Modulation of Postprandial Metabolism by Muscle Foods: Physiological and Health Implications Beyond Nutritional Composition

Global consumption of muscle foods (a tissue-based classification; eg, meat, fish, and poultry) is expected to rise in the coming decades, intensifying debates about the roles of these foods in health, disease, and environmental sustainability. From a nutritional perspective, foods, including muscle foods, are often discussed on the basis of their nutritional composition and expected medium- and long-term health effects, without considering the acute role of muscle foods in postprandial metabolism and how these effects can translate into long-term health outcomes. The present evidence-based narrative review synthesizes the current knowledge on how acute consumption of muscle foods influences postprandial metabolism and the implications for health and dietary recommendations. First, we analyzed global consumption trends and the environmental impacts of muscle foods using a nutrient density score (NDS) and greenhouse gas emission rates. Next, we reviewed human clinical studies examining postprandial responses, including glycemic, lipemic, aminoacidemic, and incretin responses to different muscle foods, considering the roles of digestibility, amino acid composition, and cooking methods. Evidence indicates that fish intake generally promotes more favorable postprandial metabolic profiles, including lower glycemic excursions and enhanced insulin sensitivity, whereas red meat intake tends to stimulate higher postprandial incretin secretion, likely reflecting differences in digestion kinetics and amino acid bioaccessibility. These findings highlight the importance of considering the impact of food systems on planetary health and the need to better understand the effects of muscle foods on postprandial metabolism as a crucial step towards dietary recommendations that considers environmental sustainability and human health.