Z for Zinc I for Iron P for Protein
There are two very important minerals found in lamb: zinc & iron.
We all need various vitamins, minerals and proteins for continued good health. Lamb is an excellent source of protein and several minerals.
ZINC is essential for our immune system, hormone production, teeth hair, skin, brain and foetal growth and development. ZINC deficiency may lead to skin problems, delayed wound healing, loss of the senses of taste & smell, foetal abnormalities, reproductive defects, immune deficiency, loss of eye function and osteoporosis. IRON is essential for transporting and storing oxygen in the blood. It is also essential for metabolism, energy production and the maintenance of a healthy immune system. Deficiency leads to anaemia. The iron contained in lamb is called "haem iron", which is more readily absorbed by the body than "non-haem iron" found in grains, eggs, fruits and vegetables. PROTEINS are involved in the growth, repair and maintenance or our bodies. Our muscles, the organs of the body, some hormones and antibodies are largely made up of protein. |
The following information was taken from the British Texel Society Web Site:
Live longer - eating Texel Lamb may help. Eating Texel Lamb could improve your chances of leading a longer, healthier life suggests the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland. (ARINI) With consumers demanding lower levels of saturated fats in lamb meat, ARINI on-farm trials include long term investigations into healthy human food production. "Breed substitution can have a major effect on lamb carcass composition, with the Texel, in terminal sire comparisons, producing lambs with the highest lean content," ARINI's Dr Alistair Carson explained. "Further improvement was seen where Texels are included on the female side of the flock. We also noted Texel Lambs have significantly lower concentrations of saturated fatty acids and higher levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Lambs finished on grass produce meat with higher levels of n-3polyunsaturated fatty acids than those fed meal, and breeds differences are also seen. This work is continuing as the ability to produce lamb on grass with low levels of saturated acids and higher levels of n-3polyunsaturated acids has major implications for human health, and could open up new opportunities for the sheep sector." |