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Vitamins and Minerals

In addition to iron, meat can make an important contribution to the dietary intake of other essential minerals such as zinc, copper, manganese and selenium, all of which help towards healthy body functioning. They are also much more redily absorbed from meat than from plant foods. All red meat, and beef in particular, is an excellent source of dietary zinc, which is essential for growth, healing and a healthy immune system.

Meat is also an important source of B vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B2 (roboflavin), B6, B12 and niacin. These vitamins are essential for metabolic reactions involved in normal body functioning. Meat is particularly important as a source of vitamin B12 as it only occurs naturally in foods of animal origin.

Liver and other offal meat are also good sources of vitamin A and folic acid. As a precautionary measure, pregnant women are advised not to eat liver due to its high vitamin A content.

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