No – we’re not talking about you eating more grass – but selecting beef from cows that are grass fed. Most beef you buy in the supermarket is raised for the first part of their live on pasture land aka grass, but then is significantly fattened in their last few months in often crowded pen-based living conditions and fed a mixture of feed made from grains, soy, and many other ingredients.
This feed is often engineered to be cheap for the farmers, may contain antibiotics to guard against disease under crowded living conditions, could contain growth hormones – and is all oriented towards a high meat density and more profits for the cattle industry.
This type of “modern” cow rearing and beef production started taking root in the early 1930s. Cows went from having free access to pastures, grass, sunshine, and exercise to crowded pens with feeding troughs.
Some calculations estimate that adding synthetic hormones to a cow costs approximately $1.50 and results in “artificially” adding 40 or more pounds to the weight of a cow by the time it reaches slaughter – a return over over $25 per cow.
Many modern diet approaches, such as the Diet Solution Program, explain the nutritional differences and health concerns raised in eating beef raised in conditions like the above versus more natural beef that has grazed on natural grass its entire life – without any added synthetic hormones or antibiotics, and without being fed a diet that is unnatural and produces changes in the nutrient and fat density of the meat you’re eating.
Comparing grass fed beef to conventionally raised, mass produced and hormone/antibiotic beef, you can quickly see some major differences – all of which have an impact on your overall health:
Higher Omega 3 acids and improved Omega 3 versus 6 rations, considered almost ideal relative to what we think our bodies evolved on
Less than 10% of its fat is saturated fat – the meat is naturally leaner
Almost ideal Omega fatty acid ratios, based on the latest research (which ironically is based on what we used to eat)
Higher levels of key nutrients including Vitamin E and Vitamin A
Lower risk of mad cow disease which has been associated with modern feed practices that may include animal byproducts
Three to five times higher in CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) content.
Higher levels of Vitamin E
This list could go on for 2 more pages. The good news is it is getting easier to find grass raised beef in organic grocery stores such as Sprouts and Whole Foods. Many ranches across the nation now also advertise online and will ship frozen pre-butchered grass fed packages to your house.
While costs will be slightly higher than mass produced beef, the nutritional benefits, not to mention the richer taste, make it worthwhile. Grass fed beef should be part of your healthy diet solution program.
Grass fed beef is all part of trying to implement the caveman primitive diet which takes our bodies back to what they evolved on. You’ll learn key facts such as why meal plans are essential to your eating habits.


May 20th, 2012
Russell Tuckerton