As tough as it is to know what happens when you're 'cooking' something, to the food and air, I imagine, the average person will be able to learn and understand this kind of stuff on their own. This is the kind of stuff Native Americans, French Explorers, the British, Algonkians and others, were into. Nowadays, I think the Africans are growing into it, also. People around Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico, I know, like to try these types of things. Restaurants, considered 'grills' aren't usually healthy at all, though. It's better to do it at home. 'Grill' can, apparently, be a noun or verb.

About carnivorism vs vegetarianism, I realize the subject is extremely sensitive... I just want to remind people who are afraid not eating meat could lead to an iron defeciency to always eat food that is rich in C vitamin (tomato, etc.) with any food containing iron to maximize its assimilation.

I'd like to share some infor regarding Grill meat or Fish. Malaysians use powdered cumin & salt & a little oil, a little soy sauce& chilly paste to merinate .Drop a few Lime juice or lemon. Wrap the fish or meat with a pc of banana leaf,close sides with a toothpick & grill on charcoal or in the oven turning often to avoid burnt.The banana leaf will protect the fish from from burnt.It also gives a natural aroma.Try it! TQ

Regarding cast iron skillets and vegetarians...

Heme iron is obtained from meat, and it is more readily absorbed by the body than nonheme iron which is obtained from plants.
vegetarians are at a bit of a disadvantage because it is harder for them to get enough iron.

To give an idea of how much iron you get from the skillet.... the iron content is spaghetti sauce is normally 3mg, but increases to 87 mg (above the daily recommended value) when cooked in an iron skillet. ... good for vegetarians.

Some people prefer cooking with a cast iron skillet.... you can hinder the absorption of iron by consuming certain phytochemicals with your meal, such as: tannins (in coffee and tea), calcium and phosphorus (milk), and phytates (fibre from lightly processed legumes, whole grain cereals, bread products without yeast).
Also keep in mind that to much iron can cause distress of your digestion (gastrointestinal) system, joint pain, and organ damage.
Hopefully some have found this helpful.
Good luck and enjoy grilling your meat and/or vegetables! :)

This ? is for Natalie. Since you are a vegan, I am assuming that you do not eat eggs or dairy. You mentioned migraines; Do you feel that being a vegan contributed to not having them anymore? Is there a particular book that you work out of so that you are eating a balanced diet?

Great article - thanks for providing this information.

@Karen: Iron is an element, like calcium. You have to use the right foods to optimize your body's absorption of iron or calcium. I like to cook tomatoes in cast iron, or roast apples. I used to be anemic and the cast iron worked. People with thalacemia, a genetic disorder, can't have foods with iron in them. They can't use cast iron cookware. What does this tell us? .

Flipping meat more than once dries it out, and causes it to be tough. Instead, have a spray bottle filled with clean water (or beer of your choice) near by to put out the flames.

Change my email address. Formerly valgora@cox.net

To get them to put in a "print this article" button -send to "feedback@realage.com".
To do it yourself: Left click&hold down which will highlight what you "roll over"with the cursor. To print what you've highlighted-let up on left mouse button-right mouse click-select print from drop-down menu;when your print screen comes up,check "print selection", then click print.
This will print only what you've highlighted. Very useful to data from a webpage full of ads.

This was a helpful article, as are they all. For those who don't want to eat meat: don't. For those who do, this is -- as usual -- helpful information. Thanks, Real Age, keep up the good work.

Fantastic information I never knew about. I like the part about marinating meats before grilling to cut down on harmful chemicals. Whole article outstanding!:)

Wise up you animal lovers, if animals were not 'grown' for food, the fields would be empty!

It is most unfortunate that we live in this modern world of basic NEGATIVE LIVING. We have the perfect answers to eating, sleeping, exercise, mental health, growing up, do this not that, eat this not that.

In this 62 year old's opinion and I see it in my married chldren and grandchildren; they have SO MANY RULES OF DO AND DON'T that to me they have made life on this plane perfectly HORRIBLE, MISERABLE, DRY, NO FUN, ALL LIFE COMPLETELY RULED BY DOS AND DO NOTS MAINLY DO NOTS!!

