Can red meat intake cause weight gain?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a question about eating red meat. Can red meat help me in my weight loss journey? In what way is it helpful or harmful to my health? Can it make me put on weight if I consume it? Can you tell me the pros and cons of having red meat? After having red meat I have put on weight during the pandemic. So, I am worried whether this has caused my weight gain. Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The protein in meat can help with weight loss as well as building and maintaining muscle mass, according to Valdez. About four ounces of grilled tenderloin steak contains 255 calories, 1.3 ounces of protein, 0.38 ounces of fat, and 0 ounces of carbohydrates, as per the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). That is one heck of a protein punch. If you want to eat beef while trying to lose weight, make sure that you choose lean beef. Lean meat is classified as having 0.14 ounces (or less) of fat per 3.5 ounces. If your preferred cut has a lot of external fat cover then trim off the excess before cooking. Mutton (lamb), beef, and other red meat can have high amounts of saturated fat. If you are going to have them, go for lean cuts. Lean cuts of beef are loaded with iron, and muscle-building protein, and are one of the best sources of muscle-building creatine. Fatty, red meat adds to the abdominal circumference and leads to obesity. So pass over that rib-eye steak for some fish or chicken.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Thank you.