Omegas 3 and 6
Only
grazing green leafy grasses (and the dormant grazing reserve during winter
grazing) will provide all the health benefits we look for in grass-fed beef.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty
acids often have opposing physiological functions (and evidence is emerging
that their ratio in the diet may be an important factor in human health).
Omega-3
fatty acids are produced by living green plant leaves. Omega-3's are important
to the healthy function of the brain,
(people are less likely to suffer from depression, schizophrenia, attention
deficit disorder, or Alzheimer's disease) in fact they play a role in every
cell and system in the body. Known as one of the "good fats" it has
been linked to lowering blood pressure, reducing heart attacks, fighting
depression and reducing cancer. It is estimated that only 40% of Americans consume an adequate supply of
omega-3 fatty acids.
When
we eat grass fed beef we help bring our entire diet back into
balance.
Omega-6-fatty
acids are found in seed heads of plants (grains) and vegetable oils. A diet too
rich in these Omega 6's has been linked to obesity, diabetes, immune system
disorders and cancer. Ideally, a 1:1 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids is ideal.
Grass
Fed Beef is three times higher in omega-3 fatty acids than grain fed beef,
making the fatty acid ratio in Grass Fed ideal for what our bodies require. Grass fed beef will have omega 6/omega 3 ratios of 2:1 or less while
beef finished for a few weeks on grain will have omega 6/omega 3 ratios of somewhere
around 10:1. Feedlot beef has omega 6/omega 3 ratios of over 20:1!
This is a huge difference.
CLA-Conjugated Linoelic Acid and Vitamin E`
Grass fed beef has about the same amount
of fat as skinless chicken, wild deer or elk, and like these other lean meats,
it actually lowers your LDL cholesterol.
The primary source of CLA in our diets
come from ruminant animals. Some is found in fish products, but is negligible
compared to beef and dairy products. Grass Fed Beef contains five times more
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and five times more Vitamin E than grain fed
beef.
CLA can help prevent cancer and also reduce cancer-cell growth. Grass fed beef
is higher in vaccenic acid (which can be transformed into CLA).
Vitamin E helps form red blood cells and is a powerful antioxidant that
protects cell membranes and other fat-soluble body tissues. Vitamin E also aids
in the prevention of heart disease and cancer.
Omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotene
(converted in our bodies to Vitamin A), CLA and Vitamin E are all produced in
living green plant tissues and are stored in the cow's meat and fat in forms
that our bodies can easily digest. When a cow's diet is supplemented with grain
while on pasture, the benefits of the grass-fed diet will be lost and the
omega-6 fatty acid content will be raised.
Vitamin A
Beta-carotene is 4 times higher in grass fed
pasture based beef. It is converted in our bodies to Vitamin A. Our bodies only
convert enough Vitamin A to meet its demands, therefore there is no fear of
too much Vitamin A.
Grass Fed Grain Fed Differences
Assuming that you eat a typical amount of beef (66
pounds a year), switching to grass fed beef could save you approximately 18,000
calories a year and if everything else in your diet stayed the same, you'll
lose about 6 pounds a year.
One of the main reasons animals are fed
large amounts of grain is that they grow fatter faster. Grain is a more
concentrated form of energy than grass and provides more starch and calories.
The net result of a high grain diet is fattier beef. Grass Fed Beef is four to
six times lower in fat than grain fed beef and contains only half the saturated
fat, making it as lean as poultry and wild game.
The reduced-fat content also makes it
significantly lower in calories than grain-fed beef. A six ounce beef loin from
a Grass Fed cow may have 92 fewer calories than a six ounce loin from a grain
fed cow. Grass fed beef is higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and
potassium.
Where Does Your Beef Come From?
Most beef from grocery stores comes from cattle finished on grain in high density feed lots. Feed lot operators can increase profits by increasing the rate of weight gain in fed cattle. Growth hormones and steroids are widely used by ranchers and feeders to increase weight gain rate and profit. Additionally, a consequence of high density feed lot operations is a very high rate of illness due to the numbers of animals penned up in a close environment. Antibiotics are used as a matter of routine to help stave off illness in feedlot operations. The result of all of this? All of these chemicals make their way in to your kitchen. The only way to be sure that your beef is safe, healthy and nutritious is to consume 100% All Natural Grass Fed Beef.