I realize that REALAGE is attempting to challenge us to live, love and survive the best we can, BUT NATURE IS AGAINST US as is polluted earth, water, air etc. with those things we cannot change. These in themselves will give us asthma, poisoned and now GENETICALLY MODIFIED veggies and fruit, mercury fish, herbicide beef and meat and lots of cancer and heart conditions. We all live in a culture of taking drugs to make us better and healthier and yet it seems that BABY BOOMERS will not live as long as their parents.

My point is that the biblical EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY AS TOMORROW YOU MAY DIE may be adjusted to EAT, DRINK and LIVE AS BEST YOU CAN DO IN YOUR STATION IN LIFE. Be "moderate" in this, but be bad the odd time and enjoy your "sins!"(not in a religious way but a perfectly human way)

JUST REMEMBER PEOPLE, EVERY THING IN MODERATION. YES YOU WILL FEEL BETTER, LOOK BETTER AND BE A HEALTHIER PERSON IF YOU LAY OFF THE MEAT THAT INCLUDES CHICKEN, FISH AND ETC. LIKE OUR FRIEND FREDERICK SAID TRY IT FOR THIRTY DAYS AND SEE FOR YOUR SELF. AFTER ALL YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, MAYBE SOME POUNDS OR HEADACHES. MARY ANN

A sign prominently displayed at the entrance to a popular Texas B-B-Q restaurant says it all, "Vegetarian in Indian means bad hunter".

This is to Mickey - about the use of cast iron frying pans.
Research has shown that our bodies can not utilitze the iron from iron frying pans. The iron is not in a chemcial form that our bodies can use, so don't expect to increase your iron intake by using these pans for cooking.

I use cast iron pans because they provide solid even heat for cooking and they are easy to clean.

Directed to "endi" and anyone else out there who think humans don't eat human flesh - can you say 'cannibal'? where do you think that term came from - and by the way - there were folks stranded in an airplane crash who ate the frozen flesh of fellow passengers who died due to the lack of food and shelter before they were rescued from the Andes mountain range. And should you forget, why do you think there are people that write about flesh-eaters (Hannibal Lecter comes to mind - good example of what not to aspire to be when you grow up...).

Anyway - each to their own - i don't eat a lot of meat anymore - mainly because it's expensive and i prefer fowl or fish (not as heavy in your tummy, either).

Whoa..!

As a vegetarian/almost vegan, reading some of these got my blood boiling! I've done plenty of reading on the subject, and realize that having a condemning attitude and feeling of self-righteousness hurts the way others view our stance. So if we fully stand behind reducing animal suffering, we must grin and bear our omniverous friends ;) while being kind and informative when asked questions about our diet and our beliefs.

Spread love, come on now!!! We must love (or at least tolerate) the rest of us human animals, too :)

For those of you ignorant as to where your meals were derived, shame on you. Ignorance does NOT mean bliss. 97% of the flesh we consume comes from factory farms. Read about it before you continue supporting those torture factories with your hard-earned dollars.

If you raise your own animals (I'm with ya, Catherine, on that one- "raising" something that is most definitely dead (meat) is just not feasible) then at least you have the blood literally on your own hands and are not supporting factory farms.

I could go on and on, obviously, but will cease. Please, let's work on spreading love, not hate.

I believe that God sums up the whole veggie-meat debate best. Read Genesis chapter 1 verse 29 and Genesis chapter 9 verse 3. Since He created us we would do well to follow His Word..and not just concerning the foods we eat.

OK people OK.. We got it.. Some like meat and some don’t! All of you have your mindset on what you feel is right and you will never change someone else’s mind! So.. Catherine made an innocent comment about meat and everyone started to jump down everyone throat over it!!! What is said is said, its time to move on and not waste energy on it! Why don’t we talk about what is going on with the article!! Many people who 1st started to write had actual questions that needed to be answered… let’s work on them instead of trying to state our own opinions and wasting time!!!

