Vegetarian Eating & Ideas

Reasons not to Eat Meat - Growth Hormones

2011-06-28T15:29:00.006+01:00

In an effort to produce more animals at an increased rate for human consumption, many animals have been treated with growth hormones so that they can be raised and slaughtered at an expedited rate. At the same time this leads us to consider how these animals are raised and treated for this purpose.

The fact of the matter is that if many people saw how many of these animals were raised, they would become vegetarians on the spot. For example, egglaying chickens are often raised with six to a cage. Each chicken only receives about 67 square inches of space. These chickens are also generally treated with growth hormones as well as antibiotics to increase growth rate and decrease disease.

Free-range and certified organic chickens may receive more spacious conditions and are not fed hormones or antibiotics.

This brings us to another point. After you handle chickens it is suggested that you use bleach to clean the surfaces so that you remove bacteria. Also, chicken must be cooked at certain temperatures and for a certain period of time to ensure that you will not catch any food-borne illnesses. It does not seem wise to eat anything that has to be handled with such care.

From chickens, you can easily move into how cattle are treated. First you mustconsider dairy cattle. Dairy cattle are often given hormones that stimulate their reproductive processes so that it continues to produce milk. A cow will only produce milk after she has given birth. They often live in cramped conditions and as soon as they calve, male calves are sent to become veal while females are raised to produce milk. The hormones that the cows receive cause the cow to produce ten times more milk than they would ordinarily. At the same time, they are hooked up to electric pumps, which cause irritation to the cow’s udders.

After a certain age, we really don’t need to consume milk. At the same time, we are not designed to drink cow milk, but human milk. We don’t milk pregnant women do we? Just like our bodies were not designed to eat milk, we were not designed to drink cow milk and digest those proteins either. You can receive just as much and more calcium from green, leafy vegetables.

Many people, even by those people who eat meat regularly, have viewed the veal industry negatively. The veal industry is cruel no matter who you are and how you look at it. The calves are taken from their mothers after they are about one day old. They are then kept in pens that prevent them from moving so that their muscle tissue stays soft and tender. The calves are then fed a liquid, often containing beer, that is deficient in iron and fiber. This causes anemia in the animal and produces the pale meat. At about 20 weeks, the calf is then slaughtered.

Turkeys are also produced in an inhumane manner. The consumption of turkey has become very popular over the past few decades and it is eaten for more than just holidays. Turkeys are more aggressive birds so they are kept in a confined and dark area to discourage their aggressive behavior. They are then overfed until their legs cannot support the weight of their body. This is because Americans want the largest turkey breast they can get for their holiday celebrations. Naturally and wildly, a turkey may live up to 10 years. These turkeys are slaughtered at 2 years of age. They also suffer from foot and leg deformities, heat stress and starvation. Approximately 2.7 million turkeys die each year due to the abnormal stress and disease of this process.

Different Types of Vegetarian

2011-06-23T18:58:00.002+01:00

Whatever your reasons are for becoming a vegetarian, there are four different types of vegetarians and you can choose the type that you want to be. There are many different types of vegetarians, as some people are not able to give up all animal products completely. The four types are:

• Lacto Vegetarians: This diet consists of no animal products or eggs.They do eat dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt.

• Ovo-Vegetarians: This diet consists of no animal or dairy, but they do eat eggs.

• Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians: This diet consists of no animal products, but they do eat dairy and eggs.

• Vegan: This diet consists of plant-based foods, which means that it excludes all animal products including dairy, eggs, meat and even honey.

If you haven’t figured out what type of vegetarian you are going to be, it’s okay. It takes time and experimentation with different recipes to figure out what you can’t live without in your diet. For example, some people can’t live without milk and eggs.

Vegetarian Lactose Free Diet

2011-06-20T14:43:00.013+01:00

A Lactose intolerance is when a person cannot drink milk or eat foods that contain milk products. Usually it is not the milk itself but the the milk proteins (lactose) that cause the allergy.

It is the lactose in the milk that the body’s digestive system cannot process and causes the body to become ill when it cannot digest it. Before it was discovered that children and adults had an intolerance to lactose products many just had to suffer or do without any kind of milk or milk substitutes at all.

If you are a vegetarian and you discover that you have a lactose intolerance you will need to follow a vegetarian lactose free diet.

With the many studies and results of the studies about lactose intolerance; there are many different kinds of milk products that can replace milk and milk products without causing the reaction like cow milk did in the past.

Lactose allergies are no longer a stressful thing and lactose intolerance or allergies do not have to be painful or cause illness any longer. There are plenty of lactose free recipes and dishes for people who suffer with this condition.

You can find many vegetarian lactose free diet recipes and allergy free cookbooks right here on the internet if you search for them.

What is PETA?

2011-06-18T15:27:00.004+01:00

Many vegetarians are such not just because they realize it is healthy, but for the case of animal welfare as well. For many people, being a vegetarian is a part of a moral and ethical decision to not eat animal products. Throughout the many centuries we have domesticated animals, we have come to believe that we are superior to them. We use animals for a wide variety of uses other than food including clothing, shoes, belts and coats. They have also been used for scientific experiments, although many companies are trying to move away from this type of testing.

So what does PETA Stand for? PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. This is an organization that is devoted to changing the mindset of people when it comes to animals. They are against using animals for anything from food to clothing and they are particularly against trapping for fur.

PETA is extremely passionate for their cause, almost to an extent of being outrageous. However, their cause is noble in that they believe animals have rights and deserve that their best interests be taken into consideration. They seek to have people realize that animals can suffer and that they have an interest in leading their own lives as animals. They believe that as a society we need to re-evaluate our place on earth and where we fit in with the other animal inhabitants of the world.

You are What You Eat!

2011-06-09T15:01:00.002+01:00

The expression “you are what you eat” has been heard numerous times and it is often used in advertisements. But, if you really think about what this means, you really start to think twice about your diet.

