Ewa Koziol Ewa1
ENG101
Jason Smith
16 November 2013
Production From Hormonally Implanted Cattle
Hormones implanted in cattle means hormones implanted in humans. The issue in the making of products from cattle is that hormones are being added to dairy cattle in order to make them grow faster and produce more milk, as well as to pigs in the production of beef. Hormones are a risk to younger generations, causing a rapid growth in a child leading to further maturing problems.
In the
Nutrition Research Reviews, by Hough Galbraith it states that "the methods of production include the use of hormonal compounds to increase growth and lean tissue , so that fat is blocked from being disposed out of the cattle's system." When it is stopped from naturally leaving the system it builds up, producing more fat and changing the cows production and growth cycle. In her cover story
Hormones: Here's The Beef, Janet Raloff says that the cattle are fed the same muscle-building androgens-usually testosterone surrogates that some athletes consume. Testosterone surrogate is a steroid hormone like form, when implanted in cattle lies in the ovaries of a female controlling the function of the metabolism as well as the immune system. " Other animals receive estrogens or primary female sex hormones that shut down a females estrus cycle." Estrogens are also hormones that form the way a females body develops. In this case estrogens are mostly found in milk, especially regular because it contains more fat, which goes back to the effect of hormonal compounds. It obvious that hormones don't support a natural growth and development, so why is it that business farms push for this kind of production. The reason lies on the need of large supply of products. America is in constant demand of large supply of dairy and beef. Having cattle raised and fed naturally would not be effective enough to make the right amount of product. That is where the hormones play a major role. They speed up muscle growth, and change cycles of cows in order to increase the production. So now, America has been consuming these products for years , being aware what eventually goes on in the production farms, yet supporting then when buying the products. How are we sure there isn't any bad long term affect? The hormones implanted in cattle end up being implanted in us, even if in a small percentage. What does it really do to our bodies?
The levels of hormones added to cattle can have a major affect on our bodies. Our immune system varies in time, it can become weaker not being able to fight of viruses or infections. The cattle are also treated with antibiotics in order to fight different diseases, but the overcrowded production farms create an environment full of different viruses and infections, spreading from cow to cow. Then there is a certain chance of it being transferred into the food that we consume. There are also different ways that our food or environment can easily become affected. Janet Raloff adds that "a substantial portion of the hormones literally passes through the cattle into their feces and ends up in the environment, where it can get in out food and water." From which ever farm or market our products comes from we aren't fully sure if it has been well cleaned and safely packed. Whatever it may contain, it changes the humans development. Being an adult is more likely that we can prevent buying and eating unsafe beef or dairy, but how can it be prevented by an infant.
Women who are pregnant need a full amount of protein and vitamins, a diet that includes lots of dairy and meat. The mother has to be careful on what she eats and where it is coming from. Of course, a McDonalds meal quite often is not the best choice of food for a woman in pregnancy, but many still dismiss the fact of what it all contains. A growing infant still in the womb, must take it lots of nutritious foods. The issue of an infant so young having contact with foods that come from hormonally implanted meat and dairy leads to future health and developing problems. There is a reason many mothers choose to breast-feed instead of formula milk. Francesco Savino explains in his research
Can Hormones Contained In Mothers' Milk Account for the Beneficial Effect On Breast-Feeding On Obesity In Children, that " human milk is a source of various hormones and growth factors, which are involved in food intake regulation and energy balance. And breastfeeding being associated with a low risk of future obesity."
Trying to prevent future obesity can start when the child is still in the womb, then choosing to breast feed rather then feed with a formula.
But the issue gets more serious as the child being to grow, and grow into teenage hood way to early. Since hormones are used for rapid growth, the animals' system increases its time in growth passing it on to the consumer. That might be one of the reasons children have had early signs of maturity. For instance, a friends of mines has two sons, one around ten years of age and the other nineteen. The older son started experiencing early maturity around the age of ten years old. Nothing was taken seriously at first, only that it was the time for it. Suddenly he began growing facial hair. His mother took him to a doctor in order to figure out what is causing the early maturity. Right from the start, the doctor already knew the answer. He asked if the boy loves hot dogs, he in fact said yes. " That's the reason Mrs. R" said the doctor. When she what does it have to do with her sons health, the doctor gave her a lecture that she must immediately stop letting her son take in any meat , especially pork and beef with his diet. He explained that the percentage of hormones added to the meat had cause the body to react and speed up the development. Besides, he loved hot dogs, and had them a couple times a week. The boy actually spoke about the way he felt after changing what he was use to eating. " My stomach use to hurt a lot, not anymore now, I actually feel good, " he said. We all need to take in protein in our normal diets, but it is important to have limits to the kind of meats were eating. Beef and Pork might not be the best option
This whole hormonally implanted meat business is strange. Although "the usage of hormone production aids is permitted in North America," according to the
Nutrition Research Reviews by Haugh Galbrait, the damage is being done in tiny steps. It is clear , if we just look around, that the American Way of living isn't always " fast-food free." We are all aware that the fast food restaurants doesn't get their meat from the organic markets or naturally raised cattle. Most of the times we don't even know where it comes from. But we buy, and we consume and repeat the careless cycle. Slowly it is leading people into a life full of bad habits, and choices such as obesity. Obesity is a multifactorial condition with syndromic and nonsyndromic variants. According to
Disorders of Childhood Growth And Development by Robert Mendez, "Childhood obesity is diagnosed based on body mass index; a child considered being overweight from 85th-95th percentiles and obese at 90th percentile." The child's unhealthy food choices can lead to even more serious problems. The cholesterol, and blood pressure goes up, increasing a chance for diabetes. It
can also promote depression and worsen the mental state. Obesity starts in childhood ages, then it lead to adulthood. Whatever an individuals diet was when they were a child, reflects on what it will be in later years unless healthier choices are made.
Overall, it is our choice of what we choose to eat. The fast food is everywhere, including grocery markets that don't always have the freshest or well packed meat that's been produced in a natural production farm. Of course we can avoid eating meats like those, but reading the label might not be enough. But we can search on the topic and choose companies that ensure us that our meats and dairy is coming from a farm where growth is natural and packaging is safe.
Sources:
Savino, Francesco, et al. "Can Hormones Contained In Mothers’ Milk Account For The Beneficial Effect Of Breast-Feeding On Obesity In Children?." Clinical Endocrinology 71.6 (2009): 757-765. Academic Search Complete. Web. 31 Oct. 2013
- Mendez, Robert, and Maureen Grissom. "Disorders Of Childhood Growth And Development: Childhood Obesity." FP Essentials 410.(2013): 20-24. MEDLINE with Full Text. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23869391
