Why I Eat Organic...

[simply dave]

So I'm reading Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" ( highly recommended) and he's describing the differences between the traditional "industrialized" agriculture model vs. the "commercial organic" model vs. the "beyond organic" model when it comes to our foodstuffs.

I've just started the "beyond organic" section where the author describes Polyface Farms and their techniques. What a difference.

Pollan talks about the difference in the way the cattle are treated and the conditions and overall health of the cattle between Polyface and the CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation).

In the CAFO, he stood there in a pen shoulder to shoulder w/ cattle, knee deep in manure, being injected with hormones and antibiotics to keep them alive and fed pellets.

Fast forward to Polyface Farms where the cattle are allowed to graze/pasture on grass...no hormones/antibiotics needed as the cattle are fed what they're supposed to eat...grass, not corn.

Why do I eat organic? You tell me.

 

[redsamurai]

i wont' be eating meat period till the world collapses and i have no choice to supplement with meat....

been vegetarian since january and just recently started the warrior diet two weeks ago.

 

[EnderJE]

What's the Warrior Diet? Can you summarize?

 

[simply dave]

i wont' be eating meat period till the world collapses and i have no choice to supplement with meat....

been vegetarian since january and just recently started the warrior diet two weeks ago.

I've gone wheat/gluten free for 6 weeks now. We've got a great relationship w/ a rancher out here that does grass fed/organic cattle. We get our beef for an average of $4.50/lb...what a deal.

 

[redsamurai]

warrior diet is simple, eat one large meal a day and fast the the rest of the 23 hours. Exceptions being for small handfuls of raw nuts or sees as those get you back to the fasted stated relatively quickly. When your fasting your body is producing large amounts of it's own growth hormone. It was easy for me to transition to because i've been doing 1-2 day fasts now for 2+ years. But i'd never really lifted weights in a fasted state and was worried how that would work....but it was fine after a couple days. In fact now i'm strting to see more energy post wkt as well. And i really haven't had to supplement with any meaninful amount of raw food either. I have a bag of almonds on standby but haven't really had to dip into it at all in 2 weeks. On days when i'm in class at night i've split the one large meal up into two meals within a couple hours of each other as i have to wkt before school cause the gym closes not long after i get out of class.

 

[simply dave]

Oh...And I forgot one of the best parts...The beef processed at the CAFO? They irradiate the beef to "kill" the bacteria infesting the cattle as they're not designed to eat corn, so there is a high level of E. Coli bacteria present upon slaughter. As for the grass fed cattle...no need to irradiate and/or administer antibiotics.

Bon Appetit! **grin**

 

[EnderJE]

Oh...And I forgot one of the best parts...The beef processed at the CAFO? They irradiate the beef to "kill" the bacteria infesting the cattle as they're not designed to eat corn, so there is a high level of E. Coli bacteria present upon slaughter. As for the grass fed cattle...no need to irradiate and/or administer antibiotics.

Bon Appetit! **grin**

So, does this mean that I can turn into Spiderman or the XMen with that irradiated food?

WIN!

 

[redsamurai]

Oh...And I forgot one of the best parts...The beef processed at the CAFO? They irradiate the beef to "kill" the bacteria infesting the cattle as they're not designed to eat corn, so there is a high level of E. Coli bacteria present upon slaughter. As for the grass fed cattle...no need to irradiate and/or administer antibiotics.

Bon Appetit! **grin**

disgusting, but likely necessary when you're moving food the distances we do do cause like 5 people make food for 350m people in this country

 

[muscleaddiction]

I've gone wheat/gluten free for 6 weeks now. We've got a great relationship w/ a rancher out here that does grass fed/organic cattle. We get our beef for an average of $4.50/lb...what a deal.

I am jealous! Nice deal that is!

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[muscleaddiction]

Oh...And I forgot one of the best parts...The beef processed at the CAFO? They irradiate the beef to "kill" the bacteria infesting the cattle as they're not designed to eat corn, so there is a high level of E. Coli bacteria present upon slaughter. As for the grass fed cattle...no need to irradiate and/or administer antibiotics.