A good example of a person being what they eat can be seen in your blood plasma. Your blood plasma is clear liquid, but after eating a fast food hamburger your blood plasma becomes cloudy with fat and cholesterol. This is what your body absorbs after eating a high-fat hamburger.

Inversely, you also become what you don’t eat. When you switch from eating a lot of meat to eating a vegetarian based diet, you lose fat. You are also less prone to various cancers and diseases. Your cholesterol can also improve.

When you are lean and eating less meat products, you find that many of your health and fitness problems go away. The risk of Type II diabetes is also reduced. Blood pressure falls into normal ranges as well. When you’re healthier, you also do not have to take fewer medications.

If you have a family history of high cholesterol or blood pressure, then you are particularly dependent on what you eat and it is easier for you to become what you eat. Moving towards a vegetarian diet can reduce the incidence if numerous diseases. Vegetarians are also statistically healthier.

When Did Humans Start Eating Meat?

2011-06-05T15:15:00.005+01:00

Necessity is the mother of invention and prehistoric men who lived in frozen areas ate anything that they could to survive. The prehistoric man had to eat meat in order to survive. This would be the first time that they had ever eaten meat.

This changed the way people would eat and health forever.

The first meat that was eaten would have been cooked by fire that was natural started by natural forest fires. Without fire, they could have possibly eaten raw meat as well.

The digestive system most likely rebelled to eating the raw meat, but as they became adjusted meat became a part of their regular diets.

You may have heard of people who have lived vegetarian lives for a long period of time and then became violently ill afterwards. This is similar to what prehistoric men would have gone through. Biologists will tell you that we are not really designed to digest meat, but that we have adapted to it over time.

Diabetic Vegetarian Recipes

2011-06-02T14:36:00.011+01:00

If you are a diabetic and a vegetarian you will need to think extra carefully about your diet and plan it well to that you have an enjoyable and healthy diet. With careful thought diabetic vegetarian recipes needn't be boring.

Diabetic recipes are for people who cannot eat sugar and a-lot of foods with natural sugar in them. Some diabetics cannot even eat starchy foods that turn into sugars. Eating sugary foods will cause the diabetic to become very ill.

Diabetic vegetarian recipes are, made with all the ingredients except meat, fish, sugar and sugary foods. The recipes use sugar substitutes in the place of real sugar. However, some diabetic recipes call for other kinds of substitutes as well.

Vegetarian Diabetic recipes help vegetarian diabetics enjoy more foods and much more variety. You can even find recipes are for things like, fudge, cake and ice creams, there are even vegetarian diabetic recipes for pecan pies that no one can tell are sugar free.

Some main dishes and beverages even call for or use sugar in them. Vegetarian Diabetic recipes can provide you with great tasting drinks and suggest sugar substitutes for the main dishes too. Almost anything can be, made sugar free to taste great if you have the right recipes.

Allergy Free Vegetarian Recipes

2011-05-31T14:40:00.008+01:00

Allergy free vegetarian recipes are more readily available now than they were in the past. The reason is that there was not a lot of research into food allergies and intolerance of certain foods. However, it has been, discovered that many people in the world do in fact suffer with food allergies daily.

Allergy free vegetarian recipes make it possible for vegetarian people with allergies to certain foods to eat great tasting meals and dishes. They can eat great healthy foods without having a reaction or becoming ill as in the past.

This makes a big difference to a-lot of people because people love to eat great tasting foods of all kinds. Vegetarian allergy free recipes are the same as regular recipes except for the fact that the allergy free foods use different ingredients. If a recipe calls for cows’ milk and you are allergic to the cows’ milk then the allergy free recipe will use a different ingredient.

This will not alter the taste of the dish and the dish will still have the same great texture and appeal that it did if it were, made with the cows’ milk in it. Every person is different even though some people are allergic to the same things like milk, eggs, and gluten. Each person may have a different intolerance to the ingredient.

One person may feel a little pain or pressure after eating a food that contains cows’ milk and another person may have a full-blown allergic reaction to the milk. This type reaction could be vomiting, or breathing problems.

If you are a vegetarian with allergies your life needn't be boring as there are plenty allergy free vegetarian recipes available.

Should I Stop Eating Fish?

2011-05-28T15:34:00.005+01:00

Some vegetarians are actually pescatarians, which means that although they do not eat meat, they still eat fish. If you are a pescatarian you may be wondering "Should I stop eating Fish"? If you did this you would be a true vegetarian.

Seafood and shellfish can be a part of a healthy diet as Fish contain a lot of
nutrients that we don’t get from other meats.

They contain a high-quality protein, essential nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and it is low in saturated fat.

However, eating fish has its disadvantages as well. Fish often contain mercury. These levels are not usually bad enough to hurt us, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women, especially pregnant women, and young children to avoid certain types of fish and shellfish.

This is because some fish have high levels of mercury that are not safe for these
people to eat. Eliminating fish from your diet is usually the last step in going
towards a complete vegetarian diet.

What did our Ancestors Eat?

2011-05-25T15:03:00.004+01:00

Do you ever wonder what our ancestors ate and how far we have diverted in our eating habits? Originally, our ancestors were hunter-gatherers and were not omnivores. They did not eat animals. When you look at predators and carnivorous animals you can see that they have teeth designed to rip and tear.

Their teeth are not designed for chewing. Animals that are designed for chewing like herbivores have flat teeth that are designed to breakdown food. Humans evolved from creatures that were vegetarian. The digestive systems were not designed for eating and digesting meat.

Eating meat is a fairly recent development in human history. It is believed that humans began to eat meat because they couldn’t find the natural foods they were used to eating. They might have assumed that eating meat would help to sustain their meat.

Initially, we were similar to creatures that evolved from animals like herbivore apes. These apes looked similar to man and walked upright with their arms and hands. They naturally foraged for food and ate roots, berries, fruits and nuts.

