Why grass-fed beef?
You’ve probably heard that eating beef has been linked to heart disease. That may be true, but it’s not the whole story. The link to heart disease is in grain-fed animals — but animals that are only grass-fed have some tremendous health benefits.
First of all, we need to recognize that the body needs certain nutrients to “do business” on a daily basis. Taking care of business involves ensuring proper cell growth, regulation and function. One essential element that we must have (the body cannot manufacture it) is fatty acids. We need a regular supply of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The ideal ratio is 2 omega 3 to 1 omega 6. Most people achieve a ratio between 15:1 and 50:1. This is where the problems start and the connection to the disease comes into play.
What is the benefit of grass-fed beef?
Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in seafood and some nuts and seeds, such as flaxseed and walnuts, as well as in grass-fed beef, lamb, bison, and venison. The omega 3 in meat is much more available to our bodies than the omega 3 found in plants, making meat our most important and reliable source. We get too much omega 6 in our diet, which is found in excessive abundance in grains and vegetable oils (olive oil or coconut oil work best.)
Omega 3 is found in the chloroplasts of green leaves and algae. Cattle eat the omega-3 fatty acids in the grass and put them in their fat. Cattle that have switched from omega-3-rich grass to omega-6-rich grains lose the benefits of omega-3 fat in their own fat in a short period of time. The same thing happens with green-deprived chicken eggs and has a similar effect.
Grass-fed meat has 2 to 3 times more omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed animals.
So what happens when we get a lot of omega-3 fatty acids? Here are some important changes that happen in our bodies. Lower blood pressure, fewer irregular heartbeats and 50% less chance of having a heart attack. In addition, you will see lower levels of the bad “LDL” cholesterol. (1)
The brain also needs plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, and getting it can lead to less depression, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), or Alzheimer’s disease. (2)
And we don’t have to stop there. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to slow cancer growth and prevent cancer from spreading. They also speed recovery from surgery and protect the body from weight loss associated with advanced cancer. (3)
Grass-fed meat is lower in total fat and calories.
As if all that wasn’t enough. Grass-fed meat can have 1/3 as much fat as grain-fed meat. This is about the same as elk, 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 further changes, you would lose about six pounds a year.
So, for your health, consider offering grass-fed meat to your family. And, for the record, it tastes great too.
1. Siscovick, DS, TE Raghunathan, et al. (1995). “Food intake and cell membrane levels of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of primary cardiac arrest.” JAMA 274(17): 1363-1367. 2. Simopolous, AP and Jo Robinson (1999). The Omega Diet. New York, HarperCollins. My previous book, a collaboration with Dr. Artemis P. Simopoulos, devotes an entire chapter to the vital role that omega-3 fatty acids play in brain function. 3. Rose, DP, JM Connolly, et al. (1995). “Effect of diets containing eicosapentaenoic acid or docasahexaenoic acid on growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells in nude mice.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute 87(8): 587-92.
Thanks to Claire Lisse