His Creation Is Built On Regeneration

I made a big mistake. And now a piece of my tooth was missing.

My weekend project was to replace the passenger side motor mount on my car. I found an online tutorial and seemed it easy enough. The one tricky part was that I didn’t have the correct socket to remove the bolt securing the mount to the frame. The engineers designed the bolt with a star-shaped bolt head. I didn’t have a star-shaped socket. The special socket was around $15, so I thought that I could take a shortcut and just use a tight fitting, standard hexagonal shape.

I got under my car with my impact drill, a long extension, found the socket that fit tightly and started to pull the drill’s trigger. I stripped the bolt. Okay, I thought, no problem, I’ll just get a tighter fitting socket. I stripped the bolt even further. None of the star’s arms were left. I was in trouble now. Even if I bought the special star shaped socket, it wouldn’t help me.

I could stop the project now and take it to a shop - they would probably have a way to remove the bolt. No. I wasn’t going to do that. That would be embarrassing. I was a budding engineer. The mechanic would have another hilarious story about a naive engineer not knowing how to change a simple part. No. I was going to get this bolt out. I grabbed a smaller socket and jammed it as hard as I could on the nub that was left of the bolt head. Underneath the car again, I pushed up as hard as I could with my impact drill, trying to get the impact action to break the bolt loose.

I finally gave up. My arms were exhausted from pushing the heavy drill hard against the bolt for so long. I put the drill down, relaxed my arms, and let go of it. Wham! The drill rotated towards me and the hardened steel socket hit me right in the face. It made direct contact with my tooth. I quickly pulled the drill away and I could feel something in my mouth. A hard, small, piece of something.

Not knowing how much of my tooth was missing, I slowly, sadly, headed back to the house. I was completely defeated. My car was now damaged and so was my smile.

I tried to take a shortcut. I thought I could ignore how the bolt was designed. The tutorial said that the bolt wouldn't be very tight and would be easy to remove. I attempted to remove the motor mount in a way that the designer never intended and I paid the price with a broken car and a broken tooth.

Have you ever taken a shortcut and regretted it? Shortcuts always seem great. I get what I want faster, cheaper, easier. How many quick fixes have been advertised to you?

When I look at how the industrial livestock system is set up, I see a similar attempt to shortcut the way that God designed His creation to work.

He designed creation to regenerate. Very little on our planet gets used up, never to be used again. Trees rot. Then they are consumed by fungi, insects, and microorganisms. The product of which is high quality soil that provides the ideal location for a new tree to grow. His creation similarly deals with animal carcasses and animal feces. Creation decomposes the old and makes possible the new. This earth is built on regeneration and He thought it was a good design.

“And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:25

If God were to design a farm to raise animals for us to eat, what would it look like? Would there be any waste? I imagine it would use the systems He already put in place. The animals would be allowed to eat what makes them thrive. Their poop would fertilize the vegetation that the cows graze on. The chickens would be able scratch the ground for bugs and worms to eat. The pigs would nurse their young and enjoy bathing in the outdoor mud.

The industrial thinking is that if we can maximize the efficiency of each segment of the process, we can get more from less. It seems to make sense, given the need to feed a growing population, but there are new requirements in a system like this. The feed has to be grown in one place, which typically uses harmful chemical fertilizers to make the plants grow. The animals are raised in really small spaces, requiring massive waste collection systems that pollute nearby land, water and air and cause localized public health issues such as asthma.

A 2003 study from Penn State found that an egg produced by a pasture raised chicken can have up to 3x more beta-carotene, 2x as much Vitamin E, and 40% more Vitamin A than birds' eggs raised on an industrial diet. Likewise, pasture raised cattle are higher in conjugated linoleum acid (CLA) a main cancer defense, higher Vitamin E, lots of B Vitamins, a higher percentage of Omega-3 fatty acids, and a lower percentage of Omega-6s (Omega 6s levels are typically much too high in the American diet). It also heals the land and can save the farmer money, "A 2013 study in Agricultural Systems showed that compared to conventionally managed farms, regenerative farms could accommodate more cattle per acre, had lower cow and calf mortality, purchased less feed, and used fewer herbicides. Researchers also found that topsoil was deeper, more aerated, and densely covered with plants."

We don't have to choose between protecting the environment and raising livestock. When we choose to raise livestock in appropriate places (cutting down the Amazon to make land for cattle is not okay), it can be done by using a technique that is part of the Regenerative Agriculture system, the tools that God built into our planet.

It seems to me that by using the industrial livestock system we are going to spend a ton of energy shortcutting His design, ending up defeated and broken.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

If this spoke to you at all and you want to watch a beautifully produced true story about Regenerative Agriculture, made by a former Discovery channel videographer, check out The Biggest Little Farm.

Playing Mind Games With Meat

Sitting in the bullpen was a monotonous existence. The relentless requests for baseballs were a constant source of agony. Fans would come to the end of the stands and lean over the railing asking, “Can I have a ball?” In the Major Leagues, it was a little easier to give them away, we had as many as we wanted. In the minors, it was different. We had precious few. Every so often we’d get a foul ball that we knew had a scuff on it and we could toss it into the stands. For the most part, the baseballs we had in the bullpen were the only ones we had to warm up with and practice with for the week.

