to avoid the fat.
5. Contains Lower Saturated Fat than Beef
Saturated fat is one of the reasons behind many cardiovascular diseases while the unsaturated fat is the counterpart. As goat meat contains lower saturated fat than beef, so it is a very good alternative for protein source from meat other than from beef. Besides that, as higher in saturated fat surely it provides more benefits to your health than beef could.
Also Read: Benefits of Saturated Fat
6. Helps Burn Fat
Do you know that compared to cow or pig, goat is the leanest animal you could find in the farm? It is because most of goat is raised traditionally and locally. That’s why it contains less fat than other meats, so it is good for those who are currently in diet program. Furthermore, as rich of vitamin B, goat meat is also able to burn fat and controls the weight.
7. Contains Selenium and Chlorine
There are a lot of ways to prevent cancer and one of them is consuming food that contains selenium and chlorine. Goat meat is one of those foods. So, don’t ever think that something red is not as powerful as all those greens because goat meat has proven it to be wrong.
Also Read: Health Benefits of Selenium
8. Prevents Anemia
Basically, all types of meat is good for anemia and goat meat is one on the top of the list. It is because goat meat contains relatively high of iron. Furthermore, goat meat is safe to be consumed by pregnant women, since anemia is one of the cases that mostly suffered during pregnancy.
Also Read: Symptoms of Anemia
9. Promotes Hemoglobin Production
Hemoglobin is one type of protein that prominent to the body metabolism. Some of them are distributing oxygen to all body cells and second hemoglobin is important to the development of fetus during pregnancy. Besides that as rich of Vitamin B12 and iron, goat meat has a lot of contribution in the production of red blood cells as well as the hemoglobin.
10. Good for Blood Circulation
When it comes to red meat, people prefer to avoid consuming it because they has bad omen related to blood and heart. Well, goat meat is probably the exception as long as you consume it in the right portion, goat meat is actually good for blood circulation since it is rich of iron and Vitamin B12, furthermore it is also rich of potassium which well known to be good for heart.
11. Prevents Birth Defect
There are a lot of reasons why a pregnant mother shouldn’t afraid of goat meat but one of those is goat meat could prevent birth defect. It is because goat meat contains iron and Vitamin B12 which contributes in the production of red blood cells. Without enough red blood cells, the development of fetus will be disturbed and birth defect is the worst case that could happen because of that.
Also Read: Health Benefits of Ragi During Pregnancy
12. Relieves the Symptoms of PMS
The symptoms of PMS sometimes are not only about the pain but some uncomfortable feelings that come with the PMS could cause the mood swing in women. Well, if you’re not losing your appetite during PMS, perhaps adding goat meat as part of your diet could assist in relieving the symptoms.
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13. Good to Deal with Stress
One of the good things about goat meat is that goat meat could enhance your mood. That’s why if somehow you feel stressful because of something like jobs, your boss, the PMS or even stressful about nothing which occasionally happen, why don’t you look for something to eat and make sure goat meat is the menu to help you dealing with the stress.
14. Prevents Depression
Stress could happen to anyone. In short term, stress is considered to be normal but in long term. If a person is suffering so much stressful conditions or situations, their mental health could be in trouble and depression is follow suit. Talking to the professional is highly recommended to deal with it and don’t forget to put goat meat in your daily diet to prevent depression.
Also Read: Symptoms of Depression – Health Risks of Stress
15. Contains Omega 3 Fatty Acid
Most people thought that omega 3 fatty acid only able to be found in fish product but if fresh sea food is hard to find in your area, you could consume goat meat as the alternative. Right now many people decided to consume omega 3 fatty acid supplements to fulfill their daily intake but now you could consume goat meat as the natural source of omega 3.
Also Read: Health Benefits of Omega 3 Fish Oil
16. Low in Sodium and High in Potassium
It is a common knowledge that sodium is bad for your heart but potassium is the best thing that could happen to your heart. Potassium’s main job is to bind the excess sodium in the blood stream and eliminate it. That’s why goat meat is good for heart health but don’t depend on it as medication for those who already have issues with their heart or blood pressure.
Also Read: Health Benefits of Sodium
17. Good for Bone
There are some types of mineral that contained in goat meat and one that is relatively high is calcium. Making sure you get enough calcium in daily basis could assist in maintaining the bone health. Furthermore, more conditions related to bone density and the health of joint also able to be prevented.
