When I buy beef labeled as grass-fed, does that mean it’s more nutrient-dense & healthy?
No.
Why does choosing nutrient-dense food with my dollar matter?
The term “Grass-fed beef” describes meat from cattle that ate grass at the beginning of their lifecycle
“Grass-finished beef” comes from cattle that ate nothing but grass and forage for their entire lives.
“Grass-fed beef on the other hand, may be used to label meat from cattle that werestarted on a grass diet but have either received supplemental grain feed or are finished on a fully grain-based diet.
The truth is the majority of “grass-fed beef” labeled in grocery stores, while those labeled “grass-fed” spent the last several months of their lives eating grain in feedlots to help them quickly gain weight.
Commercial agriculture wants the cows fattened up because they are compensated by the weight of the beef sold.
The USDA does not require cattle to have a full grass-fed diet in order to get the “grass-fed” label on your beef’s packaging.
Moreover, “grass-fed” cows are not necessarily pasture-raised.
Meaning, they are not free-range consuming a variety of diversified grasses. Corporate agriculture in the United States currently allows commercial feedlots to confine cattle to pens that house between 100 – 125 animals and allow 125 – 250 square feet per animal.
Again…our cows are free-range and allowed to graze a diversity of grasses in rich soil and live for twice as long, creating an amazingly nutrient-dense, double-aged, flavorful beef, packed with phytonutrients and metabolites.
As stewards of the land Carter Country Meats is committed to:
- 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef that have lived twice as long consuming a variety of diversified grasses. Non-GMO, Hormone & Antibiotic-free
- Climate Positive practices that embody regenerative agriculture on our 40,000 acre family ranch
Why choosing Grass-Fed & Finished Beef Matters for your long-term health:
There are several significant health benefits to choose 100% grass-fed & finished beef:
- Grass-fed & finished beef is 20% lower in calories than grain-finished beef and has higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, CLA’s (Conjugated Linoleic Acid — an essential fatty acid that fights cancer and inhibits body fat), and Vitamins A and E.
- Grass-fed & finished beef contains high levels of metabolites and phytonutrients. There are over 26,000 phytonutrients found in plants and we now know that the more diversified grass source in the animal's diet, the more metabolites become bioavailable to the human body which keeps our cells healthy & functioning properly.
- Flavor profile: Grass-fed & finished beef is known to be some of the most nutrient-dense. The more nutrient-dense a food, the more flavorful it is known to be.
Be sure to check out our Big Horn Boxes today & consider subscribing to support a nutrient-dense food model today. Share this article to help educate your family, friends and community.
