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Grass-fed beef and free range eggs can help you drop the pounds.Does eating grass-fed beef and free range eggs make a difference in your diet? I’ve read numerous articles about grass-fed beef helping you lose weight put out by the grass-fed beef ranchers. Of course, I was suspicious. I’d also read about eggs helping you lose weight.
Here in the Midwest, the price of regular eggs and beef have taken a severe cut. Grass-fed beef and free range eggs tumbled too price-wise making me decide to conduct a nutritional experiment. Over a month ago, I finished a weight loss regime at my gym that included intense workouts more suited to the Navy Seals than my 50+ body. During two months of food deprivation and severe workouts, I lost a grand total of seven pounds. Very disappointing. After this, I decided to go back eating as usual, except changing to grass-fed beef and free range eggs. I didn’t give up going to the gym, but my exercise regime was of the milder sort consisting of occasional weight lifting, walking, and yoga. The weirdest thing was I started dropping weight. As first, I didn’t believe it since I wasn’t trying, but the scales and my favorite jeans proved it. Even though, grass fed and free range cost more, I do look for sales. My local organic grocery occasionally has a sale on beef. When that happens, I stock up. As for the eggs, often you can find someone nearby who has free range chickens, if not a dollar or two more isn’t too much to pay for improved health. Another aspect to keep in mind, is the diet of the cow or the chicken. All the chemicals that are going into the animal then goes into you. Often these chemicals cause issues with not only weight gain, hormones, but exacerbates other health problems. My other personal example was I left free range eggs boiling on the stove. I forgot about them as I have done in the past with regular eggs. The pan did boil dry and the eggs cracked. What didn’t happen was they didn’t explode or leave an awful smell behind. It made me wonder about the caged chicken’s diet that cause the egg to smell horrible and the shell to be thinner. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good for me. In conclusion, the grass-fed beef has less fat, which contributes to less food shrinkage. The free-range eggs do taste better. I’ve gotten in the habit of buying brown eggs too. Try switching for a month and see what happens. Walking the Omnivore Path
As a spiritual person, I really wrestle with what I eat. I’m willing to pay more for free range eggs and grass fed meat, especially if I know the farmer. Often items are labelled organic when they really aren’t or only meet the minimum standards. A good example of this is crops grown from organic seeds, but have been sprayed with pesticide. Whenever, a group of Pagans get together for a meal, there is at least one vegetarian at hand to take the others to task for eating meat or other animal-based products such as cheese. At a recent group meal, another member spoke out pointing out that scientists have proven in several studies that plants have feelings. They respond in panic and pain when cut or harvested. Many studies have been done with people speaking kind or harsh words to plants. Those who were praised did much better. There have been studies of plants even being empathetic and attempting to help other plants using their root system. This revelation stopped the sanctimonious vegan in mid-rant. Everything she ate experienced pain too. As a person who lived on a farm and ate whatever we raised, which at times was cows, pigs, and chickens, I feel qualified to address the issue. As a farm kid, I grew up among the free-range chickens and grass fed cows. My exposure to animals made me much healthier than my city counterparts who lived in clean, animal free zones. I never had contempt for the animals or abused them. The livestock all had personalities and names. I knew which hen would peck me while I gathered eggs. On the same hand, I had as much respect for the plants both those in the garden and all around us. The argument against meat was that it took too much resources to raise a cow as opposed to a bushel of wheat. (It is the reason many cultures raised goats because they can exist on much less.) There is also the issue that non-meat sources don't keep a person as full. Children and adults who gobbled down a bowl of cereal for breakfast are starving by lunch. So, going meatless results in eating more, which is no longer the big savings the vegetarian first thought it would be for the planet or pocketbook. ( I will agree at this point that Americans do eat more than a serving at a meal.) When I switched to a protein shake in the morning I was no longer hungry until two in the afternnoon as opposed to the ten am hunger pangs with cereal. Meat taking more resources than grain used to be a true thing, but now with so much insecticide and herbicide used in grain production, along with the use of genetically modified seed that the very act of grain farming is destroying the land. I saw this first hand while living in a rural farming community. There was a huge lake in the area that all the farm land run-off went into. Environmental scientists showed up at the lake whose water we drank, bathed, and laundered our clothes in. The reason for their visit was to examine the impact of chemical run-off from the surrounding farms had on the eco-system. They found frogs with three legs, some with no front legs, three eyes, and others with transparent skin. The fish that swam in the lake were gradually dying out because they had become sterile from the toxins. Even though the study was published, nothing was done about the run-off. As a family, we stopped drinking the water, but we couldn’t stop using it for bathing or laundry. The farmers weren’t anxious to change their ways since