Beef is one of the best sources of well absorbed iron.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommends having 65g a day of red meat or 130g every second day because it is one of best sources of iron and zinc in the Australian diet. Therefore, eating beef 3 to 4 times a week helps to meet your iron and zinc needs.
Why does your body need iron?
There are two types of iron found in food
1. Haem-iron, which is well absorbed by the body and only found in beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish. The redder the meat, the higher the amount of haem iron.
2. Non-haem iron, which is less well absorbed by the body. Plant-based foods such as iron-fortified breakfast cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, wholemeal pasta and bread, legumes, eggs and nuts contain only non-haem iron.
Tips for an iron-rich diet
For more information, download the ‘Are you getting enough iron?’ brochure
Could you be low in iron?
Around 20% of Australian women of childbearing age are low in iron and levels may be even higher in young women where estimates of up to a third have been reported. The symptoms of iron deficiency are subtle and may be mistaken for a ‘busy lifestyle’. If you have any of these symptoms, you may be low in iron and should see your doctor to have your blood levels checked:
Source: BeefandLamb.com.au
Zinc
Zinc is an essential nutrient that has many important functions in the body, including normal growth and development in children and supporting a healthy immune system to fight infections. The zinc found in beef is well absorbed by the body.
Zinc is also found in wholegrain breads and cereals, legumes and nuts; however the zinc in these foods is less well absorbed by the body.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is only found in animal foods, such as beef, lamb, chicken, fish and eggs. Vitamin B12 is important in the body for healthy functioning of our nervous and immune system as well as normal growth and development in children.
On average, a 150g serve of beef provides over 40% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) for zinc and 85% of the RDI for vitamin B12.
Source: BeefandLamb.com.au