Is Steak Good for You? 4 Important Health Benefits
When it comes to choosing a delicious meal, a juicy, perfectly cooked steak can’t be beat. But can something that tastes so good actually be good for you, too? Yes, indeed! A high-quality, perfectly cooked steak offers an impressive range of health benefits. Read on to learn how steak can be part of a healthy diet.
What Are the Benefits of Eating Steak?
1: It’s a Rich Source of Protein
Steak is a fantastic source of high quality protein, one of the fundamental building blocks for a healthy body. Your body needs a high amount of protein to build and repair your muscles and bones. Your body also uses protein to make hormones and enzymes.
A diet that includes steak is especially important if you like to exercise, because the high protein content helps you rebuild muscle mass and gives you more energy during the day.
2: Steak Contains Essential Vitamins and Minerals
In addition to protein, steak is packed with many other essential nutrients. For example, steak is a significant source of zinc, a mineral that’s crucial in maintaining a healthy immune system. Zinc also improves brain health, promotes wound healing, helps build muscles, and aids in digestion.
Selenium is another important mineral found in steak, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage and protect against infections. Selenium is also needed to support proper thyroid function.
Steak is an excellent source of vitamin B12 as well, which your body needs to develop red blood cells and maintain healthy nerves. Vitamin B12 can even help boost brain function, helping with concentration and memory.
3: Steak Helps Prevent Iron Deficiency
Iron is another crucial mineral found in steak that your body needs to function properly. Iron plays a vital role in delivering oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. It’s also crucial in hormone production and maintaining healthy cells. Luckily, steak is one of the best sources of this mineral.
Steak isn’t just an excellent source of iron, it’s also easier for your body to absorb iron that’s found in red meat. Eating steak can help you reach your daily iron intake more easily, and lower your risk of an iron deficiency such as anemia.
4: It’s Good for Your Smile
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient found in steak that plays a crucial role in the way your body stores and uses energy. Your body also uses phosphorus to build healthy bones and teeth. In fact, around 85% of your body’s phosphorus can be found in your bones and teeth. So as long as you don’t get any stuck in your teeth, eating steak can even help improve your smile.
What Is the Healthiest Way to Eat Steak?
Although steak offers plenty of health benefits, the choice of cut, cooking method, and preparation can all affect how healthy your steak dinner actually is. Here are some tips for enjoying steak while maximizing its nutritional value:
Choose a leaner cut of steak.
Top sirloin is lower in saturated fat compared to fattier cuts like ribeye. Trimming visible fat before you cook your steak can also help make the steak healthier.
Be mindful with portion control.
As with all food, moderation is key when it comes to steak. The healthiest serving size of steak is 3 to 4 ounces, or roughly the size of a deck of cards. If you order a large steak at a restaurant, try to eat only the serving size and bring home the leftovers to reheat, rather than overindulging.
Grill or broil your steak.
Compared to pan-frying steak, these are healthier cooking methods. Grilling or broiling a steak allows the excess fat to drip away from the meat, resulting in a leaner piece of meat. Just avoid charring the steak, because that can negatively affect your health.
Avoid adding sauce.
A properly cooked steak is delicious all on its own. If you skip the sauce, you avoid adding extra calories to your meal.
Choose healthy sides.
A good way to manage portion control is to fill your plate with other healthy foods. Fresh vegetables, a colorful salad, or a whole-grain roll will help create a more balanced meal.
Steakhouse in Downtown Chandler, Arizona
If you’re ready to enjoy the amazing health benefits that a robust steak has to offer, head on down to DC STEAKHOUSE. We offer a wide range of steak cuts that are packed with flavor and nutrition. And our menu also has plenty of sides and salads to choose from that will help balance your meal.
Reservations fill up fast, so please visit dcsteakhouse.com or call 480-899-4400 today to book a table.