Why grass-raised beef?
You’ve probably heard that beef consumption is linked to heart disease. That may be true, but it’s not the whole story. The link to heart disease is with grain-fed animals, but only grass-fed animals have big benefits for your health.
First, we must recognize that the body needs certain nutrients to “take care of business” on a daily basis. Taking care of business includes ensuring proper cell growth, regulation, and function. An essential element that we must have (the body cannot produce it) are fatty acids. We need a regular supply of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids. The ideal ratio is 2 Omega 3 to one Omega 6. Most people get a ratio between 15:1 and 50:1. That is where the problem begins and the link with the disease enters.
What is the benefit of grass-fed beef?
Omega 3s are found in abundance in shellfish and some nuts and seeds like flax and walnuts, as well as grass-fed beef, lamb, bison, and wild meats. Omega 3 in meat is much more available to our body than omega 3 from plants, which is why meat is our main and most reliable source. We get too much Omega 6 in our diets, which is found in excess in grains and vegetable oils (olive oil or coconut oil are best to use).
Omega 3 is found in the chloroplasts of green leaves and algae. Cattle eat the Omega 3 from the grass and put it in their fat. Cattle switched from omega-3-rich grass to omega-6-rich grains, losing the benefits of omega-3 fat in their own fat in no time. The same thing happens in the eggs of chickens deprived of vegetables, they have a similar effect.
Grass-fed meat has 2-3 times the amount of Omega 3s as grain-fed animals.
So what happens when we consume a lot of omega 3? Here are some important changes that occur in our body. Lower blood pressure, less heartbeat irregularities and 50% less chance of having a heart attack. Plus, you’ll see lower levels of bad “LDL” cholesterol. (1)
The brain also needs copious amounts of omega 3, and getting it can lead to less depression, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or Alzheimer’s disease. (two)
And we don’t have to stop there. Omega 3s have been shown to slow the growth of cancer and prevent it from spreading. In addition to speeding recovery from surgery and protecting the body from the weight loss that accompanies advanced cancer. (3)
Grass-fed meats are lower in total fat and calories.
As if all of that wasn’t enough. Grass-fed meats can have 1/3 the fat of grain-fed meats. That’s about the same as elk, wild venison, skinless chicken breast, and other lean meats. If you eat a typical amount of beef (66 pounds a year) and switch to grass-fed beef, you could save about 18,000 calories a year. Without any other changes, I would lose about six pounds a year.
So, for your health, look to supply your family with grass-fed meat. And for the record, it also tastes great.
1. Siscovick, DS, TE Raghunathan, et al. (nineteen ninety five). “Dietary intake and cell membrane levels of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of primary cardiac arrest”. JAMA 274(17): 1363-1367. 2. Simopolous, A.P. and Jo Robinson (1999). The Omega Diet. New York, HarperCollins. My previous book, a collaboration with Dr. Artemis P. Simopoulos, devoted an entire chapter to the vital role that omega-3s play in brain function. 3. Rose, DP, JM Connolly, et al. (nineteen ninety five). “Influence of diets containing eicosapentaenoic or docasahexaenoic acid on the growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells in nude mice”. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 87(8): 587-92.