Grass-fed beef: What are the heart-health benefits?

Answer Section

Possibly. What cattle eat affects the nutrients and fats in beef. Grass-fed beef comes from cattle that eat grass and other foraged foods throughout their lives.

Conventional beef comes from cattle that eat a diet of grains, such as corn, at some point. Conventional beef also is called grain-fed beef.

When compared with other types of beef, grass-fed beef may have some heart-health benefits, including:

• Lower total fat content.
• More heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
• More of a special kind of omega-6 fatty acid called conjugated linolenic acid (CLA).
• More antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E.

But grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef both contain saturated fat. Research has linked this type of fat to high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. LDL also is known as the "bad" cholesterol. Because of this, the American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat.

When choosing beef, whether it's grass-fed beef or another type of beef, opt for lean beef. Lean beef has 10% fat or less. Grass-fed beef often is more expensive than conventional grain-fed beef. Also, long-term research is limited to prove with certainty that grass-fed beef is better for you. Talk to your healthcare professional or dietitian if you're thinking about adding more beef into your diet. This includes lean and grass-fed beef.