Bon Appetit! **grin**

Fuck that corn fed beef...cows were not meant to eat corn, going to bed otherwise I would stay posting in this thread...

I'm with you Dave 100%!

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[nimbus]

sounds like Polyface Farms are really raising the steaks! (stakes)

..i'll show myself out.

 

[stosstruppe]

While not feasible for *everyone* to eat "organic" or "traditionally" produced food stuffs I've been aware for years how poor industrially created produce is & the suggested long term health implications of living off of it - it's not enough to remove "junk" food from your diet when you see how commercial dairy, poultry, beef and crops are made.

I'm not particularly pro-vegetarian as most people are too ignorant / lazy to ingest the necessary variety of foods to get the necessary amino acids & micro nutrients but it's understandable why you'd cut out meat (& even dairy) if you can't acquire quality produce.

 

[simply dave]

Fuck that corn fed beef...cows were not meant to eat corn, going to bed otherwise I would stay posting in this thread...

I'm with you Dave 100%!

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Thanks buddy. What's even more bizarre is how the beef industry markets "corn fed" beef as some kind of delicacy (marbleized...fancy name for more fat). Corn produces fatter, bacteria infested cattle. The beef we get is every bit as tender and tasty and is naturally lean. I have to add oil to the pan if I'm going to pan sear a few steaks or burgers.

 

[captainahole]

Most organic veg are a crock. I have seem many stories on organic veg and they have almost a much sprays as non. Most places only require a organic farm to be pesticide free for 2 to 3 years and then call themselves organic.

Most veg and beef has be modified to this date so much that it doesnt carry the nutritional values it once had.
I am a beef eater and can tell without a doubt that the flavor of beef is no where near what it used to be.

They kill most chicken within 45 days of birth cause its the optimun time for profit and cost of feeding them is minimized. That to is why you will see pink in you chicken breasts when you roast them with bone in.because the bone has not been able to harder enough and it causes the pink look to it.

As a chef/butcher I have cut up many sides of beef and also can tell you that the differnce in the size of cattle is signifcant compared to 30 years ago. front quarters used to be in the 125lb range but run closer to 150 now because of being altered.

As for wheat, corn, soya the yeild in the feilds are so much higher then they used to be as well in both organic and non organic. cause of modifications. The yield used to be in the 35 bushel range but is closer to the 65 bushel range now. So most of your organic is the modified as well. Ask you farmer about his yield

Thats why in the 70's they used to say that they there was no way that the world could continue to feed the world population with its growth. But now cause of all the modifications they can have abundance of foods.

This is my rant. by the way Im trending on truth drugs. Masteron and Tren. lol.So go ahead and bitch back at me.

 

[simply dave]

As for wheat, corn, soya the yeild in the feilds are so much higher then they used to be as well in both organic and non organic. cause of modifications. The yield used to be in the 35 bushel range but is closer to the 65 bushel range now. So most of your organic is the modified as well. Ask you farmer about his yield

Absolutely. The wheat of just 50-60 years ago is not the wheat we see today. The original Einkorn wheat has 14 chromosomes whereas today's wheat contains over 40 and has been genetically modified to grow faster, shorter, and produce more gluten.

 

[blueta2]

Love this thread

Organic in Canada is legit seeing as we have tough regulations on organic products. I am also a vegetarian, but have no issue with anyone wanting to eat meat that was not slaughtered inhumanely.
If you love your cats and dogs, then why not all animals?

 

[simply dave]

Love this thread

Organic in Canada is legit seeing as we have tough regulations on organic products. I am also a vegetarian, but have no issue with anyone wanting to eat meat that was not slaughtered inhumanely.
If you love your cats and dogs, then why not all animals?

