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Nutrition Why Grass Fed? People who like beef may wonder why they should consider eating beef raised on grass. Grass-fed beef contains much lower total fat and calories than grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef has only half the fat found in grain-fed beef, while still having the benefits of more of the "good fats" our bodies need, such as monounsaturated fats, Omega-3s and CLA. Also the anti-oxidant Vitamins A, D, and E are more prevalent in grass-fed beef. Overall, grass-fed beef is a healthy meat that can be enjoyed without the intake of as much fat, AND the nutritional benefits are astounding.
What are Omega-3s and Why do I Need them? Every cell in our bodies needs certain important nutrients to grow and function. Among these are the Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are known as the building blocks of cells. The human body cannot produce these vital fats on its own, so it is essential that they be included in our diets and thus have been classified as "essential fatty acids". Beginning around 1985, the Omega fatty acids were made the subject of much scientific research. What nutritionists found has the potential to change American diets for the better. An imbalanced ratio of these fats can be quite harmful for our health. In fact, eating too many Omega-6s is linked to many health problems, such as cancer, obesity, heart disease, arthritis, insulin resistance, mental disorders, and allergies. Recent scientific studies have shown that Americans eat far more Omega-6 fatty acids than they need. Nutritionists suggest a ratio no greater than 4 to 1 of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids. Many American diets, however, have a ratio of 25:1. Heart patients who ate an Omega-3 rich diet for 3 years were found to have a 70% reduction in the risk of dying from heart attacks, and a 61% reduction in the risk of dying from all types of cancer. Those who eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids are less likely to have high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and are half as likely to die from a heart attack or stroke. Omega-6s in our diets come mostly from grains, such as corn, wheat, and oats. Omega-3s are found in green, leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and--grass. The Omega 3's in the grass consumed by grass fed and finished beef cattle is stored in their tissues. Therefore, eating grass fed beef will increase the amount of Omega 3's in your diet. Studies have shown that grass-fed beef has an Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio of 3:1 or even 2:1, which is ideal. Diets with a ratio over 4:1 are considered unhealthy. Eating fish is often quoted as a good way to add Omega-3s to your diet, but grass-fed beef gives you the hearty taste of beef with the same Omega-3s as found in fish! What is CLA? CLA-- the acronym stands for Conjugated Linoleic Acid. It's actually a type of fat that naturally occurs in beef. The benefits of this fat are many: CLA combats arteriosclerosis (clogged arteries), can reduce body fat, prevents or delays the onset of diabetes, and, most importantly, prevents and fights cancer. Michael Pariza, director of the Food Research Institute at University of Wisconsin, has led the research on CLA. He first discovered the unsaturated fatty acid during his anticancer research. Recent studies in Europe have shown that cancer patients with more CLA in their bodies had less tumor growth. Women who had the highest levels of CLA in their diets had a 60% lower risk of breast cancer, according to a Finnish study. Researchers have not found ill side effects from consuming large amounts of CLA. There is little CLA in grains, fruits, vegetables, and poultry or pork products. 'The best sources of CLA are beef and dairy products. And, the best beef source of CLA is grass-fed beef. Studies have shown that CLA levels in grass-fed cattle are 30% to 40% higher than in grain-fed cattle. When dairy cows ate only grass, the CLA levels in their milk were five times higher than dairy cows who are fed a grain and hay based ration. It is becoming clear that eating grass-fed beef is a sure way to boost your CLA levels, thereby increasing your resistance to cancer and other health problems. What about Vitamins? Studies have shown that many Americans are Vitamin E deficient. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and is linked with much lower risk of heart disease and cancer. Grass-fed beef is a good source of this essential nutrient. It has, in fact, four times more Vitamin E than grain-fed cattle. Studies also show that higher levels of Vitamin E increases the shelf life of beef products. Grass-fed beef also provides vitamins A, D, and beta carotene, and consistently has a higher level of antioxidant vitamins than grain-fed beef. |