They also lived moment to moment constantly foraging for food. Hunting requires thought and eating meat required fire. Until fire was discovered, man primarily ate vegetables and fruits. Vegetarian eating is a natural form of eating and much healthier.

Gluten Free Vegetarian Diet

2011-05-23T14:34:00.001+01:00

In this post we'll talk about a gluten free vegetarian diet.

Around 1% of the population have celiac (coeliac) disease, which is an auto immune disease where the body attacks itself whenever gluten is ingested. In addition to people with celiac disease, there are also many people who have a gluten intolerance. This simply means that the person’s body or digestive system cannot tolerate the product or ingredient called gluten in foods.

Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley and rye. It is present in many products including beer, soups, sauces, stock cubes, cakes, biscuits, candy and many more.

Now if your body or digestive track has difficulty breaking down the substance gluten you will develop an intolerance to the ingredient. Therefore, when you eat or consume gluten you will most likely has discomfort or pain. You may even be quite uncomfortable or become ill. The reason is that your body has to work harder to try to rid itself of what ever is making the ill feeling or the discomfort.

If you discover that you have celiac disease or you are gluten intolerant, the only solution is a life long gluten free diet. If you are a vegan or a vegetarian this is going to mean that you are on a vegan or vegetarian gluten free diet, which is going to be much more restrictive than you are used to.

The good news is, you should start to see your symptoms ease quite quickly after starting the gluten free diet and you still eat lots of healthy foods such as:

- all fruits
- all vegetables
- all pure herbs
- all spices
- corn, maize, rice and other gluten free grains

You will find it hard to eat out or to buy convenience foods on a vegetarian gluten free diet, but you can still make delicious food at home and you will be much healther as a result.

Can a Vegetarian Diet Help You to Avoid Cancer?

2011-01-06T14:55:00.005Z

Vegetarianism has also been show to reduce the incidence of certain types of cancer. These diets are low in saturated fat, high in fiber and contain phytochemicals, which protect from cancer. Several large studies in both England and Germany have shown that vegetarians, when compared to meat eaters, have about a 40% less chance of developing cancer as compared to meat-eaters. Seventh-Day Adventists are largely lacto-ovo vegetarians, have been known to have a reduced cancer risk because they tend to avoid meat.

In China, it has been found that they have similar reduced breast cancer rates due to the amount of vegetables that they eat. In contrast, Japanese women tend to eat more meat and are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer.

Meat and dairy consumption has been linked to various other cancer including:

• Colon cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Ovarian cancer

In studies done by Harvard on several thousand women, it has been found that those who regularly consume meat increase their chances of colon cancer by 300%. These high fat diets that many people consume also cause the body to produce excess estrogen. This increase has been linked to an increase chance for breast cancer. They have also found that breast cancer rates are one third higher in premenopausal women who eat mostly meat diets.

Cambridge University has also linked meat diets with high levels of saturated fat to breast cancer. They have linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancers as the process of breaking down lactose may damage the ovaries. In men, prostate enlargement has been linked to meat consumption and the risk triples.

Other studies have linked an increase in white blood cell production to vegetarianism as well. These cells are required in fending off bacteria, infection and disease. Thus, the immune system is stronger when a vegetarian diet is consumed.

Can a Vegetarian Diet Prevent heart Disease?

2011-01-06T14:51:00.008Z

Can a Vegetarian Diet Prevent heart Disease?

High levels of blood fats are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and researchers have found that men who eat meat six or more times per week double their chances of developing heart disease.

Also, Middle-aged men are more likely to suffer from fatal heart attacks. Women are protected by their hormones for the majority of their life, but older women are prone to develop heart disease later in life. Older women who are vegetarian have been shown to have a lower risk of heart disease.

In 1982, British researchers did a study on more than 10,000 vegetarians and meat eaters. They found that the more meat that was consumed, the greater the risk of heart attack. They also found that by eliminating meat from your diet, you are reducing your consumption of fats and cholesterol that are damaging to the heart. At the same time, however you must be careful not to compensate for not eating meat by consuming too much milk and eggs, as this can negate the benefits.

To gain all of the benefits of vegetarianism and help to prevent heart disease, your intake of cream cheese, ice cream, hard cheese and eggs should be moderate. The introduction of more veggies, fruits and raw foods will enhance your benefits.

How to Lose Weight on a Vegetarian Diet

2010-11-16T17:07:00.000Z

Are you wondering how to lose weight on a vegetarian diet? If so, here are a few easy ways to do this:

1) Reduce the amount of oil you use. Olive oil is very healthy, but it is also high in calories. You can save a lot of calories by cutting down on the amount of oil you use, or by purchasing a spray oil

2) Always check the labels. Foods can be deceiving, so if you are regularly buying pre-prepared foods always check the fat and calorie content on the label. Just because it is vegetarian, it doesn't necessarily mean it is healthy!

3) Up your intake of fresh vegetables. Most vegetables are very low in calories and they are also highly nutritious and often filling, By increasing your intake of vegetables you will reduce your desire to snack on other foods in between meals.

4) Eat a good breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and by eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast you will avoid these mid morning hunger pangs. Include some wholegrains and protein in your breakfast to make it as satisfying as possible.

5) Search for low calorie recipes online or in cook books: A lot of low calorie vegetarian dishes can be found online and in vegetarian cookery books. Alternatively you can just create low calorie vegetarian recipes by altering regular recipes, using healthy replacements like diet cheeses or replacing full fat cream with plain yogurt.

If you are creative, you will be amazed to discover that you can find plenty healthy vegetarian recipes and able utilize these recipes into your diet and achieve your weight loss targets. All you need to do is learn how you can make replacements that will turn high calorie foods into light foods.

Embrace low calorie vegan recipes into your daily diet plan and you will find that you can consume tasty foods while sustaining your vegetarian standard of living.

A Vegetarian Diet to Lose Weight?

2010-11-10T12:40:00.000Z

Are you thinking about going on a vegetarian diet to lose weight?

