Organic Protein

Susanna Cellucci

Susanna CellucciFounder

Published Sep 24, 2021 • Updated Oct 12, 2026

Animal Proteins 

These foods are called “complete proteins” because they usually contain all the essential amino acids your body needs in one package.

  • Meat (beef, pork, lamb, lamb, goat)
  • Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck)
  • Fish and seafood
  • Eggs and dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)

Conventional Animal Protein

Avoid conventional animal protein made with conventional beef, chicken, turkey or porks often involves hormones and antibiotics. These practices prioritize faster growth and disease control in feedlots.

Conventional beef contains unhealthy additives like synthetic nitrates/nitrites, artificial preservatives, and fillers to extend shelf life and enhance appearance.

 

  • ❌ Growth hormones: these hormones are estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, zeranol, trenbolone, and melengestrol acetate (MGA) which are implanted in 80-90% of U.S. feedlot cattle to boost weight gain by 10-30%.
  • ❌ Antibiotics: Up to 70% of U.S. antibiotics go to livestock, contaminating meat, water, and soil.
  • ❌ Synthetic Nitrates: Sodium nitrite or nitrate preserves color and prevents bacteria like botulism but can form carcinogenic nitrosamines when heated.
  • ❌ High fructose corn syrup: unhealthy processed  additive. Corn GMO’s
  • ❌ Hydrolyzed soy protein: hidden MSG source. Soy GMO’s
  • ❌ Artificial flavors: like smoke flavoring spike blood sugar and cause sensitivities.
  • ❌ Propylene glycol: acts as a cheap humectant, while
  • ❌ BHA/BHT antioxidants: link to endocrine issues.

Greenwashing Animal Proteins 

Avoid greenwashing animal protein made by brands that pretend to be organic, healthier, or safer when they are not. They will use their misleading marketing tricks to convince you to buy their products. They may use controversial ingredients:

 

  • ❌ Natural nitrates: Organic celery powder naturally contains high levels of nitrates, which convert to nitrites when processed or fermented, often for use in “uncured” organic meats like bacon and hot dogs. The body processes plant-based nitrates from celery identically to synthetic ones, potentially forming nitrosamines linked to cancer risks under high heat or with proteins. Most dietary nitrates (80-85%) come from vegetables anyway, but celery powder enables “no nitrates added” labels despite delivering comparable or higher amounts. Advocacy groups have pushed to restrict it in organics, citing no proven health edge. Products must note “except those naturally occurring in celery powder” on labels. Alternatives like spinach powder exist but alter taste or color more noticeably.
  • ❌ Vegetable extracts: convert to nitrites

Regenerative Agriculture 

Regenerative agriculture is much more than sustainable; it is a holistic land-management framework that heals land through farming in harmony with nature. It’s a science and an art form that goes beyond sustainability, because it actively improves land health instead of leaving it the same or worse.

Let’s support regenerative farmers and ranchers who embrace this ancient framework to deliver a more sustainable and healthier way to ensure a better future for us all.

 

 

 

Regenerative Organic Certified logo

 

 

  • ✅ Healthy soil: ROC regenerative farming practices that nurture and restore the soil
  • ✅ Animal Welfare: Responsibly grazing livestock enhances plant and animal biodiversity
  • ✅ Worker fairness: ROC regenerative farming ensures workers’ rights, safety, and fair wages

The Best Organic Meats

The best meats are provided by smaller-owned farms versus large corporations. Pick farms that are reporting the soil and the animal, and they go beyond by being certified. Animals are born & raised in the USA on local regenerative farms & ranches versus coming from abroad in controversial animal and worker conditions. 

 

100% Grass-finished beef raised on regenerative farms is healthier due to its more balanced omega-3:omega-6 fatty acid profile. 100% pasture-raised: animals eat a natural diet. Responsibly grazing livestock enhances plant and animal biodiversity. Regenerative foods contain greater concentrations of essential minerals, vitamins, and nutrients than conventionally farmed foods.

 

  • ✅ Regenerative Organic Certified®
  • ✅ USDA Certified Organic 
  • ✅ Animal Welfare Certified 
  • ✅ 100% Grass-fed & Finished Beef
  • ✅ 100% pasture-raised
  • ✅ Hormone & antibiotic-free
  • ✅ American Grown
  • ✅ Locally-Owned Tribal & Family Butchers 

The Best Organic Animal Protein Brands

My number one organic protein brand recommendations are:

  • 🌿 StarWalker Organic Farms  10% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL. Star Walker Organic Farms is the world’s first to offer certified Organic, grass-fed, grass-finished beef and Regenerative certified beef! The makers of the World’s Best Organic beef!
  • 🌿 REP Provision  Verified Regenerative Meats
  • 🌿 Force of Nature
  • 🌿Diestel Regenerative certified Turkeys. Diestel Family Ranch USDA Organic turkeys, Non-GMO Project Verified, raised on a 100% organic vegetarian diet with outdoor access and slow growth for flavor
  • 🌿 Lineage Provisions  15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

 

Shop with my links to support my research!💖

cookware salt barbecue bread eggs food
REP Provisions logo
StarWalker organic farms logo

10% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

Force of Nature Logo
Diestel Logo
Lineage Provisions logo

15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL