Argumentative Paper on the Benefits of Free Range Livestock on Consumer Health Rather than Corn

Argumentative Paper on the Benefits of Free Range Livestock on Consumer Health Rather than Corn Introduction Food is arguably the most basic need of man and as such, having food security is a fundamental goal for human civilization. Ensuring that people are protected from hunger that is often the consequence of underproduction of food is therefore one of the major ambitions of most governments.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Argumentative Paper on the Benefits of Free Range Livestock on Consumer Health Rather than Corn-Fed Livestock specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To cater for the increasing need for food caused by an every growing population, traditional methods of producing food have in most cases being replaced by modern means which are deemed to be more efficient. Livestock farming is one of the areas whereby modern methods such as feeding livestock on corn have been adopted to increase the growth rate of the animals. As it currently stands, livestock products today contribute a large percentage of our da ily intake of nutrients in our bodies. However the foods that the livestock feeds upon impacts on the livestock products that we as human consume. This essay will argue that free range animal products are more beneficial to the consumer as compared to corn fed livestock products. To reinforce this claim, this paper will review the various benefits that free range animal products hold over corn fed livestock products. Benefits of Free Range Animals Human beings rely on animal products to provide them with some essential nutrients. Animals that are fed on corn sometimes end up lacking these essential nutrients. Challem reveals that farm animals that eat mostly corn and other grains have little to no omega-3 fatty acids in their muscles (78). Free range livestock products on the other hand are endowed with most nutrients that help us to boost our immune system in that they contain higher levels of antioxidants and important fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, and E (Forge 10). These vit amins are essential for promotion of good eye sight, strong well formed bones as well as healthy skin. Free range livestock products are also rich in calcium which is essential to maintain a healthy body, strong healthy bones and teeth, healthy skin hair and nails and more so helps us to have supple and flexible joints. It is hence very important to go for free range livestock products so as to maximize on health benefits. The United States and other developed countries currently face high prevalence rates of obesity, a condition which is mostly caused by consumption unhealthy foods. This problem is accentuated by corn fed livestock result in products that are unhealthy to human beings. Research indicates that pasture-raised meat, eggs and other dairy products are better for consumer health than conventionally-raised grain-fed food (Challem 38). This is because these products are lower in calories and total fat as a result of feeding livestock with the right food. The reason for thi s is that corn is not friendly with the digestive system of animals and this results in the animals not being able to process the food as well as they would process grass. They therefore end up giving products that are high on calories and fat and therefore unhealthy for the consumer.Advertising Looking for essay on agriculture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition to being nutritionally rich free range products are safe to consume as they are known to be free of residues from the antibiotics that are routinely fed to livestock as growth promoters by conventional farmers (Straten 162). Free range beef has a higher level of a naturally occurring fatty acid called Conjugated Linoleic Acid –CLA which is vital to our bodies. It is involved in the efficient transportation, storage and metabolism of fat in the body but is frequently deficient even in a healthy diet. This fatty acid is also â€Å"a key factor in weight management as it helps to reduce the total weight fat and increase muscle tone as part of an enzyme reaction that breaks down fat globules in the blood† (Straten 168). The consumption of free range livestock products therefore results in the efficient circulation of blood and decreases the chances of developing heart complications and high blood pressure. Corn fed products is not safe to consume due to the residue from antibiotics that are continually fed to animals to promote their growth. This is a cause of great concern because this raises negative health risks. For instance this may lead to resistant strains of bacteria in consumers and consequently reduce the effectiveness of the bodies own mechanism (Straten 32). There are various concerns pertaining to modern food animal production. Mooney, Knox and Schacht reveal that higher levels of saturated fat in corn fed beef result in possible health risks associated with growth in milk and the production of contamina tion of meat (70). Creatzfeldt-Jacob which is the human form of mad cow disease may also result from the consumption of corn fed products. The use of antibiotics in animal feed also results in the creation of super-resistant bacteria infections in man (Straten 70). Consumers are thus encourages to be very careful when buying livestock product they wish to eat because cheap could be extremely expensive. A case for Corn-Fed Livestock As has been noted, the human population has increased at phenomenal rates and relying on traditional means to feed people may no longer be viable. The biggest motivation for farming today is therefore coming up with products in the shortest time possible so as to feed the bulging population. Doyle and Lipman rightly noted that â€Å"most commercially available meats are factory farmed because it is fast, convenient and more economical† (131). It can therefore be seen that while corn fed livestock may not be as healthy to the human body as free rang e livestock, they give the nation the ability to feed its population.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Argumentative Paper on the Benefits of Free Range Livestock on Consumer Health Rather than Corn-Fed Livestock specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, it should be taken into consideration that corn fed livestock deprives people of important nutrients and may in fact result in health complications. Baer reveals that for instance, the ratio of the detrimental Omega 6 fatty acids is higher in corn fed beef than in grass fed beef and that do not work well for our bodies since it can cause inflammation, increase of heart disease and even cancer. From such revelations, it is clear that consuming corn fed livestock products just because they satisfy us is a dangerous. Conclusion Animal products form an important part of man’s nutritional needs. This paper set out to argue that free range livestock products are mor e beneficial to human beings than products from corn-fed livestock. The paper has highlighted the fact that free range products result in the promotion of good health. It has also been documented that free range products can be counted on to boost the immune system, to provide us with soluble and to supply humans with adequate amount of an important nutrients in our bodies. This proves that free range livestock is so much beneficial on consumer health rather than corn fed livestock. Challem, Jack. The Inflammation Syndrome: Your Nutrition Plan for Great Health, Weight Loss, and Pain-Free Living. John Wiley and Sons, 2010. Print. Doyle, Molly and Lipman, Frank. Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again. Simon and Schuster, 2008. Print. Forge, Arabella. Frugavore. Black Inc, 2010. Print. Mooney, Linda., Knocks, David and Schacht, Caroline. Understanding Social Problems. Wadsworth Publishing , 2010. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on agriculture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Straten, Michael. Organic living. Frances Lincoln ltd, 2001. Print.

