As the years have progressed, more and more individuals are trying to eat healthier. The term “eating healthy” can refer to lots of things from consuming more fruits and vegetables to vowing to not eat animal products to anything in between. A term that has become more and more popular is “free range”. We now have free range eggs, free range meats, and free range chicken. Free range chicken is extremely popular. But what exactly is free range? How did free range begin? What are the benefits of eating free range? The information here will answer all these questions and let you decide for yourself if free range is something you’d like to pursue further.
The definition of the term free range differs depending on where you live. If you live outside of the United States, free range refers to animals being allowed to roam wherever they want without being caged up for any period of time. A free range chicken has access to the outdoors, the green grass, and the shining sun whenever he wants. Now if you live within the United States, free range has a different meaning. It refers only to poultry. Free range chicken, ducks, and turkeys have access to the outside. It does not specify the amount of time the animal can be outside or what the size of the outside is. So if a free range animal does not decide to move outside it stays in the often tiny, cramped cage.
Free range farming used to be the way farmers raised their animals until they started using chicken wire or barbed wire. Prior to the 20th century, all farmers knew about raising animals was to make sure they had a varied diet and plenty of sunshine. Ranchers that raised cattle found it difficult to keep the cattle in one place and provide feed to them, so they kept them on their ranch. Chickens were all free range chickens until 1920. When Vitamin D and Vitamin A were discovered in 1920, farmers realized that they could market their chickens commercially if they were confined. It was the confining of the chickens that lead to confinement of most other farm animals.
Today there is still a debate over whether or not eating free range products truly offers any health benefits. There are a number of very valid points that support that argument that free range is better for us. One such reason is the fact that animals that are confined tend to have a higher incidence of disease and illness. Free range animals do not have this risk because they are not kept in small confined spaces in close proximity to one another. Free range animals also have access to more sources that are nutrient dense such as grass and bugs. This makes free range animals better for us because they are packed with vitamins and minerals. Whereas confined animals do not have access to the green grass or as many bugs, they are also only given enough food to survive. Confined animals’ food is often loaded with high doses of antibiotics. The purpose of the antibiotics is to keep the animal disease free. You then eat these animals. Eating animals that are loaded with antibiotics is bad for your health.
It is important that you take the time to do the research to determine if eating free range products is best for you. Here you found relevant information on free range animals; you can also find pertinent information on just about every other health subject. Remember the more informed decision you make the more likely you are to stick with it.
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