Milk: Does it do everybody good?

According to a study done by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), dairy farming produces weak, starved, lame and infertile cows.

Dairy farmers breed cows for high yields of milk rather than endurance. The cows are kept indoors with zero grazing room and a large majority of their feed is used to produce milk. They become emaciated and weak and are led to premature slaughter.

Compassion in World Farming (CWF), an animal welfare charity in the UK, pleads with consumers to buy organic milk and dairy products.

"For far too long we have been milking cows beyond endurance. We need to breed a robust cow which can produce sustainable amounts of milk on pasture without mining her own body - a cow with a work-life balance," said Phil Brooke, a Welfare Development Manager at CWF.


Other products are available in addition to purchasing organic milk products:
organic soy milk
coconut milk
almond milk
rice milk


For those concerned about calcium-deficiency:

"You can decrease your risk of osteoporosis by reducing sodium and animal protein intake in the diet ,increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, exercising, and ensuring adequate calcium intake from plant foods such as kale, broccoli, and other leafy green vegetables and beans. You can also use calcium-fortified products such as breakfast cereals and juices, although these products provide more concentrated calcium than is necessary."-Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine

Red Meat, White Meat and No Meat

Did you know that a steak a day, much unlike apples, does not keep the doctors away?

In fact, according to an article on naturalnews.com, 4*** ounces of red meat per day increases your mortality rate 30%** (in contrast to those who eat the smallest recommended amount of red meat).

If you create your meals with health and veggies in mind, you’ll have a lowered risk of colorectal cancer, heart disease and other cardiovascular-related diseases and deaths; you’ll have a healthier body.

For example, the Big Mac you had the other day for lunch wouldn’t adhere to these tips. Neither would beef, liver, pork, sausage, or pepperoni.

Now, you don’t have to cut meat out of your diet completely. Things are better in moderation, right? Also, there are an abundance of white meats that are more beneficial to your health: chicken, turkey, fish, poultry hot dogs and canned tuna, to name a few.

Certainly, red meat does have its advantages. It is a good source of protein and energy and, when lean, can aid in heart disease prevention. If you are going to eat red meat (which many do), the leaner the better. Too much of it, which means too much animal fat, can increase your risk for heart disease by 50%. If you simply can’t live without it, the recommended serving for optimum health is a little bit over one serving per week. (A typical serving is 3-4 ounces.)

Essentially, your plate should look more like this:

And less like this:

I’ve discussed how to be healthier while eating red meat but one of the best ways to achieve optimum health is through a vegetarian diet.

Just as with a diet that includes red meat, there are both right and wrong ways to go about a vegetarian diet. Growing up, I had a lot of friends ‘go’ vegetarian. Three weeks later, the cookies and candy diet proved to be exhausting and unhealthy.

Before you begin your vegetarian diet, it would be wise to research the best ways to obtain your nutrient requirements. The nutrients include fats; proteins; carbohydrates; fiber; enzymes; vitamins; minerals; beneficial bacteria & soil based organisms. Drink a lot of water, look up some good recipes and remember to use balance in obtaining your proteins, etc.

Remember, moderation is key!

**mortality rate means you will die sooner!

***edit: When I posted this initially, I mistakenly said '40' instead of
'4'. Thanks to "Matt" for pointing out my error!

http://www.csiro.au/resources/ps8l.html

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Live+longer+reducing+meat+intake+Study/1426309/story.html

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art30907.asp