Vegetarian

Nutrition Benefits of Going Vegan

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:37:00 PST

All of the following nutritional benefits come from a vegan diet full of foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and soy products.

Reduced saturated fats. Dairy products and meats contain a large amount of saturated fats. By reducing the amount of saturated fats from your diet, you’ll improve your health tremendously, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health.
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy for your body. When you don’t have enough carbohydrates, your body will burn muscle tissue.
Fiber. A diet high in fiber (as vegan eating usually is) leads to healthier bowel movements. High fiber diets help fight against colon cancer.
Magnesium. Aiding in the absorption of calcium, magnesium is an often overlooked vitamin in importance to a healthy diet. Nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens are an excellent source of magnesium.
Potassium. Potassium balances water and acidity in your body and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate toxins. Diets high in potassium have shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Folate. This B vitamin is an important part of a healthy diet. Folate helps with cell repair, generating red and white blood cells, and metabolizing amino acids.
Antioxidants. For protection against cell damage, antioxidants are one of the best ways to help your body. Many researchers also believe that antioxidants help protect your body against forming some types of cancer.
Vitamin C. Besides boosting your immune system, Vitamin C also helps keep your gums healthy and helps your bruises heal faster. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant.
Vitamin E. This powerful vitamin has benefits for your heart, skin, eyes, brain, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. A diet high in grains, nuts, and dark leafy greens is full of Vitamin E.
Phytochemicals. Plant-based foods provide phytochemicals, which help to prevent and heal the body from cancer, boost protective enzymes, and work with antioxidants in the body.
Protein. That protein is good for your body is no surprise. It may be a surprise to learn that most Americans eat too much protein and in forms such as red meat that are not healthy ways of getting protein. Beans, nuts, peas, lentils, and soy products are all great ways to get the right amount of protein in a vegan diet.

70-Year-Old Looks 30 Years Younger - Thanks to Raw Food Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:51:05 PST

When Annette Larkins goes out with her husband of 54 years, people assume she is his daughter.

The image of health, vitality and youth with a petite size four frame and a line-free face, Mrs Larkins is in fact 70 years old.

The resident of Miami-Dade County, Florida, attributes her youthful looks to her raw vegan diet and grows almost everything she eats in the garden she refers to as her 'fountain of youth'.

During a visit to her home, ABC News reporters explored the back yard, every of inch of which is covered in plants and trees that grow the fruits and vegetables Mrs Larkins eats.

She told reporters: 'My diet consists of fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds. I do a lot of sprouting of seeds and as you can see from my garden and of course, these are the raw foods that I eat.'

The sprightlay septuagenarian did not always eat this way. Husband of 54 years, Amos, owned a meat factory in the 1960's and it was around this time that his wife decided to go vegetarian.

27 years ago she went one step further by turning vegan and now everything she eats is raw. Nothing cooked or processed every passes her lips.

Mrs Larkins also juices her fruits and vegetables and collects rain water to drink and to water her garden.

For his part, Mr Larkins wishes he had followed his wife's example. Looking considerably older, he also takes prescription medicine for diabetes and high blood pressure while Mrs Larkins won't even take an aspirin.

When they walk down the street together, he admitted: 'They'll ask me what am I doing with this young girl.'

Recognising how positively she could influence others, the formidable 70-year-old has already written two booklets titled: Journey to Health and produced a DVD about her nutritional regime.

'I am very vibrant, I have lots of energy, as I told you before, I am up no later than 5:30 in the morning as a rule, and I am ready to go' she told ABC.

Her husband agreed, gushing: 'She's an amazing person though. Oh man, I mean really. She does everything- build computers, make all her own clothes, grow her own food, speaks three languages. It's amazing.'

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2108935/Annette-Larkins-vegan-diet-Woman-70-defies-ageing-process-vegetables-rainwater.html

How Can We Take Away Your Mother

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:10:11 PST

How can we take away your mother, leave you hungry and thirsty and not let you have your milk. How can we slaughter your mother, who cried for you, and then take away your life too. Your nature is gentle and you want to be loved, your whole being is innocent. You niavely suckle at the fingertips of the Oppressor. I would give my life to stop this cruelty, the strength of humanity to stop violent humans with the profit and machines. As I have more connection with you, within the Animal Kingdom as one, to restore Peace within Nature

Health Reasons to Avoid Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:41:07 PST

1. Cow's milk is for cows.

The biochemical make-up of cow's milk is perfectly suited

to turn a 65-pound newborn calf into a 400-pound cow in one year. It contains, for example, three times more protein and seven times more mineral content while human milk has 10 times as much essential fatty acids, three times as much selenium, and half the calcium. Some may like cow's milk but drinking it is both unnecessary and potentially harmful.

2. Milk is actually a poor source for dietary calcium.

Humans, like cows, get all the calcium they need from a plant-based diet.

3. Contrary to popular belief, milk may increase the likelihood of osteoporosis.

It is still widely accepted that the calcium in dairy products will strengthen our bones and help prevent osteoporosis, but studies show that foods originating from animal sources (like milk) make the blood acidic. When this occurs, the blood leeches calcium from the bones to increase alkalinity. While this works wonders for the pH balance of your blood, it sets your calcium-depleted bones up for osteoporosis. As explained by John Robbins, "The only research that even begins to suggest that the consumption of dairy products might be helpful [in preventing osteoporosis] has been paid for by the National Dairy Council itself."

4. Milk makes you fat.

In 2005, the Harvard School of Public Health had this to say on the consumption of dairy products: "Three glasses of low-fat milk add more than 300 calories a day. This is a real issue for the millions of Americans who are trying to control their weight. What's more, millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomach aches, gas, or other problems."

Banana Beauty!

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:57:26 PST

From now on never ever throw a ripe banana because it can easily be used for skin care . Read on to learn about the amazing ways of using bananas in your daily beauty routine.

