Good News for Carnivores :: Food and Nutrition :: Fats and Oils

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Good News for Carnivores
by author Graham Butler, BSc, CNPA

It’s pretty hard not to notice the growing number of organic products available to today’s consumer. At one time the exclusive preserve of health food stores and farmer’s markets, organic produce and, more recently, meat products are now taking up substantial shelf space in your local supermarket.

For the meat eaters among us, the availability of main course offerings beyond tofu or tempeh has been a major turning point in our acceptance of organic fare. More people now have the opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of their purchases and at the same time accrue a few added health benefits along the way.

Organic Certification

What does “organic” mean when applied to meat products? In Canada organic is defined by private certification agencies such as the Organic Crop Improvement Agency (OCCP) and Pro-Cert Canada (OCPRO). Certification gives the consumer assurance that no genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), steroids, antibiotics, or pesticides have been used in rearing or processing. This makes for more informed decisions on the part of consumers, particularly those who can’t buy from producers directly. It also means that the type of animal-based feed responsible for recent Mad Cow outbreaks is not acceptable under organic certification rules.

In addition, many organic farmers try to maximize the use of grass feed or natural forage This has economic advantages for farmers of grazing animals or ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, and some game species. It also yields nutritional advantages for consumers. However, the benefits of natural forage decrease with the use of supplemental feeding (usually grain based) or hay, so it’s a good idea to know a bit about the feeding methods employed by your supplier.

The saturated and essential fatty acids (EFAs), as well as the overall fat content of the meat from animals fed fresh grass or forage differs greatly from that of conventional meat. Specifically, studies at the University of Wyoming found that meat from grass-fed cattle contained up to 3/4 less fat than conventional beef, with significantly fewer calories per serving.

Meat from grass-fed bison was found to be equally low in fat, making it a healthy alternative for people who want to add variety to their meat choices while lowering their overall consumption of fat. Bison is high in iron and magnesium, contains the antioxidant selenium, and is a rich source of zinc, which aids in protein metabolism and storage and release of insulin.

More About EFAs

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an essential fatty acid that has been the subject of considerable research over the last three decades. It first came to light as a potential cancer-fighting nutrient through research at the University of Wisconsin. Since that time we’ve learned a lot about CLA.

CLA appears to

inhibit breast, colon, prostate, andstomach cancers
lower LDL cholesterol as well as triglycerides levels
reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass
enhance select immune system responses
improve glucose utilization

Source: Summarized from data from the National Dairy Council (USA) (2005)

Why is CLA of concern to the organic meat consumer? Because meat derived from grass-fed animals can have up to 500 percent more CLA than conventional meat. Dairy products may also be similarly enriched, as can free-range eggs.

Few of us know that the ratio of essential fatty acids is as important as the concentration. Irish researchers have discovered that commercial beef is very low in omega-3 fatty acids, leading to a less than ideal omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acid ratio which can sometimes reach as high as 20:1. Grass-fed beef, on the other hand, has a ratio as low as 0.16 to 1–ratios often associated with those cold-water fish species your doctor recommends you consume more frequently.

Shopping Tips

Although it’s great that you can buy organic meat in the supermarket, don’t deny yourself the experience of visiting your local farmer’s market or health food store, or consider buying direct from a producer. In any event, learn as much as possible about the meat you buy. Organic certification is just the beginning.

Elements of Certified Organic Meat

No pesticides or chemical fertilizers in the animal’s feed.
Feed crops grown on land that has not been sprayed for at least three years.
No GMOs in the animal’s feed.
No antibiotics or growth hormones.
Third party accreditation and inspection.
An audit trail traces all certified organic products back to the farm of origin.
A maintained and updated organic processing and handling plan.
Constant monitoring of soil and water quality.

Graham Butler, BSc, CNPA, writes on numerous natural health topics based on his experiences as a consultant, retailer, educator, and lobbyist.

