So, without further delay, let me give you a leg up in your own research, with focus on beef.
First, let's talk about what hormones really are. Typing it into Google, you get the following definition: "a regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action." It also mentions that hormones can be synthetic. According to a Livestrong article, there are three different hormones used in raising cattle the modern way: trenbolone, zeranol, and melengestrone acetate. The first one, trenbolone, is sometimes also used by athletes as a steroid. All of these hormones are regulated by governing bodies such as USDA in USA. With this, you already know a lot more than most people who are sold on the idea of organic meat.
So now, let's dig deeper and see what this means in the context of this article and our health and nutrition. By definition, hormones are already produced by organisms, which includes cows! Therefore, you are going to have traces of hormones in any meat you eat, regardless of the fact it's labelled as organic! Now, you may wonder how much hormone you are getting in your meat. All of us heard expressions like "that meat is pumped full of hormones!". Well again, by definition, the hormones are not in the meat! They are produced by certain organs and glands in the body and transported by blood to different tissues where they trigger the cells to perform a certain function such as to multiply, thereby producing more muscle! The hormones cannot possibly stay in the tissue for a long time because the organs that make them have to keep doing it, otherwise a body such as that of a cow (or a human for that matter) would no longer have any hormones left. The same goes with supplementation. If you inject additional hormones, you have to keep doing it to keep getting the desired effect. The extra hormones don't stay in the muscles and have to be added on, and on a regular basis. After all, the same goes for humans. For example, women who have low estrogen need to supplement daily (by pill), or for example bi-weekly (with injections).
By the time an animal is slaughtered and damn near all of its blood is drained, the same blood that carries all natural and add-on hormones, I wouldn't be so sure that the resulting meat is stuffed full of hormones. Also, in case you didn't know, the stuff that comes out of your steak that you think is blood, is actually not blood at all. According to multiple sources, including a Huffington Post article, the blood looking stuff coming from a steak is myoglobin, an oxygen binder.
THEREFORE, IF THERE ARE NO HORMONES IN MEAT WITHOUT THE BLOOD THAT CARRIES THEM, BOTH ORGANIC AND MODERN MEAT CAN HAVE "NO HORMONES" ON THE PACKAGING!
Now, you may say that's all well and good, but what about the antibiotics? Animals are pumped full of them! In case of beef, the cattle are raised in filthy conditions on small parcels of land and need so many antibiotics, whereas organic cattle are raised on big, open spaces in cleaner conditions and therefore don't require antibiotics. That seems to be the rationale, even though MOST COWS START OFF ON LARGE FARMS AND ONLY SPEND A PART OF THEIR LIVES IN TIGHTLY PACKED FEED LOTS! Let me share what I see as problematic about this. For example, the IMEDIX entry on antibiotics in humans say that, depending on varying factors and the actual type of antibiotic, some leave your system in 6-12 hours, while others can take up to 14 days. Otherwise, if an antibiotic stayed in our bodies permanently, it would wreak havoc not just on the bad bacteria that makes us sick, but also good bacteria that make us healthy, help with our digestion etc. Therefore, I'm not sure as to the amount of antibiotics we are ingesting with the beef we eat. What I am sure of, however, is that cattle can get sick regardless of whether it's grown on a roomy, open farm or in tight, muddy conditions. It's not the best analogy, but it's like saying that people living in packed cities get sick all the time, yet people who live in spread out, low population density communities never get sick at all! Finally, if organic beef farms don't give antibiotics to their cattle and don't notice if one of them is sick before slaughtering it (or sending it to a slaughterhouse), then we end up eating organic meat from a sick animal. While I don't know if that can make us sick or not, it's at the very least sickening to think about when you're eating a burger
Finally, we come to the last point which is food. Cattle that is raised the modern way are not being fed the right food, which makes them unhealthy. Organic cattle, on the other hand, is supposed to be fed the right food that's best for their health- grass and only grass. Now, what does this mean in practical terms for us beef eaters?! How many people who spend their hard-earned money on organic beef have even looked into this?! Here's a quote from Nutritious Life: "The meat from cattle that eat only grass contains two to three times the amount of conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) compared grain-finished beef. CLAs are healthy fats associated with reduced cancer risk, reduced cardiovascular disease risk, and better cholesterol levels. Grass-fed beef has also been found to have a healthier ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. It often contains higher levels of antioxidants like vitamin E and A, too." This sounds truly wonderful, doesn't it? Totally worth the extra money at Whole Foods, right? Hmm, I would have to disagree. First, you get CLA from other meats and dairy- not just beef. Even if you didn't consume much dairy or beef and thus didn't get much CLA, you aren't completely lost. An article from Bulletproof states that CLA acts like omega-3 fat in terms of its anti-inflammatory properties. Anti-inflammatory properties, by default, help prevent cancer and boost your immune system. So, if you're already taking quality omega-3 oil, it has you covered. The fat burning property of CLA is pretty cool, but if you're losing weight you already have a diet and workout routine that (hopefully) does that anyways. Thus, the lower quantity of CLA in modern VS organic beef is an annoyance but nothing more. Next, a healthier ratio of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids does not mean that the said ratio in modern beef is deadly, otherwise the regulatory bodies in at least USA and Canada would not allow cattle to be raised the modern way and all beef would be organic. Finally, the antioxidants. Yes, they are supposed to keep us healthier and protect our cells from free radical damage, but A and E also happen to be available in other foods, e.g. A in eggs and E in nuts, seeds and oils. Also, they are found in most multivitamins- not the best way to take them, but they are there. Finally, there's a great equalizer for organic and modern beef that goes back to my previous article- they're both lower in potassium than they ideally should be! In one of his videos, Dr. Eric Berg states he compared the data on soil levels of potassium in USA from the 1920's with more recent data and found a significant drop in potassium. If potassium drop in soil, it drops in all plants, animals and humans living off that soil! This also means that even the best organic beef varies in its nutrient quality from one country to another. This is another point to consider when you begin to wonder what you get by paying more for organic beef.
There you have it, dearest readers- the statements and questions I've put together so far. I know that your opinion may be divided on this topic, but remember this article is not meant to convince you, but rather to make you think before you act next time you're grocery shopping. You can continue this research as well- I will certainly do the same. Why? Because I don't like snake oil types of products, and I want to know what can really make a difference with my health and longevity. So far, I'm not convinced organic meat, at least as far as beef goes, is one of those things. If you decide to leave a comment and you completely disagree, please cite an article from a good source or a link to a study or a meta study to support your view- no anecdotal evidence please. Either way, I hope this article helps either your health, your finances, or both. :)