Meat is extremely delicious. Hell, I don’t know if I would be able to go vegetarian or vegan, ever.

But so many health care professionals are telling us that eating less red meat, and eating less meat in general, is the healthier way to go.

Okay, so we know and understand that a diet filled with fruits and vegetables is the better route to take. We also know that choosing lean meats instead of fatty meats is a better choice to make. But still, there are some meats we should avoid eating, and there are some meats we can eat a fair amount of.

Check out the best and worst meats for your body below.

The Best

Meats that don’t affect your cholesterol, or meats that hardly affect your cholesterol, are the best meats for your diet. And, meats that don’t spike your sodium levels within the body are also the best meats for your diet.

Now, what are these meats?

Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is good for our bodies, if it’s lean. Lean cuts can provide the body with an enormous amount of healthy nutrients while maintaining a minimal caloric intake. One servicing size of pork tenderloin is approximately 130 calories and about 3-4 grams of fat.

Buffalo

Many people don’t think of buffalo when they think of healthy meat, but it is on the list. This healthy alternative of red meat has half the amount of fat that other red meats have, and a lot less calories along with it. Instead of eating a steak or hamburger next time, consider seasoning and cooking up some buffalo.

Roast Beef

For those of you that are sandwich meat lovers, you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to give up all of it. Roast beef is the leanest sandwich meat you’ll be able to find, and it has a lot less saturated fat in it. To add on to the benefits of roast beef, it contains approximately seven grams of protein in each slice.

Chicken

When it comes to meats, everyone knows that chicken is very good for our bodies. It’s both lean and low in saturated fats. However, in order to maintain its leanness and its low saturated fat reputation, you’ll have to get rid of the skin. It may taste the best, but it is the worst for you.

White meat in chicken can help you out with your daily vitamin B6 and vitamin B3 intake, and dark meat can help you out with your daily zinc intake.

Turkey

White turkey meat is extremely good for you, and it’s low in calories. One small serving of this delectable meat is approximately 160 calories and has about 30 grams of protein in it. Plus, it contains low saturated fats.

Veal

Veal is known to have a lot of sodium within it. However, if you eat it in moderation, you’ll be consuming a nutritious red meat with a low caloric intake. Just slice it like sirloin and you’ll only be consuming about 150 calories per slice.

Pork Chop

Boneless pork chops have a little less than 150 calories, yet over 20 grams of protein. And, in addition to these health benefits, pork chops are extremely low in sodium.

The Worst

Now that you’ve been educated on some of the best meats for your body, considering their low caloric intake and their high protein intake, it’s time to take a look at the worst meats. Try to consume these as little as possible.

Corned Beef

Corned beef is made from the fattiest parts of the brisket. This meat has an outstanding 16 grams of fat within it, over 5 grams of saturated fat, and almost a thousand milligrams of salt. Try to take this meat in only on special occasions.

Prosciutto

This meat may taste delicious with certain cheeses and a variety of grapes, but it is not good for your health. It may seem light and thin, but don’t let it fool you. One ounce of this meet will take you to over 5 grams of fat, with over half of that being saturated fats. And, to add, this meat has an enormous amount of salt in it, almost up to a thousand milligrams, just like corned beef. Try to limit this as best you can.

Ham

If you want to eat ham, try and cook a lean one, as these are the best for your diet. If you don’t, your fat intake will be extremely high. A small 6-ounce serving of this meat will have your fat intake at over 7 grams.

Salami

One slice of salami will bring you at almost 20% of your daily sodium intake. To be honest, this meat doesn’t taste too good unless it’s in a sandwich, anyway. Enjoy this once in a great blue moon.

Bacon

This one is heartbreaking to talk about, but try your best to avoid bacon, or at least limit it as best you can. It’s not filled with the nutrition that you need, and it has way too much sodium and saturated fat within it. Instead, shoot for a small amount of bacon per week. If you just can’t seem to get away from it, sprinkle bacon bits on a salad, or try switching over to turkey bacon.

Bologna

It tastes so nice and smooth in a sandwich accompanied by cheese and mustard or mayonnaise, but it’s no good for you. One slice has over 300 milligrams of sodium. Try and stay away as much as possible.

Hot Dogs

This processed meat has many nitrates within it and is extremely high in sodium. There are better meats out there for you, try focusing on those instead.