THE BENEFITS OF GRASS-FED BEEF

Another way to improve your omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio is to

change to type of meat you are eating. Venison and other wild game meat that

live on grass type foods are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Until the modern

advent of '"industrial" meat production in the United States, cattle raised

in the "old days" grazed free-range on farms for 2- 3 years before being

slaughtered. However, 80+% of all beef currently found in supermarkets,

restaurants and fast food facitlities comes from cattle raised on giant feed

lots and fed corn to fatten them up. Combined with castration, estrogen

pellets and antibiotics, calves are turned into 1200 pound bulls in as little

as 9 months. Beef raised in this way will have an omega-3 to omega-6 fatty

acid ratio of 1:20 while free-range, grass-fed beef has been found to have a

ratio of less than 1:1! Grassfed beef actually has more omega-3 fats than

fish, which unfortunately these days has a great deal of mercury

contamination, including tuna fish.

By returning to the diet of our ancestors which included plenty of

saturated fat, very little vegetable oil (and therefore less omega-6 fatty

acids) as well as a beef intake high in omega-3 fats, one can within a few

months alter the type of fats found in all our cell membranes as well as

their functioning. The benefits of incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into the

cellular membranes of the heart muscle cells as well as the enothelum of the

arteries is profound. This will modify cell signaling and gene expression as

well as promote the production of beneficial prostaglandins while reducing

harmful clot-promoting thromboxanes. Coronary thrombosis/heart attack is

prevented and electrical stability created reducing arrhythmias.