When doing grocery shopping, most people have a dilemma- buy organic or conventional? Whether you’re buying veggies or meat, it’s hard to decide which one is better. The difference in price tag typically dictates the decision. Organic food items are more expensive which makes people more inclined toward conventional food items. However, is it right to save a few bucks and put your health at risk? The difference between organic items, especially meat and beef isn’t just the price. It is the quality that makes all the difference. And when we talk about quality, it isn’t just the taste. It is because conventional veggies often carry pathogens while organic items including meat and chicken offer a range of benefits. Still unconvinced about buying organic meat?
When buying meat, fish, chicken, or vegetables, grocery shoppers need to prioritize quality over price. You can understand the benefits of organic food by considering factors: organic food items cause less harm and are they more nutritious. The sales of organic food items in the meat, fish, and poultry category have seen a considerable increase over the years. The demand for organic meat has increased because of the benefits it offers. So, what exactly organic food is, and why it’s better than conventional options? Let’s find out!
What is Organic Meat?
When it comes to your health, the food you eat isn’t the only concern. It is equally important to consider from where that food comes. You think that you’re eating a balanced, nutritious diet. But what if the chemicals and additives given to animals on farms aren’t safe for human consumption? Animals fed with growth-enhancing hormones and meat saturated with chemicals pose a health risk to consumers. To eliminate these health risks, a change in the farming practices was introduced and that resulted in producing organic food items. When it comes to crops, organic farming involves safe agricultural practices without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, or bioengineered genes (GMOs).
Organic meat, pork, or chicken means the animals raised for meat, eggs, and dairy products are fed organic feed and forage. Organic animal farming means livestock get a natural living condition where they graze on pasture, feed organic food, and must not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any other harmful product. For raising livestock, proper Organic Standards are followed. Organic meat is different from non-organic products in terms of what the animals eat, where and how they live, and how they are treated if get sick.
Benefits of Consuming Organic Meat
Consuming organic meat is better for your health, as well as for the planet. Eating organic meat, fish, or beef eliminates the risk of consuming toxic chemicals that are given to animals to promote abnormal growth. In the organic animal farming method, the cattle must graze in an organic pasture for at least 120 days during the grazing season. Grass-fed cattle have higher levels of omega-3s and more antioxidants. It means organic meat is more nutritious and may supplement the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.
Organic meat means the product is free from antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones, or pesticides. This method also prioritizes the health and natural behavior of animals by providing them with 100% organically produced food. This sustainable production method protects the environment and cows are pasture-raised and grazed. In addition to this, organic meat producers utilize renewable resources and focus on conversing soil and water to keep the environment safe. In short, the major benefits of organic meat include:
- Higher nutritional value
- Ruminant meat has more omega-3 fatty acids and less cholesterol
- Higher source of antioxidants
- Eliminates the risk of exposure to pesticides, antibiotics, and growth hormones
- Keeps environment safe and helps mitigate climate change
