If you’re following the ketogenic lifestyle, then you’re aware that it’s best to eat grass-fed meat. Some of the meats that are popular to eat among followers of the keto diet and other healthy diets are beef and lamb and even goat.
Keto being a high-fat and moderate protein type of diet, adding grass-fed meat to your meals is a good idea. Meat from commercially reared animals is not as healthy.
What Is Grass-Fed Meat?
Grass-fed meat is obtained from animals that were fed with good quality grass. The manner in which the animals are fed has a huge impact on the meat’s nutrient composition. Remember that when it comes to food, it’s important that you consider its nutrient component. As for the meat, the main difference between them is what the animals were fed.
The diet of commercially reared beef cattle includes corn, which may be genetically modified, and grains. The cows are fattened by feeding them with grain-based feeds that are made from the base of corn or soy. In some cases, their diet is supplemented with a small amount of grasses. According to an article from the HuffingtonPost,
Not all cows eat grass nowadays. More commonly, they eat corn. Cows have not been evolved to digest corn, but it’s become the basic feed of industrial agriculture livestock. And, most of that corn has been genetically modified.
Is Pastured Meat the same as Grass-fed meat?
I have to add a word or two about pastured meat because there can be some confusion between the two. Meat from pastured animals is not usually the same as grass -fed meat.
While pasture-raised animals receive a good portion of their nutrition from grass pastures, they may also receive supplemental grains and/or soy both during the grazing season and winter months. Its always best to check if you want to eat meat that has been entirely grass fed.
Benefits of Eating Grass-Fed Beef
We all heard of the saying, “you are what you eat”. This is also applicable to cows. As mentioned, what the cows and other animals eat will have a major effect on their meat’s overall composition, most especially the fatty acid composition.
Meat obtained from grass-fed cows usually has less fat compared to grain fed ones, which means that the meat has fewer calories. In fact, butter obtained from grass-fed cows can help with weight loss. Grass-fed beef also contains much less monounsaturated fat compared to grain-fed beef and comes with several heart-health benefits, such as the following:
• Less total fat.
• Contains more antioxidants and vitamins including beta-carotene, Vitamins A and E.
• Has 3 times more Omega 3 fatty acids, which is good for the heart.
• Loaded with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) that has anti-inflammatory and weight loss benefits.
Much grass-fed meat is also organic which means that the grass the animals eat is not sprayed with toxic pesticides.
Aside from the heart-health benefits stated above, the grass-fed meat also comes with other health benefits. As stated by Health.com,
“Grass-fed beef is also less likely to contain “superbugs”—bacteria that have become resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics—so it’s considered superior from a food safety perspective as well.”
Is It Worth the Cost?
Given the heart health benefits stated above, the grass-fed beef and other grass fed meat is definitely a much better option compared to other types of meat on the market. However, the biggest disadvantage is the cost. The meat is generally more expensive. But if you don’t mind spending a bit more, then it’s definitely worth giving a try.
It’s also worth noting that the meat has a slightly different flavor compared to what you may be used to. While others find it more delicious, there are some who find it unappetizing.
In the end, it’s important that you choose the kind of meat that you can afford and with a taste that you really like. Besides, going on a keto diet does not mean depriving yourself of delicious foods and spending beyond your means!
