Why choosing grass fed and pastured meat is important

I know I don't do a lot of recipes on Green & Plenty that feature meat or poultry but I want to start adding more!  I try to be picky about where my meat comes from and so recently I signed up to join a buying club through Wallace Farms to supply us with most of our grass fed meat, butter and poultry.   And here's why:

The group of farmers who supply the products for this buying club believes in raising grass fed animals without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides and using sustainable farming methods.   Sure you can get some grass fed products at grocery stores and either way it's more expensive than conventional, but I like the idea of supporting a local trusted farm (and it's a bit cheaper than Whole Foods).  If you can't afford grass fed for all your animal products, choose a few items each week if you can as a start.

The benefits of grass fed meat and poultry that should have you asking questions next time you're at the butcher counter:

•  Grass fed animal products are at least 2-4 times higher in healthy omega-3 fats than grain fed products because the animal eats grass Eggs from chickens raised on pasture have 10x the omega-3 fats.  I'm sure you've heard of omega-3s, but just as a reminder, they are SO beneficial and important for everything from the developing brain of a fetus to helping prevent and even slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.  They can also help lower lipids and control blood pressure.  Chances are you know someone who would benefit from more omega-3s in their diet! 
• Grass fed animals produce meat with less total fat and thus calories than "conventional" grain fed animals.  A 6oz steak has about 100 fewer calories when it's grass fed vs. grain fed.
• Grass fed meat and dairy products contain a type of fatty acid called CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). 
  CLA is a newly discovered good fat that may be a potent cancer fighter. 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. 
  Human CLA research is in its infancy, but a few studies have suggested that CLA may have similar benefits in people. A recent survey determined that women with the most CLA in their diets had a 60 percent reduction in the risk of breast cancer.  
• Raising animals on pasture is better for the environment as it results in fewer green house gases and requires less energy.  Meat from grass-fed animals requires only one calorie of fossil fuel to produce two calories of food. Many grain and vegetable crops require from 5 to 10 calories of fossil-fuel for every calorie of food or fiber produced. 
• Pasture raising reduces the risk of e.coli infection and almost completely eliminates the risk of mad cow disease.

Enjoy!