When we had a ball that we could give away, we sometimes played a game with an eager fan. We would wait until a kid around 8-10 years old would ask for a baseball. We would tell them, “Yes, you can have a baseball, but first you need to do a favor for us. We need the bullets for the radar gun. The other bullpen has them (the other team’s bullpen). If you can get the bullets for the radar gun, we’ll give you a ball.”

It was a game that both bullpens knew well. The kid’s eyes would get really big at the prospect of getting a spherical treasure and off they would run to the opposing team’s bullpen. Around 5 minutes later, the kid would show back up at our bullpen and say, “The other bullpen says they’ll give you the bullets to the radar gun if you give them the keys to the batter’s box.” We’d reply, “Fine, we’ll give them the keys to the batter’s box if they give us the box of curveballs.” Off the kid would run to the other bullpen to get the box of curveballs.

After several trips back and forth between bullpens, the kid usually figured out that they were being deceived. There are no bullets for the radar gun and the batter’s box definitely doesn’t require keys.

We pitchers in the bullpen used phrases that sounded legitimate to deceive the kid asking for a ball. We used a bit of truth mixed in with a bit of lies. Marketing has been doing this to me for years. Mixing a concoction of a little truth and a little deception.

What I Imagined Wasn't True

A few years ago, what I thought about the chickens, cows, and pigs I was eating didn’t match reality. In my imagination, I saw the animals on a farm with vast fields of open pasture. In my mind, these animals were eating what they choose to eat, getting to act naturally as they go about their day to day lives. A bit of extra hay or feed just to make things a bit easier. This mental image was created by marketing.

I’ve found out that these photos in grocery stores of spacious farms with luscious green grass and wide open spaces are not accurate. Industrial farming is a totally different setting. The pigs and chickens are raised indoors. There are no bugs to eat for the chickens, no grass for the cows to eat, no outdoor dirt for the pigs to roll in. There is no sunshine. Workers have to wear several layers of protective equipment to keep from getting sick when they enter the facility.

When I walk into a large grocery store, there may be small depictions reinforcing my previous deception. These images are generic. There aren’t any photographs of the actual farms that the meat or eggs have come from. There’s no indication of the animal’s living conditions, what it ate, or even where the farm is located.

It is very typical to do all sorts of research about items we are going to buy. We read reviews, look at pictures of people wearing the clothes, filter out items that get ranked low. What I want is a website link on the package so that I could look up pictures of the farm where the animal grew up. I'd like to read the reviews of people who have visited the farms and seen the animals.

I feel like the kid who has realized I’ve been given the runaround by the bullpen. I now know that the radar gun doesn't use bullets and the batters box can't be locked. I don't want to be deceived. If you're not going to give me a baseball, so be it, but don't trick me. Please tell me the truth about what I'm eating.

If you want to know the truth, watch this tour of Craig Watts's farm on the PBS series called Original Fare (Warning: Contains Disturbing Images):

How is Organic healthier?

One of my fears is that I turn to mush as I get older. Losing my mental capacity is scary. Losing my physical capacity is daunting.  I’d like to be an old man that thrives.  My fears about my future mental and physical condition, as well as my fears about undermining my daughter’s potential, have driven me to do a lot of research about food.

The great sabotage

It didn’t seem to matter what we did, our electric bill was over $400. My 2 roommates and I lived in a small, hot apartment that summer. Saving money was really important, but it didn't matter what we did, it seemed as though we couldn’t keep the apartment cool AND our electric bill was super high. We closed all the blinds during the day, checked all the windows for leaks, never left doors open, set the vents the right way, wore lightweight shorts and t-shirts, set the temperature on our HVAC higher so that it was running the A/C less when we weren’t home.  All of these efforts and our next monthly electric bill was still over $400.  The issue wasn’t our effort, the issue was that we were living in Florida. No matter what we did, the weather around us sabotaged our efforts. 

Do you feel that way too? We are seriously disciplined, make rules for ourselves, abstain from so many things we like to eat, exercise rigorously, all in vain because the chemicals in and on our foods sabotage our efforts.  No matter how hard we try, there is a merciless force restraining us from progress.  We’re fighting to be healthy with one arm tied behind our backs.

Could it be that there are hidden forces, accepted by the general population, subversively undermining your efforts to be healthy? Someone might point you to Organic food as an alternative, but is there any fact to their claim that Organic is healthier?

How is Organic healthier?

No artificial flavors - An artificial flavor is a single word that covers the “proprietary” flavor ingredients used by companies. They may contain synthetic chemicals, solvents, MSG, preservatives such as BHA, propylene glycol, parabens, etc. There is no government requirement for companies to disclose what is actually in their “artificial flavors”.   Each artificial flavor may include up to 100 ingredients. 

No artificial colors -Linked to hyperactivity and increased allergies in kids, some are known to be carcinogenic in animal studies, there are ongoing studies about Blue #1 being a neurotoxin, multiple colors have been banned when thought safe at first. All products containing artificial food coloring require a warning in the European Union. 