Dry feet

Ripe bananas are a common household remedy to treat dry feet . Apply the pulp of ripe banana on the dry and cracked area of your feet. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash with warm and cold water alternatively. The results are really amazing, you will experience soft and supple feet just by one application.

Acne, blemishes and pimples

Bananas are anti-bacterial in nature and are excellent in treating skin blemishes, acne and pimples. The antioxidants and vitamins in bananas restore collagen in the skin and are useful for anti-aging skin too.

Banana Mask Recipe

What you’ll need:1 banana,1 tablespoon agave (optional),1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.

Mash the banana and combine it with the agave (optional) and lemon juice until it’s creamy. Spread all over face and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing off.

Another great mask is fresh pineapple & banana- mix well in a blender- U can use this for both hair, face and décolletage.

Dry Eyes

Eating a banana every day can be very useful, if you suffer from dry eyes. Since bananas are very rich in potassium, they help to control the balance of sodium and release of fluid in your cells, which results in preventing dry eyes. Simply eat banana a day and get rid of dry eyes.

Dry Skin

Bananas are rich source of Vitamin A and Potassium, and they are very good at softening and hydrating the skin. Take a ripe or over ripe banana, and mash it in a bowl. Add a spoon of granulated sugar to the banana mash. Apply this mix to your face and hands. Banana mash works as an excellent exfoliate scrub and moisturizer for buffing away dead skin. It is a very effective and cheap natural remedy.

Source: http://vegfriend.com/group/natural-vegan-beauty-remedies/forum/topics/banana-beauty

The wonders of Pineapple! 7 Benefits of Pineapple

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:58:17 PST

The next time you cut up a pineapple, rub the leftover juice onto your clean skin with a cotton wool ball, leave for 5 minutes up to a maximum of 15 minutes, then gently wash it off and apply extra virgin coconut oil.( This only works with fresh pineapple. The enzyme papain that dissolves dead protein is not present in canned pineapple as heating destroys it.)

7 Benefits of Pineapple

1. It lessens risk of hypertension. Hypertension occurs when too much force is exerted on the artery walls while the blood circulates. One of the best ways to combat this is to infuse a high amount of potassium plus a small amount of sodium in your diet to lower blood pressure. Pineapples are the perfect for hypertension because a cup of pineapple contains about 1 mg of sodium and 195 mg of potassium.

2. It helps you lose weight! Eating pineapple can highly cut down your sweet cravings because of its natural sweetness, saving you from a lot of sugar-induced calories. Incorporating a lot of pineapple in your meals will also help a lot in weight loss because pineapples can make you feel full without giving you an ounce of fat.

3. It maintains good eye health. Time and again, studies have found that pineapples protect against age-related eye problems because it is rich in antioxidants.

4. It fights a lot of diseases, being rich in Vitamin C. Pineapples are known to be a very good source of vitamin C, which protects our bodies from free radicals that attack our healthy cells. Lots of free radicals in the body can lead to major diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers. Vitamin C is considered the most important water-soluble anti-oxidant that fights against disease-inducing substances within the body. It is also an excellent fighter against flu and a great enhancer of the immune system.

5. It prevents plaque and keeps teeth healthy. Another benefit of the high amount of vitamin C in pineapples is that it prevents formation of plaque and gum diseases.

6. It cures constipation and irregular bowel movement. Pineapple is rich in fiber, making it effective in curing constipation and irregular bowel movement.

7. It keeps your skin beautiful! Pineapple contains enzymes that make skin elastic, improve skin hydration, and remove damaged and dead cells. Thus, it helps us achieve a clear and glowing complexion. The enzymes in pineapples also fight free-radical damage and can reduce age spots and fine lines.

Source: http://vegfriend.com/group/natural-vegan-beauty-remedies/forum/topics/the-wonders-of-pineapple-fresh-ofcourse

Environmental Reasons to Stop Drinking Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:03:03 PST

What could be more American than a glass of milk? Cow's milk, that is. In light of this common perception, the time is long overdue to add the milk mustache to that ever-growing list of American myths. Human beings are not designed to drink any milk except human milk (only during infancy, of course). As you'll see below, consuming dairy products—milk, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, ice cream, etc.—is not green and it's not healthy.

It's also a nightmare for the cows themselves. Here's a little of how the folks at GoVeg describe it: "The 9 million cows living on dairy farms in the United States spend most of their lives in large sheds or on feces-caked mud lots, where disease is rampant. Cows raised for their milk are repeatedly impregnated. Their babies are taken away so that humans can drink the milk intended for the calves. When their exhausted bodies can no longer provide enough milk, they are sent to slaughter and ground up for hamburgers."

Living dairy-free has never been easier...so here's a little motivation to get you on the greener, cruelty-free, not-milk track.

Environmental Reasons to Avoid Milk

1. Dairy cows produce waste.
Lots of waste. In fact, your average dairy cow produces 120 pounds of waste every day—equal to that of more than two dozen people, but without toilets, sewers, or treatment plants.

2. Let me repeat: Dairy cows produce lots and lots of waste (and greenhouse gases).
California produces one-fifth of the country's total milk supply. According to MilkSucks.com, "in the Central Valley of California, the cows produce as much excrement as a city of 21 million people, and even a smallish farm of 200 cows will produce as much nitrogen as in the sewage from a community of 5,000 to 10,000 people, according to a U.S. Senate report on animal waste."

3. Milk production ultimately leads to climate change.
The dairy industry is an extension of the beef industry (used-up dairy cows are sent to the slaughterhouse after an average of four years, one-fifth their normal life expectancy) which means it plays a major role in creating climate change. Here's the equation: The dairy industry uses cows before passing them on to be slaughtered by the beef industry which is now recognized as an environmental nightmare. "According to a UN report," writes Brian Merchant, "cows are leading contributors to climate change ... Accounting for putting out 18% of the world's carbon dioxide, cows emit more greenhouse gases than cars, planes, and all other forms of transportation combined." That means the industry of exploiting all cows—including dairy cows—involves destructive practices like deforestation and polluting offshoots like runoff.

