Benefits of Tripe

Tripe -- an organ meat derived from beef stomach -- has been part of British and Irish cuisine for centuries, even earning mentions in Shakespearean literature. While tripe seems like an unconventional choice compared to more common diet staples like chicken breast, it's worth adding to your diet. Tripe is relatively low in calories, at just 96 calories per 4-ounce portion, and serves as a source of essential nutrients that benefit your health.

Tripe contributes to your daily vitamin B-12 intake. Getting enough vitamin B-12 benefits circulation and also proves important for nervous system health. It promotes red blood cell function by helping to make a protein that these cells need to transport oxygen. It also supports nerve health by helping you maintain healthy myelin, a fatty substance that your nerves need for efficient communication. Each 4-ounce serving of beef tripe offers 1.6 micrograms of vitamin B-12, or two-thirds of your recommended daily intake, established by the Institute of Medicine.

Incorporate tripe into your diet as a source of choline. Each 4-ounce serving of beef tripe provides you with 220 milligrams of choline -- 52 percent of the recommended daily intake for women and 40 percent for men. Your body uses choline to produce compounds essential for tissue function -- lipids containing choline make up your cell membranes and aid in cell communication, while the acetylcholine made from choline promotes healthy brain function. Choline also helps your body metabolize fats, preventing an accumulation of fat in your liver.

You'll also boost your selenium intake by incorporating more tripe into your diet. Selenium plays an essential role in tissue function by activating selenoproteins -- a family of enzymes important for good health. Selenoproteins protect your cells from damaging free radicals, promote new cell growth, support thyroid function and play a role in muscle cell function. Consuming a 4-ounce serving of beef tripe increases your selenium intake by 14 micrograms and provides one-quarter of the recommended daily intake.

Consume tripe as a source of other essential minerals, such as phosphorus and zinc. Both minerals nourish your cell membranes -- phosphorus makes up a component of phospholipids, the fats found in these membranes, while zinc contributes to proteins embedded in your cell membranes. They also both promote healthy cell communication. Phosphorus nourishes your bones and teeth, while zinc supports immune function. A serving of beef tripe offers 72 milligrams of phosphorus -- 10 percent of the recommended daily intake -- as well as 20 percent of the daily zinc requirements for women and 15 percent for men, set by the Institute of Medicine.