What is Grass Fed Beef and How Is It Better?

Grass fed VS Grain fed!

When you’re enjoying a hearty steak or some savory beef stew, you may not be too concerned about whether the beef in your meal has been grass-fed or grain-fed. But a study has shown that there are indeed more benefits of eating grass fed beef than its grain-fed counterpart.

Grass fed beef is taken from cows who eat only grass and other leafy greens, as opposed to grains. As cattle are biologically wired to eat greens, incorporating grains into their diet changes their physiology, and in turn the quality of their meat. The so-called “grains” fed to cow are oftentimes a slurry of different products, from soy and soy hulls to candy wrappers!

How does exclusively feeding cows grass affect the content of their meat?

Less Fat but Better Fat!

Grass feeding cattle helps improve the fat profile by elevating the omega-3 fatty acid content in the meat1. Omega-3s can help reduce the risk of cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells and lowers the risk of developing mental disorders like depression, schizophrenia, ADD, and even Alzheimer’s disease2.

Grass fed beef is closer in fat content to wild game such as elk, antelope and deer3 making it a better choice for paleo/primal diets. It also contains up to five times more Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which has been shown to help reduce body fat mass in people who are overweight or obese4.

So the next time you’re looking for the perfect sirloin or rib eye for your meal, opt for the grass fed variants to get a healthier and delicious product, not to mention peace of mind!

Keep in mind though, since grass fed beef is lower in fat in comparison to a grain fed, opt for a fattier cut of steak to get all the benefits of the omega 3 rich fats! After all, if the benefits are in the fat, go for the fat! The best choices for those on a low carb/keto diet are rib eye, filet mignon, T-bone, porterhouse, strip or skirt steak which are all high in fat and absolutely delicious.