Sustainability Starts With Self
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Now that we know why we need protein, where we canget it, and how important sustainability is, it is time to cover some otherfacts and truths. Growth Hormones such as: bovine growth hormone (BGH), or bovine somatotropin (BST) are suspected of increasing a person risk forseveral types of cancers. These cancers include (but are not limited to):certain types of vaginal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, pancreaticcancer, in addition to a host of other ailments.
WhyAnimals Are Given These Substances?
- Growth hormones are chemicals producedin the bodies of all living things. In a natural setting, they contribute tobirth rates, protein synthesis, muscle growth, and reproductive traits. Hormonescontrol body functions and are an essential part of every organism’s bodychemistry.
- Unfortunately, in an attempt to gainmore profits and lower overhead our agricultural industry has adopted the practiceof introducing growth hormones into the animals we depend on to gain our protein.Two major U.S. industries have come under attack in recent years - Milk andBeef.
- Growth hormone implementation has been introducedinto these industries for several simple economic reasons. First of all,animals given substances like (BGH) grow much faster. They are able to reachmaturity younger, put on weight faster, and cost less to bring to "the market." Inaddition, dairy cows, are able to produce more milk, also become mature faster,and cost less to care for. The benefits to the agricultural industries “bottomline” are clear, but what does this mean for the consumer?
WhatAre the Effects to Humans?
- To say the research pertaining to thissubject is inconclusive would be an understatement.
- Critics of these practices and some scientificevidence suggests that the ingestion of these substances can cause children toreach puberty early, increase the risk of various types of cancers, and affectbody chemistry.
- In addition, many of the hormones introducedinto agricultural animal stocks can affect the animals’ ability to sustain andmaintain appropriate amounts of protein. Meaning, they live unhealthy lives andso can the consumer who consumes them.
- “Cows treated with rBGH tend to developmore udder infections (mastitis). These cows are given more antibiotics thancows not given rBGH. Does this increased use of antibiotics lead to moreantibiotic-resistant bacteria, and is this a health concern for people? Thisremains a concern, but it has not been fully examined in humans” (AmericanCancer Society).
- This agricultural practice could aid in facilitatingthe spread of more bacterially resistant strains of infections to humans and animalsalike.
SoWhat Can Consumers Do?
- As always, education and knowledge are thekeys to longevity.
- Practice informed decision making. Knowwhere you food is coming from, what substances may be introduced into thefarming of this food, and if the farmers involved in “growing” this foodpractice natural farming.
- In addition to practicing self help,many may want to challenge this agricultural practice. While consequences forhuman ingestion may be inconclusive the effects to the animals is not. As illustratedabove, animals involved in growth hormone farming live unnatural and unhealthylives. The consequences to their body chemistry and quality of life have neverbeen in dispute; however, the agricultural industry has done a wonderful job hidingthis fact form consumers.
- If possible, buy your food local. Meat, vegetables,and other dietary products shipped to distant geographic regions undergo avariety of unhealthy nutrient sapping process. These products have been shownto produce lower quality protein and may actually be harmful to your health.
- Sustainability truly starts with self.Shop smart, shop informed.
References
"RecombinantBovine Growth Hormone." American Cancer Society :: Information andResources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms.American Cancer Society, 18 Feb. 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2012.<http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/recombinant-bovine-growth-hormone>.
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