Return to News
Lean Australian Beef is an important dietary source of protein, essential vitamins and minerals.
In the past, beef has been linked to high cholesterol and heart problems – but this is due to a false perception that all beef is high in total and saturated fat, which are two factors that are known to raise blood cholesterol levels.
However, this doesn’t mean that all beef is high in fat – in fact, lean beef has just 4 grams of fat per serve (100g), and almost two-thirds of this fat is the healthy, unsaturated kind, including long chains Omega 3 fatty acids.
Vitamins and Minerals in Beef
Beef provides more iron, zinc, vitamin b12 and other nutrients than poultry, pork or fish. The following vitamins and minerals are abundant in beef:
- Vitamin B12: Animal-derived foods, such as meat, are the only dietary sources of vitamin B12, an essential nutrient that is important for blood formation and the function of the brain and nervous system.
- Zinc: Beef is very rich in zinc, a mineral that is important for body growth and maintenance.
- Iron: Found in high amounts in beef, meat iron is mostly in the heme form, which is absorbed very efficiently.
