Game meat is good for you, experts say

Game meat is good for you, experts say

November 1, 2001

BY THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

DENVER — It is well known that hunters get a great sense of satisfaction when they consume the meat they bring home from the field, but modern research indicates that game meat not only tastes good, but is low in fat and cholesterol.

Nutrition experts at North Dakota State and Penn State universities compared the fat and cholesterol content of game meat with beef and pork and concluded that game meat is a heart-healthy alternative.

According to information from the USDA, elk meat contains 1.4 grams of fat in a 100 gram serving (3.5 ounces), compared to 2.7 grams in beef and 4.9 grams in pork.

Health experts agree it is important for all adults to limit their fat and cholesterol intake, especially people with heart problems. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that healthy adults limit their daily cholesterol consumption to less than 300 milligrams and their fat intake to no more than 30 percent of total daily calories.

Some game meat is higher in cholesterol than domestic meat, but the combination of more lean body tissue, generally fewer calories, less saturated fat and a significantly higher percentage of cholesterol-reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids make game a heart-healthy choice.

One reason game meat is leaner is because wild game animals tend to get more exercise than domestic animals. Big game hunters also tout the fact that meat from deer, elk, antelope and other game animals does not contain chemical additives, growth hormones or antibiotics.

Elk, antelope, moose and deer (venison) meat can be substituted in most recipes for beef or pork. Many red meat recipes can be made with de-boned parts of pheasant or quail.