V. Mac's Beef Tips-August, 2005

Baldwin Charolais Beef Grass-Fed Steers

Did You Know?
Grass–fed beef is growing in Consumer demand.

The growing demand for Grass-fed beef is the result of a general awaking that “we need to start eating healthy”. Many Americans know there is something wrong with our national health. We are told that 31 % of the youth from age 6 to 19 are Obese, mostly caused by their eating habits. Also, experts estimate that 30-40% of U.S. children will develop Type 2 Diabetes during their lifetime because their saturated fat intake is sufficient to induce insulin resistance. We constantly hear of friends having Heart Attacks. The first recorded U.S. death from Heart Attack (myocardial infarction) was recorded in 1921. By 1930 we had recorded 3000 deaths and by 1960 we had recorded 500,000. Not to mention the onslaught of Cancer that has a very similar growth pattern! ---- Wow! What went wrong between 1930 and 1960?

I personally believe a hidden factor was the replacing of grass-fed beef with grain-fed beef in America’s diet. Grain-fed beef production exploded in the late 1940s. My July newsletter explained how this happened with emerging Petroleum and Agriculture economies in the late ‘40’s.

Simply stated, the amount of saturated fat being produced and consumed in America could be a major culprit. All beef fat is 50% saturated. Therefore, the more beef fat produced, the more saturated fat consumed. When feedlot fat steers are cut-out, much of their excess fat is trimmed-away; however, it doesn’t go away. It goes into the ground beef that is sold around the nation. It is especially sold to our youth in fast-food burgers. One of the popular new burgers has 1420 calories and 107 grams of fat, over 50 grams saturated! Wow! This is a National Tragedy----- 1/3 of our kids may be sabotaging their health.


V. Mac