The Endless Prosperity of Rabbits
They have a light impact on the earth, and they’re healthy all-white meat.” Rich in high-quality proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and minerals like calcium and potassium, rabbit meat is also lean and low in cholesterol. Rabbit meat is lean, similar to chicken, and goes well in stews, soups, and casseroles. It’s significantly leaner and higher in protein compared to other meats, making it ideal for dieters and healthy eaters alike.
Due to its low-fat content, rabbit meat can make it easier to reduce your calorie intake without giving up flavor. It’s just as nutritious as fish and higher in protein than many cuts of beef. The diet and lifestyle of rabbits contribute to their low body fat levels. Unlike cows, which are slow-moving and sedentary, rabbits are fast and mobile. They eat a diet of fibrous foods like roots, seeds, and grains.
A 3-ounce serving of wild, uncooked rabbit has only 96 calories, according to the USDA (U.S Department of Agriculture). It also delivers about 18 grams of protein, fewer than 2 grams of fat, and no carbohydrates. Compared to other meats, particularly beef, the rabbit has very little fat. The same amount of raw chicken provides 94 calories, slightly less than rabbit meat. You will also get 17 grams of protein, 2.3 grams of fat, and no carbs. Chicken is considered one of the leanest meats, but rabbit has slightly less fat and more protein. Ground beef, by comparison, is higher in calories and fat.
This type of meat provides 210 calories, 15 grams of protein, 15 grams of fat, and zero carbs. Compared to chicken and rabbit, beef is incredibly fatty.
The consumption of lean meat, including rabbit, makes it easier to cut calories. Fat contains more than twice as many calories as protein and carbs. One gram of this nutrient provides 9 calories, while protein and carbohydrates supply 4 calories per gram. Eating too much fat can quickly increase your daily calorie intake. The key to weight loss is to eat fewer calories than you burn. This concept is known as energy balance, or if you want to tip the balance in favor of fat loss, you need to eat less, exercise more, or both.
The types of fat you eat matter too when it comes to overall health. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats have numerous benefits, according to an August 2017 study published in the Nutrition Journal. As the researchers note, simply reducing fat intake doesn’t make a difference in cardiovascular disease risk. Instead, the focus should be on eating less saturated fat and replacing it with unsaturated fats. Saturated fat largely comes from animal sources, such as pork, beef, and dairy foods. Replacing fatty meats with rabbit will help you lower your saturated fat intake without sacrificing the amount of protein you get.
Animals like cows and pigs take longer to mature than rabbits, cost more to feed, and are slower to reproduce. Therefore, developing countries that have a shortage of animal protein may benefit from switching to rabbit meat as a food source. In many countries, this product costs roughly the same as chicken or other chicken parts, which means that price is not a barrier.