Did you know March is National Nutrition Month? While this is a great opportunity to draw more attention to the importance of a healthy, balanced diet full of nutritious foods, animal rights activist groups are trying to take advantage of this month by encouraging us to take meat off of our plates. However, in doing so, you risk not meeting daily nutritional requirements and in some cases miss out on certain nutrients that can only be found in animal proteins. You really can’t beat meat!
Meat products provide protein, a vital nutrient that helps grow and repair muscle, bones, skin, ligaments and more. But not all proteins are created equal—only animal proteins provide all of the essential protein building blocks that your body needs for optimal health. Ensuring adequate levels of these nutrients is especially important for youth and those recovering from illness or injury. Protein is also essential for proper growth and development in children.
Here’s a look at some other nutrients found in our favorite animal proteins and how they support a healthy body:
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – converts food into energy and supports nerve, muscle and heart function. This vitamin is not produced naturally in the body, so the only way to obtain it is through your diet!
- Selenium – supports reproduction, thyroid gland function, DNA production and protecting the body from infection and damage caused by free radicals.
- Leucine – increases protein synthesis and promotes energy metabolism.
- Vitamin B6 – involved in brain development during pregnancy and infancy, immune function and metabolism regulation.
- Vitamin B12 – helps keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy, make DNA and prevent anemia. Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in animal-based products!
- Iron – required for oxygen to travel to our tissues and organs.
- Zinc – essential for a healthy immune system.
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – needed for growth, development and function of body cells and converts food to energy.
- Vitamin B3 (niacin) – Converts food into energy and supports development and function of body cells.
- Phosphorus – Needed to make energy and carry out chemical processes.
- Choline – regulates memory, mood, muscle control, and other functions.
As you can see there are many nutritional benefits of meat that help our bodies to work and feel their best! For more about why meat matters in a healthy diet, check out our #MeatMatters guide.