Content Library Podcasts Videos Episode 456

What’s The Beef With Beef? Is There Meat That Is Good For You And The Planet?

December 1, 2021 Episode 456 1h 3m

Topics Resources Overview

Overview

Meat is always a hot topic in the nutrition and wellness space. To eat it, or not to eat it? That is the oversimplified question of what is a much more complex topic. You see, we can’t lump all meat into one category. And we can’t think about meat as all or nothing—there’s much more to the story. Today on The Doctor’s Farmacy, Scott Lively and I talk all about conscious meat-eating, and more specifically beef, as well as the nuances that come with it. Scott shares some helpful tips for improving the quality of the meat you eat. We kick off the episode talking about Big Beef and the challenges it presents for consumers and smaller grass-fed beef ranchers who are trying to do things the right way. Eating meat mindfully has become confusing for most of us. We talk about why that is and try to clear up some of the most common questions, like the difference between organic and grass-fed beef. What our meat eats, matters. It affects everything from soil quality and greenhouse gas emissions to the nutrient density of our food. Scott and I break down the importance of a cow’s diet, how that impacts the quality of their meat, and how that ripples out to our health. We also get into the topic of climate change and beef, and why it’s not as black and white as many people make it out to be. One common concern raised for grass-fed beef and other regenerative practices is that they aren’t scalable. Scott explains that they are, but we need to invest in academic and government programs to make a greater impact. We also discuss the importance of understanding label claims, supporting local farms and butchers, and so much more. This episode is brought to you by Joovv, BiOptimizers, and Cozy Earth. For a limited time, Joovv is offering $50 off your first order with the code FARMACY at Joovv.com/FARMACY. Some exclusions apply. Try BiOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough for 10% off by going to magbreakthrough.com/hyman and using the code HYMAN10. Right now, you can try out Cozy Earth’s bamboo pajamas and loungewear for 40% off—their highest discount ever offered. Just go to cozyearth.com and use the code HYMANPODCAST.

Topics Covered

How “Big Beef” gained its negative reputation

(5:46)
Issues and challenges with the current beef industry

(10:43)
Consumer driven change in the beef industry

(12:13)
Health attributes of grass-fed beef

(14:21)
Meat consumption and planetary health

(21:09)
Improving beef quality and agricultural practices through academic and governmental programing

(29:36:00)
Are lab-based meat alternatives good for us?

(34:39:00)
Tips to determine meat quality

(43:31:00)
Scott’s journey into the beef industry

(48:15:00)
The difference between organic and grass-fed beef

(52:13:00)
Is regenerative agriculture scalable?

(55:01:00)