MD Fitness Tip~ Red Meat

 Are there benefits of eating red meat as part of a healthy diet?


Yes, red meat has a place in a healthy diet as long as you choose the right cuts of beef. Some options are eye of the round roast and steak, round steak, sirloin steak, sirloin tip roast and 95 percent ground meat all offer healthy options. Adding one or two servings of lean red meat to your weekly diet will supply your body with many vital nutrients.

A 3-4 oz. serving of red meat supplies about half the protein an average adult needs in a daily diet. The protein you get from red meat contains the amino acids necessary to build muscle and repair tissue. Muscle mass is essential because it gives you the ability to be physically active and it also produces enzymes and hormones that help prevent illness. Protein has also been linked to weight loss, since it satisfies hunger and keeps you satisfied for hours following your meal.


Lean red meat also supplies a good amount of iron, in a form of iron more easily absorbed than the iron in plant-based foods. Adding red meat to your diet one or two times a week can help you consume the amount of iron your body needs for your red blood cells to transport enough oxygen to all the other parts of your body.


Another benefit of adding lean red meat to your diet is that it supplies a good dose of zinc. You need zinc from foods because it helps build muscle mass, strengthens your immune system and helps promote a healthy brain.


In addition, lean red meat is a natural source of many B vitamins. Eating foods that contain naturally occurring B vitamins is important because it helps promote a healthy body. Lean red meat contains B-12 for a healthy nervous system and B-6 for a strong immune system. Red meat also contains niacin, another B vitamin that aids in digestion, as well as riboflavin for healthy skin and eyes.


Look for lean cuts of meat and enjoy in 3-4 ounce servings, 1-2 times a week as part of a well-balanced healthy diet.