18. Balances Cholesterol Level
Many people believe that everything that tastes delicious like red meat is bad for their cholesterol level. Well, perhaps you just don’t know that it is not the meat but the saturated fat contained in the meat is the reason behind your bad cholesterol. That’s why goat meat is a very good alternative; its unsaturated fat level is higher compared to the saturated fat so it is able to control your cholesterol level.
Also Read: Health Risk of High Level of Saturated Fat and Cholesterol
19. Reduces the Risk of Obesity
Some people are blessed with ideal body shape but most people should struggle to stay in shape. If you have tendency with obesity, surely you should control what you eat. Do you know that to stay in shape is not only about counting calories but also consuming food that could actually burn your fat? Goat meat is rich of Vitamin B which could assist in burning the excessive fat in your body to keep you in shape.
20. Contains Iron
Iron is one of the important minerals which functions has prominent role in the whole body metabolism. The iron deficiency could lead to several dangerous diseases like acute anemia, macular degeneration because body cells don’t get enough oxygen that should be distributed by hemoglobin, and iron deficiency is very dangerous if it is suffered by women during pregnancy.
Also read: Health Benefits of Iron
21. Enhances Men’s Sexuality
Some points above have mentioned that goat meat is relatively good for women but how about for men? Well, it is a common knowledge among Asian people that goat meat could enhance men’s sexuality though it is not that popular among American and European. So, if you have problem with your sexuality performance, try goat meat and prove it yourself. Thus, you can consume goat meat as juicy steak, warm soup, or barbecue for both your hungry stomach and sexuality booster.
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22. Good for Body Metabolism
Body metabolism is everything for your body. It is like the main system where all parts of body functions are depending on how optimal your body metabolism is working. Furthermore, healthy body metabolism is another world for optimal absorption of nutrients you consume from foods, so it is good to control body weight.
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23. Strengthens Immunity
Immunity system is like a layer that provides you a protection from diseases. That’s why maintaining it is supposed to be your biggest concern. Goat meat is one type of meat that could provide you this kind of perk. Though, consuming it in the right portion is important point you should remember as well.
24. Controls Blood Sugar
Those who have been diagnosed with diabetes will try their best to control their diet. Unfortunately, most of them don’t know that there is a certain type of red meat that is actually good to control blood sugar and one of them is goat meat. Furthermore, as rich of vitamin B, it is also effective to control weight gain and prevent obesity which could be a problem for a patient with diabetes type 2.
Also Read; Benefits of Ginger for Diabetes
Goat Meat for Beauty Tricks
25. Acts as Anti Aging
One more amazing thing about goat meat is it also could act as anti aging. It is because goat meat is so rich of minerals especially iron that could promote healthy cells’ regenerations or enhance the production of new cells. So, consuming goat meat regularly could make you look younger.
26. Good for Skin and Hair
Perhaps most of you don’t know that goat meat is good for skin health and hair growth. Minerals contained in goat meat as well as vitamin B12 promote better regeneration of skin cells. Furthermore, goat meat also provides solution to deal with some skin conditions like eczema, acne and effective to treat rashes and dry skin.
Goat Meat for Brain
27. Promotes Brain Development
As rich of minerals, especially iron and then also contains folate, goat meat is highly recommended food during pregnancy since it promotes the production of red blood cells for optimal development of fetus’ brain development. However, goat meat is also recommended for kids to consume since it could improve the ability to memorize.
Also Read: Benefits of Oxygen – Benefits of Salmon
28. Goat Meat is Effective Treatment for Autism
Perhaps it is not a common knowledge that goat meat also able to treat autism through diet. However, the knowledge about goat meat contains Omega 3 fatty acid is also not widely known, since omega 3 fatty acid is effective solution to treat children with autism and now you could get the alternative from goat meat.
Cautions of Goat Meat
Just like any other red meat, there are also some drawbacks of consuming meat in big portion and goat meat is no exception. Below is some cautions you should aware of:
- Consuming goat meat in big portion in regular basis could cause some serious problems like obesity, weight gain and food poisoning.
- Though consuming goat meat is relatively good for heart but those who already heart problem should avoid goat meat entirely.
- Goat meat could cause problems in digestive system. That’s why learning how to cook it properly is important.
- Since there is no such standard for goat meat like beef, pork and chicken is difficult to make sure whether the meat is already ensured to be free from diseases since mostly goat is raised locally in small farm.
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In summary, from the list of health benefits of goat meat, this meat is relatively safe to be consumed in regular basis but the size is important to make sure that it is not over limit. However, when it comes to the question of ‘how much?’ each person is different from another. You have to be a smart consumer to know that you consume it in proper portion.