Information on Grass-Fed Beef
Scientific studies have shown that grass-feeding is better for the cattle, the land, and the beef consumer. Each of the articles quoted below can be read in their entirety by clicking the name of the publication.
Health & Science
Over all, grass-fed beef comes out ahead, according to the report in the latest Nutrition Journal. Beef from grass-fed animals has lower levels of unhealthy fats and higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are better for cardiovascular health. Grass-fed beef also has lower levels of dietary cholesterol and offers more vitamins A and E as well as antioxidants. --Tara Parker-Pope, NY Times, 2010
Meat, eggs, and dairy products from pastured animals are ideal for your health. Compared with commercial products, they offer you more "good" fats, and fewer "bad" fats. They are richer in antioxidants; including vitamins E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Furthermore, they do not contain traces of added hormones, antibiotics or other drugs.---Eat Wild Website
- The cholesterol content of grass-fed beef has repeated been shown to be lower than the cholesterol content in beef from conventionally fed animals. The decrease in cholesterol that you are most likely to obtain when switching from conventionally fed to grass-fed beef is approximately 22–39%. Since a single 4-ounce serving of conventionally fed beef will typically provide you with 90 milligrams of cholesterol or more, and since the recommended limit from the American Heart Association is 300 milligrams per day (and only 200 milligrams if you are a person who has experienced heart disease or has an LDL cholesterol of 100 mg/dL or more), this 22-39% decrease in cholesterol from grass-fed beef could be very helpful to you in helping you keep your total cholesterol intake under the recommended limit.---The World's Healthiest Foods
As well as its nutritional advantages, there are also environmental benefits to grassfed beef. According to David Pimentel, a Cornell ecologist who specializes in agriculture and energy, the corn we feed our feedlot cattle accounts for a staggering amount of fossil fuel energy. Growing the corn used to feed livestock takes vast quantities of chemical fertilizer, which in turn takes vast quantities of oil. Because of this dependence on petroleum, Pimentel says, a typical steer will in effect consume 284 gallons of oil in his lifetime. --Food Revolution
Preparing & Cooking
Because grass fed beef has less [fat .....], the meat toughens much more rapidly and requires more careful cooking. This means it's essential to rely on a thermometer rather than timing when roasting to ensure you don't overcook the meat, and to avoid salty or soy sauce-based marinades, which will dry out the meat. --Deborah Krasner, Mother Earth News, June/July 2012
Tips for Cooking Grass Fed Beef---The American Grassfed Association
GRILLING GRASS-FED BEEF: HANDY TIPS AND TASTY RECIPES--Lynne Curry, The Oregonian
