A great source of accurate information about the benefits of including lean beef in our diet can be found at www.beefnutrition.org. The information also points out the importance of including all of the food groups to fulfill our nutritional needs. There’s great examples and simple explanations of why eating beef is healthy for you and how easy it is to get proper nutrients just by eating lean beef. I’ve highlighted this accurate information from www.beefnutrition.org and included links in the  following categories of people who  need to consider what lean beef  has to offer to meet their dietary needs.
Kids: As kids grow, so does their body’s need for increased levels of zinc, iron, and protein (ZIP). These priority nutrients and growing kids’ hunger pangs, can easily be satisfied with lean beef. It’s important that the meat group is not omitted from kids’ diet in order to receive all the necessary nutrients for their growing bodies.
Children’s growth and development depend on iron and zinc. Iron deficiency can delay normal infant motor and mental function and can effect their learning, attention span and behavior and development in the long run. Zinc is important for functions such as the ability to learn and remember.  An ounce of lean beef provides 65% of the daily zinc requirement for 7 month olds to 3 year olds.
Men: As heads of the household, men are under a lot of pressure to provide for their family which alone can cause a lot of stress but pressures at work can add to it. Stress can weaken the immune system, causing the body’s immunity to weaken. Zinc and iron are necessary nutrients for the immune system: Iron supports it and zinc boosts it when the immune system becomes weakened due to stress. 41% of men 20 years and older, are not getting the RDA of zinc. Stress can also drain the body’s energy. The zinc, iron, and protein present in lean beef makes it a good choice for replenishing ZIP‘s nutrients.
Women: Women are busy; sometimes more so than the kids they chase around. Women also get stressed out which can lead to an increased susceptibility to illness and when mom’s out of commission, the household notices it! Lean beef’s an excellent source of protein which can give the ladies the necessary energy to keep up all day and the zinc in lean beef boosts their immuity. 62% of women 20 years and older are not meeting the recommended daily allownance  for iron. The all-important nutrient for women especially is iron which lean beef provides.
Pregnant Women: Since an unborn baby is getting its nutrients from its mother, pregnant women have to have enough nutrient stores for both her and her expectant child. The need for iron especially, increases and so does an expectant mother’s energy. Mothers who nurse will use up even more of their body’s nutrients for the baby and will need to increase calories and nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, zinc, protein, vitamin B12 and choline. A diet consisting of lean beef in addition to foods from the other food groups during pregnancy and while nursing can easily provide many of the nutrients that are needed at these times.
Tweens and Teens. Young adults are busy physically in activities, in their studies, and in their growth and development. Proper nutrition for this age group means a balanced diet which is especially important during their growth and development, and omitting essential foods that provide necessary nutrients should be reconsidered. Iron deficiencies can affect academic performance. Regularly providing tweens and teens with protein, zinc, iron and B vitamin foods found in lean beef aids in teens’ physical and cognitive health and helps them keep up with their studies, activities and growth. Including servings of lean beef in young adults’ diet provides them with the energy, immunity boosters and important nutrients that they need for brain development.
Athletes and the Fitness Conscious: Adequate and proper nutrition packed with essential nutrients refuels calories burned and necessary nutrients that get depleted. Busy bodies need energy and it’s easily provided in lean beef. In addition to energy-packed protein, lean beef also provides B vitamins, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, and riboflavin. The need for food that provides energy—especially iron, is more likely to be depleted for people who engage in intense exercise on a regular basis.
Elderly: Because lean beef provides ZIP (zinc, iron, and protein), a diet rich in high quality protein foods can benefit older adults’ overall health as they get older. Protein-rich foods such as lean beef is an effective way to stimulate muscle building which can aid in less falls and fractures, maintain mobility and agility, manage weight, increase metabolism and in fighting sarcopenia. Learn how to live well and age vibrantly here.
People Losing Weight. If reaching your goal weight  is within sight but you’ve plateaued, sometimes all that’s needed is amping up protein in your diet which lean beef can provide. Protein rich lean beef not only makes you feel full longer, it reduces the chances of overeating later, by satisfying cravings quicker and longer. Eating lean beef can help people lose weight and there are 29 lean cuts of beef  to choose from. Not only does lean beef satisfy the body and easily provide the necessary protein recommendations to sustain energy, it helps maintain lean body mass and increase metabolism. Exercise is also more effective  when a moderately high protein diet is followed.
Not only is lean beef satiating and delicious tasting, it’s a nutrient-rich, high-quality protein. Americans can get high-powered energy easily, simply by regularly incorporating one of beef’s 29 lean cuts daily in their diet.
The foods we eat can affect our mood, energy level, and how we perform our tasks and leaving out important foods needed in our bodies can have a negative effect. Get your daily ZIP from lean beef. For naturally nutrient rich recipes to help you out, click here.
Leave a Reply