The Importance Of Beef Products To Human Health

in #blog5 years ago

Beef isn't an essential component of the human diet, and many people do fine without it. For people who are generally healthy, beef can be a good addition to a varied eating plan. Good nutrition does not depend on any one food source. A combination of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, fat-free milk products and lean, healthy protein sources is optimal. Nevertheless, beef is an excellent source of protein and other nutrients.


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PROVIDING PROTEIN

Containing 22 g protein, a 3-oz. cooked serving of ground beef with 95 percent lean and 5 percent fat can take care of almost half of your daily protein needs. Protein is vital to human health. Muscles, organs, bones and other body tissues all contain protein, and dietary protein is necessary for their development, growth and maintenance. Protein is also necessary for cell division, nutrient transport and the regulation of hormonal, enzymatic and other chemical reactions.

BOOSTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Beef is one of the best dietary sources of zinc. A 3-oz. serving of ground beef has 5.4 mg of zinc, over a third of the average daily value. Zinc deficiencies are common in the elderly and in pregnant women. Without adequate zinc, you are more susceptible to infection. Boosting zinc intake may improve immune system strength in older adults and decrease the incidence of respiratory tract illnesses, according to the Linus Pauling Micronutrient Information Center at Oregon State University.

REDUCING THE RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASES

Three ozs. of lean ground beef contains 2.3 mcg of vitamin B-12. That translates to 38 percent of the average daily value of vitamin B-12, placing it in the top 11 percent of vitamin B-12-rich foods. The Linus Pauling Micronutrient Information Center states that increased intakes of vitamin B-12 may reduce the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is associated with cardiovascular disease. Vitamin B-12 may also protect the body from DNA damage, a prominent cause of cancer.

CAUTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

A beef-heavy diet may not be appropriate for everyone. The American Heart Association recommends that those who have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease or who have LDL cholesterol level equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL limit their cholesterol consumption to 200 mg daily. That 3-oz. serving of ground beef contains 74 mg of cholesterol, leaving little wiggle room for eating other cholesterol-containing foods the same day. A serving of beef also contains 5 g of saturated fat, a substance that can elevate your cholesterol level. If you're a former or current heart-disease patient, consult your physician or a registered dietitian about the amount of beef that is appropriate in your diet.

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