I have been a Veg since 1974 and I am 50 years old now. I choose not to eat meat on a dare by a few Muslim friends I knew. After 30 days I dug into my favorite take out chicken and found that before I even swallowed it, the juices felt like acid in my system and made me ill. I then choose to look into a no meat diet. In the years since, I have almost never been sick other than a 24 hr cold a few times a decade. I have more energy than most of my much younger friends. Everyone compliments me on my soft and healthy skin tone and even my friends forget sometimes I am 50 and not 30. I have no wrinkles and almost no grey hair (not sure if that is diet) and I feel like a million dollars! I take vitamins as I have all my life (long before it was cool) and other than that, once a month I have a small but very well done burger from a place that reminds me of when I was a kid. I think it is not for everyone and I am never on a soapbox about it but for me, being a veggie has made my life healthier and happier. I love animals and that was part of the reason but my 30 day trial was the proof that got me going. Try it sometime for yourself and if after 30 days you want to go back to meat, then you can. It does take a lot of determination and planning to eat and engage this lifestyle but that is also another added benefit. One more thing I almost forgot. Before I turned Veg, I had bad stomach problems and severe migrane headaches. I went to many doctores as a kid but it magically disappeared after I changed my diet. That was all the proof I needed also.
Thanks for reading this as I never post but just wanted to share my story...live happy and healthy no matter what you choose to eat :-)

Well said Talona!!!!!!!

If everyone would just slow down and research a little bit you might all be a bit suprised. I was raised on a farm and we raised our veggies, and slaughtered our livestock and we hunted deer. Venison in comparision is a much higher quality meat protein than beef, pork, chicken, or turkey. I personally think that everyone's body is different and responds mentally and physically to certain kinds and types of food. I used to be a vegatarian who only ate eggs and milk to help make up for nutrients you cannot get from plants. I found that i craved red meat on occasion, this is mainly due to lack of B vitamins that are harder to get from anywhere else. As a kid and now, I eat a more balanced diet and am healthier for it. Eating by blood type is the best advice I can give anyone. Also for you radical veggies out there, quit making a hiearchy out of what is living and what is not, what feels and what doesn't. All living things regardless of what they are feel pain and death. You need to remember that all life is precious and when something gives up it's life for you, to nourish you, to be thankful and reverent to the circle of life that lets you keep living.

hey catherine, you repulse me as well. I'm cool with u not eating meat (well, I think you're kooky) but, is it ok if the animal had a long satisfying life b4 becoming dinner? Just wondering. Is there a special place in hell since I really really like Veal? Flesh good! yes medium rare much good.

Well i feel i am very healthy guy eat, I control what i eat how much fat content is in what ever... But you are foolish if you think you are healthier if you do not eat meat... i am sorry but if you plan on having a healthy life Grandaddo is correct you need viriety... i can understand personal belief but do not push them on other people, I read every post and for some reason Catherine you think pushing you twist thoughts on other people is going to do the world good... If you want to do the world good then go to Africa help the starving or join the peace corp something but do not try and push you beliefs on anyone... And for the record people do eat cats dogs horse's about everything from Birds nest to toxic fish... I am sorry you have been brought up in a box with vegetable's but you have to realize everyone has their own beliefs and if you can not accept that then you must be a very bitter person...

I think our world is a glorious place BECAUSE of the differences in opinion. I love debates like these.. everyone is right! My husband always says.. 'if we were all the same we'd all have a black beard like me' as he's stroking his lovely (on him) beard.

I love both veggies AND meat, but I adore many people that are plain old vegetarians, and I love many people that can do survivor style stuff to an animal without batting an eye. They even co-mingle at my house from time to time at a party.. and we all have a grand time. Imagine that!

Wokkertoo :-)

There are ways to print just the article, without the comments. But they are a bit technical - might be hard to explain. To summarize:
(1) Preview the print, then print only the pages you want.
(2) Select the text you want to print, then print only the selection.

There are ways to print just the article, without the comments. But they are a bit technical - might be hard to explain. To summarize:
(1) Preview the print, then print only the pages you want.
(2) Select the text you want to print, then print only the selection.