Source: alive #277, November 2005

Take the Guessing out of Organic
So you've made the decision to buy organic. Now, how do you find it? Here are some basic guidelines on what to look for and some suggestions for reducing your exposure to toxic chemicals when organic food is not readily available. If you buy organic from a store, a label offers important guarantees.

Bio-Dynamic Agriculture
Rudolph Steiner's "Agricultural Course" came into being in Koberwitz Germany in 1924. It was the beginning of the development of the bio dynamic method which is now applied with the needed modification on all continent.

Cancer
Cancer develops when cells in the body function abnormally and multiply uncontrollably--a process which eventually leads to tumor growth. A healthy body routinely detects and eliminates abnormal cells.

Food Crisis
Farming is in a crisis, particularly here on the Western Canadian prairie. Everyone is calling it an economic or financial crisis in agriculture.

Organic Certification
Organic farmers need the help of food consumers to make the national organic certification program work. The consumer must challenge the quality of certified organic products to give them credibility.

Detoxing Your Outer Body
Going organic is a sure way of decreasing your consumption of pesticide.

Legislated Disease
Our government needs to pay more attention to the environment if it wants to improve the health of Canadians. Everyone says we have a health care crisis, but it is more than that.

Make Apples Your Super Snack
It doesn't much matter, from a nutritional point of view, which kind of apple you eat. All apples are beneficial to health. But sadly, we currently consume only 20 pounds of fresh apples a year--less than an apple a week.

Getting The Fats Straight
Until recently, saturated fats were designated the health food "bad boys." They stay solid at room temperature and are commonly found in animal products such as beef, duck and pork.

A Pioneer Apple Farmer
The severe Ontario winters in the mid-1930s killed our family orchard, so for years I went to school with no apples. What a hardship! Even at a young age, I knew that apples were very important to our family's survival..

The Potato-Major Polluter or Eco-Spud?
Canada's favorite vegetable--the potato--can be an environmental hazard. But it needn't be s.

A Call to Action Canada's Farmers in Crisis
Consumers, including farmers are an endangered species as they eat polluted food and live in a polluted environment. It's time to take action! Consumers need to have all farmers produce organic food in a clean environment..

Green Garden Fingers Go Organic
Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Well, your garden may not have silver bells and cockle shells, but you certainly can make it more environmentally friendly and safe to work in by trying your hand at organic home gardening.

Return Nutrients to the Soil
"About half the people admitted to Canadian hospitals are malnourished. Their situation tends to grow worse during and after their hospital stay.

Certifiably Better
Discovering foods labelled "organically grown" is getting easier all the time--finding out what has gone into the growing and preparation of these foods may not be as simpl.

Not All Fats Are Bad Fats
Avoid bad fats, choose good fats--it's vital for health. Most people know only the negative half of the fats story. The gist is that fats are bad. This one-sided presentation is hype that serves the industry's need for food products with long shelf lives. Research proves much of the hype completely wrong..

Organic Agriculture Grows Up!
Organic agriculture is booming. The news drew cheers from participants at the 20th annual Guelph Organic Conference in Januar.

Natural Gas Crisis
An important part of gardening is getting to know your soil type and how to maximize it. Soil consists of 50 per cent mineral solids (clay, silt, sand) and 50 per cent water, air and organic matter. A good mixture provides a well-structured soil.Clay soil is dense.

Essential Oils-Essential to Beauty
The art of using oil to improve physical, emotional and psychological well being has been with us for centuries. In the 11th century AD, European healers extracted oils from plants through squeezing and distilling methods. The essential oils were burnt for their antiseptic properties and used topically as medicinal salves..

The Organic Transition
The Taylor family of Kenaston, Saskatchewan, is taking certified organic farming very seriously. They are demonstrating leadership in the industry and are helping to promote institutional change.

Low Federal Support for Organic Farming
On March 29, 2001, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed a caucus Liberal Task Force on Future Opportunities in Farmin.

On the Road to Organic Certification

Organic Group Takes Up Arms
On Oct. 12, 2001, Arnold Taylor, president of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD), announced the directorate's intention to take legal action against those responsible for introducing genetically engineered (GE) canola into Saskatchewan and to hold them accountable for crop losses and damages.

