U.S. vegan population doubles in only two years!
Dr. Jai Maharaj posted:
>
>>>>>>>>> In article <14359064.5Uv1HhjnyE@Dharma>,
>>>>>>>>> Peter Terpstra > posted:
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[ U.S. vegan population doubles in only two years
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[ By Hope Bohanec
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[ According to a new Harris Interactive study commissioned
>>>>>>>>>[ by the Vegetarian Resource Group, the number of vegans in
>>>>>>>>>[ the United States has doubled since 2009 to 2.5% of the
>>>>>>>>>[ population. An amazing 7.5 million U.S. citizens now eat
>>>>>>>>>[ vegan diets that do not include any animal products - no
>>>>>>>>>[ meat, poultry, fish, dairy or eggs. Close to 16 million,
>>>>>>>>>[ or 5%, identify as vegetarian, never eating meat, poultry
>>>>>>>>>[ or fish.
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[ If this rate continues, vegans will be 10% of the U.S.
>>>>>>>>>[ population in 2015, 40% in 2019, and in 80 % in 2050!
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[ This would mean an end to the exploitation and suffering
>>>>>>>>>[ of billions of farmed animals. The study also revealed
>>>>>>>>>[ that 33% of U.S. citizens are eating vegetarian meals a
>>>>>>>>>[ significant amount of the time and ordering vegetarian
>>>>>>>>>[ meals at restaurants, though they are not vegetarians.
>>>>>>>>>[ That is over 100 million people, one third of the
>>>>>>>>>[ country!
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[ Interestingly, the demographic breakdown of the study
>>>>>>>>>[ discovered that it was equal percentages of Democrats and
>>>>>>>>>[ Republicans eating vegetarian. Perhaps these two parties
>>>>>>>>>[ CAN agree on something - the vegan lifestyle is healthy
>>>>>>>>>[ and compassionate.
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[ Conscientious eating is going mainstream so if you
>>>>>>>>>[ haven’t already, reduce or eliminate your consumption of
>>>>>>>>>[ animal products-everyone’s doing it!
>>>>>>>>>[
>>>>>>>>>[
http://www.occupyforanimals.org/us-v...two-years.html
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Dhanyavaad for your post!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
>>>>>>>>> Om Shanti
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Making Vegan a New Normal
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> J. Emilio Flores for The New York Times; Anais Wade and
>>>>>>>> Dax Henry for The New York Times; Axel Koester for The
>>>>>>>> New York Times
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> From left, vegetarian sashimi from n/naka; Kathy Freston,
>>>>>>>> a high-profile advocate for veganism, dining at Craig's;
>>>>>>>> the quinoa burger at Golden Road Brewing. More Photos »
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> By Jeff Gordinier
>>>>>>>> NYTimes.com
>>>>>>>> September 24, 2012
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Slide Show
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In Southern California, Courting Vegans and Vegetarians
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It was a warm California evening in the city of West
>>>>>>>> Hollywood, and Kathy Freston was sipping a martini.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "Just because you're a vegan doesn't mean you don't want
>>>>>>>> to have fun," she said, sitting in a booth at a
>>>>>>>> restaurant called Craig's. "I'm a decadent gal. I want to
>>>>>>>> drink. I want to feel full at the end of a meal. I just
>>>>>>>> don't want it to have any animals in it, for a variety of
>>>>>>>> reasons."
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Tall, slim and golden-tressed enough to be mistaken for a
>>>>>>>> movie star, Ms. Freston is the author of books like
>>>>>>>> "Quantum Wellness"*and "The Lean," and a high-profile
>>>>>>>> advocate for veganism. She strives to consume nothing
>>>>>>>> that can be traced back to sentient creatures: no meat,
>>>>>>>> no eggs, no dairy.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> But chilled vodka with extra olives? No problem. Nor did
>>>>>>>> she have any qualms about eating from a menu that
>>>>>>>> includes an 18-ounce bone-in rib-eye steak.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Craig's, hatched last year by Craig Susser, an alumnus of
>>>>>>>> Dan Tana's, the age-defying hangout on Santa Monica
>>>>>>>> Boulevard, is not a vegan restaurant. It represents a new
>>>>>>>> culinary wave that can be felt all over Southern
>>>>>>>> California, that reliable ripple-generator of so many
>>>>>>>> national trends: the omnivore's restaurant that courts
>>>>>>>> vegans and vegetarians (particularly the glamorous and
>>>>>>>> powerful ones who are a crucial engine of the dining
>>>>>>>> economy here) by preparing meatless dishes that surpass
>>>>>>>> the droopy steamed-vegetable platters of yore.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "You picture vegan restaurants with a lot of people with
>>>>>>>> sandals and dreadlocks, drinking carrot juice," said
>>>>>>>> Ellen DeGeneres, who stopped by with her spouse, the
>>>>>>>> actress Portia de Rossi, to chat with Ms. Freston. Here
>>>>>>>> at Craig's, the mood was more high heels and blond locks.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In fact, from power tables in Beverly Hills to pubs in
>>>>>>>> the San Fernando Valley, the surging popularity of plant-
>>>>>>>> based diets is drastically changing the dining landscape.
