Organic Meat Vs Non Organic Meat
Unless you are ready to spend more money, buying organic food products or organic meat feels useless.
In this article we will discuss about organic meat vs non organic meat.
With the growing concerns about live-style driven diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cancer, people are getting more conscious about what they eat.
Organic and non-organic meat is also becoming a part of the discussion among people who want to know which is better for their health.
Since they are looking for healthier options, most want to be aware of what they eat.
The growing interest in organic food is due to the fact that it is beneficial not only for human health but also for the environment.
Are you looking for a comparison between organic and non-organic meat? You have come to the right place.
The most important thing we are going to discuss in this article is whether organic meat is healthier than non-organic meat.
What Is Organic Meat?
According to regulations, a meat product to be certified as organic requires that animals are raised in conditions where they are fed on 100 percent organic feed and forage and not administered any hormones or antibiotics.
In addition, these animals should be allowed to graze in open pastures like the animals’ natural living conditions.
Another condition is that the feed given to these animals should be grown in soil that is free from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
What Is Non-Organic Meat?
Although non-organic meat is similar to organic meat in terms of nutrition, it comes from animals that are raised with antibiotics and hormones.
We see from different studies that the use of antibiotics or hormonal injection in rearing animals does not change the nutrition of the meat, but people prefer organic meat because these antibiotics enter the bodies of the consumers.
When these antibiotics enter the human body, they can cause health problems and even chronic diseases like cancers.
Differences Between Organic and Non-Organic Meat :
Use Of Growth Hormones and Drugs:
Contamination of food with antibiotic-resistant bacteria is becoming a major concern as antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a cause of 55,000 Americans and Europeans on average every year.
According to a study published in the Food Science and Nutrition Magazine last year, this type of bacteria was commonly found in beef from northwest Spain.
According to an article published in the Washington Post, organic meat may be contaminated with pathogens, though this contamination is due to bacteria that can be easily treated with antibiotics.
You may have a question about what happens to the animals that are raised organically and need antibiotic treatment for an infection from which they are suffering because some infections are only treated with antibiotics.
Such animals are then removed from the organic farm and sold to non-organic farm owners.
Many studies show that there is a link between growth hormones and cancer.
The US Food and Drug Administration states that growth hormones used in rearing animals cause no threat to humans, while some of them cause breast cancers.
Fat And Calorie Content :
Organic meat has more health benefits as compared to non-organic meat. Organic meat generally has less amount of saturated fats and fewer calories.
Furthermore, it is also rich in healthy omega-3 acids. Organic meat consists of more than 50% more amount of omega-3-fatty acids compared to non-organic meat products.
However, no need to get oversold on the megao-3 hype.
You may find that organic meat is an expensive option, so many other foods, such as nuts and fish, can be affordable options.
Flavour :
Another difference that many people find between organic and non-organic meat is its flavor.
Some people find that organic meat has more flavor, however, many studies show that there is nothing to back up these claims.
No doubt, meat from grass-fed beef will generally taste better, but it does not need to be organic.
In the end, it all depends on personal preferences and taste, and the decision to purchase organic meat is mostly for other criteria.
Farm Practices :
The quality of meat highly depends on on-farm practices. It means how the animals are treated and cared for on a farm.
On an organic farm, all the animals are fed 60% fresh grass and are reared outdoors.
It is considered the right way to raise animals and ensures a high quality of meat.
Nutrition Similarities Between Organic And Non-Organic Meat :
Organic and non-organic meat is both rich in nutrients, including iron, zinc, phosphorus, protein, and B vitamins.
Many studies show that there are very few nutritional differences between organic and non-organic meat.
Both types of meat contain different amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and it depends on how much fat marbling is in the meat.
Health-conscious individuals eat lean cuts of meat that are high in protein and less in fat and calories.
Always keep in mind that eating high-fat meat can lead to high blood cholesterol, which ultimately causes diseases like high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.
How Can Synthetic Chemicals in Meat Affect Us?
As we described above, antibiotics and hormones do not change meat’s nutritional quality, but they affect human health.
Let’s have a detailed look at this aspect to understand why organic meat is healthier.
Effect Of Hormones :
With the increasing awareness of health issues and dietary habits, many people are concerned about hormones in the food supply chain for a good reason.
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy reports that hormones given to animals end up in meat and in the people who consume that meat.
There may be a link between hormones present in meat and increased incidences of certain diseases like cancers, obesity, thyroid diseases, diabetes, infertility, asthma, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and allergies.
Hormones can also end up in animal feed when the fats of other animals are added to non-organic feeds.
Effect Of Antibiotics :
The use of antibiotics in rearing animals and the presence of these antibiotics in meat is also an important concern.
According to a review published in Toxicological Research, using antibiotics in animals as food can cause resistant bacteria strains that can harm human health.
These antibiotics can also destroy the healthy bacteria balance in the human gut.
Conclusion :
When you eat meat, choose organic meat because it can equally impact your health, animal welfare, and the environment.
Although organic meat is more expensive than non-organic meat, it ensures that animals are raised on high welfare standards and without synthetic chemicals like antibiotics and hormones.
The nutritional quality of organic and non-organic meat is almost similar, and the difference comes from the use of antibiotics and hormones in rearing animals.
These synthetic chemicals enter human bodies with the meat and cause different diseases. That is why many people have started consuming organic meat, even if it is expensive.
