Why Should We Care About the Ethical Treatment of Animals We Consume
The ethical treatment of animals is not something that most people think about regularly. However, it’s important to be aware of how animals are treated to make sure they are treated well and that we're eating healthy food.
Understanding where our food comes from
Humans have been consuming animals for food since the dawn of time. In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement to treat animals more ethically, both in the way they are raised and in the way they are slaughtered. There are a number of reasons for this change in attitude.
For one, we are now more aware of the intelligence and emotional capacity of animals.
We also have a better understanding of the negative impact that factory farming can have on the environment. And finally, factory farming practices are not only inhumane, but they are also environmentally destructive. By choosing to eat ethically-raised meat, we can help to support more sustainable and humane farming practices.
Why is the ethical treatment of animals we consume important?
There are several reasons why the ethical treatment of animals we consume is important. First, it is important to remember that animals are sentient beings with the ability to feel pain and suffering.
They should therefore be treated with compassion and respect. Second, the way animals are treated can have a direct impact on the quality of their meat.
Animals that are raised in humane conditions are likely to be healthier and produce higher-quality meat.
Finally, ethical treatment of animals can help to ensure that our food supply is sustainable in the long term.
Animals feel pain like we do
As it turns out, animals feel pain just like humans do.
They have a nervous system that is similar to ours and a brain that similarly processes information. Animals also have the same neurotransmitters (chemicals that relay messages between neurons) and hormones as humans; these are chemicals that cause sensations of pain or pleasure when released by the body.
All vertebrates (animals with backbones) have this kind of nervous system—from fish to birds to mammals—so we can be pretty confident that they experience pain in much the same way we do.
When we treat animals ethically, we are helping to protect the planet
When we treat animals ethically, we are helping to protect the planet. The inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure are not only morally reprehensible, but they are also a health hazard. The overuse of antibiotics in factory farms has led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which poses a serious threat to human health.
The unethical treatment of animals has consequences for human health
Animals are treated with antibiotics to prevent illness. Antibiotics are used routinely in animal agriculture, even though they're not necessary for animal health. Studies show that this practice causes antibiotic-resistant superbugs and increases the risk of human infections.
Animals are fed hormones to increase growth. Hormones like ractopamine and zilpaterol are given to pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, and other animals raised for meat production (and sometimes dairy and egg products). These chemicals affect an animal's immune system and can cause cardiovascular problems such as increased heart rate, blood pressure changes, or death due to stroke or heart attack when consumed by humans.
Animals fed GMO feed (genetically modified organisms)
The CDC has found that hormone residues found in beef cattle were associated with elevated rates of infertility in women who ate lots of red meat—and it’s possible these hormones were produced by GMO feed rather than traditional farming methods.*
Foods containing GMOs may have a higher level of pesticides than non-GMO foods because genetically modified seeds have been engineered specifically so they can withstand heavy doses of herbicides like glyphosate—the most common herbicide worldwide!
Unethical treatment of animals doesn’t only occur at factory farms, it happens in small farms too
For example, consider a small farm that uses a dairy cow as an “udder and teat machine” for its entire life span. The cow is repeatedly forced into a machine that milks her dry each day (until she dies). This type of farm exists all across America today, where cows are treated like machines rather than living creatures with feelings and families.
A second example involves chickens who have been kept indoors their entire lives (and never see sunlight). These chickens live in cramped cages so small they cannot spread their wings—even though they were born to fly! If you eat chicken or eggs regularly then this might be how your food gets to your plate every day without you even realizing it! These examples illustrate why we should all care about animal rights issues regardless of whether we buy our meat from large or small farms; all animals deserve respect regardless of size or cost-effectiveness.
Plenty of farms treat their animals ethically and humanely
It’s not just the big farms that treat their animals well. There are plenty of small farms, like those run by families, who care about their animals and want to give them the best life they can. They might not have the resources to house their animals in large, open spaces and take them out for walks every day, but they still provide food, water, and shelter for all of their farm animals.
The truth is that there are a lot of farms out there that do treat their animals humanely—and there are even some who use technology to ensure that this is happening!
It's important to pay attention to how the animals we consume are treated, so that we can make sure they are treated well and that we're eating healthy food
We believe that it's important to pay attention to how the animals we consume are treated, so that we can make sure they are treated well and that we're eating healthy food.
Animals are sentient beings that deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We should not forget that fact when making decisions about what we eat or purchase.
Actively changing your food habits
For those of us who care about animals, this is a big issue. PALEO RANCH is a part of a movement that is trying to improve the treatment of animals and make sure our food system is more sustainable.
There are many things we can do on an individual level—from learning more about where our food comes from and how it's produced; to actively purchasing proteins that have been sourced ethically.
Ethically sourced meats for your Paleo Diet
Paleo Diets consist of eating foods that are unchanged from how they're sourced and how they get onto your plate.
Eating natural protein from animals that have been treated ethically and without the addition of harmful steroids, hormones, or genetically modified feed is important because these all have the potential to increase the likelihood of acute and chronic conditions such as Diabetes, PCOS & Hypoglycemia.
Understanding and making the conscious effort to eat 'clean' protein help to regulate your hormone levels and overall health.
Many who have started a Paleo Diet have experienced improvements in their Cardiovascular health including lowered Cholesterol and Blood Pressure levels while benefitting from weight & fat loss while never feeling like they’re starving.
Paleo Diets have the potential to alleviate & mitigate symptoms along with better regulating the conditions associated with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
By taking small steps every day toward improving our diets, we're making progress together toward creating change for all living creatures!
Sustainable Paleo Snacks from farmers & ranchers who care
Find your favorite flavors in our wide assortment of Paleo Snacks today and get the best, better-for-you snack options made with no additives, preservatives, and only the best ingredients to put into your body.
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