>>>>>>>> That shift is under way in various cities around the
>>>>>>>> world, but it's happening in an explosive way in and
>>>>>>>> around Los Angeles: at the elite gastronome magnets, at
>>>>>>>> casual gathering spots and everywhere in between.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Continues at:
>>>>>>>>
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/di...nia.html?_r=2&
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> McCartney Presses India On vegan Day
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Paul McCartney Urges Indian Prime Minister To Declare National Day Of
>>>>>>> Vegetarianism
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Associated Press
>>>>>>> CBS News
>>>>>>> Tuesday, January 4, 2011
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Indraprasth aka New Delhi (AP) - Outspoken vegetarian
>>>>>>> Paul McCartney is urging India to declare a national
>>>>>>> Vegetarian Day to celebrate meat-free living and
>>>>>>> compassion toward animals.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says
>>>>>>> McCartney sent a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
>>>>>>> Singh saying such a day could save animals while helping
>>>>>>> to protect both the environment and people's health.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> McCartney's letter says "it would be a celebration of
>>>>>>> life."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The U.N. food agency in 2003 estimated 42 percent of
>>>>>>> India's 1.2 billion people are vegetarian, due mostly to
>>>>>>> financial and religious concerns. Strict Hindus and Jains
>>>>>>> do not eat meat.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Singh's office could not immediately confirm receipt of
>>>>>>> McCartney's letter Tuesday.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> More at:
>>>>>>>
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...n7211309.shtml
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Vegan diet reverses diabetes symptoms, study finds
>>>>>>
>>>>>> By Maggie Fox
>>>>>> Reuters
>>>>>> ABC News
>>>>>> July 27, 2006
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [Caption] The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has
>>>>>> found that Americans don't get nearly enough fruits and
>>>>>> vegetables in their diets. fruits and vegetables
>>>>>> (Clipart.com)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Washington (Reuters) - People who ate a low-fat vegan
>>>>>> diet, cutting out all meat and dairy, lowered their blood
>>>>>> sugar more and lost more weight than people on a standard
>>>>>> American Diabetes Association diet, researchers said on
>>>>>> Thursday.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> They lowered their cholesterol more and ended up with
>>>>>> better kidney function, according to the report published
>>>>>> in Diabetes Care, a journal published by the American
>>>>>> Diabetes Association.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Participants said the vegan diet was easier to follow
>>>>>> than most because they did not measure portions or count
>>>>>> calories. Three of the vegan dieters dropped out of the
>>>>>> study, compared to eight on the standard diet.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet
>>>>>> changes first, rather than prescription drugs," Dr. Neal
>>>>>> Barnard, president of the Physician's Committee for
>>>>>> Responsible Medicine, which helped conduct the study,
>>>>>> told a news conference.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> An estimated 18 million Americans have type 2 diabetes,
>>>>>> which results from a combination of genetics and poor
>>>>>> eating and exercise habits. They run a high risk of heart
>>>>>> disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and limb loss.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Barnard's team and colleagues at George Washington
>>>>>> University, the University of Toronto and the University
>>>>>> of North Carolina tested 99 people with type 2 diabetes,
>>>>>> assigning them randomly to either a low-fat, low-sugar
>>>>>> vegan diet or the standard American Diabetes Association
>>>>>> diet.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> After 22 weeks on the diet, 43 percent of those on the
>>>>>> vegan diet and 26 percent of those on the standard diet
>>>>>> were either able to stop taking some of their drugs such
>>>>>> as insulin or glucose-control medications, or lowered the
>>>>>> doses.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The vegan dieters lost 14 pounds (6.5 kg) on average
>>>>>> while the diabetes association dieters lost 6.8 pounds
>>>>>> (3.1 kg).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> An important level of glucose control called a1c fell by
>>>>>> 1.23 points in the vegan group and by 0.38 in the group
>>>>>> on the standard diet.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> DROPPING DRUGS
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A1c gives a measure of how well controlled blood sugar
>>>>>> has been over the preceding three months.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In the dieters who did not change whatever cholesterol
>>>>>> drugs they were on during the study, LDL or "bad"
>>>>>> cholesterol fell by 21 percent in the vegan group and 10
>>>>>> percent in the standard diet group.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The vegan diet removed all animal products, including
>>>>>> meat, fish and dairy. It was also low in added fat and in
>>>>>> sugar.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The American Diabetes Association diet is more tailored,
>>>>>> taking into account the patient's weight and cholesterol.
>>>>>> Most patients on this diet cut calories significantly,
>>>>>> and were told to eat sugary and starchy foods in
>>>>>> moderation.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> All 99 participants met weekly with advisers, who advised
>>>>>> them on recipes, gave them tips for sticking to their
>>>>>> respective diets, and offered encouragement.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "We have got a combination here that works successfully,"
>>>>>> said Dr. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto, who
>>>>>> worked on the study. "The message that we so often get
>>>>>> with diet is that it is no good because nobody follows it
>>>>>> for very long."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dr. Joshua Cohen, George Washington University associate
>>>>>> professor of medicine, said everyone diagnosed with
>>>>>> diabetes is told to start eating more carefully.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "That may be among the hardest things that any of us can
>>>>>> do," Cohen told the news conference.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The vegan diet "is at least as good, if not better than
>>>>>> traditional approaches," Cohen said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Vance Warren, a 36-year-old retired police officer living
>>>>>> in Washington, said he lowered his a1c from 10.4,
>>>>>> considered uncontrolled diabetes, to 5.1, considered a
>>>>>> healthy level, over 18 months. "My life is much better
>>>>>> being 74 pounds (34 kg) lighter," Warren told the news
>>>>>> conference.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> More at:
>>>>>>
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diabete...ory?id=2244647
>>>>>
>>>>> Vegan diet 'help' for arthritis
>>>>>
>>>>> Rheumatoid arthritis patients may be able to reduce their
>>>>> high risk of heart attacks and strokes with a gluten-
>>>>> free, vegan diet, a study suggests.
