Grass-Fed Meat: Feel the Difference

Here at the Old Dutch Cupboard, we have a wide selection of grass-fed meats available. However, you may be wondering: what’s the difference between conventional grain-fed beef versus grass-fed/grass-finished beef? And what do those terms imply? In this post, we’ve consulted with www.perfectketo.com to provide you with some facts of the matter.

First off, it is important to remember that the terms “grass-fed” and “grass-finished” are not regulated by the USDA, so farmers are not required to meet specific standards in order to label their meat as grass-fed or grass-finished. Therefore, some farmers raise their livestock as grass-fed during the warm months, then once the weather turns cold and there is not much grass to be grazed outside, they will supplement the livestock’s diet with corn or soy-based feed. This meat can technically be labeled as grass-fed, even though the livestock was not solely grass-fed.

In order to find meat that has most likely been completely grass-fed, look for packaging that states that the livestock was grass-finished. (We say “most likely” because, again, “grass-finished” is not a USDA-regulated term). These farmers feed their livestock alfalfa during the colder months when they cannot graze on grass.

Also, if you want to be assured that the meat you are purchasing was grass-fed, look for an AGA (American Grassfed Association) stamp on the meat’s packaging – this is a certification that “guarantees the animals never received antibiotics or hormones and were never fed grains.” Another thing to remember is that grass-fed/finished does not equal organic. Organic is a USDA-regulated term and means that the grass or grain that the livestock was fed was not treated with any pesticides and did not contain any GMOs. If you want your meat to be organic, make sure it has the USDA certified-organic symbol on the packaging.

Now to dive into some of the many health benefits of choosing grass-fed meat! The www.perfectketo.com website lists several ways in which a diet containing grass-fed beef can improve a person’s health. We’ll list them here, but don’t hesitate to visit their website for more details!

• Grass-fed beef is lower in fat content.
• Consuming grass-fed beef supports healthy blood sugar levels because it contains high amounts of CLA, a fatty acid that promotes insulin resistance. CLA also helps prevent cancer and heart disease.
• Grass-fed beef contains high levels of beneficial electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, and sodium.
• It is also high in Omega-3, which is a fatty acid that helps decrease inflammation, curb depression, lessen your risk of heart disease, and promote focus.

Stop by the Old Dutch Cupboard to browse our selection of grass-fed meats. We carry Lancaster Farm Fresh, Swiss Villa, Breakaway Farms, and more!

Source: https://perfectketo.com/benefits-of-grass-fed-beef/