3 Processed Meats You Should Avoid (& What You Should Buy Instead)

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May 1, 2024

In the fast-paced world of fast food, processed meats have become a staple for many households. Whether it's for a quick sandwich, a protein-packed snack, or a savory addition to a meal, processed meats seem to offer an easy solution. However, the convenience often comes at a cost to our health.

Read on to discover which processed meats you should avoid and what healthier alternatives are available to you.

Processed Meats You Should Avoid

Processed meats are traditionally meats that have been treated to enhance or maintain the food’s flavor or shelf-life. Oftentimes, this is done through salting, fermenting, curing, or smoking.

While there are a variety of processed meats available today, many of them are not good for you or your family.

Red Meat

Processed red meats—such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and deli meat—can have severely negative impacts on your health.

Oftentimes, these meats are high in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium—all of which can increase the risk of various health conditions including heart disease, dementia, type 2 diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.

In fact, these processed meats have been classified as carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO)—meaning there is strong evidence linking their consumption to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Chicken and White Meat

While chicken is often seen as the healthier processed meat option, it isn’t without its issues.

Similar to processed red meats, processed chicken or white meat products often contain high amounts of sodium which can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health issues. These meats also often include potentially hazardous added preservatives, flavorings, and other chemicals to enhance taste, texture, and shelf life.

This is especially true in popular processed chicken products such as chicken nuggets. More often than not, chicken nuggets and other similar products are made with added preservatives and fillers such as pyrophosphate—a leavening agent used in the breading that has reportedly harmed immune systems.

Unfortunately, preservatives aren’t the only extras you will find in these products. While chicken nuggets are promoted as being made from chicken breast, studies have found that 40-50% of the nuggets are actually made from fat, blood vessels, nerves, and ground-up bone.

Meat Labeled Nitrite-Free

Food processing methods often include smoking, curing, or adding preservatives like nitrates and nitrites. These preservatives are commonly added to meats to inhibit bacterial growth and maintain the meat’s color. While these do effectively keep meat fresher for longer, they can also form known carcinogens nitrosamines when cooked or digested—which can increase the risk of stomach and bowel cancer.

With this in mind, you may be thinking that meats that are labeled “nitrite-free” or “no nitrites added” would be the healthier alternative, but that’s not always the case.

These meats may be promoted as having no nitrites, but more often than not they are still processed and include added nitrites. However, these nitrites come from more natural sources like celery juice, powder, or salt.

Since they come from a natural source rather than a synthetic one, companies can label these as “nitrite-free,” but in actuality, you can still be impacted by consuming the nitrites—regardless of where they’ve come from.

Healthier Meat Options

Rather than risking your health with processed meats, it’s recommended you opt for farm-fresh meat. Unprocessed beef, pork, lamb, and chicken can significantly enhance your health while still satisfying your taste buds.

Grass-fed and pasture-raised meat tends to be higher in certain nutrients compared to processed meats. This is because animals raised regeneratively often have access to natural grazing, consume diverse diets, and are raised in environments where they can express their natural behaviors. As a result, the meat from these animals may contain higher levels of essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Likewise, regenerative agriculture stays away from preservatives, antibiotics, and other additives or hormones that could turn your food into a carcinogen—offering you a more natural and chemical-free option.

You also don’t have to give up the foods you love when you work with healthier meats. If you’re a fan of chicken nuggets, you can dice up a free-range chicken breast and make some at home. More of a burger fan? Grab some grass-fed ground beef and put your own spin on a classic! By making these simple substitutions, you can enjoy delicious meals while prioritizing your health.

While processed meats may offer convenience, they also come with a host of health risks. When you know what processed meats you should avoid and opt for healthier alternatives, you can support the overall health and well-being of you and your family. Making small changes to your diet can have a big impact on your long-term health, so choose wisely and prioritize natural, minimally processed foods whenever possible.

Holy Cow Farm Fresh is your destination for premium, healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised meat. Our local and family-owned livestock farm is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, locally sourced, and sustainably raised meat—all without worrying about fake ingredients, hormones, and chemicals. Visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or give us a call to get started on your order!

