Where your meat comes from is just as important as its nutritional value.
Choosing meat that’s come from grass fed and free range livestock means the animals have lived a better, more natural life.
And not only is it better for the animals, but it also produces better quality meat for you thanks to their all-natural diet.
In fact, there are many reasons why you should choose grass fed and free range products…
- Supports animal welfare
As we touched on above, free range and grass fed meat comes from animals who have been able to freely roam and graze.
This means they have lived as close to a natural life as possible.
Of course, a by-product of livestock living a more natural life is that they are healthier and happier animals who produce better quality meat.
- Produces meat less likely to be contaminated by harmful bugs
As the animals have access to the fresh air, a natural diet and natural exercise, they are less likely to contract potentially deadly viruses or diseases, which could contaminate the meat.
- Free from hormones and antibiotics
Following on from the point above, as free range and grass fed livestock are less at risk of illness, they aren’t continually pumped with antibiotics to reduce their risk of infection.
They will, however, be given antibiotics in the event of illness… but only when it’s really required.
They also don’t need the addition of hormones to promote growth, as their more natural lifestyle gives them the exercise they need to build fully-formed muscles.
This means that the meat they produce won’t be filled with hormones or antibiotics.
- Produces more nutritious meat (scientifically proven!)
Grass fed beef, when compared with its grain fed counterpart, has been proven to contain more:
- Omega 3, which has anti-inflammatory properties
- Vitamin E, which has anti-aging properties and can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
- CLAs (conjugated linoleic acid), which is known to have anti-cancer properties
And one study confirmed that free range chicken is both lower in fat and higher in protein, iron and zinc compared to meat from conventional birds.
- It’s better for the environment
Grass fed and free range animals are able to freely roam, which means they improve the use of the land the graze on.
All of this leads to a lower carbon footprint, ultimately meaning its better for the environment.
Intensively-raised livestock actually contribute to issues such as poor air quality , increased consumption of fossil fuels and water pollution, to name a few.
- It helps wildlife to thrive
Intensively-raised livestock are fed on grains – the production of the grains to feed livestock reared in this way is potentially detrimental to wildlife due to the amount of pesticides and fertilisers used.
Pasture-raised livestock can instead contribute to a well-balanced eco-system where wildlife is able to thrive, as they gently graze on pastures without causing damage.
Choosing meat from grass fed and free range livestock is, as you can see, better all-round – for you, for the animals and for the environment.
So, how does better quality meat affect you?
Check out our post on how eating better quality meat can help to create a healthier and happier you!
