subject: The Benefits Of Grass Fed, Organic Beef [print this page] Those purchasing tender, delicious beef may not realize that odds are high that the cattle were fed with grass. The advantages of using natural foods like grass are far superior to cattle which eat a variety of foods which are often heavily laced with chemicals. Believe it or not, there is research going back hundreds of years which indicate that grass fed cattle are a far healthier choice than buying beef made from cattle who ate diets which were often high in chemicals.
Even so, consumers have to be careful when selecting meat. Unless they go out of their way to make sure that they are buying meat from producers of grass fed cattle, they could be in for a shock. If one thinks the differences between the two feeding methods have tiny effects on consumers - think again. Research in nutrition journals has shown that cattle who eat solely grass result in beef which have less fat. This is an important factor in having a healthy heart. This isn't a minor health issue but directly tied to premature heart attacks and early heart disease.
Certainly those who track cholesterol benefit from the peace of mind of this choice, but low fat is not the only advantage. Other research suggests that vitamins A, E and other nutrients may be more plentiful in the grass fed beef.
Taste is another major factor in the foods we choose to eat. To that end, grass fed beef also rallies. Those who eat grass fed beef often report that it tastes better than the alternatives. Not only is the taste improved, but the amount of unhealthy chemicals is drastically reduced. While research in these areas is still ongoing, a growing body of evidence suggests that the extra hormones given to beef cattle may be responsible for the earlier onset of puberty in children, and other hormonal changes in young adults.
True, chemical use may result in a beef product which is high in fat and believed to be more desirable by consumers. In fact, this practice was begun by beef producers to cut costs, not to promote the health of the consumers. As such, it is necessary to be proactive in selecting healthy beef for a good diet, as this focus on cutting costs comes at another, that to your health.
As grass fed cattle are allowed to graze on healthy, organic land, they also live less stressful lives. This lack of stress translates into tastier beef. They are also given fewer hormones and antibiotics in addition to those required by law, and who wants to eat these? These are not only unnecessary, but may do far more harm than good to consumers. The quantities that are administered usually are also far less than are given to chemically-fed cattle.
One major concern with antibiotics is that of acquired resistance to the medications. When the cattle given these excess antibiotics acquire resistance, diseases will spread far more rapidly, and some of these diseased cattle may be made into beef. This will result in higher beef recalls and greater risk to customers. This is far less likely to occur with grass fed cattle, and the meat tastes better besides, making it a win win situation for consumers.