>>>>>
>>>>> [Caption] Meat was off the menu for half of those in the
>>>>> study group
>>>>>
>>>>> BBC
>>>>> Tuesday, March 18, 2008
>>>>>
>>>>> Heart attacks and strokes are among the leading causes of
>>>>> death for sufferers, as the inflammation caused by the
>>>>> disease impacts upon the arteries.
>>>>>
>>>>> But an Arthritis Research and Therapy study found those
>>>>> who pursued a vegan regime had less "bad" cholesterol.
>>>>>
>>>>> By clogging arteries, this is seen as a key risk factor
>>>>> for heart problems.
>>>>>
>>>>> Rheumatoid Arthritis affects around 350,000 people in the
>>>>> UK.
>>>>>
>>>>> Millet and sesame
>>>>>
>>>>> But researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm
>>>>> say this risk could be reduced through a diet which
>>>>> excludes animal products and gluten -- found in wheat,
>>>>> oats, rye and barley.
>>>>>
>>>>> "A vegan diet may be helpful in reducing cholesterol,
>>>>> but it is difficult to get enough of some important
>>>>> nutrients on a vegan diet"
>>>>> - Arthritis Research Campaign
>>>>> [Which nutrients? - JM]
>>>>>
>>>>> They placed 38 volunteers on the diet, in which protein
>>>>> accounted for 10% of daily energy intake, carbohydrate
>>>>> 60% and fat for 30%.
>>>>>
>>>>> It included nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit and vegetables,
>>>>> millet and corn. Sesame milk provided a daily source of
>>>>> calcium.
>>>>>
>>>>> A further 28 volunteers followed a healthy diet with
>>>>> approximately the same proportions of protein,
>>>>> carbohydrate and fat.
>>>>>
>>>>> Saturated fats were not to make up more than 10% of daily
>>>>> energy intake, and wholegrain products were to be chosen
>>>>> as often as possible.
>>>>>
>>>>> Those on the vegan diet showed a decrease in the total
>>>>> level of cholesterol and specifically a reduction in the
>>>>> amount of low-density lipoprotein (LSL), also known as
>>>>> "bad cholesterol".
>>>>>
>>>>> In contrast, those on the non-vegan diet showed no
>>>>> significant variations in these levels.
>>>>>
>>>>> The researchers pointed to a "large body of evidence"
>>>>> suggesting that these changes were beneficial when it
>>>>> comes to preventing blockage of the arteries and
>>>>> cardiovascular disease.
>>>>>
>>>>> The vegan volunteers also had a lower Body Mass Index
>>>>> (BMI) at the end of the 12 month period, while the
>>>>> control group remained the same.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Arthritis Research Campaign, which is currently
>>>>> looking into how statins may reduce cardiovascular risks
>>>>> for sufferers, said the study was of interest but said
>>>>> the role of diet could be exaggerated.
>>>>>
>>>>> "However we do know that, for example, eating oily fish
>>>>> can reduce inflammation, and risk factors for developing
>>>>> the condition include high consumption of red meat and
>>>>> low consumption of fruit and vegetables, so diet does
>>>>> play a role -- however limited," a spokeswoman said.
>>>>>
>>>>> But the charity also sounded a note of warning: "A vegan
>>>>> diet may be helpful in reducing cholesterol, but it is
>>>>> difficult to get enough of some important nutrients on a
>>>>> vegan diet."
>>>>>
>>>>> More at:
>>>>>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7301188.stm
>>>>
>>>> Forwarded post:
>>>>
>>>> October 4, 2005
>>>>
>>>> Dining with Friends: The Art of North American Vegan
>>>> Cuisine Cookbook
>>>>
>>>> By Priscilla Feral and Lee Hall with Friends of Animals
>>>> Nectar Bat Press, 2005
>>>> $19.95 Paperback
>>>>
>>>> End of forwarded post.
>>>
>>> Vegan on the Road with Most Precious Blood
>>>
>>> By Justin Brannan and Most Precious Blood
>>> Satya Magazine
>>>
>>> [Caption] Most Precious Blood, Justin Brannan, center.
>>> Photo by Chris Mottalini
>>>
>>> Driving 13 hours to the next show with one headlight and
>>> four flat tires has never been a big deal for us. But for
>>> our vegan/vegetarian hardcore band, finding food to eat
>>> on the road was a cause for alarm. However, throughout
>>> our years of touring and intense ingredient
>>> investigations, I am proud to say we have become
>>> connoisseurs of vegan cuisine on the road.
