The Most Astounding Health Benefits Of Elk Meat

Have you ever tried elk meat before? While this may not be a regularly-appearing dish on your family’s dining table, it should be. Elk meat is high in protein, rich in vitamins and minerals and low in fat. It is a powerhouse of nutrition, offering a range of amazing health benefits.

Not only is it healthy, but it’s incredibly versatile In fact, you can use it as a substitute for beef in just about any recipe to add a kick of flavor and a hint of sweetness while cutting down on the dish’s calorie and fat content. You may be asking yourself what elk meat is good for. You’ll learn the answer to this by reading this article!

Elk Meat: What Is It?                         

Wapiti, more commonly known as elk, is one of the biggest members of the deer family. It is also one of the biggest land mammals, native to Eastern and Northern America. For years, elk has been sold around the world and may now even be available as far as Argentina and New Zealand.

Elk are very popular for their antler velvet, derived from an immature tissue which surrounds the cartilage and bones on the elk’s antlers. This velvet is extracted and made into supplements like sprays, powders and pills. It contains collagen, amino acids and other growth nutrients which help promote muscle strength, endurance and join health.

Elk meat is more expensive than any other type of meat, including pork or beef. There are many cuts, depending on your preference, from cube steaks to tenderloin fillets and sirloin steaks, which are good for grilling. However, if you’re trying it for the first time, ground elk or an elk stew are probably the best way to ease yourself in.

As always, you should buy your meat from a reliable and trusted source, and buy locally if possible. Opt for grass-fed, organic, antibiotic, steroids, and hormone-free elk to get the best quality.

Nutritional Content of Elk Meat

Elk meat is a nutrient-rich food. Therefore, it has a low calorie content, yet contains a high concentration of vitamins and minerals. It also low in carbs but high in vitamin B6, niacin, vitamin B12, zinc and protein.

One 3 oz. serving of cooked elk meat may contain the following:

Aside from the aforementioned nutrients, it also contains good amounts of calcium, folate and vitamin E.

Health Benefits of Elk Meat

Here are some of the most astounding health benefits of elk meat:

• Helps make bones stronger. Elk meat is high in L-methionine, an amino acid that helps keep the bones stronger. One study involving animals shows that this particular amino acid helps rectify decreased bone mass due to endurance exercise while enhancing intrinsic bone strength.
• Helps boost brain health. A lot of the essential nutrients in elk meat influence brain health. For instance, the vitamin B12 has an effect on learning and memory. This is one of the best health benefits of elk meat.
• Helps prevent anemia. Anemia, as we know, is a condition stemming from a deficiency of both iron and vitamin B12. Elk meat is rich in various vitamins and minerals that are involved in the production of red blood cells. It is also high in vitamin B12 and iron, both of which prevent anemia.
• Helps promote immunity. Elk meat is a good source of zinc, an important mineral which plays a main role in immune system functions. As a matter of fact, zinc is beneficial in neutralizing disease-causing free radicals, is involved in the production of cytokines, and aids in the development of immune cells.
• Aids in losing weight. There are about 23 grams of protein and just 164 calories in one serving of ground elk meat, making it a good addition to the diet. You won’t gain weight, but you will lose it instead!