Feeding the World: Regenerative Agriculture’s Impact on Food Systems

Amidst a global population of 7.5 billion, it's disheartening to realize that only three-quarters of us are fortunate enough to receive adequate nutrition, while a staggering one billion people still endure chronic hunger. Despite promises of a food revolution, industrial-scale monoculture has fallen short, leaving many without the essential nutrients they need. These sobering numbers remind us of the pressing need to rethink our current food systems. It's clear that industrial farming is no longer sustainable, and it's time to embrace a friendlier, more inclusive approach to food production and consumption: regenerative agriculture. Read on to explore regenerative agriculture’s impact on food systems. Biodiversity Regenerative agriculture utilizes farming practices that help increase biodiversity both in the natural environment and in our food supplies. Commercial agriculture and seed production are designed to perpetuate popular crops in a more efficient and productive way. However, this process has also lowered the biodiversity we see in our food. In fact, 93% of unique seed variations have been lost in less than 100 years. For example, where we once had nearly 500 varieties of lettuce, we now have under 40. This decrease in biodiversity is something regenerative agriculture actively works against. With the encouragement of seed-saving and heirloom crops, regenerative agriculture propagates crops that can come from or create strands that are different from what industrial farming techniques allow. Plus, unlike traditional industrial farming, which often relies on single crops grown over vast expanses of land, regenerative agriculture encourages the cultivation of diverse crops and the preservation of natural ecosystems. Using techniques such as reforestation, regenerative agriculture strives to recreate natural ecosystems that encourage biodiversity and provide habitats for animals and other plants. These healthy and diverse ecosystems are often a prerequisite for effective and healthy food production. Healthier Soil At the heart of regenerative agriculture lies the importance of soil health. Healthy soil is not merely a medium for plant growth; it is a living ecosystem teeming with microbial activity, organic matter, and nutrients essential for sustaining life. Regenerative practices such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and minimal tillage work in harmony to regenerate soil health, improve its structure, and enhance its capacity to retain water and nutrients. These healthier soils can also better withstand erosion and have a high filtration capacity, allowing them to remain unimpacted by heavy rain. With these restorative effects, regenerative agriculture is being used to put millions of hectares of degraded soil back to work, creating more space for crop and livestock production. Plus, healthier soil boosts crop yields and impacts the nutrients we and livestock derive from them. Accessibility Industrialized farming has become a complicated matter. More often than not, industrial farming seeds require expensive pesticides which can be difficult for local farmers to get ahold of and maintain. However, regenerative farming doesn’t necessitate these harsh and expensive chemicals. In fact, it discourages them at every turn. Unlike industrial farming, regenerative agriculture can occur wherever you put a seed in the ground and grow something. With this in mind, these practices make subsistence and localized, small business farming more accessible than its industrial counterpart. This also plays a role in the accessibility of local food in community-based food systems. By prioritizing small-scale farming operations and direct-to-consumer markets, regenerative agriculture enhances accessibility to fresh, nutritious food for local communities while reducing reliance on long-distance transportation and industrial supply chains. This decentralized approach fosters greater food sovereignty, empowers small-scale farmers, and strengthens local economies. Food Nutrition Regenerative agriculture recognizes that the nutritional quality of food is intimately linked to the health of the soil in which it is grown. As we mentioned, regenerative practices create a diverse ecosystem within the soil, giving it—and subsequently the crops—nutrients from a variety of organic matter. By replenishing soil nutrients and fostering nutrient-dense crops, regenerative practices yield food that is not only flavorful but also brimming with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that industrially grown produce may be missing or low in. Studies have shown that regeneratively grown fruits and vegetables often contain higher levels of beneficial nutrients, offering consumers a healthier and more nourishing diet. For example, during a study that focused on eight crops, it was found that regeneratively-grown produce had 21% more nutrients than their industrially-grown counterparts. Likewise, another study done in California found that higher levels of vitamins A, C, and K and iron and calcium could be found in regeneratively grown spinach. Healthier Meat One of the ways most people see regenerative agriculture’s impact on food systems is through the meat these practices produce. Unlike conventional methods that prioritize quantity over quality, regenerative practices focus on the overall well-being of the animals, the land they graze upon, and ultimately, the consumers who indulge in the resulting meat. As we’ve already discussed, regenerative agriculture can impact the nutritional value of produce and land. The same goes for the meat produced on a farm. Because of the nutrient-rich soil and produce available on regenerative farms, livestock have more access to a diverse and healthy diet. Grazing on open pastures also allows them to consume a wider range of plants, resulting in meat that's more nutrient-dense. Studies have shown that grass-fed beef, for example, tends to contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and antioxidants compared to traditionally produced meat. Additionally, regenerative farming practices typically don’t use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and antibiotics—meaning the animals aren't subjected to the routine chemicals often found in industrial farming. This allows consumers to enjoy meat products with significantly lower levels of chemical residues, promoting better long-term health outcomes. As we strive to build a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable food future, regenerative agriculture’s impact on food systems stands as a prime example, guiding us toward a healthier and more prosperous world for generations to come. Serve your family healthy, high-quality meat that is raised locally & ethically. Holy Cow Farm Fresh is your destination for premium, healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised meat. Our local and family-owned livestock farm is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, locally sourced, and sustainably raised meat—all without worrying about fake ingredients, hormones, and chemicals. Visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or give us a call to get started on your order!