How and When to Apply for Social Security Benefits

How and When to Apply for Social Security Benefits Applying for Social Security benefits is the easy part. You can apply online, by telephone or by walking into your local Social Security office. The hard part is deciding when to apply for your Social Security retirement benefits and rounding up all the documents youll need when you do. Are You Eligible? Becoming eligible to get Social Security retirement requires both reaching a certain age and earning enough Social Security credits. You earn credits by working and paying Social Security taxes. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work) to qualify. If you stop working, you stop earning credits until you return to work. No matter what your age is, you cannot get Social Security retirement benefits until you have earned 40 credits.​ How Much Can You Expect to Get? Your Social Security retirement benefit payment is based on how much you made during your working years. The more you earned, the more youll get when you retire. Your Social Security retirement benefit payment is also affected by the age at which you decide to retire. You can retire as early as age 62, but if you retire before your full retirement age, your benefits will be permanently reduced, based on your age. For example, if you retire at age 62, your benefit would be about 25 percent lower than what it would be if you waited until you reach full retirement age. You also need to remember that monthly premiums for ​Medicare Part B are usually deducted from monthly Social Security benefits. Retirement is a great time to look into the pros and cons of a private Medicare Advantage plan.   According to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly benefit paid to retired workers in May 2017 was $1,367.58.   When Should You Retire? Deciding when to retire is totally up to you and your family. Just keep in mind that Social Security replaces only about 40 percent of the average workers pre-retirement income. If you can live comfortably on 40 percent of what youre making at work, problem solved, but financial experts estimate that most people will need 70-80 percent of their pre-retirement income to have a comfortable retirement. To draw full retirement benefits, the following Social Security Administration age rules apply: Born in 1937 or earlier - Full retirement can be drawn at age 65Born in 1938 - Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 2 monthsBorn in 1939 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 4 monthsBorn in 1940 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 6 monthsBorn in 1941 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 8 monthsBorn in 1942 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 10 monthsBorn in 1943-1954 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66Born in 1955 - Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 2 monthsBorn in 1956 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 4 monthsBorn in 1957 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 6 monthsBorn in 1958 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 8 monthsBorn in 1959 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 10 monthsBorn in 1960 or later Full retirement can be drawn at age 67 Remember that while you can begin drawing Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, your benefits will be 25 percent less than what they will be if you wait until your full retirement age as shown above. Also keep in mind that no matter when you start drawing Social Security benefits, you must be 65 to be eligible for Medicare. For example, people who retired at their full retirement age of 67 in 2017 could get a maximum monthly benefit of $2,687, depending on their work and income history. However, the maximum benefit for persons retiring at age 62 in 2017 was only $2,153.   Delayed Retirement: On the other hand, if you wait to retire beyond your full retirement age, your Social Security benefit will automatically increase by a percentage based on your year of birth. For example, if you were born in 1943 or later, Social Security will add 8 percent per year to your benefit for each year that you delay signing up for Social Security beyond your full retirement age. For example, people who waited until age 70 to retire in 2017 could get a maximum benefit of $3,538. Despite getting smaller monthly benefit payments, people who start claiming Social Security retirement benefits at age 62 often have good reasons for doing. Be sure to consider the pros and cons of applying for Social Security benefits at age 62 before doing so. If You Work While Getting Social Security Yes, you can work full or part-time while also getting Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you have not yet reached your full retirement age, and if your net income from working is higher than the annual earnings limit, your annual benefits will be reduced. Beginning in the month you reach full retirement age, Social Security will stop reducing your benefits no matter how much you earn. During any full calendar year in which you are under full retirement age, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual net income limit. The income limit changes every year. In 2017, the income limit was $16,920.   If Health Problems Force You to Retire Early Sometimes health problems force people to retire early. If you cannot work because of health problems, you should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. The amount of the disability benefit is the same as a full, unreduced retirement benefit. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, those benefits will be converted to retirement benefits. Documents You Will Need Whether you apply online or in person, you will need the following information when you apply for your Social Security benefits: Your Social Security numberYour birth certificate, or proof of U.S. citizenshipYour W-2 forms or self-employment tax return (or both) for the last year you workedYour military discharge papers if you served in any branch of the military If you choose to have your benefits paid through direct deposit, you will also need your banks name, your account number and your banks routing number as shown on the bottom of your checks.​ Working While Collecting Social Security Retirement Many people choose or need, to keep working after claiming Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you continue work after claiming early retirement benefits your Social Security benefits may be reduced until you reach your full retirement age. If you retire at age 62, Social Security will deduct money from your retirement check if you exceed a certain amount of earned income for the calendar year. For example, the income limit in 2018 was $17,040 or $1,420 per month. The income limit increases annually. Until you reach your full retirement age, Security will reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn over the income limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, you will receive your full Social Security retirement benefit with no limitation on how much income you earn from working. The worse news is that Social Security does not apply the early retirement work penalty by simply deducting a small amount from each monthly benefit check. Instead, the agency may withhold several months’ entire checks until the total reduction is paid off. This means your annual budget will have to account for a certain number of months without a benefit check. Complete details on this decidedly complicated process can be found in Social Security’s pamphlet on â€Å"How Work Affects Your Benefits.† You can also use Social Security’s earnings test calculator to see how much your reduction will be and when your checks will be withheld. Also note that if lose your job, you may still qualify for unemployment benefits even though you are also collecting Social Security retirement benefits.