Tonight's post is a little longer than anticipated but, there was just so much information I wanted to share with you. It would appear that there is more information regarding the use of hormone and antibiotics in livestock as well as the impact it has on our health!
I too, for a long time, believed the lie that there was added hormones in our beef that was causing puberty at a younger age. According to healtheating.org "some scientists believe that childhood obesity may lead to earlier onset of puberty. However no research shows that milk or dairy products play a role in early puberty."
I was surprised to learn, after one of the volunteers showed me, in m&m's, the percentage of nano-grams in each food product. Basically when we eat 5 oz of beef (no hormones added) we receive 2 nano-grams of hormones naturally. If the beef has had hormones over the course of it's lifetime, you then receive 1/2 of a nano-gram of hormones.
How small is a nano-gram? A nano-gram is one billionth of a gram. It is astronomically small. It's so small you can't weigh it. It's maybe a pinprick size. Then take that and divide it by half. That's how much of an added hormone you get with 5 oz of steak.
Antibiotics:
*One reason that farmers give antibiotics to livestock is because maintaining animal health is essential for ensuring a safe and secure food supply. The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine reports that the appropriate use of antibiotics reduces the risk of unhealthy animals entering our food supply.
*The FDA does not allow retailers to sell meat with traces of antibiotics above strict safety limits. The FDA and US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations require specific withdrawal times - a set number of days that must pass between the last antibiotic treatment and the animal entering the food supply.
The FSIS also performs scheduled, but random, testing of meat nationwide to ensure no antibiotics are present above the limits set by the FDA.
Hormones:
*The FDA conducts food-safety evaluations to ensure milk from hormone treated cows is safe from human consumption. Pasteurization destroys 90% of hormones in milk and the FDA has found no difference between the milk produced by hormone-treated cows compared with untreated cows.
*The Hudson Institutes Center for Global Food Issues has confirmed that 1 pound of farmed beef cattle given the common hormone estradiol contains 15,000 times less estradiol than the estrogen produced by the average man in one day. IN FACT according to the US National Library of Medicine "eggs contribute more to the dietary intake of estradiol than beef, whether the animal is legally treated with hormones or not."
*Federal regulations allow hormones to be used on cattle and sheep but not on poultry or hogs. The increased size of chicken breasts are a result of advancements in genetics, feed and othe production practices.
If you would like more information on hormonal implant procedures, you can find the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations over at ecfr.gov/. and look for Title 21, Parts 522 and 556.
It would appear though that the main controversy of the hormones comes from dairy cows. "The actual fear is that manipulation growth hormones in cows-or salmon-may increase another hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which could mimic the effect of human growth hormone in harmful ways. In fact, research has found that milk from rBGH-treated cows contains up to 10 times more IGF than other milk."
According to weight watchers "The growth hormones given to dairy cows and beef cattle are different. In dairy cows, the controversy centers around recombinant bovine growth hormone, a synthetic version of a hormone cows produce naturally."
The American Cancer Society had an interesting study posted on their website regarding rBGH and humans "Bovine growth hormone levels are not significantly higher in milk from rBGH-treated cows. On top of this, BGH is not active in humans, so even if it were absorbed from drinking milk, it wouldn't be expected to cause health effects. Of greater concern is the fact that milk from rBGH-treated cows has higher levels of IGF-1, a hormone that normally helps some types of cells to grow. Several studies have found that IGF-1 levels at the high end of the normal range may influence the development of certain tumors. Some early studies found a relationship between blood levels of IGF-1 and the development of prostate, breast, colorectal, and other cancers, but later studies have failed to confirm these reports or have found weaker relationships. While there may be a link between IGF-1 blood levels and cancer, the exact nature of this link remains unclear. Some studies have shown that adults who drink milk have about 10% higher levels of IGF-1 in their blood than those who drink little or no milk. But this same finding has also been reported in people who drink soy milk. This suggests that the increase in IGF-1 may not be specific to cow's milk, and may be caused by protein, minerals, or some other factors in milk unrelated to rBGH. There have been no direct comparisons of IGF-1 levels in people who drink ordinary cow's milk vs. milk stimulated by rBGH. At this time, it is not clear that drinking milk, produced with or without rBGH treatment, increases blood IGF-1 levels into a range that might be of concern regarding cancer risk or other health effects." In conclusion "The available evidence shows that the use of rBGH can cause adverse health effects in cows. The evidence for potential harm to humans is inconclusive"
At best, the hormones and antibiotics in our food isn't enough to cause us any harm. At worst, one of the hormones is very questionable in the use of dairy cows and needs further research.
