We hear a lot said about the benefits of Iron, but how many of us actually understand why Iron is good for us? Outlined below are a number of useful facts and some great tips for boosting Iron intake in our diet.

Why is Iron important??
The main role of iron is to carry oxygen around the body to supply it to tissues

Which foods are rich in Iron??
Lean red meat is a great source of iron, which is also found in chicken and fish. It can also be found in green vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals, bread, pulses, dried fruit and nuts. Iron absorption from food is enhanced by vitamin C.

What happens if we can not getting enough Iron from our diet?
Iron deficiency is one of the most commonly occurring nutrient deficiencies. It can affect many functions of the body, such as, thermogenesis, infection and immunity, and mental and motor development in children.

Who is most prown to Iron deficiency?
The groups most at risk from becoming deficient in iron are those that are experiencing rapid growth, such as:

• Infants

• Adolescents

• Pregnant and menstruating women

Many factors contribute to a healthy lifestyle, but it is essential for everyone to enjoy a healthy balanced diet.

Great tips for boosting your iron intake:

• Use lean mince when making lasagne, spaghetti Bolognese, meatballs, cottage pie and homemade burgers. Spaghetti Bolognese with whole-wheat pasta will give you an whopping 6.6mg iron that’s 47 percent of the recommended daily intake while a burger in a wholemeal bap with salad provides 5.4mg of iron, and a plate of cottage pie, contains 3.7mg iron.

• Go for red meat the darker the colour, the higher the iron content. This means beef contains more iron than pork, which contains more than both salmon or chicken.

• Choose leg meat rather than breast meat when you’re having roast chicken or turkey it contains twice as much iron.

• Enjoy an good-old dinner of liver and bacon with mash, vegetables and gravy. Liver is one of the richest sources of iron. A 100g serving of fried lamb’s liver contains approximately 11g iron that’s more than three quarters the amount needed by teenage girls and women each day (except during pregnancy when liver should be excluded from the diet).

• Start your day with a bowl of bran flakes (iron and fibre rich) and semi-skimmed milk. Most are fortified with iron so that a standard bowl provides 6mg of iron. This type of iron isn’t as well absorbed as the iron in meat so add a vitamin C-rich fruit such as strawberries, kiwi or a glass of fruit juice to help the body absorb this iron more easily.

• Wholegrain bread is more iron rich than white bread, and nuts can boost intakes so swap a breakfast of 2 slices of white toast and jam for wholemeal toast and peanut butter you’ll get 2.5mg of iron.

• Fill sandwiches or top toast with canned mackerel or sardines for lunch. Oil-rich fish can help to boost iron intakes.

• Opt for lentil soup with a wholemeal roll this will provide 5.4mg iron thanks mainly to the lentils.

• Eat a handful of peanuts and raisins and get 1.1mg of iron in just a few mouthfuls

• Eat hummus with carrot sticks a 50g serving with 1 chopped raw carrot will give you 1.2mg iron.

• Hummus is known to help boost iron intakes.

For additional information about iron rich foods, living a healthy lifestyle and healthly eating recipes, visit meatandhealth.com, dedicated to helping you enjoy a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.

You might be surprised to know that there are a number of benefits provided to those who eat meat. Humans get a lot of nutritional value from eating meat; it is not surprising that it is something that we have been eating for as far back as it is possible to remember. There is no doubt that it provides us with our strength and has helped mould us into the species that we are today. Here are some of the great benefits you will find from eating meat.

- Meat is the best source of protein and amino acids; many people who don’t eat meat will not get enough of these two vital components of human nutrition and their health will suffer consequently.

- Red meat is a great source of iron which is another mineral required by the body. You will have healthy blood if you eat red meat. Those people who don’t have enough iron in their diet soon begin to notice the effects as it can make life very difficult; they feel tired, weak, and generally unwell.

- We also need the B12 vitamin in order for our brains to work properly and this is found in meat; it is also needed for making blood.

- There are some fats which can be found in meat which will help to protect against some forms of cancer and will also benefit the heart.

- Meat is one of the best sources of vitamin A which is vital for healthy skin, bones and teeth.

- Another vitamin which will help to keep bones, skin and teeth healthy is vitamin D.

- We use a lot of meat in our cooking and if we were to try to substitute meat with something else in many of our ingredients we just wouldn’t get the same taste. You really can’t get the same eating experience when you try to substitute other food for meat and the fact that it is so easy to cook with makes it an excellent choice.

The above shows some of the reasons why meat is such a great ingredient and why many people choose to eat it. Meat contains a number of essential elements that our body needs to stay healthy and it ensures that we are getting a healthy balance in our diet.

In today’s day and age, more and more people have started to be interested in things such ashealthy living. But this is not all, as well as that type of info, people are also hungry to learn about healthy lifestyle or even meat.