No artificial sweeteners - Known to affect brain function and to contribute to weight gain by encouraging sugar cravings. 

No high fructose corn syrup - HFCS increases appetite, promotes weight gain, and can contribute to long term issues like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and dementia.

Only certain chemicals allowed - Organic food has a strict list of what is allowed to be added to foods. When you see the "USDA Organic" seal, it means a 3rd party has audited the company for adherence to the rules set up by the USDA.

No BHT - Used as a preservative, BHT disrupts the signals from our gut to our brains that tell us to stop eating. BHT is also an endocrine disruptor. 

No BHA - Used as a preservative, BHA is an endocrine disruptor and banned in many other countries. 

Organic produce is more nutritious - Organically grown fruits and vegetables have slightly higher levels of Vitamin C, antioxidants, and other nutrients. 

Normal hormone function - Many pesticides and herbicides, such as the widely used herbicide Glyphosate (Round-up), are considered “endocrine disruptors”. They change how your body regulates your hormones, altering your body’s basic chemistry. Glyphosate stimulates the overproduction of estrogen.  Glyphosate and other synthetic pesticides and herbicides are banned for Organic produce.

Better thyroid function - Pesticides and herbicides have been linked to hyper- and hypo- thyroidism.

Reduced risk of neurodevelopmental problems - Exposure to pesticides around the time of birth (in or out of the womb) disrupts the baby’s thyroid and neurotransmitter function. This is especially important for women in agricultural settings as they have a higher likelihood of significant exposure. 

Large reduction in exposure to antibiotics from food consumption - Conventionally raised animals can exist in their conditions because of the huge amounts of antibiotics given throughout their life. Those antibiotics are in the meat we eat, destroying the good bacteria in our guts. This has all sorts of consequences including weight gain, hormonal issues, and impaired brain function.

No human sewage used as fertilizer - We humans put all sort of stuff in the toilet. Birth control hormones, prescriptions drugs, antibiotics all end up in our waste. On non-organic produce, this is allowed to be put on the fields and it enters our food. Reduced risk of Alzheimers and Parkinson's - Glyphosate (Round-up) has been implicated in an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's.

Reduced risk of ADHD for kids - Children with higher levels of organophosphate pesticides were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

Reduced number of obesogens that you encounter - Factory farmed animals receive a synthetic estrogen implant that enhances growth by 40-50 lbs. While banned in the European Union, American agencies permit these implants because “no risk to human health has been proven yet”.

Reduced levels of herbicides and pesticides in your urine - Did you know that almost all of us have herbicides and pesticide in our bodies? What are they doing inside us? The good news is that within a few days of switching to Organic food, pesticide counts in urine drop dramatically.  It doesn’t take long for you to get rid of it, so why wait?

So, just eat anything Organic and I'll be Healthy?

If we all went through life eating Organic Cheese-Its and Organic Gummy Bears, would we be healthy? Probably not. That isn't a diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Are Organic Cheese-Its and Organic Gummy Bears health-ier than their regular versions? Yes.

It's like water in your gas tank

When I put gas in my car, I'm not looking for a gas station that adds water to the gasoline, I just want gas. Water in the gas will cause my engine to run poorly. My car won't work right if I put soap in the engine oil. My transmission won't shift correctly if I put toothpaste in it. I'm using these examples to remind myself that what I put into my body will determine how well it functions. Chemicals have their purposes, but they are not nutritious.

When I look at all the things I'd like to avoid in my diet, chemicals are one of the highest priorities. To me, it makes sense that fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat grown/raised with the least amount of chemical supercharging would be the healthiest. The system is designed by God to work in a beautiful way. Water, Sun, Soil, Time, and TLC are the ingredients for growing something.

My body and your body are high-performance machines. They were put together by a skilled Craftsman. Our bodies, our minds, and our hearts are His temple and have been bought with a price. Let's care for these temples with high quality foods as if He really is taking up residence in us. Maybe we should be applying 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to our eating habits as well as our sexual habits?

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Is Organic a Scam?

When you hear the message that buying Organic is a scam, that it can’t feed the world, that there isn’t any difference to conventionally grown food, think about who is paying for that message. Huge companies worth hundreds of billions of dollars continue to thrive because we believe the lies they feed us rather than believing that naturally grown food, the way God designed it, is better for us and our neighbors. 

I don't think that farmers are trying to deliberately sabotage us. Farmers work hard, long days to provide good healthy produce. The ones I am skeptical of are the multi-billion dollar agricultural and food processing companies selling chemicals with promises of complete health, environmental responsibility, and increased productivity. They are the ones funding the research centers, the papers, the opinion pieces, the advertising, the lobbying, and the think tanks.  Do they have profit margins to defend and earnings per share expectations to deliver on? You betcha. That makes me nervous. It makes me nervous that they might put profit above my health.

When people say they prefer Organic food, what they often seem to mean is they don't want their food tainted with pesticides and their meat shot full of hormones or antibiotics. Many object to the way a few companies - Monsanto is the most famous of them - control so many of the seeds we grow. -Michael Specter

If you found this post helpful, stay tuned for our future posts on tips to make Organic meals quick, affordable, easy, and delicious.