High blood? 'Rabbeatchon' from Angeles, Pampanga is a healthier alternative to pork

When it comes to celebrations, nothing beats the anticipation of serving a lechon to your guests. But what if you're health-conscious and concerned about cholesterol?

Enter “rabbeatchon,” a clever play on the words “rabbit” and “lechon.” This dish showcases the use of rabbit meat, known to be a healthier alternative to pork.

In an episode of “Biyahe ni Drew,” host Drew Arellano met Michelle and Calvert, the dynamic husband-and-wife team behind Rabbeatchon Food Hub in Angeles, Pampanga. They have been crafting delectable rabbit meat dishes for seven years.

Beyond the financial success of their business, they also emphasize the health benefits derived from rabbit meat, citing its selenium content, high protein, and low cholesterol.

Aside from earning money from the business, the couple also highlights the health benefits they get from eating rabbit meat as it has selenium, it’s high in protein, and low in cholesterol.

They believe that rabbit meat has helped their daughter Mishka recover from a rare type of cancer. Aside from eating rabbeatchon, Mishka also enjoys eating other rabbit meat dishes available at Rabbeatchon Food Hub such as chicharon, caldereta, and katsu.

While recognizing the health benefits of rabbit meat, Dr. Jennifer de Castro-Mercado, a surgical oncologist from Perpetual Help Medical Center in Las Piñas, cautions that it is not a form of cancer treatment, nor does it aid in cancer prevention.

“Ang selenium po ay nakukuha sa rabbit meat pero depende sa diet ng rabbit dahil on its own, hindi po ganun katas ang selenium content ng rabbit. Pero kung ito po ay pinapakain ng mga food supplements na rich in selenium, then tataas po ang selenium content nito,” she explained.

[Selenium is obtained from rabbit meat, but it depends on the rabbit's diet because on its own, rabbit meat does not have a high selenium content. However, if it is fed with food supplements rich in selenium, then its selenium content will increase.]

“’Yung kinds of fat po nya, ‘yung tinatawag na polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFA, mataas din po, ito po ang mga nagsasabi sa atin na mukhang maganda syang karne para sa mga pasyente na at-risk magkaroon ng sakit sa puso or high blood,” she added.

[The kinds of fat it contains, called polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFA, are also high. This is what tells us that its meat seems to be good for patients at risk of heart disease or high blood pressure.]

Are you ready to give “rabbeatchon” a try?

—CACM, GMA Integrated News