 |
 |
      
|
|
Why You Should Eat Beef
Speech by Ron Bieber to Wisconsin Red Angus Field Day, July 17, 1999, Minnesota Red Angus Field Day, August 21, 1999 and Red Angus Field Day at Beresford, SD on August 21, 1999
BEEF,
The South Dakota cowboy was in the big city and decided to try an exotic food restaurant. The waiter came over with a menu and offered suggestions, So why doesn't beef taste like chicken? What gives beef its unique flavor?
Beef is much more than just protein. Beef is a really nutrient dense food that combines complete protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins and other important nutrients. The Protein in beef contains 20 Amino Acids including all 9 essential amino acids in the right proportions that are essentials for muscle, cartilage and bone growth. I totally disagree when people tell us we are in the protein production business. Beef as a food is so much more than protein. ZINC The Zinc in beef is in a natural and organic form which makes it the most bio-available source. Beef provides the best single source of zinc and provides 58.1% of the daily intake for Americans. Beef has 5 to 10 times more zinc than fish and three and a half times more than chicken. US health authorities report that 81% of American females and 65% of American males (age 20-59) are zinc deficient. Studies in Egypt, Kenya, and others link zinc deficiencies to cognitive development in children. What is cognitive development? Cognitive development is the operation of the mind by which we perceive, think and remember. We may also think of people who are deficient in brain power as missing a cog or two, or not working with a full deck. The intake of red meat products is positively correlated to cognitive development in infants, preschoolers and school age children. Beef has 5 to 10 times more zinc than fish and 3 ½ times more than chicken. Can we as cattle producers improve the zinc content in beef? Many cattle producers are using cattle minerals that are 5 times higher in zinc than just 5 to 10 years ago. Meat studies in Nebraska indicate that beef with higher zinc content is better tasting. Beef that has a high zinc to iron ration is more tender and juicier. Cattlemen are interested in producing better beef. Human studies link zinc deficiencies to cognitive development in children. IRON Why is the iron in beef superior to other sources? As with the zinc and other minerals, the iron in beef is an organic source, which is highly available. The iron in beef heme iron (bio-available) and the degree of absorption of heme iron is determined by the bodies need for iron. Those who are deficient can absorb 35% of the heme iron where as people who have adequate stores of iron may only absorb 15% of the heme iron from beef. This makes the heme iron in beef a self-regulating source. In the 50's when I took high school chemistry, we were told that iron deficiency could be corrected by chewing on a nail. Wrong. Iron oxide is an unavailable source of iron for nutritional needs. Beef is the single best source of zinc and iron in the diet. Adequate bio-available iron in infants and children is essential for cognitive development and provides a foundation for school and lifelong learning. In America approximately 50% of children and young women are iron deficient. Not only is beef the best source of iron but studies indicate that heme iron in beef makes the iron in vegetable sources more available. Spinach is a good vegetable food but a 6 ounce serving o beef contains as much available iron as there is in 10½ cups of spinach. If your children are iron and zinc deficient, they may not perform well in school, not to mention that their attention span may suffer and this may frustrate you when you make requests of your children. Beef is an essential food in your children's diet. FAT What about the fat in beef? Suddenly, we are recognizing that fat is not the culprit we once thought it was. Americans still consume too much of the wrong kind of fat. Vegetable sources, which are hydrogenated in order to make them more stable and give them longer shelf life are considered inferior fats. "Not all fats are created equal!" The saturated fat in beef is high in stearic acid and does not raise LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) levels and also has numerous health benefits. Monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids both found in beef are very beneficial and essential for your health and composed of Omega 6 and Omega 3 oils. These fats are essential fatty acids and produce many compounds for normal body functions. Fatty Acids are not manufactured by the body and must come from ruminants (cattle) or fish oils. FATTY ACIDS Dr. Kritchevsky (an 87 year old who spent a life time in Human Nutrition fat and cholesterol research describes CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) as "God's Joke" because everything we know about it is positive. It is a saturated fatty acid, which prevents and reduces tumor growth, so it prevents cancer. CLA reduce blood sugar which indicates it is also anti-diabetic. It is shown to prevent heart attacks and reduces plaque formation in your veins and arteries. Beef and diary products are two of the best sources of CLA. The period of adolescence development is very critical for the proliferation and replication of cells in mammy glands. This could be a key time for CLA effect on cancer prevention by reducing pre-cancerous lesions. Dr. Michael Hill, Human Nutrition Researcher from England, in his report on Mortality in Vegetarians and Non Vegetarians: Collaborative analysis of 8300 deaths among 76,000 men and women in 5 prospective studies. His report concludes the following:
IMPLANTED HORMONES What about hormones in implanted beef? An implanted steer has 1.9 nanograms per 3 ounce serving. See the following chart for compared amounts of estrogen: Estrogen Produced By & Available to the Human Body
Source: Dr. Harlan Ritchie, Michigan State University The E.COLI Scare How safe is beef from E Coli 0157:H7? In 1998 there were 33 outbreaks of which 7 (21%) were attributed to beef. HACCP systems are in place in all large processing plants and all small plants will have those improved safety systems in place in 2000. The percentage of E. coli outbreak from beef is dropping rapidly and the real problem in E.coli will come from other sources. The leading ones being alfalfa sprouts, apple juice, lettuce and strawberries. Beef consumption in regular amounts along with vegetable and a variety of other foods will result in optimum health. We all remember when our mother told us, "Eat your meat and vegetables," now we have a better understanding why that was good advice. Your Check off Dollars provide the money to do research, product development, promotions and help keep beef in the American diet. The beef parity study compared red meat with fish and fowl. That report was summarized June 28, 1999 USA TODAY, saying "Neither fish nor fowl beats lean red meat!". Red meat was just as effective as fish or fowl in reducing LDL cholesterol and the people on red meat diet were able to stay on their diet consistently better than those on fish or fowl. This gives new meaning to the old slogan "Nothing Satisfies like BEEF!" BEEF MAKES YOU HAPPY! Why does beef help make you happy? A media group was interviewing a leading chef on new meat menus, when questioned on why she chooses beef in her meals she blurted out "Beef makes people happy." This was very insightful on her part. Beef gives you the nutrients (ZIP- zinc, iron, protein and B12) you need to stay healthy and energetic. And that this important because you can't take care of the people you love and do things you want to do if you don't take care of yourself first. Eating beef is a great way to stay in shape for everyone who depends on you. Beef ~ it can make you happy, healthy and wise
because it is a synergistic health food.
|