Meat

Meat Meanings

The meat is the muscular part of the body of animals and humans. The term has various uses and meanings depending on the context.

The most frequent use refers to the edible meat of terrestrial animals such as cows, pigs, lambs, etc. It is one of the most important foods because they provide proteins, fats and minerals. For example: “I haven’t eaten meat for three days”, “They say that in Argentina you can eat the best meat in the world”, “Today I want to have baked meat with potatoes for dinner”.

In addition to all the above, we should point out that, as a general rule, meat is usually divided into two large groups:
• Red meat. This is characterized by having the color that gives it its name, because it involves greater digestive work when ingested and because it provides the body with high-quality proteins. All this without forgetting that it provides important levels of iron, vitamin B or phosphorus. Within this section are lamb, beef or veal.
• White meat. Compared to the previous one, we could say that it is lighter, that it has a whiter color and that it contributes fewer calories. Among the most significant within this typology are chicken meat, pork, turkey… The main benefits it gives to the human body are its important contributions of phosphorus and potassium, it helps prevent diseases such as osteoporosis or respiratory problems acute, reduces cramps and has the peculiarity that it can be consumed in many different ways.

In addition to this classification, we can determine that the meat can also be grouped based on the animal of origin. In this way we would have the following:
• Pork.
• Of beef.
• Of sheep or goats.
• Bird’s.
• Hunting, which includes partridge, pigeon, wild boar, hare, rabbit, deer…
• Others. This section is made up of horse, ostrich, camel or whale meats, among others. We could say that these are very specific meats that are not consumed all over the planet.

Animals that eat only meat are known as carnivores; On the other hand, those that do not eat meat and eat plants are called herbivores. The human being is in the group of omnivores, since it eats meat and plants.

About 1,000 chemical compounds give meat its flavor, including carbohydrates, alcohols, furans and other types. Curing and type of storage also affect flavor.

According to DigoPaul, the consumption of meat, for many, means taking a social or political position. Vegetarians emphasize that animals feel and that their sacrifice is therefore murder.

In religion, the notion of flesh is used in contradistinction to the divine. Unlike the spiritual, the flesh is associated with the corporeal and usually takes on a sinful meaning: “I have good will, but the flesh is weak”, “Young people should not indulge in the pleasures of the flesh.

Finally, meat is the part of the fruit that is found under the peel or skin.

Meat