Meat and poultry are great sources of protein. They also provide lots of other nutrients your body needs, like iodine, iron, zinc, vitamins (especially B12) and essential fatty acids.
So it’s a good idea to eat meat and poultry every week as part of your balanced diet. But it’s best to stick with unprocessed, lean cuts and to eat the recommended serving size, to avoid taking in too much salt and saturated fat.
Why meat and poultry are so good for you
Meat and poultry are very good sources of protein, which is important for growth and development. But did you know they are also full of other things that you need to be healthy? For example:
- iodine to help your body produce thyroid hormone
- iron to carry oxygen around your body
- zinc to keep your immune system strong, your skin healthy, and for growth, development and reproductive health
- vitamin B12 for your nervous system
- omega 3 to support heart and brain health.
