Beef Heart: Complete Vitamin Profile

Beef Heart ‐ Vitamin Information

Introduction

Vitamins are essential nutrients that humans need in order to maintain optimal health and function. Every vitamin has a specific role, either assisting with metabolic processes or helping the body fight off disease. Beef heart is an organ meat traditionally used in many cuisines around the world. In addition to being highly nutritious, it is also rich in important vitamins. This long-form research paper will provide an in-depth analysis of the vitamins found inside beef heart and their roles in maintaining human health.

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Thiamine, or Vitamin B1, is one of the most important vitamins found within beef heart. It plays an integral role in energy production, helping cells turn carbohydrates into energy for the rest of the body. When thiamine levels get low or deficiency occurs, symptoms can include weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite and depression. Meat from beef hearts contains 1.9mg of thiamine per 100g serving, which falls just under the recommended daily intake of 2 milligrams.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Riboflavin, more commonly known as Vitamin B2, is another type of vitamin found in beef heart. This particular nutrient helps maintain skin health and assists in the formation of red blood cells, both of which are crucial for overall health. Riboflavin also participates in energetic metabolism, specifically helping the body break down food sources like fat, carbohydrate, and protein. Eating beef heart provides 0.24mg of riboflavin per 100g serving, exceeding the recommended daily allowance of 1.3 milligrams.

Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Niacin, or Vitamin B3, is a third type of vitamin found in beef heart. This B vitamin acts as a powerful antioxidant and aids in digestion by supporting enzyme functioning. Niacin also works to keep cholesterol levels balanced and help your body produce stress hormones. Beef heart offers 9mg of niacin per 100g serving, far surpassing the 8 milligram minimum required to adequately meet daily needs.

Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)

Pantothenic acid is yet another type of vitamin present in beef heart. Otherwise known as Vitamin B5, this nutrient assists bodily functions such as cellular growth and repair, fatty acid synthesis and hormone production. Pantothenic acid also supports healthy brain development, improves immune system functioning and helps regulate blood sugar levels. Each 100g serving of beef heart contains 0.7 milligrams of pantothenic acid, giving it slightly more than the 5 milligrams needed to get the most benefit.

Folate (Vitamin B9)

Folate, also referred to as Vitamin B9, is found naturally in beef heart. This dietary component, more commonly called folic acid, assists in DNA replication, cell division and gene expression. Adequate folate consumption is especially important during periods of rapid growth and development such as adolescence. Servings of beef heart supply 48 micrograms of folate, approximately 9 times the amount suggested as a standard daily intake requirement.

Vitamin B12

The 12th and final B vitamin located in beef heart is Vitamin B12. This vital nutrient helps form red blood cells, keeps nerves working properly and breaks down homocysteine - a molecule linked to chronic diseases. Deficiency in Vitamin B12 can lead to several issues such as decreased cognitive function, nerve damage and megaloblastic anemia. Each 100g portion of beef heart provides 4.8 micrograms of Vitamin B12 - about 80% of what you should be aiming for on a daily basis.

Vitamin D

Beef heart also contains an important fat-soluble vitamin known as Vitamin D. This micronutrient helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorous, promoting bone strength and density. The fish oil found in beef heart supplies trace amounts of both Vitamin D and E. 0.06 micrograms of Vitamin D come from each 100g serving, which equates to only six percent of the 15 microgram minimum experts suggest we consume every day.

Vitamin K

Finally, a lesser-known vitamin present in beef heart is Vitamin K. Having adequate stores of this fat-soluble substance ensures factors involved in normal blood clotting remain at normal levels. Without consistent access to Vitamin K, serious conditions including uncontrolled bleeding could occur. Beef heart includes between 41 and 43 micrograms of Vitamin K per 100g serving, meeting roughly half of what nutrition officials recommend individuals should try to achieve on a regular basis.

Conclusion

In summary, beef heart is a great source of some very important vitamins. A wide variety of critically essential B vitamins can be found in generous quantities while trace elements of other vitamins such as Vitamin D, E and K may also be present. Consuming food items enriched with these key vitamins can support maintenance of general health and reduce risks associated with certain types of illnesses. Regularly eating beef heart can greatly contribute to meeting personal nutritional goals and preserving good health over time.