​I don't eat much of it anymore, but I like grass-fed, hormone-free meats when I do. I don't like "lunch meat" or the stuff in an open-air cooling counter wrapped in plastic and ground down in the back of the store with God knows what. 

 

But the occasional excellent cut of beef, a roast chicken, lamb, or venison can be fantastic. 

 

Grass-fed beef provides up to six times more omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef. Grain-fed beef, on the other hand, contains higher levels of omega-6 - fatty acids, which are eaten in surplus in most standard American diets.

Here are some of the benefits of increased omega-3–3 consumption:

• Alleviates Rheumatoid arthritis: Omega–3s are highly effective in decreasing all markers of inflammation.

• Helps with depression: Researchers have seen an increase in mental well-being by supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids.

• Helps you focus: Recent studies conducted show omega–3s to be a promising alternative to alleviate attention deficit disorders (ADHD) over stimulant medications.

 

During colder months, cattle eat corn-and-soy-based feeds. But, since they ate grass for part of (or for the majority) of the year, they could be labeled grass-fed. 

 

In these cases, there is little difference between grain-fed beef raised by a responsible farmer and grass-fed beef.

 

If you are looking for beef from a cow raised entirely on grass, look for the "grass-finished" label. These animals graze on grass in the summer and alfalfa in the winter. However, know that this term is also not regulated by the USDA.