The Coffee Pantry

For ages, bubblegum has been the food of choice for people who want to just while away their time chewing. Bubblegum cannot exactly be called a food, but it is something that keeps the taste buds occupied when nothing else can be eaten.

However, that mentality is rapidly changing. Today, people are looking for healthier options to bubblegum, and in this scenario beef jerky has definitely become a popular choice. This is actually easy to understand-after all, does bubblegum really fill your stomach? On the other hand, beef jerky is rich in protein and is highly palatable, which means it can actually fill your appetite and you won't be hungry for something else soon.

Beef jerky is mostly protein, which means it is great for people who are looking at pumping their bodies with some tissues and muscles. At the same time, it is very low in all unhealthy nutrients such as fats and carbohydrates. That's the reason parents concerned about their children's nutritional requirements are giving an agreeable nod to this food.

The consumption isn't a problem either. Just open the pack and start chomping away. You instantly start feeling the hunger going away. And when you are finished eating, there's no need for you to bother about where you will stick what's left behind! This is beef jerky, not your ungainly bubblegum!

There are actually several other things that go in its favor. Beef jerky has a snappy feel to it, which young people love. It has a great taste as well which makes it difficult for anyone to stop at just one. And it is also something that can help you reduce those unwanted pounds!

Yes, beef jerky can help as a weight loss food. You might think how a food that's so rich in protein can help you reduce weight, but then you should know that protein is not the culprit in weight gain; it is fats and carbohydrates, which beef jerky has very little of. As you keep munching on it, you will feel a lesser craving or need for other foods. This automatically helps you trim down.

Just see how bubblegum pales in comparison then. Its artificial flavors and colors are no match for the healthy goodness of beef jerky. This helps you stay better and fitter and have more energy in your daily work.

Air dried beef, preserved with salt and spices is a delicacy found all around the world in various forms. From the beef jerky of Australia and America to the biltong of South Africa, this tasty treat has a large following of enthusiastic fans and an almost equally populous lynch mob of detractors. Some claim it is unhealthy and others swear it isn’t and even claim that beef jerky is good for your mind.

Being light, protein rich and easily stored for protracted periods, beef jerky was an essential staple for pioneering men and women. From the Boer Commandos of South Africa to the rugged mountain men of North America, dried beef was a saddlebag standard. And with good reason.

More people are looking at the many qualities of beef jerky today, it is a source of very high protein and it great to help dieters trim down and body builders bulk up.

When it comes to all round value in food types, beef is hard to beat. It is arguably one of the most abundant sources of minerals, vitamins and body boosting protein available. The good health watch dogs claim, however, that the salt, preservatives and fat in jerky rates it right up there wi th the plague. So how does beef jerky fare as a brain food then?

Now, back to the original question of whether or not beef jerky is good brain food. One of the most critical neurological process that take place in our brains all the time is the transfer of impulses between the neurons. The vehicles that facilitate the transfer of these messages are neurotransmitters.

A deficiency of these neurotransmitters can cause conditions that range from clinical depression and Schizophrenia to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Obviously then a source of quality protein can only be beneficial to our overall brain health.

The growth, development and normal functioning of our brains are also dependant on the energy and nutrients produced from minerals and vitamins. Beef is an excellent source of several of these essential vitamins and minerals.

Other important components of a healthy brain are vitamins and minerals. They promote growth and development of the brain and play an essential role in producing energy which is a crucial part of neurological activity.

As mentioned previously, the total fat, salt and preservative content of Beef Jerky you purchase can be controlled by simple vigilance when shopping or using low fat cuts to make your own at home.

So, beef jerky is good for the mind and, if one tries to buy jerky that is low in salt and preservatives, poses no serious health risks. As a snack, lunch box treat or part of your hiking or camping rations, beef jerky is a delicious and healthy, brain boosting delight.