Is Grass Fed Beef More Nutritious?
As someone who doesn’t eat a lot of red meat to begin with, I find it really interesting when I hear friends talk about buying half a steer that has been grass fed. Recently, a friend of mine checked into doing this and I decided it was time to learn more about the benefits of choosing grass fed beef over grain fed beef. Would it be healthier than what we find in the grocery? Can it be purchased for a reasonable price or would it be more than my budget can handle?
My search for information began with www.eatwild.com. This is a comprehensive website that is owned by Jo Robinson, an investigative journalist. There is a wealth of information available on the internet and it is all consistent with what I read on www.eatwild.com. After reading the information on what types of grains and “by product foodstuff” the cattle can be fed at the factory farms, it really turned me off. These animals are not meant to be fed low-fiber grains and it creates illnesses that must be treated with constant, low-level doses of antibiotics. The use of antibiotics in this manner is why we have so many drug resistant diseases today.
Benefits to Pasture Raised Beef:
- The animals are fed their natural diet. They do not need antibiotics since they are not eating the by-product foodstuffs.
- The meat is more nutritious and lower in fat, cholesterol and calories, which is why many people have declared red meat “off limits.”
- It allows family-owned farms to continue working rather than being pushed out by the big corporate farms.
- If you buy local, you are also supporting the local farmers in your community.
While the cost of pasture raised beef is more than what you will find in the grocery store, you will want to consider the whole picture. The health benefits are so much greater when you consume grass fed beef. Also, allowing the cattle to graze in grassy pastures, the manure that is created actually fertilizes and fortifies the soil and creates less ammonia and other gases than the factory farms. You can also look into buying in bulk and you may be able to save a few dollars and still be able to enjoy a healthy alternative to the factory raised beef we see in the grocery stores.
The www.eatwild.com website also provides a link that will help you find a local farm that you can purchase grass fed beef. It’s worth checking into to help support local farmers and to eat more nutritious beef. I know I’ll be looking into this option for my family.
Photo from www.eatwild.com.
