Is combining meat proteins a bad idea? (Diet Query)

Chicken, pork are beef are all good on their own. But can you combine them?

Written By: Sandhya Raghavan | Updated : January 20, 2017 3:25 PM IST

Hi, I am a 34-year old housewife. My family and I are big fans of non-vegetarian food. Every day, I have to cook at least one type of non-veg food item, without which my children and my husband refuse to eat. One day, I invited few of my friends over for dinner and cooked a wide variety of non-vegetarian delicacies that included chicken, fish, mutton and pork. A health-conscious friend of mine advised me against eating different types of meat since consuming them could lead to health problems like bloating, indigestion, cancers and other gastric disorders. This got me worried about the health of my family since I have been feeding them different types of meat every day. Kindly advise.

This query has been answered by Dietician Geeta Shenoy from Dietitian Geeta Shenoy's Nutrition & Wellness Clinic, Chembur.

I do not agree with your friend who believes that eating different types of meat could lead to health problems. You and your family can eat as many types of meat as you want. However, there are three major rules that are applicable while eating meat. Number one: you should eat them in moderation. It is not that the meat by itself is bad, but if you eat anything in excess, it will cause you health problems. Even if you eat only one kind of meat in excess, it will create stomach issues. Number two: Do not combine two sources of proteins like meat and paneer, curd and fish etc. Meat should be eaten with veggies either salads or lightly cooked. Enzymes and other favourable compounds in vegetables help digestion of protein. Number three: Don t consume meat if it has been burnt too much. Exposing meat to high temperatures may lead to burning or charring. And burnt meat contains chemicals (carcinogens) that can cause prostate, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. As long as you follow these three rules, consuming different types of proteins or meats shouldn t be a problem.