I believe everything in moderation. (Even moderation, haha!). I will continue to not consume dairy as for my thyroid and PCOS it has proven to be a food that wrecks havoc on my body. However, everyone else in my family can eat dairy and not have any issues. (Lucky ducks.)
I love working with the cattle out at my aunts farm. I get to know the animals that are providing nourishment for my body. Not everyone is that blessed to work along side their food, to see how it's treated, to see how it's taken care of. For me, it creates respect for the animal.
It was recommended by one of the ladies at the Common Ground Banquet to speak with your local butcher about any questions you might have regarding your meat selection. Ask your butcher where the meat comes from, is it local farmers? What type of hormones and antibiotics are used? How is the meat processed?
I get to see first hand the open land where my beef is raised, fed, and grown on. That's why it's typically best to work with a local butcher shop verse a box chain super market. Over at Red and Honey, she has some great questions on the top 10 things to ask your butcher. These are great things to think about and ponder on. I can tell you that the beef we purchase is grass and soy fed, but it's a good mixture of both. According to Red and Honey - this is the second best option, with grass fed and grass finished beef the being the best option.
I asked myself why grass-fed beef is better than grain-fed beef. While grain in and of itself is not bad, it should just be consumed only in moderation. Especially for cattle, as having a strict grain fed diet can cause many health problems. For cows grain is like cake for humans.
On my aunts farm the cows/heifers have large acres of land to graze on plenty of grass, and every once in awhile they get whats called 'cake'. Well her family calls it cake. It's pellets of grain,among other needed nutrients for the cows to eat. Grain can help with the fat needed to keep a cow warm during cold seasons, as well as create marbling for when humans consume the beef. Overall though, it needs to be given in limited quantities only as an over consumption can cause major health issues for the cattle. Thus why grass fed is better, but a little grain is okay.
This year our beef comes from my aunts farm, our pork is coming from a hog my husband harvested, and well...I still buy chicken and fish from the store! Some day I'll find a farmer near me to buy chicken from!
If your an urbanite, find a butcher. Otherwise I hope the information above helps with any lingering fears or questions you might have about hormones and antibiotics as well as the importance of a grass-fed diet.
Act local, think global.
Blessings,
A
I too, for a long time, believed the lie that there was added hormones in our beef that was causing puberty at a younger age. According to healtheating.org "some scientists believe that childhood obesity may lead to earlier onset of puberty. However no research shows that milk or dairy products play a role in early puberty."
I was surprised to learn, after one of the volunteers showed me, in m&m's, the percentage of nano-grams in each food product. Basically when we eat 5 oz of beef (no hormones added) we receive 2 nano-grams of hormones naturally. If the beef has had hormones over the course of it's lifetime, you then receive 1/2 of a nano-gram of hormones.
How small is a nano-gram? A nano-gram is one billionth of a gram. It is astronomically small. It's so small you can't weigh it. It's maybe a pinprick size. Then take that and divide it by half. That's how much of an added hormone you get with 5 oz of steak.
Antibiotics:
*One reason that farmers give antibiotics to livestock is because maintaining animal health is essential for ensuring a safe and secure food supply. The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine reports that the appropriate use of antibiotics reduces the risk of unhealthy animals entering our food supply.
*The FDA does not allow retailers to sell meat with traces of antibiotics above strict safety limits. The FDA and US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations require specific withdrawal times - a set number of days that must pass between the last antibiotic treatment and the animal entering the food supply.
The FSIS also performs scheduled, but random, testing of meat nationwide to ensure no antibiotics are present above the limits set by the FDA.
Hormones:
*The FDA conducts food-safety evaluations to ensure milk from hormone treated cows is safe from human consumption. Pasteurization destroys 90% of hormones in milk and the FDA has found no difference between the milk produced by hormone-treated cows compared with untreated cows.
*The Hudson Institutes Center for Global Food Issues has confirmed that 1 pound of farmed beef cattle given the common hormone estradiol contains 15,000 times less estradiol than the estrogen produced by the average man in one day. IN FACT according to the US National Library of Medicine "eggs contribute more to the dietary intake of estradiol than beef, whether the animal is legally treated with hormones or not."
*Federal regulations allow hormones to be used on cattle and sheep but not on poultry or hogs. The increased size of chicken breasts are a result of advancements in genetics, feed and othe production practices.
