Industry Influence: USDA Checkoff Boards and Lobbying

In this follow-up to his deep dive on protein, Darin exposes the other side of the protein story: where your food comes from, what's really in it, and how the system itself affects your health, the planet, and the animals. From factory farm contamination to antibiotic resistance, industry lobbying, and why plants still win on every level — Darin breaks down the research, ethics, and environmental data so you can make conscious choices that fuel a truly SuperLife.

[00:00] Welcome + sponsor message: plastic waste, conscious products, and Bite Toothpaste [02:47] Introduction — the real protein conversation continues [03:00] The source of your food matters more than macros [03:10] Contamination, ethics, and the reality of factory farming [03:30] Stewardship vs. dominion — a call for responsibility [04:01] EPA data: confined animal operations and environmental chaos [05:00] Foodborne illness: salmonella, E. coli, and what contamination really means [05:57] Antibiotics, resistance, and hormones in animal agriculture [06:42] Persistent pollutants (PFOAs) showing up in food and milk [07:10] How animal feed (soy and corn) drives ecological damage [07:57] USDA marketing boards + industry lobbying against plant alternatives [08:38] Darin's 17 years vegan — data and lived experience [09:00] The numbers: amino acids, LDL, fat swaps, and longevity [09:47] Common plant-based protein myths answered [12:59] Patreon message — upgrade your operating system and join the tribe [14:03] The cancer connection: processed and red meat research [14:47] Iron, B12, and what vegans actually need to know [15:37] Soy, testosterone, and thyroid myths debunked [16:08] Protein quality: why mixing plant foods covers all bases [16:31] Feeling better on moderate meat? Understanding the trade-offs [17:18] Substitution data: even small swaps improve health outcomes [17:57] Processed vs. ultra-processed: why Beyond Meat isn't the enemy [18:09] Environmental impact: why beef's footprint dwarfs plant protein [19:05] Food miles myth — what you eat matters more than distance [19:29] Cost and accessibility: the cheapest protein sources are plants [20:08] Contamination and antibiotic resistance rising annually [21:03] Anti-nutrients and the myth of plant dangers [21:47] Real-world evidence: fiber, polyphenols, and legume-based longevity [22:00] Final recap — all essential amino acids come from plants [22:17] Strongest evidence: plant protein wins ethically, environmentally, and scientifically

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"All plants contain all essential amino acids. The more you swap red meat for plants, the longer, stronger, and cleaner your life becomes."