Greetings, Primals!
Before my primal transformation, I used to joke that I ate one steak a year—usually when I traveled to Las Vegas and a vendor took me out to a nice dinner. The rest of the time, I was doing what most people do: grilled chicken, salads, and “lean protein” because that’s what I thought was healthy. Beef felt indulgent, heavy, and unnecessary. Now I know better. Today, beef is the foundation of my primal lifestyle—and for good reason.
In Today’s Issue:
Beef delivers more bio available heme iron
The higher fat content in beef fuels hormones, cell membranes, and long-lasting ATP production
Chickens store inflammatory omega-6 fats from corn- and soy-based feed
Cows convert unstable plant fats into stable saturated fats through rumination
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WEEKLY DEEP DIVE
1. Heme Iron = Oxygen + Energy
Beef is rich in heme iron, the most bioavailable form of iron for humans. Heme iron is a critical component of hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen in your blood and delivers it to working muscles and organs.
Cows are large, slow-moving animals that rely heavily on an aerobic metabolism, supported by oxygen delivery. Humans are the same way. Chickens, on the other hand, are fast-twitch animals that rely more on short bursts of anaerobic activity. As a result, chicken contains far less heme iron—making beef a much better match for human physiology.
2. Fat Is Not the Enemy—It’s Fuel
Beef naturally contains more fat than chicken, and that’s a good thing.
Fat is essential for:
Building strong phospholipid cell membranes
Producing hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol
Creating bile to absorb fat-soluble nutrients
Providing long-lasting energy
On an energy level, fat is unmatched:
Fat yields ~100+ ATP per molecule
Glucose yields ~30 ATP per molecule
ATP is the energy currency of your cells. More ATP means more stable energy, better recovery, and stronger metabolic health.
3. Species-Appropriate Diets Matter
Most chickens are fed corn and soy—both seeds designed by plants to reproduce. These seeds are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats, which are fragile and prone to oxidation.
Chickens are monogastric animals (single-stomach) and lack the ability to meaningfully transform these fats. They store them in their tissues. When you eat chicken, those unstable fats become part of your cell membranes—where they are more likely to oxidize and contribute to inflammation and joint pain.
Cows are different.
Cows are ruminants with a powerful, multi-chambered digestive system full of microbes. Those microbes ferment plant material and convert unstable polyunsaturated fats into more stable saturated fats, such as stearic acid. In other words, cows do the processing for us.
Cows do the work for us—fermenting plants and converting unstable fats into the nutrient-dense fuel humans thrive on
The Primal Takeaway
Beef provides:
More bioavailable iron
More stable, hormone-supportive fats
Better alignment with human metabolism
Lower inflammatory fat exposure
Chicken isn’t “bad,” but beef is simply superior.
If you want to eat in a way that supports strength, hormones, energy, and long-term health—prioritize beef!
Body Composition Analysis ($200.00)
If you’re curious where you currently stand, I offer InBody 380 body composition scans that go far beyond a scale weight. In one focused hour together, we’ll review your fat mass, skeletal muscle, and metabolic markers, connect those numbers to your daily choices, and identify what’s helping—or holding—you back. You’ll leave with a targeted macronutrient plan built specifically for your body and goals, not generic advice. That plan includes a Primal-approved food list and a handful of my favorite go-to primal recipes to make execution simple and sustainable. If you’re ready for clarity and direction, this is the best place to start.
Will Winston
Certified Primal Health Coach
