Is Elk Meat Good For You?
Many hunters ask us, "Is elk meat good for you?" Our answer is always a resounding yes! Elk meat is not only safe to eat, but it's also incredibly nutritious. Packed with vitamins and minerals, elk meat is a top-tier protein source that's low in fat, making it one of the healthiest meats available. In this article, we'll explore the numerous health benefits of elk meat and share some delicious recipes you can try at home. By the end, we're confident you'll be fully on board with Team Elk!
Protein
We’ll start by stating an obvious fact that everyone already knows: meat is one of the most important components of the human diet and for good reason. It is high in protein which is responsible for building muscle, bones, and tissue. Protein helps maintain muscle mass and produces necessary hormones and enzymes. Enzymes play a key role in your metabolism, hormones help with many physiological processes.
Elk meat is known for being high-quality protein which means it is lean, low in fat, and high in vitamins and minerals. Eating elk meat is a simple way to get all your needed protein without adding too many calories.
Low In Fat
Elk meat tends to be low in saturated fats, saturated fats build up cholesterol in the arteries increasing your body's LDL level which causes coronary heart disease. Not only does it not have these harmful fats, but elk meat is also high in healthy fats like the omegas. These fats lower the chances of heart problems and strokes. Making elk meat a great addition to a healthy diet. In short, besides being delicious it's beneficial for your heart.
Non-Processed
When eating elk meat, you can have confidence knowing that it’s 100% natural. Most store-bought meat is hormone-induced because it comes from industrial livestock that doesn’t have the chance to grow and bulk up naturally as wild elk do. Many farmers and producers use hormones to artificially stimulate growth, increasing meat yield.
Who wants to eat an animal that doesn’t grow naturally? Because of the hormones and steroids, processed meat is much less tasty than wild elk meat. We recommend staying away from processed meat and choosing something you know is natural, like elk.Weight Loss
As mentioned above, elk meat is a high-quality lean protein with a low amount of dangerous fats and a high amount of vitamins. This means elk meat is great for those wanting to lose weight and/or gain muscle. It has fewer calories while still making you feel full. Remember how protein creates enzymes and how those enzymes are responsible for a good metabolism? Well, if you get enough good protein it will supercharge your metabolism, helping you to burn weight much easier and quicker. Keep in mind that this isn't a quick fix; weight loss won't happen without additional lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise. The takeaway is just that elk meat primes your body to be able to lose weight.
Lots of Vitamins
We need vitamins because they support vital body functions like energy production, immune response, and cell repair. Without the needed vitamins, our bodies can't work properly, leading to health problems from the common cold to more severe problems like depression. With that being said, elk meat contains a lot of vitamins that humans need. Some of them are:
Zinc
Vitamin B12
Niacin
B6
Iron
Selenium
Thiamine
Potassium
Copper
Magnesium
Vitamin E
Calcium
Methionine
Phosphorous
Each of these vitamins does many different things and while we can't go over all the benefits, we can highlight some of the key ones. Zinc promotes immune health and helps with memory. B12 prevents anemia. B12, B6, and niacin prevent Alzheimer's and reduce the symptoms of depression. L methionine, calcium, and phosphorus build bones. Elk meat is full of iron, which is extremely helpful to those with a deficiency. All in all, elk meat contains almost every vitamin you will need to keep you living until you’re dead.
All The Things You Can Make
We already talked about how amazing the flavor of elk is, a delicious slightly sweet, and tangy taste. But I'll bet you didn't know how versatile elk meat is, you can put it in soups and sandwiches. Or you can grind it and do burgers, lasagna, tacos, and chili. There are so many things you can make with elk meat but unfortunately, it would take too much space to list all of them.
Next Step: Get Some Elk Meat
After reading all about the health benefits of elk meat you know that the answer to the question “Is elk meat good for you?” is yes. Elk meat helps with so much, from losing weight to providing all your needed vitamins and keeping you well. Now go and get some elk meat. Whether you purchase it from someone or you hunt it down yourself you know that elk meat is a very healthy choice.