>>>
>>> Before leaving for tour, we always hit the familiar New
>>> York establishments, like Red Bamboo (and their signature
>>> Creole Soul Chicken), Atlas Caf? (a vegan cake paradise),
>>> and Foodswings (vegan fast food, where they even named a
>>> pizza after us). Chinatown's May Wah is also a great spot
>>> to hit especially if you're the frugal type or prefer to
>>> do the cooking yourself. They carry all the mock meats
>>> served at your favorite vegan dining establishments --
>>> just don't be too upset when you see how cheap the faux
>>> meats really are.
>>>
>>> Before we head out on the road, we head over to our
>>> practice space on Staten Island to write our ?hit' songs.
>>> It costs $9 to get onto the island, so we like to make
>>> the most of our trip and stop off at Chin Chin Palace, a
>>> small nondescript Asian restaurant located in a strip
>>> mall. With their enormous vegetarian/vegan menu, this
>>> place has been an institution in our lives for years --
>>> great food, massive quantities and it's fairly cheap.
>>>
>>> Okay, so now we hit the road. First stop is Rhode Island,
>>> and one of several Spike's Hot Dogs locations. They serve
>>> meat hot dogs with a myriad of dressings and toppings,
>>> but they also have veggie dogs, which you can dress any
>>> way you want. The thick and hearty buns alone are worth
>>> the price of admission and will fill you up.
>>>
>>> Onward to Boston -- outside of Boston to be more specific
>>> -- to Allston, MA. One door down from the legendary
>>> Grasshopper Asian vegetarian restaurant, there is a dumpy
>>> little pizza spot, TJ's, that serves some insane mock
>>> creations. Try the BBQ Chicken Pizza or the Meatball
>>> Parmesan Hero. Although they serve meat, they have a
>>> clearly labeled separate grill and oven just for their
>>> vegan items. I promise, TJ's will leave you a changed
>>> person.
>>>
>>> Let's head up to Canada. Over our years of touring
>>> Canada, we've found that the best part of the country is
>>> their vegan cuisine. Let us tell you about a place we
>>> stumbled upon years ago called Harvey's! Harvey's are
>>> pretty much all over the country -- like McDonald's in
>>> the U.S. -- but they serve some of the best vegan burgers
>>> you will ever taste. We can't sing enough praises about
>>> this spot. It has become our Canadian sanctuary. You must
>>> stop at Harvey's.
>>>
>>> If you happen to find yourself in Ottawa, swing by Wild
>>> Oats. Although it's a chain, they're a great little
>>> health food store with tons of vegan options. Try the
>>> tofu cutlets and the samosas. From the border police to
>>> possible strip-searching, Wild Oats makes it worth the
>>> hassle.
>>>
>>> In Montreal there's a chain of restaurants called Le
>>> Fleurs, home to some of the greasiest food you'll ever
>>> eat. They do veggie burgers and dogs just right, and the
>>> french fries and vinegar are what dreams (and triple
>>> bypass surgeries) are made of. Our Le Fleurs motto: ?it's
>>> always good to go to bed on a full stomach.' It's worth
>>> the throbbing and numbness in the extremities, trust us.
>>> Also in Toronto, you will bump into hot dog vendors on
>>> the street who'll make you a mean veggie dog for cheap.
>>>
>>> Now that you've rolled yourself back over the border and
>>> into the States, let's visit Chicago. First stop, the
>>> Pick Me Up Caf?. We've walked 10 miles to this place --in
>>> a blizzard wearing short sleeve shirts -- just to get
>>> down with the vegan french toast and pancakes. There's
>>> tons of stuff on the menu here, but the vegan breakfast
>>> is by far the best.
>>>
>>> Let's take a long drive now to Houston, Texas. Located in
>>> another nondescript strip mall is a surprisingly yummy
>>> place called Tien Ren. This jewel of the south serves a
>>> cheap vegetarian and vegan buffet. The atmosphere is
>>> calm, relaxing and perfect for stuffing your face.
>>>
>>> When you get to California the only spot you need to know
>>> is In & Out Burger. This place is another institution for
>>> those "in the know." They have a secret language of
>>> different codes and nicknames for all the styles and
>>> techniques in which they can make your burger. Even
>>> though the only things listed on the menu are
>>> "hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, shakes and sodas,"
>>> there are at least 100 ways you can order your food. Most
>>> people opt for the "wish burger," which is basically a
>>> grilled cheese sandwich with all the regular burger
>>> fixins. For the vegans, opt for the wish burger without
>>> the cheese and you'll be welcomed to a world of grilled
>>> onion goodness. In addition, the fries are made fresh
>>> like every 10 seconds or so. In & Out is the spot.
>>>
>>> Most of our time on the road is spent at gas stations and
>>> rest stops where the vegan options are few and far
>>> between. You can always go for the Grandma's Brand peanut
>>> butter cookies, Luna and Cliff bars, and most of the
>>> cheap sugar wafer cookies are vegan and good to go as
>>> well. It usually takes us a good hour to stop for gas,
>>> with most of the time spent wandering the aisles reading
>>> ingredients. When something new and vegan is found,
>>> everyone comes running over to check it out. You simply
>>> don't realize the impact of being vegan and the endless
>>> quest for good food until you hit the road. Luckily, we
>>> also have friends who will bake for us -- bring brownies
>>> and cookies to our shows -- or pile us into a car and
>>> take us to local vegan spots.
>>>
>>> In Times of Desperation...
