Hardly do most of us realize the meat that we consume has synthetic hormones and harmful chemicals.  How can meats contain hormones and chemicals?  To increase meat production and profits, ranchers use growth hormones to increase the weight of the cattle.  Nitrates are used to give color to the cattle.  Nitrates are very common in hot dogs, which give them the red color.  Ranchers also place a large number of animals under a single roof, making them overcrowded and susceptible to diseases.  The cattle are then treated with antibiotics.

Five hormones are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food production.  Naturally occurring hormones are Progesterone and Testosterone and synthetic hormones are Zeranol, Trenbolone and Melengestrol.  These hormones are inserted through a pellet which is placed under the skin of the ear.  The pellet passes the hormones to the animal and ears are thrown away when they are slaughtered.

There are concerns that traces of chemicals and hormones would stay in the meat and this would pose a hazard to people who consume them.  However, there is no conclusive research to claim these hormones would cause harm to humans.  The main problem lies in determining natural hormones versus pellet hormones as the levels of hormones produced naturally varies from one animal to another.

These days girls reach puberty at a very young age.  This can be attributed to the steroids found in meat.  The nitrates used to convert the meat color to red can convert to nitrosamines.  Nitrosamines are believed to promote and cause cancer.  The FDA does not report “conclusive” evidence that nitrates in meat causes cancer and have, therefore, approved their usage in processed meats.  To anti-age without chemicals and toxins, these foods add no benefit to your program.

Scientists have raised an alarm in the usage of hormones.  According to them, hormones not only form a residue in meat but also pass out the hormones through their excreta.  This can pose environmental problems too as they can contaminate the surface and ground water.

The European Union does not approve usage of growth hormones in cattle and has prohibited the hormone treated beef since 1988.  All beef imports from the US have been banned which has been challenged by the US in the WTO.  The US and Canada still approve the growth promoting hormones in meats.  Disregarding the “profits” issue and protecting the consumer could help us all live better longer.

Have a fun and successful day,

Vida