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With the low carb fashion that has hit the nation beef jerky is again very popular. One of the main reasons that beef jerky is healthy is the fact that to make the jerky last for so long the fat needs to be neat or the beef will go bad unless a lot of salt and preservatives are added.

Considering that there is much more of the beef than the fat in jerky it makes it very high in protein and without a lot of carbs. This is good news to the legions of people that follow the Atkin's diet. Also many people that are conscious about their health prefer marinating and then smoking their own meat because it affords them the knowledge of exactly what they are consuming.

If you are looking for a healthy and suitable snack to take anywhere, this is it. It is especially great for camping as it is compact, gives needed nutrients, tastes great, and does not go bad. Many people that backpack carry beef jerky just for these reasons. It is also light and easy to carry. It is often put in vacuum preserved packaging to pack in the freshness so no matter how long you carry the beef jerky for it stays fresh.

Even though its origins are thought to be from South America during the 1800's, Americans love their beef jerky. The Quechua tribe of Indians made a product similar to beef jerky which they called ch'arki which is where the name jerky came from. They used elk, deer, and buffalo meat and added salt to them before drying it out or placing the meat over the fire. This made for the preservation of meat that was needed when food was not as available for whatever reason.

The Spaniards took to making this popular snack as well when they inhabited parts of South America and then introduced it worldwide. American cowboys and the early pioneers took to it as beef jerky became a stable of their diets on the border. The early explorers of the country would construct smoke huts and then they would cut strips of meat to be smoked, dried, or put over a fire. The real beef jerky came along when the meat was first flavored. By adding spices the meat became better tasting.

With more people being wary of what they are eating and at the same time looking for low cost healthy foods, beef jerky is seeing something of a rebirth. It's a great snack for adults and kids alike and everyone has to admit that eating a stick of beef jerky is much better for you and better tasting than a high fat treat.