Lamb is one of the most popular meats around the world. It’s used in many different dishes, including soups, stews, salads and even desserts.
But what does it actually contain? Is it healthy to eat lamb? How much do you need to consume before you start feeling ill?
These are some questions that have been asked over time and they’re still being asked today!
What Does Lamb Meat Contain?
The short answer is yes, but there are other factors to consider too. For example, lamb contains only trace amounts of saturated fats (less than 0.5% total) and cholesterol (less than 200 mg per 100 g). However, these levels are higher than those found in red meat such as beef or pork.
So how do I know if my lamb is low in cholesterol?
Well, there are two ways to test your lamb. One way is with a blood test called a lipid profile. A lipid profile tests for the amount of cholesterol in your blood and whether it’s high or low. Another method is to take a sample of the fat from the inside of your cheek and check its content of lipids. These two tests are the best way to determine whether your lamb is low in cholesterol or not.
Does Lamb Meat taste Good?
Yes, almost anything tastes good if you cook it properly. But that’s a whole different topic! In all seriousness, yes lamb meat does taste good. There are no specific requirements for cooking lamb as it can be prepared in a variety of ways. It can be barbecued, roasted, fried, minced or even made into a kebab! However, lamb does contain a lot of fat so you will want to take care when cooking it to avoid it becoming too greasy.
Does Lamb Meat Have Any Health Benefits?
There’s no such thing as a free lunch or free health benefits. Everything you eat or do comes with its own price. However, lamb does contain high levels of vitamin B12 (a very important vitamin) and selenium. Both of these are essential for good health and play vital roles in the correct functioning of the body’s cells, nerves and DNA. Lamb is also an excellent source or protein so it will keep you feeling full and energised for longer.
What Are The Negative Aspects Of Eating Lamb?
As with most things in life, there are a few downsides to eating lamb. High levels of cholesterol, fat and sodium are just a few of the things that have been linked to heart disease. Whilst lamb does contain high levels of good cholesterol, it also contains high levels of bad cholesterol too. This is why your lamb will need to be tested before you eat it.
Also, lamb contains high amounts of fat, both saturated and unsaturated. Whilst some of this fat is unsaturated fat, the rest can still lead to high cholesterol levels, clogging of blood vessels and an increased risk of heart disease.
Does Lamb Have Any Negative Health Effects?
Yes. Although lamb does have some health benefits, it can also cause certain side effects. Eating too much lamb (and not exercising enough) can lead to a build up of fat around your organs (known as organ fat). This can cause serious problems later in life and is something you definitely want to avoid.
Also, as lamb is quite high in cholesterol, eating too much of it on a daily basis can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and other fatty related conditions. Again, this is why you need to check that your lamb has been tested before cooking and eating it!
What Else Should I Know About Lamb?
As lamb is one of the healthier meats you can eat, it’s important to know what you should do before, during and after eating it.
Before You Eat It
Check your lamb: As we’ve already mentioned, it’s very important that you check your lamb has been tested for fat and cholesterol content before cooking it and eating it. In some areas of the world your local butcher or supermarket will be able to provide this service for free. Elsewhere, you may have to pay a small fee.
Either way, it’s money well spent to make sure the food you eat is safe and healthy.
Exercise: Just because lamb is a healthier meat choice, this doesn’t give you an excuse to eat as much of it as you want. You should still eat lamb in moderation and exercise regularly too.
During You Eat It
Breathe: Before tucking into that delicious lamb chop, take a moment to breathe and appreciate its deliciousness.
Carbs & Fat: Try eating your meat with either some carbs (potatoes, bread, pasta) or some fats (vegetables oils, butter, cheese). This will help to slow down the digestion of the meat and give your body more energy and nutrients.
After You Eat It
Chewing: Make sure you chew your food thoroughly before swallowing to help your body digest the food more easily.
Water: After a meal which contains a high amount of meat, drink at least one glass of water for each serving of meat you ate (so if you just had a lamb chop for dinner, you should drink at least one glass of water). This will help remove any fat or cholesterol which may have been absorbed by the body.
How Many Calories Are In Lamb?
There are several different types of lamb available and this can make it more difficult to know how many calories your specific cut of lamb contains. For the purposes of this article we have used the following pieces of information:
A 3.5oz (100g) serving of lean leg lamb contains 239 calories.
A 3.5oz (100g) serving of fat free loin lamb contains 129 calories.
A 3.5oz (100g) serving of ground lamb contains 275 calories.
If you were to eat two servings of leg lamb that alone would give you 438 calories. Add in a serving of fat free loin and you are up to 656 calories. Finally add a serving of ground lamb to that and you are at 931 calories.
As you can see the calories can really start to add up quickly if you are not careful with your meat choices!
Lamb Recipes
Now that you know a lot more about lamb, it’s time to start cooking! We’ve put together some great lamb recipes for you to try out. Take a look and cook yourself some delicious meat today.
Conclusion
We hope you have found this guide on lamb useful and that now you feel empowered when buying, preparing and eating this delicious meat. Lamb is packed with so many nutrients that your body needs and by following the tips in this guide, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your lamb.
Finally, if you have any thoughts on lamb that you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment in the box below!Also, if there is another type of meat you would like to know more about, let us know in the box below. We’ll see what we can do!
Sources & references used in this article:
Evolution in four dimensions, revised edition: Genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic variation in the history of life by E Jablonka, MJ Lamb – 2014 – books.google.com
Green products and corporate strategy: an empirical investigation by C D’Souza, M Taghian, P Lamb… – Society and business …, 2006 – emerald.com
Pharmacist prescribing and care improves cardiovascular risk, but what do patients think? A substudy of the RxEACH study by YN Al Harmarneh, S Lamb, M Donald… – … Journal/Revue des …, 2018 – journals.sagepub.com
Consumer perception of the quality of lamb and lamb confit by G Ripoll, M Joy, B Panea – Foods, 2018 – mdpi.com
You are lost without a map: Navigating the sea of protein structures by AL Lamb, TJ Kappock, NR Silvaggi – … et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Proteins and …, 2015 – Elsevier