4. Milk often contains unwanted ingredients.
Under current industrial methods, cow's milk is often a toxic bovine brew of man-made ingredients like bio-engineered hormones, antibiotics (55% of U.S. antibiotics are fed to livestock), and pesticides—all of which are bad for us and the environment. For example, unintentional pesticide poisonings kill an estimated 355,000 people globally each year. In addition the drugs pumped into livestock often re-visit us in our water supply.

Fusion Chickpea Curry

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:43:17 PST

Last night I was playing around with a can of coconut milk, wondering what I could do with it in a college dormitory. A vegan of several years and a college senior, I often found it difficult to eat in the university's cafeteria. I actually love to cook, so this year I have almost entirely abandoned "the caf."
The beauty of this recipe is that I have provided methods for both the stove top and the crock pot. If you're like me and you live in a dormitory, you can't use a hot plate and your cooking options are limited. I put this in the crock pot when I went to sleep and had dinner for the week when I woke up. I live on the fourth floor, and through my open window this could be smelled in the courtyard below.
Now, I really love coconut milk. I could wax poetically with my background in biochemistry about why coconut products are so good for you, but at the risk of boring you to sleep, suffice it to say that although coconuts are heavy on saturated fats, they're good fats; coconuts are full of medium-chain fatty acids. Coconut milk has a rich, thick, creamy texture, making it the perfect base for a lot of South Indian style curries. That was what I was initially thinking of, but at the moment when I started cutting up my onion, I looked up at my Moroccan flag and reminisced about the spice markets there. One thing led to another, and what I ended up with was an improvised South Indian / Moroccan fusion curry.

Cooked entirely from scratch in a college dormitory.
As my first contribution to this blog, I gift the hungry college students out there with this delicious, easy to prepare, and startlingly fragrant dish. Enjoy!

Ingredients

One large, yellow onion
One celery heart
Eight cloves of garlic
2 TBSP olive oil
One can of coconut milk
Vegetable bouillon cubes (enough to flavor eight servings)
Four cans of chickpeas (or about eight cups prepared)
1 TSP cinnamon
1 TSP cumin
1 TSP paprika
1/8 TSP cayenne pepper

Procedure (crock pot)

stovetop method is below

Finely dice the onion and celery. I used the entire celery heart, and my onion weighed about a pound. You could get away with less of either, but I happen to enjoy onions.
Sauté the onion and celery. Sauté until the vegetables begin to weep; you will see liquid collecting in the bottom of your crock pot. This tales from about 20-40 minutes on high heat.
Add the garlic. Sauté for another 20 minutes or so.
Add the coconut milk, spices, and bouillon cubes.
Rinse the chickpeas clean and add them to the pot; add just enough water to level with the chickpeas. (If you want a thick sauce, mix some corn starch with a bit of cold water and add it here; I don't do this because I like to drink the sauce.)
Simmer on high until very fragrant and the chickpeas are very soft (canned chickpeas are usually al dente). This takes about three hours.
Serve hot. Makes 7-8 servings.

Procedure (stovetop)

Finely dice the onion and celery. I used the entire celery heart, and my onion weighed about a pound. You could get away with less of either, but I happen to enjoy onions.
Sauté the onion and celery. Sauté until the onion is fragrant and translucent.
Add the garlic. Sauté for another 5 minutes or so.
Add the coconut milk, spices, and bouillon cubes.
Rinse the chickpeas clean and add them to the pot; add just enough water to level with the chickpeas. (If you want a thick sauce, mix some corn starch with a bit of cold water and add it here; I don't do this because I like to drink the sauce.)
Simmer on medium-high heat until very fragrant and the chickpeas are very soft (canned chickpeas are usually al dente). This takes about 20-30 minutes.
Serve hot. Makes 7-8 servings.

Zindagi
The Albino Desi strikes again!

Top 10 Foods and Drinks for Cancer Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:56:18 PST

Cancer is such a staggering epidemic–the sheer number of people affected by the disease is as heartbreaking as it is mystifying. As we are slowly learning more about the causes, we are beginning to learn more about preventive measures.

In terms of the relationship between diet and cancer, this leads us to lists of what not to eat (french fries, sigh), as well as the other side of the coin: What we should eat (artichokes and red wine, yay!).

In the book Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic (New Society Publishers, 2007) the authors Liz Armstrong, Guy Dauncey and Anne Wordsworth consider the importance of eating specific foods and drinks for cancer protection. Here’s what they suggest:

Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale. These score high for containing many anti-cancer substances, such as isothiocyanates.
Globe artichoke for very high levels of salvestrols.
Dark greens, such as spinach and romaine lettuce, for their fiber, folate and a wide range of cancer-fighting carotenoids. Other dark colored veggies, too, such as beets and red cabbage.
Grapes and red wine, especially for the resveratrol.
Legumes: beans, peas and lentils, for the saponins, protease inhibitors and more.
Berries, particularly blueberries, for the ellagic acid and anthocyanosides.
Flaxseed, especially if you grind it yourself and consume when fresh, for the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, lignans and other “good fats.”
Garlic, onions, scallions, leeks and chives, for many anti-cancer substances including allicin.
Green tea, for its anti-cancer catechins, a potent antioxidant.
Tomatoes, for the famous flavenoid lycopene.

Nutrition Tip: Eating for a Healthy Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:04:15 PST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that diseases of the heart remain the No. 1 cause of mortality in the United States, causing 600,000 deaths a year. Heart protective eating habits can help to lower your risk of heart disease.

Tea: People who drink three to six cups of tea a day have a 45 percent decreased risk of dying from heart disease than those who drink less than one cup daily. Tea contains potent antioxidants and flavonoids. Green or black, both appear to be equally effective.