One of the myths about vegetarianism is that it automatically makes you healthier and slimmer but it’s not that easy; to stop eating meat and lose weight it is necessary to follow a vegetarian weight loss diet not just a vegetarian diet. This might seem strange if you are used to thinking of vegetarians as slim health fanatics but you still have to watch your calories like any meat eater does. Vegetarian fast food can be as calorie heavy as a burger bar; and if you ever checked out the calories listed on the side of a packet of peanuts you’ll know that it’s not just meat which will make you fat.

Whenever I find it difficult persuading someone of the possibly high calorie content of a vegetarian menu I find one fact makes my point better than any other. Those huge Japanese Sumo wrestlers don’t put on weight eating burgers, ice cream and chocolate all day; they eat a traditional vegetable stew called Chanko-Nabe. Yes, it is possible to be huge and vegetarian so don’t think that dropping meat is the easy way to drop your pounds.

The sad truth is that if you want to try a vegetarian diet to lose weight you have to do the usual things that all sensible fat reduction food plans require: a planned, low calorie diet set out over a sensible time period with regular exercise thrown in. All diets do the same basic thing; they reduce your calorie intake and generally increase your dietary fibre while providing enough protein to keep your body from trying to make its own.

But the good news is that a vegetarians do have a head start, since a proper veggie meal plan will include lots of fibre, lots of protein and a lot less fat than a meat eater’s – if it’s done properly. Dropping meat from your diet doesn’t automatically mean dropping inches from your waistline, especially if you replace it with fatty veggie food; so it’s necessary to consider a properly laid out and planned vegetarian weight loss diet including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and some good brisk walks.

Vegetarian Raw food delivery services

2010-11-03T19:30:00.000Z

Vegetarian Raw food delivery services are becoming a reality. It is now possible to order a meal from a variety of restaurants in the United States that cater to those who prefer to eat uncooked foods. These restaurants will deliver, within whatever radius they have chosen, the foods that so many more people are craving today. The eating of raw or uncooked foods has become more popular than many people had anticipated. This seems to be because so many more people than it was expected are seeing the benefits to eating these foods. They are enjoying what they feel is a healthier lifestyle.

Others will say that it is not necessary to cut out meat, diary, eggs and fish to be healthier. But those who are into the raw food idea will disagree. Those people will never buy another tin of food; they will never consume any more food dyes, preservatives or those food enhancers that are used to mask questionable tastes. Everything they eat is one hundred percent natural.

The foods that they prefer can be bought from stores, some of which are online, that will deliver them like the grocery stores used to decades ago. Simply tell them what you want over the phone, or fill in the order form from their online store, and the next day your organically grown foods will arrive.

More and more restaurants, often catering to the vegetarian and vegan populations, are opening all the time that serve only raw foods. This term means foods that are uncooked and fall into the fruit and vegetable categories. There are those who think this must be a boring way to eat yet they do not understand the unlimited possibilities of what kind of meals can be made. That is why these stores are becoming so much more popular and why many of them have added the ability to deliver as one of their services.

Vegetarian raw food delivery service has become a reality for those who like to eat healthier whether they are from a high quality organic food store or a restaurant.

High Protein Low Carb Diet for Vegetarians?

2010-10-27T18:05:00.000+01:00

Is it really possible for a vegetarian to follow a high protein low carb diet?

Since the underlying principle of the Atkins diet is one of high protein low carb intake it would appear to be difficult to argue in favour of a vegetarian Atkins diet. A veggie diet is typically lower in protein and higher in carbs than a meat eating diet and so a strict vegetarian or vegan may have difficulty finding foods with the appropriate content. However, it’s not an impossible task and if you are one of those veggies who allows themselves to eat seafood, fish, eggs or dairy products then you may have little difficulties atall.

The secret to a high protein low carb vegetarian diet is to discover as many high protein foods as possible and make them a part of your diet. As a non-meat eater that means eating a lot of seeds and nuts, which are all high in protein, and if you do eat diary produce and fish then these are excellent sources of protein too. Other high protein low carb options are meat and dairy substitutes such as soy products, mycoprotein, textured vegetable protein (TVP) , tofu and tempeh.

The highest non-meat protein providers are nuts and seeds; seeds especially. Although even higher levels of protein can be found in soy which is what makes it such an excellent meat substitute.

The difference between the protein provided by meat and that provided by vegetarian foods is that meat and animal proteins contain complete essential amino acids in the exact combination required by the human body; whereas proteins obtained in a general vegetarian diet do not. This means that in order that a veggie gets the proper and adequate protein intake their body requires, they must combine different food types in order that they get the complete proteins they need. Typically, this means combining beans with grains.

Apart from the protein element of the Atkins diet there should be no real problem for a vegetarian to follow it. The list of allowed foods contains most vegetables although it excludes potatoes, peas and corn since they are high in carbs. The fats and oils allowed by the diet are also of no particular problem. So, even a non-meat eater can follow a low carb high protein vegetarian atkins diet.

Vegetarian Definition

2010-10-06T01:28:00.000+01:00

A vegetarian diet can mean different things to different people. Many people who eat such a diet may not call themselves, or consider themselves to be, a vegetarian. Similarly, Someone who calls themselves a vegetarian may not be considered to be one by others who give themselves the same label. It really isn’t as complex as it might sound at first but certain ethical considerations are often part of a person’s decision to become a ‘veggie’ and so what is on the menu may be more than just a matter of meat versus veg.

Strictly speaking, the vegetarian definition is someone who does not eat meat. But to be absolutely clear, that means not eating anything that might be called an animal in the strictest sense. It’s easy to point at cows and pigs and say ‘I’m not eating those’ but many people stop there and somehow allow themselves to eat poultry. But to be clear: poultry is meat. Other people might not eat beef, pork, lamb and chicken and turkey but allow themselves fish. Again, strictly speaking, fish is meat. Further, some might rule out all the above yet indulge in seafood such as oysters or prawns. This is a grey area to some since to some these are not animals; but, strictly speaking, they are. A great many will also rule out dairy and milk products, and eggs.