Sustainable Agriculture: Sustenance From the Soil
The industrialization of agriculture has brought many benefits to society and has helped to reduce hunger in a growing world population. However, the potential benefits were likely realized by the 1970.

Winter Blues
While most depression lifted as they resumed normal routines, some have persistent symptoms that require intervention. Mild to moderate depression is not incapacitating and usually improves after three to six weeks.

Fatty Acids are Essential
We eat fat every day. It's one of the three macronutrients-the other two are carbohydrates and proteins-that can be used in the body to produce energy (calories) for heat, to move our muscles and to drive all sorts of metabolic processes that keep us alive and well.

The Greening of Government
Neil Sinclair, leader of the New Green Alliance Party of Saskatchewan, and seven other members from Regina and Saskatoon visited our research and demonstration farm on Nov. 24, 2001..

Alberta ORGANIC Wheat Project
Sharon Rempel, an organic crops and seed researcher working through a charitable organization, the Garden Institute of Alberta, is coordinating project funding for organic wheat and seed research for the 2002 growing season.

Nutritious Organics No Surprise
It's common sense that organic foods are more nutritious than conventionally farmed produce, but now there's science to back that claim. Dr Virginia Worthington at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University reviewed 41 studies comparing 35 vitamin and mineral levels of organic and conventional produce.

Sustainable Farming Ups Yields
The largest study ever of sustainable agriculture, commissioned by the British Department for International Development, concluded that sustainable farming has been the most effective way of raising farm yields in the past decade, with no-till farming being amongst the widely adopted forms.

What Is "Certified Organic?"
Organic food is in demand more than ever. Yet most people aren't entirely clear on what "certified organic" really means.

First Canadian Agricultural Research Farm Receives Organic Certification
The organic research and demonstration farm operated by the Back to the Farm Research Foundation at Davidson, Sask. is the first agricultural research farm or station in Canada to receive organic certification. We received our organic certification certificate on Jan.

Certified Organic: A Sustainable Initiative
The media recently jumped on the report that the federal government spent $914,000 to establish an organic research and education centre at Nova Scotia Agricultural College last July.

Organic Granny Sets Example
Forty-six-year-old Janine Gibson of Steinbach, Man., is both a grandmother and an outstanding leader in the international organic farm movement. I am pleased to report she is also a consultant for our Back to the Farm Research Foundation.

IFOAM
The 14th Organic World Congress of IFOAM, called "Cultivating Communities," was held in the Conference Centre in little Victoria, British Columbia at the height of the tourist season! Anne Macey from Salt Spring Island, BC and chair of IFOAM 2002 said.

Agricultural Revolution in Germany
Could it happen here? For generations we have been duped to believe the million-dollar ad campaigns of myriad food moguls. We fell victim to the science of chemical colouring, food preservatives and taste enhancers-and never questioned the contents of bottles, cans and packages on the supermarket shelves.

Organic Wine
Organic wine? What nouveau decadence will they think of next, you wonder? But oenophiles (wine lovers) could tell you that chemical-free cabernet and pesticide-free pinot aren't new concepts at all.

A Christmas Gift: Help Heal Our Ailing Land
"We were made to believe that synthetic agrochemicals are the panacea to low yield and will end world hunger. But today, people of the world, especially those in developing countries, are still in abject poverty and acute hunger. More than two billion humans are malnourished, according to reports of the United Nations.

Eating Organic
"Pesticides on food? That's horrible!" My six-year-old, Benjamin, looked at me in disbelief. I had just explained that many of our fruits and vegetables were sprayed with toxic chemicals.

Movement in Organic Agriculture
The worldwide push for organic growing is gathering strength under the umbrella organization, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

Eating Organic
Eating organic is the surest way to avoid synthetic pesticides and genetically engineered foods, so shifting the diet to emphasize certified organic foods is important for all of us.

