There are a lot of collagen products on the market these days, and they all claim to be the best one. Most people judge a product based on its purported benefits — but we believe you have to start before that.
The best way to evaluate any animal product is through its provenance. A lot of people aren’t sure how to tell where something comes from, or what the differences even are between methods like grass-fed and pasture-raised vs. organic.
“Grass-fed” is the most natural, organic way you can get collagen or beef. Grass-fed collagen has the most proteins, amino acids, and nutrients because it embraces the animal’s most natural way of living.
As society evolves, more things are becoming hyper-processed and mass-produced. Our food is particularly less natural that it’s ever been, which comes with a huge number of set backs.
Nurturing your body’s innate needs can be done by turning back to the Earth. Grass-fed sustainable farming embraces both animals and the environment that sustains them. In addition to respecting livestock and protecting the planet, it strives to deliver the healthiest end product to consumers.
What does grass-fed mean?
Grass-fed farming is part of sustainable farming and agriculture. Livestock is allowed to live openly in a pasture, grazing and foraging just like they would in the wild.
There are no antibiotics, hormones, steroids, or other additives introduced into their diet. The meat and collagen produced from grass-fed cattle is as natural as can be. It’s rich in vitamins and nutrients like:
- Vitamin A. Rich in antioxidants, promotes strong vision, cellular reproduction, and immunity.
- Vitamin B6. Promotes brain health, as well as the processing of fats, sugars, and protein.
- Vitamin B12. Aids the formation of red blood cells and make DNA.
- Vitamin E. Acts as an antioxidant that reduces “free radicals,” loose electrons that can cause damage.
- Protects DNA cells against infection and damage.
- Helps produce hemoglobin, myoglobin, and improve oxygen distribution throughout the body.
- Helps build proteins, create DNA, aids in cellular growth, and boost immunity.
Grass-fed nutrition serves as an all-in-one source for your body. It gives you some of the most crucial, cell-nourishing vitamins and nutrients in their purest forms.
With the inclusion of other minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, grass-fed beef is a much healthier and nutritious alternative to grain-fed.
It’s also important to note that organic and grass-fed are not the same. Grass-fed animals that are pasture raised only eat from the Earth. They aren’t given any chemicals, antibiotics, or other drugs.
In the UK, organic cattle are given the greatest level of freedom with one of the highest grade of sustainability and ethics in farming. The land they’re on is not treated with any herbicides, and little to no pesticides. This ensures the meat and collagen does not contain any harmful byproducts.
Why is grass-fed better for you?
You might be thinking, “What does that have to do with collagen?” Well, collagen is a protein that comes from the byproducts of cattle. So, whatever they ate and were injected with during their life can make its way into your collagen products.
Getting the most authentic, nourishing collagen requires a grass-fed, organic approach to raising livestock. By giving them the most enriching, natural life, you get collagen that’s full of only the best protein and vitamins for your skin, joints, hair, and nails.
Bovine collagen contains 18 amino acids. Without these amino acids found in collagen, the body can’t take care of its connective tissues. These are the tissues that bind other parts of the body together. They support your bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, blood, and lymphatic system.
There are several other benefits to grass-fed nutrition worth knowing:
Improved Cardiovascular Health
With a much lower fat content, antioxidants, more omega-3 acids, grass-fed beef is far better for your heart than other types of cattle rearing. Although grass-fed beef has higher saturated fat than conventional alternatives, opting for lean cuts can make it a much better choice for your heart health.
Less Risk of Disease
Cattle that is grain-fed is also usually given a wide array of antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals to help them grow larger. Unfortunately, taking so many antibiotics can actually lower a cow’s natural immunity. This poses a greater risk of “superbugs” — ultra-resistant bacteria that makes its way into food and other bovine products.
Without any additives, grass-fed rearing embraces the inborn immunity of herd. It’s also important to note that grass-fed means a cow only eats its natural diet, so it’s exposed to a lot less foreign bacteria and pathogens its body wasn’t made to process in the first place.
Higher Nutritional Value
With animal products, the nutrients that the animal receives is key to the nutrients it is able to give you. As detailed above, grass fed products are typically higher in vitamins, omega 3s and other essential fatty acids.
The Best Quality Collagen
Ensuring your collagen comes from sustainable farming does a few things. First, it makes sure that you are getting an ethical, environmentally responsible product. Second, it promises you’re receiving the most nutrient-rich protein possible.
Grain-fed cattle simply can’t match the quality of collagen found in grass-fed cows. Grass-fed collagen is also only taken from cattle bones — these often contain some of the highest concentrations of collagen in the animal’s body.
How can I use grass-fed collagen?
One of the great things about hydrolyzed grass-fed collagen is that it is highly soluble. Because it blends into hot or cold recipes, you can use it in a number of ways.
Try mixing it into a protein smoothie, or adding some to your morning coffee or tea. You can also use collagen in a variety of dishes to give them an extra nutritional boost.
With so many options, there’s no wrong way to incorporate grass-fed collagen into your diet. Just be sure to follow dietary guidelines, and choose ethical products from brands you trust.