BEEF:

Maybe you just haven't thought too much about what the animals you eat today were fed yesterday. It's a pretty common thing. You may have seen labels saying grass-fed, grain-fed, open range...etc., not knowing the real difference between these terms. Once you understand the vital differences between grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef, you'll see things in a different light. Today, 99.9% of the beef you find on the grocery store shelves has been fed a grain diet. In general, these cows are fed GMO laden corn and soy products, but often there is more on their menu than strictly grains.

It's been reported that some grain-fed cows are actually fed many foods other than grains to keep down costs and promote weight gain. From gummy worms and skittles, to milk chocolate bars, to stale candy still in the wrappers. These poor cattle are fed whatever is cheapest, and will fatten them up the fastest. I'm involved in many agriculture groups, where the farmers are very open about using these methods. They've been doing this for years, and believe that using GMO grains and sugars is mainstream farming.  They've bought the lie of big agriculture, that all of this is okay.    

When these poor cows get sick (which easily happens with their confined living conditions), they're typically pumped full of hormones and antibiotics.  Quick fact for you...80% of the antibiotics sold in the U.S. are going to livestock :( It is also important to note that grass-fed does not equal organic, and organic does not equal grass-fed. Grass-fed cows can be roaming on pasture that is full of synthetic fertilizers and herbicides.  Also, if an animal is finished on grain (very common), then all benefits of the super important CLA, is obsolete.  The bottom line is, You are what you eat! Knowing your farmer and how he operates his farm is a must.

So now for the good news.  Grass-fed and finished beef has significantly more omega-3 fatty acids and more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef, one of the best protein sources  around, is also higher in precursors for vitamin A and E and cancer-fighting antioxidants compared to grain-fed beef.  If you haven't heard of CLA yet, it's a powerful polyunsaturated fatty acid we must obtain from our diets that's been shown to help fight cancer, discourage weight gain and build muscle.  High-quality grass-fed beef from healthy, grass-fed cows or other animals are the top sources of CLA.