Joel, can you tell us what cuts are the best ones to buy? I’m glad to hear that there are some that are equal to chicken, but I’m at a loss as to which they are. Thanks!
On Friday I got a package in the mail.
It was a BIG package.
It was also an unexpected package.
Don’t you just love it when that happens?
Well, turns out that a friend of mine decided to send me about 20 lbs of organic grass fed beef as a thank you for some consulting I helped him with the other week.
Pretty freakin’ sweet, eh? (He’s from Canada, so he’ll appreciate that)
Of course, I made a point to defrost them immediately while planning to fire up the grill several times over the weekend for a 2-day feast of fresh burgers and NY strip steaks (and broccoli, and grilled asparagus, and a few huge salads :-)
Who says low carb meals can’t be fun?
I even broke the low-carb rules a bit and downed a big bowl of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries for dessert on both nights (hey, their GI is less than 20…they might as well be low-carb).
Back to the meat.
So last night I invited some friends over to enjoy the beef-fest with me, one of whom chooses not to eat meat.
Totally fine…I’m cool with that.
But then as we were all joking about how he was missing out on some most amazing, delicious beef out there, he replied with “At least I won’t be missing out the heart attack coming from all that red meat and animal fat!”
Uh oh.
Time to debunk the misconceptions.
Number one, there’s nothing wrong with “red meat”. In fact, there are some cuts of red meat that are just as lean if not leaner than chicken breast, so trying to lump all red meat into one category is the equivalent of saying “carbs make you fat”. Let’s consider the source.
Second, what is “animal fat”? Although the term is used interchangeably with saturated fat, not all “animal fat” is saturated. In fact, more than HALF the fat in beef is unsaturated.
Oh, and here’s another fact even beyond that—not all saturated fat is bad. The problem with most saturated fats is that they have been shown to be linked to heart disease when consumed in higher quantities. That said, the main saturate found in beef (especially organic grass fed beef) is stearic acid—a saturate consumption has been shown to decrease plasma and liver cholesterol by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption.
That’s right, “animal fat” that lowers cholesterol.
Also, stearic acid intake helps to prevent arterial clotting and the formation of fatty deposits within the arteries to fight off heart disease.
Beef—it’s what’s for dinner. And beings that I still have about 6 lbs of it here, it looks like it’s going to be breakfast tomorrow, too.
Mmmmmmm. Steak and eggs.
So what about you? Have you ever bought into the anti-beef advocates claims? Did you learn something from this post? Going to devour a nice steak today?
Post your comments below and I’ll be back VERY soon with another eye-opening post!
Talk to you in the comments section!
Joel
P.S. My friend and fellow nutritionist Isabel De Los Rios is a big fan of red meat, too, but I have to agree with her stance on the 4 so-called “healthy” foods she warns about here:
==> 4 foods to NEVER eat <——- click here
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151 comments - add yours
I try to eat grassfed beef insead of corn fed when possible. It is difficult to find though (andI’m challenged with meal planning such that frozen meat doesn’t work easily for me, and I prefer to buy local… etc). It is slowly making its way to my table despite these challengs.
One person commented that the fat profile is better than salmon. Is this true? I knew it was much better than cornfed beef. Can you confirm about the salmon?
Red meat is also beneficial for influencing your hormonal profile, namely increasing testosterone. Also many people forget that grassfed beef can contain equivalent levels of omega3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon. Red meat is success for a hunter/caveman! Don’t be scared!
Hi Joel. That is a very interesting blog you wrote. I have avoided red meat because of all the negative publicity about red meat contributing to heart disease and other illnesses. Where I live, its very difficult to even find organic grass fed beef in supermarkets. I would like to know the online site where I can purchase organic grass fed beef, organic raw milk and organic cheeses. Also, could you please tell me which are the leaner cuts of beef. This way I will be able to enjoy grass fed beef and know that I’m getting all the nutrients my body needs. Thank you so much.
I have totally bought into that unfortunately. I am looking forward to what you have to say about finding good, lean beef.
I usually avoid red meat because I always thought it was “fattier” than chicken or turkey. I’d like to know which cuts are “just as lean if not leaner than chicken breast.” I’d love to add red meat back in to my diet!
Those red meat claims only hold up if you are eating 20oz steaks and other saturated fats with them. If you are eating like that then you are sure to be headed for the hospital. It’s not the once in a while piece of meat, its the cumulative effects of poor nutrition, poor exercise, and all the other factors you have that are the problem. I know some vegetarians and they are among some of the most overfat because of what they choose to eat thinking that it’s somehow healthier. As a woman who is iron poor, a good piece of liver or beef along with iron rich veggies makes me feel a lot better.
Growing up my family always had beef in the freezer and on the table. An Uncle raised cattle and since we helped him at butcher time we never went without. That said, all of his cattle was organic, grass fed before it was “cool”.
After my uncle passed away the beef came from the grocery store…and with that came the allergies/asthma that I have suffered from. A little logical thinking will tell you that it is all of the hormones, antibiotics and other fast growth tactics they use that caused my allergies/asthma.
Recently I have found a local butcher shop who gets their beef from local farmers and a large majority of the beef is organic, grass fed. I cannot begin to tell you the difference I have noticed in my allergies/asthma since we made the switch to shopping at the local butcher shop.
