Red meat, including mutton, has been discouraged simply because it is high in cholesterol and saturated fat. But, that is not entirely the case. Red meats are unhealthy, but that’s only if you take them in large quantities.
Every type of red meat contains a high level of myoglobin, which is responsible for their red color and some health benefits to go with it.
Mutton is a type of red meat with great health benefits. It has an impressive profile, and as such, can still make its way into a healthy diet. You’ll have to be mindful of the portion you eat though.
What is Mutton and How Does it Compare to Lamb?
The first thing you have to know about this type of red meat called mutton is that it is the flesh of a fully grown sheep used as food. Emphasis on “fully grown”; the sheep should be more than a year old at least.
When the meat is gotten from a sheep that’s less than a year old, it is known as “Lamb”. Also, mutton is a bit chewier with a stronger flavor compared to lamb. And they have a whole lot of health benefits to offer.
Here are 10 top benefits of eating mutton.
1. Mutton Improves the Brain Functions
You may not come across this very often, but mutton is great for your brain. It contains compounds that improve the cognitive function of the brain and helps in the treatment of brain-related diseases like Alzheimer’s.
One of the components of mutton that’s linked to improved brain health is known as Cobalamin, a type of vitamin B-12. Symptoms like confusion, memory loss, and cognitive degeneration can be treated with the right amount of vitamin B12 in the body.
2. Mutton Boosts the Immune System
If you want your immune system to be up at all, then you have to eat. But, if you want it to be up and doing in the best way possible, then you have to eat the right foods that will boost your immune system. Foods that are rich in iron and vitamin B are of great benefits to the immune system.
According to a study, having the right amount of iron in your blood alone can treat various ailments. Iron strengthens the immune system to fight compounds that may trigger health complications in the body.
In addition to fighting diseases in the body, iron also helps in the healing and recovery process. Boosting the production of the red blood cell is one of the basic functions of iron. The red blood cells, on the other hand, play a vital role in repairing damaged tissues and cells.
3. Mutton Helps Prevent Diabetes
Mutton is about 5% magnesium, and that goes a long way to maintain the health of the body. Especially as it has to do with the metabolism of carbohydrate and glucose. That is how mutton can impact the risk of diabetes.
There is a lot of research on this matter, and many of them point to the fact that magnesium plays a role in reducing the risk of developing diabetes. One of the research results put it in a very memorable way,
“For every 100 mg per day increase in magnesium intake, up to a point, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes decreases by approximately 15 percent”.
So, one of the easiest ways to treat and prevent diabetes is to eat foods (like mutton) that are rich in magnesium, and after a while, the diabetes-factor will start to dwindle.
4. Mutton Contains Healthy Fats
You know you have to take mutton in moderate quantities per time, right? Taking too much of it for so long can cause adverse health conditions. But, taking it in moderate quantities can provide your body with just the right amount of fats it needs.
When you have just the right amount of healthy fats in your body, it helps your health in a lot of quality ways. Two specific types of healthy fats present in mutton are Oleic acid and omega 3 fatty acid.
The oleic acid, which also reduces inflammation, is known as the heart-healthy fat. It offers health benefits like reducing cholesterol level in the body, lowering blood pressure, preventing heart diseases, etc.
Omega 3 fatty acid, on the other hand, fights depression, improves heart health, promotes brain health, fights autoimmune diseases, prevent cancer, treat mental disorders, etc.
5. Mutton Can Reduce Asthma
Asthma can bring down one’s productivity by a great shot if nothing is done about it. The shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing will not even give you “breathing space”, literally, let alone the comfort of ordinary living.
The symptoms of asthma may not be there all the time, but it’s not a good experience during an asthma attack. An asthma attack can be dangerous and can cause inflammation and swelling in the lungs and airways.
Mutton contains compounds like omega 3 and oleic acid which helps fight inflammation and lower the symptoms of asthma.
6. Mutton Prevents Anemia
One of the most prominent contents of mutton is iron. Iron is so important because they help in the production of red blood cells. Not having the right quantity of iron in the body can cause a lot of health complications, including anemia which can be very devastating.
Before the body starts to experience the devastating effects of anemia, it’ll show some symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, pale skin, leg cramps, insomnia, etc. If it is not noticed and treated properly at this stage, the symptoms will get worse and start affecting the different organs in the body.
Mutton is one of the many natural sources and supplements that can effectively treat anemia due to their high iron content.
7. Mutton is Good for the Muscles
The magnesium content of mutton, as well as its protein content, helps in the maintenance and development of muscles.
It is common for us to think that muscle building is only for athletes and “gym rats”, but that’s wrong thinking. Everyone needs to build muscle to ensure better body function and better mobility in the long run. You don’t have to build your muscle like “the Incredible Hulk” if you don’t want to, but you should be ripped to an extent.
Tissues and muscles are made from protein predominantly, which is why individuals who want to stay healthily ripped increase their protein intake significantly.
In addition to protein and magnesium, zinc, iron, and calcium also play an important role in the building and maintenance of the muscles.
8. Mutton is Good for the Skin, Hair, Teeth, and Eyes
There are different levels to it, but we humans are all big on appearance. We care about the way we look. Our hair, skin, eyes, teeth, height, shape, and wears creates an impression of who we are and when all of these are not right, you may be selling yourself short 90% of the time you meet new people.
There are a lot of things you can do to ensure you look good, one of the most important of them all is to eat healthy foods. Foods that are directly beneficial to your looks. If there is a list of foods that are directly beneficial to appearance, mutton (and other protein-rich foods) should most definitely be on the top of the list.
9. Mutton Helps with Fetal Development
A pregnant woman does not just consider her health and nutrition, but that of the baby as well. Expecting mums need additional nutrients, vitamins, mineral, and even extra calories, all of which you can get from eating mutton.
You do have to be careful though because your body weight will blow out of proportion if you eat just about anything that comes your way. Eat a lot more protein-rich foods than carbohydrate. Protein can increase your calorie count and improve your health and that of the baby while keeping your weight in proportion.
It is important to point out that a low level of iron in the body can lead to anemia, and in the case of a pregnant woman, it may also lead to premature delivery and low birth weights. Eating mutton is one of the ways to ensure a constant supply of iron to the body.
10. Mutton Promotes Relaxation and Sleep
Nothing is as frustrating as feeling restless after a long day when you should be enjoying a peaceful and restful time in bed. Good sleep is one of the foundations of optimal health, and we need to do everything to make ensure good sleep on a regular basis.
There are a number of things that can lead to restlessness. Some of them are obesity, depression, sickness, and poor nutrition. As a matter of fact, what you eat can be a total health game changer for you in many ways.
Mutton contains a good quantity of omega-3 fatty acid, enough to help you get proper relaxation and sleep on a regular basis. It also contains many other compounds that induce relaxation of the muscles and brain, and promote healthy sleep.
With the way things are going, meat may not be the best food for anyone that wants to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, especially if eaten in large quantity. Taking mutton moderately is the best way to get the best out of it without beefing your health.
Mutton is filled with a lot of nutrients and offers amazing health benefits that are unique in a matter of speaking.