If you would like more information on hormonal implant procedures, you can find the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations over at ecfr.gov/. and look for Title 21, Parts 522 and 556.
It would appear though that the main controversy of the hormones comes from dairy cows. "The actual fear is that manipulation growth hormones in cows-or salmon-may increase another hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which could mimic the effect of human growth hormone in harmful ways. In fact, research has found that milk from rBGH-treated cows contains up to 10 times more IGF than other milk."
According to weight watchers "The growth hormones given to dairy cows and beef cattle are different. In dairy cows, the controversy centers around recombinant bovine growth hormone, a synthetic version of a hormone cows produce naturally."
The American Cancer Society had an interesting study posted on their website regarding rBGH and humans "Bovine growth hormone levels are not significantly higher in milk from rBGH-treated cows. On top of this, BGH is not active in humans, so even if it were absorbed from drinking milk, it wouldn't be expected to cause health effects. Of greater concern is the fact that milk from rBGH-treated cows has higher levels of IGF-1, a hormone that normally helps some types of cells to grow. Several studies have found that IGF-1 levels at the high end of the normal range may influence the development of certain tumors. Some early studies found a relationship between blood levels of IGF-1 and the development of prostate, breast, colorectal, and other cancers, but later studies have failed to confirm these reports or have found weaker relationships. While there may be a link between IGF-1 blood levels and cancer, the exact nature of this link remains unclear. Some studies have shown that adults who drink milk have about 10% higher levels of IGF-1 in their blood than those who drink little or no milk. But this same finding has also been reported in people who drink soy milk. This suggests that the increase in IGF-1 may not be specific to cow's milk, and may be caused by protein, minerals, or some other factors in milk unrelated to rBGH. There have been no direct comparisons of IGF-1 levels in people who drink ordinary cow's milk vs. milk stimulated by rBGH. At this time, it is not clear that drinking milk, produced with or without rBGH treatment, increases blood IGF-1 levels into a range that might be of concern regarding cancer risk or other health effects." In conclusion "The available evidence shows that the use of rBGH can cause adverse health effects in cows. The evidence for potential harm to humans is inconclusive"
At best, the hormones and antibiotics in our food isn't enough to cause us any harm. At worst, one of the hormones is very questionable in the use of dairy cows and needs further research.
I believe everything in moderation. (Even moderation, haha!). I will continue to not consume dairy as for my thyroid and PCOS it has proven to be a food that wrecks havoc on my body. However, everyone else in my family can eat dairy and not have any issues. (Lucky ducks.)
I love working with the cattle out at my aunts farm. I get to know the animals that are providing nourishment for my body. Not everyone is that blessed to work along side their food, to see how it's treated, to see how it's taken care of. For me, it creates respect for the animal.
It was recommended by one of the ladies at the Common Ground Banquet to speak with your local butcher about any questions you might have regarding your meat selection. Ask your butcher where the meat comes from, is it local farmers? What type of hormones and antibiotics are used? How is the meat processed?
I get to see first hand the open land where my beef is raised, fed, and grown on. That's why it's typically best to work with a local butcher shop verse a box chain super market. Over at Red and Honey, she has some great questions on the top 10 things to ask your butcher. These are great things to think about and ponder on. I can tell you that the beef we purchase is grass and soy fed, but it's a good mixture of both. According to Red and Honey - this is the second best option, with grass fed and grass finished beef the being the best option.
I asked myself why grass-fed beef is better than grain-fed beef. While grain in and of itself is not bad, it should just be consumed only in moderation. Especially for cattle, as having a strict grain fed diet can cause many health problems. For cows grain is like cake for humans.On my aunts farm the cows/heifers have large acres of land to graze on plenty of grass, and every once in awhile they get whats called 'cake'. Well her family calls it cake. It's pellets of grain,among other needed nutrients for the cows to eat. Grain can help with the fat needed to keep a cow warm during cold seasons, as well as create marbling for when humans consume the beef. Overall though, it needs to be given in limited quantities only as an over consumption can cause major health issues for the cattle. Thus why grass fed is better, but a little grain is okay.
This year our beef comes from my aunts farm, our pork is coming from a hog my husband harvested, and well...I still buy chicken and fish from the store! Some day I'll find a farmer near me to buy chicken from!
If your an urbanite, find a butcher. Otherwise I hope the information above helps with any lingering fears or questions you might have about hormones and antibiotics as well as the importance of a grass-fed diet.
Act local, think global.
Blessings,
A
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