There is no doubt that industrialized farming has great positives when it comes to our economy and the rest of our lives. This type of farming streamlines the process by which we get our food, and also helps our farmers live a little bit easier than they used to.
Industrial agriculture/farming is based on several key technological advances. The first is the improvement of farming equipment to make it more efficient and have a lower cost. Another advancement is the widespread use of fertilizers, now that we know what plants need to flourish and be productive. Vitamin supplements and vaccines have helped us take better care of our livestock, allowing cows to have more calves and produce more milk, as well as allowing bulls to live longer and become fatter for more meat to sell. A very important advancement is genetic engineering, which allows animals to be modified to live in different conditions, or to be cloned. The majority of industrial techniques used in farming are not harmful, but some techniques can be detrimental to the health of the animals, as well as to us.
The main problems with industrial agriculture are environmental-the large amounts of water and fossil fuels used is a major one, because once these resources are gone, they are not coming back. Another detrimental effect is from the fertilizers, which eventually get washed off the fields and run into creeks and other water sources and cause health problems for the human and animal populations that use the water.
There are several effects that directly affect the human population as well. Some farmers use growth hormones in their livestock so that the animals grow faster and are ready in a shorter amount of time. These growth hormones can wreak havoc on human bodies, and mess up our natural hormones. There also is the problem of bacteria and viruses being spread. With animals being packed close together, diseases spread quickly, and we may be recieving contaminated food. There also may be problems with diseases on farm equipment which later gets passed on to us.
Industrial farming can be very good for us, but there can be some nasty side effects, now that you are partially informed, you can look up more info, and make your own decision.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Soy and a Healthy Diet
Health food nuts and vegans have been eating soy as a protein substitute for meat and other high fat items for years. We have all heard of soy milk and other products that replace foods such as milk and other animal byproducts with vegan-approved "natural" foods.
Soybeans are very good for us and the Earth. Soybeans have been used for many years as a fixation method, to replenish nitrogen in the soil so other plants can grow. The first soybean products were fermented, such as soy sauce and miso. After the discovery of the precipitation method, which involves mixing the cooked beans with magnesium sulfate to create the base for tofu.
There are many negative effects from soybeans, many stemming from the "antinutrients". The first of the antinutrients are enzyme prohibitors that block typsin and other protein-digesting enzymes. These inhibitors can lead to gastric distress, low protein digestion, and deficiencies in essential amino acids. Another harmful chemical is haemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes caused by the clots. Both the aforementioned antinutrients are growth inhibitors, meaning the consumer does not always develop normally. Thankfully, the compounds are deactivated during the process of fermentation, and the concentration is greatly reduced by the process of precipitation. Soybeans also contain goitrogens and phytic acid, which depress thyroid function and block the absorption of essential minerals, respectively. Unfortunately, the phytic acid in soybeans are resistant to the long, slow cooking process that deactivates the acid in most plant seeds. Fermentation does decrease the concentration slightly.
In conclusion, soy can be a healthy alternative to meat, or as a low fat dietary supplement. The downsides do make it a challenge to see the full benefits of soy, but the health effects should not be taken lightly, and consumers should be aware of the potential dangers of soy.
Soybeans are very good for us and the Earth. Soybeans have been used for many years as a fixation method, to replenish nitrogen in the soil so other plants can grow. The first soybean products were fermented, such as soy sauce and miso. After the discovery of the precipitation method, which involves mixing the cooked beans with magnesium sulfate to create the base for tofu.
There are many negative effects from soybeans, many stemming from the "antinutrients". The first of the antinutrients are enzyme prohibitors that block typsin and other protein-digesting enzymes. These inhibitors can lead to gastric distress, low protein digestion, and deficiencies in essential amino acids. Another harmful chemical is haemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes caused by the clots. Both the aforementioned antinutrients are growth inhibitors, meaning the consumer does not always develop normally. Thankfully, the compounds are deactivated during the process of fermentation, and the concentration is greatly reduced by the process of precipitation. Soybeans also contain goitrogens and phytic acid, which depress thyroid function and block the absorption of essential minerals, respectively. Unfortunately, the phytic acid in soybeans are resistant to the long, slow cooking process that deactivates the acid in most plant seeds. Fermentation does decrease the concentration slightly.
In conclusion, soy can be a healthy alternative to meat, or as a low fat dietary supplement. The downsides do make it a challenge to see the full benefits of soy, but the health effects should not be taken lightly, and consumers should be aware of the potential dangers of soy.
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