How many times have you heard this expression: You are what you eat? Here’s another question though: What exactly does “you are what you eat” mean?

A while back I wrote this article for a farming publication called The Country Folks: Using metabolomics to look at finished beef – Country Folks

The gist of the article is that scientists are becoming more interested about what kinds of nutrients there are in grass fed beef versus beef raised on grain. Beyond that, the researcher I wrote about is particularly interested in the connection between soil health, pasture and hay health, cattle health, and ultimately human health.

I learned about a research project the scientist was conducting and decided to jump on board. Basically, the researchers are trying to find some evidence to support this “you are what you eat” idea by testing different beef samples across the United States.

Last fall, we collected soil samples, pasture samples, manure samples and sent them off in the mail. We also had to send a few ribeye steaks. LOTS of scienc-y things were done with the samples in the lab.

Many months later, we finally got some results; I guess all that mass spectrometry is slow business. The results we got back primarily have to do with the content of our meat, including the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

According to a 2021 article in the Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association, “Up until about 100 years ago, the omega-6/3 ratio has been around 4:1 or less. However, the typical Western diet now provides an omega-6/3 ratio of 20:1 in favor of omega-6.”

The article goes on to state that the high ratio of omega-6/3 plays a role in inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune reactions.

Okay, so why I am telling you all this?

One of the things of our meat was tested for was our omega-6/3 ratio. I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that our ratio was low, but now I HAVE PROOF!

Ours was 2:1 !!!! The cows in the study that were grain fed had an average ratio of 5:1.

So, if you put any steak (ha, ha) in that old adage “you are what you eat,” Maine Organic Beef Co. has got you covered!!!

Beeftastically yours,

Sonja