>>>
>>> Taco Bell is a necessary evil of the road. I wouldn't be
>>> caught dead in a Taco Bell when we're not on tour, but
>>> once we shove off, it serves as a last resort. Depending
>>> on your confidence with the intelligence of the person
>>> behind the counter, you can create some pretty
>>> interesting meals by substituting this and that. But, it
>>> can get very confusing and frustrating when you get to
>>> your seat and realize your burrito is full of everything
>>> you said to leave out. The easiest thing to do is ask for
>>> the seven-layer burrito minus cheese and sour cream.
>>> (They actually have a minus button on their keypad.) Also
>>> easy is the bean burrito sans cheese. If you're feeling
>>> lucky and have some time to kill, go for the grilled
>>> stuft burrito minus meat, cheese and Baja sauce, but add
>>> potatoes. This makes a pretty serious burrito that will
>>> fill you up for a good 50-100 miles, at least.
>>>
>>> Burger King is an absolute last resort, but if you must,
>>> their breakfast options aren't bad and -- believe it or
>>> not -- some are vegan. The french toast sticks and the
>>> hash browns are good to go with just enough grease to
>>> kickstart that heart at seven a.m. for another long
>>> drive. And you can grab a Dutch Apple Pie -- a vegan
>>> treat for later when the belly starts grumbling again.
>>>
>>> I've saved the best for last, a place called CiCi's
>>> Pizza. This is where gluttony lives and breeds. CiCi's is
>>> basically a pizza buffet place where $5 gets you into an
>>> all-you-can-eat pizza paradise. There aren't many vegan
>>> options on the buffet table but you can order your own
>>> pie for no extra charge. Hold the cheese, load up on
>>> toppings and you are now on board with a one way ticket
>>> to carb-coma-city. You can also order the garlic bread
>>> without the cheese. For $5, this is the best you will
>>> find on the road in terms of value and quantity.
>>>
>>> There's a ton of places across the millions of miles of
>>> asphalt. These are just the joints we swear by. In fact,
>>> if you hit up any of these places and you don't
>>> absolutely enjoy them, we'll send you a free Most
>>> Precious Blood T-shirt. Hey, we're serious about our on-
>>> the-road cuisine.
>>>
>>> Most Precious Blood is a vegan/vegetarian hardcore band
>>> born in Brooklyn, NY, of which Justin Brannan is a
>>> guitarist. Keep your ears open for their album Merciless
>>> coming out September 20th on Trustkill Records. Visit
>>> www.mostpreciousblood.com for more information.
>>>
>>> More at:
>>>
http://www.satyamag.com/sept05/mostprec.html
>>
>> Beyond Tofu: A Vegan Lifestyle
>>
>> By Ana Arias Terry
>> Conscious Choice
>> November 1998
>>
>> One of my brothers thinks chickens exist solely to be
>> eaten by humans. No ethical or philosophical argument
>> seems to convince him that a chicken -- or cow, pig,
>> fish, or any other animal deemed a potential tasty meal
>> by a human -- has an inherent right to live. If the
>> living conditions for these factory animals are
>> horrendous, it's too bad, he'd say. But that's the way it
>> goes when you're at the bottom of the food chain.
>>
>> As a passionate vegan, it's a little hard for me to
>> swallow my brother's zest for meat; it obscures his
>> vision of the numerous negative ramifications that his
>> dietary and lifestyle choices convey.
>>
>> After a series of highly intense debates that threatened
>> to sever our relationship, we called a truce. He
>> disagrees with my environmental and ethical reasons for
>> becoming vegan four years ago, but respects them. I am
>> bewildered by his lack of compassion for animals he deems
>> inferior to humans, but I still love him. I hold out hope
>> that I can offer him the right piece of literature to
>> help him see the connections between our food and
>> lifestyle choices and the use or misuse of the Earth's
>> finite resources.
>>
>> A vegan lifestyle goes beyond eating tofu instead of
>> meat. It's about a life-changing commitment that chants
>> in your heart and gets renewed daily.
>>
>> What Vegans Put in Their Mouths
>>
>> Vegans (VEE-guns) eats no animal products or byproducts,
>> so they don't consume meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, dairy
>> products, or honey (some vegans don't have an issue with
>> honey). Because their diet consists of vegetables,
>> fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds, it's generally high in
>> fiber content and moderate in fat.
>>
>> As a vegan, you quickly learn to read food labels
>> routinely, query educational vegetarian organizations
>> such as The Vegetarian Resource Group about vegan
>> ingredients, and sometimes go right to the manufacturer.
>>
>> Once you learn to identify the numerous non-vegan items
>> that can be found in some food items, planning a healthy
>> vegan diet is no different than planning any other diet,
>> say a lacto-ovo (one that allows consumption of dairy and
>> eggs) or non-vegetarian diet. If planned poorly, any diet
>> can be unhealthful. But with a vegan diet, you're
>> certainly starting from a much healthier place than with
>> a meat-based one.
>>
>> A perpetual myth that makes the rounds says that a vegan
>> diet doesn't provide sufficient protein, iron, and
>> calcium for healthy living. Not so, says Ginny Messina,
>> an internationally recognized registered dietician with
>> an advanced degree in public health. Messina is a
>> consultant on vegetarian nutrition projects, editor of a
>> monthly newsletter on vegetarian diets published by Loma
>> Linda University, author of vegetarian nutrition
>> textbooks for health professionals and consumers, and
>> Internet editor for Vegetarian Nutrition: An
>> International Journal, published by MCB University Press.
