Benefits of Eating Red Meat

For Several years, red meat has been taking a lot of negative publicity. However, the link between lean red meat and body fat buildup is still unclear. It is true that fatty cuts of beef are rich in saturated fat and full of calories, but that doesn’t mean you have to eliminate lean red meat from your diet. Red meat contains various nutrients and is an excellent source of protein, iron, creatine, and zinc. Here are some benefits of eating red meat.

Protein

The body needs protein to build and repair muscles, bone, cartilage, skin, and blood. It also provides vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and hormones. It is recommended that adult women should consume 5 ounces of protein a day and adult men should consume 5.5 to 6.5 ounces of protein a day depending on their age. If you engage in high levels of physical activity, you should also increase your intake accordingly.

Creatine

Red meat is a rich source of creatine, a naturally occurring amino acid that supplies energy to all cells in the body. Once creatine enters the body, it is stored as phosphocreatine in the muscles. During muscle training, phosphocreatine is converted into adenosine triphosphate or ATP, the chemical that triggers action potential.

Iron

Red meat is the richest source of dietary iron. Iron can be found in red blood cells in the oxygen-carrying substance known as hemoglobin. Muscles need oxygen to generate energy, that’s why iron is very important. A blood test will determine if you have iron deficiency. Iron supplements should only be taken by those who are diagnosed with iron deficiencies.

Zinc

Red meat is a great source of zinc. Zinc helps build muscles, promotes a healthy immune system, and protects brain functions. In men, zinc normalizes testosterone levels and protects prostate health.

Choose Lean

Red meat is an important part of our diet. However, it should be eaten only in moderation. Choose lean meat and avoid consuming excessive amounts of saturated fat. Go for high grade cuts labeled as “choice” or select.”