{"id":7066,"date":"2015-01-12T11:14:11","date_gmt":"2015-01-12T10:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jameswhelanbutchers.com\/info\/?p=7066"},"modified":"2015-01-12T11:14:48","modified_gmt":"2015-01-12T10:14:48","slug":"animals-are-what-they-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jameswhelanbutchers.com\/info\/7066\/animals-are-what-they-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"James Whelan Butchers: Animals are what they eat"},"content":{"rendered":"

It had to happen at some stage but for someone in the meat business it was probably the best New Year\u2019s gift and a great way to start 2015.\u00a0 What am I talking about?\u00a0 The small fact that there has been a dramatic swell in the research emerging from the US that confirms grass fed beef is full of health benefits.\u00a0 Not that I want to say, \u201cI told you so\u201d but for years I told you so.\u00a0 It has been hard to convince certain quarters of this particularly with the loudness of the healthy vegetarian and vegan messages but it doesn\u2019t make it any less true or valid.\u00a0 Does it make vegetarianism or veganism wrong?\u00a0 Not at all!\u00a0 Thankfully we live in a free society where I would highly value our freedoms and choices but these lifestyles are just that, choices, and should be entered into on that basis and not because they are believed to be a healthier alternative.<\/p>\n

\"Pat<\/a>The word coming from the US is that beef that comes from grass fed or \u2018pastured\u2019 animals is full of nutrients and minerals that will aid the body in its quest for energy and ultimately good health.\u00a0 Grass fed beef is considered a traditional food that promotes optimal health.\u00a0 Such food, (and there is much that falls into this category and not just beef), has nourished the human body for hundreds of years, long before the advent of modern food processing.<\/p>\n

It is also important that we don\u2019t mix up terms such as \u2018organic\u2019 with \u2018grass fed\u2019 animals; they are not interchangeable terms.\u00a0 100% grass fed beef is fed on grasses, sometimes hay and of course wild plant life that they find in the field.\u00a0 Naturally the soil where the food comes from is also key and we are blessed here in Tipperary to have some of the best soil in the country.\u00a0 I\u2019m delighted to say that James Whelan Beef is grass fed and therefore meets all the credentials required.<\/p>\n

Effectively grass-fed beef is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.\u00a0 It\u2019s not important to understand what they are but it\u2019s good to know that they fight inflammation and reduce the risk of type II diabetes, thyroid disorders, and obesity.\u00a0 The body will also digest and metabolise grass fed beef much easier than it will grain fed or factory reared beef.\u00a0 Beef also contains a special fat called CLA (conjugatd linoleic acid). CLA is unique and sought-after because it is a nutrient that can tone up and slim down the waistline.\u00a0 Yes, CLA can help you lose weight!<\/p>\n

Grass-fed beef also has other nutrients like the fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin E and the amino acids L-carnitine and carnosine. You may have already heard about the antioxidant value of vitamin E. But why are antioxidants important?\u00a0 Basically antioxidants are known for their ability to protect the body from free radical damage which in a nutshell is what leads to degeneration of tissue, aging and the inflammatory response of the body.\u00a0 A little oxidative stress is perfectly normal and part of the human experience but a lot of oxidative stress can seriously overburden and wear the body down.\u00a0 Effectively this all helps in the area of anti aging, something that we are all interested in.<\/p>\n

So whether it\u2019s cooking the perfect steak or a long slow warming stew, creating an arsenal of beef recipes and experimenting with cuts and cooking methods is good knowledge to have.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of recipes available at JamesWhelanButchers.com which is open to all 24\/7 and naturally you can drop into us at The Oakville Shopping Centre where you can pick up a variety of our grass fed beef cuts.\u00a0 In 2013 I also authored The Irish Beef Book which is effectively a one stop shop for all you need to know about beef and beef cookery.<\/p>\n

While I can\u2019t speak for every butcher in Ireland I am proud to say that generally we have an excellent beef industry in Ireland.\u00a0 We have many small farms with people who take pride in producing an excellent product.\u00a0 Most of these farmers come from a long line of Irish beef producers stretching back in time and so the wealth of knowledge and tradition is strong.\u00a0 We have good land and a good climate for raising animals and we have a strong community within the industry.\u00a0 From the consumer\u2019 point of view it\u2019s about asking questions and just making sure you are buying your beef from a reputable source and that\u2019s why dealing with a craft butcher is one way of ensuring this.<\/p>\n

So as we start another New Year and perhaps look at our resolutions for a healthy 2015 and a more nutritionally balanced year ahead don\u2019t forget to stick a bit of beef on the menu, it\u2019s good for your health.<\/p>\n

We hope you enjoyed reading this post by Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers. Pat is a 5th generation butcher, cook book author and the director of \u00a0James Whelan Butchers with shops in Clonmel, the Avoca Food Market Monkstown, Rathcoole & Kilmacanogue.\u00a0Sign up to our newsletter for more updates from James Whelan Butchers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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It had to happen at some stage but for someone in the meat business it was probably the best New Year\u2019s gift and a great way to start 2015.\u00a0 What am I talking about?\u00a0 The small fact that there has been a dramatic swell in the research emerging from the US that confirms grass fed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[25],"tags":[944,946,943,947,566,945,940,942,99,936,145,941,939,938,937,47,810],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n