>>
>> According to Messina, protein is virtually a non-issue
>> for vegans. The majority of plant foods, including soy
>> products, beans, nuts, grain, seeds, and vegetables,
>> offer protein. If individuals consume sufficient calories
>> and make reasonably varied food selections, it's close to
>> impossible to have a protein deficiency. People on
>> intensely low-calorie diets or young kids with very picky
>> appetites, however, do need to ensure that they consume
>> more frequently foods very rich in protein content, such
>> as soy products and additional legumes.
>>
>> Messina adds that as far as iron goes, the majority of
>> the population find it surprising that vegan diets are
>> higher in iron than lacto-ovo or meat-based diets.
>> "Although iron derived from plant foods is absorbed less
>> well than iron from meat, vegans should take measures to
>> boost their iron absorption," says Messina. "The best way
>> to do this is to include a good source of vitamin C at
>> every meal since this greatly enhances iron absorption
>> from plant foods -- although not from animal foods."
>>
>> Calcium is a mineral that vegans need to monitor and
>> consume more carefully, Messina continues. She contends
>> that while older studies demonstrated that vegan women
>> had very low calcium levels, this trend could be changing
>> thanks to numerous high-quality vegan foods that are
>> fortified with calcium today. Some of these include
>> fortified rice or soy milk, fortified breakfast cereals,
>> fortified orange juice, leafy green veggies, and even
>> some beans and nuts. Incidentally, Messina suggests that
>> for vegans who like to boost their calcium intake with
>> supplements, they should reserve these for between meals
>> as opposed to with meals because calcium inhibits the
>> absorption of iron.
>>
>> But isn't a vegan diet boring? Au contraire, ma soeur.
>> Some of us vegans would argue that a vegan diet is
>> actually more varied than when we ate differently. While
>> we do indeed wipe out entire food categories from our
>> culinary repertoire, most vegans seem to more than make
>> up for that by exploring the whole scale of vegan food,
>> says Messina. The spectrum covers a wide selection of
>> breads and pastas, grain, bean dishes, and a significant
>> range of nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and soy
>> products. "Vegans are very likely to explore
>> international cuisines so that items that are staples in
>> many vegan diets are actually foods that many Americans
>> don't eat."
>>
>> Virtually anyone who's a vegetarian has been asked by
>> meat eaters ad nauseam why it's okay to eat plants and
>> not animals, and how do we know vegetables don't feel
>> pain when we pull them out of the ground. If you're
>> vegan, the two-part question always has an extra edge.
>> Messina answers this question easily and fluently.
>>
>> "I think most of us perceive a difference between plants
>> and animals. Animals have a central nervous system, and
>> we know they feel physical and emotional reactions like
>> fear. I can't prove to anyone that plants don't feel
>> pain, but I know animals do. We absolutely need plant
>> food to survive. It's essential in the human diet, and
>> it's clear that the greater the ratio of plant to animal
>> food in the diet, the better our health and chance of
>> survival. I think most would agree that it's a reasonable
>> decision to eat the foods that are necessary for our
>> survival."
>>
>> Erik Marcus, President of the Vegan Foundation and author
>> of an excellent, recently published book entitled Vegan:
>> The New Ethics of Eating, holds a similar view to
>> Messina's. "It's fairly obvious that animals are capable
>> of demonstrating pain and fear," he says. Marcus offers
>> an engaging philosophical argument to further illustrate
>> his point. "Let's say that plants are as capable of
>> suffering as animals. It can take around ten pounds of
>> grain to produce a single pound of beef. So if you ate a
>> couple of pounds of grain rather than a pound of beef,
>> you would have saved wheat the supposed agony of
>> producing eight pounds of grain. And that's not even
>> counting the quite visible agony you've saved the cow."
>>
>> Recently someone asked me why plant life such as fruit is
>> treated differently than chicken eggs when they're seed
>> for life just like the fruit. Messina summed up the
>> answer more succinctly than the tome I was preparing.
>> "Vegans avoid eggs because egg production is notoriously
>> cruel. It isn't so much the fact that an egg is a seed
>> for life as it is that chickens suffer greatly on egg
>> farms."
>>
>> Of Passion, Compassion, & Sterotypes People choose
>> veganism for a broad range of reasons, including, yes,
>> ethical reasons, but also environmental and health
>> concerns. And while many select this diet for ethical
>> issues and as such are activists on behalf of animals,
>> few are militant, according to Messina. Many are
>> relatively mainstream folks who are also raising kids,
>> attempting to balance family and work, paying mortgages,
>> and engaging in community activites. They simply adhere
>> to a set of concerns about the place and treatment of
>> animals in a human-centered society; the huge amounts of
>> water, land, and fuel used up to produce grain to feed
>> farm animals; the pollution generated by animal excrement
>> and waste products by the dairy industry; the loss of
>> biodiversity suffered in the name of ranching; and the
>> health consequences of a meat-based diet.
>>
>> These are strong arguments that fuel the passion of many
>> vegans and which extend beyond what we put in our mouths.
