The meat industry has evolved to produce cheaper meat and greater quantities of it. Now, if you are not careful what kind of meat you buy, it is likely to be grain-fed.
Generally speaking, grain-fed animals aren’t just fed grains—this is a misnomer—they are also fed by-products and steroids so they will grow faster and bigger. They are injected with antibiotics and hormones, which are stored in their bodies. The obvious results are not only more profit for cheaper meat, but also animals with unnatural diets and health problems that can filter into the people who eat the meat.
Grass-fed animals are cared for much differently. More and more ranchers and consumers see the need for grass-fed animals. These farmers do not feed their animals extra chemicals, steroids, and by-products. Additionally, these animals are living a stress-free life, outside of cages. The animals roam freely and eat the food they are meant to eat, their natural diet.
Here are a few top reasons why you should be buying grass-fed meats for all your summer cookouts:
- Buying Grass-fed is a more sustainable option. According to a 12-year study done by the USDA, moderately grazed grasslands contain more carbon stored in the soil than those that have sat undisturbed. “Stored carbon increases the fertility of the soil and slows global warming.”*
- Grass-fed beef contains a higher concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids (the good fat) and lower concentration of Omega-6 fatty acids. Because of the natural grazing, it’s also higher in CLA, antioxidants, and trace vitamins and minerals. For the consumer, this means a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and more.
- Eating grass-fed meat is a part of “eating wild,” or choosing present-day foods that include “the nutritional content of wild plants and game—our original diet. Evidence is growing on an almost daily basis that these wholesome foods give us more of the nutrients we need to fight disease and enjoy optimum health.”**
- Unless labelled organic, the grains being fed to the livestock are genetically modified. GMOs have been engineered to be herbicide-resistant, and therefore require increased use of toxic herbicides year after year. These plants cross pollinate causing permanent contamination linked to a rise in allergies, learning disorders, digestive disorders, reproductive disorders and more.
- Last, but not least, it tastes better! If you have never bitten into a juicy grass-fed burger, you are missing out. While taste preferences aren’t unanimously rooted in science, we encourage you to try it for yourself.
Whatever kind of meat you choose—beef, pork, or chicken—steer clear of antibiotics, hormones, and when given an option, always choose grass-fed. Now scrub off your grill and get ready to barbecue! And remember, you are what you eat!
http://www.agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2011/mar/soil
http://www.eatwild.com