Fats and Oils
There are two kinds of fats: the bad fats we must avoid because they make us sick, and the good fats and oils, which we need for our bodies to function properly and stay healthy until we die at an old age.

The Truth About Coffee
Growing wild in Ethiopia, carried along ancient trade routes to Yemen and through Venice to Europe, coffee finally arrived on our shores in the 1700s.

Developing Your Personal Nutrient Plan
Each of us would do well to become more educated about our body and then develop a personalized vitamin-mineral program to suit.

Give Your Head a Shake
The sun is shining brightly, but when you look at your shoulders you swear you can see snow. Of course, those tiny white flakes have nothing to do with the weather, but they aren't all in your head either. Those embarrassing tiny specks result from an overgrowth of skin cells on the scalp.

Reclaiming Control of Our Food Supply
She has visited villages in India where women have risked their lives to reintroduce local seed varieties, revitalize farming traditions and say "No to genetically modified food.

Living Longer, Living Well
North Americans appear to be living longer. In 1900, the average life expectancy was 45 years but now it is estimated to be 71 years for men and 78 for women.

Reading Labels
Quality is never more important than when it comes to baby food. Ideally, we would prepare all of baby's meals from scratch with organic ingredients. When schedules get too crowded, however, we are grateful for the wide selection of puréed baby food available on store shelves.

Cut to the Mustard
Picture a solitary burger patty (veggie or otherwise) sitting naked on a bun. Somehow, it doesn't seem complete. Where's the pizzazz? Where's the zip? Condiments add excitement to many of our favourite foods.

Where You Bin?
To many health- and eco-conscious consumers, organic foods and bulk bins seem made for each other. Shopping in bulk gives us the option of buying two kilos of rice flour or 10 grams of dried organic blueberries without excessive packaging.

Certified Delicious
Pasta is comfort food, generally high in carbohydrates that stimulate production of serotonin - our brain's feel-good neurotransmitter.

On Board for Organics
Organic foods are the fastest-growing segment of the Canadian agricultural sector. In each of the past 10 years, sales have increased 20 percent in Canada, and worldwide annual sales of organic products are now estimated at $20 billion..

Good Fat. Bad Fat.
While the negative effects of saturated fats have been well documented and widely discussed over the past 30 years, an artificial and potentially deadly fat has silently made its way into our food supply.

The Dirt on Fertilizers
Walt Whitman said, "I bequeath myself to the dirt, to grow from the grass I love. Clearly that was before the invasion of chemical fertilizer.

Slip Into Something More Organic
Many of us have made the shift towards an ecologically aware lifestyle. Perhaps you have chosen to eat organic foods, to buy more locally made products, or to switch to public transport.

You've Heard It Through the Grapevine
After hundreds of studies, what do we really know about wine's health benefits? You've read the data, but how much of it is true? Over 100 scientific reports since 1991 provide strong evidence that wine consumption prevents heart disease.

Don't Get Stiffed
Over four million Canadians suffer with the debilitating symptoms of arthritis-pain and inflammation. Arthritis encompasses over 100 forms of inflammatory disorders with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis the most common.

What's Old is New
The phrase "functional food is everywhere these days, but what does it mean? From a natural health perspective, functional food refers to nutritionally superior food products that have been enhanced through processing, fermentation, or growth technologies.

Wake Up Canada

Are You Getting Enough Essensial Fatty Acids?
We know the body manufactures most of the fats it needs from other nutrients. However, essential fatty acids (EFAs)-sometimes referred to by their derivatives, alpha linolenic and linoleic acids-are essential because the body needs but cannot make them.

UBC Farm
Nestled in the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus on 40 acres of prime land is a well-kept secret: the city's last working organic farm. Since 2000, UBC Farm (landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm) has been a place to appreciate the connections between land, food, and people through both in-depth theory and hands-on experience.

Attention Deficit: A Male Disorder?
Attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the leading childhood psychiatric disorder in North America.

