Looking to get a health boost from your evening meal without sacrificing flavour and taste? Grass-fed lamb is able to provide a host of benefits and can be incorporated into a range of dishes.
Here are five nutrients necessary to good health that you can find in grass-fed lamb.
Omega 3s
Found in higher qualities in lamb that has been grass fed, omega 3 is an essential fatty acid. Your body is unable to make these fats itself, meaning it is essential to consume enough for numerous normal body functions.
Omega 3s play a role in controlling blood clotting and may even be able to build cell membranes in the brain.
Not only that, they are essential for normal growth and can help to prevent coronary artery disease and hypertension as well as inflammatory and autoimmune disorders such as arthritis.
Grass-fed lamb contains up to 25 per cent more omega 3 acids than conventionally raised lamb, according to the George Mateljan Foundation website Whfoods.com.
Protein
A single serving of lamb is lean, with on average 175 calories, according to the American lamb website Lean on Lamb.
Protein forms one of the building blocks of life, contained in every cell in the human body. It is necessary to help repair cells and make new ones. It is also important for growth and development, so make sure your children and teens get plenty. Pregnant women, in particular, can also benefit.
Vitamin B12
In order for your body's nerve and blood cells to stay healthy, you need to get enough B12. A deficiency in this nutrient can lead to tiredness and weakness as well as anaemia.
You could also suffer from balance issues, poor memory or soreness of the mouth and tongue if you don't get enough of it.
Vitamin B12 has also been linked to mental ability as well as red blood cell formation.
A tasty way to get plenty of this nutrient into your diet is by eating plenty of organic lamb.
Niacin
Vitamin B12 is not the only B group vitamin contained in lamb. In fact, niacin is another B vitamin in this meat.
It promotes nerve, digestive and skin health and also helps convert food into energy that your body can use. It may also help to improve circulation and the metabolism of fats and proteins.
Without a sufficient amount of niacin, you could suffer from inflamed skin, mental impairment or digestive problems.
Zinc
Organic, grass-fed lamb is also high in zinc, a mineral used to help keep your immune system strong. It can also help to support normal growth and heal wounds more quickly.
Who would have thought that grass-fed lamb could help you beat off the common cold or flu? Make sure you eat plenty during the colder periods, as well as during the peak of summer.
