V. Mac's Beef Tips-September 2005

V. Mac’s Beef Tips – September, 2005
Did You Know?
Eat More Omega-3 Fats - For a Healthier You!

One of the most popular health sites on the web today is (http://www.mercola.com/), written by Dr. Joseph Mercola. In a recent article sent to me by Bill Bowman, a friend and beef customer, Dr. Mercola deals with the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).

Quite frankly, I was ignorant of the “Omega-6 / Omega-3 Ratio” until I read this article. But thank God my mother was not ignorant! She fed our family “home killed beef” and fresh fish several times each week, both of which are loaded with Omega-3 (the good kind). Dr. Mercola warns that: “most Americans, young and old are deficient in Omega-3 fats. The ideal ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats is 1:1. But because our national diet is so high in oils and foods loaded with Omega-6 fats, we are running an Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio that averages 20:1 - sometimes up to 50:1!

Much of this Omega-6 comes from processed foods such as: potato chips, baked goods, salad dressings, margarines, shortenings, etc. Also, we are using the wrong kind of oils in cooking such as: corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower, all are high in Omega-6. The best kind of oil is virgin olive oil, a monosaturated fat. We are consuming 75 times more polyunsaturated (Omega-6) fats each year than our Grandparents.

Diets that are overloaded in Omega-6 actually promote disease. Whereas diets with optimal Omega-3 levels greatly improves overall health. Omega-3 actually reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and a host of other diseases.

What does all of this have to do with a Beef Tip?

The tip is this: the average grain-fed steer has an Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio of 20:1 whereas the average grass-fed steer has a ratio that is closer to 1:1. (Weiss, 2004)

In summary, three points for optional health:

1) Eat Fish At Least Once Or Twice Weekly. Cold Water Fish is Best.
2) Use Virgin Olive Oil in Salads Or Cooking.
3) Make Sure Your Beef Is Grass-Fed. Check the Fat, It Will Be Pale Yellow.


V. Mac