Thanks. We just got organic certification through the county on our gardens here on our property and will most likely be expanding our "operation" over the next few years. We may even consider buying additional land for the sole purpose of farming organically. My next big task though is to build a chicken coop as we want to raise chickens (yes...organically) for eggs and eating. It's going to be quite a test when it comes to slaughtering my first chicken as I tend to establish a bond with my critters, but I figured If I'm gonna "talk the talk" I need to "walk the walk" so to speak, ya know? Going organic is more (to me at least) than just buying something off the supermarket shelf that claims to be. We've become "removed" from the food chain as consumers.

 

[blueta2]

Hmmmmm, well personally, I could not kill any living being, so yeah, it will be tough if you're an animal lover

 

[simply dave]

Hmmmmm, well personally, I could not kill any living being, so yeah, it will be tough if you're an animal lover

Therein lies my conundrum...I don't even like to squash bugs. LOL!

 

[blueta2]

well then, it won't be easy
My ex from many years ago came from a family of huge meat eaters. His mom got some chickens to raise for their eggs and she became so attached to them, she stopped eating chicken. These chickens were killed by a fox 2 yrs into her having them, and she was so devastated, she cried for days.

 

[muscleaddiction]

Love this thread

Organic in Canada is legit seeing as we have tough regulations on organic products. I am also a vegetarian, but have no issue with anyone wanting to eat meat that was not slaughtered inhumanely.
If you love your cats and dogs, then why not all animals?

Hey Blue ...figured I would see you in here.

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[blueta2]

Hey Blue ...figured I would see you in here.

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hi

 

[muscleaddiction]

Where I live I am surrounded by crops as it is the major source of income for the city I live in, that and tourists. Building planter boxes in our yard for fruits and veggies and we have entertained the idea of a chicken coupe as well. Across the street from me are cows grazing on grassland, eating grass...who would have thought. When on vacation we would sometimes drive by ranches and see cows couped up in corrals standing in their own feces with no grass in sight...eating out of metal containers what I would assume is corn or some grain fed...but the smell is death! When there was the e-coli (sorry if spelling incorrect) outbreak in spinach, how do you think that happened? Gee, cows feces contaminating water that runs off into the canals, then the farmers pump water out of the canals to water their crops...so yes I read up on where my meat comes from. All the meat and eggs I get are local ranchers, produce is from local growers and farmers market, and we have fresh fish here on the coast so we are kind of blessed. Another program I am involved in is HEAL...I will post a link to it here when I get to my computer...working with kids on these issues.

http://www.thehealproject.org/

This program is getting our children to start thinking about these issues and getting them involved so they have an awareness about healthy food and choices, instead of McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, and all the other genetically modified food that is produced to feed the masses...and the first place I started was with my family. Everybody needs to make a conscious decision and vote with their dollar at the grocery store...I know when I look into my wife or little girls eyes when I make them breakfast, lunch, or dinner that I have peace of mind that I have done everything in my power to give them the healthiest choices of food for their health and wellbeing, and have already planted the seed in my little girl for when she grows up...my baby is 6 years old, 4'2" tall, and 62 lbs of healthy little girl who hasn't been sick or even had a cold in over three years...now tell me our health doesn't depend on the quality of food we eat! I can go on about how many diseases we can cure just by changing our diets...but that is another discussion all in it's own.

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[C0LUMB0]

I eat organic pussy....tastes the same as regular pussy.

 

[stevesmi]

whoa whoa whoa, you all aren't the only tree huggers on here who grow their own food.

I grow organic food myself and i catch my own wild fish. it blows away the crap they sell in the store.. once you go that route you will never go back ..

using birds and praying mantis to take care of the bugs in my garden, and using organic soil with cow manure.

the key with fish is catch them, put them on ice asap to prevent decompose issues, fillet them.. and then either freeze them with water or put them in the fridge. what they sell in the store who knows what they did to the fish, probably shipped from 2000 miles away and caught 3 weeks ago.

