Why buying high-quality meat is important

Happy Friday!

I’ve been getting a lot of questions regarding meat and if it’s really that important to buy organic, local, grass-fed, ect. I am also asked (on the daily) why I am not a vegetarian or vegan since I am a nutritionist. I am here to clear some stuff up for you 🙂

My diet. I am not a vegan or vegetarian. I was a few years ago for a little while though. I stick to a whole foods diet and it works for me. Every single body is so different and there are so many different lifestyle and diet choices for each person that will suite their body the best. A lot of people ask me why I am not a vegan or vegetarian since i’m a nutritionist. Just because I am a nutritionist, doesn’t mean I have to be a vegan or vegetarian to be healthy. My diet includes an abundance of nutrient-dense foods that I try to buy local, organic and seasonal. When I buy meat, I research the farms, try to visit them if I can, and ensure that it’s local, organic, fresh and that the animals are treated in a humane way. I am very blessed to live in an area of Alberta where there is plenty of fresh, local and seasonal foods. My body runs extremely well when I include high-quality, grass-fed meat 2-3 times per week. This works for my body. I also want to note that I work with people who include animal products in their diet and I also work with vegetarians and vegans. For me, I am open to helping anyone, regardless of their diet.
This is something I try to explain to people and I think is very important to know: Every one is different. Eat what makes you feel great. Do your research (and lots of it!) when choosing your diet & lifestyle. Include a variety of healthy, nutrient-dense whole foods in your diet. Pay attention to your own diet. There’s no need to worry about any one else’s diet and make them feel bad about what they choose to eat. Don’t be scared of healthy fats or grains (if you can eat them). Don’t “follow the trends” and force your body to eat a certain way when it doesn’t feel right. I see this a lot. I can’t stress these points enough. Do what makes YOUR body happy. When you find that perfect balance with your diet and lifestyle, your body will let you know and show you lots of love for it. You will feel great and full of life.

Let me just state that I don’t think being a vegan or vegetarian is bad. At all. I know why people choose this lifestyle and I 100% support their decisions. I’ve watched all of the documentaries and PETA videos and I am 100% aware of what happens in those huge slaughterhouses and how the animals are treated. I know the health benefits of eating a vegan/vegetarian diet and I also know the benefits of a diet that includes meat. Meat is a tricky one because it can work for so many people and really nourish them and it can also cause imbalances and digestive issues for some people as well. I encourage people (who do eat meat) to look into the farms they purchase from and KNOW the quality of their meat, how the animals are treated, where the animals graze (or if they are even “allowed to graze”) and what they are being fed.
With that being said, let’s get into the details of meat quality.

What is “organic” meat and why it’s important to choose organic
“Organic standards” for meat ensures that animals do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. They are given year-round access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, fresh air, clean water for drinking, and direct sunlight (when weather permits it). Feedlots and grassy yard areas need to be big enough to allow animals to freely graze and walk around without being crowded and without competition of food. Animals are treated good and not abused and confined into small cages/ areas. There are ingredients that are prohibited to use such as: animal byproducts, urea and arsenic compounds.
When animals are abused, live in constant fear and sadness, and have high adrenaline running through their bodies, this allll goes into the meat you are eating. When you buy organic, the animals should be treated in a humane way and the quality of your meat is improved.
Organic meat tastes better too!

Note: While having the organic certification  is important, it is also verrry expensive to actually get. A lot of farmers and butchers get this because they can afford it. However, some smaller businesses cannot. I recommend checking out farms, even if they aren’t certified, and ask them about their practices, animals, diets, soil, ect. A lot of farmers and butchers are 100% organic and follow all of the standards but can’t afford the certification just yet. When I go to the farmers market, it amazes me how many follow these standards but aren’t certified yet because they are saving up for it. Be confident and ask them anything you want about their farms. Ask them the sizes of their grassy areas, what their animals are being fed, ect. This goes for produce as well. Ask them about the chemicals they use to spray everything. The good ones will be thrilled to tell you anything and everything about their businesses.

Why to buy local meat
When you buy local, you are supporting smaller local farmers & butchers with their business. Your food is fresher and generally tastes a LOT better. Because it’s local, the amount of time it takes to get to you is much faster than if it’s shipped a few provinces away (or further!) meaning the food is fresher and is higher in nutrients.

What does grass-fed and grain-fed mean and which is better?
>When an animal is grain-fed, this means their diet contains different grains and generally contains a lot of soy and corn. A lot of places don’t use organic soy or corn either and can’t promise that they’re not GMO. A lot of those larger-scale slaughterhouses don’t allow their animals to roam freely and are often fed diets high in soy and corn.

>When an animal is grass-fed, this means the animals roam and chew on plenty of grass. This is the diet that’s most natural for them. This is especially great if the farm is organic (the soil, grass, ect are certified organic and free of pesticides). Grass-fed animal meat contains much more omega 3, vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, zinc and potassium as well.
*I prefer buying grass-fed and grass-finished when I can to ensure they aren’t grass-fed THEN grain-fed at the end. It’s harder to find and MUCH more expensive, but the flavor and benefits outweigh the price for me. Note: if they are grass-fed then grain-fed at the end, this doesn’t necesarrily mean its bad quality, it’s just up to your personal preference*

*Note: Although high-quality meat can have many benefits, it can also cause inflammation with some people if they eat way too much of it on the daily. Like anything in life, moderation is key <3

Phew, that was a lot of reading! I hope this post shed some insight on the importance of buying good-quality meat. Again, I am not here to tell ANYONE how to eat or if they should eat meat or not. I just wanted to give some information that I find helpful for myself when I purchase meat. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to email me: marcy@glowingholistichealth.com and I can answer any questions!

Websites that provided me with some information:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/organic-standards
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic

Have a great weekend!
Marcy xo