As we’ve learned, not only does peanut butter measure up to ground beef with many of the same nutrients, but in some categories, peanut butter far surpasses it. But is this still the case when we look at other forms of beef? For example, in a 100-gram serving of sirloin steak, you’ll find 30.8 grams of protein compared to peanut butter’s 22.5 grams (via USDA). While not a monumental difference, sirloin steak comes out ahead of both peanut butter and ground beef for protein content. You’ll also get 410 milligrams of potassium, 253 milligrams of phosphorus, 22 milligrams of calcium, 27 milligrams of magnesium, and 5.7 milligrams of zinc. Much like peanut butter, this shows that sirloin steak is rich in potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. That being said, peanut butter gives us more than double the calcium content and more than six times the magnesium content of sirloin steak.
Between the two, if beef is your personal preference, experts suggest that it’s best consumed in moderation. According to 2017 research published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, a link was found between high consumption of red meat (particularly processed meats) and greater susceptibility to certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart failure, and coronary heart disease, amongst others.