Archives for October 2010

What does free range mean?

What does free range mean?

In my recent post on my Food As Medicine blog over at Urban Diner, I make the argument that eating meat is not only a normal and natural part of our human diet, but that meat can also serve as a medicine to treat specific diseases. For example, bones and marrow bones can be boiled to make a medicinal broth that supports the health of the joints and nervous system, whereas liver is an excellent food to promote and support detoxification. While meat and animal products serve as a valuable food and medicine, the challenge for many consumers is to make sure that they are getting a reliable source. The term "grass-fed" and "free-range" are bandied around quite a bit, but as neither of these terms are certifiable, they may not mean very much either. In fact, in a survey of egg producers in the US by the Cornucopia Institute, many brands scored well below what I would call an "ideal" measure. In my own research trying to source egg and meat producers here in Canada, I have come to find that … [Read more...]