Benefits of Switching to Grass Fed Red Meat

Benefits of Switching to Grass Fed Red Meat

Studies show that red meat might cause certain types of cancer. Steaks, hamburgers and other types of red meat could raise women’s risk for a type of breast cancer that is linked to estrogen. The high content of saturated fat in red meat might cause weight gain in those who eat it frequently. If you really enjoy red meat and can’t give it up you are better off choosing grass fed beef. The difference between grain fed animal products and grass fed is dramatic. Grass fed products are much lower in total fat and calories. If you eat a typical amount of beef (66.5 pounds a year), switching to grass fed beef will save you 17,733 calories a year! If everything else in your diet remains constant, you'll lose about six pounds a year. If all Americans switched to grass fed meat, our national epidemic of obesity would begin to diminish. Grass fed beef also provides you with a good source of fat called Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are found in seafood and certain nuts and seeds such as flaxseeds and walnuts, but they are also found in animals that are grass fed. This is due to the fact that Omega-3s are formed in the chloroplasts of green leaves and algae. Sixty percent of the fatty acids in grass are omega-3s. When cattle are shipped to a feedlot to be fattened on omega-3 poor grain, they begin to lose their store of this beneficial fat until it is all gone. Omera-3 fatty acids are shown to help prevent certain types of cancer.