Nutrition in Ostrich

Nutrition in Ostrich
By: Tyra 'nell E. Pille

View Abstract: http://www.shvoong.com/medicine-and-health/nutrition/1729980-ostrich-gets-standi...

HEALTH conscious individuals who are looking for something new in their diet would find Ostrich a good and nutritious substitute for meat.

Ostrich is a healthy and delicious lean substitute for any red or white meat because of its very low fat and cholesterol content, registered dietitian and Joy Bauer Nutrition founder, Joy Bauer said in an online health news.

“It absorbs your favorite marinade and ounce per ounce, ostrich provides more protein and iron than chicken, turkey, beef, lamb and pork,” she said.

Ostrich meat is also loaded with zinc, which is one of the key ingredients for maintaining healthy eyes.

From the meat studies of “Ostrich: Texas A&M University System” in 1993 presented online by the British Domesticated Ostrich Association, it shows that Ostrich has only 1.12 percent fat compared to beef, catfish and chicken that have 17.88, 4.88 and 1.46 percent of fat respectively.

Ostrich also contains only 0.25 grams of saturated fat while beef has 6.44, catfish has 0.84 and chicken has 0.32 grams.

“Even though Ostrich meat tastes like beef, (it) does not have fat marbling in the meat like beef,” the study said.

Ostriches have fat, though, but it collects outside the muscles and is easily removed during processing. Therefore, the cuts of meat are very lean with very low fat content making it ideal for weight watchers who love red meat, it said.

The American Ostrich Association also said that many nutritionists are beginning to prescribe ostrich meat to their clients in lieu of other meats because it is so low in saturated fat, which clogs arteries that may contribute to heart disease and arteriosclerosis.

Furthermore, Ostrich meat has sweeter and richer taste than other meats.

“It is popular in European restaurants and is becoming more popular in America.” It comes in a variety of cuts, including prime steaks, filets, sausages, burgers, and stir-fry and diced, and it can be substituted in virtually any recipe, it said.

In Cebu, Ostrich can be found at the International Academy of Film and Television in Lapu-Lapu City, where they raise live Ostrich for special occasion meals in front of their building.

Ostrich or the struthio camelus is the largest of the 8,600 bird species that exist today, originally found in the wild in certain parts of Africa. TEP