In general, leading a healthy lifestyle is a goal most of us strive for on a daily basis.
However, achieving this can become more expensive and exclusive as time goes on. Regardless, investing in our health pays off in the long run as we lead longer and healthier lives.
The food we eat makes a big difference in just about every aspect of our lives, and the role of organic produce and meat plays a fundamental role. The labelling and classification of organic products can get blurry, but we are here to clear things up and provide the knowledge to lead the best lifestyle for you and your family.
What does it mean if beef is organic?
Organic beef entails raising healthier cows to produce better beef that is healthier, tastier and leaner. Organic beef comes down to no growth hormones, preservatives or antibiotics being added to the diet or regime of the livestock and in turn, the meat produced from them.
Naturally, cows consume foods such as legumes, grasses and other plants, having no grains as part of their natural daily diets. When consumed regularly, grains cause the cows to gain weight faster in a shorter period of time due to the easier digesting required.
This results in the cow’s physiological mechanisms being hit out, which can lead to them getting sick. To combat this, antibiotics are administered along with added growth hormone to further ensure the increase of mass and thus, higher yield of meat.
This is then consumed by the people eating the meat from this cow, with all the nasty added extras entering their system. This then disrupts their own physiological mechanisms due to the added hormones and antibiotics that should not be there.
Cows should be able to graze throughout the day in healthy, green pastures naturally and receive the nutrients, minerals and compounds they require. The role of water and the sun in their daily lives is fundamental as it supports the healthy, natural growth of the animal and thus, more nutritious meat being produced.
What are food additives, and why are they added to our food?
According to the Food and Drug Association in the USA, a food additive can be any substance that directly or indirectly becomes a component or otherwise affects the characteristics of any food.
This definition includes any substance used in the production, processing, treatment, packaging, transportation or storage of food. Food additives are used to maintain or improve safety, freshness, nutritional value, taste, texture and appearance.
The increased use of food additives by manufacturers coincides with the consumer demand for more prepared, processed and convenient foods. This results in poorer overall health that comes with an easy and more-convenient lifestyle that puts accessibility first and actual health second.
Possible adverse health effects from food additives
The substances found in conventional meat products present a host of possible negative effects on our health. This can have serious long-term consequences and lead to significant health issues.
Growth hormones have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, whilst routine antibiotics are linked to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The use of GMOs leads to a disruption in gut health, directly causing Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Additives are also added to the final product, such as preservatives, colourants, and flavour enhancers. These are all proven to be linked to allergies, asthma and possibly even some carcinogenic effects.
There are also emulsifiers, fillers, and stabilisers which are added to processed meat products to make them look and taste better. With flavour being put first, the actual nutrition of a product takes a back seat, and this could be costing our health more than we realise.
Local Organic Beef Providers
We aim to provide the best quality organic products across the board, so we choose our suppliers carefully. For meat we can trust, we stock organic beef from Farmer Angus. If you are looking to make better choices when it comes to where and how you get your meat, look no further than our trusted provider.
About The Brand
Farmer Angus is one of two grass-fed, pasture-reared beef producers in the Western Cape. Biodynamic and regenerative agricultural principles and practices are applied in the farming of produce, including cattle, pigs and laying hens, as well as vegetables and wine.
Situated on 126 hectares of irrigated pasture at Spier Wine Estate near Stellenbosch, they show love to the people who work on the farm, the earth and the people who eat their grass-fed beef. All Farmer Angus products are also 100% growth hormone-free and routine antibiotic-free.
Regenerative Agriculture To Support The Earth
The sensitive pasture management of the farm is based on the high-density grazing methodology or “mob-grazing” espoused by Andre Voison, Allan Savory and Ian Mitchell-Innes. The enormous amount of manure and urine that is deposited onto the soil eliminates the need to apply any artificial (NPK) fertilisers.
Once an area has been grazed, the animals are moved to give the pasture and soil time to regenerate and recover. The cattle are moved three times a day and a minimum of 6 weeks passes before the pastures are grazed again. This practice improves the soil, making it healthier and able to absorb more carbon, which renews and doesn’t destroy the land.
Grain-fed meat is tasteless, often packed with hormones and is inflammatory by nature. Grass-fed beef has up to five times the amount of healthy Omega 3s. This is because the animal’s digestive system is violated by the grain fats they’re forced to metabolise, throwing the Omega 6 and Omega 3 ratio out of balance.
Eating meat should not be your only source of protein, but when you do choose meat, choose a farmer that you can trust to produce beef that is good for your health and good for the environment. By allowing animals to roam freely in uncrowded outdoor spaces, they simply do their thing and eat real grass with no need to have antibiotics administered.
A South African Reality
When considering health, diet and lifestyle, South Africa has often been ranked amongst the 20 most unhealthy countries in the world.
This is due to the manner, quantity, and quality of harmful products being produced and consumed. Our meat industry plays a huge part in this, with overconsumption of non-organic meat products wreaking havoc on people’s health.
As a whole, there are many things we can do to change the health of our nation. However, this comes down to small changes in the big scheme of things that add up over time.
Looking at our diet and making smart, educated and healthy choices with our food will be a great start. This will then change the demand and supply on a more significant level, which results in changes that everyone can reap benefits from.
What Makes Organic Choice Different?
At Organic Choice, we want to help with this vision and make it a reality for us all to lead better and healthier lifestyles. We feel it is our responsibility to spread awareness and equip people with the knowledge to make better choices for their health daily.
Our search for clean, pasture-raised organic foods has led us to Farmer Angus, and the farm focused on restorative agriculture, which is good for us and our planet. We proudly stock their products, providing the optimal organic meat where there is no compromise between nutrition and taste.
The Big Picture
With the emergence of convenience in every avenue of our daily lives, it is easy to get sucked into compromising our health for the sake of accessible alternatives. We cannot afford to be ignorant and allow our health to be compromised. Now more than ever, it is essential to be conscious of where our food comes from and how it is created.
By truly reading the labels, educating yourself and making better, healthier choices daily, you put your health first in the long run. The investment in your health can only grow over time and lead to the best version of you and your lifestyle in the future.