Fiber: Those who have the highest fiber intake have a 60 percent decreased risk of dying from heart disease. Fiber improves cholesterol levels and lowers blood pressure. The fiber recommendation for women is 25 grams a day; it’s 30 grams a day for men. Beans, whole grains, nuts/seeds, fruits and vegetables are all good sources of fiber.

Vegetarian diet: People who eat a diet low in animal products have 36 percent decreased risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides and increased body fat, which increases the risk for heart disease. Even just going meatless one day a week can improve your health.

Fruits and Veggies: People who ate at least eight portions of fruits and vegetables a day had a 22 percent decreased risk for heart disease compared to those that ate less than three servings a day.

Whole grains: Whole grains add fiber to our diet, but they also replace the more refined grains. People who eat mostly refined grains have more adipose tissue, or belly fat, which is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

BPA: Bisphenol A is a chemical mostly found in the linings of metal food and beverage containers. People who had a higher urinary concentration of BPA also had a higher risk for heart disease and diabetes. Eliminating canned foods can help lower your sodium intake as well, which will help lower blood pressure.

Vitamin D: People who have higher blood levels of vitamin D have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The best sources for vitamin D come from sunlight and vitamin D supplement.

Nuts: A daily handful of nuts can help improve lipid levels. Just remember, they also have a lot of calories so don’t overdo it.

Chocolate: Dark chocolate can help reduce blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke. Stick with the 60 percent or darker chocolate, and limit yourself to 1 ounce a day.

Healthy living on a veggie diet

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:52:41 PST

Let’s face it: Many of us who are neither vegetarian nor vegan have a hard time considering giving up our favorite, yet sometimes unhealthy, foods.

Consuming mostly fresh fruit and vegetables, and refusing to eat any meat or dairy products may seem like extremely foreign and far-fetched dietary routines to many.

To some, tofu is seen as a peculiar piece of spongy nothingness that those of us who are used to eating meat, poultry, and seafood have no interest in digesting.

Yet these are some of the eating habits that are practiced daily by vegetarians and vegans worldwide. These healthwise, natural food enthusiasts have made the lifestyle changing decision to eliminate certain foods from their diets in order to stay healthy.

A new vegetarian and vegan group has formed in Elk Grove to educate people about the benefits of choosing a plant-based diet.

The Elk Grove Vegetarian Society (EGVS) will offer information, share stories, and participate in cooking demonstrations that will reveal new ways to make tasty vegetarian and vegan meals.

Nearly 15 members of the group recently gathered at Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine in Laguna to conduct their first meeting around a table of the restaurant’s most popular meals.

“I’ve been waiting for someone to create a group like this in Elk Grove for 35 years…so I decided to start one myself,” said Dinah Withrow, the group’s organizer.

She began to browse the Internet to find a local group to network with that would help her launch the Elk Grove chapter.

After noticing many different worldwide vegetarian groups online, she ran across the Sacramento Vegetarian Society’s website and contacted the group’s president, Glenn Destatte, who began to assist her along the way.

He became a “98 percent vegan” six years ago after watching the movie, Fast Food Nation, a no-holds-barred look at the fast-food industry that reveals “the dark side of the All-American meal.”

Destatte only consumes dairy products in rare circumstances where his choice for receiving a “nondairy” meal is an obstacle.
“I decided to change my diet for health reasons after seeing how badly animals were treated,” he said.

Eating Without the Animals

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:08:53 PST

Whether it's for health, ethical or environmental reasons, many people are eating less meat and dairy and heading towards a vegan diet. Charmian Smith talks to chef Tanya Hickman about the joys of, and reasons for, a vegan lifestyle.

Tanya Hickman loves to cook and eat, and she and her family enjoy a wide variety of foods, but she is often asked what on earth they eat as they avoid all animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs.

It's one of the funniest questions, the co-owner of The Joyful Vegan cafe and stall at the Otago Farmers Market says. She and her husband Ted Wise took over the caravan stall about a year ago, because, as a chef, she did not want to cook meat for others.

"The people who've gone vegan that I've known, their diet increases because you start exploring new options. All of a sudden you don't get a meat-centric plate. You don't focus on that piece of chicken or that piece of cow on your plate. You start to explore different vegetables and grains and whole foods and things that perhaps you had a chip on your shoulder about before," she said.

Hickman and her family have been vegans for five years and were vegetarians before that. They started for health reasons because their families have histories of heart and other lifestyle diseases and they didn't want to follow in their footsteps. They also considered themselves environmentalists, so it was a logical step to become vegan and avoid all animal products, she said.

"We did lots of research. I'm a rational person and now that we are vegan, it really has come down to ethical reasons as well, when I look at the impact on animals and the people who care for the animals."

Many of The Joyful Vegan's customers are neither vegan nor vegetarian, but they come because they enjoy the food. Everything is made from scratch, and one of their most popular items is a dish with tempeh, a fermented soybean cake, because it cannot be found anywhere else, she says.

"They come for a variety of reasons but I think the primary reason is that it's good."

Their children, whom they home-school, are part of the business. Taia (8) waits at the tables on Saturday mornings, and Palin (13) helps his father with the bread baking.

When the children visit friends, they maintain their vegan diet, either taking their own food or choosing vegan options, something that is easier now as so many people have food allergies and are on special diets, she said.

Palin is now old enough to decide whether he wants to add meat to his diet but he remains vegan, she said.

When she was veganising baking recipes, and talked to older people, she realised that it wasn't a new thing. During World War 2 people had to bake without eggs or butter because they were rationed or not available. Instead of butter and milk, she uses dairy-free margarine and soy, rice or oat milk. Eggs are easy to replace once you realise the egg's function in the recipe. If it's to bind ingredients together you can use a banana, apple sauce or mashed tofu, or a proprietary egg-replacer which is usually a mix of potato starch and arrowroot. If the egg is helping raise the baking, ground flax seeds and water produces a glutinous slurry which will work and is good for you, she said.

