Concerning Trends

Much of the trouble Americans experience with their health is related to diet. Over the last 40-50 years, Americans have adopted the big Industrial Factory Foods diet model. While grocery and big box stores have fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and meats, it's nearly impossible to know where those foods come from, what chemicals were used, and how they were raised. In these stores, you'll also notice that the vast majority of products are ultra-processed. They are packaged in fancy, colorful plastic wrappers with an ingredients list nearly a mile long. Have you tried pronouncing some of the ingredients on these labels? Good luck! 

Take a look at your average bread, children's cereal, frozen convenience foods, snacks, or even coffee and fruit drinks. In the meat aisle, you come across a plethora of deli meats, plant-based frankenmeats, and conventional meats raised with pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, antibiotics, etc. It's a chemical cocktail you might want to think twice about. Even the "safer" parts of the store that include dairy, fruits, veggies, etc. are not what you might expect. Unless they are from an organic grower who isn't trying to find loopholes in the rules, fruits and veggies are usually sprayed with insecticides to get that perfect appearance. If bugs don't want them, should we? 

For several years, a report has been published identifying the "Dirty Dozen" Fruits and Vegetables that have the highest levels of chemical residues. It changes a little every year, but you can count on seeing the following items make the list regularly: strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, celery, grapes, pears, cherries, tomatoes, potatoes, and several varieties of peppers. A list of cleaner fruits and veggies is also published including sweet corn, avocadoes, cabbage, onions, asparagus, mangoes, cauliflower, and more. The best bet is to be cautious and buy organically raised fruits and veggies or from a trusted farmer's market. The key is to know your farmer!

The principles here at US Wellness Meats has not changed over the 24+ years we've been raising food. Our farms are dedicated to producing the highest quality meats with NO pesticides, NO herbicides, NO GMOs, NO antibiotics, and NO added growth hormones. In addition to this, our animals are treated with the dignity and respect you'd expect from one of the Top Sustainable Food businesses in the country.

All the Best,  Team USWM