This is a reprint of Mitzi Dulan's article from Janurary 2015:
What is Grass-Fed? Until the 1940’s almost all cattle in the U.S ate grass. This all changed as the demand for beef and dairy products increased leading to a desire to improve the efficiency of beef and dairy production. Most cows are now fed a grain-based diet and treated with hormones to fatten them quickly so that they may be used for meat or dairy as quickly as possible, a strategy that may be profitable to producers but is not ideal for the cow or the consumer.
Why Grass-Fed? I first shared my thoughts on the benefits of eating grass-fed meat in the book I co-authored with NFL Future Hall-of-Famer, Tony Gonzalez called The All-Pro Diet in 2009. Meat and dairy sourced from grass-fed cows has been found to be significantly higher in nutritional value than that from cows that are grain-fed. Grass-fed diets for cows promote a more favorable internal pH environment, which provides beneficial bacteria as well as a broader nutritional content to the cow.
My Top Grass-Fed Whey Pick. I’m thrilled that I am now working with the folks at Nutrology who have created an awesome Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder product that my family has been using for several months with great results. It has helped my husband build muscle and get leaner. My two daughters are 10 and 13 and use it as part of their diet to fuel their volleyball training.I love it since it helps me to adequately get my protein needs and feel satisfied without too many calories. In addtion, Nutrology’s Grass-Fed Whey Protein includes flavors and sweeteners derived from natural sources, they're non-GMO, and they're gluten free, which makes them a natural choice for the entire family.
Here are 5 reasons you should be drinking grass-fed whey protein.
1.Optimize recovery after your workout. Nutrient Timing for Optimal Recovery. Nutrient timing is the belief that not only what you eat is important for optimal performance but also when you eat. Consuming a high quality grass-fed whey protein powder in a smoothie within 30 minutes post-workout helps to enhance muscle growth, maximize your recovery, and minimize muscle damage and soreness. To create your ideal recovery beverage you want to combine a grass-fed whey protein powder with organic milk and fruit to create an ideal ratio of carbohydrates:protein of about 2:1-3:1. It is imperative that you utilize this small window of time, 30 minutes following the workout,to refuel the body with the nutrients it needs in order to maximize the next workout. Without providing the appropriate recovery fuel, you can lose the opportunity to optimize recovery!*
2.Weight loss. Grass-fed whey protein may contribute to reduction in body weight when consumed appropriately after exercise. The amount of the fatty acid, conjugate linoleic acid (CLA) is higher in grass-fed whey compared to commercial whey products. CLA has been shown to enhance muscle growth and metabolism, which helps the body to burn fat! Protein helps to satisfy your appetite, which can help to prevent overeating.*
3.Nutritional Booster. Consuming a diet that includes grass-fed meat and dairy has many potential nutrition benefits such as greater nutrient availability, higher CLA and a boost in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fats benefit the body by acting as an anti-inflammatory.*
4.Higher Biological Value + Complete Amino Acid Profile. Grass-fed whey protein provides an optimal biological value and is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids and a higher concentration of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) than any other non-whey protein source. BCAAs are three special amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are special since they are precursors for the synthesis of gluatamine and alanine, which are amino acids used up rapidly during exercise. In addition, valine and isoleucine are used as energy during exercise. Studies should BCAAs provide important energy during exercise suggest it may also prevent muscle protein breakdown.*
5.Boosts immune system. Grass-fed whey protein concentrates better preserve naturally occuring protein fractions called immunglobulins than commercial whey protein isolates, this allows the alpha lactoglobulins and lactoferrins to help boost the immune system and increase production of your body most powerful antioxidant glutathhione. I my new booklet, we discuss glutathione and it’s fantastic benefits for healthy aging .*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.