Grass Fed Beef – Fitness Super Food #6
Grass Fed Beef 101: One of the most controversial healthiest foods in the world
Yes, it’s time to get to the truth about the nutrition benefits of pastured, organic, grass fed beef.
This is day 6 in our 12 day series showcasing the top 12 superfoods to help you with your fitness and nutrition goals.
If you’re new to the Live Lean mission, you may be surprised that I’m including red meat as a superfood.
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Meat is one of the most controversial foods in the nutrition world.
And I don’t blame y0u, because I once limited red meat consumption because of the misconceptions surrounding saturated fat, cholesterol., and heart disease.
However, all the latest research on beef, in particular, grass fed beef, has been shattering all the old and dated research.
You’ve heard it a million times, red meat is bad for cholesterol, will make you fat, and will give you a heart attack.
The most up to date research now shows that pasture-raised grass fed beef can actually help health markers such as improving cholesterol and reducing inflammation.
In fact, the simplest way to a complete diet filled with nutrition is through eating meat, lots of vegetables, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and some fruit.
Eat Meat. Not Fake Meat.
And when I say meat, I’m referring to the highest quality of all natural, unprocessed, grass fed beef.
I am not referring to the fake meat you find between two burger buns at your local fast food restaurant.
And that’s why meat continuously gets a bad wrap in the media and by other special interest groups.
The majority of the studies on beef, use the lowest quality, processed meat, which is always paired with refined and processed carbohydrates like buns and french fries.
No wonder meat gets a bad wrap.
When studies are done on the health benefits of vegetables, do you think they use deep fried onion rings?
No, they use the real thing, onions.
So yes, you should avoid processed, fake meat, just like you should avoid deep fried vegetables.
Grass Fed Beef Nutrition Benefits:
Grass fed beef is a high quality, complete protein, meaning it contains all the non-essential and essential amino acids.
This source of high quality protein also helps people build and preserve muscle, which is key to maintaining your metabolism, even when they’re following a lower calorie, fat loss diet.
Since grass fed beef is filled with protein, it’ll help keep you full, thus lowering the amount of calories, and binging, throughout the day.
In addition to the hormone friendly, muscle building protein, grass fed beef is also high in omega-3 healthy fats.
Yes, I said healthy fats.
Want to hear something even crazier?
The healthy fats in grass fed beef can actually improve metabolic function, thus helping you burn more fat.
Grass fed beef can also provide the body with the necessary nutrients for increased brain function and peak performance.
Pastured-Raised, Organic, Grass Fed Beef vs. Conventional Beef:
When possible, you should always opt for pastured, organic, grass fed beef over factory farmed meat.
Just like conventional vegetables can be less nutritious than organic vegetables, due to being sprayed with pesticides, the same can be said for beef.
Conventional beef may contain hormones, antibiotics, and have a lower nutrition value due to the animal being feed low quality food, and being raised in poor conditions.
Compared to conventional grain fed beef, grass fed beef is a higher quality meat that is superior in the muscle building amino acids and healthy fats, which can help with testosterone production.
The proportion of healthy omega-3s to inflammation inducing omega-6s is also much better in grass fed beef.
Here are many of the increased nutrition benefits of Grass Fed Beef:
- B vitamins: vitamin B12 and B6 for increased energy
- Omega-3 fats: improves brain health, insulin sensitivity, and reduces inflammation
- Carnitine: a nutrient that helps the body tap into stored body fat for energy
- CLA: helps increase fat burning and reduces inflammation
- Creatine: improves strength and anaerobic energy
- Glutamine: helps muscle recovery and has immune benefits
- Glutathione and Glycine: also helping boost the immune system
- Healthy minerals like zinc, selenium, phosphorus, and iron.
Portion and Prep in Bulk:
When I buy beef in large quantities, especially steak, I portion them out, typically the size of a deck of cards, then cut them up into serving sizes.
You can then cook the meat in bulk and store the leftovers in Tupperware for quick meals and snacks.
Or you can freeze the meat and use it later.
Bottom Line:
The quality of the beef (and any food) matters.
When possible, invest in organic, free range, grass fed beef.
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If budget is an issue, look for conventional beef that does not contain hormones and is raised on vegetarian feed.
Hopefully that cleared up some of the common misconceptions about eating red meat.
I personally eat grass fed beef pretty much every morning with my eggs for my first meal of the day.
Come back tomorrow for fitness superfood #7.
Get your Grass Fed Beef delivered to your doorstep (Free Shipping)
If you’re looking for an excellent source of grass fed beef that is more affordable and convenient (it’s shipped to your doorstep), check out my friends at FarmFoods.
When you click this link, you’ll also be hooked up with free shipping!
Winning.
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Brad Gouthro is the founder of Live Lean TV, a media company focused on helping men and women “Live Lean” 365 days a year. Brad’s programs and content have helped millions of people all over the world learn how to get in shape, and more importantly, sustain it for life.
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