Beef jerky is simply the red meat of a cow which has been dried and preserved and, therefore, provides all the benefits of fresh meat without the need to cook it. Today, beef jerky comes in various forms of preparation, from smoked and salted to peppered to Teriyaki marinated. Thus, you get the healthy nutrients of the meat in a variety of delicious flavors.

Beef jerky is an excellent source of protein. A 1 ounce serving of this delicious dried meat contains 12-15 grams of protein. Also, jerky contains the nine amino acids needed in creating proteins which are used to repair and develop muscle fiber. Legumes and other plant sources lack some of these essential amino acids and are therefore considered a lower quality protein. Beef jerky is also low in fat, having only 1 gram per serving, none of which is damaging saturated fat.

Various essential vitamins and minerals are supplied through a helping of beef jerky. A serving provides vitamins B-6 and B-12, vitamin K, folic acid, riboflavin, thiamine and niacin. However, because of it’s being processed with salt, beef jerky is high in sodium and should be limited to no more than 2 or 3 servings a day.