Striving4Zen

A diet high in red meat is just not good for us. But some people need to eat meat. If you're one of them, make sure you select grass-fed meat (not grain-fed or even worse!).

According to recent studies, grass fed cattle produce meat higher in beta carotene, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids than meat produced from cattle raised by conventional ranching techniques. Conventional ranching techniques means cows raised in lots and fed mostly corn and processed feed.

According to Michael Pollan's well known book The Omnivore's Dilemma, cows evolved to eat grass and roam around in pastures. When cows eat grass they are leaner animals and produce leaner meat, which translates into healthier protein for us. Corn creates fat marbled meat, but the corn also upsets the cows four stomachs. Which in turn, leaves cattle more prone to infections, hence the increase in antibiotics given to cows. Historically speaking, corn was not the major feed for cows until after WW II, which is relatively recent in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately, the label/term grass fed is not currently regulated by the USDA. Ranchers and farmers raising grass fed animals are lobbying hard to have the term regulated. So your best bet is finding a ranch close by that raises grass fed cattle. If you are interested in finding grass fed beef produced close to you - check out Local Harvest.

Thanks FitSugar!

Labels: beef, corn, eating healthy, Fat, grains, grass-fed, healthier, meat, Michael Pollan, organic farms, red meat

Did you know that there are different types of iron?

Iron is a mineral essential to all body cells and is linked with protein to form the hemoglobin that carries oxygen throughout your body. Although iron can be found in a variety of different foods, how well it is absorbed by the body is determined by whether it is in the form of heme or non-heme iron. Heme iron is found in fish, poultry and meats such as lamb. It is much more easily absorbed than the non-heme iron found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and nuts. A 4-ounce serving of lamb provides 15% of the daily value for this important mineral. And because lamb provides heme iron, it is easily absorbed and used by your body. Lamb is also a rich source of B vitamins, selenium and protein.

Select organically-grown lamb or grass-fed lamb whenever possible, it is much less likely to have been injected with the hormones so commonly given to beef, pork and chickens. One reason for this is because baby lamb are often still drinking mother's milk and what we usually call lamb is the pinkish meat from young animals that are usually only 5-6 months old (up to one year) so do not require the hormones that would help them grow into a large animal.

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Labels: grass-fed, healthy diet, heme iron, iron, lamb, meat, minerals