They're a great alternative for people looking for a meat snack that's easier to chew. From a nutritional point of view, jerky tends to have more protein (15 g versus 9 g) and less fat (1-2 g versus 5-6 g) per serving.
Beef jerky
is an inexhaustible source of protein, with more than 6 grams of protein per serving to satisfy you without overwhelming you. It's made from lean cuts of beef that have been dried and cured, and are usually pre-marinated in condiments.These lean cuts are low in fat and carbohydrates. A large piece of jerky has approximately 82 calories, 2.2 grams of carbohydrates, 5.1 grams of fat and 6.6 grams of protein. At first glance, you can see that there are much more calories in jerky than in steak. Think of meat sticks as long, thin smoked sausages.
This is a product most often made from ground beef, spices and healing agents that are introduced into a gut. The result is meat sticks that are high in protein and full of flavor. Meat sticks have more fat than jerky, but less sodium. It's a healthy snack that's easy to carry when you're traveling.
Made with lean cuts of meat, beef jerky is high in protein, low in carbohydrates and moderate in fat. A serving of just one ounce of jerky contains 9 grams of protein, while it only contains 3 grams of carbohydrates and 2.5 grams of sugar. Whether grass-fed beef jerky or meat sticks are better for you is debatable, but you'll find examples of both on the market. With the popularity of paleo and ketogenic diets and consumers' heavy focus on protein, jerky has become more popular than ever.
All options are highly nutritious options and excellent alternatives to classic beef jerky if you're looking for a variety of jerky options. These key minerals, as well as the fact that it is a practical and non-perishable source of protein, are some of the benefits of jerky. It's important to pay attention to serving size, as you can easily exceed the recommended amounts of sodium and fat if you eat jerky sandwiches or meat sticks. Beef jerky is considered a processed form of red meat and some studies have found a correlation between the consumption of red meat and processed meat and an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.
In addition to being a good source of lean protein, beef jerky is rich in iron, folic acid, calcium and vitamins A and C. Carbohydrates are low in meat bars, since sugars are not usually added with the exception of some of the most common flavors. Nutritional information for jerky may vary by brand, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) database, a 1-ounce serving provides 116 calories, 9 grams of protein, 7 grams of fat and 3 grams of carbohydrates.
However, if jerky is on your personal list of foods you can't live without, consider it an occasional treat. The process removes most of the fat, allowing you to enjoy a delicious, meaty snack that has a long shelf life, ideal for snacking on the go. Dry meat has 410 kcal per 100 g and steak 271 kcal per 100 g, so it's quite easy to calculate that the difference is around 51%. In addition to being high in protein, jerky is also a dense source of micronutrients, especially zinc, vitamin B12, phosphorus, folic acid and iron.
The exact macronutrient and micronutrient composition of dried meat will vary depending on the cut of meat and the condiments used.