Come Check It Out!
My journey toward better health has led me to the Beef Initiative.
Not too long ago I eliminated seed oils from my diet; this was an exercise to determine if I’d feel noticeably better once they had left my system. While I wasn’t able to observe a significant change sans seed oils, I did gain something which has lingered and affected my decision making ever since.
While researching seed oils, I learned that the American Heart Association was compensated by a corporation to endorse their product. This was an endorsement that had nothing at all to do with human health, it was simply a tool used by a corporation to create a “use case” for waste material. They turned waste, which could be costly to dispose of, into a revenue generating product. If you’d like to learn more, I’ve linked you to that post below.
Regardless of the details, what really astounded me was that a government agency meant to protect consumers was so easily swayed to abandon them. I guess the price was right! This knowledge has led me to question the motivations and legitimacy of other organizations supposedly looking out for our wellbeing.
The pandemic did nothing to help matters. It only strengthened my doubts. There is no shortage of disappointments when looking into the mismanagement and abuse perpetrated by our government and the many corporate leaches that have compromised it. If I’m being honest, I’ll have to admit it has been quite overwhelming.
Sadly, our food supply chain is in disrepair. From sourcing to distribution, things are a mess. Our bodies are all we have and we are what we eat. So, how in the heck do we eat food that isn’t poisoning us with additives and chemicals and preservatives and trace amounts who knows what? It is a real challenge!
When considering the correlative increase of disease after seed oils made their appearance in our diets, I began to also question the health and diet advice I’d received throughout my life. Is the food pyramid I grew up with based upon good human health or the needs of the wheat and corn industries? The fact that I am not sure of the answer is cause for concern.
I’d like to find a way to eat healthfully and sustainably; this is much easier said than done in the United States today.
In my search for beef that is produced ethically and naturally, I came across Texas Slim and The Beef Initiative. I was intrigued because he shares my distrust of the dominant food production system in place. The Beef Initiative is an organization looking to connect ranchers with consumers, although Slim is an advocate for mindful eating in general, or “food Intelligence” if you will.
I started to realize that I had been taken in by the buzz words and marketing ploys that surround the beef industry. I felt that I needed to learn more; I did not want to buy meat that I thought was ethically sourced only to eventually discover that it wasn’t thanks to some loophole in regulations. Frankly, I’m annoyed that we have to deal with this trickery in the first place.
That is how I came to be a guest writer for Texas Slim’s Newsletter. If I am going to spend the time learning how to better navigate the confusion and manipulation associated with simply feeding myself, I may as well share what I learn with you.
I’m exploring grass fed, grass finished beef in this edition, but I highly recommend checking the newsletter out for yourself. Slim’s podcasts and videos are interesting and informative (one of my favorite combos). Slim also shares the music that he’s into at the moment, which is certainly the icing on the cake for me!
Some readers may recall Texas Slim from another post, one of the Tuesday Tidbits recommending a compelling podcast. Listening to The Pomp Podcast interview with Texas Slim is an excellent intro; it’ll provide a rundown of the mindset, motivations and goals associated with food intelligence.
I’m looking forward to learning and sharing over on Texas Slim’s Newsletter. I hope to see you there!
I share your frustration with attempting to eat healthy in the U.S. It's no easy feat. When I found out that even the labels "Organic" and "Free Range" are so easily fudged, I felt even more overwhelmed.
Thanks for sharing this valuable info with us!