Meat Eater Monday: Should I be Concerned with Hormones in my Beef?

Let's start with a question?  Are there hormones in meat?  Yes, yes there are, but there are also hormones in you and me, milk, and even in cabbage.  But we do not need to be concerned about them.

"Cattle have been receiving hormone injections for well over 50 years and in fact it is well regulated, monitored carefully, & proven safe. Currently, over 90 percent of the cattle fed in the U.S. receive a hormone implant during growth and this usually occurs as the animal enters the feedlot. The effect of the hormone implant will have worn off well before the animal is shipped to market, basically meaning that the effectiveness of the hormone implant will have terminated well before the animal is slaughtered.  Therefore, residues and/or traces of this hormone implant is not an issue."  Are There Hormones in Meat 2013.  We would not inject our animals with anything that is potentially harmful to people, or our cattle.  

Hormone implants essentially give naturally occurring hormones in cattle a boost.  They help speed up the rate in which feed is converted to muscle.  As you know, muscle is what we are eating when we eat meat.  This means we are feeding them less, and they are producing more meat at a quicker pace.  There is no reason to be concerned at all.  The hormone levels in beef produced using growth hormones are well within range of naturally occurring levels in the animals themselves.  

With that in mind, go out and enjoy a steak!  =)

Now that the weather is finally cooling off a little, here is a great easy recipe for Taco Soup.  Not sure where it originated from, but it is super easy, and tastes delicious!  You can cook it on the stove, or toss it all in the crockpot and forget about it.  It is just right for a cool fall day.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. Ground Beef

1 Chopped Onion

3 cans Chopped Green Chilies

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Pepper

16 oz can Pinto Beans

16 oz can Kidney Beans

16 oz Black Beans

1 pkg. Taco Seasoning

1 1/2 c. Water

1 pkg. Ranch Dressing mix

3 lg cans Tomatoes

Tortilla Chips

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Brown beef and onion in a skillet.  Drain beans.  Add all ingredients except cheese and chips to a large stockpot or crockpot.  If cooking on stove top, bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.  If cooking in a crockpot, cook on low about 4 hours, or all day.  Serve with chips and cheese.