Opinion regarding the debate of vegitarian vs omnivor is all great, but lets look at the nutritional value of both and forget the emotion. Vegetarians must supplement certain vitamins and minerals as thier diet cannot provide what is necesssary for survival. Too much poor quality meat is responsible for some of our nations cardiovascular problems, yet wild fish can prevent some of these. It appears that the best diet studied is the meditrianian diet which is composed of lots of seafood, lean meats, and large amounts of vegies, whole grains and legumes. So the debate should stop being about emotions, and look at how our bodies function and what is best to make them the healthiest.

I would like to print your article without the comments but see no way to do that? Could you make a printer version?

Meat is hard on the gall bladder. It can cause stones which pains when eating meat. When at a restaurant I eat a little and bring most home. Iron skillets are great for getting enouigh iron in your system. Just be careful it's not too much iron. I use mine no more than once a week.

I think these tips are great! We just got a new grill and my husband's going to teach me how tomorrow so I'm looking forward to using these tips.

And to the people arguing with the vegetarian and vice-versa, who cares? Honestly? You're on the internet and it's not even your blog!

Like the bumper sticker says, "I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain to eat lettuce." Gotta go, grill's ready!

If we were required to catch, kill and prepare our own food, most of us would be vegetarians.

Poor Catherine. She doesn't realize that those little piggies would eat HER if they had the chance. That's right, pigs are omnivores, and will eat anything smaller than they are. Puppies, chickens, small humans.

Eat that pig before it eats you!!

Now, excuse me while I chow down on some tasty ribs.

Pro

Humans are made of out of meat too you know, but do we eat each other? No

I read that microwaving bacon rather than cooking it on the stove neutralizes 70% of the nitrites. If any of the sites administrators read these comments, can that be confirmed? Thanks.

Talking about it is good, opinions are fine, facts are better, and respecting one another and their views is best. Smile, be happy, we live in the USA. Could be a lot worse.

What Catherine was stated was more of an attack than an opinion...

""Baby back ribs" - **just think** under what circumstances a young animal lost its life, so **you** can use **your** old molars to chew on some nice soft meat."
Look at the ** words in her first statement above... If this was simply her opinion or statement of her preference, she should have posted about herself, not everyone else.

Personally, I am borderline vegetarian myself, and I'm sick and tired of people like Catherine making the rest of us look bad.

you kids stop it right now.
go to your corners until you can come out equals in educated acceptance and not as preachers of preferences.
do your homework until you can report at least 55 ways to marinate vegetarians, carnivores, and omnivores until they can enjoy their abilities to choose for themselves and not feel the desire to cram themselves down each other's throats. and no grilled supper for any of you until you do !

Many people get defensive over a diet preference. We all have our opinions and we should all respect others' opinions. I'm not vegetarian and I definitely would not want to slaughter the animals that I am consuming. Does that mean I should be a vegetarian? No, it just means that I would have to rethink how I would operate if our world was to change. Do I live off plant matter or do I learn to raise animals for consumption? Scientifically, we are carnivores, but logically, we can make our own choices. One man's choice doesn't have to be another man's choice.

Catherine Lodge-
I am shocked that you would complain about comments made on your "insight"...as a writer, you must keep an open mind that people are here to express their own personal feelings. I understand you're trying to defend your position...but it's a no-win situation. If you're going to write something that clearly expresses your views on meat...then maybe you should be prepared for the response.

I feel that catherine was just expressing her disgust with eating meat and the disgust she sees with the way it is obtained. I don't think she was condemning ppl who eat meat. I do comsume a small amount of meat, mostly white but a very small amount of red meat and only on occasion. I guess I'm an omnivore that leans mostly to the veggie side.
Anyway, she has her opinion and she stated it. Meat disgusts her. GREAT!
That's why we don't all drive the same brand of vehicle. Personal preference.
Stick to your guns Catherine....as should be all.
But be polite ;)

Do you have any idea what people in the United States administer to their horses for maintenance? We give them wormers, Steroids and vaccines all of which clearly state "not for use in horses intended for Human Consumption"...Slaughter houses are not required to hold them for drugs to work out of their systems before they slaughter them...And many drugs leave long term residuals...Horse meat is not safe for Human Consumption, they were not raised to be meat, if they were they would not be putting carcinogens in them. The USDA banned the use of these types of drugs in cattle...Wonder why they do not require it in horses...Perhaps it is because Americans do not eat it...Makes you wonder...

