If you have ever spent way too much on minimal and sub-par groceries, especially produce and beef, you might want to change the way you shop. Joining a food cooperative is an increasingly popular option for purchasing food. Co-ops help format sustainable relationships that are good for you, the community and the service providers that make our foods. Records state that cooperatives date back to as early as 1761 in Scotland with the organization of the Fenwick Weavers’ Society, and consumer co-op numbers worldwide are now perhaps in the millions. Local food is better in terms of freshness and nutrition, and… read more

In 2011, the Environmental Working Group released a report comparing the environmental impacts of various protein sources. The study found that lamb, beef, cheese, pork, and farmed salmon are the worst for the environment in terms of greenhouse gases produced. With the exception of farmed salmon, they also require the most inputs (feed, fuel, water, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, etc.) and generate the most manure. Turkey, chicken, canned tuna, and eggs also scored highly for greenhouse gas emissions. Where do all these greenhouse gas emissions come from? A lot of this pollution is caused by feed production and the nitrogen dioxide… read more

There are many reasons to buy organic food, however it can drastically dent a hole in your wallet. The pesticides commonly sprayed on foods are a worry and organics just taste better! But, there are ways to eat organic and save money. You just need to know what you should definitely buy organic, because of the foods’ susceptibility to pesticides and those that are resistant. Non-Organic Bananas – pesticides stay on the outer skin Avocado – the thick skin protects the flesh Onions – they don’t see as many pest threats, which means less pesticide use Pineapple – it has… read more

Synthetic sex hormones are given to sheep and cattle to promote rapid growth and increased milk production, fulfilling a demand for cheap meat and milk. However, concerns have been raised about potential health risks of using synthetic hormones in meat production, a practice which is common in the U.S. and Canada but banned in the European Union. Research suggests that estrogenic additives in meat may affect natural hormone levels, increasing the risk for certain cancers. The most direct evidence of this effect comes from a recent large-scale research review undertaken by the Breast Cancer Fund, which found a link between… read more

Inflammation is one way that the body defends itself against illness-causing microbes (viruses, bacteria, and fungi), as well as assisting in the repair of damage to muscles and other tissues. However, for many people, the inflammatory process becomes chronic, at which point it can trigger a broad array of health problems including heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, arthritis, and diabetes. There are a number of risk factors for chronic inflammation, including smoking, lack of exercise, exposure to toxins, stress, and a diet high in fast foods or processed snack foods. Many of these risk factors have become more common in… read more

In the past, all beef was grass fed but in recent years, most beef has been grain-finished, which means that cows spend the last months of their life gorging on grain in a feedlot. Grain-fed beef is a brighter red, while grass-fed beef is a more auburn shade, but the differences between the two go beyond color. Research has shown that grass-fed beef is higher in health-promoting omega-3 fatty acids, as well as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which studies suggest may protect against cancer, heart disease, and diabetes as well as helping to reduce overall body fat (Agriculture and Agri-Food… read more

Increasing amounts of meat are consumed annually across the globe. The consumption of meat is associated with higher obesity rates, bad cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. Animal protein is one of the main risk factors for cancer and 23 percent of global water usage is used to raise livestock.  This includes 80 percent of freshwater in the U.S. These numbers can be overwhelming and you may wonder where you fit within all these statistics, but there is great deal that can be achieved by one person. It can start with a change in diet. First we must realize that vegan and… read more

The food industry is a notorious contributor to global warming. The process for many mainstream meat suppliers can be a system diluted with inefficiencies. For example, genetically modified crops fed to animals which are often also genetically modified to grow and mature faster, and are given large doses of antibiotics which are never naturally present in their biological systems. Sometimes the animals are kept in deplorable conditions (as seen in the popular documentary “Food, Inc.”, which the author highly recommends for further information, as it was one of the main sources for this article.).  In the documentary, cows were seen… read more