Beef and a Balanced Diet

Recent dietary trends pay more attention to the health benefits of eating beef as part of a balanced diet. Nutritionists often distinguish between regular/fatty beef and lean beef. Lean beef has a lower fat content which is primarily achieved by trimming off the fat. Its fat content ranges between 5% and 10%, and it has a protein content of approximately 26%.

Beyond different flavor profiles, the choice of beef depends on dietary restrictions and nutritional needs. Followers of the keto diet prefer fatty beef, because fat is a crucial component of Keto. Others may prefer lean beef because of underlying health conditions which make fat a secondary component of their diet. In any case, beef has many health benefits, including, but not limited to, the following:

• It is a great source of protein for athletes and non-athletes.
• It contains vitamin B6 which supports the immune system and metabolism.
• It contains vitamin B12 which supports the nervous system. This is relevant, because there is not a good natural non-meat alternative to getting your B12.
• It is a great source of iron which increases your energy and helps you focus.
• It is a great source of zinc which stimulates enzymes necessary to spur growth and lower the risk of getting sick.
• It provides essential amino acids which are needed to form protein. There are nine essential amino acids and the human body is not able to generate them itself.
• It contains bioactive substances and antioxidants like Creatine, Taurine and Glutathione. These are believed to benefit your heart and other crucial elements of your body.

The Harvard Medical School even suggests that lean beef can lower LDL cholesterol when part of a balanced diet. It is worth mentioning these health benefits are positively correlated with the quality of the meat. Make sure your beef comes from a feed yard which truly cares about the animals and which provides a healthy and nutritious environment.