For anyone practising fitness, meat is a very important type of food because it plays a vital role in a healthy and balanced diet. This is connected with the presence of essential vitamins and minerals in meats and with the fact that they are an excellent source of proteins. Our bodies need proteins to be able to grow and recover. Meat is a valuable source of energy. Iron, zinc and selenium, vitamin В and D are only a few of the essential components of beef, pork and poultry meat.

Red meats are a good source of easy to absorb iron. Pork fillet provides vitamin В, and liver (chicken, veal, lamb) provides a number of nutrients: from vitamin A to zinc. Vitamin С, which is contained in vegetables, assists the better absorption of the iron contained in meat, so the combination of meat and vegetables is extremely beneficial and healthy.

It is well-known that different meats have different qualities. People who train at the gym are well acquainted with the basic principles: first, it is not advisable to consume fatty meats; second, it is not advisable to fry the meat; third, it is advisable to eat meat and not minced meat products. Unfortunately delicacies such as cured meat and smoked hams are not the healthiest thing for sporting people, especially if they are trying to get rid of the maximum amount of fat in their bodies, since the amount of salt in these goodies is too high.

The best - lean meat, boiled or grilled.

We will take a short look at some types of meat and their place in a healthy diet.

Poultry - the main advantages of poultry meats are their digestibility, good taste qualities and relatively quick preparation. Poultry meat, as compared to that of mammals, has a lot less connective tissues and is tenderer. The fat is located mostly under the skin and around the inner organs. Remove the skin if you are on a diet.

Chicken meat

Chicken meat contains 15-18% proteins, and the fat is only 4%. It is also preferable because the saturated and non-saturated fatty acids in it are better balanced. It is rich in the fat-soluble vitamins А, D and Е. It contains many vitamins of the В group, as well as important minerals such as iron and phosphorus. Bird fat is rich in saturated fatty acids which makes them biologically active. They have a low melting temperature and are easily absorbed. Very poor in connective tissue (tendons), bird meat is easily digested. It is good for physically active people, the elderly, even for young children, since it does not put a strain on their not quite strong yet digestive systems.

Anyone who is on a diet in order to lose weight or get rid of body fat must remove the skin. Diet specialists advise to do this even before heat treating the meat, if your aim is to minimise the amount of fats entering the body.