So, vegetarian definition really means not eating meat of any kind. But some take this a step further; and this is where the ethical aspect comes in. Essentially, there are three kinds of non-meat eater:

there are those who don’t eat meat for health reasons
those who are squeamish or don’t like the taste or have some other aversion, and then #
there are those who don’t agree with the killing or exploitation of animals;

This last group may well treat their diet as a part of a lifestyle which also includes the avoidance of leather products, dairy produce, and even wool.
The reasons for this choice of diet are almost as varied as the people that choose it. But, whatever a person’s reasons, the basic outcome is this: a healthy, high fibre diet with ample vitamins and minerals and low fat. Followed sensibly, a vegetarian diet can make you feel healthier, fitter and you can look a cow in the eye without feeling guilty.

Benefits of a Vegan Raw Food Diet

2010-09-23T21:46:00.000+01:00

Many people will use a raw food detox plan when they have been feeling sluggish. But what is it that people hope to accomplish by going on a raw food diet?

Here are some of the reasons why a vegan raw food diet from time to time is thought to be worthwhile.

The concept behind cutting off all processed foods and going on with raw foods is that there are so many additives in everything these days, from the frozen and canned vegetables to the meats and dairy products we consume. Over time, the residue of these additives can increase the chances of developing some major health problems, many of which have to be fought with synthetic drugs or even more aggressive means.

Choosing to engage in raw food diet for a period of time helps to eliminate the presence of those added preservatives and other components and allows the individual to enjoy the benefits of receiving the pure goodness of the fruits and vegetables consumed.

For people who believe in a balance between body and mind, they may decide to engage in a detox period of a few days or perhaps a week so that they accomplish two things. First, they enter into a period where they are not adding any synthetic compounds to their bodies, which will provide the body with better chances of pushing the substances through the system. Second, the use of the natural fruits and vegetables act as a cleanser that not only nourished the bodies with uninhibited vitamins and nutrients, but also increases the body's ability to throw off the illness producing additives.

There are a number of persons who believe that performing this ritual on a monthly basis helps to offset the abuses of modern living that have created the alarming amount of obesity and heart disease we see today. Also, many report a better mental outlook after a few days on the program. If you've never thought of raw foods as a way to detox your system, it may be worth a try. Vegan raw food diet plans are available for free on the Internet.

Click here to find some great vegan raw food recipes to make your diet more interesting!

Vegetarian Diet Meal Plan

2010-09-19T11:44:00.002+01:00

There is more to a vegetarian diet meal plan than just leaving out meat and animal products. If you’re not careful, you can end up consuming just as many calories on a veggie menu as you can on a meat eating diet. Properly planned, a veggie diet can be high in healthy carbohydrates, fibre and antioxidants and low in the less wholesome saturated fats and cholesterol typical of many meat eating diets; and those carbs, fibres and antioxidants will assist in good health and weight reduction. But the key word here is ‘planned’, any proper diet which is going to produce the desired results of weight loss and good health has to be planned and vegetarianism is no different.

One of the first things people often mention, when considering a vegetarian diet meal plan, is: where will the protein come from? It is a mistake to think that meat is the only good source of protein, and some might even argue that meat is not even the best source of protein. A vegetarian meal plan can be as high in protein as any that includes meat, and will be free of the saturated fats and cholesterol that accompanies most meat protein.

There are many sources of non-meat protein: nuts, beans and pulses, seeds, soya and tofu are top of the list, and are as good a source as any animal product, while protein can be found in many other sources too. In fact, there is nothing in meat which cannot also be found in a non-meat food; the vitamins and minerals we get from beef or chicken can also be found in nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables and there are far less concerns in preparation and storage and you don’t have to splash out to buy the best cut each time, either.

The main thing to consider in any structured vegetarian diet meal plan is that all the necessary vitamins, mineral and nutrients are accounted for and that the body has enough energy to work with. Eating as a veggie is no different but the unexpected outcome may well be that after a few months of following a vegetarian diet plan you find that, with your body free of the meat fats and your palette cleaned and cleared from eating plenty of fresh produce, you no longer wish to return to eating meat.

Click here to learn more about creating a healthy vegetarian diet plan.

Vegetarian Diet Benefits

2010-09-14T18:20:00.002+01:00

It is a common assumption that vegetarians are healthier than meat eaters and that is the main vegetarian diet benefits.

Of course it is possible to be a vegetarian and be unhealthy but it seems that statistics do support the fact that in general vegetarians tend to be more healthy.

A vegetarian diet, if planned properly, is rich in dietary fibre, carbohydrates, omega 6 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, carotenoids, magnesium and potassium and contains far lower levels of cholesterol and saturated fats and none of the animal protein of a meat eater’s diet.

Despite the fact that Japanese Sumo wrestlers get fat on vegetarian stew, they are the exception and the vast majority of vegetarians don’t.

Here are just a few vegetarian diet benefits:

Good for your Waistline: The high level of dietary fibre in a normal veggie’s menu is what reduces the overall number of calories absorbed into the body and, therefore, makes a vegetarian diet a more slimmer one.

Good for your Heart: The high fibre, high antioxident and low saturated fat which is typical of a non-meat diet is also conducive to low blood pressure and a healthy heart: further health benefits from ceasing to eat meat.

Lower Risk of Cancer: The lower general fat and protein intake of a veggie tends to cause a lower production of carcinogens in the body and, therefore, produces a lower risk of cancer. The higher presence of dietary fibre is also good for your general health and well-being, promoting good digestion and less change of digestive disorders.

Kinder to Animals: Aside from the dietary elements of vegetarianism there are additional benefits which may be overlooked. For those concerned about the well-being of animals there is some reassurance in refusing to eat meat.