People often ask how they get enough protein without eating meat, eggs or dairy, something she finds amusing.

"Plants have a lot of protein and that's the reason the largest mammals are vegetarian. There isn't a problem getting it through plants and whole grains. I stress that too, sticking with whole grains, brown rice and so on, instead of white, is much healthier for you."

Her family eats a lot of high-protein foods such as beans, lentils, soy products like tofu and tempeh, and seitan, made from wheat protein, as well as vegetables.

However, it was important not to become a "junk-food vegan" and eat French fries, potato chips or too many processed vegetarian "meats", she says.

"I think a lot of people try those and write it off and say vegetarian and vegan food is terrible because I had a vegan sausage and it was dreadful. I encourage them to try alternatives. A lot of those processed foods don't taste good and don't have much flavour or texture."

Why Vegetarian? And What Doctors Say About the Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:55:52 PST

Although in a notably staggering economy it might be more economical for Egyptians to switch to a vegetable diet and forego meat, many current vegetarians have their own reasons, such as ethics, hygiene or being "unique."

"To me every part of an animal resembles a part of my body: I too have ribs, shoulders and legs, and I simply can't eat a part of something that breathes!" says Salma Amin, an executive manager who had been a devotee of vegetarianism for the past ten years.

For Heba Tawfeeq, a housewife, shunning meat and poultry began since childhood. "I simply thought that eating something that once had blood flowing through its body is gross!" she exclaims.

Another example we came upon was a group of school girls in Maadi district, who actually thought that being a group of friends who are vegetarians was cool and made them stand out in a crowd!

As for the few men Ahram Online interviewed who endorsed this diet, most had the notion that being a vegetarian can help you live longer and avoid cardiovascular diseases.

"There are various justifications for following a vegetarian diet, whether they be ethical, religious, financial or just for the sake of preventing specific illnesses associated with excessive meat consumption," described Dr Iman El-Tahlawy, assistant professor of Public and Environmental Health, National Research Centre.

"But," the doctor continues "a person should be clear on the type of diet they choose, understand the risks involved and make up for whatever is missing to make sure they get their daily nutritional needs."

Five Famous Female Vegetarian and Vegan Athletes ‎

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:44:44 PST

Many people mistakenly believe that athletes need to consume meat products in order to perform their best and get an adequate amount of protein in their diet. This belief, although common, simply isn't true.

In fact, there are many female sports celebrities who practice a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, and kept on top of the game.

Venus & Serena Williams

Venus Williams decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle after learning she suffered from an incurable auto-immune disorder. Her sister, Serena Williams, showed her support by pledging to take on the same dietary changes. The two world-renown tennis champions have decided that together they will adopt a vegetarian lifestyle in order to improve their health, and hopefully, reduce some of the symptoms Venus experiences due to her health condition.

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova, a tennis player who won 18 major international championships and placed as runner up in 14 others, chose to live a vegetarian lifestyle. Vegetarianism fits Navratilova well, as she is well known for acting as an animal rights activist.

Hannah Teter

Hannahaa Teter, a U.S. snowboarder, had found a passion other than the snow and ice: protecting and speaking out for baby seals being slaughtered for their fur in Canada. Teter posed for a PETA ad campaign to promote awareness for the seals. Teter is compassionate and concerned about the treatment of all animals, not just seals, and follows a vegetarian diet.

Ruth Heidrich

Ruth Heidrich, a triathlete and cancer survivor, has been living a vegan lifestyle for over 25 years. Holding a master's degree in psychology, as well as over 900 medals for her impressive running ability, Heidrich has proven to the world that an athlete doesn't need meat to perform his or her best.

Meat Consuming is responsible for 80% of the Destruction of the Forests

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:35:43 PST

Did you know?
The meat consuming is responsible for 80% of the destruction of the Forests, Rainforests and Jungles around the world.

Specially in Brazil, the world´s biggest meat productor. Where does this meat comes from? From the AMAZON.

The whole Rainforest is being destroyed and the Native people (Indians) are being expelled with violence from their villages only to give space to grass fields that will feed the oxe for only a few years.

Now they do not have anywhere to go and anything to eat, for their tents and plantations have been destroyed.

The rivers are running dry in those places for the water NEEDS the trees there to keep its cycle.

In Amazon it works like that:
TREES=RAIN
NO TREES=NO RAIN

When the fields go dry, they move to the next fertile land. They do it over and over again.
THEY ARE TURNING THE AMAZON INTO A DESERT!

It happened once, a long time ago the Ancient Egypt was built on fertile lands around the Nile, but they destroyed it with the ox farms to the same way!

Please help us to stop this madness, stop this destruction!
Stop being a parasite!

The food that feeds these animals (a +200 million oxes hood!) could be feeding the children of the brazilian favelas and Africa together!

BE VEG, IT'S YOUR NATURE, JOIN US!

And congratulations to all the vegans and vegetarians around the world.

"Vegan revolution, the next step of the human evolution!"

Balance is Key in a Good Vegetarian Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:41:54 PST

The American Dietetic Association took a position in 2009 that "appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases".

It said: "Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence and for athletes."

Our Health Promotion Board states that "a well-balanced and healthy vegetarian diet" is associated with a lower Body Mass Index, lower blood cholesterol levels and reduced risk of death from heart disease.

One of the oldest persons in Singapore was Ms Teresa Hsu, a lifelong vegetarian, who died last year at the age of 113.

Singapore's record holder in a marathon, Mr M Rameshon, is a vegetarian.

Another Singapore vegetarian, Mr Ang Hwee, has won medals in weight-lifting competitions overseas. One of our top blood donors, Mr Goh Joo Heng, who has donated whole blood or platelets more than 100 times, is a vegetarian.

