Venison is a good protein choice for people with cardiovascular disease. Venison differs from red meat in part because it is leaner and has less fat and fewer calories. Â.
Deer meat, a type of venison, is high in essential amino acids. However, youâll need to know how to properly store, clean, and cook deer meat to avoid foodborne illnesses. Â â.
Deer sausage is a tasty alternative to traditional pork sausages. With its lean, gamey flavor, deer sausage makes an excellent high-protein, low-fat option. But is it actually good for losing weight? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional profile of deer sausage to find out.
Nutritional Breakdown of Deer Sausage
The nutrient content of deer sausage can vary based on the cuts of meat used, amount of fat added, and any other ingredients included. However, compared to pork sausage, deer sausage is typically much lower in total fat, saturated fat, and calories.
Some key nutritional facts about deer sausage
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High in protein – A 3 oz serving of deer sausage contains about 13-15g of protein. Protein promotes satiety and helps build and maintain muscle mass
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Low in fat – Deer meat is very lean. Most deer sausage contains around 5-8g of total fat per serving, compared to around 20g in pork sausage.
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Lower in calories – With 150-180 calories per 3 oz. serving, deer sausage is significantly lower in calories than pork sausage at around 300 calories.
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Source of vitamins & minerals – Deer meat provides iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and other micronutrients. Try to avoid sodium-heavy flavor additives.
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Can be made with 0 carbs – Many carb-conscious diets rely on deer sausage as the meat can be 100% zero carb if no fillers or sugars are added.
Why Deer Sausage Helps With Weight Loss
Based on its nutritional stats, there are a few key reasons why deer sausage can be an effective weight loss food:
1. High Protein Keeps You Fuller Longer
The high protein content of deer sausage helps keep hunger at bay. Protein rich foods take longer to digest, providing a prolonged feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating. This makes it easier to control portions and avoid overeating.
2. Less Fat Than Pork Sausage
With about 5-8g of fat per serving, deer sausage is significantly leaner than regular pork sausage. Less dietary fat equals fewer calories consumed. This creates a calorie deficit needed for shedding excess pounds.
3. Lower in Total Calories
At around 150 calories per serving, deer sausage is a diet-friendly alternative for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It fits well into a calorie-controlled plan for weight loss.
4. Versatile Meat for Low Carb Diets
For low-carb and keto dieters, deer sausage is a perfect protein source that can be incorporated into meals in diverse ways. From breakfast links to stuffed peppers, the meat offers almost endless possibilities.
5. Supports Muscle Tissue Maintenance
The protein in deer sausage helps protect and preserve muscle mass when losing weight. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so maintaining muscle optimizes metabolism for weight loss.
Tips for Choosing the Healthiest Deer Sausage
To maximize the weight loss benefits of deer sausage, follow these buying tips:
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Seek out minimally processed, preservative-free options
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Avoid sausage with added sugars or corn syrup
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Look for versions with 5g of fat or less per serving
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Check labels and select low-sodium varieties
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Opt for sausages without nitrates/nitrites or MSG
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Consider venison-only sausage instead of venison-pork blends
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Choose sausages without artificial casings
How to Add Deer Sausage to a Weight Loss Diet
Here are some simple ways to incorporate deer sausage into a diet for weight loss:
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Swap breakfast pork sausage for lean venison sausage links
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Stuff bell peppers with deer sausage, veggies, and brown rice
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Grill deer sausage kebabs with zucchini and mushrooms
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Make a hearty soup with deer sausage, cabbage and tomatoes
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Enjoy deer sausage crumbles sautéed with greens like kale or spinach
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Cook up a hash with deer sausage, potatoes, onions and peppers
Moderation is Key
While deer sausage can be a nutritious diet food, overdoing it with any one food is never advisable. For sustainable weight loss, aim for balance and moderation when incorporating deer sausage into your routine. Pay attention to proper portion sizes as well.
The Verdict on Deer Sausage for Weight Loss
With its stellar nutritional profile, deer sausage can absolutely be a smart choice for those looking to shed excess pounds. Just be mindful of sodium content and total calories when choosing a brand. Try to avoid heavily processed varieties packed with preservatives or additives. When consumed as part of a well-rounded diet, high quality deer sausage can help boost your weight loss success.
