Why halal-certified products are now all the rage for the health-conscious consumer

What are halal-certified products, and why are they suddenly flying off the shelves like hotcakes? The word comes from Arabic and means “lawful or permitted,” and refers to foods prepared under Islamic beliefs. Has there suddenly been a mass conversion?

The trend has less to do with religion than it does with good health and kindness to other living creatures. It’s a more friendly form of eating for those who have issues with factory farming but haven’t converted to vegetarianism or veganism.

What can adding foods with the halal certification USA label do for you and your family? Here’s why halal-certified products are now all the rage for the health-conscious consumer.

Benefits of Halal-Certified Products

As more people recognize their role in protecting the other life on earth, halal-certified products have grown in appeal. One reason for their success is that 44% of Americans consider these foods more humane than those raised without such standards. For example, farmers must raise all animals used for meat without antibiotics or growth hormones, keep them free from abuse, feed them a vegetarian diet and give them ample room to roam.

42% of Americans also consider these foods fresher and healthier, which could benefit the human animal. Unprocessed, whole foods contain a wider array of nutrients that can help repair deficiencies that often occur in the modern diet, thanks to reliance on overly processed meals and addiction. Such diets aid in the detoxification process and the added element of a spiritual component can make a psychological impact on some individuals.

How Products Labeled Halal-Certification USA Can Improve Health

In general, consumers who seek foods with the halal-certification USA label are more likely to read the nutritional information and ingredients. Fortunately, this eating plan has considerable health benefits.

For example, halal eating allows you to consume all types of vegetables, whether raw, cooked or steamed, as long as they are not prepared in bacon grease or certain types of margarine containing monoglycerides and diglycerides from non-approved animal sources.

You’re also encouraged to consume nearly all types of foods found in nature. Although halal-certified products don’t ban the use of meat, you can practice this lifestyle as a vegan or vegetarian. You’ll instead get your protein from non-animal sources, such as nuts and seeds, that also offer a wide array of vitamins and minerals to nourish positive health.

Despite the lack of meat restrictions — other than pork — you may find yourself adopting a more plant-based diet. That’s because it’s still more challenging to find halal-certified products at your butcher. However, you should cut back on your consumption, anyway, as the World Health Organization considers processed meat a carcinogen and red meat a probable one.

Foods considered haram or “forbidden” under Islamic law include pork and alcohol. Therefore, you might cut down on your prepared sweets, as treats like rum cake are off the menu, as are any made with artificial vanilla. Vegans may have an easier time with some of the finer points, as you cannot consume many common animal byproducts like gelatin that they already shun. Although it’s a bit challenging to find foods with the halal-certification USA label, their growing popularity makes them easier to locate on shelves.

As research progresses, scientists have discovered that the dangers of drinking alcohol far outweigh any minor health benefits. This substance alters your neurotransmitter levels, affecting your mood. The effects linger for months, even years after you’ve given up drinking in the case of heavy users. Too much can damage your heart, not help it, and you’ll reap the same antioxidant benefits from a glass of grape juice as you will from red wine.

Where to Find Halal-Certified Products Near You

Are you ready to give halal-certified products a try? You might be surprised to discover that you don’t have to visit an Islamic specialty grocery. The rising popularity of such foods means you’ll catch them lurking in surprising locations.

Baseball may be the great American pastime, and one of the best parts about it is its ability to unite various cultures. If you’re halal-curious, why not swing into The Halal Guys the next time you visit Yankee Stadium? These guys started out selling late-night street food, but you can now nosh down on their delicious platters at the Great Hall and Section 321.

Drive down the road a bit to New Jersey the next time you get a sweet tooth. Stop in at the Heritage Kulfi ice cream shop, where you can indulge in sweet treats bearing the halal certification USA label. They’re all vegetarian and feature fabulous southeast flavors you won’t find anywhere else, such as Alphonso Mango. They also have locations in Pennsylvania and New York.

Some brands that bear the halal-certification USA label include the following:

ABC Ingredients
Aziz Halal
Al-Maaedah Chicken
Boxed Halal
Archie’s Food
Dasterkhan Frozen Foods
Locust Point Farms
Murray’s Chicken
Halal Pride Farms
One Stop Halal
Prima Noce Packing
Well Bred Farms
Grecian Delights I Kronos
Supreme Beef Jerky
Zina Salads
Upper Crust
Vineland Poultry

Why Halal-Certified Products Are all the Rage

Have you noticed more products bearing the halal-certification USA label on store shelves? There’s a huge demand for these products, and now you know why.

Why not improve your diet now that halal-certified products are all the rage? You can expand your horizons while bettering your health.