If you have been reading all the news lately about eating organic foods – read on to see all the benefits of eating organic meat and why it’s so important.
Why Eat only Organic Meat.
Benefits of Organic Meat and Eating Organic
Organic meat must meet strict cultivation standards to carry an organic label. The rules and guidelines vary slightly depending on the type of livestock being discussed. However, the basic expectations of minimal exposure to potential chemicals associated with conventional agriculture practices and minimal human intervention in the growth process guide the raising of animals intended for the organic market.
The popularity and demand from consumers for organic meat is growing. In fact, the popular fast food chain Carl’s JR recently started offering the All Natural burger that is made from grass fed beef.
In order to carry the USDA Organic label, livestock must meet the following criteria for the duration of their lifespan:
• May not be subjected to genetic modification, irradiation, or exposure to sewage sludge
• Raised using processes which preserve biodiversity and natural resources
• Raised using the guidelines provided in the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Lists approved synthetic substances and unapproved natural substance for organic livestock cultivation)
• An authorized USDA National Organic Program certifying agent must monitor the producer which operates in accordance with all USDA organic requirements
In addition, livestock must be allowed to live in an environment, which allows them to maintain good health and exhibit their natural behaviors all year.
• Mammals must be treated organically from the last third of gestation and poultry from the second day of hatching
• Given access to outdoors year round
• Raised on land meeting and maintaining certified organic requirements
• Raised according to livestock health and welfare standard
• Feed must be 100 percent organic; exceptions allowed for vitamin and mineral supplementation to ensure animal health
• The use of antibiotics, supplemental growth hormones, and animal byproducts in feed is prohibited in addition to arsenic, manure, urea, and arsenic compounds
Organic farmers must take extra care ensuring the health of their livestock. Since their treatment options are limited to the use of permitted vaccines, they must focus on preventing illness.
Humane treatment is one of the most prominently reasons that many choose to eat organic beef, chicken and byproducts like eggs and milk. Some of the horror stories shown in the media of what goes on in the slaughterhouses of traditional cattle farms have really raised people’s awareness and concerns.
Benefits of Organic Meat
Along with the benefits of “eating clean,” decreased exposure to toxins, antibiotics that increase bacterial resistance and synthetic hormones, organic meat offers nutritional benefits. Free range and grass-fed livestock supply the most of these heart healthy benefits.
When compared to conventionally raised livestock, grass-fed and free range livestock offer the following nutritional benefits.
• Lower in artery clogging saturated fats
• Higher amounts of omega 3 fatty acids
• Contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an omega 6 fatty acid, which may reduce cancer risk
• Grass-fed beef provides more lutein and carotenoids
• Grass-fed beef contains 22 to 39 percent less cholesterol
• Grass-fed beef also supplies significant amounts of the following nutrients, Vitamins B3, B6 and B12, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, phosphorus and pantothenic acid
• The ratios of healthy fats, omegas 3 and 6, to unhealthy saturated fats shifts to a less healthy profile, depending how much grain is included in an animal’s diet.
Where Can You Find Organic Meat?
Due to consumer demand, organic meat is becoming more common on grocery store shelves. It can also be found via local farmers. Some organic farmers form consortia or cooperatives through which their meats can be ordered, either in person, by mail or online. Expect to pay more for organic meats.
The production volume for organic livestock is lower and the demand for organic meat products continues to grow. According to a 2014 Gallup poll, 45 percent of Americans seek to include organic foods in their diet.
Not all labels are created equal. Although often used in labeling to appeal to consumers, the words natural, cage free, hormone free, antibiotic free and free range; do not necessarily require verifiable certification. They also do not guarantee a product to meet all organic standards.
For your protection, verify your organic meat seller before making a purchase. Always check for the USDA white and green organic label. You can also check the USDA website to verify the farmer or retailer is recognized as a source of certified organic products.
How Organic Eating And Farming Benefits Health And Our Environment
Organic eating and farming are becoming the new norm in today’s society.
• $35.9 billion is the revenue of the organic food market, which is up 11% in 2014 from the previous year.
• 51% of families are buying more organic products than in 2014
• 8 in 10 parents choose organic food for their families.
• There are more than 25,000 certified organic operations in more than 120 different countries around the world.
