There has been a lot of media coverage about meat products and how potentially harmful it can be for our health.
Meat can contain bacteria and carcinogens that can remain in the body for years and whilst farmers still continue to use antibiotics, dioxins, hormones and other toxins on their farms, we may continue to have serious health implications. Through the misuse of antibiotics, new strains of “antibiotic-resistant super-bacteria,” have emerged and as a consequence are either less effective or don’t work at all.
Doctors in GP practices, who would normally rely on the use of antibiotics to treat patients, are now finding it hard to continue to treat patients for these reasons. The use of antibiotics on farms is well documented. It is used not only to promote rapid growth in cattle, but also to make sure that they do not succumb to illness or diseases that have been found on British farms.
Pesticides are also present in larger quantities of meat and can be linked to health problems too, such as cancer and birth defects. They are sprayed on crops, fed to farmed animals and then passed on to humans through the food chain. Like dioxins; pesticides also accumulate in the body over time and can make us seriously ill.
Consumers are led to believe that buying organic meat is completely hormone-free, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Around 12% of meat from the US that had been randomly tested by Inspectors from the European Union where hormones are banned, was found to contain hormones and wasn’t “hormone-free.” (PETA 2010).
Reducing our intake of meat and chicken and replacing it with fish or soya products will be absolutely beneficial.
I agree with all of this. It's such a shame though, because meat tastes soooo good!
Ditto!
Where I grew up we had a lot more organic foods, so we didn't have to worry about the use of chemicals and toxins in our food.
That said, living in a bigger city now the only meat I eat, is usually chicken, sometimes something else on a rare occasion. My sister, however, has been vegetarian for almost 5 years now, so it's definitely something that can be done if one has the desire and willpower.
LeAnna, you've been very fortunate and it's commendable that your sister is vegetarian. During the time that I've cut out meat I have noticed a real difference, although it seems hard at times, it definitely has added benefits for our health. Thanks for posting.
I totally agree with you on this subject. I'm trying to quit eating meat myself. I don't eat it like I use to and most days I don't eat any at all. My sister is now officially vegetarian. She feels better and has lost weight.
Ditto! Being vegetarian is very healthy for all of us in the longer term. I know you will do it Lisa.
I am sorry to hear about your IBS. Just be strong. I don't know a lot about meat, although I eat it all the time because I am Mexican.
Now with this information I am going to cut down even more now, because I know i have high cholesterol. It's not good.
Thanks Ilana for this blog. Hope your IBS is okay.
Thanks Junior. I mostly do okay with my IBS. I have supplements to help me and take out the offending foods that make it worse. Sorry to hear about your cholesterol problems. I know cutting meat out of your diet will go some way to help.
You're very welcome. Thanks for posting, nice to have you on site.