Is Corned Beef Paleo? (We Have the Answer!)


Is Corned Beef Paleo

Corned beef is a way of cooking beef with salt, peppercorn, other spices, and brining. It actually has nothing to do with corn, like so many people think! It’s a great way to add a new and tasty meat to your diet. But is it okay for the paleo diet?

Yes, corned beef is considered paleo-friendly. Those on strict paleo may believe that salt makes corned beef not paleo-friendly, but the salt can always be removed before cooking. Other paleo-friendly alternatives to corned beef include Nature’s Charm Shredded Young Green Jackfruit, Butterball Turkey Breast, Good & Gather Chicken Breast, and Alaska Smokehouse Smoked Salmon Fillet.

In this article, we will analyze the nutrition content of the most popular brands of corned beef and see how they stack up to the healthy options we’ve picked for you. Let’s dig in!

What Is Corned Beef?

Corned beef is meat that has been cured in a salt solution. Before refrigeration existed, meat was salted and cured as a way to be preserved. Curing is a general term that refers to any process that helps preserve meat. It can mean salting, brining, aging, drying, or canning.

How Is Corned Beef Cooked?

Corned beef is made with brisket, which is a meat that is naturally tough so it needs to be braised. Braising is the process of cooking with moisture at a very low temperature. There is more than one way to braise. You can cook it in the oven, on the stove, or you can use a slow cooker or Instant Pot. The ingredients in most corned beef recipes are the same no matter which way you choose to cook it. You braise it in water with the brining spices, minus the salt.

Is Corned Beef Healthy?

Many people assume that any protein-dense product is typically healthy, but that’s not always the case. It is important to fully understand a nutrition label and your own personal dietary needs to fully answer this question. While beef can be good for protein, iron, and vitamin B12 it is not the healthiest form of protein. There is a lot of sodium used in the process of making corned beef as it is cured in salt water. Curing is a general term that refers to any process that helps preserve meat. It can mean salting, brining, aging, drying, or canning.

We want to be aware of high sodium content in products. High sodium diets have been linked to high blood pressure which can lead to numerous adverse health conditions including heart diseases. The average person should try to consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day which is about 1 teaspoon of salt.

Beef also tends to have a high fat content. We want to include some fat in our diet to aid with healthy hair, skin, and nail growth, along with healthy hormone production. However, too much saturated fat (typically found in animal products) can lead to cholesterol build up in your arteries. Saturated fats also raise you LDL levels (bad cholesterol) and too much LDL cholesterol can increase your risk for heart attacks and stroke from clogged arteries. Leaner meats will have less fat content while still being high in protein. Lean meats typically include chicken, turkey, and white fish.

It is possible that if you are making corned beef at home you can limit the amount of salt that is used, but it will be difficult to make it a “healthy” recipe. Instead, we suggest switching to some of the healthier alternatives that we’ve provided for you below.

Nutritional Information Of Corned Beef

Let’s look at the nutrition label of the top brands of corned beef and see how they stack up against the competition!

Hormel Imported Corned Beef

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Cooked beef
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Sodium nitrite

Nutrition Facts (Per 2oz/56g):

  • Calories: 120
  • Total Fat: 7g
  • Sodium: 550mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 15g

Libby’s Corned Beef

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Cooked beef
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Sodium nitrite

Nutrition Facts (Per 2oz/56g):

  • Calories: 120
  • Total Fat: 7g
  • Sodium: 550mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: <1g
  • Protein: 15g

Palm Corned Beef

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Beef
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Sodium nitrite

Nutrition Facts (Per 2oz/56g):

  • Calories: 160
  • Total Fat: 12g
  • Sodium: 420mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 13g

Excelsior Corned Beef

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Cooked beef
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Sodium nitrite

Nutrition Facts (Per 2oz/56g):

  • Calories: 120
  • Total Fat: 8g
  • Sodium: 550mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: <1g
  • Protein: 13g

Hereford Corned Beef

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Cooked beef
  • Beef
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Sodium nitrite

Nutrition Facts (Per 2oz/56g):

  • Calories: 120
  • Total Fat: 8g
  • Sodium: 550mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 13g

Healthy Alternatives To Corned Beef

Corned beef tends to be high in sodium which can cause high blood pressure and eventually lead to adverse health conditions such as heart problems and cardiovascular disease. Instead we’ve found some healthier alternatives for you to try in your next corned beef recipe!