What Does Deer Meat Taste Like?
The flavor of venison is related to what the living animal ate. If the deer ate corn, theyâll have a milder flavor than deer that eat acorns and sage. Venison can be described as âgamey,â but that flavor is more noticeable in the fat areas.
Other intense flavors can occur if the deer meat isnât processed correctly. Improper processes could include:Â
- Improper bleeding
- Delay in field dressing
- Failure to cool the carcass quicklyâ
How to Cook Deer Meat
As soon as the deer meat has been cleaned and deboned, it needs to be frozen for 30 days. Freezing deer meat helps kill parasites like Trichinella and Toxoplasmosis gondii. Â.
That said, freezing doesnât kill bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses like E. coli or Salmonella, so you’ll need to cook the meat until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside after it has thawed. Â.
Eating venison fresh isnt recommended because of how common parasites and tapeworms are. Even in homemade jerky and fermented sausages, E. coli can stay in the deers intestinal tract. You should steam, roast, or boil venison to 165 degrees Fahrenheit before drying.
When making soups, stews, casseroles, and meatloaf, make sure leftovers are reheated to the same 165 degrees F.Â
Venison can taste gamey, dry, and tough, but there are ways to improve flavor and texture. Soak the deer meat in two tablespoons of vinegar mixed with one quart of water for an hour before cooking it to get rid of the gamey taste. Â.
To keep your deer meat moist, you can rub the roast with oil before cooking.Â
To tenderize the meat and add flavor, you can soak the deer meat in a marinade. French or Italian dressings, tomato sauce, or fruit juices all make great marinades. Make sure you marinate the meat in your refrigerator and throw out the marinade after cooking the meat. The longer you marinate the meat, the more tender it will be. However, marinating for more than 24 hours can make the meat mushy. Â.
While deer meat can be pretty nutritious, you should be aware of the risks of consuming venison. Certain wild animals can carry infectious diseases like:Â.
Brucellosis. You are more likely to get this disease as a hunter if you touch the blood and organs of a deer. You can get sick if dirty animal blood, fluid, or tissue gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or skin. This can occur during:Â.
- Field dressing
- ButcheringÂ
- Handing and preparing raw meat before cooking
- Eating meat thats not fully cooked
When hunting, avoid animals that look visibly ill or are already dead. You should also use safe field dressing techniques because even healthy-appearing animals could be infected with brucellosis. Â.
Safe field dressing techniques include:Â
- Using clean, sharp knives
- Wearing eye protection
- Using disposable or reusable rubber or latex gloves
- Avoiding direct contact with fluid or organs
- Not coming into direct contact with hunting dogs that may have touched animals that were being hunted
- Throw away disposable gloves and parts of the body that won’t be used carefully and completely.
- For at least 20 seconds, wash your hands with soap and warm water.
- Cleaning all your tools and reusable gloves with disinfectantÂ
- giving your dogs raw meat or other parts of the body that can make them sick
It could take anywhere between a week to a month for you to start feeling sick. If you experience any symptoms of brucellosis, you should talk to your doctor immediately. Tell them about any contact youve had with wild animals like deer while hunting. Â.
Signs of a brucellosis infection include:Â
- Fever
- Chills
- Sweating
- Headache
- Reduced appetite
- Fatigue
- Joint or muscle pain
Doctors will test your blood for brucellosis and get you started on a treatment plan.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD). Â Theres no strong evidence that humans can get CWD. However, there is a risk if you consume meat thats been infected. There are monitoring tools that look at CWD rates in an area where youre hunting. Testing might not be available in every state, though, and some states test differently. Â.
If you go hunting in a place where CWD is common, you should really think about getting the animals tested before you eat their meat.
Generally, deer meat can provide a rewarding dinner, especially after a long hunting season. Venison is a nutritious alternative to red meat like beef and pork. However, its essential to follow safety precautions to ensure you dont get sick from eating venison. When you know what to do, have the right tools, and follow safety rules, you can get enough meat to feed your family for months.
Health Benefits of Sausages
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