http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/i...805cfb54ffaf53

COULD a South African superfood be the secret to the Western Bulldogs’ premiership success?

Biltong is an air dried beef packed with muscle-building protein and has been a staple food for the Bulldogs since they signed with Protea Foods in July.

The Cheltenham-based South African meat producer and supplier has since provided the premiers with their low-salt Protein Punch variety of biltong.

Bulldogs dietitian Claire Saundry said the players primarily ate biltong as a post-training “recovery snack” due to its high protein content.

“The total amount of protein eaten is important, however the body can only use a relatively small amount of protein at any one time,” Ms Saundry said.

“Spreading protein intake over the day and including appropriate recovery options such as Protein Punch after training can achieve a positive protein balance promoting muscle growth.”

Protea Foods administrator Sally Weelson said the family company’s association with the Bulldogs began with coach Luke Beveridge frequenting their store for the dried meat.

“Luke Beveridge likes the stokkies — a type of biltong — then we showed him the Protein Punch, which is another type of biltong which he introduced to the players, and their dietitian loved it,” Mrs Weelson said.

We’ve become very passionate Bulldogs fans and it was really exciting when they won the premiership.

“I’d like to say the players were better for having biltong.”

Protea Foods began more than 50 years ago when Mrs Weelson’s uncle moved to Melbourne from South Africa and opened a deli in Brighton.

He began making biltong and the company grew and moved to Cheltenham, but has always stayed in the family.

Mrs Weelson said Protea Foods also supplied the South African cricket team throughout their recent test series win over Australia.