Ruminant animals such as cows are well equipped to digest grass and turn it into protein. Cows are not, however, evolved to digest grain. Switching cows to a corn-heavy diet upsets their digestive system and increases the likelihood of acidosis acidified rumen , which can lead to heartburn, stomach ulcers and liver abscesses.
The vast majority of grain-fed beef comes from cattle raised in overcrowded feedlots without access to pasture, fresh air or exercise. Beef is an exceptional source of protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc. That doesn't change, whether it comes from grass-fed or grain-fed cows. The fact that grass-fed beef is higher in omega-3 fatty acids — or beta carotene — is irrelevant to me.
I get plenty of each in my usual diet. I add ground flax to oatmeal and smoothies, snack on walnuts with fruit, eat leafy green vegetables every day and throw in a sweet potato or two each week. I'm pretty sure I'm well covered. Still, grass-fed beef gets my vote. That's because grass-fed animals live a more humane and natural life than do grain-fed livestock confined in feedlots.
To me, that's worth spending a little extra money on. Whether you choose grass-fed or conventionally raised beef, don't overdo it. Heavy intakes of red meat are linked to a greater risk of colorectal cancer, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Do you have a question about nutrition? Chat with us on Twitter by mentioning goodhealth and CynthiaSass. Cynthia is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Yankees, previously consulted for three other professional sports teams, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics.
Connect with her on Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest. Here's Everything You Need to Know. Cynthia Sass. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team.
Meat from grass-fed animals has 2 to 4 times more omega-3 fatty acid then meat from grain fed animals. Grass-fed beef has an omega ratio of 0.
Omega-3's are good fat because they play a vital role in every cell in every system in your body. Of all the fats, omega-3's are the most heart-friendly. People who have enough omega-3's in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure or heart problems. Omega-3's are essential for your brain to operate at optimal levels as well.
People with a diet rich in omega-3's are less likely to suffer from depression schizophrenia, ADD and Alzheimer's disease. Meat and dairy products from grass-fed ruminants are the richest known source of another type of good fat called Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA. Beef products raised on grass and forage alone, contain from 3 to 5 times more CLA than those raised conventionally.
CLA may be one of our most potent defenses against cancer. In laboratory animals, a very small percentage of CLA reduced tumor growth. The constant feeding of antibiotics to feedlot cattle plays a large role in the spreading of staph, e-Coli and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
This was the first national assessment of antibiotic resistant S. DNA testing suggested that the major source of contamination were the food animals themselves. Grass fed beef is one of the most nutrient dense proteins on earth. It has a high micronutrient profile, much higher than grain fed beef. If you have ever eaten grass-fed beef, you may have noticed the yellowish tint of the fat from grass-fed meat after it cooks.
This indicates the presence of Carotenoids which are abundant in grass, especially quick growing green grass. Cows raised in pastures use fewer fossil fuels than cows packed into feedlots. When they are grass fed, cows maintain and fertilize the land they graze on themselves.
This leads to the increased biodiversity of pasture ecosystems and improved quality of run-off water. The rumen is always producing copious amounts of gas, which is normally expelled by belching during rumination. But when the diet contains too much starch and too little roughage, rumination all but stops, and a layer of foamy slime that can trap gas forms in the rumen. The rumen inflates like a balloon, pressing against the animal's lungs. Unless action is promptly taken to relieve the pressure usually by forcing a hose down the animal's oesophagus , the cow suffocates.
This obviously isn't good for the cows, and we're eating these cows so what are the consequences for us? Grain fed animals that are continually fed antibiotics to survive which leads to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. These are the "superbugs" that are increasingly rendering our "miracle drugs" ineffective. It is also the reason for the heightened prevalence of E.
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