Why we are Grass-Fed Groupies – And Why it’s Time You Join the Movement

Jerky's Gourmet, Habamero Sculpin IPA beef jerky

The following is a message from Jerky's Gourmet of San Diego...

Let us start out by stating clearly: Grass-Fed Beef is the Better Beef

Sure, there are a variety of factors that go into making great tasting beef jerky. For us at Jerky’s Gourmet of San Diego, using grass-fed beef is first and foremost. Numero Uno. Grass-fed beef allows for the natural taste of the BEEF in beef jerky to take center stage. The health benefits of grass-fed beef are a welcomed bonus. When creating unique flavors like our Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin and Ghost Pepper beef jerky, we always start with quality ingredients, and of course that begins with grass-fed beef.

Grass-fed cows are on a natural diet of - you guessed it, grass - which is free from the antibiotic, hormone and additive rich diet that makes commercial beef so questionable for human consumption. And we’re not the only ones who think it tastes better too! A recent double-blind taste test confirmed that grass fed beef reigns as the best tasting of all the beef.

When cows eat grass, they are processing nutrients from natural grasses like wild onion or their very favorite - clover! Humans cannot digest these grasses. However, cows are able to break them down because of their complex digestive systems. By eating beef that has eaten its natural diet of clover and other grasses, humans can consume nutrients that they otherwise could not. For example, Beta-carotene, a precursor to the very important vitamin A, is found in plant pigments from natural grasses but not in the grain based corn feed. Cows gather more nutrients when they eat natural.

Grass-fed cattle roam freely on grass pastures; they are basically eating and exercising all day long. This in turn makes them much leaner. That is why there is typically less marbling of fat in cuts of grass-fed beef.

While on the topic of fat...

It is vital to mention the addition of good fats grass-fed beef provides. All fats are not created equal! Omega-3’s are probably the most popular and widely discussed health benefit of grass fed beef. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for normal metabolism and beneficial in prevention of coronary disease, cancer and diabetes. Increasing your Omega-3 intake is a common need for most Americans. Grass-fed beef contains up to three times as many Omega-3’s compared to other commercially processed grain-fed beef.

There are a lot of reasons why grass-fed cattle are healthier than their feedlot, corn-fed counterparts. Feedlots, or factory farming practices, cram cows into a dark confined space and load them up with a chemical bath of hormones and antibiotics. Cows gain much more weight on the heavy corn-based diet, which leads to more beef produced for human consumption. It is a drastically different feeding environment than what nature intended. Without a pasture the cows are essentially skipping the gym. This limited mobility is intended to fatten them up faster. This, of course, has been the appeal to business interests looking to make more with less. Feedlot conditions are horrific and simply focus on raising profits rather than quality cattle. Opposing what nature intended usually comes with dire consequences.

As the old saying goes, your body truly is the sum total of what you put in your mouth.

Bottom-line - grass-fed beef is about quality of life for both animal and human. A corn-based diet comes with antibiotics and growth hormones. Grass-fed beef comes with higher Omega-3 fatty acids, Beta Carotene (which our bodies convert to Vitamin A), Vitamin E, Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium. We are proud to offer a delicious and healthy beef jerky to our customers and hope you join the grass-fed movement.

Choose the better jerky!

Tim & Dria - Owners - Jerky’s Gourmet of San Diego

Visit Jerky's Gourmet of San Diego online at: https://www.jerkysgourmet.com/