 

[AFeedz]

Thanks. We just got organic certification through the county on our gardens here on our property and will most likely be expanding our "operation" over the next few years. We may even consider buying additional land for the sole purpose of farming organically. My next big task though is to build a chicken coop as we want to raise chickens (yes...organically) for eggs and eating. It's going to be quite a test when it comes to slaughtering my first chicken as I tend to establish a bond with my critters, but I figured If I'm gonna "talk the talk" I need to "walk the walk" so to speak, ya know? Going organic is more (to me at least) than just buying something off the supermarket shelf that claims to be. We've become "removed" from the food chain as consumers.

I can help you with that. I have chickens. I won't eat them when they stop laying eggs, I love them. I have 3.

Tiny is going through henopause I think. She hasn't laid an egg in a couple weeks.

 

[*ebony*]

warrior diet is simple, eat one large meal a day and fast the the rest of the 23 hours. Exceptions being for small handfuls of raw nuts or sees as those get you back to the fasted stated relatively quickly. When your fasting your body is producing large amounts of it's own growth hormone. It was easy for me to transition to because i've been doing 1-2 day fasts now for 2+ years. But i'd never really lifted weights in a fasted state and was worried how that would work....but it was fine after a couple days. In fact now i'm strting to see more energy post wkt as well. And i really haven't had to supplement with any meaninful amount of raw food either. I have a bag of almonds on standby but haven't really had to dip into it at all in 2 weeks. On days when i'm in class at night i've split the one large meal up into two meals within a couple hours of each other as i have to wkt before school cause the gym closes not long after i get out of class.

I've been doing WD for like 2yrs now. I don't follow it strictly and made a number of adjustments to suit me. Its great, I pretty much eat whatever I want and don't worry anymore about portion control and still continued to lose bf.

WD helps you break food addiction fast IMO.

 

[redsamurai]

I've been doing WD for like 2yrs now. I don't follow it strictly and made a number of adjustments to suit me. Its great, I pretty much eat whatever I want and don't worry anymore about portion control and still continued to lose bf.

WD helps you break food addiction fast IMO.

I'm still maintaining a bodyweight of just under 240lbs too....and yeah it's nice to just cook once a day and load up for one meal. I hated cooking 3 or more times a day cause my kitchen would start to look like a warzone. And if Herchel Walker can maintain a bodyweight in the 220's while going through MMA camps on just one meal a day, then normal everyday people can do it as well.

 

[*ebony*]

I'm still maintaining a bodyweight of just under 240lbs too....and yeah it's nice to just cook once a day and load up for one meal. I hated cooking 3 or more times a day cause my kitchen would start to look like a warzone. And if Herchel Walker can maintain a bodyweight in the 220's while going through MMA camps on just one meal a day, then normal everyday people can do it as well.

yea, another plus. I recommend you adjust it as you see fit. its a great way to stay in shape, throw in a couple workouts and yourr good to go. Works for me anyways.

 

[redsamurai]

yea, another plus. I recommend you adjust it as you see fit. its a great way to stay in shape, throw in a couple workouts and yourr good to go. Works for me anyways.

I was concerned about lifting heavy while in a fasted state but i actually had more energy and was lifting just as heavy. My volume actually went up while maintaining intensity, which is usually between 85-95% of max for me. And i feel like i'm leaving the gym with still something in the tank which they say is what you're supposed to do for better recovery, avoiding overtraining.

 

[PICK3]

I eat organic

and by "organic" I mean off the Taco Bell value menu

 

[redsamurai]

I eat organic

and by "organic" I mean off the Taco Bell value menu

so you like the "organic" uncircumsized cawk then right?

 

[juiceddreadlocks]

The Omnivores Dilemma is a great book and food inc was a great movie

My parents raise no-antibiotic, no-corn grazing cattle... beef tastes better that way.

Fresh farm raised eggs are always better, and chickens are really good at telling you if something isn't right on the farm. If you hear a bunch of hens going crazy it's time to get outside and see WTF has wandered up on your land.

I feel a hell of a lot better when I eat from whole foods for a whole week straight and lay off the .

 

[muscleaddiction]

Food Inc. as well as Forks Over Knives are two powerful documentaries to watch that will get you thinking about how and what you eat.

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