What’s all the beef with beef?

It’s a strange world we live in, what’s even more strange is that some of the most heated arguments we get in with people are over what we eat or what we think is more right to eat. 

No matter what camp it is; carnivore, vegan, paleo, carb cycling…etc, etc, etc. Chances might be that whatever hill it is they stand on, they’re willing to die on it. 

When it comes to beef, it’s not a lot different. I’m sure by now you’ve heard someone say something equivalent to “I only eat grass-fed beef”. Well, what does that really even mean? Have you asked them why before? If you have, they might have told you that it’s because it’s less fatty than grain-finished beef and it’s better for you.  Then maybe you felt obligated to look for that fancy “Grass-Fed” label the next time you went to buy your meat because well, you want to eat healthy. 

Yet another thing to be stressed about with your food, greatttt, right?? Maybe not so much.

Let’s just start with the basics.

First off, Grass-Fed is a blanket term, more or less it’s fancy marketing. All grass-Fed means is that the animal spent part of its life on grass, it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t finished with grain or corn. What I mean by “finished” is what that animal spent the last bit of its life eating before it’s harvested. Often, grass-fed animals still are finished on grain, corn, or barley or a mix of.

Grass-finished beef is, just like I mentioned above, the animal eats grass its entire life. What you might have heard is that grass finished beef is better for you because it’s lower in fat, or that it’s higher in omega-3 fatty acids, than conventional beef. Which isn’t false, but it is exaggerated. The amount of meat you’d have to eat in order to gain the benefit of the omega-3 fatty acids from grass-fed beef is close to about 8lbs of meat and the benefits at that point would not be worth the overall calories and frankly, the discomfort you’d have after that. 

On the topic of the fatty profile of each, grain-finished beef is actually higher in monounsaturated fat (MUFA) , the same fat found in avocado oil or olive oil. Recent studies even show that the higher MUFA content of grain-finished beef can help increase plasma HDL cholesterol content among beef consumers.

Otherwise, nutritionally speaking, the differences between the two versions of beef are minute. Beef in general, is a nutrient dense food that packs an almost unbeatable punch of 10 different nutrients including: iron, zinc, B12, riboflavin, niacin and the big one, protein. 

The alternative argument for grass fed beef is that it’s more ethical or a more sustainable option. Again, not necessarily false, but exaggerated. It can be argued that grain-finished beef actually has a lower carbon footprint because the cattle reach harvesting weight quicker and at a younger age. However, grass-finished cattle can contribute to sustainability by using forage from grasslands that sequester carbon and increase those carbon stores in the soil. But at the same time so do most grain-finished cattle, as they also spend a majority of their lives on grasslands.

If you have experience eating both grass finished and grain finished, you may also have a flavor preference. I personally prefer the flavor of grain-finished beef and the marbling that comes with it, but many people prefer the leaner flavor of grass-finished. 

The point of this newsletter is this; both versions of beef are absolutely great! Choose what is the best option for you, what you can afford, your family, and your flavor preferences. All versions of beef you find in the store are safe and nutritious! The labels you see slapped on the meat you buy is marketing, which is fair to an extent, every brand/company has to stand out so consumers will choose them over others. However, it’s often extreme and at best, unnecessary. For example, “antibiotic free” or “hormone free”, all beef, all MEAT is antibiotic and hormone free, it has to be in order to be USDA approved and sold in stores. Maybe we’ll get into that topic in the next newsletter, but the moral of the story is this: don't get caught up in the fancy labels, or the fear mongering from your local carnivore diet advocate. 

Beef is a safe, nutritious, healthy protein option and per oz has more protein than any other meat source. Simple as that.