Lean goat meat still considered a red meat
Q. Is goat meat a healthier choice than other meats?
A. Goat meat, long popular in the Caribbean and parts of Latin America and Asia, was named by Time magazine as one of the Top 10 Food Trends of 2008. It is lean meat, with saturated fat content comparable to that of skinless roast chicken.
However, its composition classifies it as a red meat, so count it along with beef, pork and lamb as you eat no more than 18 ounces per week as a total of all red meat.
We don't have good data from population studies to check for a link between goat meat consumption specifically and cancer risk. But the content of a particular form of iron, called heme iron, is just as high in goat meat as in beef. Research suggests that heme iron may be part of the link between excess red meat and colon cancer risk, since heme iron seems to damage colon tissue as well as stimulate formation of compounds that can damage DNA and allow cancer development to start.
Q. Can I keep my jarred spices indefinitely?
A. Spices and dried herbs do not spoil, but eventually they do lose some of their flavor. Generally you can count on seeds and whole spices (such as cumin and dill seeds, whole cloves and peppercorns) staying fresh for three or four years. Ground spices (including cinnamon and ground pepper) stay flavorful for one to three years.
Hold on to dried green herbs (such as basil and oregano) for six months to three years, watching for fading color and flavor to guide you. These seasonings may look attractive displayed over the stove, but to keep them this long, store them in airtight containers away from the heat, moisture and light that speed up their deterioration.
Research is sparse regarding how long herbs and spices continue as a source of health-protective compounds, but it looks like these storage time limits are advisable to keep their health benefits as well as their flavor.
• This column is provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research, Send questions to 1759 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.