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Common Sense Health Reasons For Choosing Grass Fed Beef And Pork

By Christopher Gibson


A large segment of the population is more actively aware of what is in the food they eat these days. Consumers who choose to eat meat are also paying attention what is in the animal products they put in their mouths. Many have decided that the extra cost is worth it and are choosing grass fed beef and pork for the health benefits and superior taste.

For some the difference between grain and grass fed hogs and cattle is confusing. Livestock raised in pastures and allowed a natural, foraging diet grow the way nature intended them to. They have less fat because they have free rein in the fields. Raising livestock this way is more expensive, and consumers should expect ranchers to pass those costs on to them.

The animals with pure grain diets are usually raised in facilities known as concentrated animal feeding operations. The purpose is to raise animals as fast as possible. CAFO cattle and hogs need antibiotics to ward off diseases that are rampant in such closely confined areas. In order to make them fat as fast as possible, handlers inject them with hormones. Because of this CAFO animals will grow a year faster than those in pastures, making it possible to get them to market quicker and money into the pockets of producers.

Pasture raised livestock will save you calories. Because they are raised naturally, they don't have the fat content of animals raised on grain. In addition the CAFO animals live in stressful conditions that increases cortisol levels, producing fattier meat. Nutritionists say that people who eat organic meat on a regular basis will save as much as seventeen thousand calories a year. That translates to about five pounds by making just one small change.

Meat from pasture raised livestock can help stabilize the level of a person's blood sugar. This is very important for people suffering from diabetes or heart disease. Low insulin sensitivity is one reason people have to inject themselves with insulin. Organic meat and dairy contain high levels of CLA, which is a fatty acid believed to keep weight off and maintain lean muscle mass.

CLA may also help fight cancers. Women who eat a diet that is rich in this nutrient are significantly less likely to develop breast cancer than those without. CLA is one of the only nutrients contained in meat that has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers. There is twice as much CLA in pasture raised livestock as in cattle and hogs raised on grain.

Meats from livestock raised in pastures have six times the healthy fats derived from Omega 3s as opposed to animals raised on grain. Omega 3s have been shown to increase a person's ability to focus and decrease the symptoms of depression. It can relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

It is important to understand what you are eating and where it came from. Choosing pasture raised pork and beef can be an expensive choice. It is also the healthiest.




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