The Benefits of Beef

This is a partnered guest post.

In the past decade America finally admitted that it has a problem. There has been talk of an obesity epidemic for a long time now but finally doctors and parents are striking back. The First lady has advocated healthy food for four years now, parent organizations from around the country have lobbied for the banning of sugary sodas in schools, large sodas have been banned in New York and even more measures have been taken to reduce obesity levels nationwide. And while we’re at it, remember to cut down on red meat as it increases your chances of cardiovascular disease!

Red meat and beef in particular has served as the bogeyman for years now unfairly lobbed together with sugary drinks or salty chips on the list of most harmful food products that are making us unhealthy. Of course, quite a bit of it is true, as beef can be quite harmful in large quantities but unlike chips or cigarettes there are benefits to eating beef as long as the portion size is kept under control. In fact beef is more than just a tasty treat and contains quite a few crucial components for a healthy diet that we shouldn’t ignore. Our ancestors sure haven’t, as beef has been a part of our diet for about ten millennia.

Beef can be quite good for you but you have to take care what and how much you eat. Lean cuts will be a lot healthier than fatty cuts, natural stakes will always trump factory farmed, grain fed beef and six ounces will always be better for you than a pound. If you practice moderation you’ll be surprised to find out just how good the demonised ‘red meat’ can be for you. Beef is one of the best sources of iron in a diet as well as one of the primary sources of the crucial vitamin b12 and other b vitamins. Let’s not forget zinc, vitamins D and K and selenium, the latter being crucial for the functioning of a natural antioxidant.

And not only does it contain vitamins and minerals but it is also very nutritious, hence its widespread use. Lean beef contains 7 grams of protein per ounce making it a fantastic source of protein for your diet. But what about  those fats that many people warn about? Well, nearly half is unsaturated fat, oleic acid, which is the same thing that you can find in ‘healthy’ olive or canola oil and the saturated fats have recently come under closer scrutiny after several studies showing that some saturated fats might actually decrease heart risk. Grass fed beef also contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, another compound that has been shown to have an impact on heart health as well as fighting some forms of cancer.

Moderation is the word when dealing with beef and other high fat foods. It would be a shame to cut red meat completely from your diet because of the effects that it has in large quantities. Eat smaller portions and you can turn this modern day ‘poison’ into a cure and a tasty one at that.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

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