On the Fifth Day….

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…. Five kan-ga-roos… four cuddling koalas, three little penguins, two pink galahs and a kookaburra up a gum tree. One of the first thoughts that comes to mind is lean red meat.  I know that might seem a bit mean to our international readers but in Australia we do multi-love kangaroo’s and by that I mean we admire their beauty and significance in our history but they are also a food source. Kangaroo (and some other game meat) is a very lean meat and is a great source of protein, iron and zinc.  Iron is important on any day but especially important during the Festive Marathon months of November, December and January.  You really do need plenty of energy whilst partying and socialising and iron assists by helping oxygen sail around your blood stream.  Everyone is after more oxygen aren’t they? Iron is known as Haem (animal sources)  and Non-Haem (vegetable derived) iron and the haem iron is absorbed quite a bit more efficiently.  Liver is top dog in the iron stakes with red meat a much lower second, followed by chicken and fish with much lower amounts again.  Breakfast cereal and legumes are decent sources of non-haem iron but need a friend in the form of  of Vitamin C to assist absorption with fruit and vegetables being just the ticket for the Vitamin C factor. Forget Popeye chugging down the spinach with bulging muscles to get his fill, the iron in spinach is very difficult to absorb due to other compounds in the vegetable (oxalates and phytates) which bind the iron and make it unavailable to you. We can always use the hopping skills of kangaroos to inspire some more exercise too.  There is nothing like a spot of hopscotch.