One of the best health benefits you can gain from any type of meat is the hefty protein boost it offers – and steak is no exception.
Benefit 1: You’ll get a large dose of protein
Also, steak is considered a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that the body can’t make on its own. Many plant-based proteins are incomplete proteins (they don’t contain the nine amino acids), so meat like steak can offer you what some vegetarian-friendly proteins can’t.
Benefit 2: You’ll get closer to meeting your iron requirements
Along with protein, steak can help you meet your daily goals for micronutrients like iron. If you don’t meet your iron requirements through your diet, you may experience a deficiency that can bring on exhaustion, muscle weakness, gastrointestinal discomfort, and lack of physical and mental energy.
Benefit 3: You’ll be closer to reaching your daily recommended intake of zinc
You’ve most likely heard of zinc in some capacity related to immunity, and it’s for good reason. This micronutrient is essential for the health of your immune system and metabolism, and thankfully it is abundant in many foods, including your favorite cut of juicy steak.
Benefit 4: You’ll be closer to your daily recommended value of selenium
Selenium is one of the less talked about vitamins that your body needs, but that isn’t a reflection of how valuable it is. According to the US national institutes of health, selenium is necessary for protecting your body from infection and oxidative stress, as well as helping with reproductive health, the production of DNA, and the health of your thyroid gland.
What steak lovers will be happy to learn is that one serving of this delicious meat can get you close to half of your recommended daily value.
Benefit 5: You’ll consume nearly all of the B vitamins
Another benefit of cooking up a delectable steak is that along with nutrients like protein, iron, selenium, and zinc, this red meat also contains most of the B vitamins your body needs, “which help to support healthy brain function and energy metabolism,” as well as providing a multitude of other benefits to your health.
Steak carries almost the entire B vitamin family with thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), B6, folate (B9), and B12. Thiamin is required for energy metabolism and growth development, riboflavin helps with cell growth and energy production, niacin helps turn food into energy inside the body, vitamin B6 is essential for brain health and immunity, folate is required for DNA formation, and vitamin B12 helps with nerve and cell health while also helping to prevent weakness and energy depletion.