Beef Health Information - Nutritional Information - Celebrity Foods Beef Information
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008One question we strive to answer is: “Is beef good for you?” The answer is most certainly “yes!” From a nutrition standpoint, it is one of the best foods we can eat.
- For Americans, beef is the number one contributor of protein, zinc and vitamin B12 in our diet.
- To get the same amount of zinc that’s found in a 3 oz. serving of lean beef, you would have to eat thirteen 3 oz. servings of salmon.
- If it were B12 you’re looking for, you would have to eat 8 3 oz chicken breasts to get the same amount one 3-ounce serving of beef gives you!
- Beef is our second best source for vitamin B6, and number three of iron and niacin.
- Beef is an excellent source of selenium, phosphorus and riboflavin. All of these nutrients are essential for growth and development.
- A 3 oz. serving of lean beef will give you less than 10% of your calories in a 2,000-calorie diet, yet at the same time; it supplies more than 10% of the Daily Value for these nutrients. (http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12354500). If you’re looking for a bang for your buck when it comes to calories, beef packs a punch.
That being said, our biggest health concern regarding beef is centered on it’s fat content. It is suggested by many studies that animal fat is responsible for a whole host of problems. There’s a common misperception that the majority of beef’s fatty acids are saturated. In reality, foods that contain fats come in fatty acid packages containing various amounts of saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. The same is true of beef.
|
Food |
Portion Size |
Calories |
Total Fat |
Saturated Fat |
|
Beef: |
||||
|
Ground Beef, Lean |
4 oz. |
317 |
20.0 |
7.7 |
|
Ground Beef, Regular |
4 oz. |
331 |
22.0 |
8.7 |
|
NY Strip Steak |
4 oz. |
259 |
13.1 |
5.2 |
|
T-Bone Steak |
4 oz. |
245 |
11.9 |
4.8 |
|
Chicken: |
||||
|
Fried Chicken Breasts |
4 oz. |
298 |
14.7 |
4.0 |
|
Fried Chicken Leg |
4 oz. |
195 |
17.6 |
4.8 |
|
Other Common Foods: |
||||
|
Grilled Cheese Sandwich |
3 slices |
158 |
28.0 |
8.4 |
|
Peanut Butter Sandwich |
4 Tbsp. |
380 |
18.7 |
5.6 |
|
Cheese Pizza |
2 slices |
376 |
10.0 |
5.5 |
|
Milk |
1 cup |
150 |
17.0 |
5.1 |
|
French Fries |
Medium |
320 |
17.0 |
3.5 |
|
Butter |
2 pats |
70 |
16.6 |
5.0 |
|
Sour Cream |
1/2 cup |
124 |
1.7 |
0.5 |
|
Mayonnaise |
2 Tbsp. |
200 |
22.0 |
3.4 |
|
Mustard/Ketchup |
2 Tbsp. |
30 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Salad Dressing, Regular |
1 Tbsp. |
85 |
8.0 |
1.5 |
|
Salad Dressing, Low Fat |
1 Tbsp. |
25 |
2.0 |
0.2 |
|
Doughnut |
1 |
235 |
9.3 |
2.8 |
|
Snickers™ Bar |
1 |
280 |
14.0 |
5.0 |
|
Ice Cream, Regular |
1 cup |
270 |
29.6 |
8.9 |
|
Popcorn, Regular |
1 cup |
45 |
6.7 |
2.0 |
Compared to a chicken breast, there’s only one more gram of saturated fat in an average 3 oz. serving of the six leanest beef cuts. There are 29 cuts of beef that fall under the USDA’s definition of lean. (http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/nutrition/pdf/LeanCutsWalletGuide.PDF
Two of the most popular are, sirloin and top round steak. (Insert link to our product page). Everything in moderation as they say; but rest assured, beef is a healthy, nutrient rich delicious addition to your diet.