Humans can eat Musk Oxen meat. The rich composition of Musk Ox meat, like its high protein content, low levels of fat and cholesterol, numerous vitamins, and other minerals, makes it a great addition to one’s diet. Moreover, it leaves various health benefits, including bettered immunity and decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
People often define the Musk Oxen meat as having a combined taste of venison and beef, with a nutty, yummy aroma. In fact, most claim that it is healthier and tastier than beef.
Feeling hungry? Hehe, so am I.
So, let’s quickly bucket down through the article and find how Musk Oxen helps content our food cravings and body needs.
Can Humans Eat Musk Ox Meat?
Yes!
Humans can, and in fact, they do eat Musk Ox meat. It is one of the supreme delicacies that the people of Canada, Arctic Tundra, and Greenland love to eat.
Not only is the meat tasty and lean, but it grants various health benefits.
Is Eating Musk Ox Meat Good for Us? The Key Components
Indeed, eating Musk Ox meat is good for humans. It is a nutritious food that contains high protein and low fat and cholesterol content, thus making it, particularly a good option for people who want to maintain a healthy diet.
The rich composition of Musk Ox meat includes:
- Protein
- Fat
- Iron
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Zinc
- Iron
- Selenium
- Copper
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3
- Choline
- Folic Acid
Healthy Benefits of Eating Musk Ox Meat
Musk Oxen meat is a nutrition-rich red meat that grants various health benefits to humans. Some of these are:
● Rich Composition of Protein
Musk Ox is highly rich in proteins that provide all essential amino acids the human body requires to repair and strengthen body tissues.
● Low in fat
It is low in fat and contains primarily unsaturated fat, with an average content of about 2 to 6 percent. The low fat and cholesterol content reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Therefore, it is a good option for people who want to maintain a healthy diet or are at risk of developing heart issues.
● Anti-inflammatory
Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids are present in it. These fatty acids suppress the production of pro-inflammatory compounds in the human body, thus helping reduce inflammation and swelling.
Moreover, meat is rich in antioxidants that neutralize free radicals present in the body that contribute to inflammation.
● Boosts energy
Musk Ox meat is rich in vitamins B6, B12, B1, B2, etc. These vitamins boost the production of neurotransmitters like adrenaline and noradrenaline, which act as energy boosters and help convert fat into energy.
● More immunity
The meat is also rich in vitamin A, vitamin B, and Zinc, which help to
- Activate the helper t cells.
- Support the production of antibodies.
- Help fight infection.
● Good for pregnant women
The meat also contains a rich amount of folic acid and iron. Therefore, it is a rich option for pregnant women as it helps the growth of the fetus.
What Does Musk Ox Meat Taste Like?
Generally, the delicious taste and mouth-bursting aroma of Musk Oxen are compared to that of domestic buffalo, beef, and venison.
However, the juiciness and tenderness of Musk Oxen surely help surpass them.
In the end, it’s the recipe and cooking style that decides the ultimate taste.
How Much Meat Do You Get from One Musk Ox?
The amount of meat we can get from one Musk Ox depends primarily on the size.
Generally, a large, mature Musk Ox contains 250 to 300 pounds (113 to 136 kg) of meat, while a small Musk Ox calf has only 100 to 150 pounds of meat.
However, the meat obtained from calves is way juicier, tender, and yummy than a mature Musk Ox.
The reason is that young Musk Ox has soft, fine textured muscles. On the other hand, a mature one has hard, firm, and tough muscles.
Musk Ox Meat’s Nutritional Content
On average, 200 g of Musk Oxen meat is known to contain:
- Protein- 50 grams
- Fat- 10 grams
- Iron- 5 grams
- Phosphorus- 260 milligrams
- Cholesterol- 154 mg
- Sodium- 120 mg
- Zinc- 4 to 6 milligrams
- Vitamins B12- 4.8 micrograms
However, the amount can vary depending on the meat part chosen.
Which Parts of Musk Oxen Do Humans Eat?
The parts of Musk Oxen that humans more often used as a source of food are:
- Meat
- Rendered fat (also known as Tallow)
- Bones
Meat is the prime source of obtaining food and nutrition from Musk Oxen. It is lean, juicy, soft in taste, and nutritious.
Rendered fat is one of the prime parts of traditional indigenous diets. It is low in calories and yet a great source of energy.
Similarly, bones are grind to make calcium-rich broth.
However, various other parts of Musk Oxen serve other useful purposes. These include making warm clothes, fibers, candles, weapons, soap, etc.
Specifically, the Sinews are used to make armor and other fighting tools.
Who Else Can Eat Musk Oxen Meat?
Although Musk Oxen is counted as one of the special delicacies primarily consumed by humans, there are various other predators of it. These include:
- Polar Bear
- Arctic Wolf
- Golden Eagle
Sometimes, animals like tigers and lions also eat Musk Oxen. However, it is done as a part of an animal conservation project to limit the Musk Ox population and provide food for carnivores.
Also Read: Can You Eat Polar Bears? [Taste and Nutrition Facts]
Can You Eat Musk Ox Meat Daily?
You can eat Musk Oxen meat daily. According to the American Heart Association, eating red meat daily isn’t a problem; instead, the serving size matters.
It is optimal to consume 6 ounces of Musk Ox meat daily. It provides you with various nutritional and health benefits.
However, if consumed more, it can result in weight gain and increased risk of various diseases like cardiovascular problems, diabetes, high cholesterol level, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 Is musk ox a beef?
No!
Musk Ox meat is not considered a type of beef. Musk Ox meat is obtained only from Arctic Tundra Ox, while beef can be obtained from domestic cattle. Moreover, Musk Ox meat is healthier than that beef.
Q.2 Is Musk Ox meat healthier than beef?
Yes!
Musk Ox meat is healthier than that beef. It contains more proteins and vitamins, with less amount of fat. On the other hand, beef is equally rich in nutrients but contains large amounts of saturated fat too.
Q.3 How do people eat Musk Oxen meat?
Different people prefer to cook and eat Musk Oxen meat differently according to their traditional and cultural tastes. Some like to roast, grill, and steam, while others enjoy eating it raw, like sushi. However, in either case, it’s important to heat the meat at 71 to 71 degrees Celsius to kill harmful bacteria.
Q.4 How to cook musk ox meat?
Cooking Musk Ox meat requires a lot of time. However, the mouthwatering taste at the end is worth it. A general scheme is to choose the right-sized meat portion, marinate it to add flavor, add butter (oil), and then cook it at 71°C to kill the harmful microbes and get it cooked properly. However, make sure not to overcook the meat.
Conclusion
Humans eat Musk Oxen. It is a rich source of protein and contains less amount of unsaturated fatty acids. That is why eating Musk Ox meat leaves various health benefits to humans, like increased immunity, boosted energy, better oxygen-carrying power, etc.
Besides humans, various animals like golden eagles, Arctic Wolves, etc., also prey upon Musk Oxen.
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