340- Local Grass Fed Meat

Struggling to find good healthy meat that hasn't been treated with hormones or antibiotics? I was recently told about a great website where you can get good quality meat shipped to you for a decent price. You can visit the website Eat Wild where you can find beef, goat, bison, chicken, dairy, pork, lamb, etc. The website gives you the option of local farms where you can pick up your own meat, or where you can have farms ship the meat directly to you. Doesn't get better than that right?

Here is one of the farms that will ship to California residents:

"Albaugh’s Frosty Acres raises purebred Shorthorn cattle. All our animals are synthetic hormone and antibiotic free.

Our cattle are unique in that we can date their lineage back to the 1820s via the American Shorthorn Association. The Shorthorn, because of its ability to efficiently convert forage and its proven marbling and early finishing characteristics, is the ideal breed for the production of choice, gourmet, grass-fed beef.

We believe you will find our grassfed beef to be of the finest and highest quality you will find anywhere. All of our cattle are raised on native grass and forage, breath clean, fresh mountain air, and drink from crystal clear streams and springs from the surrounding Cascade Mountain Range. Our beef is aged three weeks, cut, vacuum sealed, then flash-frozen before being shipped to you.

We invite you to browse our website and learn more about us, our heritage and history, and about the cattle we believe will provide you with the finest eating experience anywhere.

We sell USDA approved whole, halves and quarter beefs."

To find a farm near you or for more information on grass-fed meat, visit Eat Wild.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 290- 7 Foods That Experts Won't Eat

I have copied the following article entirely from the Health Freedom Alliance website, because frankly it's that good. I think some of the foods listed that experts would never eat might slightly surprise you. If nothing else it may at least make you think about some of your food choices.

7 Foods You Should Never Eat:

Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals–and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health.

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they’re organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today’s food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what’s safe–or not–to eat. We asked them a simple question: “What foods do you avoid?” Their answers don’t necessarily make up a “banned foods” list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health–and peace of mind.

1. The Endocrinologist Won’t Eat: Canned Tomatoes
Fredrick Vom Saal, is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi.

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

2. The Farmer Won’t Eat: Corn-Fed Beef
Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. “We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,” says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it, ask your butcher.

Budget tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning. You can also buy direct from a local farmer, which can be as cheap as $5 per pound. To find a farmer near you, search eatwild.com.

3. The Toxicologist Won’t Eat: Microwave Popcorn
Olga Naidenko, is a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize–and migrate into your popcorn. “They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,” says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

Budget tip: Popping your own popcorn is dirt cheap

4. The Farm Director Won’t Eat: Nonorganic Potatoes
Jeffrey Moyer is the chair of the National Organic Standards Board.

The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes–the nation’s most popular vegetable–they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. “Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won’t,” says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). “I’ve talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals.”

The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn’t good enough if you’re trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.

Budget tip: Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional spuds.

5. The Fisheries Expert Won’t Eat: Farmed Salmon
Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, published a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.

The problem: Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. “You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer,” says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. “It’s that bad.” Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.

The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it’s farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon.

Budget tip: Canned salmon, almost exclusively from wild catch, can be found for as little as $3 a can.

6. The Cancer Researcher Won’t Drink: Milk Produced With Artificial Hormones
Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.

The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. “When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract,” says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. “There’s not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans,” admits North. “However, it’s banned in most industrialized countries.”

The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products.

Budget tip: Try Wal-Mart’s Great Value label, which does not use rBGH.

7. The Organic-Foods Expert Won’t Eat: Conventional Apples
Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods.

The problem: If fall fruits held a “most doused in pesticides contest,” apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it’s just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. “Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers,” he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson’s disease.

The solution: Buy organic apples.

Budget tip: If you can’t afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them. But Kastel personally refuses to compromise. “I would rather see the trade-off being that I don’t buy that expensive electronic gadget,” he says. “Just a few of these decisions will accommodate an organic diet for a family.”

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 53- Grass-Fed vs. Corn-Fed Beef

I went for over 10 years without eating red meat (well occasionally I had beef jerky), not for really any other reason other than I just didn't like the taste, smell, or texture of red meat. I grew up with beef that my family raised, so I knew what good quality meat was at a early age. Yeah, the butchering process disgusted me, and the cow hides that we had hanging in our garage, but I didn't decide to stop eating meat for those reasons.

Over the last few years, I have really changed my views on food and eating, and during this new transformation I decided that I was missing red meat from my diet. My husband who has always been a big meat eater, was stoked at my decision, and commended me when I started bringing home beef when I would go grocery shopping. But what we didn't see eye to eye on, what the type of meat that we would bring home. To me if I am going to eat red meat, I'm only going to buy good quality meat. He on the other hand went for whatever was on sale in the meat section.

