There are many reasons to choose grass fed beef
over grain fed cattle. Open pasture cattle farms are better for the
environment. Methods of raising and slaughtering grass fed cattle are usually
much more humane. Unlike their feed lot
counterparts, grass fed cows are typically not given harmful antibiotics and
hormones.
Grain fed cattle raised at feedlots are also much
more likely to consume chicken manure, garbage and other waste products in
addition to the grain. Grass fed beef not only has more nutrients than grain
fed beef, but is less likely to have been exposed to unhealthy microbes, drugs
and contaminants.
Here are a few benefits of grass fed beef:
Source of healthy Omega 3s
Grass fed beef is not
only much leaner than the grain fed variety, it contains twice as many omega 3
fatty acids. These "healthy fats" are essential to human nutrition
and are even beneficial to cardiovascular health.
Lower Cholesterol
Grass
fed beef has lower levels of cholesterol than grain fed beef. High cholesterol
has damaging effects on the cardiovascular system and can increase the risk of
heart disease and heart attack.
Antioxidants
The amount of vitamin
A, vitamin E and other antioxidants in grass fed beef dwarfs that in grain fed
beef. These antioxidants play a critical role in fighting free radical cell
damage and protecting the body from cancer and age-related sickness and
disease.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Grass
fed beef has twice as many conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLAs), another
healthy fat, as regular beef. CLAs have anti-cancer properties and are believed
to lower the risk of developing diabetes. Higher intake of CLA is linked to
weight loss.
E. Coli
According to researchers at
Cornell University, cows fed a diet of grain have about 300 times more E. coli
bacteria in their stomachs than those fed a grass diet. E. coli obtained from
grass fed beef also has a greater tolerance to human acidic defenses and is
much more likely to make a person sick.
Antibiotic Resistance
Grain
fed cattle, especially those crammed into tiny feedlots, are extremely prone to
sickness and disease. For this reason, they are often fed copious amounts of
antibiotics to keep them alive and to stimulate their growth. Eating the beef
of these cattle can lead to antibiotic resistance in humans. Grass fed cattle
are far less likely to get sick or to be given any antibiotics at all.
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