Monday, March 26, 2012

Benefits of Eating Grassfed Beef

Double Check Ranch
My husband and I recently purchased half a pasture raised cow from a local Arizona Ranch called Double Check Ranch.  My husband had the opportunity to go himself to the ranch and pick up our order.  He and a friend got a little lost on the way in the middle of nowhere AZ but eventually found the ranch in this very scenic setting. (Winkelman, AZ)  Their operation is part of new breed of farms that's goal is to get back to the heart of raising animals humanely and healthy.  The cows are grass-fed at pasture from start to finish.  The herd is rotated from different pastures.  They do this the old fashioned way on horseback because their goal is to have stress free, happy cows.  They butcher and process the cows on their ranch as well.  This is important for the quality of the meat.  The cows are never put through the stress of transport to a slaughterhouse.  You are significantly reducing your families risk of food borne illnesses by buying pastured meat.  Feed-lot cattle are kept in poor conditions, are sickly, and are so cramped it's a wonder more illness doesn't spread.

There are many health benefits to eating grass-fed beef and other pastured meats.  Pastured animals contain a very healthy ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fats. Their ratio is almost 3:1 while the regular meat you buy at the local supermarket is a whooping 20:1. It is this very reason that red meat has such a bad rep. Diets rich in omega 3 fats nourish the brain and decrease your bodies inflammation. The typical modern diet is dangerously out of balance containing a high ratio of the omega 6 fats. A diet high in omega 6 fats causes chronic inflammation which will lead to arteriosclerosis and a myriad of other health problems. Our modern diet really is killing us. Grass-fed beef is rich in natural minerals and vitamins.  It's also full of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) a fatty acid that is almost nonexistent in feed-lot meat.  CLAs are anti-carcinogenic, and decrease the incidence of obesity, diabetes, and many autoimmune diseases . 

A Happy Calf at Double Check Ranch
For me and my family the choice is clear!  I really do believe including pastured meats in our diet is adding longevity to our lives!  For more information check out this video, U.S. Wellness Meats: The grass-fed Difference  The video is about 4.5 minutes long and summarizes the grass-fed difference nicely.
Double Check Ranch

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