There is a growing concern among people for consuming and using products and food items that are environmentally friendly. Global warming has definitely stirred up some serious concern among the masses. On the other end, animal treatment has also received a lot of enthusiastic concern, and free range meat is becoming more popular as a result.
While previously, people preferred factory farming over the traditional methods of rearing, the ugly realities of factory farming have received a lot of animosity from the public. Animal upraising has become a business supported by large corporations who are bent on earning profits, with little concern for the well-being of the animal. So where do people turn to for meat that has been produced the natural way and not in a mechanical manner?
What Is Free Range Meat?
The answer to this is “free range”. There is a growing popularity of free range meat, implying that the animals are brought up in the most humane manner possible. They are allowed access to the outside world and are not kept caged in the barns. Animals brought up on the lines of free range are permitted to roam around in the fields with other animals and also receive natural sunlight.
According to the policies of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is mandatory for free range animals to have access to outdoor areas; however, the catch is that no specific time frame has been prescribed. The usage of the term “access” here is important. The policy of USDA implies that animals must have “access” to the fields, yet if they are spending time outside or not is not included in the regulations. Therefore, the label of free range can still be used, or rather misused, by corporations even if the animals have not made use of the access provided to them.
Free range meat has a multitude of benefits attached to it. These nutritional benefits make free range meat not only the best diet for those concerned about healthy and natural upbringing of animals but also those on diet plans. Free range meat has a lower amount of fat in total. This implies that free range meat inherently has a lower amount of calories. So if meat comprises of a large section of your regular diet, you can easily control a large portion of the calories by simple switching to free range meat products.
Another added benefit of free range meat is that it has two to four times more Omega-3 fatty acids than factory manufactured meat. So if you’re looking to control your cholesterol level but keep on consuming your favorite meaty products, then free range meat is the option to adopt. Not only that, free range meat has a higher concentration of Vitamin E, the presence of which reduces the risk of cancer and heart diseases.
Look out for free range meat products whenever you go shopping. Not only does it promise that the meat you are eating has come from animals that have not been tortured, but also has immense health benefits.
Have you ever tried free range meat? What are your thoughts?
589 views






{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Interestingly enough, my martial arts teacher's wife just started a chicken coup of "free range" chickens. How is it that free range meat has fewer calories than the other kind?