Protein is probably people's biggest concern when they begin to substitute animal food for plant food. However, many plant foods, including beans, other legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains, contain large quantities of protein.

Among plant foods with iron are green leafy vegetables, lentils, legumes and dried fruit.

There is calcium in soy products (including tempeh, tofu and soy milk), foods fortified with calcium, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, sesame seeds and almonds.

Vegetarians obtain Omega 3 from flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts.
Millions of people in India have been vegetarians for generations. How can that be if we need to eat fish?

Vegetarians can take vegetarian B12 supplements, which are available at reasonable cost, and some foods are fortified with B12.

Health is complicated. Each person is different, and the same person differs at different times in their life. Consultation with a health professional is essential.

Baby Formula and Obesity

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:42:33 PST

What could be wrong with baby formula? The point here has more to do with the benefits of breast-feeding during the first months of life than the demerits of any particular brand of baby formula.

A number of studies have shown that children who breast-feed are less likely to be overweight or obese in their early years, which is good -- because an overweight child is more likely to grow into an overweight adult. According to one study, the risk of a child becoming overweight declines the longer a child is breast-fed. By age 14, those who were breast-fed at least seven months were 20% less likely to be overweight than those breast-fed for three months.

Why? That's a mystery, though it may well have something to do with how the different nutrients and hormones alter a baby's metabolism.

What you can do:
If you are able, give your child a good start by breastfeeding, in consultation (of course!) with your doctor. A German study found the prevalence of obesity in children aged 5-6 decreased significantly based on the length of time their mothers breast-fed them:

Seasonal Detoxification

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:50:32 PST

Seasonal changes do not only affect your mood but they also create changes to your health. When the weather changes, your body is weakened and thus serious infections and parasites are easier to catch.

Though herbs and acupuncture can protect your body, cleansing and detoxification are also great preventive methods. Sudden changes in temperatures experienced due to artificial or natural changes (outside or inside) can also be very harmful at times because they weaken your immune system. The various seasons affect each individual differently.

When toxins enter the human body by way of the digestive system, they get easily absorbed and thus enter into the blood stream. A few of these toxins get eliminated via sweat but many stay within your system. The accumulation of toxins may be very subtle yet may also lead to serious health crises such as cancer. In many cases, these toxins are not even detected in general blood tests .
Spring is considered to be an ideal season for cleansing and detoxification of the body.

Detox Methods

While your body has a natural filtering and detoxifying system, sometimes it needs help when the burden is too much.

* Body brushing – This method involves using a natural bristle brush to remove dead skin cells and debris from the outside of your body. Pores can easily get clogged up and regular brushing can remove them. It can also help remove cellulite. Perform the technique in the morning while you are still dry and then shower to remove the impurities.

* Massage – Ancient oriental medicine believes that the body is governed by energy. This energy flows throughout the body, allowing it to maintain a healing balance. When the energy is blocked, that is when you get disease. Regular massage can work to remove the blockages that cause problems in the body. Toxins can flow into the bloodstream and be eliminated from the body.

* Diet – The culprit of some toxins is what we eat. Added preservatives can build up in the body and potentially harm us. By eating more whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, the body can remove excess toxins and get back to functioning normally. You gain more energy, increased immunity and faster digestion. This can all lead to weight loss as well.

* Exercise – Exercise gets the blood flowing. It increases the metabolism so more fat is burned for energy. This also releases toxins into the bloodstream to be excreted by the body. As a by-product, you feel better, gain mental clarity and increased cardiovascular health. Sweating releases toxins through the skin to lighten the load.

Healthy Resolutions Bring a Happier and More Natural New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:32:10 PST

Almost everyone makes New Year's resolutions. However, by February each year, many well-intentioned attempts to make changes in one's life trickle away with nary a glance backwards. Why are so many resolutions never fulfilled? Perhaps it's because the goal is too difficult to accomplish. If individuals choose goals that are more easily attained on a daily basis, the success rate for New Year's resolutions may improve along with the quality of life. Include one or more of the following goals in your New Year's resolutions for 2012.

Avoid MSG and artificial sweeteners
Monosodium Glutamate, or MSG, and artificial sweeteners may make foods taste better; but they're neurotoxins that contribute to a wide range of disease conditions. Symptoms of MSG poisoning may include headaches, dizziness, trembling, palpitations, and cognitive or neurological dysfunction. Artificial sweeteners have been associated with various cancers as well as insulin and other pancreatic disorders.

Avoid GMO foods
Foods that are genetically modified are done so at the expense of life-building nutrients and a healthful environment. Genetically modified crops destroy the ground in which they're grown, damage natural environmental life cycles and cause a variety of nutritional deficiencies and digestive disorders. The most common GMO crops are corn, soy and canola.

Eat organic
Eating organic foods provides natural nutrients to sustain life and build healthy immune systems. Organic food is real food, without additional chemicals or foreign genes added to alter its makeup. Integrate organic foods into your diet throughout the year until it becomes a primary eating style.

Buy local
Supporting local growers and artisans supports the community in which you live. Snubbing large corporations and mega-box stores creates jobs at home where people create products with more care and quality to detail. Locally grown food can be produced on smaller farms, providing positive support for sustainability.

Slice Your Diabetes Risk in Half: Go Vegan!

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:47:17 PST

Here's yet another reason to observe Meatless Mondays … and Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thurs—well, you get the idea. A new Harvard School of Public Health study shows that eating processed meats and red meat can increase one's risk of type 2 diabetes—a potentially deadly condition that can cause blindness; heart, eye, and kidney problems; and nerve damage and affect circulation in the legs—by as much as 51 percent!

And they're not just talking about ardent carnivores who eat 10 strips of bacon for breakfast, a couple of hot dogs at the ballpark, and a massive cheeseburger for dinner. Anyone who eats just 3.5 ounces of processed meat—equivalent to two slices of bacon or a hot dog—every day has a 51 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People who eat one 100-gram serving of red meat—about the size of a deck of cards—a day have a 19 percent greater risk of developing the disease.