So hence the purpose of today's blog. I have been working with my husband on learning how to read labels on meat, but the truth is there are so many other people out there, just like him, that don't know the difference between the types of meat that they are purchasing or the benefits from buying good quality meat. When it comes to grass-fed vs corn-fed beef, the difference can be surprising.

First of all, a little anatomy of the cow's digestive system. Grazing animals, such as cows and sheep, are designed to convert grasses into food that we can digest. Their rumen (cow's stomach) ferment the cellulose from the grass into protein and fats, due to the natural bacteria that resides there. Unlike the human stomach, the pH of the rumen is neutral. When cows are feed a corn diet, the rumen becomes highly acidic, which causes heartburn in the animal.

Michael Pollan, author of "Omnivore's Dilemma," "In Defense of Food," and several others, wrote an interesting article in the New York Times regarding feeding cows a grain-based diet:

"Perhaps the most serious thing that can go wrong with a ruminant on corn is feedlot bloat. The rumen is always producing copious amounts of gas, which is normally expelled by belching during rumination. But when the diet contains too much starch and too little roughage, rumination all but stops, and a layer of foamy slime that can trap gas forms in the rumen. The rumen inflates like a balloon, pressing against the animal’s lungs. Unless action is promptly taken to relieve the pressure (usually by forcing a hose down the animal’s esophagus), the cow suffocates.
A corn diet can also give a cow acidosis. Unlike that in our own highly acidic stomachs, the normal pH of a rumen is neutral. Corn makes it unnaturally acidic, however, causing a kind of bovine heartburn, which in some cases can kill the animal but usually just makes it sick. Acidotic animals go off their feed, pant and salivate excessively, paw at their bellies and eat dirt. The condition can lead to diarrhea, ulcers, bloat, liver disease and a general weakening of the immune system that leaves the animal vulnerable to everything from pneumonia to feedlot polio.
Cows rarely live on feedlot diets for more than six months, which might be about as much as their digestive systems can tolerate. “I don’t know how long you could feed this ration before you’d see problems,” Metzen said; another vet said that a sustained feedlot diet would eventually “blow out their livers” and kill them. As the acids eat away at the rumen wall, bacteria enter the bloodstream and collect in the liver. More than 13 percent of feedlot cattle are found at slaughter to have abscessed livers.
What keeps a feedlot animal healthy—or healthy enough—are antibiotics. Rumensin inhibits gas production in the rumen, helping to prevent bloat; tylosin reduces the incidence of liver infection. Most of the antibiotics sold in America end up in animal feed—a practice that, it is now generally acknowledged, leads directly to the evolution of new antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” In the debate over the use of antibiotics in agriculture, a distinction is usually made between clinical and nonclinical uses. Public-health advocates don’t object to treating sick animals with antibiotics; they just don’t want to see the drugs lose their efficacy because factory farms are feeding them to healthy animals to promote growth. But the use of antibiotics in feedlot cattle confounds this distinction. Here the drugs are plainly being used to treat sick animals, yet the animals probably wouldn’t be sick if not for what we feed them."

So why is it that we feed cows a corn based diet rather than what they were designed to eat? Because it's not only cheaper, but it's faster as well. Instead of waiting until the cows are large enough, say around 4 to 5 years, corn fattens them up faster so that they can be ready at as young as 14-16 months.

Alight, we already know that feeding cows corn-fed includes the use of antibiotics and increases the chances of disease being transferred to us, but what we haven't covered yet is the nutritional differences in grass-fed vs corn-fed beef. Grass-fed beef not only is lower in overall fat and in saturated fat, but it also provides more Omega-3 fatty acids, more conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), and more vitamin E. Corn-fed beef actually typically contains only 15-20 percent as much Omega-3 fatty acids as does grass-fed beef.

Now the hard part, where do we find this kind of beef? When shopping for beef, there are a couple of key words: Organic, Grass-fed, Free-range, and Hormone/Antibiotic free. Just because the label contains one of these key words, does not mean that the rest are just understood to be there as well. If a label states that it is "organic" and "hormone/antibiotic free," you still need to confirm that it was grass-fed, since even on organic farms cows can be feed grain, especially in their last few months. Then you have labels that only state that it was grass-fed, without the organic label. In this case you have to be carefully since the grass it was grazing on could have been treated with synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. So the end result to look for? Grass-fed and finished, organic meat is your top option!

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP