As the years have progressed, more and more individuals are trying to eat healthier. The term "eating healthy" can refer to lots of things from consuming more fruits and vegetables to vowing to not eat animal products to anything in between. A term that has become more and more popular is "free range". We now have free range eggs, free range meats, and free range chicken. Free range chicken is extremely popular. But what exactly is free range? How did free range begin? What are the benefits of eating free range? The information here will answer all these questions and let you decide for yourself if free range is something you'd like to pursue further.

The definition of the term free range differs depending on where you live. If you live outside of the United States, free range refers to animals being allowed to roam wherever they want without being caged up for any period of time. A free range chicken has access to the outdoors, the green grass, and the shining sun whenever he wants. Now if you live within the United States, free range has a different meaning. It refers only to poultry. Free range chicken, ducks, and turkeys have access to the outside. It does not specify the amount of time the animal can be outside or what the size of the outside is. So if a free range animal does not decide to move outside it stays in the often tiny, cramped cage.

Free range was typical until farmers started utilizing barbed and chicken wire. Before the twentieth century, all people knew about raising animals was to provide them with a varied diet and sunshine. Those who raised cattle found it difficult to keep them all in one place and carry large heavy bags of feed to them, so they kept them on their land. Free range chickens lived that way until about 1920. In 1920 came the discovery of Vitamin A and Vitamin D. Due to this, free range chicken farmers realized that they could market their animals at a commercial level by successfully using confinement. Once chickens were successfully confined, other livestock owners followed suit.

The debate if free range is better for us continues on. It seems as if everyone has an opinion for or against. Those who think free range chicken and free range meats are better for us have many valid points. One of them is that when we consume confined animals we have a higher chance of contracting disease. This is because free range animals have a lower chance of contracting illnesses and disease than those who are in such close quarters with each other. Another valid point is that the free range animals get a large amount of vitamins from the bugs and green grass they consume. These particular animals are then very good for us. Animals that are confined do not have access to these things thus making then void of nutrients. Chickens and other animals that are confined are given just enough food to survive. Included in this regime is a steady stream of antibiotics. They give them the antibiotics to attempt to keep them free of disease when living in these kinds of close quarters. We then consume antibiotic ridden animals. These are extremely detrimental to our health. Free range chickens and other free range animals are not given antibiotics, only the things they need to keep them healthy and thriving. This of course is another great reason why free range is so much better for us.

When deciding whether or not to take a certain avenue when it involves your health it should be researched thoroughly first. Just in the way this provides information on free range chickens and other free range animals, you can find pertinent information on almost every health subject. If you are well informed about something you can put it into effect easily and it is more than likely to be successful.