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Ask the Health Professional: What’s all the Beef about Growth Hormones? Are They Really That Bad?

Growth hormones in beef and milk DO affect the human body, which is why growth implants should not be used in raising cattle. European countries will not even import U.S. beef due to the use of the injected and implanted hormones and antibiotic residues. The natural hormones in cattle, the synthetic hormones in cattle implants and injections (patentable and profit-generating), and the hormone-like chemicals in plants are all very different from one another. Another problem with widespread use of growth hormones is the concurrent use of antibiotics. The accelerated and unnatural growth caused by hormonal implants, coupled with the use of grain feed lots instead of grass, causes a dramatic increase in cattle disease. Cows which graze on grass produce milk loaded with the beneficial bacteria acidophilus and bifidus and do not contain E. coli in their intestinal tract. Due to the illnesses caused by the unnatural growth rate, hormone-implanted cattle are routinely given antibiotics in their feed.