Meat is an irresistible food that most people prefer specially during occasions and when enjoying their evenings with friends and families. Most people believe that meat is the most delicious animal product and this explains why it is in high demand. Meat is obtained in different forms from poultry, pigs, cows, sheep, goat, camel, and other domesticated animals. Some people slaughter wild animals and eat their meat even though this practice is not encouraged in some countries. Most people consume cooked meat and other animal products; however, some eat them without cooking because of personal, religious, or traditional beliefs. Raw meat is harmful to human consumption and people should cook it properly before tasting or eating it.
The main reason why people cook foods is to make them soft for easy chewing and digestion. Moreover, the digestive system of human beings is not as strong as that of animals. Cooking meat makes it soft and tender because it reduces its toughness by weakening the bonds between muscles. Most people slaughter animals when they are old and this means that their meat is tough. Tough meat may spoil a rather delicious meal because people will not enjoy it (Anderson 33). Most people believe that good foods should be soft and easily digestible. Raw meat is very tough and cannot be digested easily. People may suffer abdominal discomfort if they eat raw meat. This means that meat should be cooked properly and under the right conditions to make it soft and good for consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to cook meat before eating it to ensure it is tender, soft, and easily digestible.
Secondly, children have weak jawbones and this means that their teeth cannot tear or cut tough meat. Most children like meat, especially from fish, goats, pig, and sheep. Tough meet may cause teeth deformities or pain in the gum because children use excess force to tear it. In addition, some people have dental cavities and other health problems that do not allow them to use their teeth to tear meat. Most dental diseases are managed by avoiding tough foods like raw meat. Individuals who have weak jaws and eat raw meat are to blame for exposing themselves to severe pain. People should not eat raw meat because they may lose teeth as they try to tear, cut, or chew them.
Moreover, tapeworms thrive in raw meat and their eggs stay viable for a very long time even after the animal is slaughtered. People who eat raw meat have higher chances of having tapeworms because they are transmitted through uncooked foods. A research report that appeared on Medical News Today on January 18th 2007 revealed that most people who suffer from tapeworm infections usually have a history of eating raw pork or beef. Tapeworms lay their eggs which are transported through an animal’s bloodstream and stored on muscles and other organs for incubation. Most people do not de-worm their animals regularly and this means that they are likely to have tapeworms (Anderson 59). Worms cause stomach discomfort and perforate the lining of the large intestines. In addition, they may damage the liver and cause indigestion because of the damages created on the large intestines. People should eat cooked meat to kill the eggs of these worms and ensure their food is healthy.
Flies are known for carrying germs and contaminating food. In addition, they spread waterborne diseases that affect human health. In addition, some people who prepare food may not be careful when packaging it. There are chances of food poisoning as a result of human error on other unavoidable reasons. The health of individuals is determined by what they eat. Those who eat contaminated food are likely to fall sick more often. Raw meat is a good recipe for contacting diseases like typhoid, bilharzia, and amoebiasis. It is advisable to eat cooked meat because most disease-causing vectors and germs cannot survive the extreme heat used for cooking. Raw meat may be contaminated and contain germs that may risk the health of people.
Raw meat has a very high level of cholesterol that is harmful when consumed. Animal products like beef, mutton, and pork contain cholesterol that accounts for the increase of overweight or obese individuals in society (Rosenberg 59). The best remedy of reducing this cholesterol is by cooking meat to destroy the harmful anti-nutrient substances that causes of accumulation of minerals in the gut. Consuming uncooked meat interferes with the utilization of nutrients because most of them do not reach their destinations or are not synthesized properly. Boiling meat and making soups breaks down cholesterol and alters its cell structure to ensure fewer of an individual’s enzymes are used to digest the food. People should eat cooked meat and avoid raw ones because of the health dangers of consuming excess fats.
Animal products like meat, pork and mutton are obtained after slaughtering animals. Most nations employ public health officers to conduct routine checks and inspect food premises, handlers and their sources. They give permits to businessmen to sell meat after it has been inspected and confirmed healthy for human consumption (Anderson 63). However, some unscrupulous traders take advantage of the complexity of the nature of public officers to slaughter unchecked animals. Cases of food poisoning as a result of consuming sick animals have been reported in various parts of the world. Some people believe that animal diseases cannot affect them.
Therefore, they slaughter sick or dead animals and sell their meat to unsuspecting consumers at cheap prices. The poison of meat from sick or dead animals may be weakened by cooking it and this will enable medical experts to attend to patients in good time. Today, most animals are reared using genetic engineering practices which mean that they have high levels of drugs and other chemicals harmful for human consumption. People who fall victims to eating poisoned meat agree that it was not inspected (Anderson 81). Those who cook it do not experience similar health complications like their counterparts who eat raw meat. People should never eat raw meat, especially if its source is not known.
Raw meat is dangerous and nobody should consume it. Cooking meat makes it softer and palatable and this makes people enjoy their meals. In addition, the high temperatures used for cooking meat kill disease causing bacteria or vectors and this makes it healthy for consumption. Disease causing vectors like flies and poor food handling exposes meat to contamination. However, cooking it kills germs and ensures it is safe. Most people believe that all meat is usually inspected before being offered to the public. However, this does not guarantee that there will not be unscrupulous traders and public health officers who put their greed and risk the health of other people. Eating cooked meat in healthy and enjoyable and there is no reason for people to eat uncooked foods.
Works Cited
Anderson, Pamela. The Perfect Recipe: Getting It Right Every Time — Making Our Favorite Dishes the Absolute Best They Can Be. New York: Wiley, 2014. Print.
Rosenberg, Ehud. Meat and Dairy: An Illustrated Halachic Guide. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.