Why Eat Grass-Fed Meat
New understanding of human nutrition is sweeping away many popular beliefs. Foremost among these beliefs is that eating red meat is bad for your health. Another is that fat is bad for you and can cause degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke and many other ills. These notions are being swept away by exciting new discoveries.
Have you ever wondered: “if red meat is so bad for you, then how come our anscestors ate fat and meat galore, but never had heart attacks or strokes”? Or “if fat is so bad for you, how come it tastes so good”?
Well the answers to all these questions is found in the type of fat one consumes. The type of fat in grain-fed beef and lamb (all grocery store meat is grain-fed) is indeed a large factor in many modern degenerative diseases. However, the type of fat found in grass-fed meat is not disease forming. On the contrary, it can actually reverse these processes.. Since World War II, the diet of farm animals has shifted away from grass-based forage, and more toward grains such as corn and soybean. The result is a totally different fat makeup in the meat itself, which also coincides with the current epidemic of poor public health.
A cow or sheep is designed to eat grass. Likewise, we are designed to eat grass-fed meat. The principle benefit in eating grass-fed meat is in the fat. Fats are made up of various kinds of fatty acids. There are two fatty acids that are found in grass-fed meat which are lacking in many Americans’ diets. When grain is fed to a cow or sheep, these fatty acids are significantly decreased. These two fatty acids are called omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. It is a vital part of our health for us to be eating enough of these fats in our foods.
Some of the health issues realated to the lack of Omega-3 fatty acids include: dyslexia, violence, depression, memory problems, weight gain, cancer, heart disease, eczema, allergies, inflammatory diseases, arthritis and diabetes. Since this fatty acid is an essential component in brain cells, a deficiency in this nutrient is no small matter.
Now regarding CLA, the primary benefit is in preventing various kinds of cancer. It is the most potent cancer fighting substance known to man. It also has been found to help in preventing diabetes and weight gain. Studies have shown that even small amounts of grain fed to a cow or sheep will drastically reduce the amounts of CLA found in the animal’s fat. Another interesting fact regarding CLA is it can only be found in the meat and products of ruminating animals such as cows, sheep and goats. Suprisingly, turkeys have it as well.
So before buying anymore meat consider your own health. Isn’t it worthwhile to switch to eating grass-fed meat?
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