Meat is also one of the Countless Blessings of Allah.

Meat is also one of the countless blessings of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The source of this blessing is different Halal [lawful] animals. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated in Glorious Quran about Halal animals:

اُحِلَّتْ لَكُمْ بَهِیْمَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ

Mute animals are made lawful for you.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Surah Al-Ma`idah, Ayah 1)

Nutrients in meat

Meat serves as a completely powerful food item for the human body. Protein and other ingredients present in the meat provide protein, iron, vitamin B, etc., to our body; moreover, vitamins A and B are also beneficial to our bones, teeth, eyes, brain and skin.

Kinds of meat

Chicken and fish meat are white meat whereas quadrupeds meat is called red meat.

Benefits of different animals’ meat

1. Goat

The meat of goat is full of nutrition and it produces pure blood. This meat is beneficial to fever patients, those suffering from sile^[1] and others suffering from different diseases. The meat close to the bone contains more nutrition and dampness. It is better to use it during the summer season.

2. Camel

Camel’s meat is salty in taste and requires more time to digest. This is beneficial in blindness, sciatica pain, back pain, black jaundice, burning urination, piles, etc. Camel meat kills intestinal parasites.

3. Sheep

Sheep’s meat provides enormous strength and gives a delicious taste. The experts say: “Its meat takes longer to digest as compared to the meat of other animals.”

4. Ewe (female sheep)

Ewe’s meat has warming effectiveness. To make it normal, include cardamom, cinnamon and black cumin when cooking the meat.

5. Cow

Beef [cow’s meat] is used extensively in our society. Some people consider it to be less nutritious as compared to the goat but medically the cow’s meat provides more body heat and strength as compared to mutton; however, those who are not habitual of hard-work should consume beef as little as possible.

Qurbani (sacrifice) and consumption of meat

Sacrificial meat is fresh and full of nutrition but its overeating may put you at risk of diseases. During Eid days, different meat dishes are eaten whole day even for many weeks, which disturb the digestive system and causes abdominal swelling as well as other diseases. Taking care of one’s health, everyone should eat meat from time to time. For example, if one eats meat at one mealtime he should eat vegetables or any other light food item at the second mealtime so that meat is digested easily.

Two important facts about the red meat

1     Excess use of red meat may lead to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and the diseases related to stomach and liver.

2     Daily consumption of meat increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Those suffering from these diseases should avoid eating red meat.

Four disadvantages of red meat

1     Red meat contains a high amount of cholesterol, fat and proteins causing to increase fat in ‘blood arteries’ making them stiff which resultantly clogs blood circulation.

2     Meat contains a high amount of iron which may be proned to different neurological disorders.

3     To digest the stiff meat fibres, the digestive system has to function immensely, so it may cause digestive problems.

4     Meat may lead to stomach, chest burning and feeling of heaviness.

For diabetic and cardiac patients

Diabetic and cardiac patients should not eat Kaleji (liver), kidneys and brain at all because these items contain a high amount of cholesterol as compared to normal meat.

For the meat lovers

The experts say that fish, eggs and dry fruits also provide the same nutrition which is produced by the meat. The meat lovers should keep consuming these food items because eating excessive meat is like inviting different diseases.

How to avoid the harmful effects of meat

It is better to add different vegetables whenever meat is cooked because it increases its usefulness and keeps away the harmful effects of meat. Moreover, it is better to cook meat with broth and little spices. It will digest soon and one will remain protected from the stomach disorder.

Adulteration and animals

Like food items, different medicines and vaccination are used for animals for their rapid growth and to show them to be healthy. Thus these medicines get mixed into the meat of the animals and inevitably become a part of our food which we eat and it leads to different diseases.

How much meat should be eaten?

There are many advantages of eating meat but overeating of meat may cause harm rather than benefit. Experts’ opinion about the consumption of meat: Adults should eat 70 grams of meat daily whereas 500 gram weekly. The people who eat meat thrice a week or more may have different diseases.

Madani pearl

Generally, everyone should do exercise and walk but the meat lovers should include daily exercise or quick walk for at least 22 minutes in their schedule considering it compulsory for them.

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant us Taufeeq to use the meat in a moderate way.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Medically, this article has been checked by Dr. Muhammad Kamran Ishaq Attari, ‘Majlis Tibbi Ilaj (Dawat-e-Islami)’ and Hakeem Rizwan Firdaus.