Greater Awareness of the Environment and Health: The general awareness which comes with making such a big change to your diet can affect other areas of your life and often a result is a greater awareness of environmental and health issues, as well as a better understanding of your own body and health. It may be that, statistically, a more healthy body is one of the main vegetarian diet benefits, but a better awareness of health and your environment may, in the longer term, be the greater benefit of a vegetarian diet.

Diabetes Vegetarian Diet

2010-09-01T17:33:00.002+01:00

Is there such a thing as a Diabetes Vegetarian Diet? While being, or becoming, a vegetarian cannot, by itself, be considered either a prevention or cure for diabetes a vegetarian diet does encompass many of the eating habits which are recommended in order to combat the onset or reduce the effects of this disease. The majority of adults who develop Diabetes are overweight and if they were to undertake a high fibre and low fat plant or vegetable based diet and lose weight they could reduce the effects of the disease.

There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes used to be known as ‘Juvenile Diabetes’ and typically requires insulin treatment; it’s an autoimmune disease whereby the body’s immune system attacks insulin producing cells in the pancreas.

Type 2 Diabetes, also known as Adult Diabetes, doesn’t effect the pancreas in the same way since it still creates insulin but, instead, the body becomes resistant to the insulin. It is Type 2 Diabetes which can be favourably affected by adopting a vegetarian eating plan.

Vegetarianism along with regular exercise can have a positive affect upon Diabetes. A diet which includes large quantities of fruits and vegetables, beans and pulses, is a diet which is high in dietary fiber and phytochemicals; and low in calorie intake and cholesterol. Apart from the obvious advantages of having such a healthy diet, the main advantage of such a diet is in its ability to help lose weight and, therefore, reduce the effect that obesity has on the cause and development of diabetes.

Another aspect of a meat eating diet which may cause and assist in the development of Diabetic complications is the higher level of protein intake. Too much protein in the body can aggravate the symptoms of the disease especially in the way it effects the blood vessels which then cause problems with the eyes and kidneys. A diet high in dietary fiber and carbohydrate yet low in protein, such as that of a vegetarian, can help to prevent many of these symptoms. Yet the typical meat eating diet which is high in protein and low in carbs will tend to aggravate them.

So, apart from the more usual health benefits of a vegetarian diet, the Diabetic can find additional advantages in adopting such a regime; an anti diabetes vegetarian diet could not only bring good health but may also prevent bad.

Low Carb Vegetarian Diet

2010-08-11T22:15:00.002+01:00

A lot of people tend to relate low carb diets with meat; but it is supremely possible, and even may be preferable, to do a low carb vegetarian diet. The reason for thinking low carb means meat is because of the emphasis such an eating regime puts on protein and, as we all know, meat contains protein – well, so does soya, tofu, quorn, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP), and a range of other meat substitutes as well as good old dairy and eggs. In fact, the meat substitutes are an excellent source of protein and can take the place of meat in any dish with the added advantage that they are a lot easier to store and prepare and are often cheaper too.

The more traditional meat substitutes, also called ‘meat analogues’, were originally made from wheat gluten or grains such as rice; or tofu. But the more recent versions include such things as textured vegetable protein made from soy, and the ever popular quorn which is made from mycoprotein; which is mushrooms. The varieties are seemingly endless and the forms which each takes are as varied as the forms that meat takes. Quorn steaks are not uncommon, nor are soya mince; and fried tofu can take on a taste and texture which can exceed anything but the most expensive cut of meat.

For those wishing to follow a low carb vegetarian diet but would prefer to avoid consuming too much dairy products there are vegetarian alternatives to this too. The most common form of vegetarian dairy substitute is soy, and gone are the days of tasteless insipid soya milk; nowadays many people drink soya milk in preference to the real thing. And if that doesn’t take your fancy there is rice milk, or almond or cashew based cream alternatives and for every variation there is a further variety of flavourings which can give you a wide range of tastes for whatever your mood at the time.

So when you next think about lowering your carbohydrate intake you don’t necessarily have to think in terms of meat and dairy products. There is a ever increasing range of substitutes and alternatives which make dieting a far more interesting choice than it ever has been before. And for those of you who do wish to refrain from eating meat it’s never been easier to follow a low carb vegetarian diet.

Vegetarian South Beach Diet

2010-07-10T13:55:00.003+01:00

If you have heard of the South Beach Diet you may be wondering if there is a Vegetarian South Beach Diet.

The South Beach Diet was originally created by a cardiologist named Dr Arthur Agatston to help his heart patients to lose weight. Like many other diets, it was created with meat eaters in mind although the doctor does consider it possible to follow a vegetarian south beach diet and many veggies do, indeed, follow it. What distinguishes the south beach diet most of all is that it is designed to be followed in three ‘phases’ and focuses on consuming ‘good fats’ and ‘good carbs’ as opposed to ‘bad fats’ and ‘bad carbs’. And example of bad fats are saturated fats and trans fats which the doctor believed to be responsible for cardiovascular diease.

What are meant by ‘good carbs’ are carbohydrates which are high in fibre or have a lot of ‘good fats’ in them with a low glycemic index, which means they are slowly digested into the body. ‘Good fats’ are considered to be polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats and fats with omega 3 fatty acids.

The first phase of the diet is the most restrictive, and probably the most difficult for if you plan on following a vegetarian south beach diet as it consists of a two week period in which the dieter must cut out all sugars and sweets, fruit, pasta, rice, bread, baked foods, cereals, grains and potatoes. The idea of this is to encourage the body to lose its insulin resistance by not eating these high glycemic carbs and so it should start to use excess body fat – losing from 8 to 13 pounds.

The second phase starts after two weeks. Carbs, whole grains and fruit are slowly reintroduced to the diet emphasising foods with a low glycemic index. When the dieter’s desired weight is attained the third phase of the diet begins which includes three servings of whole grains and three of fruit per day.

