Organic Produce, Grass-Fed Meat…Does It Really Matter?
Is organic produce better than conventionally grown?
What about grass-fed meat? Is it healthier than “grain-finished”?
You may have seen articles lately claiming that organic produce and grass-fed meat are no healthier than conventional alternatives.
Is it true? Where is this coming from?
Maybe it has something to do with organic food sales growing from $1 billion in 1990 to $31.5 billion in 2011—cutting into the sale of conventional produce and meat?
Or maybe it is the same idea as “gluten intolerance denial”… in which journalists and the general public claim that non-celiac gluten intolerance is an imaginary condition with no basis in evidence.
It only takes a few minutes of research to determine that:
Yes, organic produce and grass-fed meat are healthier than conventional alternatives.
And, yes, non-celiac gluten intolerance is a very real condition.
In the case of organic produce, one study demonstrated that just replacing one serving a day with organic produce increased fertility.
Relative to organic and grass-fed meat, it is superior to conventional meat in nearly every way:
It has a better fatty acid profile (higher omega-3 and more CLA)
It is lower in toxins, especially pesticides
It is less likely to contain antibiotic residue and drug-resistant bacteria
It is higher in some nutrients, like vitamin E
So, if you are wondering if grass-fed organic meat is worth the extra expense, the answer is yes. I suggest you buy as much of your meat and other animal products this way as you can afford.
If you want to know the grass-fed meat and wild-caught seafood you are getting is high quality without searching for it, you might try a delivery service like Butcher Box.
They often have free offers for new subscribers. Right now, if you sign up by July 4 you get 1 rack of St. Louis ribs, 2 ribeye steaks, and 2 lbs of ground beef for FREE in your first box.
Hopefully, over time, organic and pasture-based ranching will simply become the default.
It’s better for us, and it’s better for the planet.
Schedule an appointment if you’d like to optimize your nutrition and supercharge your health!