Getting to the meat of the matter
A survey into the UK’s meat purchasing habits has revealed that 29% of people hold back when buying meat because of how expensive it is. The survey by natural liquid iron supplement Spatone, found that only 35% of people in the UK buy meat regularly and that the cost was the most common factor to hinder purchase.
Other negative factors included not knowing what to do with certain cuts (7%), not liking the taste (8%) and it taking too long to cook (4%). Morals also play their part with 16% not buying meat regularly due to ethical reasons.
Iron nutrition presents a real challenge as iron is one of the most difficult nutrients to absorb. It is commonly recognised that meat, especially red meat, is the best source if iron with up to 22% of the iron available absorbed by our bodies, compared to 1-8% from eggs and vegetables . A government survey has found that 91% of women in the UK aged between 19 and 64 years are consuming less than the RDA of iron.
Now winter is on its way it is easy to spend less on great tasting, cheaper cuts of meat whilst ensuring you get your iron hit:
• Winter warming casseroles are perfect for cheaper cuts of meat which benefit from slow cooking. The best casserole cuts include braising beef (chunk, shoulder, thick flack, skirt), stewing beef (thin flank, leg, shin), lamb neck or pork shoulder. After cooking slowly the meat becomes so tender it tastes better than expensive steak cuts.
• Investing in a electric slow cooker means not only can you use cheaper cuts to create mouth watering dishes, your meal can be cooking when you are out at work! Simply brown your selected casserole cut of meat, add to chopped vegetables, herbs and stock and leave to cook whilst you are out. When you arrive home the aroma will be irresistible and you can eat immediately.
• Swap expensive chicken for turkey. Whilst red meat contains more iron than white meat overall, turkey actually contains more than chicken and is a lot cheaper. It is also lower in fat - so a winner all round!
• Visit your butcher. They can tell you which cuts to use for your dish and advise on how to prepare your meat properly. If you don’t have a local butcher, try your supermarket meat counter who should have butchers on hand to help.
Iron is an essential mineral, playing a pivotal role in the human body by facilitating the transportation of oxygen, energy release and promoting the functioning of the body’s immune system. Initial iron deficiency symptoms can include fatigue, general lack of energy and decreased ability to concentrate. There are times when the body has an increased demand for iron or when a person’s diet does not provide them with all the iron they need and in these cases iron supplementation can be beneficial.
Spatone is a unique 100% natural liquid iron supplement* containing spa water sourced from the Welsh mountains of Snowdonia National Park - which can help top up your iron levels. Spatone provides iron with fewer of the unpleasant side effects often experienced with conventional iron supplements. Generally, iron is a very difficult mineral for the body to absorb. However, the iron naturally present in Spatone has been shown to be easily absorbed, with up to 40% bioavailability , compared to 5- 22% from food and other iron supplements. This means that it can be chosen as a valuable complement to a varied and well balanced diet to help ensure dietary iron intake.
Spatone is available from Boots, Holland & Barrett, Tesco, Lloyds Pharmacies and independent health food stores and pharmacies, price £6.95 for 28 sachets (4 weeks supply). For mail order go to: spatone.com
* It is important to follow a varied and balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute. If pregnant or breast feeding always contact a healthcare professional before taking any food supplement.
