Beef

Beef is the meat of cattle and is divided into two types - young and old. The young are aged between 18 and 24 months, and the old - from animals over 2 years. Unlike beef, beef is much richer in taste and is definitely a food for connoisseurs.

Nutritional value

Beef is a source of complete protein, helps fight fatigue, is useful in iron deficiency anemia.

100 grams of beef contain:

• 217 calories
• 61% water
• 26.1 grams of protein
• 11.8 grams of fat
• does not contain carbohydrates, fiber and sugars.

Animal protein is usually of high quality and contains all nine essential amino acids needed for the maintenance and growth of the body. The amino acid profile of meat is almost identical to that of muscle in humans. For this reason, consuming animal protein is very important for muscle recovery, and in combination with exercise you increase muscle mass.

In addition to adding flavor, fats also increase the caloric content of meat.

The quality of fat in beef depends on the size, age, sex and eating habits of the animal. Processed meat products, such as sausages, are higher in fat.

Lean meat contains no more than 5-10% fat.

Beef consists mainly of saturated and monounsaturated fats in approximately equal amounts.

Vitamins, minerals and other compounds

Beef is a source of many useful vitamins and minerals - vitamins: A (8.2 mg%), E (1 mg%), C (33 mg%), B6 ​​(0.7 mg%), B12 (60 mg%) - responsible for absorption of iron in the body), PP (9 mg%), B2 (2.19 mg%), B1 (0.3 mg%) and others. It is a supplier of mineral salts of sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, cobalt and others. The highest iron content is found in beef liver.

In addition to vitamins and minerals, it contains other compounds: creatine, which serves as a major source of energy for muscles; taurine - an amino acid needed for heart and muscle function; conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) - a fat that helps lose weight.

Health benefits

Like all meats, beef is a great source of high quality protein. It contains all the essential amino acids. Many people, especially adults, do not consume enough protein, and insufficient intake accelerates the loss of muscle mass (see how much protein you need daily).

Anemia is a common problem nowadays, although we live in a world with easy access to quality meat. Anemia is characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells and a reduced ability of the blood to deliver oxygen.

Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of anemia, and its main symptoms are fatigue and weakness.

Beef is a rich source of iron, and it is more easily absorbed by the body if its sources are animal.

Beef liver is a prophylaxis against heart attack, recommended for urolithiasis (kidney stones).

Contraindications

Old beef is more difficult to digest and is not recommended for consumption by children and the elderly (it is better to replace it with beef).

Be careful with the consumption of processed meats (sausages), as this increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. On the other hand, unprocessed meat is healthy and extremely important for muscle health.