Grass-Fed Vs. Grain-Fed Beef: Which Is Better?
7 minute read
Grass-fed beef has become a popular trend in recent years, as more and more people are looking for organic options and are trying to cut down on processed foods or foods made from unnatural ingredients.
Grass-fed beef is an attractive option, because cows naturally eat grass, and so it seems like it would be a more natural alternative to grain-fed beef. However, like many issues when it comes to nutrition and labels, grass-fed beef vs. grain-fed beefs is not so black and white.
To that end, it’s important to examine some facts about grass-fed beef and grain-fed beefs, so you can make a more informed decision the next time you go to the store to buy groceries for you or your family.
Monounsaturated Fat
This is one area where grass-fed beef is actually inferior to grain-fed beef. Monounsaturated fats are one of the “good” fats that can help lower your potential risk of cardiovascular issues, and it can help preserve your body’s cells.
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Monounsaturated fats are an essential part of keeping your body functioning at a high level, and grain-fed beef contains much more of these fats than grass-fed beef.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
This is perhaps the area in which grass-fed beef contains the most benefits when compared to grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef contains far more omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef.
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So what are omega-3 fatty acids good for? Well, they can help your body with a wide variety of functions, including more energy, better digestions, and even better skin. These are powerful fatty acids that provide your body with good natural energy, so they’re a great reason to incorporate grass-fed beef into your diet.
Vitamin B
All beef is a good source of vitamin B, including both grass-fed and grain-fed beef. Vitamin B has been linked to a wide range of health benefits, including strong bones, better heart health, and improved metabolism.
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Keeping your body’s levels of B vitamins adequate is essential if you want to function at the highest level possible. Fortunately, all types of beef are rich in this particular nutrient.
So as long as you’re eating a reasonable amount of beef and not overloading, you’ll be doing your health a favor by loading up on vitamin B.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect your body against dangerous disease-causing “free radicals.” Free radicals are particles that can cause diseases, and they are produced naturally when your body breaks down food.
Because free radicals are so hard to avoid, your best strategy is to load up on antioxidants, which can help protect your body from these dangerous particles. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants you can give your body, and grass-fed beef is a great source of vitamin E.
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Unlike grain-fed beef, which contains significantly less vitamin E than grass-fed beef, grass-fed beef is a great source of this antioxidant.
If you want to give your immunity a powerful boost, vitamin E is a great way to do it, so you may want to turn tor grass-fed beef to increase your vitamin E levels.
Selenium
Another powerful antioxidant is selenium. This molecule has been shown to help with asthma symptoms, as well as protect against the “free radicals” mentioned above.
Fortunately, all beef is a good source of selenium, regardless of whether it is grain-fed or grass-fed. So if you’re eating enough beef in your diet, you can rest assured that your body is getting an adequate amount of selenium, which can be a huge help to your immune system.
Vitamin A
This vitamin can help with a wide range of your body’s functions. It’s especially good for helping bone tissue and muscle tissue grow and repair. To make sure you have strong bones and muscles, keeping a high level of vitamin A in your body is essential.
Grass-fed beef contains more vitamin A than its grain-fed counterpart, so this is just one more reason to choose grass-fed over grain-fed. Vitamin A has also been linked to healthier skin, as well as better eyesight. It has a wide range of versatile uses, so you should definitely make sure you’re getting enough vitamin A in your diet.
Zinc
Speaking of immunity, when it comes to your immune system, one nutrient that you definitely need is zinc. Zinc is a powerful immune booster, and it’s one of the minerals that most people don’t think of when they consider their nutrition.
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Beef is a great source of zinc, whether it’s grass-fed or grain-fed. If you are thinking about adding a regular dose of red meat to your diet, zinc is a great reason to do so.
Iron
Iron is essential to good heart health, as it can help your blood deliver oxygen throughout your entire body. Without enough iron, your blood will not be in good shape, and this can affect your entire body.
It can make you feel fatigued, can cause headaches and other health problems, and it can drag down your entire day. Fortunately, beef is very high in iron. This is true for both grass-fed and grain-fed beef.
Both are great source of iron, so if you’re looking to increase your levels of this nutrient, either type of beef would be a good option.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to eating grass-fed beef, but it isn’t necessarily better in every respect. Still, the health benefits of grass-fed beef may be worth it to you, if the increased price and availability aren’t a problem.
Depending on where you live and where you shop, it may be easier to find grass-fed beef than in other parts of the country. Still, it is worth considering a switch, as grass-fed beef has been shown to contain a few more important vitamins and minerals than grain-fed beef.
