According to meat lovers, rabbit meat is a delicacy. The taste is similar to chicken but firmer and meatier. With a high ratio of meat to bone, rabbit meat is indeed fleshy. But is rabbit meat healthy for you?
Remarkably, rabbits are one of the most prolific domestic livestock animals there is. This article will look into the significant nutrients available in rabbit meat and their importance to your health. Also, comparing rabbit meat with other meat sources will help you know whether you should add rabbit meat to your diet. in this article, you will get answers to the following rabbit-related questions:
- How healthy is rabbit meat?
- Is rabbit meat healthier than chicken?
- Is rabbit meat healthier than fish?
- What happens if you eat too much rabbit meat?
- Why is rabbit meat bad for you?
How Healthy is Rabbit Meat?
Rabbit is one of the most nutritious, leanest, and most eco-friendly meats you can eat. Compared to beef, pork, chicken, and other meat sources, the rabbit has the lowest percentage of fat and the lowest calories per pound. Thus, it is suitable for dieters and healthy eaters. Some of the nutritional value of rabbit meat are shown below :
Rich in protein
Rabbit meat is rich in protein (29. 1g per 100g). What’s more, a diet rich in protein is necessary for the body to repair cells and create new ones. Consequently, rabbit meat is suitable for children and teenagers who need protein for growth and development. Even pregnant women can benefit from the easily digestible protein in rabbit meat.
Low–fat meat
Due to its low-fat content, rabbit meat is heart-friendly. Particularly, 100 grams of rabbit meat contains just 8 grams of fat. It is also low in cholesterol. A Diet low in fat or cholesterol helps to ward off serious illnesses like heart disease and stroke. Still, our body needs some amount of fat to function correctly. Accordingly, it is dangerous to eat rabbit meat exclusively over a long period.
Rich in vitamins and minerals
Rabbit meat is an outstanding source of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. It contributes to the daily dietary requirements of vitamins and minerals. Significantly, rabbit meat contains vitamins B3 and B12, phosphorus, potassium calcium, selenium.
Our body craves these vitamins and minerals to help restore bones, heal wounds, and boost the immune system. They also convert food into energy and mend cellular damage. That’s why rabbit meat is healthy for you
Contains omega-3 fatty acids
Even though rabbit meat is low in fat, it contains a lot of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are significant for the health of the human heart. They support mental health and help the body fight inflammation. Thus, rabbit meat is healthy for you.
Low in sodium
Rabbit meat contains a low level of sodium than other meat sources. Sodium is essential for our body to function properly. But too much can cause critical damage to your heart health. This is why a low-sodium diet is your best choice. It supports electrolyte balance, keeps you energized throughout the day, helps you maintain energy levels, and lowers the risk of stroke.
No carbohydrate
Rabbit meat contains no carbohydrates making it ideal for people on a low-carb diet. But Is rabbit meat healthy for you if you eat it alone? No. If you don’t pair rabbit meat with some carbs, you might get malnourished.
Is Rabbit Meat Healthier Than Chicken?
Rabbit meat and chicken are both healthy sources of protein. A comparison of the two meat sources shows that rabbit meat is more nutritious than chicken. Nevertheless, for you, whether rabbit meat is healthier than chicken depends on your dietary needs and cooking methods.
Let’s start the analysis by first finding similarities between rabbit meat and chicken.
Similarities
- Rabbit meat and chicken are both white meats. This means that they have low fat in comparison to other meat sources like beef and pork.
- They are great sources of protein. Although they have different proportions, they both have all the vital amino acids that our body requires to build muscle tissue.
- They are both lower in calories than other meat sources
Next are the contrasts between rabbit meat and chicken. The nutritional profile of the two meat types clearly shows that rabbit meat is healthier than chicken.
Differences
- Rabbits’ meat has about half the level of sodium in chicken. i.e., 47mg for rabbit and 86mg for chicken.
- Rabbit meat contains more iron (2.27mg) than chicken(1.21mg).
- Rabbit meat has more than four times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids found in chicken
- Chicken has a higher cholesterol level than rabbit meat
- Although chicken is one of the best low-fat meats, rabbit meat has slightly less fat and more protein.
Is Rabbit Meat Healthier Than Fish?
Because of its low-fat content, you can reduce your calorie intake with rabbit meat by a long shot without losing flavor. Rabbit meat is as nourishing and healthy as fish. So, if you don’t fancy eating fish, rabbit meat can be a healthy alternative.
Undoubtedly, fish is bursting with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins D and B2 (riboflavin). Fish is rich in calcium and phosphorus and a great source of minerals, such as iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. No wonder doctors recommend eating fish at least two times per week as part of a healthy diet.
However, rabbit meat is lacking in some vitamins and minerals found in fish. For example, rabbit meat does not have any vitamin A, C, and D. Whereas fish has these antioxidants. Likewise, the omega 3 fatty acids in fish are more. With this in mind, if you choose to replace fish with rabbit meat in your diet, try to make up for such vitamin deficiencies.
What Happens if You Eat Too Much Rabbit Meat?
Overeating rabbit meat can cause protein poisoning or rabbit starvation. Rabbit meat is very lean and all the calories you get from it come from protein and little fat but no carbohydrate. Thus, if you eat rabbit meat exclusively, you can become sick. Other names given to the illness include mal de caribou and fat starvation.
These terms describe eating only very lean protein, such as rabbit meat, and no other nutrients. Therefore, although you may get enough calories from protein, your body will be malnourished or starved due to a lack of other nutrients such as fats and carbohydrates
Protein poisoning is very rare and majorly exist in hypotheses. Be that as it may, when you overeat protein, the level of ammonia, urea, and amino acids increases. These put stress on the liver and kidneys, which are responsible for digesting protein.
The signs of protein poisoning are:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- low blood pressure
- Slow heart rate
- Irritability
- Indigestion
The acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR) is the variety of nutrients in a diet that reduces the risk of chronic diseases while meeting the body’s nutrient needs. The range for adults is as follows:
- Protein consumption: 10 to 35 percent of total calories
- Carbohydrate: 45 to 65 percent of total calories
- Fat consumption: 20 to 35 percent of total calories
With these in mind, to enjoy the health benefits of rabbit meat consumption, it is best to eat in moderation. As long as you level out carbs, fats, and other nutrients, you should not have any problems with eating rabbit meat.
Why is Rabbit Meat Bad For You?
Though rabbit meat is an excellent source of nutrition, rabbit meat is unhealthy for you if you switch to a complete diet of only rabbit meat. This will deprive the body of many essential fats. Instead, you should eat other supplements that can provide enough fat for the body. Although Rabbit is a good protein source, it is a poor source of energy and fat.
Furthermore, handling and eating infected wild rabbits carries the risk of contracting rabbit fever or Tularaemia. While it is a severe illness, you can treat it with antibiotics. You can equally prevent infection by avoiding touching and eating wild rabbits. All the nutrition analysis in this article is for domestic rabbits.
Another important reason why rabbit meat might be bad for you is the issue of allergy. Some people are allergic to a particular sugar in some meats, such as rabbit meat. This allergy (known as alpha-gal allergy) may be mild or life-threatening. Symptoms are rashes, severe abdominal ache, trouble breathing, and low blood pressure.
Conclusions
Many people are breeding rabbits since they are more eco-friendly and economically viable than most animal protein sources (e.g., cow). Still, the health benefits spotlighted in this article emphasize the reasons more people are adding rabbit meat to their diet.
Is rabbit meat healthy for you? The answer is a resounding yes. Certainly, Rabbit meat is a sustainable source of protein. You only have to eat it in moderation and combine it with other foods to enjoy its health benefits.