Organics: Hype or Hope?
Do you buy organic products because you don't want pesticides in your food? In a world where persistent toxic chemicals pollute the oceans and DDT has been found in Antarctic snow, perhaps you've wondered if it's possible to buy anything that's truly pesticide free.

Chef Marcus Von Albrecht
Wolfing down ready-made salads from the corner store or speed-spooning a bowl of barley soup might get nutrients into the body, but food is more than fuel. Slowing things down and viewing the kitchen as a sanctuary can put a whole new spin on not only our cooking, but also our health.

Organic: For Better or Worse?
There was a time when buying organic food was something of an ordeal except in summer and fall, when one could always find a farmer's market and stock up on fresh fruits and veggies.

Ch-Ch-Changes
New regulations and a new national label for Canadian organic products will give consumers the assurance that the food they are buying meets the minimum national organic standard of Canada. The new regulations have been drafted in a way that allows their scope to be expanded in the future. This includes livestock feed and aquaculture but does not include pet food, landscape certification, fibre products, and cosmetics.

Big, Fat Beautiful Hair
Strong, healthy hair and smooth, glowing skin requires a daily intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs). These natural oils help build a soft flexible cell wall, resulting in smoother hair and skin. Our bodies crave fat because cells use these good fats to regenerate and build new tissue.

From Pasture to Plate
Catch up with Doe Gregoire at the farmers' market in Cawston, BC, and this spunky pioneer in organics can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about her apples.

Modern Fruits and Veggies in a Nutritional Slump
Remember picking green beans on Granny's farm and feeling confident in their homegrown goodness? Well, the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables has dropped in the past 50 years. Some researchers argue this nutritional slump is caused by the current agricultural trend of growing large-yielding crops fast, which doesn't give plants enough time to synthesize or obtain maximum nutrients from the soil.

Canadian Organic Regulations
Federal regulators deliberate what may become Canada's first official set of national organic regulations. The question on many minds is, how? BC and Quebec do have provincial regulations, but for the past few years, industry leaders-from manufacturers, producers, and sellers to processors, farmers, and resellers-have offered time and input to advance the goal of national laws.

Our Palatable Planet
Author Michael Pollan is at the forefront of an increasingly popular movement of enlightened eaters and conscious consumers. This expanding movement has the power to transform our core values related to our food choices. According to Pollan, those core values are in serious need of revision, and changing our shopping and eating habits not only eases our conscience, it deepens our eating pleasure.

Organic Wheat You Can Eat
The export demand for high quality organic wheat for flour is a huge opportunity for Canadian wheat growers, but they're not taking advantage of i.

Organics Come to Hong Kong
Hong Kong, a magnet for gourmets and food lovers the world over, has been besieged by a number of food scares in recent years, and local demand for healthier food is growin.

Too Late to Save Family Farm
The family farm is going the way of the dodo, according to the University of Manitoba's economist Henry Rempel. He made the comment last year during a World Food Day panel discussion at the university organized by the faculty of agriculture and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

US Organic Rules Lacking
Ten years in the making, the new US National Organic Standards released in December aren't pleasing everyone. The new standards will ensure the label "made with organic ingredients" means at least 70 per cent organic. But they also allow food additives in both these and 100 per cent certified organic products..

Irish Fighting--for Organics!
Irish organic groups have asked the Irish department of agriculture to set organic standards which exceed the European Union minimum. But the department wants to scrap current organic standards for more lax ones and now faces possible legal action from one of the groups.

Mulching Rules!
It's the time of year to add moisture, life and nutrients to your garden while keeping the weeds down. Mulching is your best answer. Mulch protects the soil from sunbaking and crust formation, which prevents water from soaking in.

Let's Go Bananas!
Organic bananas are now being sold by Dole, the world's largest producer of fresh fruits and vegetables. On Feb. 1, 2001, the company announced its decision to use banana peels to slide into the $6 billion organic products industry.

Internet Organic Forum

Green Thumbs Up
Across the country the Canadian organic and herb scene is growing, with dedicated individuals, schools, stores and organizations all lending a hand. Here are a few initiatives that caught our eye and interes.

