Why You Should Use Lamb in Your Recipes

Lamb, especially grass-fed lamb, is an outstanding protein source that’s full of important nutrients like selenium, zinc, and vitamin B12. There are several reasons to use lamb in your recipes – especially the natural lamb near Snohomish that Hagen Family Farms is known for.

Abundant Protein

Lamb is categorized as a red meat, and it has one of this meat group’s highest protein counts. One three-ounce serving of lamb contains an impressive 23.5 grams of protein. Everyone needs protein, especially people who are consistently active; it’s a powerful fuel that also helps the body build, maintain, and repair muscle mass. Even better, the protein in lamb’s meat is “complete protein”, dubbed as such because it contains all the amino acids essential to the human body. By comparison, non-meat protein providers like grains, nuts, and vegetables usually lack one or more essential amino acids.

Immune System Booster

Lamb is rich in zinc, making it a great immune system booster. Zinc is one of the most prevalent nutrients in our cells, and it’s a key ingredient for maintaining optimum health; it assist in faster wound healing, healthier growth and development of children, and proper DNA/protein synthesis, in addition to helping protect the body from illnesses ranging from pneumonia to the common cold. Zinc is also important in maintaining a strong sense of taste and smell. ​

Iron-rich

Like all red meats, lamb contains more iron than other protein-filled meats like fish and chicken. Also, lamb is rich in “heme iron”, which is easier for the body to absorb and thus is very helpful in warding off iron deficiency and anemia.

Healthy Fats

Lamb has fat, but most of it is comprised of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. It contains more of these healthy acids than beef – and if you dine on the delicious grass-fed lamb meat near Snohomish that’s offered by Hagen Family Farms, you’ll reap the additional benefits offered by CLA. What’s CLA? It stands for conjugated linoleic acid, a group of chemicals found in lamb meat’s fatty acids. Research shows that CLA can improve lean muscle mass and help facilitate fat loss, and early animal-related studies show that it may have the potential to fight cancer, especially breast cancer.

Filled with Vitamins

Millions of Americans are deficient in vitamin B12. This is notable because B12, along with vitamin B6, niacin (vitamin B3), and riboflavin (vitamin B2) are instrumental in keeping our nervous system humming along and maintaining the health of the actual nerve cells. Lamb is an exceptional source of B12 – just 3oz. provide a little less than half of the average person’s daily B12 requirement. It’s hard to understate just how valuable lamb is in this context, given that the nervous system is the “wiring” that helps the entire human body function and communicate. ​

Is Lamb a Viable Alternative for Chicken?

This is a popular question for which there’s an easy answer: yes, lamb is a viable alternative for chicken. Both meats are protein-rich, both are carbohydrate-free, and both are good sources of minerals and vitamins. Either meat makes an excellent addition to a healthy diet. ​