That’s right. Elk. Paleo is a meat-friendly diet (especially red meat, which tends to be higher in fat and various micronutrients) and that includes elk. As far as flavor, it has been described as a cross between beef and venison. It is extremely high in protein and fairly low in fat compared to other meat options.
The Importance of Fat Profile
Aside from the total fat content, the fat profile is important. Grass-fed beef consistently has a much higher ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats. These are both polyunsaturated fats, but omega-6s are inflammatory, whereas omega-3s are anti-inflammatory. The key to a healthy diet is to consume at least as much omega-3 as omega-6, if not more.
Grain-Fed vs. Grass-Fed
Because elk is not in very high demand, it is not subjected to the industrialized feedlots of our conventional beef. Instead, it is almost always grass-fed, and therefore and excellent source of omega-3 fats, not to mention minerals like iron, phosphorous, and zinc.
Chris Kresser discusses the importance of grass-fed vs. grain-fed meat in this post.
