May is Beef Month | News
“Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner,” as they say. If you’re reading this, it is highly likely that you can agree with that statement, or know someone who does.
Beef and its by-products have an immense impact on our society. It’s found in the hamburger you cook on the grill, the gelatin that composes your favorite warm-weather food items (such as ice cream and marshmallows), the gum you chew, the medicines you take, and soap with which you wash your hands, and countless other products. The uses in our everyday lives are immeasurable.
It’s also a primary source of numerous vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy lifestyle. This list includes protein, vitamin B12, zinc, iron, phosphorus, selenium and many more. In fact, a 3-ounce serving of lean beef accounts for less than 10 percent of a 2,000 calorie diet, yet supplies more than 10 percent of the daily value of those vitamins and minerals.
This month, cattlemen affiliates and other groups throughout not only Missouri but also the nation celebrate beef’s importance. The beef industry is constantly under attack from animal rights activists and faulty science that claims it is bad for our health. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Many claim that the saturated fat from beef increases the risk of heart disease, but studies have shown that this saturated fat can actually lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and maintain a healthy level of HDL (good) cholesterol.
Each American, on average, eats 1.7 ounces of beef per day. This falls well within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, proving that any healthy food should be consumed in a moderate manner. Over-indulgence on any one food group can cause issues. Yet, you won’t find critics pointing that out. While small segments of the U.S. population continue to make noise about living vegan lifestyles, such as those who push Meatless Mondays at schools and those who demonize beef consumption, the fact of the matter is that beef is an affordable, delicious and (most importantly) a healthy addition to a well-rounded diet.
There is plenty to celebrate when it comes to beef. It continues to gain strong support from those who accept its scientifically proven benefits, and will remain a key component of the American diet for future generations.
Each week throughout the month of May, a favorite beef recipe of a Dallas County Cattlemen’s Association member will be featured in the Buffalo Reflex. We hope you enjoy these recipes. For more recipes and information about beef, go to beefitswhatsfordinner.com.
