Grass Fed Animal Products Have Higher Omega 3s and Vitamins

By JULIE - 6:50:00 PM

Grass fed animals products, actually have less bad fat, more good fat (omega 3),more vitamins, and less calories.  Who knew?

Benefits of Pasture Raised Meat

Grass-fed beef is better for human health than grain-fed beef in ten different ways, according to the most comprehensive analysis to date. The 2009 study was a joint effort between the USDA and researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina. Compared with grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef was:
  1. Lower in total fat
  2. Higher in beta-carotene
  3. Higher in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
  4. Higher in the B-vitamins thiamin and riboflavin
  5. Higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium
  6. Higher in total omega-3s
  7. A healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (1.65 vs 4.84)
  8. Higher in CLA (the good fat), reduces weight, and prevents heart disease and cancer. In animal studies, very small amounts of CLA have blocked all three stages of cancer: 1) initiation, 2) promotion, and 3) metastasis. Most anti-cancer agents block only one of these stages. What's more, CLA has slowed the growth of an unusually wide variety of tumors, including cancers of the skin, breast, prostate, and colon. Ip, C., J. A. Scimeca, et al. (1994). "Conjugated linoleic acid. A powerful anticarcinogen from animal fat sources." Cancer 74(3 Suppl): 1050-4.
  9. Higher in vaccenic acid (which can be transformed into CLA)
  10. Lower in the saturated fats linked with heart disease
S.K. Duckett et al, Journal of Animal Science, (published online) June 2009, “Effects of winter stocker growth rate and finishing system on: III. Tissue proximate, fatty acid, vitamin and cholesterol content.” 

chickens Eggs from Pastured Hens are far Richer in Vitamin D

Eggs from hens raised outdoors on pasture have from three to six times more vitamin D than eggs from hens raised in confinement. Pastured hens are exposed to direct sunlight, which their bodies convert to vitamin D and then pass on to the eggs.
 Vitamin D is best known for its role in building strong bones. New research shows that it can also enhance the immune system, improve mood, reduce blood pressure, combat cancer, and reduce the risk of some autoimmune disorders. 
This latest good news about eggs comes from a study just released by Mother Earth News.  The editors found that eating just two eggs will give you from 63-126% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin D.
 This benefit comes only from hens that are free to graze fresh greens, eat bugs, and bask in the sun. Most of the eggs sold in the supermarket do not meet this criterion. Even though the label says that the eggs are “certified organic” or come from “uncaged” or “free-range” hens or from hens fed an “all-vegetarian” diet, this is no guarantee that the hens had access to the outdoors or pasture.
Look for eggs from “pastured” hens. You are most likely to find these superior eggs at farmer’s markets or natural food stores.

The Dr Oz Show talks about the Omega 3 and 6 imbalance.

While I was aware of this already, I'm so glad to see him talking about it.  This helps explain why it is so important to eat organic animal products.  Plant based Omega 3's (ALA Omega3) are not easy for our bodies to digest, so we retain only a small amount of it.  While EPA and DHA (animal based) Omega 3's we get the full benefits of.  What was a high amount of EPA and DHA Omega 3?  Salmon, and Cod.  What has more Omega 6 then 3?  Farmed fish including salmon, (they dye farmed salmon pink.  The pink color comes from eating krill which is high in Omega 3's and other good stuff).

Good Sources of EPA and DHA Omega 3's


  • Wild caught (not farm raised) sea food (cod, Salmon, Halibut, Tuna, etc.)
  • free range organic eggs
  • grass fed meat
  • Krill oil (it has other added benefits too)

You can watch it here:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/know-your-omega-fatty-acids-pt-1
Click Here For More Of Our Health News Articles

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2 comments

  1. I really enjoyed your post about all of the health benefits of grass fed beef. I have recently made the switch and if I had all of this good information, I would have done so sooner. The biggest problem I have is that it isn’t that readily available in my area. Does anyone have any suggestions of where I can get grass fed beef? I have been ordering my Grass Fed Beef online at La Cense Beef. They are great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Do you have any co-ops, CSA's (community supported agriculture), or farmer's markets in your area?
    You can search for CSA's in your area @ http://www.localharvest.org/csa.
    You can also check
    http://www.eatwild.com/products/index.html
    for grass fed animal products in your area.

    These would be your best options. You might even want to check out where your local small grocery store gets there meat. We often shop for our meat at a small local grocery store in Coon Rapids, MN called Jenson's, because they get their meat from a local small farm and it's cheaper then we can find it at the co-ops and farmer's market. I hope that helps! Glad to see someone else is converting too!

    ReplyDelete

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