Apart from the first phase restrictions, the diet can easily suit a non-meat eating diet and many vegetarians have already turned to it.

The third phase of the diet is, in theory, a life-long phase and once your desired weight has been attained through the preparations of phase one and two you are merely required to maintain that weight. If at any time your weight begins to increase again you return to phase one.

Treating this diet as a vegetarian south beach diet means treating your vegetarian lifestyle as phase three.

Easy Vegetarian Soup

2010-06-19T13:57:00.003+01:00

Are you looking for some easy vegetarian soup recipes? If so, here are two very tasty and simple 100% vegetarian recipes for you to try.

2 Vegetarian Soup Ideas
By Christine Szalay Kudra

Vegetarian soup can be just as flavorful as a meat or fish soup but many people are unaware of this and assume that vegetable soup is supposed to taste plain and boring. There also seems to be a popular consensus that all vegetarian soups are for dieters and this is also untrue. Actually, there are plenty of vegetarian soup ideas that you can use to make the most delicious soup recipes.

You can make creamy vegetable soups or add homemade croutons or plenty of cheese. It is a myth that meatless and fishless soups have to be healthy and you can use cream, cheese, nuts or croutons to add flavor, crunch, or creaminess.

If you want to follow a meat or fish recipe but omit the meat or fish, you can substitute eggs, tofu, or a grain like barley or rice, depending on the soup recipe. It is probably easier to follow a few vegetarian soup recipes to begin with and then you can start to create your own. Use plenty of delicious herbs and spices to give maximum taste to the soup.

Vegetarian French Onion Soup

If you are looking for a rich, satisfying vegetarian soup, what about making a vegetarian version of French onion soup? Classic French onion soup is made with beef broth but you can use vegetable broth instead, for a tasty soup.

The flavor of the soup will not be exactly the same as in the classic French onion soup recipe but if you love onions and you want to make a vegetarian onion soup, this is a good way of doing it. You can also substitute vegetarian cheese for the Gruyere cheese, as a tasty topping for this warming dish.

Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

Hot and sour soup is great as an appetizer or even as a meal. In Taiwan and China, this would be enjoyed for breakfast but you will probably prefer it for lunch or dinner. This is a wonderful way to make a full-flavored vegetarian soup. This is a vegan recipe as well as a vegetarian one. If you like, you can add some seitan or fried tofu.

What you will need:

1 small can water chestnuts
6 cups vegetable broth
2 cups sliced mushrooms (try shiitake or wood ear mushrooms)
2 tablespoons chili oil
1/2 cup sliced green onions
2 tablespoons vinegar
3 minced cloves garlic
1 small can bamboo shoots
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce

How to make it:

Bring the vegetable broth to a simmer and add the water chestnuts, mushrooms, vinegar, garlic, bamboo shoots, black pepper, soy sauce, and hot sauce. Simmer the soup for half an hour, then add the green onions and simmer it for five more minutes. Stir in the chili oil and add extra vinegar, soy sauce, or hot sauce to taste.

Did you know that there are many different versions of the classic French onion soup recipe? If you fancy making this tasty dish, you just need a few key ingredients and you can make a mouthwatering and perfectly flavored French onion soup recipe just like the professional chefs do.

FrenchOnionSoups.com - Simple, Elegant, Perfection; Soup the Way it Was Meant to Be!

What are the Benefits of Being a Vegetarian?

2010-06-10T18:46:00.003+01:00

Becoming a vegetarian can be hard. Meat is such a large part of our everyday diet that it may seem like a bad idea to be a vegetarian. You may be wondering what are the benefits of being a vegetarian. I've listed seven of them below:

1. More energy - Meals that consist of vegetables and fruits stabilize your blood sugar which will help you have more energy. The vegetables and fruits will give you a more consistent energy level, so you will not have that fatigue feeling that people normally get after meals.

2. Weight loss - Quitting meat and dairy products will help you with weight loss. By simply becoming a vegetarian and changing nothing else you will lose a little weight and eventually get back to your natural weight.

3. Save money - Vegetarians spend far less money on meals than non-vegetarians. Families that become vegetarians save upwards of $10-$15 per day.

4. Helping the environment - If you are environmentally conscience than becoming a vegetarian is a good thing. One pig farm in Utah raises 2.5 million pigs each year, creating more waste than the entire city of Los Angeles. By cutting meat from your diet you can help cut down on pollution.

5. Health - Vitamins are crucial for your health and adding more fruits and vegetables means more vitamins. Also, by removing meats you are adding less toxins and hormones to your body that are not wanted. Your immune system will also improve.

6. Bone longevity - An average woman at the age of 65 suffers 35% bone loss. A vegetarian woman at 65 suffers only 18% bone loss. The reason for this is non-vegetarians get 150% more protein than needed each day.

7. Avoid heart disease - Diets full of saturated fats and cholesterol from meats and dairy products have been connected to cardiovascular disease. The average meat-based diet has a 50% change of dying from heart disease. If that person cuts out meat the chance of dying from a heart disease decreases by 15%, and falls to 4% if they also cut out dairy products.

Although it is often hard to become a vegetarian as most of our diet is meat. However, the advantages of becoming a vegetarian are many and it is something every American should consider. Now that you know the answer to the question what are the benefits of being a vegetarian, the only thing left for you to decide is if you want to become one or not!

The Best Sources of Vegetarian Protein

2010-04-02T15:23:00.001+01:00

By Kardena Pauza
www.EasyVeggieMealPlans.com

Most foods have some combination of protein, carbohydrates and fat – even vegetables contain all three macronutrients! So here’s a list of some whole foods and their protein, carbohydrate, and fat content.

The reason I am showing you the three macronutrients is because people tend to eat too much of the wrong foods and they are gaining weight or stuck at a plateau and not losing weight. Typically a person is more likely to over eat on starchy carbohydrates or fat.

Some foods may contain more fat than protein, adding an excessive amount of calories in such a tiny portion. You want to be aware of these foods so you make sure and eat the right portion so you can easily lose weight.

