Looking at Grass-Fed Beef

With the current health crazes, U.S. farmers are deciding to take their cattle back to old feeding methods: grass. Grassy pastures instead of corn are being fed to cows and touted as the healthiest way to eat beef. Ten years ago, there were only 50 grass-fed cattle farms in existence in the U.S. Today, there are over a thousand. The question is…is grass-fed beef the best choice?

Taste and Nutrition

When it comes to taste, there is a difference. Because grass-fed cattle are allowed to roam free, they build up muscle tone and the taste is more varied than a regular supermarket cut of beef. However, taste is a subjective test. What about nutrition?

Nutritionally, it is healthier to eat grass-fed beef. And here’s why: omega-3 fatty acids and less fat. As we mentioned above, when the cows are busy moving around all day they accumulate less fat. Leaner beef is better for our health.

Grass-Fed Beef has More Nutrition

Omega-3 fatty acids have been touted as heart-healthy and cancer preventing for several years now. Fish is one way to get those omega-3s, but beef can also be a viable omega-3 option. Grass-fed cows eat grass and clover filled with omega-3 fatty acids and recent studies from the Union of Concerned Scientists published findings that show grass-fed beef have nearly twice as many omega-3s as corn-fed beef.

Even with the omega-3 benefits, some people prefer to go with the corn-fed beef. It’s tastier to most and while the 35 milligrams of heart-healthy omega3s are great, you can get 1,100 milligrams of heart-healthy omega3s by eating salmon instead.

In the end, the choice is up to you. Balancing nutrition, cost, taste, and concerns for the health of the cattle must all be weighed individually. Find out what matters most to you and choose grass-fed beef or corn-fed beef accordingly.