Goat meat is a type of red meat that is rich in health benefits, such as helping prevent anemia and strengthening bones. Even so, some people consider goat meat to be dangerous for heart health because it can cause high blood pressure. However, in reality that is not the case. Curious? Check out the facts below.
Goat meat does not cause high blood pressure
According to study, goat meat has not been proven to cause high blood pressure. However, the way it is cooked can sometimes trigger hypertension in the body.
When processing goat meat, we usually use too much salt so that it doesn’t smell fishy and is soft. Excessive use of salt is what causes high blood pressure.
Salt contains the sodium element that functions to regulate water in the body. A large amount of sodium results in more water being stored in the blood vessels, so there is a risk of increasing blood pressure.
Confusion about mutton as cause of high blood pressure not separated from the thermogenic effect it causes. The thermogenic effect is a heat effect produced from the metabolism of a food ingredient in the body so that it gives a warm sensation. This effect is often considered a sign of high blood pressure or hypertension.
What is the cholesterol and nutritional content of goat meat?
There are many rumors regarding goat meat can cause hypertension because of its high cholesterol content. This is not true.
Goat meat actually has lower total calories, fat and cholesterol compared to beef and chicken.
Each serving of mutton (around 85 grams) contains 122 calories, while a serving of beef and chicken has 179 and 162 calories respectively.
The fat in goat meat is much lower than the other two meats. A portion of goat meat only has 2.6 grams of fat, while beef and chicken contain 7.9 and 6.3 grams of fat respectively.
This fact also shows that a portion or around 85 grams of goat meat can fulfill 4% of daily fat requirements.
In terms of cholesterol, a portion of goat meat contains 63.8 mg of cholesterol. This figure is also lower than beef (73.1 mg) and chicken (76 mg).
Not only that, goat meat also contains iron which is needed by the body.
A portion of goat meat contains around 3.2 mg of iron. This figure is greater than beef (2.9 mg) and chicken (1.5 mg).
However, in terms of protein content, goat meat is lower than beef. A portion of goat meat contains around 23 grams of protein, while chicken and beef have around 25 grams of protein.
Even though it has a lower protein content, a serving of goat meat can fulfill 46% of the body’s daily protein needs.
Can Pregnant Mothers Eat Mutton? This is the Complete Explanation
Healthy way to process goat meat
Goat meat is usually processed into satay, tongseng, or even soup and curry. But unfortunately, even though this cooking method can provide a delicious taste, the results are not necessarily healthy.
So, to minimize the risk of high blood pressure, you can try the following tips for preparing healthy goat meat:
- Don’t cook goat meat at too high a temperature because it can damage its nutritional content.
- The healthiest way to cook goat meat is by simmering or boiling for a long time, pressure cooker, or sous vide. Sous vide is a cooking method from France, where the meat is placed in an airtight bag, then heated in low temperature water for a long time.
- If you want to cook goat meat in oil, choose healthier oil such as olive oil.
- Limit the use of salt and sugar when cooking.
- Also limit the use of sauces and soy sauce because they contain high levels of sugar and salt
Instead of salt and sugar to enhance taste, you can use lots of spices so that the goat meat remains healthy and delicious.
Cooking goat meat with lots of vegetables will also help add benefits and replace the nutrients lost during the cooking process.
Meat that causes high blood pressure
Not goat, here are the types of meat that you should limit consumption of because it can cause high blood pressure:
1. Processed meat
Processed meat such as sausages or flat meat which is usually used as a burger filling is one type of food that causes high blood pressure. This is because processed meat is usually packed with high levels of salt and saturated fat which are not good for blood vessel health.
Eating processed meat with other mixtures such as cheese, spices, pickles, and even bread can even further increase the sodium content you consume. So, intake of this type of food should be avoided.
2. Fatty red meat
Thick, fatty cuts of red meat should be avoided so as not to trigger high blood pressure. This is because the metabolic process of red meat in the body can release compounds that can increase blood pressure. The redder the color of the meat, the more likely it is to trigger hypertension
Not to mention that red meat is usually high in saturated fat which can increase bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and reduce good cholesterol (HDL) levels. This condition can increase the risk of hypertension.
11 Foods that Cause High Blood Pressure that Hypertension Sufferers Need to Avoid
Notes from TipsForWomens
Goat meat is basically healthy meat if processed in the right way. However, you should still not consume goat meat in excess, OK?
Choose goat meat that doesn’t have too much fat. As already explained, fatty red meat can increase hypertension, so you still need to pay attention.