• 45 different synthetics have been removed or restricted for use in organic production since 2008.
• Produce accounted for 43% of U.S. organic food sales in 2012
While organic eating used to not be a choice, but simply the way things were, the world has changed as technology has grown and made it easier to farm faster and produce more to sustain a healthy bottom line.
Unfortunately, this new streamlined farming comes at the expense of both our health and the health of the environment. Additives, pesticides, growth hormones and a number of other chemicals have been added to fruits, vegetables, and even animals to help make it easier to mass produce food.
However, this choice has caused strange and possible dangerous side effects for our bodies as well as the environment. Due this, a return to organic eating and farming is necessary. Not only is it better for us, but it’s also better for the earth and our future generations.
Why Organic Eating?
Do you want meals that are simple, tasty, and leave you feeling good and energized? If so, organic eating is the option for you. While the actual preparation of organic foods might seem like a lot, it’s actually not; it is the same as with conventional produce, meats, and poultry.
The alternative is mass-produced, foods that are sprayed with pesticide, herbicides and other chemicals on conventional farms, which are not always the best choices for your body and at best may have some unforeseen side effects and at worst may contribute to serious disease.
Some Of The Most Prominent Examples Of Pesticide Ridden Foods Are:
See the 2023 LIST OF DIRTY DOZEN FOODS! https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen
• 99% of all apples tested positive for pesticides and made the Environmental Working Group’s 2015 Dirty Dozen List of most pesticide residue ridden foods. The FDA found 36 different chemicals on apple samples, ½ of which are neurotoxins that may cause brain damage in a study conducted in 2012.
• Raspberries get dusted with 39 chemicals and 58% of tested fruits registered positive for contamination
• Cherries have as many as 25 pesticides per fruit
• One grape has 15 pesticides and 35 different pesticides are typically used in vineyards that grow them
• Peaches
• Nectarines (imported)
• Celery
• Spinach And Greens
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Snap peas (imported)
• Potatoes – One average potato was found by the EWG to have more pesticides by weight than any other type of produce
• Hot peppers
• Blueberries (domestic)
• Kale and collard greens
Organic Is The Solution To Avoiding Chemicals In Food
Instead of ingesting pesticides, additives and growth hormones such as those given to cows and chickens through store bought foods, you could be growing your own foods or buying from the organic selections at your supermarket or organic farmers markets where you know exactly what is (and isn’t) in your food.
This option lets you know that your food is pure, simple, and safe to eat. Likewise, growing organic food helps reduce your carbon footprint and promote safer farming all around the world. Instead of giving into using chemicals to grow more food at a faster pace, you can send a message by growing your own food in an organic garden, or even housing animals like chickens to produce your own fresh eggs.
How It Helps The Environment
Nature has been in business a long time and it has never needed help. Unfortunately, modern society has resorted to manipulating nature to make it more efficient, which is proving to be dangerous. The most dangerous aspect of this manipulation is that it fills the earth with manmade chemicals that, in turn, get into soil, plants, groundwater, and even the animals.
Due to this, even those who want to avoid chemicals and additives are at risk for ingesting them because they’re already in the earth and becoming a part of nature. By creating more organic farms and encouraging people to eat organically, it is possible to reduce the amount of chemicals in the soil and help it revert back to its clean, natural state.
Organic farming and eating is both sustainable and universally healthy. It reduces the amount of pollution in the world and helps both society and nature feel and look better. It is important to remember that human influence, in moderation, can be amazing for the planet, however over-influencing the world in the name of productivity rather than quality can only lead to destruction.
Always Choose Organic when Possible!
If you want to eat healthy and help the environment, organic foods are the path for you. You can grow them yourself, as well as support local businesses and organic markets with your patronization. Organic eating is in the business of treating people and the environment right by providing them with healthy, trustworthy food.
In a world where serious health concerns, pollution, and industrial productivity are taking over, it is necessary to get back to basics and create a space where the earth can be the earth. The environment is not only “nature,” it is also our home, just as our bodies are our homes. Let’s take care of them by choosing this simple but powerful lifestyle.
Read More Interesting Healthy Articles:
Choosing the Healthiest Eggs
How to Pick the Healthiest Chicken