Nothing wrong with eating horse meat. Europeans have been doing it.

@Catherine

Uhmmm.... the term 'baby back ribs' does not imply that the ribs actually came from a baby pig. It's simply a term for the cut that is the smaller portion of the ribs along the spine, rather than the spareribs, which are the actual ribs and are much larger in size. It has nothing to do with the age of the animal. It's also one "murdered flesh" that my "old molars" particularly enjoy very much!!

Whatabout the reports that microwave ovens destroy the nutrient value in food and are possibly cancer causing?

If God didn't want us to eat animals, then why did he make them out of meat?

Regarding the comments regarding "baby back ribs": The name does not imply they come from "baby" animals. They are designated such because of the small diameter of the rib. They come from pigs and are ribs cut from the back between the spare rib and the spine. They're sometime referred to as loin ribs. Only 8 ribs are used for baby back ribs even the pig, like the rest of us, has 13 ribs. Quit your whining, pre-cook 'em, and throw them on the grill! Yum! Thanks piggies for the gift!

We would never be overrun by the animals. They are factory farm bred. We would never survive? Cows, chickens and pigs don't kill. lol

Raw meat tends to be a bit chewier than it's slightly cooked counterpart. Therefore, it's a texture deal and not a flavor deal as to why many prefer it cooked. Culture and how one is raised is also a big part. I've met many who were raised with "well done" who have switched to "medium rare" once they open their minds. I've never met anyone who's switched the other way.

Medium rare to rare is my favorite. Overcooked definitely loses the flavor and gives the meat a tougher feel - UNLESS it is BBQ'd (real BBQ, not grilling). Then it's scrumptious...

Vegetables are the same way really. Most I've met prefer slightly cooking them as their best option. A few - mainly those who were brought up with them that way - prefer them way overcooked.

There are just as many sauces and spices added to vegetables (and cooked fruits) as there are to meat. It all depends on the person and their preferences for flavor.

I like foods of all sorts prepared many different ways. There's that variety thingy again...

Roberta:
If you're still reading this, since you wrote-in almost one year ago, I don't know the specifics, but my understanding is that Teflon goes airborne in little particles at moderately high temperatures. Therefore they say that anyone living in the United States for a significant amount of time will have Teflon in their system, regardless of their own personal cookware. Although the no-stick aspect is nice, I think an iron skillet is the way to go: just scrape away, and wipe it down after use. It's convenient and easy, so long as you are not allergic to iron.

To each his own. Actually eating meat is very healthy for the o blood type but very bad for the A blood type, so what is good for one person is not necessarily good or bad for another. Do what is best for yourself and don't complain.

It's sad how a place to leave comments on an article turns into a debate over eating meat vs not eating meat. Each person has their preference - why can't we just be respectful of that as mature adults?

I will say this though, if there were no animals killed, we would be overrun with animals and we wouldn't survive.

I'm with you Catherine. I can't eat animal flesh. Watch a video at goveg.com

I see I have touched a raw nerve. Meat eaters must be that much more sensitive than the animals they kill. If you read my entries, you will see I clearly put my own opinion, to which I believe I am entitled, and appealed only to some conscious thought about such delicacies as baby back ribs. Please all stop activing like babies whose pacifier I am trying to take away! I welcome rational calm comments. For example, can you imagine the wealth of healthy delicious food to be had, without eating the other creatures living on our planet? Or, if we are so omnivorous, how come most of us cannot stomach the thought of eating raw meat (much more nutritious!) but need to grill, fry or boil it and add loads of seasoning or sauces just to make it palatable. Can't say that much for apples or carrots, can you?

