Can Biltong be your new protein fuel?

Can Biltong be your new protein fuel? Exercise is an excellent way to tone your muscles, lose weight, and boost your mood for better mental health. After a vigorous workout, you need protein to help repair and restore your body. One option that can be your new source of protein fuel is biltong.

Take the time to learn more about what biltong is, the benefits of it, and what it can do for you and your body. It won’t be long before you’re reaching your fitness goals and loving what you see in the mirror.

Exercising & Protein

The bottom line is that protein helps repair and build muscle. If you’re someone who works out a lot and is always at the gym, then you need to ensure you’re getting the proper nutrition after exercising. Consuming an adequate amount of protein after a workout gives your body the amino acids it needs to repair and rebuild these proteins. It also gives you the building blocks required to build new muscle tissue. It’s best that you consume your protein snack within 45 minutes of completing a workout for optimal results. Protein is easily digestible and can get to work and start healing your body right away.

What is Biltong?

Originally from South Africa, biltong is a snack food made from cured and dried slices of meat. Although jerky and biltong share beef as the primary ingredient, there are differences between the two. Biltong requires vinegar, salt, and simple spices to cure and marinate the meat before the drying process begins, whereas jerky is marinated in spices and sauces, and immediately dried out, with no curing involved.

In fact, there are three distinct ways in which jerky and biltong differ:

The meat used in biltong can be much thicker due to the slower drying time in dry air conditions. Jerky is normally very thin meat.
The vinegar, salt, and spices in biltong, together with the drying process, cure the meat as well as adding texture and flavour. Jerky is traditionally dried with salt but without vinegar.
Jerky is often smoked; biltong is never smoked.

Biltong is usually eaten as a snack after exercising, for example. However, you can prepare and eat it any way you choose, such as tossing it into a stew or adding it to homemade muffins. It’s growing in popularity so much that now brands are starting to offer a variety of flavours. The texture varies as well, so some may be moist while others will be dry and crumbly because it relies on lean cuts of meat.

The Benefits of Biltong

Biltong is a high protein food, and some can even have up to 67 percent protein content. The protein content is high enough that it can be used as an alternative to protein shakes. Protein shakes take time to make where you can pop biltong right into your mouth after hitting the gym. It’s also a product that’s lean in fat so you can rest assured your hard work from exercising won’t go to waste or be impacted by eating this food.

Since it’s high in protein and has low carbohydrate content, biltong is suitable for a variety of diets. It’s also an exceptionally rich source of iron, a nutrient that many people around the world are lacking. It’s not only high in many nutrients that your body needs to repair itself after a big workout, but it’s also just as tasty as some foods that aren’t as good for you, such as potato chips and crackers. As with any food or source of protein, it’s best to eat it in moderation and when you need a boost after exercising and exerting a lot of energy and calories. Consider packing some beef biltong in your gym bag to enjoy when you’re on the go or have it at home and enjoy it as a snack when you need some protein.

Conclusion

Protein shakes and protein bars aren’t for everyone and don’t always taste that good. Shakes are also time-consuming and messy to make when you have a lot of ingredients to add. If you’re looking for ways to enhance your workouts, repair your body, and have more energy than biltong may be the right choice for you. It’s worth giving it a try to see all the benefits for yourself and for you to give it a taste and notice how flavourful and delicious it is to eat. It’s an excellent alternative to drinking a big protein shake or eating a protein bar that may not taste as good or contain as much protein.