Grass Fed Beef Advantage: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Recent studies indicate that people with diets rich in Omega-3’s are less likely to have high blood pressure or irregular heart rhythms and are half as likely to die from a heart attack or stroke. They may also be less vulnerable to cancer.
The American diet is greatly deficient in Omega-3’s. Only 40% of Americans consume adequate levels of these essential fatty acids. These fats (EFA’s) are formed in the green leaves (specifically the chloroplasts) of plants. When an animal grazes on greens, its diet is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Pasture raised grass-finished beef has three to six times more Omega-3 fatty acids than grain-finished beef. However, every day that an animal is in feedlot confinement its reserve of Omega-3 fatty acids diminishes.
About midway through the 20th century Americans switched from eating grass-finished meat to grain-finished meat resulting in a diet that is high in saturated fat and low in Omega-3’s. The incidence of cancer and heart disease has steadily increased and has been confusingly attributed to eating beef. It is not the beef, but how it has been raised and fed, that is the culprit.
The Story About CLA
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is found in animal fat. Research is currently being conducted on this little understood nutrient. This research is already indicating that CLA consumption has the potential to reduce the risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and a number of other immune disorders. CLA converts body fat to lean muscle without the need for exercise. It seems to block an enzyme called “lipoprotein lipase” that moves fat from the blood into storage in the body’s fat cells.
It also enhances the action of another enzyme called “hormone sensitive lipase” that breaks down fat that is already deposited in the cells, liberating the fat to be used as fuel for nearby muscle cells. The net result is less fat, more fuel. Tests on grass-finished beef show that it has three to five times more CLA than commercial grain-finished meat.
Recently, I bought some grass-fed beef that emitted a strong odor when I cooked it. Actually, it had that odor before I cooked it but not as strong. Since I know grass-fed beef tastes different, I figured it made sense that it would smell different. This was not the first time I’d had GF beef, but it was the first time I’d experienced such a strong smell. It did not smell like spoiled beef. Rather, it smelled liked grass fed beef only way stronger.
Also, the top layer of fat on the roast looked like it had a thin layer of skin because the texture was unlike the fat beneath it. But, Upon serving it, my dog threw it up and my stomach didn’t feel quite right. I stopped eating any beef at all for a while.
Yesterday, I got my collection of beef bones from the freezer and proceeded to make beef broth. Then that strong odor started up again ( I had mixed the bones from the bad smelling beef with some from an earlier time and had forgotten to remove the offensive bones from the mix. This time, I threw the stuff out.
I don’t care for supermarket beef, but I’m not buying any more GF beef until I figure out what that odor was about. Do you have any ideas?
BTW, I love your site (it is so informative) and hope we can become a customer soon, but for now, I’m researching this issue for which I presently have no understanding. I’m sure you understand that a person who’s willing to spend extra $$$ to provide safe food for her family is going to be very attentive to issues of quality and how to recognize and avoid future problems.
Bette, I am trying to read between the lines of your email and if my understanding it correct, you did not purchase this meat from us, but from someone else. Consequently, it is VERY difficult for me to assess the problem. I could make some guesses, but they would be just that, guesses. What I can say is this – GrassRoots Meats produces great tasting meat and we stand behind our product. If you are dissatisfied with any purchase we want to know about it and will do whatever we can to remedy the problem. We would love for you to try our meat and become part of our growing family of satisfied customers.