Beef Tongue: Complete Mineral Profile

Beef Tongue ‐ Mineral Information

Throughout history, people from many cultures around the world have enjoyed beef tongue as part of their diet. Derived from the cow’s lingual organ, beef tongue is an organ meat that offers a wealth of minerals and vitamins to those who consume it. In addition to being flavorful and tender, beef tongue is also a valuable source of essential nutrients including protein, calcium, iron, potassium and trace amounts of other minerals. This paper will discuss the important role that these minerals play in one’s overall health, along with examining how consuming beef tongue provides a rich supply of essential minerals for optimal well-being.

Starting at the top, protein is an incredibly important nutrient which helps build and repair tissue, transport oxygen in red blood cells, keep muscles healthy, and fight off infection (Emmmerson & Warner, 2019). It has been estimated that a 3.5 oz serving of beef tongue contains nearly one quarter of our daily recommended value of dietary protein. The presence of selenium found within this food item is equally noteworthy. Selenium plays an integral role in supporting the immune system and promoting thyroid gland activity, among several other vital functions within the body (Susice et al., 2020). Beef tongue can be considered a good source of this mineral, as just 0.2 ounces of it contain over 22% of the recommended amount (Nutritiondata, 2018).

Another significant mineral present in beef tongue is phosphorus. Just 1/3rd of an ounce supplies 12% of the necessary daily allowance, making it an ideal choice for those hoping to obtain their RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF THIS IMPORTANT NUTRIENT. As discussed by Campbell et al. (2018), phosphorus is required to form bones and teeth, produce energy within the body and regulate heart rhythm, respiration and kidney function. Of importance here is that it also works synergistically with calcium to maximize its absorption rate, therefore proving beneficial for prolonging bone density and reducing risk for immunological disorders such as rickets or osteoporosis (Campbell et al., 2018). Furthermore, Richter (2020) emphasize its need for proper nerve transmission -- thus making it essential throughout all stages of life.

Moving forward, there are still more benefits from eating beef tongue concerning its content of iron. Iron is another key element responsible for helping create hemoglobin, but it also aids in maintaining metabolism, supporting cognitive development and even providing additional resistance to fatigue (Lozoff et al., 2016). A single serving of beef tongue packs 6.8 milligrams, accounting for approximately 37% of the recommended intake (NutritionData, 2018). Thus, incorporating it into mar underweight individuals’ diets may prove to help prevent iron-deficiency anemia (MacMillan et al., 2015).

Finally, we cannot forget about the two final trace minerals obtained from eating beef tongue: zinc and copper. Collectively, 0.6 ounces of this cut of cow meet can supply someone with 4.1 mg of zinc, 12.7 mcg of copper, both of which exceed the majoritY of THE DAILY FOR RECOMMENDED VALUE (NutritionData, 2018). Regarding zinc specifically, studies performed by Zimmermann et al. (2017) showed that consumption of foods high in this particular nutrient could reduce severity of upper respiratory tract infections and cold symptoms when taken regularly during the winter months. Therefore, beef tongue would potentially be useful in helping defend against common ailments while also delivering a hearty dose of copper. Not only is copper an antioxidant that helps neutralize damaging free radicals, but it plays an invaluable role in aiding various metabolic processes and actually increasing levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol (Ronen et al., 2017).

In conclusion, adding beef tongue as a regular feature on menus could support better overall well-being provided appropriate portion sizes are respected. With its contribution of macro minerals like protein, phosphorus and iron, plus micronutrients like selenium, zinc and copper, beef tongue appears to provide plenty of dietary nutrition to improve and maintain health. While other cuts of cow offer comparable components, beef tongue ultimately stands out due to the wide spectrum of minerals and vitamins it delivers... a range of qualities that should not be overlooked for those wanting to promote healthier living.