This year, why not use those New Year’s Resolutions
to reap the benefits of pasture-raised meat and eggs!
There are of course the sustainability benefits of choosing to support your local farmers and the local land. Grass-fed cows can actually be beneficial to the environment. The USDA has studied the effects of pasture-raised animals and has found that compared to undisturbed grassland (and of course feedlots), these grazed pastures have a higher amount of carbon stored in the soil. This stored carbon, which occurs when the cows’ hooves naturally till the land, means increased soil fertility and decreased greenhouse gas emission (i.e. slowed global warming).
And then there are the nutritional benefits of eating pasture-raised meats. Animals raised on the open land, with no antibiotics or hormones, have less environmental toxins to process. When the body is overwhelmed by toxins, it stores them in the fat of the animal (or human). So to avoid overloading your own body with toxins, animal fat should only be consumed from a pastured source. The juicy, flavorful fat from pasture-raised animals also provides much-needed nutrients, like healthy omega-3’s. Rejoice, and enjoy your fair share of pasture-raised meat, fat and all!
So go ahead, start a new tradition of pasture-raised meats this year (or keep with the old if it’s already of your nature): a tradition in which you and your friends and family will know where your meat is coming from, will savor the flavor of pasture-raised meat, and can enjoy the nutritional benefits along the way.
Here’s to the health of you, the animals and the land. Happy New Year!
O’Brien, Dennis. “Cattle Pastures May Improve Soil Quality.” Soil Science Society of America Journal. 2010. Volume 74, pages 2131-2141.
Charnley and Doull. "Human exposure to dioxins from food, 1999-2002," Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2005. 671-679.