You Ask, I Answer: Ostrich/Bison Meats

An "upscale" burger place I like to go to offers ostrich and bison meat.

I like the taste of both and have heard they are better for you than beef.

Is that true?

-- Robert (last name withheld)
New York, NY

Ostrich (popular in Asia and Southern Africa) and bison/buffalo meats are considered a rarity in the United States.

In case you're having a Jessica Simpson moment, remember that buffalo wings are made from chicken (they originated in the city of Buffalo, hence the name.)

Compared to traditional (cow's) red meat, both of these options are healthier alternatives.

Whereas three ounces of beef clock in at 240 calories and 15 grams of fat, that same amount of ostrich adds up to 97 calories and 1.3 grams of fat, while three ounces of bison contain 140 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.

Since bison subsist only on grass -- the overwhelming majority of cows in the United States are on a literally lethal corn-based diet -- their meat offers low amounts of saturated fat and higher levels of Conjugated Linoleic Acid.

Although ostriches do not eat grass, their meat is very lean since fat builds up outside their muscle tissue, making it very easy to remove prior to cooking.

You Ask, I Answer: Milk from Corn-Fed Cows

What is the impact of Omega-6 fatty acid [from a cow's diet] on [the milk it produces]?

-- Pauline Guzek
Via the blog

In a recent post , I explained that corn-fed cows' meat contains higher levels of unhealthy fats than that of their counterparts who munch on grass all their lives.

A similar concept occurs with milk, except this time around, as you'll soon find out, corn-fed cows' milk is LACKING an important nutrient.

This is one of the main reasons why many people are starting to specifically look for commercial milk that comes from grassfed cows.

Caution! Simply buying "organic" milk does not guarantee the cows that produce it have been subsisting on the green stuff all their life.

Under the current organic guidelines by the United States Department of Agriculture, milk can be labeled 'organic' if the cows that produce it have "access to pasture."

Technically, the cows do not have to eat said pasture. So, a huge farm could potentially fatten up all its cows on corn and grains but let them spend an hour a day outside and legally label their milk as "organic."

Be sure to look for the words "grass-fed" on the container.

The main draw of milk from grass-fed cows is a higher amount of a polyunsaturated fat known as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA.)

The current research on CLA is promising. Several studies have shown promising links between its consumption and cancer cell growth inhibition as well as lowering of triglyceride levels and even a boost in the immune system.

Milk from corn-fed cows is not only lacking CLA, it is also the byproduct of a body that has taken in copious amounts of antibiotics and hormones.

If it fits within your budget, I would recommend purchasing milk from grass-fed cows.

In many countries, this is the only milk they know, as the notion of having cows eat corn and antibiotics all day seems not only bizarre, but also unhealthy. I completely agree.