>> They affect what we wear, what health and beauty products
>> we buy, what household cleaning supplies we seek, what
>> forms of education, entertainment, and sports we choose,
>> what stores we patronize, what charities we support, and
>> even where, when, and how we tread.
>>
>> But even within this movement, the degree of vegan
>> commitment varies. Some don't extend their veganism
>> beyond their food choices. Others make occasional
>> exceptions for the byproduct use of dairy or eggs. Some
>> may not think twice about using refined sugar, which is
>> bleached with charcoal filters that use animal bones.
>> Others may wear wool, but not leather. Some will never
>> again purchase soap or lotions that contain animal
>> byproducts or that were tested on animals but will use
>> their remaining supply of Gillette razors from eons ago.
>> Yet others immediately rid their households of any item
>> that's not vegan.
>>
>> Passion for compassion and the environmental well-being
>> of this planet does not equate to a militant disposition.
>> In the words of Dr. Albert Schweitzer, "until he extends
>> the circle of his compassion to all living things, man
>> will not himself find peace." And Alice Walker reminds us
>> that "the animals of the world exist for their own
>> reasons. They were not made for humans any more than
>> black people were made for whites, or women for men."
>>
>> Vegans err just as much as the rest of the population.
>> It's just that we've allowed ourselves to seek out, read,
>> learn, and digest the gruesome realities of the behind-
>> the-scenes details of the meat and dairy industry and of
>> the impact our life choices make on the sustainability of
>> a finite planet.
>>
>> When I first started reading Diet for a New America by
>> John Robbins, the Baskin-Robbins heir-to-be who decided
>> his conscience wouldn't let him pursue the family living,
>> I had no clue it would change my life forever. But one
>> painful and often highly-disturbing fact at a time
>> brought me out of my plush state of ignorance. I found
>> myself no longer able to support a system of abuse and
>> misuse just to satisfy a craving or whimsical fancy for a
>> product. You'd be amazed how easily knowledge will help
>> you say no to things that may look appealing on the
>> surface.
>>
>> Despite my passion on this subject, I do believe diet is
>> a highly personal decision that no other soul but
>> yourself can make on your behalf. I applaud the efforts
>> of anybody who even in the smallest way attempts to lower
>> her consumption of and reliance on animal products. It's
>> not vegans that I admire, but the person who takes that
>> first bold step to gently remove her blinders and educate
>> herself in spite of the heartache.
>>
>> More at:
>>
http://www.consciouschoice.com/1995-...lifestyle.html
>
> Living in a Nonvegan World
>
> (Also available in traditional and simplified Chinese.)
>
> Vegan Outreach
> November 2004
>
> Thoughts about Nature, Progress, Careers, and Money
> What Do We Really Want?
> Thoughts about Nature, Progress, Careers, and Money
>
> - Jack Norris
>
> Nature
>
> Vegans like to believe that a vegan diet is the most
> natural diet. This is seen in the efforts to show that
> people used to be able to get vitamin B12 without
> supplements. We are worried that if a vegan diet isn?t
> seen as natural, then there is something wrong with it. I
> suggest that we will probably be more effective if we do
> not use strategies that appeal to what is “natural.”
>
> For one thing, some people oppose veganism because it is
> unnatural. They want to return to a more natural, hunter-
> gatherer lifestyle and see vegans as pushing for an
> unnatural society that exists without depending on
> animals. They have a point – a vegan diet, while being
> healthier than many other diets, probably differs from
> that of early humans, who apparently were primarily
> hunter-gatherers.
>
> Progress
>
> Given that few people are willing to turn back the clock,
> it is unlikely that we will convince society to abandon
> science and technology in favor of living simply. Our
> culture is wedded to the notion of “progress,” but this
> is not necessarily bad. If we assimilate with society, we
> can make “progress” express our values.
>
> Careers
>
> It is hard to find a job that does not have some
> connection to animal exploitation. The animal rights
> movement cannot provide jobs for everyone who wants to
> use their careers to help animals. And many other careers
> might require the use of some animal products. So, how
> can one live up to their vegan ideals and still take part
> in society by having a job? I would suggest that by
> pursuing careers in certain fields where animal products
> are used, we can actually help animals in the end.
>
> For example, I am currently studying to be a registered
> dietitian. In my textbooks, it has been shown a number of
> times how some alternative methods of research have
> replaced methods using animals and have been more
> effective, safer, and less expensive. I see room for
> animal activists to get involved in continuing to improve
> technology to get past the point of using animals. Many
> vegans would shy away from getting into the sciences
> because they might have to do certain things that are
> animal-related. I don?t mean vivisection or dissection,
> but many scientific methods do use animal products and
> one might need to use them during training. A vegan,
> working to change science from within, could help
> countless animals.
>
> For example, some methods to detect bacterial infections
> use media that contain sheep?s blood. Someone?s goal
> could be to replace this blood with plant or synthetic
> products.
>
> We each have to decide where to draw the line. But if we
> keep ourselves out of science and other fields, they will
> continue to be dominated by people who do not share our
> values.
>
> Another example is in building roads. Currently, it seems
> road planners don?t even consider the lives of animals.
> With some ingenuity, we could save millions of animals
> from being hit by cars. It would probably take money, and
> transportation departments might oppose trying to help
> these animals. If animal activists were more involved in
> road construction, we would eventually be able to help
> devise and promote strategies that would make
> transportation less hazardous to animals.
