From ‘farm gate to plate’ FFF teams up with Local Farms
The success of a fitness program isn’t measured only in sweat, but by what you chose to put into your body. Nutrition is 80 per cent of the journey.
That’s why Free Form Fitness has teamed up with Local Farms in Ottawa’s rural west to offer local grass-fed beef. Place your order at your FFF location and you can pick it up at your convenience.
Hear what local farmers who have paired with Free Form Fitness are saying:
Kinburn Farms owners Chris and Katrina Anderson pride themselves on providing healthy and ethically responsible food choices for the community at reasonable prices. These include pastured beef and pork, pepperettes, eggs that really are free range, local honey, and organically grown vegetables and herbs.
“We want to empower people to take control of their own diet, see how their food is raised and encourage them to buy local, by offering them healthy, delicious food that is raised happy,” said Katrina.
What’s the big deal with grass versus grain?
It’s natural for cattle to eat grass, be it grass in the pasture, hay in the mow, or fermented grass (silage) from the silo. All cattle raised for beef feed primarily on grass for most of their lives.
But in the conventional beef industry, most cattle “finish” on grains, such as soy and gluten, in a crowded feedlot. This is intended to fatten them up to the ideal weight faster – up to a year faster than on a diet of grass alone.
The same goes for cattle as it does for humans – you are what you eat.
This “grain-finished” beef tends to have higher total fat than grass-fed, and contain more calories per serving.
The good fats
More importantly, there is a difference in the types of fat. The big one is Omega-3 fatty acid. This is that vital good fat often taken as a supplement that is derived from fish oil. Grass-fed can contain up to five times Omega-3 versus grain fed.
Why is Omega-3 important?
It can have positive affects on blood pressure and risk of heart disease, alleviate some circulatory problems and symptoms of depression, serve as an anti-inflammatory for conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and help improve the mental performance of children with conditions such as ADHD and autism.
Grass-fed beef also contains about twice as much conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This is another fatty acid with various health benefits like Omega-3. For those of us who are trying to reduce body fat, CLA can help those unwanted inches fade away.
The best way to get these healthy fats, as it is with anything your body needs to perform well, is to eat clean whole foods, grown and raised as they were meant to be, free of pesticides or growth hormones. Nutritionists suggest two or three servings of fish per week to get these healthy fats. But grass-fed beef gives you another alternative.
Other nutrients
Beef that is entirely grass-fed has also been proven to contain higher levels of other key nutrients. These include vitamins A and E, higher levels of antioxidants, and up to seven times the beta-carotene.
“Good nutrition isn’t about lining your counter with quick fix fads” said Ashley Lawrie, President of FFF. “The best way to eat well is to chose wholesome foods, locally sourced, from farmers you know and trust. We’ve partnered with Local Farms because it’s part of what we stand for in our commitment to make a better you.”
To find out more; contact info@freeformfitness.ca!
