Is your jerky subscription made from grass-fed beef?

Most jerky is pumped full of sugar. Think Jerky founder Ricky Hirsch is trying to change that by partnering with chefs and consciously minimizing sugar and salt. They also use sustainable ingredients like 100% grass-fed beef and turkey.

The jerky subscription box company is based in Minneapolis. They recently launched a new advertising campaign featuring celebrity athletes like NFL stars Odell Beckham Jr and Clay Matthews and Timberwolves player Karl-Anthony Towns.

Grass-fed beef is healthier

Most people don’t know that cattle raised on grass pastures, instead of being confined to cramped feed lots, are healthier and tastier than conventional beef. They have a lower fat content, more “good” (mono and polyunsaturated) fats and less unhealthy (saturated and trans) fats. They also tend to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA.

Conventional cattle begin their lives drinking milk and eating grass, but after eight months they are moved to feedlots where they receive a supplemental diet of grain byproducts, corn and protein supplements. Grass-fed cattle stay on their natural diet throughout their lives, and their meat contains more vitamins and minerals. Grass-fed meat is also lower in saturated fats and contains more omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory. It also has more of the antioxidant carotenoids that give fruits and vegetables their colors. This may explain why many people find grass-fed beef to taste and smell differently.

It’s lower in fat

Whether you’re making Instagram-famous lasagna, the world’s best burger or a taco dip that’ll have your family asking for it every weekend, beef is a staple in many of our kitchens. But with so much variety on the market, it can be hard to know which type of beef is healthier and more sustainable.

When it comes to grass vs grain fed beef, the differences are largely due to the way cattle are raised and the diet they are given. Grass-fed cows start their lives with their mother’s milk and are allowed to roam and eat naturally until they’re eight months old. Conventional cows are then moved to feedlots and fed a diet of corn, soy, protein supplements and beef tallow to help them quickly gain weight.

Beef is a source of several essential nutrients, including protein and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin B12, vitamin E and D. It also contains iron, zinc and selenium. Grass-fed beef is richer in certain nutrients, such as carotenoid precursors to vitamin A and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione.

It’s lower in cholesterol

Whether you’re preparing an Instagram-worthy lasagna, the world’s best burger or taco dip for a house full of hungry family members and friends, it’s important to choose the right type of beef. The way the cattle is raised and what they’re fed impacts both its taste and nutrition.

Research conducted by Clemson University showed that grass-fed beef contains approximately 66 mg of cholesterol per serving, which is significantly lower than the average for other types of meat. Grass-fed beef is also higher in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

When shopping for lean beef, you’ll often encounter labels such as “grass-fed” or “grass finished”. It’s essential to understand the difference between these two terms. When buying grass fed beef, look for beef labeled as 100% grass-fed and/or “grass finished”, which indicates that the animal ate nothing but grass and forages (such as hay) for the entire time of its life after being weaned from its mother.

It’s higher in protein

Grass-fed beef has more protein than regular beef, which is important for muscle building and protein-based metabolic functions like cellular repair. It also contains more vitamin E, which helps balance cholesterol levels and reduce free radicals.

The way that cattle are raised can affect the taste of their meat, and it is true that grass-fed beef is more flavorful than grain-fed beef. This is mainly because the cows that are fed a grass diet live in natural pastures and eat naturally-occurring forage. Cows that are raised in feedlots on a grain-based diet eat an unnatural and artificial diet that fattens them quickly and causes them to have less flavorful meat.

Keep in mind, though, that just because a label says “grass-fed” doesn’t mean it is 100% grass-fed. For example, meats labelled as “grass-fed” may have spent some of their lives on a grass diet and others on a traditional diet in a feedlot. This is why it’s important to buy beef from American producers whenever possible, and look for a label that specifies grass-fed and finished beef.