All about the Health Benefits of Lamb

Lamb is one of the most versatile meats to cook with. Lamb is the meat from a young sheep – normally below the age of one year old. Lamb comes in different cuts and you can choose the cut that suits your meal and your tastes. Cuts include the rack, shoulder, shank or breast, loin, and leg. You can also get lamb ready-ground as mince for burgers or meat balls. Here’s why lamb is a healthy, tasty choice for your family as well as being a versatile meat for lots of different occasions.

Lamb is a good source of protein as well as vitamins A, B3, B6, B12, and manganese, copper, and selenium. Lamb is also a good source of zinc, iron, calcium, and phosphorous. What is the calorie content of lamb? You will be pleased to learn, if you are watching your weight, that a serving of cooked lamb contains only around 175 calories. There are around 8 grams of fat in one serving of lamb. Lamb does contain saturated fat but this makes up around 35 percent of the total fat, with the rest being taken up by polyunsaturated fat. Here is some more detail on the health benefits of eating lamb.

Protein: Everyone needs protein and lamb is an excellent source of this nutrient. A serving contains around 30 grams of protein. Eating lamb on a regular basis ensures that protein levels are kept up. According to haloodies.co.uk, lamb is a good source of B vitamins. Vitamin B12 is essential for the healthy metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fat. It also helps your body to manufacture red blood cells and supports the metabolic function of various parts of the body. In addition, vitamin B12 is important because it helps to cut the levels of homocysteine in the blood. When you have high levels of homocysteine you are at greater risk of heart disease. Lamb is an excellent provider of B12.

Zinc: Three ounces of lamb typically provides 30 percent of the recommended daily value of zinc. Zinc is important for many different functions in the body. It is especially important for its role in protecting and strengthening the immune system. Zinc is also essential for the bodily processes of cell division and wound healing. Zinc is even good for helping to preserve a healthy sense of taste and smell. Iron: Another valuable nutrient, iron in lamb is required for the body to be able to form red blood cells. Red blood cells bring oxygen around the body. Iron also helps to manufacture energy. If you are suffering a lack of iron you can experience fatigue. You can find around 20 percent of the recommended daily value of iron in a serving of lamb. Selenium: You find antioxidant properties in selenium-rich lamb. Selenium helps improve the immune system and it assists in the protection of your body from damaging free radicals. As you can see, lamb is an excellent all-round food for health, and deserves to be on your menu.

Louise Carr is a freelance journalist covering food and drink topics. She writes for various blogs and websites including haloodies.co.uk.