So yes, in my house beef is what’s for dinner. When we go out I try and avoid meats if possible because of the affects I know they have on me.
Very informative article. Keep ’em coming!
First of all I must say that after reading “charlies” input I can’t wait to move to Australia in July! I love food, and I’ve never bought in to any kind of diet or know it all who totally wants to exclude any kind of grocerie. I also like red meat since it keeps you satisfied for a long time. I tried this diet called CSIRO from Australia about a year ago. It’s one of the few diets that are scientifically proven to be effective in reducing the fat around your waist. It requires that you eat 100 oz of meat per day where 60 oz should be for dinner and four times a week that meat should be – red! And it works! Red meat makes and keeps you thin!
I eat beef maybe once or twice a month. Where I live, locally-produced organic grass-fed beef is prohibitively expensive — worth it? possibly, but out of my range. So I settle for the leanest cuts and keep it in moderation.
A steak once a month, even commercially processed, in an otherwise well-balanced nutrition plan isn’t going to kill me. It undoubtedly has some effect on compromising my fitness results. So it’s a deliberate trade-off.
I like a good cut of red meat and am not beyond a burger if it comes from a restaurant who knows how to make them (NOT McD’s, Burgerwhopper, etc.). Red meat is a great source of very usable protein. Personally, I don’t like fat and trim off as much as possible so eating red meat is not bothersome to me. As in most cases, moderation is key. Eating a nice balance from different protein sources is the best answer and always will be.
I’ve read differently about red meat and problems involved. See Nutrition Action magazine, this month.
That’s very interesting. I used to do editing work for a forward-looking nutritionist, and she said that the human body needs saturated fat and couldn’t operate without it. So much of the fat scare is really misguided, and it’s trans (or hydrogenated) fats which are the real problem.
The thing I’m not sure about is the accepted view that red meats badly affect arthritic conditions. Having some arthritis and not wanting to give up beef, I haven’t found it makes much difference (nor tomatoes, etc., which are usually taken out of the diet). But maybe I’m in denial.
Great article I’m sick of the anti red meat brigade and there so-called facts on the damage it does. Everything in moderation is the key.
Joel so which cuts of Beef (i’m from Alberta Canada where Beef is our pride and Joy!!!!!! ) are the leanest?
I love a good steak! I never could understand all the hoopla about beef. It’s just good stuff! Beef…it does a body good.
I eat red meat for two reasons;
1) Eating nothing but chicken everyday gets a little tedious.
2) Red meat tastes good.
I buy a selection box of grass fed meat every month. It contains 3 different types of steak, gammon, chicken and lamb and there’s nothing wrong with my……aargh!
for some people, it is a spiritual thing and the ones I know are amazingly healthy for never having eaten it ever in their lives. So it is just up to each person if they eat it or don’t and if they eat organic or not. No need for discussion. It’s a ersonal choice.
Hi Joel,
A nice piece of lean (organic) beef could be as healthy as other meat cuts. Personally, I think moderation in consumption won’t do any harm.
I don’t consume it quite often but when I do, I enjoy it. Not because of all the mentioned information about this cut but just I made a choice of eating other type of proteins.
I did not know that beef would have different fats in it,how interesting!
@Roger Taylor – Roger,
It’s too bad you think everything on this page is “purposely meant to appear controversial” and not understand that there needs to be a shift in the mentality of consumers. We’ve been fed a crock of junk for far too long, and it’s people like Joel that are educating the masses on how to eat properly and optimally to gain control over our health!
The one thing I agree is that it’s NOT conventional, thank God for that!
I hope you keep coming around – you’ll “get it” soon, my friend :)
Nearly every article on this page is just against conventional thinking just to appear controversial. It`s pretty pathetic.
is it true that chicken keeps u leaner rather than beef?
Red meat doesn’t do anything to you if ate in moderation, but it is one of the highest carcinogens. (Cancer causing agent.) If you eat red meat like 5 days of the week as the main course, your chances of getting cancer increase tremendously. Even if you eat those FRESH blueberries and strawberries which are antioxidants. Only if they’re FRESH.
I recently served grass fed beef burgers to my neighbors. They immediatley knew the beef was better and different from the regular grocery store. I turned them on to Whole Foods Meet Dept. and they are going to be going on a regular basis.
There’s nothing like a well cooked steak with baked sweet potato and a fresh salad. This is the ultimate meal. Followed by Strawberry shortcake (sans shortcake) and all is right with the world (it’s strawberry season in the northeast). I don’t eat meat every day, just like I don’t eat fish every day. “Variety is the spice of life”
Great Post- Just heard a friend of mine spouting off yesterday that all Human SICKNESS stems from consuming animal products- Not too sure but she doesn’t look that great and I feel fabulous and I like my lean beef a couple times a week- :D
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Hey, it’s Joel! So you want to know a little more about me, huh? Well, I’d be happy to oblige :-)
I guess it all started back in 2001 (my freshman year of college) when I was just a “skinny fat” 19-year old kid. At the time, I was spending close to 2 hours a day in the gym (now my workouts last about 30 minutes), and despite my efforts, you’d probably never guess I worked out a day in my life by looking at me...