>
> Knowing that I would be using my skills to help animals
> has been quite motivating. The first time I went to
> college, I tried to get by with doing as little
> schoolwork as possible. This time, I want to learn as
> much as possible in order to use that knowledge to help
> animals. It has made school much more interesting. I
> think other activists might also be motivated if they saw
> ways in which they could eventually use their skills to
> help animals.
>
> Money
>
> Many activists view money and wealth as evil. As a source
> of power, money can be used to promote either evil or
> good. Just think how much better the animals would be if
> vegans had significant amounts of money. If each vegan
> had enough money to buy and distribute multiple copies of
> educational materials, the animals would greatly benefit.
> Someone who works a job that isn?t directly promoting
> animal rights, but who can use their money to fund the
> resources needed by our movement, will be doing much to
> help the animals.
>
> What Do We Really Want?
>
> - Matt Ball
>
> What do we really want?
>
> While it might be simple to believe (if not say) that we
> want people to think like we do, I can honestly say that
> this is not the case as far as I’m concerned. If everyone
> thought like me, who would write the next Walden, the
> next Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the next Animal Liberation?
> Closer to home, who would design the next generation
> PowerPC computer chip, or perfect the triple-cheese and
> pepperoni vegan pizza?
>
> And do I really want a world free of suffering? Would I
> appreciate Anne now if I had not had my heart broken
> before? Would I fully enjoy periods of health if not for
> sickness at other times?
>
> I can say I want a vegan world, or a rational world, or a
> free-thinking world, but what I really want is a better
> world. Bringing about a better world, however, is not a
> one-time, one-person, one-lifetime chore. Rather, it is
> an on-going process in which each one of us participates
> to a lesser or greater extent. The future is the story
> that billions of us are writing.
>
> What can be my role in bringing about this future? Note
> that I don’t ask what I want the future to be – I don’t
> control that, and wouldn’t want to do so.
>
> Living in a nonvegan world means living in an imperfect
> world, which simply means living. While difficult to
> face, let alone accept, we cannot expect perfection of
> the world, of others, or of ourselves. While trite to
> say, all we can do is our best. We can’t expect others to
> think or act like we do. What we can control, at least to
> a greater extent than others, is how we deal with life
> (happy / sad, optimistic / pessimistic, constructive /
> destructive, etc.), and subsequently, how we present
> ourselves, our vision, our piece of the story future.
>
> There are many people who believe as I do – that 1., the
> exploitation and subsequent suffering of other animals is
> the greatest current injustice; 2., the raising and
> slaughtering of animals for food is both the numerically
> greatest aspect of this injustice as well as the
> psychological heart of animal exploitation; and thus 3.,
> bringing about widespread veganism is the key to ending
> the greatest current injustice. (There are, of course,
> far more people who don’t agree with that assessment,
> even among fellow activists.) Many of these people feel
> so strongly about this that they believe they need to
> dedicate their entire lives to this process. However, the
> economics and logistics of the situation are such that
> only a few, if any, individuals can do this work in an
> obvious fashion and still survive, let alone thrive.
>
> However, it is not necessary, or even desirable, that all
> concerned people be full-time activists. From an entirely
> practical perspective, if not for the generosity of
> hundreds of people with nonactivist jobs (including some
> very progressive professionals), Vegan Outreach would not
> exist, and hundreds of thousands of people would not have
> read Why Vegan?
>
> From a broader perspective, however, changes in society
> need to be continued and expanded by thoughtful people.
> At some future point, the perfect veggie burger and the
> “cheesiest” uncheese will be of greater importance to the
> further progression of veganism than Why Vegan? and
> similar tools. Additional advances in medical technology
> will nullify the need for the use of animals in research.
> Contraception and delivery methods will stem deer and
> other “game” animal overpopulation, and better video
> games may actually satisfy adolescent male bloodlusts
> which in prior times took place on the hunting fields.
> Personal computing (desktop publishing, the Web, etc.)
> have helped Vegan Outreach and others reach new
> audiences, and further advances will help with the
> further democratization of information (countering the
> advertising budgets of McDonald’s, the Dairy Board,
> etc.). Improvements in energy efficiency and alternative
> energy sources will protect the environment. Better urban
> planning will lessen suburban sprawl’s impact on wildlife
> habitat. New philosophers will help advance human ethics.
> Educators, in just about any field, help advance the
> human condition and humans’ relationship to others;
> education, in general, breaks down prejudices, decreases
> birth rates (easing overpopulation), and opens minds.
>
> These are just a few of the fields where people can make
> a significant contribution to the advancement of a better
> world. None of these careers may be as glamorous as being
> Ingrid Newkirk or Peter Singer. However, in addition to
> improving various aspects of the world in one’s field and
> earning money (for example) to print more copies of Why
> Vegan?, each one of us will be able to influence many
> people over the course of our lives. To create a better
> world, it is of more use to be respected by ten people
> whose lives you have changed (and who each subsequently
> go on to influence ten other people, etc.) than to be
> lionized by thousands of activists who already think as
> you do.
>
> More at:
>
http://www.veganoutreach.org/article...eganworld.html
Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness
http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.jai-maharaj
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