As more people are choosing healthier lifestyles, eating the right foods has become a top priority. One area which has spawned renewed interest is grass fed meats. They are a great natural source of saturated fats. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits derived from grass fed meats.
Grass fed meats contains omega-3 fatty acids which are important in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. On the other hand, grain fed meats offer little in health benefits and studies have shown they contain none of the necessary vitamins and minerals found in grass fed meats.
Saturated fat in grass fed meats may lower cholesterol levels due to the stearic acid that is contained therein. What is stearic acid? Well, it is a saturated fat that can also be found in chocolate, believe it or not. It is also utilized in margarine and shortening. When converted, it turns into monounsaturated fat. This conversion is good news since studies have indicated that the fat has little if any effect on cholesterol levels.
While we normally produce cholesterol in our bodies, there are some individuals who inherently produce more than others. The omega-3 fatty acids in grass fed meats help lower these levels, and grass fed meat contains less fat and calories than grain fed meats.
With the high amount of omega-3 which is found in grass fed meats, you have a healthy alternative to grain fed meats. Conversely, in grain fed meats the amount of omega-6 fatty acid is greater. Individuals whose diet does not consist of a proper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 can be more prone to disease.
In the old days, livestock were traditionally grass fed. Unfortunately, today we find that most livestock are given grain and other food products to fatten them up. Cows, for example, are given corn which is not readily digestible. Thus, antibiotics have to be given to counteract the effects of these foods.
The recent outbreak of E. coli is a testament to the devastating effects of feeding corn to cows. Grass fed meat does not contain the E. coli bacteria.
It seems every time you listen to the news they are either telling you to eat meat or don’t eat meat. The fact of the matter is that the data collected from a myriad of studies and research shows that grass fed meat is a healthy alternative.