Nature’s Charm Shredded Young Green Jackfruit In Brine

Nature's Charm Shredded Young Green Jackfruit In Brine 35.3oz Pack of 2 Combo With KC Commerce Stainless Steel Fruit Fork Jackfruit can be used for so many different things. It is often used as a vegan substitute for meat, like it is in corned beef recipes. Jackfruit contains vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which are all great for aiding in a healthy immune system and boosting natural immunity. That makes jackfruit a great alternative to beef.

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Young green jackfruit
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Citric acid

Nutrition Facts (Per 2oz/56g):

  • Calories: 15
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Sodium: 180mg
  • Total Sugars: 3g
  • Carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g

Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloin

Turkey is a wonderful alternative to beef in any corned beef recipe. Turkey is a leaner cut of meat which means it is lower in fat and often higher, or just as high, in protein as beef. Swapping beef for turkey has been linked to helping lower cholesterol.

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Turkey Breast Tenderloins
  • Water
  • Contains 2% or Less of Salt, Sugar, Vinegar, Natural Flavor

Nutrition Facts (Per 112g):

  • Calories: 90
  • Total Fat: 1g
  • Sodium: 330mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 3g
  • Protein: 21g

Good & Gather Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

Chicken is another lean meat that is high in protein and low in sodium making it a great choice if you are monitoring your diet. High protein diets have been proven to aid in weight loss, as well as aid in hair, skin, and nail growth, and can help improve overall energy.

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Boneless skinless chicken breast

Nutrition Facts (Per 112g):

  • Calories: 140
  • Total Fat: 4g
  • Sodium: 50mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 3g
  • Protein: 25g

Alaska Smokehouse Smoked Salmon Fillet

Alaska Smokehouse Smoked Salmon Fillet, 8 Ounce Gift Box Salmon is a great alternative to beef. It is rich in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids, which are important fats within the diet. Salmon has also been linked to helping lower cholesterol. This particular brand is wild-caught which means it will have less saturated fat than salmon that’s been farmed.

The ingredients in this product are:

  • Salmon
  • Salt
  • Spices
  • Natural Alder Smoke

Nutrition Facts (Per 56g):

  • Calories: 90
  • Total Fat: 5g
  • Sodium: 570mg
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 3g
  • Protein: 12g

Final Thoughts

If Corned beef is something you eat once in a while, like traditionally done on St. Patrick’s Day, it can certainly be a great way to get protein into your diet. However, if you have no emotional ties to it, you could potentially skip it and swap it with a vegan option or a leaner cut of meat or fish.

A well-balanced diet will include high protein, fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes which are all a part of the paleo diet. If you pair that with daily movement and exercise this can be a great way to live a long and healthy life. If you are working out it is important to make sure you are eating adequate amounts of protein to aid in recovery. Any of the healthy alternatives we’ve provided to traditional corned beef will help you do just that!

As always it is important to read nutrition labels on food to make sure you are understanding what you are consuming and how it fits into your diet. You can consume anything in moderation as long as you are being mindful!

Related Questions

What Is The Difference Between Corned Beef And Pastrami?

Corned beef and pastrami are both briskets that are brined and then the corned beef is ready to cook. Pastrami undergoes a bit more before it’s ready to be cooked. The cured brisket is dried off and then covered with a thick coating of crushed black pepper, coriander, mustard seed, and garlic. After that it is cold smoked and finally steamed to preserve its crust.

Is Corned Beef Keto Friendly?

Yes, high in protein with almost no carbs in it makes it a natural fit into the keto diet.

Does Corned Beef Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes, any beef product left over from a meal should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking or reheating. Leftovers of meat tend to stay good for about 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer.

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Kristin Marzullo

My name is Kristin and I am an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Specialist. With over 5 years of experience in the fitness industry under my belt, I love helping women achieve their health and nutrition goals through science-based education.

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