For many years, convenience has compromised the quality of our food. Livestock is often fed chemicals to speed up growth and meet high demand, leading to detrimental long-term effects on our health and our children’s health. While convenience has provided short-term benefits, the long-term consequences are alarming. Transitioning to healthier food choices can be challenging in today’s society, but with willingness and determination, it is possible.
Gone are the days when we patiently waited months or even years to enjoy goat meat or beef. Now, the waiting period has been drastically reduced to meet demand, but at what cost? We are compromising our health and longevity for the sake of convenience, sacrificing the quality of our food and, ultimately, our lives.
Organic meat means livestock raised in natural conditions without synthetic chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics. These animals are free-range, roaming outdoors and eating organic feed without genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This ensures healthier meat that is better for our health and the environment.
Why Choose Organic Meat?
Health Benefits: Organic meat is free from harmful chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics. It contains higher levels of essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Environmental Impact: Organic farming practices are sustainable, reducing pollution, conserving water, and promoting soil health. They also minimize carbon emissions and protect wildlife.
Animal Welfare: Organic farming prioritizes the humane treatment of animals, allowing them to roam freely and express natural behavior.
The Difference Between Organic and Conventional Meat
Conventional meat production often involves confined spaces, synthetic feed, and growth hormones. Organic meat comes from animals raised in natural conditions without these additives. Organic meat typically has higher nutrient content and fewer harmful residues. Organic farming practices are more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Examples of Organic Meat
Grass-fed Beef: Cattle raised on a natural diet of grass, free from synthetic chemicals. Here we are talking about that cow that roams around your village, what we call Swazi robots in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Free-range Chicken: Chickens that roam outdoors and eat organic feed.
Pasture-raised Pork: Pigs raised in natural environments without antibiotics or hormones. Not really a big fan of pork because Pork can harbour parasites like Trichinella spiralis, which can cause trichinosis, a parasitic infection. Proper cooking is essential to kill these parasites.
Local Farmers Markets: Fresh, locally sourced organic meat.
Organic Farms: Farms dedicated to organic practices, such as Grasslands Beef and Spier Wine Farm.
Specialty Stores: Shops that focus on organic products, like The Jacksons Real Food Market in Kyalami and Sandton, some Woolworths stores.
Local farms: The local individuals that sell organic meat.
Appreciating the Village Lifestyle
We should not take the village lifestyle for granted, as it represents a foundation of longevity. Villages offer clean air, lower carbon emissions, and soil rich in minerals that nourish grass, resulting in healthier livestock. The beef from cows that graze on this nutrient-rich grass is packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
City life is financially taxing and detrimental to our health. Over time, the money earned in the city is often spent on medical bills to heal the body from the damage caused by urban living. If you live in the city, it is crucial to prioritize your health now rather than later.
By incorporating organic meat and other healthy choices into your diet, you can significantly improve your well-being and enjoy the benefits of a more natural, sustainable lifestyle. Let’s embrace the practices of our ancestors, who grew their food and raised their livestock to feed their families with love and care.