Lower Fat & Calories
Lower fat & calorie content: Grass-fed beef is lower in fat and calories than grain-fed beef. Our six-ounce steak from a grass-finished steer has one half to one third the amount of fat, and about 100 fewer calories than a six-ounce steak from a grain-fed steer. The average person eats 66 lbs of beef a year, so switching from grain-fed to grass-fed beef could save you from consuming approximately 18,000 calories. Assuming you change nothing else from your diet, you could lose about 6 lbs a year. Grass-fed beef has the same amount of fat as skinless chicken, wild deer or elk, and like these other lean meats it actually lowers your LDL cholesterol levels.
According to this study by Cambridge University, as our protein intake drops, our intake of junk food goes up. This is the idea behind protein leverage. Our bodies are seeking protein, but if we are largely presenting our stomachs with nutrient-poor, low protein options, we will over-eat calories. This, on top of the hyper-palatability of ultra-processed foods, is a recipe for disaster. The solution is to eat more real food, including nutrient-dense meat. Meat is not what's driving poor health, ultra-processed foods are.
Ultra-processed foods, protein leverage and energy intake in the USA Article.
Omega-3’s
Grass-fed beef is also higher in omega-3 fatty acids. These good fats are the most heart-friendly of all fats. It’s been shown that people with ample amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, and are 50% less likely to suffer a heart attack. They are essential for healthy brain function and reduce the risk of cancer. Studies show essential fats have slowed the growth of an array of cancers and also kept them from spreading. When cattle are taken off omega-3 rich grass and shipped to feedlots to be fattened on grain, they lose their store of beneficial fat. It’s estimated that only 40% of Americans consume an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids. Switching to meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals is one way to restore this vital nutrient to your diet. For more in depth information, click here.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
CLA is another “good fat” found in grass-fed beef, which contains three to five times more CLAs than conventionally-fed beef. One of the most potent defenses against cancer, studies show that women who had the highest levels of CLA in their diet had 60% lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels of CLA. Switching to grass-fed meat and dairy products reduces a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
Vitamin E
Grass-fed beef also contains Vitamin E. This potent antioxidant has anti-aging properties and is linked to lowering the risk of heart disease and cancer. Most Americans are deficient in this vitamin, so our healthy animals make for healthier people.
