Did you know that beef smuggling is big business? Beef has become the moonshine of beef prohibition in India. Where they were once free to wander the streets, surrounded by their veggie loving friends, treated like Gods, now they are watching their butts….literally! Estimates say that as many as 1.5 million cows, valued at up to $500 million, are smuggled annually, providing more than half the beef consumed in Bangladesh.
Beef demand isn’t going away – no matter how many people go vegetarian!
And since we’ve all come to an understanding on that, let’s clear up a couple of lies - not myths – big fat lies!
Number 1....Cows are a major contributor to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
If you have fallen for this BS, it’s ok, you’re not alone. But let’s lay the facts out, in basic every day English: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the entire agriculture sector produces just “6% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.” That is the “entire agriculture sector”- not just cows. And EPA data also show that domestic livestock production is only responsible for 2.4%. I personally think those numbers are a bit high, but for the sake of discussion, we’ll go with them, and save the EPA rant for a later blog. So if we take those numbers, and eliminate them – completely, get rid of ag all the way around – let’s all go vegetarian…oh wait…that’s still ag! And accounts for as much as half of that 6%...so that won’t work.
So let’s get rid of livestock, all of it, including horses – and eliminate that 2.4% - gone….what happens? We still have to eat – and supply and demand laws say something is going to increase in this equation, if one or more sources of food are lost. More people eat tofu, right? And beans…and veggies…and fruits…and all that increases, including more plowing and transporting and fertilizing, and a new vegie utopia, and walla…we’re back up to that 6% again! And maybe even higher, because all those crazy horse nuts are going to go buy a 4-wheeler, and make noise, and pollute the air, and drive more…Ok, so maybe I’m reaching here, but it might happen.
And on a side note - A study in the Journal of Animal Science comparing the methane emissions from grazing and feedlot cattle concluded that grass-fed cattle produce about 4 times more methane than grain-fed cattle. That just puts a whole new stink on that “grass-fed beef is better for you” idea. It sure doesn’t taste better!
Number 2....Eating red meat is bad for you. Seriously? ! If that is the case...it's a miracle the human race is here!
Those pointy teeth in your mouth – those are your canines – to help you eat meat! But, it causes obesity, cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries! Right? Wrong!
Some scientists claim that if our ancestors had not eaten red meats, the brain of humans would be 1/4 of its present size! Our adaptation to red meat and the vital protein and fats it provides, is one of the reasons behind the rapid growth in our intelligence and brain capacity.. without meat we might still be living in the trees eating bananas!
Beef contains iron, zinc, magnesium and protein – lots of each. It is also an excellent source of B-vitamins, such as vitamin B12. A recent study at the University of Pennsylvania, showed that eating lean beef actually improves cholesterol level. (For more information on the study, I’ve added the link.)
And yes, I said lean beef. I prefer that nice marbled beef also – a good piece of prime rib, with a glass of merlot –but everything in moderation. Even the wine!
But don’t fret – there are 29 lean cuts of beef to choose from!
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