Why is Healthy Beef Jerky the new thing?

It’s not. It’s actually a very old thing.

While beef jerky is a well-established go-to snack for road trips and in our always on-the-go lives, did you know that beef jerky has a long history in the U.S. and around the world?

It is a form of meat preservation that’s been used for centuries beginning in the 1500’s or sooner.

The name jerky comes from ‘Ch’arki’, an Incan word for dried or burnt meat. Jerky allowed humans to both store food for long periods of time and have readily available food for travel. It was a staple in traditional peoples food supply.

Today’s products are far more processed and sweetened than the original version, but you can still find good options that provide an on-the-go snack that’s packed with nutrition.

Where to start

Ingredient reading, a skill I teach in my 30 Day Challenge, becomes imperative to understanding what ingredients most impact your health and performance and finding the healthiest options while shopping for you and your family. 

Beef, Pork, Turkey and Salmon Jerky are all great travel food and on-the-go protein options to keep you energized and full throughout your day. However, you need to make sure they don’t contain ingredients that take away from your performance.

The problem with a number of the brands available is their high salt content, flavor additives, high fructose corn syrup, and other non-foods that are lurking around.

What to avoid when looking for healthy beef jerky

Here are some problematic ingredients to avoid when shopping at your local grocery store or online for healthy beef jerky. (or any kind of jerky, really)

Monosodium Glutamate (aka MSG)

MSG is a nasty flavor enhancer is known to encourage inflammation in the body, aggravate the stomach lining, exacerbate migraine headaches, and over stimulate our nervous system. Avoid jerky products that contain MSG.

Sugar, corn syrup and/or other sweeteners

It’s hard to avoid some kind of sweetener in jerky, but you need to be aware of how much and what kind. Remember, 4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon or a cube.  Aim for brands that 4-5 grams of sugar or less/serving and avoid the chemical sweeteners like Sucralose. 

Artificial Colors & Preservatives

Nasty ingredients like Red #40 & Yellow #5 are found all around the food isles these days. Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, and Autolyzed Yeast should all be avoided as well. These ingredients cause inflammation and are sited in a host of other symptoms like shortness of breath,  behavioral changes, decreased focus capacity and more.

Table Salt

Although it’s a 4 letter word, salt is NOT a dirty word—I promise. It got a bad rap somewhere in our history with nutrition, but we need salt in our diet. However, it’s very important to note that it’s the type of, not salt in general, that you need to look out for. Without going too deep into the great salt debacle, just know that it’s table salt you need to avoid. Sea salt is great!

Keeping these ingredients in mind (and off the label), here are my top three picks for the best healthy beef jerky.

You can find these at natural food stores and Amazon.

#1 Grass Run Farms (Original Flavor)

Sometimes grass-fed beef can be a bit gamey for those of us transitioning from traditional corn fed beef but these sticks have a great flavor and minimal ingredients.  They kind of remind me of a Slim Jim!

#2 Good Ol’ Traditional 100% Grass-fed Beef Jerky

With minimal ingredients and low in sugar, this brand is a top pick for sure.  It’s typically soft and easy to chew, not tough like some of the others can be. 

#3 Wild Zora (BBQ Flavor Beef with Tomato Pepper & Kale)

This one is great for those of you who like lots of flavor options.  The BBQ is my favorite; it’s a little different from traditional beef jerky but a fun twist on an old thing and the sweetener comes from dried fruit instead of sugar with this brand.

Take Action

Label reading and making healthier food choices takes a little more effort when you’re grocery shopping, but the benefits are well worth the time and effort and get easier the more you do it.

Start by avoiding the ingredients listed above when searching for healthy beef jerky or pick up one of three I mentioned above.

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