Consuming red meat has been a topic to debate about for many years. While red meat has its health risks, I believe it also has a few crucial benefits that many people overlook.
Red meat in excess will obviously be bad for you. Typically, steak is very high in fat, which can raise your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This high saturated fat content of steak is the main concern for many people who are obese and suffering from health problems. However, I believe that if you are a healthy and active individual, steak in moderation can be a good thing, especially if you are looking to build lean muscle mass!
If you are exercising regularly and have a healthy diet, steak in moderation can help you with your lean muscle building goals. Steak in “moderation” means consuming no more than 12 ounces of red meat, or about two small steaks per week. This is a pretty good amount of red meat to eat in one sitting, but when spaced out over the course of a week, it can have many benefits. Steak is extremely high in muscle-building proteins. In other words, the high protein and calories that steaks possess will help you build muscle. Steak can also help you become stronger. Steak is the best all-natural source of creatine, which fuels your muscles with short term bursts of energy and can greatly enhance your resistance training workouts. Another big muscle and testosterone booster that steaks possess is zinc. Consuming high levels of zinc can help you build lean muscle faster and recover quicker from your workouts. So, steaks are in fact one of the best foods for those seeking to increase their natural testosterone levels.
So which kind of steak is the best to consume? Most of the best kinds of steak have the highest amounts of fat. This is due from the marbling effects of these cuts of meat. Cuts of steak like filet, tenderloin, and prime rib have high amounts of fat, so if you are trying to keep your fat intake low, stay away from these.
The leanest cuts of steak are sirloin, flat iron, and eye of round. My favorite choice to maximize both health and taste is the sirloin steak. Sirloin steaks are delicious and a lot lower in fat than filets or most other cuts of beef. I like to consume sirloin once a week to keep my creatine and zinc levels high! Pair your sirloin with a glass of red wine and you will have yourself a nice blend of antioxidants and protein! Steak in moderation can be a delicious way to give your workouts an extra boost and naturally raise your testosterone levels.