Article Author: Berkely Wellness Group
Article Source: Berkely Wellness (Part of University of California Berkley)
Article Date: January 7th 2015
Article Link: http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/food/nutrition/article/grass-fed-beef-omega-3s
Summary: There is fairly conclusive evidence that the average grassfed beef will contain more Omega-3's than grain fed beef, but it appears that neither of them can really hold a candle to the amount or type of omega-3's in fatty fish.
ALA only converts about 10% into DHA. Since ALA is suppose to convert into DHA in the body, if it is not, what is it doing? Is there any risks that the ALA has on our body?
ReplyDeleteIt is far more efficient to eat a serving of salmon vs cow if you are aiming for ingesting omega-3s. Fish have EPA and DHA, which is more beneficial for brain health than ALA (found in beef).
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about the structure of DHA vs ALA that makes it more efficient and healthy?
Despite the many health benefits of beef (both grass and grain-fed), fish contain far more omega-3s than beef and fish contains more DHA and EPA, where beef contains more ALA (which is not as important)
ReplyDeleteWhy do fish contain these omega 3's- is it possible that beef could try a similar diet or is it genetic?
Learned: While grass fed beef is leaner than grain fed beef, it has a higher amount of Omega-3 fatty acids. However, if you're eating purely for health benefits, fish is always the better choice.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Is there a significant difference in omega-3 levels of white meat fish and red meat fish?
Learned: Salmon can have over 25 times as many omega-3s per serving than beef
ReplyDeleteQuestion: If the omega-3 difference between grass-fed vs. grain-fed is negligible when compared to fish, should we switch to grain-feeding cattle to help the environment?
Beef contains mostly ALA, which is harder for your body to convert into DHA. Therefore, the benefits of consuming fish, which is abundant in DHA is more effective than consuming beef.
ReplyDeleteIf beef contains mostly ALA, how much ALA do fish normally have?
DHA is the primary structural component in testicles. If the numbers so clearly show the benefits of fish being so much greater is really the only reason the debate alive because of the beef industry?
ReplyDeleteSomething I learned is that beef contains mostly ALA and fishes contain mostly DHA. The body converts ALA to DHA making direct consumption like fish important.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Why do we go straight to using DHA and converting it from other fatty acids instead of consuming those other ones like ALA?
A couple questions:
ReplyDelete(1) What methods are out there to test the concentrations of omega-3s in beef?
(2) Is the range of omega-3's in salmon dependent on the types of salmon or location of the salmon farm?