Grass-Fed versus Grain-Fed Beef

Courtesy of New York Times

What’s the nutritional difference between beef from animals raised on grass compared with animals fattened in feedlots? New research from California State University in Chico breaks it down, reviewing three decades of research comparing the nutritional profiles of grass-fed and grain-fed beef. Over all, grass-fed beef comes out ahead, according to the report in the latest Nutrition Journal.

Beef from grass-fed animals has lower levels of unhealthy fats and higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are better for cardiovascular health. Grass-fed beef also has lower levels of dietary cholesterol and offers more vitamins A and E as well as antioxidants. The study found that meat from animals raised entirely on grass also had about twice the levels of conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, isomers, which may have cancer fighting properties and lower the risk of diabetes and other health problems.