Unfortunately, the average American meat-eater will consume twice that amount of meat each day—and that's no bologna. According to Mark Bittman, Americans eat about eight ounces of meat each day—or about twice as much meat as the average person worldwide.

Not surprisingly, America spend more money on health care than does any other nation. Records show that approximately 25 million people in the U.S. now have diabetes and that around 57 million others have pre-diabetes. The saturated fat, cholesterol, and heme iron found in animal products put people at risk of developing diabetes—or worsening the disease if they already have it.

Fortunately, people can prevent—and even reverse—diabetes by eating a healthy plant-based diet. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), "Vegetarian diets provide a nutrient combination that is likely to be beneficial in treating diabetes and preventing complications …. Not only does the diet help control blood sugar, but, because whole grains, nuts, viscous fibers, soy proteins, and plant sterols lower serum cholesterol concentrations, the diet also helps prevent cardiovascular complications. Substituting soy or other vegetable proteins for animal protein may also reduce the risk of diabetes-related kidney problems."

A 2006 study led by Dr. Neal Barnard, the president of PCRM, suggests that diabetics who eat low-fat vegan foods are able to stop taking medications—or at least take fewer of them—to manage the disease. Many study participants also lost weight and lowered their cholesterol just by switching to a vegan diet.

In his book, Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes, Dr. Barnard encourages diabetics to choose foods from PCRM's "New Four Food Groups": grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Everyone, diabetic or not, can enjoy the innovative meal ideas and recipes in the book. For more tasty, disease-fighting recipes, check out The Vegetarian Recipes.

Source: http://prime.peta.org/2011/09/diabetes

Why Vegetarian Diets Are Good for Your Health, Planet, and Bank Account

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:21:47 PST

You probably know that vegetarianism is good for you. You may have also thought of it as difficult or dull. In fact, it can be easy and great fun.

Vegetarianism may not be for everyone. But if you’re reading this, you’re probably curious and open to learning more.

Good for your health

Some people are drawn to vegetarianism for moral or religious reasons, while others appreciate the many health benefits: Depending on your food choices, you may lower your cholesterol, lose weight, reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, or Type 2 diabetes, improve digestion of food, and reduce the risk of constipation.

Good for the earth

The meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. By choosing a more plant-based diet, we could collectively take a big bite out of that.

Good for your wallet

While it’s possible to spend a lot on some vegetarian foods – such as organic imported or off-season fruits and vegetables – much of the world’s poor people eat a mainly vegetarian diet based on staples such as rice, beans, and corn. A pound of dried beans and rice will cost much less than the cheapest cuts of beef, and a pound of tofu is generally less expensive than chicken breasts.

But the biggest savings could be long-term. By remaining healthy and avoiding chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, you could save on such procedures as a $60,000 bypass operation and substantially lower your life insurance premiums.

Vegetarianism can be easy. Here are a few tips…

Find a reason. Trying a vegetarian diet as a lark might be interesting, but if you want to make it a long-lasting change, find a reason you believe in, such as “I can’t stomach the thought of eating animals,” or “I need to lower my risk of a heart attack.”
Eliminate red meat. If you’re looking for gradual change, or you love chicken and fish, start simply by not eating red meat.
Embrace Meatless Mondays. If you just want to explore non-meat recipes without committing to more, join the trend of going a day without meat to see what it’s like.
Find good recipes. Look for a handful of vegetarian recipes that interest you. The possibilities are endless. Think of the variety and fun you could have.

Source: http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2011/12/28/why-vegetarian-diets-are-good-for-your-health-planet-and-bank-account/

Five Sources of Vegetarian Protein

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:49:59 PST

Whether you’ve been a vegetarian for years or are giving it a thought for the first time, the most common question you’ll get about your diet is, “where do you get your protein?” Instead of drawing a blank, get prepared for this situation and impress your audience with a solid answer.Here are some facts you can share:

Most of us are aware that protein has an important roll in our bodies, but you may not know why. Made up of amino acids (oxygen, nitrogren, carbon, and hydrogen), protein is the nutrient responsible for growing new cell and building and repairing tissue. However, contrary to popular belief, we don’t need to consume that much of it to be health. The average requirement of protein is only about 5 ounces a day, or about 5% of your daily caloric intake. It may also surprise you to hear that too much protein can actually damage your bones and organs, and that reducing the amount of protein in your diet can give you more energy, put your digestive system at ease, and protect your immune system.

A common misconception is that meat is the best source of protein. Consider the following animals: gorillas, cows, elephants - all of them are vegetarians! While you probably aren’t aiming to have their body types, they are great examples of how big and strong a living creature can be on a plant based diet. While animal products contain large amounts of protein, they are also high in cholesterol and saturated fat, which can lead to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The plant based diet is low in fat, free of cholesterol, and full of fiber.

Almost every plant contains protein, though some have more than others. Luckily, we do not need to get all amino acids from one source, so eating a varied vegetarian diet will result in a complete balance of protein. Here are some excellent foods that you can depend on to keep your body fit:

1. Beans contain more protein than any other vegetarian source, and they are high in fiber so you’ll feel full hours after eating them. There are countless varieties, the most popular being black, pinto, kidney, chickpeas, lentils, split peas, and soy.

2. Whole grains are a great compliment to beans, and together they pack a protein punch into your diet. Rice is always a great choice, but give quinoa a try. While quinoa is technically a seed, it contains more protein than any other grain. Check out barely and millet, and keep in mind that even popcorn contains protein!

3. Nuts are also very high in protein - one ounce of almonds has the same amount as one ounce of steak (6 grams)! Enjoy your favorite nuts raw, salted, roasted, seasoned, or in butter form.

