Lani Lopez - Meating expectations for digestion

Tender succulent meat can get the mouth watering for any carnivore and there’s also something to be said for good ol’ marinated meat to help digestion too.

Firstly, there is an urban myth about meat that needs addressing.

“Is it true that when red meat is eaten that it takes hours or days to digest, rotting in your colon?”

No. What happens when we eat meat, is that it gets broken down by stomach acid and digestive enzymes.

In the small intestine, the proteins are broken down into small proteins called amino acids.

After that, they get absorbed over the digestive wall and into the bloodstream. There’s nothing left to “rot” in your colon.

But how about that uncomfortable feeling after eating meat? Perhaps a bit a reflux or indigestion is the price some people pay for overindulging in meat?

Tenderising meat before you eat it has it’s benefits including enhancing taste and better digestion.

6 digestive meat enhancers:

• Aperitifs, Coffee and Swedish bitters
• Bitter herbs and vegetables
• Meadowsweet herb
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Kiwifruit

These enhancers either help stimulate the stomach to naturally release hydrochloric acid that breaks down protein or contain enzymes that break protein that includes pineapple, papaya and kiwifruit.


Here’s a fabulous recipe that makes meat melt in your mouth and digest easily:

Greek Kebab Recipe
Grate 2 large onions and squeeze out the pulp from 4 kiwi fruit and add with the grated onion. Add your meat cut into 1 inch cubes and let it stand for a minimum of twenty minutes or overnight for more flavour. Barbecue your marinated meat on kebab skewers (or just shallow- fry in a pan without skewers as an alternative).