Here Are the Top 5 Healthiest Meats, Unhealthiest Meats and Meat Substitutes (2024)

FAQs

What meat is most unhealthiest? ›

Least healthy meats

Processed Meats: Notably, there are over 200 types of cold cuts and processed meats. These include hot dogs, bologna, and Vienna sausages. Processed meat is often made of less healthy organs like the stomach, lips, and heart.

It is recommended that you do not eat too much red meat, processed meat or meat that is high in saturated fats as this can lead to health problems.

Poultry. Meats that fall under this category include chicken, turkey, goose, and duck. Poultry, especially white meat like breasts and wings, is a good source of lean protein. Poultry is also a source of vitamins like niacin, vitamin A, and magnesium.

One of our Cancer Prevention Recommendations is to eat no more than moderate amounts of red meat, such as beef, pork and lamb, and eat little, if any, processed meat. There is strong evidence that consumption of either red or processed meat are both causes of colorectal cancer.

Chicken. Chicken tends to be responsible for the most foodborne illnesses, but that is likely because it's the kind of meat we eat the most. Many cases of food contamination come from the mishandling of meats and cross-contamination in our own kitchens.

It's especially popular in East and Southeast Asia, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania. No matter how you think about it, pigs are rather dirty animals. They're considered the garbage and waste eliminators of the farm, often eating literally anything they can find.

Lean meats include skinless chicken breast, the white meat part of the turkey, and lean cuts of beef. Leafy greens, green tea, and bright vegetables can help reduce swelling and turn off fat-storage genes. Bright, colorful vegetables also add color and crunch to the meal plan.

Which meat is healthiest? ›

Deli meat, hotdogs, and canned meat such as Spam are high in sodium and trans fat, which you should avoid if you are trying to lose weight. Like red meat, overconsumption of processed meats is linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes.

NUTRIENT DENSE RED MEAT

So what qualifies it as a superfood? Compared to many other meats, ostrich is a better source of vitamins and minerals. Zinc: A 100-gram serving of cooked ostrich meat provides around 4 milligrams of zinc, over 30% of the recommended daily value.

Along with cold cuts, other processed meats include bacon, salami, bologna, hot dogs and sausages. Fresh chicken, turkey, beef, pork and fish that have not been modified are considered unprocessed meats.

Chicken. Poultry has been the most consumed meat in the United States since the 1990s, with about 98.9 pounds eaten per capita. This figure is expected to grow to 107.5 pounds per capita by the year 2033.