If you enjoy meat in your diet, venison may offer a good compromise between health and your preferred diet. Whether you hunt or purchase farmed deer, venison is a healthy alternative to beef and pork. In addition, it provides a good source for essential nutrients, including protein and vitamin B12. As a commodity, venison has shown a strong potential for growth, with the number of farms increasing 15 percent from 2002 to 2007. The availability of farm-raised venison make it an affordable addition to your diet.
Lower in Saturated Fat
One of the best things venison has in its favor is its low fat content. A 100 g serving contains just over 2 g of total fat. Of that amount, less than 1 g is saturated fat. A similarly sized rib-eye steak, on the other hand, contains nearly 15 g of total fat, with almost 6 g of saturated fat. "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010" strongly urges Americans to reduce their consumption of saturated fat because of its effects on cholesterol. A diet high in saturated fats can heighten your risk of heart disease due to increases in total cholesterol and LDL or bad cholesterol.
Better Nutritional Value
In part because of its low fat content, venison also offers low-calorie protein. A 100 g serving contains 150 calories whereas the same serving of beef contains 249 calories. In addition, venison has a higher protein content than beef, providing 30 g of protein versus 27 g supplied by beef. A single serving of venison will provide over 65 percent of the daily recommended allowance of protein for an adult woman.
Source of Vitamin B12
Animal-based proteins are the only source of vitamin B12. A 100 g serving of venison provides over 75 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B12 for adult men and women. Vitamin B12 is essential for several life processes including red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis and healthy metabolism. From a health perspective, venison is a smart choice for its high nutritional value.
Reduction of Herd
If you hunt deer, your choice to increase your venison consumption can have a positive effect on the deer population. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension estimates that there are over 20 million deer in the United States, 40 times more than the estimated 500,000 deer in the early 1900s. Without natural controls, hunting remains a viable tool for managing deer populations. Your hunting success will yield several pounds of meat which you can use for steaks, chops, sausage and jerky. With only the cost of processing, you will also gain a cost-effective solution for putting meat on the table.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Table 24. Miscellaneous Livestock and Animal Specialities - Inventory and Number Sold: 2007 and 2002
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory
- USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion: Foods and Food Components to Reduce
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protein
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin B12
- Cornell University Cooperative Extension: General Deer Population Facts
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