How Bad Is Red Meat For You, Really?

Today, we're firing up the pan to find out whether or not red meat is really bad for you

After the brutal disparity of the Great Depression and the harrowing effects of World War II

American families found themselves in a new world. With suburban lifestyles on the come up, more cash and comfortability

and a whole baby boom of mouths to feed, red meat became a staple for many families

Throw in some heavy superfood propaganda from big beef industry heads, and you've got a recipe for an all-out steak fest

But when the 70s came around, everything got a lot more green

With organic food culture on the rise, exercise trends in fitness centers in bloom

and rapidly expanding medical knowledge about nutrition, healthy eating began to resemble what it is today

Even as steakhouses began springing up all across the states, Americans began taking their health more seriously for the first time

And with the added impact of an actual shortage, Steaks simply lost their luster

But when a beefy epidemic hit the Brits by the early 90s, filet mignons once again went out the window

Mad cow disease, officially known as bovine spongiform encylopathy, is a fatal degenerative disease which occurs after ingesting afflicted meat

Thought to originate by feeding cattle, meat, and bone meal, an outbreak of the disease would go on to claim over 200 victims worldwide throughout the 1990s After this low point the beef industry suffered more blows at the hands of health organizations as Americans began falling victim to heart

diseases at an alarming rate. By beginning health campaigns like the Million Hearts

doctors and political advocates hoped to address the red meat epidemic. Big pork and big chicken

didn't stand idly by when they smelled blood in the water either. Major competitors like Chick-fil-A

and Tyson simply used hard facts as ammunition. By repeating the healthier benefits of their

products to potential customers, both white meat and the other white meat got a big push

in American dining. Things are looking pretty grim for our bovine friends

So, how bad is steak for you, really? Experts agree that there is crystal clear evidence of

red meat's link to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and a shorter lifespan. Perhaps most

damning of all is the evidence that non-red meat eaters simply live longer lives. But it's not all

doom and gloom at the steakhouse. For starters, most specialists agree that two to three weekly

servings of red meat is perfectly fine. Also, unprocessed red meat is a protein powerhouse

that does have its fair share of health benefits. Just three ounces of steak can make up nearly half

the amount of protein a body needs per day. While you can get the same nutrients through any number

of healthier options, such as oysters, there's no getting around the fact

that steak is simply too delicious to be removed from the menu entirely