GaryD
20th October 2010, 01:55 PM
Hi,
I watched a segment on River Cottage Spring a few nights ago where they featured Professor Michael Crawford who is a leading researcher on the effect of nutrition on brain development.
I subsequently found a Sunday Times article on his research around chicken meat and the impact of intensive rearing on its nutritional profile.
While we most frequently associate Omega 3 (which is essential for brain development in children) with fish, it turns out that chicken is a much more important source, given that it usually comprises a much larger proportion of many diets.
The article reveals how, in the past 30 years, Omega 3 levels in chicken meat have diminished by 80%.....while fat levels have increased by 30%
Like most people, I always sensed that free range chicken meat was better.....better for the chicken and better tasting meat.....but I'd have struggled to quantify it in nutritional terms.
I now understand what makes free range chicken meat so valuable.....and what is needed to produce meat with the right nutritional profile.
You can read the full article......here (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article376661.ece). Alarming stuff!
Gary
I watched a segment on River Cottage Spring a few nights ago where they featured Professor Michael Crawford who is a leading researcher on the effect of nutrition on brain development.
I subsequently found a Sunday Times article on his research around chicken meat and the impact of intensive rearing on its nutritional profile.
While we most frequently associate Omega 3 (which is essential for brain development in children) with fish, it turns out that chicken is a much more important source, given that it usually comprises a much larger proportion of many diets.
The article reveals how, in the past 30 years, Omega 3 levels in chicken meat have diminished by 80%.....while fat levels have increased by 30%
Like most people, I always sensed that free range chicken meat was better.....better for the chicken and better tasting meat.....but I'd have struggled to quantify it in nutritional terms.
I now understand what makes free range chicken meat so valuable.....and what is needed to produce meat with the right nutritional profile.
You can read the full article......here (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article376661.ece). Alarming stuff!
Gary