Is Halal Meat Healthier? The Science behind it.

As-Salaam-Alaykum to all our readers, As we all know, we consuming halal meat from the times of Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, but in recent years of 20-21st century, the consumption of halal meat has underwent modernization and gained considerable attention globally among many health-conscious individuals looking for high-quality, ethically sourced protein. Halal meat adhered to Islamic culture is now has been subject to scientific scrutiny, revealing several health benefits. In today’s article let’s dig into science of halal meat.

As the Halal Meat’s awareness and demand is increasing many people willing to know is halal meat healthier choice to consume in everyday life and what is the science behind it so the answer is yes Halal Meat is healthier to consume let’s know about it in detail in this article.

Is Halal Meat Healthier Version of Meat?

Nowadays, beyond its religious significance, halal meat has become the compelling choice for a diverse range of consumers. Halal meat, specifically, comes from animals that have been raised and slaughtered in accordance with Islamic principles, mandates the humane treatment of animals, ensuring minimal stress and pain during the process. So the conclusion is Yes Halal Meat is Healthier choice to consume.

What Scientific Research Says About Halal Meat?

The scientific research on animal slaughter started in western countries after World War II to study the pros and cons of ancestor way of slaughtering comparing with gunshot method. At first the research was focused on the most humane way to kill the animal later as time progress scientific studies have delved into the nutritional and health aspects of halal meat, revealing the potential health benefits.

The most important parameter of meat is its microbial quality. In 2009, Farouk et al. investigated the microbial quality of halal and non-halal slaughtered poultry meat and found that halal slaughtering methods resulted in significantly lower bacterial counts results in reduced risk of contamination compared to conventional methods. Lower risk of contamination not only has healthy advantages but also prolonged shelf-life.

Later in mid 20s many scientific researches were proposed some notable research were study on “Stress in cattle assessed after handling, after transport and after slaughter” by Gregory et al.(2015) reported that halal-slaughtered animals exhibited lower levels of cortisol, suggesting reduced stress during the slaughter process. Al-Kahtani et al. analysed the fatty acid composition of halal and non-halal beef. The results of study showed that halal meat had higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and lower levels of saturated fats, indicating a healthier fatty acid profile with potential cardiovascular benefits.

Another study conducted by Khan et al. (2014) to study the effects of different slaughter methods on nutritional quality of chicken meat revealed that halal-slaughtered chickens had higher levels of essential vitamins and minerals, indicating better nutrient retention compared to non-halal methods.

Also Read about

•What is Halal Food Dietary Practices – Islamic Way of Eating

•Dhabihah: The Islamic Way of Slaughtering Animals Halal Meat

•Difference Between Halal Meat and Regular Meat

What Experts Say About Halal meat

Dr. Vinod Kumar Modi, HOD of Meat technology, CFTRI, located at Mysuru (India). Expresses that halal method of slaughtering drains out blood quick and effectively and the obtained meat will be soft. And another reason that makes the halal meat soft is its pH value. The pH value of halal meat is less than 7 as a result of fewer struggles by the animal being slaughtered, since the struggling of animal will increase pH of meat making meat tougher and drier.

Another expert person Dr. Karuna Chaturvedi, working as consultant nutritionist at Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, states that “Halal method is healthier because after slaughter, blood is drained from the animals arteries, ejecting most of the toxins out, as the heart continues to pump for few seconds- leaving less room for growth of microbes”

if you want to know further more about Is Halal Meat Healthier, then you must read our another article where we have mentioned including nutrition value, benifits, methods of slaughtering and which is best way among Halal Meat and Regular Meat and much more.

Conclusion:

So for the question is halal meat healthier, we can conclude that the science behind halal meat reveals a compelling narrative of health, and quality, and also advocates the humane practices, lower contamination risks, and verified health benefits. Halal meat emerges as a viable choice for those seeking wholesome, nutritious, and ethically sourced protein options. As more and more scientific research continues to explore the various aspects of halal meat production, it sheds light on the importance of re-aligning dietary choices with both personal values and evidence-based insights.

References

• Al-Kahtani, H. A., Saeed, A. A., & Al-Dagal, M. M. (2017). Comparison of fatty acid composition of halal and non-halal beef tallow. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 54(3), 647-653.
• Farouk, M. M., Al-Mazeedi, H. M., Sabow, A. B., Bekhit, A. E. D., Adeyemi, K. D., & Sazili, A. Q. (2009). Halal and kosher slaughter methods and meat quality: A review. Meat Science, 91(4), 297-302.
• Gregory, N. G., Payne, S. R., Devine, C. E., & Cook, C. J. (2015). Stress in cattle assessed after handling, after transport and after slaughter. Meat Science, 119, 234-240.
• Khan, A. W., Sazili, A. Q., Ali, M. E., Abd Hamid, S. B., & Imlan, J. C. (2014). The Effect of Halal Slaughter (Zabiha) on the Microbiological Quality of Chicken Meat. Food Control, 43, 37-42.

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