Other Green Files
Fresh organic fruits and vegetables can be more expensive simply because more hands are needed to grow the.

Feast of Fields: Support for Local Farming

Cleaning Out the Medicine Cabinet: Safe Drug Disposal

Go Green at Your Computer Screen!

Organic Diet Cuts Pesticides in Kids

Food Labels Overhauled

In the works: California Dentists to Post Mercury Warning

New Canadian Organics Program

enviroment

Need three more reasons to go to alive.com ("Lobbying Letters") and print out your letter opposing the commercialization of genetically engineered wheat in Canada? 1.

Breathe easier with cleaner cars

Broken Heart Syndrome

Say It with Organic Flowers

Eden Foods "Organic
Anyone unclear about the meaning of "organic can find clarity in any product bearing the Eden® name. From its beginnings as a natural food co-op to today's natural food giant, Eden's pledge has been "to deliver the safest, most nutritious, certified organically grown food that can be found.

Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate
We all know that eating freshly grown, unsprayed food tastes better, but what about the tea and coffee that we drink or the chocolate that we wrap up for our loved ones on Valentine's Day? Is it superior because it's stamped with the word "organic?

A Better Bouquet of Blooming Organics
Good for you. You've decided to eat organic foods, as locally grown as possible. You have started your own organic backyard or balcony garden. You only drive your car when biking, walking, busing, or carpooling is impossible. You support environmental organizations and vote for the most environmentally dedicated political leaders.

The Omnivore's Dilemma
The length of Michael Pollan's latest book makes it daunting to begin. But don't let the number of pages fool you: this is an exceptionally engaging book for anyone who is the least bit interested in food, and as such, makes for rapid reading.

Future Famine?
Seeing the abundance on display in our supermarkets-pyramids of multicoloured fruit piled skyward, bright green and yellow veggies crowding large bins, shelves brimming with canned goods-it's tough to contemplate the prospect of global famine.

Five Reasons to Get Your 3s
Medical and nutritional researchers from around the world continue to discover the seemingly endless health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

Canada's Organic Capital
It's early afternoon and I'm squinting down at carefully cultivated earth, trying to decipher which ones are weeds and which ones are fledgling beet leaves. The mid-June sun promises a hot summer and a sunburn if I'm not careful.

Organic Bounty
How can organic agriculture help feed the world's growing population? This highly debated question was discussed by 350 participants from 80 countries at a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference in Rome in May 2007.

Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are critical for human survival, and yet the human body is incapable of manufacturing them-that's why they're essential.

Alternative Nobel Prize Awarded to the Schmeisers
The Schmeisers have given the world a wake-up call about the dangers to farmers and biodiversity.

Which Comes First? Local or Organic?
As I bike home from the market with my local and organic products in hand, I feel good about supporting my community, reducing my environmental footprint, and "eating my view. Yet I still wonder, "Which comes first, local or organic?

Eigensinn Farm
Standing tall and living close to the land, Michael Stadtlander is a veritable giant in his field. As a chef, farmer, author, and multimedia artist, he is also one of Canada's leading culinary icons, pioneering a return to authenticity at Eigensinn Farm, just outside of Collingwood, Ontario.

Breakfast Rules!
Current research suggests breakfast, more than any other meal, is an investment in good health. Unfortunately, it's an investment not enough of us are making on a regular basis.

Wheat Germ
To protect our health we often try to avoid germs-but wheat germ is one germ we can all embrace! Its name originating from the word germinate, the wheat germ is the embryonic centre of the wheat grain, containing enzymes and nutrients required to start a new plant.

Growing Their Own

Stress Less
Many Canadians suffer from stress. It’s the root cause of numerous health challenges we experience. Finding ways to reduce stress is essential to improve our health and our quality of life.

Superstar Supplements

A Greener Shade of Coffee
Much of today’s coffee is produced using unsustainable social and environmental methods, from felling huge swaths of rainforest to meagrely compensating farmers who grow the beloved brew.