Grass fed meat costs much more than grain fed. Is the expense worth it? Let take a look at the grass fed meat health benefits and why it is worth the cost.
My father hunts frequently so there is always a plethora of game meat in the freezer. Recently, I moved into a rental house and figured out a way I could make my grocery bill cheaper. The way? Help clear out my parents freezer.
Besides breakfast, many of my meals involve deer meat. How have things been boding for me? Absolutely great. I have more energy. I’ve lost fat and gained muscle in its place. I used to eat grain fed burgers, chicken, etc. It is still good for you, but the nutrient content does not compare to grass fed animals. Let’s examine a few of the grass fed meat health benefits to help convince you to make the switch!
Grass Fed Meat Health Benefits
Grass fed animals contain much fewer fat than their grain fed counterparts. What does this mean? This entails that grass fed animals are lower in calories. On average, the average grass fed 6 oz steak has 100 fewer calories than grain fed animals. If you consistently eat fewer calories each time you eat meat it will reduce your caloric intake in the long run. Eating grass fed animals will reduce your yearly calories by 17,733 calories which correlates to six pounds less. If you keep a consistent diet you will begin to lose weight by doing nothing!
Omega-3 fats, known as good fats, are absolutely critical to every cell in your body. Meat from grass fed animals has two to four times more omega-3 fatty acids than grain fed counterparts. Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for heart and brain health in particular. People who consume Omega-3’s have shown to have reduced chances of depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder (hyperactivity), or Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition to having more Omega-3 fatty acids, grass-fed meat and dairy products are rich in conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. Food from animals allowed to roam in pastures typically have three to five times the CLA in than eating products made from animals fed regular diets. CLA is stored in the fat cells so fatty meats have the most CLA. Benefits of CLA include fighting off cancer, combatting asthma, and reducing risk for heart disease.
Another benefit of eating grass fed animals is they are high in Vitamin E. Vitamin E is critical to keeping a healthy immune system. It is also important to keeping red blood cells strong. Studies show that a large portion of the US population is deficient in Vitamin E. This means that you could benefit from eating grass fed animals to quench a potential deficiency.
Grain fed animals are also full of the bacterial infection staph. Due to the high density and low nutrient count in grain fed areas, the staph infection spreads quickly among animals. As staph infects the population it makes conventional medicine difficult to use. Staph is becoming immune to antibiotics. This means when people are infected doctors are left with few options. Or, pharmaceuticals find the need to make stronger drugs.
The benefits of eating products from grass fed animals are numerous. Make the smart move and switch to meat and dairy products made from grass fed animals. They are healthier for you and may reduce your risk of chronic illness.
Grass fed meat may also help you lose weight. Bison meat is also a good alternative. And if you want to enjoy these as jerky, learn how to dehydrate food in an oven.