Jerky has 21.5 g protein and 1530 mg sodium per 100 g. Processed meats are Group 1 carcinogens (IARC 2015), with ~18% colorectal cancer risk increase per 50 g/day. Useful for a protein hit, but sodium stacks hard.
How should I track Beef sticks, smoked?
Beef sticks, smoked is high in zinc. When it comes to Beef sticks, smoked, weighing beats counting every time. Snack pieces vary in size, and a handful from a bag can easily be 50–100% more than the label serving. Research (Almiron-Roig et al., Appetite 2013) shows that people consistently underestimate portions of calorie-dense snacks. Another common trap: multi-serving packages. The label might show 150 calories "per serving," but if the bag contains three servings, you are really looking at 450 calories. Always check whether values are per piece, per serving, or per package.