4. Seeds are a great addition to any meal - simply sprinkle them on top or mix them in to add an extra boost of protein to your dish. Flax, pumpkin, and hemp seeds are not only rich in essential amino acids, but contain other important nutrients like omega-3s, iron, and fiber.

5. Green vegetables. There’s a reason Popeye was obsessed with spinach - he wanted to maintain his big biceps! Other veggies with high protein content are: broccoli, kale, green beans, asparagus, and watercress.

Plants--the Original Sources of Protein and Amino Acids

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:52:05 PST

By : Dr. John A. McDougall, M.D.

Plants--the Original Sources of Protein and Amino Acids

Proteins are made from chains of 20 different amino acids that connect together in varying sequences—similar to how all the words in a dictionary are made from the same 26 letters. Plants (and microorganisms) can synthesize all of the individual amino acids that are used to build proteins, but animals cannot. There are 8 amino acids that people cannot make and thus, these must be obtained from our diets—they are referred to as “essential.”

After we eat our foods, stomach acids and intestinal enzymes digest the proteins into individual amino acids. These components are then absorbed through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream. After entering the body’s cells, these amino acids are reassembled into proteins. Proteins function as structural materials which build the scaffoldings that maintain cell shapes, enzymes which catalyze biochemical reactions, and hormones which signal messages between cells—to name only a few of their vital roles.

Since plants are made up of structurally sound cells with enzymes and hormones, they are by nature rich sources of proteins. In fact, so rich are plants that they can meet the protein needs of the earth’s largest animals: elephants, hippopotamuses, giraffes, and cows. You would be correct to deduce that the protein needs of relatively small humans can easily be met by plants.

People Require Very Little Protein

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that men and women obtain 5% of their calories as protein. This would mean 38 grams of protein for a man burning 3000 calories a day and 29 grams for a woman using 2300 calories a day. This quantity of protein is impossible to avoid when daily calorie needs are met by unrefined starches and vegetables. For example, rice alone would provide 71 grams of highly useable protein and white potatoes would provide 64 grams of protein.

Our greatest time of growth—thus, the time of our greatest need for protein—is during our first 2 years of life—we double in size. At this vigorous developmental stage our ideal food is human milk, which is 5% protein. Compare this need to food choices that should be made as adults—when we are not growing. Rice is 8% protein, corn 11%, oatmeal 15%, and beans 27%. Thus protein deficiency is impossible when calorie needs are met by eating unprocessed starches and vegetables.

The healthy active lives of hundreds of millions of people laboring in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America on diets with less than half the amount of protein eaten by Americans and Europeans prove that the popular understanding of our protein needs is seriously flawed.

Learn More : http://drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/apr/dairy.htm

Harvard Declares Dairy NOT Part of Healthy Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:57:54 PST

The Harvard School of Public Health sent a strong message to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and nutrition experts everywhere with the recent release of its “Healthy Eating Plate” food guide. The university was responding to the USDA’s new MyPlate guide for healthy eating, which replaced the outdated and misguided food pyramid.

Harvard’s nutrition experts did not pull punches, declaring that the university’s food guide was based on sound nutrition research and more importantly, not influenced by food industry lobbyists. The greatest evidence of its research focus is the absence of dairy products from the “Healthy Eating Plate” based on Harvard’s assessment that “…high intake can increase the risk of prostate cancer and possibly ovarian cancer.” The Harvard experts also referred to the high levels of saturated fat in most dairy products and suggested that collards, bok choy, fortified soy milk, and baked beans are safer choices than dairy for obtaining calcium, as are high quality supplements.

Kudos to Harvard for promoting greater consumption of vegetables and fruits, as well as healthier protein options such as fish, beans or nuts. And kudos to Harvard for ignoring the lobbyists and showing the USDA what healthy eating is all about.

Top 10 Reasons to Go Vegan in the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Vegetarian) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:23:04 PST

Many people's New Year's resolutions often include losing weight, eating better, getting healthier, and doing more to make the world a better place. You can accomplish all these goals by switching to a vegan diet, and you'll enjoy delicious, satisfying meals as well. Here are our top 10 reasons to go vegan this year:

1. Slim Down and Become Energized
Is shedding some extra pounds first on your list of goals for the new year? Vegans are, on average, up to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters. And unlike unhealthy fad diets, which leave you feeling tired (and usually result in gaining all the weight back eventually), going vegan is the healthy way to keep the excess fat off for good while feeling full of energy.

2. It's the Best Way to Help Animals
Every vegan saves more than 100 animals a year from horrible abuse. There is simply no easier way to help so many animals and prevent so much suffering than by choosing vegan foods over meat, eggs, and dairy products.

3. A Healthier, Happier You
A vegan diet is great for your health! According to the American Dietetic Association, vegans are less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or high blood pressure than meat-eaters are. Vegans get all the nutrients they need to be healthy (e.g., plant protein, fiber, minerals, etc.) without all the nasty stuff in meat that slows you down and makes you sick, such as cholesterol and saturated animal fat.

4. Vegan Food Is Delicious
So you're worried that if you go vegan, you'll have to give up hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and ice cream? You won't. As the demand for vegan food skyrockets, companies are coming out with more and more delicious meat and dairy product alternatives that taste like the real thing but are much healthier and don't hurt any animals. Plus, we have a list of some of our favorite products and thousands of tasty kitchen-tested recipes to help you get started!

5. Help Feed the World
Eating meat doesn't just hurt animals—it hurts people too. It takes tons of crops and water to raise farmed animals. In fact, it takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of animal flesh! All that plant food could be used much more efficiently if it were fed directly to people. The more people who go vegan, the more we can feed the hungry.

6. Save the Planet
Eating meat is one of the worst things that you can do for the Earth. It's wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution, and the meat industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change. Adopting a vegan diet is more important than switching to a "greener" car in the fight against climate change.