If you are trying to eat healthier, you may have considered purchasing more organic foods and meat. However, the higher cost of this type of food has some people wondering whether it is actually worth the extra money. In the case of grass-fed meat, it isn't all hype and marketing gimmicks, as this type of meat does have both nutritional and environmental benefits over conventional meat.
Health Benefits
Because grass-fed cows eat only grass, and aren't mainly raised or finished on grains, the meat actually has a different nutritional composition than conventional beef, including more vitamins and a different fat profile. Grass-fed beef has less fat overall, less omega-6 fats and more omega-3 fats, which are the most heart-healthy type of fat. It also contains more vitamin E, more beta carotene and more conjugated linoleic acid, which may lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity, according to the University of California. Additionally, the animals are not as crowded together and are more humanely treated. Grass-fed meat is also processed separately from conventional meat, so there is also less risk of getting E. coli food poisoning.
Environmental Benefits
Grass-fed meat animals rely on grass forage, so less fertilizer and pesticides are used to produce their food than with conventional animals who eat corn and soy. Raising animals this way also causes less flooding and soil erosion, as the soil is made more fertile and manure is handled in a more sustainable manner. This keeps the ecosystem more diverse and healthier, according to an article published in the magazine "Mother Earth News" in 2009.
Considerations
Grass-fed meat can be difficult to find, as in some areas it is only available in specialty stores or through mail order. Grass-fed meat lets you continue to eat red meat without as much of a health risk as with conventional meat. Unfortunately, it is a lot more expensive than conventional meat. However, if you want to eat healthier, you can make up for the more expensive price tag by eating meat less often.
Recommendations
Regardless of whether your eat grass-fed meat or conventional meat, you should try to stick with cuts that contain less than 10 percent fat, according to MayoClinic.com. Red meat consumption may increase your risk of dying from heart disease or cancer, so you should try to limit your consumption to once or twice a week, advises a 2009 article in "The New York Times."
References
- "Mother Earth News"; The Amazing Benefits of Grass-Fed Meat; Richard Manning; April/May 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Grass-Fed Beef: What Are the Heart-Health Benefits?; Martha Grogan, M.D.; January 2010
- University of California: Agriculture and Natural Resources; New Website Outlines Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef; Jeannette Warnert; November 2003
- "The New York Times"; Paying a Price for Loving Red Meat; Jane E. Brody; April 2009
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