companies such as Monsanto made farming into a less laborious process with high yields with modified seeds. As far as eating meat, it’s a personal choice. Although, some blood types need more iron-rich protein than others. Basically, eating meat is the only way to get the needed amino acids. We as a species were originally hunter/gatherers, we were not fast food junkies or carb-holics. Certain Pagan tradition insist on eating meat while others do not. If you’re unaware of where your vegetables come from, then even as a vegetarian, you could be contributing to the toxic factory farm issue. There are alternatives such as growing your own organic garden, farmers’ market or local Co-ops. Let’s get back to the meat and animal based products. We never judge a bear for standing in a stream and fishing for trout or salmon. If we did not eat meat as a planet, there would be no reason to raise chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys, and other marketable animals. So, the animals some people hoped to save would cease to exist. Trust me; cows are too big to be kept as pets. I do agree, they could have a healthier lifestyle as opposed to living in a feedlot . As a bear person, eating meat is what I do. Just as a horse person might only eat grains and vegetables. What I resent is people implying that somehow meat eaters are not as spiritual as vegetarians. The current Dali Lama, and all the Dali Lamas who came before him, ate meat. Buddha ate meat. Jesus ate meat. Should I assume they weren’t enlightened? One of my favorite publishers, Hay House has a series of diet books. One deals with eating only a paleo diet, another with the importance of eating fat, another with a vegetarian diet, and one more about consuming meat broth. I respect the company and believe they wouldn’t put out an ethically unsound product. It shows a wide range of eating preferences throughout the spiritual community. A Druid friend explained that when she picked something she offered up something in exchange, even if it was only gratitude. I do believe our food, no matter what it is, deserves honor for serving as nourishment. It had a job and did it well. Often when we are dining together, everyone will bring a non-meat dish to feed the vegan in our midst, but often this is a fail because there could be butter or cheese in the dish. Usually, I just bring fruit or nuts since anything else is too problematic. As for my own diet, I don’t eat sugar in any form. I try very hard to avoid it, but I imagine in group settings I probably ingest some. It’s not the end of the world. Sometimes, we compromise for the benefit of fellowship. Every grain, every grass, and every animal in the forest feeds the ecosystem. With this is mind, I want to be part of the system. Every year, I plant flowers and herbs that feed bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and maintain an organic vegetable garden. Rain barrels collect water for the plants. There is even a small unfenced rabbit garden for my furry friends. Multiple birdfeeders hang from the trees along with the bee houses hidden back behind the barn. Part of the yard grows wild to allow both the fairies and bees a place of peace. As for the vegan ranting, I will assume it is a growth process. *Photo: Some people could be offended by the beer and wine. Still, others the salt shaker would somehow upset their spiritual path. BLURB: The Accidental Buddhist is the funny, provocative story of how Dinty Moore went looking for the faith he'd lost in what might seem the most unlikely of places: the ancient Eastern tradition of Buddhism. Moore demystifies and explains the contradictions and concepts of this most mystic-seeming of religious traditions. This plain-spoken, insightful look at the dharma in America will fascinate anyone curious about the wisdom of other cultures and other religions. Cutting through religious jargon and abstract concepts, Moore explains in clear terms why Buddhism is becoming part of popular culture. He has the rare ability to be at once sincere about religion and good-humored about the human condition. The Accidental Buddhist never takes itself too seriously—which, as Moore discovers, Buddhists aren’t supposed to do, even when they are mindful, enlightened, and sitting perfectly still. REVIEW The Accidental Buddhist is a thought provoking, at times irreverent, journey of a former Catholic altar boy trying to find meaning in exploring Buddhism in America. Even though this book is almost twenty years old, the narrative is still fresh, original, and entertaining. Author Dinty Moore wrestles with the basic precepts of Buddhism and how it fits into the fast-paced American lifestyle. The reader travels with Author Moore as he takes parts in retreats, wrestles with monkey mind thoughts, and meets the Dalai Lama. It is an enlightening read. Throughout the tale, Moore uses Buddhist terms that he explains with the first usage, but are included in a glossary in the back. There is also a resource appendix in the back. It may not be current due to the date of the book. It’s March now, but so far in 2017, this is the best book I’ve read this year. BLURB A concise guide to the Gods and Goddesses of pagan Ireland, their history, mythology, and symbols. Rooted in the past but still active in the world today, the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland have always been powerful forces that can bless or challenge, but often the most difficult thing is to simply find information about them. This short introductory text looks at a variety of different Irish deities, common and more obscure, from their ancient roots to the modern practices associated with honoring them in, an encyclopedia-style book with entries in easy-to-use sections. BiographyMorgan Daimler teaches classes and writes about Irish myth and magical practices, fairies, and related subjects. Morgan’s writing has appeared in a variety of magazines and anthologies including By Blood, Bone, and Blade: A Tribute to the Morrigan and Naming the Goddess. Morgan is also the author of a variety of fiction and non-fiction books including the urban fantasy/paranormal romance series Between the Worlds, and through Moon Books Where the Hawthorn Grows, Fairy Witchcraft, Pagan Portals: The Morrigan, Pagan Portals: Brigid, Fairycraft, and Pagan Portals Gods and Goddesses of Ireland. Morgan blogs regularly at Living Liminally. MY TAKE ON GODS AND GODDESSES OF IRELAND
