There's nothing like a big, juicy steak next to a fluffy pile of mashed potatoes and perfectly seasoned greens. But since red meat has been so maligned, you might wonder if it is good for your overall health. The good news is that—in moderation—lean cuts of steak are good for you, but there are people with certain conditions that should skip it altogether.
When most people eat steak, their "body breaks it down and uses the components for its own purposes, like building muscle and making blood," explains Dr. Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM, Director of Medical Content and Education at Ro (healthcare technology company) and member of our Medical Expert Board. Unfortunately, that's not the case for everyone, he goes on to say, "on the not-so-beneficial side of things, steak is high in saturated fat, and regularly consuming red meat has been linked to high cholesterol, heart disease, and cancer—particularly colorectal cancer."
Those who have gut-related health problems.
Even though most all foods are fine to consume in moderation (for the most part), steak can affect people who have a sensitive stomach. This is because "gastrointestinal issues make the digestion of red meat more difficult," Dr. Bohl says.
High amounts of protein and fatty foods, such as steak and red meat, take a much longer time to empty from the stomach. According to Geelong Medical Group, the first sign of having this problem is intense bloating and discomfort, which is a result of excess toxins that gather in the digestive tract.
