Apart from good fats there is another food containing bad fat that one should avoid in the best way possible for a good health. Despite avoiding these fats, people are by consensus getting fatter increasing the trend for obesity. The major problem is that we are eating low fat foods and avoiding red meats like the plague.
In Chris Kresser’s article, He gives some amazing and interesting facts about Grass Fed Beef VS. Grain Fed Beef. After reading the article, one would change his or her approach towards some eating habits. People avoid buying grass fed beef because of high price and opt for grain fed beef and not because of health consideration. Moderation of any food items is essential for good health unless if you are currently struggling with heart disease or cholesterol issues, one should check with the doctor before making any nutritional changes. The statement “You are what you eat” relates to beef cattle as it does to humans. The content that the animal feeds on gives a significant difference on the quality of red meat.
Fatty Acid Composition
The ratio of saturated to monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fat in beef remains constant regardless of what the animal feed. Grass-fed beef have slightly lower levels of MUFA (Mono unsaturated fatty acids) and slightly higher levels of PUFA (Poly unsaturated fatty acids) than grain-fed. These differences depend on the breed of cattle. However, cow’s diet influences fats present such as within the fatty acids categories there are several of them with different chemical compositions, each having unique effects on the body.
Omega-3 and Omega-6
Omega-3 and omega-6, are both PUFAs. Research indicates that red meat contains unswerving levels of omega-6 although the diet grain-fed beef cannot crash one with omega-6 than what one can balance hence missing high levels of omega-3s in grass-fed beef.
Saturated Fat
The three main type of saturated fat in red meat include palmitic, stearic and myristic acid. Grass-fed beef contains a higher amount of stearic acid and low proportions of palmitic and myristic acid acknowledged for maintaining low levels of blood cholesterol.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a PUFA found in meat and milk products from cattle. Research indicates that CLA is a potent antioxidant protects one against diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Beef serves as one of the finest dietary source of CLA with grass-fed beef containing high quantities of CLA than grain-fed beef.
Antioxidants, Vitamins and Minerals
Grass-fed meat surpasses grain-fed since it contains more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Grain-fed beef does not contain significant levels of carotenoids because they lack them. However, cattle feeding on carotenoid-rich forage incorporate noteworthy quantities of carotenoid in their tissues hence they make yellow fat from grass-fed beef that is more nutritious. These antioxidants are important if one fries or grills meat because high-heat cooking methods damage meat than using wet or low-heat methods such as stewing or braising. In addition, grass-fed beef contains higher levels of the beneficial nutrients such as zinc, iron, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium.
Other Types of Red Meat
Research shows that milk and meat of grass-fed lambs is higher in conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 than that of grain-fed lambs. Despite price of meat being a concern, health issues should take the first priority. Grass-fed red meat is more nutritious than grain-fed even though it is more expensive. Grass fed beef is the route to follow to get its health benefits from the good fats it contains.