Pagan Portals: Gods and Goddesses of Ireland by Morgan Daimler is a well-researched book on the deities and their specific history. Too often, the Irish Gods and Goddesses are lumped together with other Celtic entities, often with more fiction than actual history. Daimler has done an exhaustive survey into the written and folkloric records to piece together an actual summary of the deities associated with the Emerald Isle from their conception, to their attributes, symbols, even to their loves and sometimes their lack of success in that area too. This hundred plus page book written in a readable fashion provides a framework to understand the history and folklore of Ireland. Even the Gods and Goddesses had to fight for what they wanted, experienced unrequited love, and at times were tricked. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants to know more about the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland, Irish history, and is contemplating a trip to the Emerald Isle. It helped me to connect with the fairy tales of Ireland better too. Do you throw away about a third of the food you buy? A friend of mine is a Druid and she explained when she picked a vegetable or a flower, she thanked the plant. The plant had a mission, which was to create the blossom or veggie. In my organic gardening class, I learned that you always pick tomatoes slightly before they’re ripe. If you allow them to totally ripen on the vine, the plant has fulfilled its purpose and starts the dying process. I kept my garden growing long past the normal season by picking the produce slightly early. I will also admit to praising the plants as I garden. I do have respect for the plants and the miracle a seed represents. Since I grew up on a farm, complete with pigs, a milk cow, and chickens, I’ve had close contact with other food sources too. A Wiccan friend raises her own chickens, she explained to me she didn’t want the energy from eggs that came from overcrowded chicken farms where the hens are forced to sit in tight cages never feeling the light of day or grass under their feet. Do you respect your food? Know where it comes from? Even care? At the elementary school where I work, I cringe every day as I watch children destroy food while playing with it, then dumping it into the trash. They often toss untouched fruit, veggies and unopened milk into the trash. When offered seconds, the kids line up when they never eaten their initial food. Even those who brought their lunch, often toss unopened lunch items. There is so much disrespect in throwing away food.
window a starving child asking, "Why won’t they share even the crumbs, especially when they have so much?" My mother used to tell me to clean my plate becuase kids were starving in China. Well, it doesn't work quite like that. We can not take as much since we don't intend to eat it all. Americans tend to eat more than one serving and often load their plate down with more than they need. Eating a portion size may stretch a meal to two meals as opposed to ending up as garbage or on our waistlines. Once food is wasted it can't be retrieved. Wilty veggies can go into stews and soups. ( Yep, it involves cooking.) You have something you don't think you'll eat, take it to work. Canned goods not being used? Rotate your food so it does get used as opposed to freezer burn. Use the food in your pantry as opposed to buying more. Have a meatless dinner and donate the money you save to a local food bank. My school gives the unused food to the local shelters. They can’t give away apples that have been stabbed with forks or bananas bruised from being using as a projectile, or milk poured onto trays. They can’t give the extras students took, but never ate. The students’ behavior not only shows disrespect to the food, but to those who prepared it, and those who had none, but also themselves that they’re unable to act in a dignified fashion. Not all children are like this. There are those who carefully deposit their undamaged food in pans designated for the shelter. These are the same students, who don’t throw food, leave trash or the floor, or thank me when I do something for them. These are unfortunately the minority. The one who show great care for their food are usually recent immigrants too. It could be because the children who attend the school have never gone to bed hungry. They wrongly assume that food will always be there for their asking preferably something loaded with chemicals and packaged in cellophane. It seems like such a simple thing, taking time to consider what is going into your body. Every time we eat, we are transferring energy. Native Americans would thank the spirit of whatever animal they killed to survive. They honored the animal in this fashion. Even the traditional sit down dinner with the family around the table was a way we respected each other. It was the basis for children learning table manners and how to act appropriately. Perhaps, my parents would have rather been elsewhere than riding herd over us, but it was what they did. You may believe food has spirit, then again, you may not, but it won’t hurt you to slow down and consider what you’re eating. Who knows it might even cut down on indigestion. I accept that it was Saturday before I posted, but I did post. :)
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