We raise meat... meat does come from animals, but we have those animals to raise meat. We wouldn't have them as pets.

We grow many of our own vegetables too. Vegetables come from plants, so by necessity, we have the plants (to grow our own vegetables).

We also have apples, peaches and pears. This means we have trees...

We like a variety - and by raising our own of all the above, we know what's NOT in them...

We also grill without even guiltily worrying about cancer. We don't use aluminum. We sometimes marinate. We never precook - nor overcook.

Murder tatses good!
Dead animal flesh?? Absolutely......make mine medium-rare, please.

If all of this is followed, there isn't really much point in grilling. I think like anything else moderation is the key and awareness. Catherine, you might find another outlet for your self righteous indignation. Is your goal in life to express disgust with your neighbors? Maybe joining PITA will give you some validation. Maybe then you can bend others to your will. Maybe even Illegally. How exciting would that be?

@PJP

One does not raise meat, one raises animals. However, you are quite right - most people nowadays never give a thought to the fact that their steak or chicken was once a living creature and would shreak with disgust if asked to slaughter these animals themselves. You, who raise and kill your own animals, at least take responsibility for your actions.
@Mike: How about you respecting MY right to my own perspective!

I'm with granddaddo. The widest variety also seems to be the most healthy - well, maybe leave out the twinkies...

We raise some of our own meat - there's no problem butchering, grilling, or eating it - even with our kids. We hunt to add more variety. I think most people who are vegetarian due to pretending animals think like people tend to live in cities and have very little contact with the actual animal...

But getting back to the health aspect, any health report I read seems to lead to the same conclusion - eat a wide variety.

Cooking less also makes most anything taste better...

"Sorry, but as a vegetarian this article makes me throw up. "Baby back ribs""

Always has to be one self righteous vegetarian in the crowd. You make the rest of us look bad. Quit being rude. Take the advice you can use and respect other people's rights to their own perspective. The veggie tips look great. Thanks!

You mentioned the use of aluminum foil on the grate of the grill. However, I've heard that aluminum itself can be carcinogenic. Also, olive oil when heated to a high enough temperature. Please explain.
Thanks!

@grandaddo

Humans are omnivores, yes, but that does not mean we HAVE to eat everything. I guess you draw a line at eating cats and dogs or maybe even horses - there your conscience or sentimental inconsequence clicks in, doesn't it? It is always amazing what vociferous prejudices (do gooders, hypocrites) vegetarians encounter when they venture to put the other side of the picture. Did you feel I was condemning YOU just because I ventured to voice a contrary opinion?

I'm with Catherine Lodge.Let's stick to our veggies.Maybe cancer from eating innocent animals is punishment??Think about that while eating your 'flesh'.

Catherine, Humans are NOT predominantly vegetarians. If you don't like it, fine. But don't condemn the rest of us for doing what comes natural. Humans are omnivores. You will note that throughout nature, the species that survive the best are those that and eat the widest variety of food items. You are shortchanging yourself, and most likely those you care about for some idea that not eating meat is "noble" or somesuch nonsense.

Good article....enjoy grilling but have always been somewhat concerned as to how healthy it is....but do like he smell & wonderful flavor of grilling......terrific also because of family time together.....which to us....we valus highly

Sorry, but as a vegetarian this article makes me throw up. "Baby back ribs" - just think under what circumstances a young animal lost its life, so you can use your old molars to chew on some nice soft meat.

Hi
Just wondering if tomatoes has high level of purine? Does it affect gout sufferers?

They had this tip before but it had said to keep the temp lower like between 340-362f, i just remmeber 350f being the # i decided on. Also the grates are cleaned at least every other time.

My comment is use a gas grill and don't cook anything longer then necessary. Also use low heat it may take a little longer but most meat is sure has a lot more moist. Also cook thicker pieces and cut in two if needed.

I would like to share your website with my friends. How do I email you to them.

Is it safe to grill food on a Teflon "George Foreman" grill. I've heard that Teflon breaks off into tiny particles and gets into the food. Is this so?