For years, a common item of popular wisdom in dietary science has been that red meat should only be eaten in very small amounts. Healthcare professionals cited concerns around fat levels and number of calories, and suggested that too much red meat could lead to heart disease.
While there is no question that red meat, like many other things, is best enjoyed in moderation, it is also true that many of the less salutary side effects associated with red meat are seriously exacerbated by the industrial farming methods used to raise most beef cattle.
Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what their food eats, but a good diet is just as important for livestock as it is for humans. Unfortunately, the vast majority of cattle raised in North America are fed a diet that is meant to add pounds quickly, rather than produce nutritious beef.
As consumers have become more health-conscious, however, more and more of them have turned to grass-fed beef from companies like truLOCAL that specialize in high quality sustainably raised meats. Beef raised on pasturage as opposed to grain is a more natural alternative, and one that has many health benefits.
For people who want to be able to enjoy red meat but also want to build a healthy diet, there are many benefits of eating grass fed beef — grass-fed beef is leaner, tastier, and more nutritious, and swapping out grain-fed beef for grass-fed means you can enjoy more of it without increasing your risk of heart disease. In fact, there are many ways in which grass-fed beef contributes positively to a healthy diet. Here are three of the most significant:
- Grass-Fed Beef Is Rich In Omega-3 Fatty Acids: For many North Americans, fat has universally negative associations. But the truth is that not all fats are created equal, and some types of fat play a central role in a healthy diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential building block for cell tissue, and without them the human body cannot function.
- Grass-Fed Beef Contains Essential Nutrients: When beef cattle are raised eating grass, their meat is richer in vitamins A and E, and is also loaded in antioxidants, which are essential for fighting cancer.
- Grass-Fed Beef Is An Essential Source Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may not have the name recognition that omega-3 fatty acids have, but it is equally important to a healthy diet. CLA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that plays a key role in helping reduce weight gain, enhance muscle tissue, and reduce the risks of cancer.
Eating well means building a diet around foods that are good for you, but for it to be successful, it also needs to be enjoyable. Eating should never be a chore, and it is important to ensure that you enjoy the food you are eating, as it will reduce the risk of unhealthy junk-food binges. For this reason, switching over to grass-fed beef can be a great way to improve your diet while still getting to eat your favourite dishes.
See my disclaimer.