The Health Benefits of Choosing Farm-Raised Beef

In a world where food choices play a significant role in our overall well-being, the source of our meat can be extremely impactful. Traditional industrial farming—which produces most meat found in grocery stores—is often more focused on optimizing outputs and profits. Because of this, they typically raise their cattle in crowded feedlots and pump them full of antibiotics, hormones, and other additives to promote rapid growth. Meanwhile, farm-to-table beef is usually raised in pastures and allowed to graze on diverse grasses while roaming the larger and more natural space. This creates a healthier lifestyle for the cattle—and healthier meat later on. Read on to explore the health benefits of choosing farm-raised beef over traditional factory-farmed beef. Nutrient-Rich Meat Farm-to-table raised beef is known for being rich in essential nutrients that are crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Grass-fed and pasture-raised cattle have diets that consist of natural grasses and forage, resulting in beef with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. These nutrients play a key role in heart health, immune function, and overall vitality. Lower Fat Content Compared to factory-farmed beef, farm-to-table meat tends to be lower in unhealthy fats. Pasture-raised cattle have a more natural diet, leading to meat with a healthier fat profile. The lower levels of saturated fats in grass-fed beef make it a favorable choice for those looking to manage cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. No Hormones or Antibiotics One of the most significant concerns with factory farming is the use of hormones and antibiotics to raise livestock. Grass-fed or grain-finished beef, especially from those practicing regenerative agriculture, is often produced without the routine use of these substances. This is not only beneficial for consumers looking to avoid unnecessary chemicals in their diet but also contributes to the fight against antibiotic resistance from chemical-filled food consumption. Higher Levels of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Traditional farm-raised beef is known to contain higher levels of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), a fatty acid associated with various health benefits. CLA has been linked to improved weight management, enhanced immune function, and reduced inflammation. It’s also been found to help regulate and promote healthy blood sugar levels—meaning it can help prevent diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Choosing farm-to-table beef can be a natural way to incorporate this beneficial fatty acid into your diet. The health benefits of choosing farm-raised beef extend beyond the nutritional value of the meat itself. From being nutrient-rich and lower in unhealthy fats to free from hormones and antibiotics, farm-to-table beef offers a range of advantages for health-conscious consumers. Moreover, supporting farms that prioritize sustainable practices contributes to the well-being of both individuals and the environment. As you make your next beef purchase, consider the positive impact you can have on your health and the planet by choosing farm-raised options from reputable sources. Holy Cow Farm Fresh is your destination for premium, healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised meat. Our local and family-owned livestock farm is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, locally sourced, and sustainably raised meat—all without worrying about fake ingredients, hormones, and chemicals. Visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or give us a call to get started on your order!

The Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture on the Environment

Regenerative agriculture offers transformative solutions to some of our planet's most pressing environmental challenges. By definition, regenerative agriculture is a set of farming techniques that focus on the restoration and maintenance of the soil, ecosystem, and overall environment. Unlike conventional farming practices that can degrade soil health and contribute to environmental degradation, regenerative agriculture presents a holistic approach that aims not just to sustain but to revitalize ecosystems. Read on to discover the specific benefits of regenerative agriculture on the different elements of our environment. Improved Soil Health At the heart of regenerative agriculture lies a profound commitment to nurturing and revitalizing our soil. Through techniques such as crop rotations and diversity, cover cropping, and reduced tilling, this practice fosters the regeneration of soil health. By enriching organic matter and fostering beneficial microbial life, regenerative methods bolster soil structure, enhancing its water retention capacity and nutrient content. This not only ensures sustained agricultural productivity but also fortifies the very foundation of our food systems—and the subsequent nutrients we receive from said food systems. Increased Biodiversity Regenerative agriculture also champions biodiversity through its embrace of diverse crop varieties and thoughtful land management practices. By steering away from monoculture, this approach creates thriving ecosystems that support a myriad of life forms, from beneficial insects to vital pollinators. This biodiversity not only provides habitats for wildlife and preserves ecological balance but also strengthens resilience against pests and diseases. In doing so, these practices reduce the amount of expensive and potentially dangerous chemicals and pesticides that are heavily used in factory farming—contributing to cleaner water, soil, and food. Water Conservation Speaking of water, regenerative agriculture practices can have a major impact on the world of water conservation. Techniques such as agroforestry and precision irrigation minimize water wastage, promoting soil moisture retention and health. By reducing runoff and erosion, these methods safeguard water sources while nurturing healthy aquatic ecosystems, securing a vital resource for generations to come. Improved Air Quality Regenerative agriculture also plays a pivotal role in enhancing air quality. Unlike traditional factory farming methods, regenerative practices release far fewer airborne pollutants such as hydrogen sulfide. Plus, through practices like agroforestry, regenerative farmers plant more trees that not only release fresh oxygen but also absorb common air pollutants—contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment for all living beings. Regenerative agriculture showcases the potential of working with nature rather than against it. It's a journey towards restoring harmony between agriculture and the environment, forging a path that safeguards our planet's health while ensuring the resilience of our food systems. Holy Cow Farm Fresh is your destination for premium, healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised meat. Our local and family-owned livestock farm is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, locally sourced, and sustainably raised meat—all without worrying about fake ingredients, hormones, and chemicals. Visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or give us a call to get started on your order!

3 Processed Meats You Should Avoid (& What You Should Buy Instead)

Processed Meats You Should Avoid

Red Meat

Chicken and White Meat

Meat Labeled Nitrite-Free

Healthier Meat Options

More from the blog

Feeding the World: Regenerative Agriculture’s Impact on Food Systems

The Health Benefits of Choosing Farm-Raised Beef

The Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture on the Environment

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