What Vitamins are in Red Meat?
There are a lot of vitamins and nutrients found in red meat, which is why when eaten in moderation, it can be an excellent source of nutrition your body needs to thrive. Some of the vitamins and nutrients you’ll find in red meat include:
- Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 helps your body in so many ways, from keeping you mentally healthy to promoting heart health.
- Iron: Your body needs iron to create the red blood cells that carry oxygen to other parts of the body.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D absorbs calcium that you get from your food or vitamins to keep bones growing and staying strong.
- Zinc: Zinc is a vital part of your immune system that can help prevent viruses and harmful bacteria from taking over your body and making you sick.
Red Meat and Heart Health
Although you’ve probably heard that, if you want to keep your heart in top shape, you need to avoid red meat altogether. This subject has been debated for years, but there’s some good news here. When you eat it in moderation (just like anything else!) and stick to a healthy and active lifestyle, you’re doing some great things for your body!
One of the biggest benefits of steak is how it can improve heart health. Red meat contains fat, which tends to scare people away. The good news is that the majority of the fat is actually monounsaturated fat, which is a healthy fat your body can use.
More Health Benefits of Eating Steak
Red meats are an ultimate source of protein, which is a fundamental building block for your muscles. Protein helps repair and grow new muscle cells, which can keep your body lean and fighting off fat. When you get enough protein in your diet, you’ll also have more energy to stay active and you’ll feel less hungry (and less likely to satisfy unhealthy cravings!) through the day.
Since red meat is also an excellent source of Vitamin B12, it’s possible that your brain may even get a boost from eating it. Getting enough Vitamin B12 in your diet can improve your concentration and boost your memory skills. If you skip the red meat for more plant-based protein, then there’s a good chance you aren’t getting the recommended 2.5 mcg daily that adults need.
What are the Potential Dangers of Red Meat?
When you hear about red meat effects on the body, you probably aren’t getting the full story. The truth is that cattle is raised much differently all over the world than it was when our ancestors were alive. Cows used to roam free in the wild and eat foods they would find in the wild before their meat ended up on a plate. Now, they’re often raised on farms and fed special diets to produce the best beef possible.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing when responsible farming tactics are used. The issue lies in how much farmers interfere with their cattle to produce incredible meat. Are the cattle fed antibiotics? Are they fed a diet filled with hormones and synthetic foods that may make their meat tastier but also less healthy? Is the meat overly-processed once the animal is butchered?
Red meat in itself, when it’s kept as organic as possible, can be incredibly healthy. It’s once you start getting into processed territory that changes things.