Food Type : Protein / Carbohydrates / Fats (in grams)

· Tofu 4 oz.: 8 / 4 / 4

· Black Beans ½ cup: 7.5 / 20 / 5

· Peanut Butter 1 Tb: 4 / 3.5 / 8

· Almond Butter 1 Tb: 2 / 3 / 9

· Cashew Nuts ¼ cup: 5 / 9 / 12

· Seitan 3 oz.: 20 / 8 / 2

· Tempeh 4 oz.: 16 / 14 / 6

· Sunflower seeds raw ¼ cup: 6 / 6 / 14

· Soybeans ½ cup: 16 / 14 / 8

One food I love is almond butter and I could eat almond butter everyday, twice a day.

The problem is it’s loaded with fat which means it’s very calorie dense. Every gram of fat equals 9 calories of energy where as protein and carbs have 4 calories per gram. You have to expend more energy to burn off 1 gram of fat than 1 gram of protein or carbs.

Fat is not particularly bad, it’s the quantity that’s the issue.

Our body’s need fat for many functions so please do not cut them out completely. On average for a female, you want to take in between 7-12 gr. of protein per sitting depending on your calories for the day and if you are eating it for a snack or as part of your main meal.

An extra scoop of nut butter here and there can add up to hundreds of excess calories that can sabotage your weight loss progress. It is easy to over eat on nut butters so measure out a serving and put the rest away so double dipping doesn’t happen.

What’s the Deal with Complementary Protein?

Protein is made up of amino acids, often described as its “building blocks”. We actually have a biological requirement for amino acids, not for protein.

Humans cannot make eight of the twenty common amino acids, so these amino acids are considered to be essential. In other words, we must get these amino acids from our food. We need all eight of these amino acids for our body to make certain proteins in the body.

Only eggs, milk, meat, and fish contain all of the essential amino acids.

Plant proteins on the other hand are usually low in one or two of the essential amino acids. For example, grains are lower in lysine (an essential amino acid) and higher in other amino acids. Legumes are lower in methionine (another essential amino acid) and high in other amino acids.

As a result, many diet experts insist that vegetarians consume “complementary foods” at

a meal – meaning that you eat two foods that combine to give you all the essential amino acids – such as beans and rice.

But that’s “old school” thinking.

Recent studies have shown that this is not the case at all. Our bodies have what’s called an amino acid pool where it cycles amino acids in the blood stream and stores them until it can use the amino acids for other purposes in the body or it’s used for energy.

Your cells are constantly breaking down and synthesizing new proteins. Each day more amino acids are recycled in your body than are supplied in our diet. If you eat a grain source of protein in one meal and a protein source from beans the next meal, then that will be just as good as eating them together at the same meal.

As long as you have a variety of proteins throughout the day, the body will hold on to the amino acids that have not been used and place them in the amino acid pool to be used later.

Our bodies are AMAZING and RESOURCEFUL.

As long as you eat a variety of grains, vegetables, and nuts everyday the body will have the resources it needs to build healthy protein.

What about Protein Powders?

Protein powders have found their way into every grocery store and health food store.

These powders can be helpful in supplementing protein when you are busy or if you are looking for an alternative to beans or nut meal.

There are a variety of protein powder options on the market now. Traditionally you would find only egg protein, whey, and soy. With newer technology and knowledge about other healthy sources of protein a new generation of protein powders has arrived.

Now you can find pea protein, hemp, rice, and artichoke protein. These next generation protein powders are great for vegans since whey and eggs are dairy-derived the selection was limiting.

Remember that protein powder is a supplement and NOT a meal replacement. These powders supply protein but you will need to eat other foods with your meal to ensure you are power packed with nutrients.

Whole natural foods are your premium source of nutrients and digestible protein so lean on this source mainly and secondly use protein powders.

A healthy and safe portion per day is 1-2 servings. A protein smoothie with berries for breakfast and possibly a snack size portion later in the day will boost your protein intake and still give you plenty of opportunities to incorporate whole foods. A serving size of protein powder for a female is approximately 15 grams and approximately 20 grams for men and half this amount for snacks.

So, there are just a few tips to ensure you get enough protein into your daily diet.

Learn more about this in the Easy Veggie Meal Planner.

Benefits of Eating Vegetarian

2008-12-05T01:21:00.002Z

What are the benefits of eating vegetarian?

There are numerous benefits and you can read just some of them below:

1. Health Benefits
Numerous studies have shown that those who follow a vegetarian diet have a reduced risk of certain health problems. In particular a vegetarian diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes and strokes. The consumption of many vegetarian foods such as grains, pulses, fruit and vegetables have health promoting properties such as helping to reduce the risk of cancer. On the other hand consumption of meat, especially red meat can increase the risk of certain diseases such as coronary heart diseases. (1)

2. Easier to Digest
Eating meat is more difficult for the body to digest. Meat stays in the stomach for longer and is more time consuming to digest. Switching to a vegetarian diet will see a noticeable improvement in ease of digestion. By eating only vegetarian foods a person will feel less lethargic after eating a meal.

3. Better for the environment.
Producing vegetarian foods is less intensive on the environment than looking after livestock. Animals require a higher % of land space and attention to give a corresponding output of food. With global warming threatening the availability of farming land, this point may become increasingly important. A vegetarian diet places less strain on environmental resources.

4. Consciousness of Vegetarian foods.
Many spiritual traditions promote vegetarianism because it is a beneficial complement to spiritual practices like meditation. Different food types embody different vibrations. Meat embodies the consciousness of animals; this consciousness is more restless and aggressive. By eating this type of food the animal qualities of the meat will be transferred to some extent to the person eating the food. This has an effect on their subtle nerves and makes meditation more difficult.

"When we eat meat and fish, the aggressive, animal consciousness enters into us. Our nerves become agitated; they become restless and aggressive, and this can interfere with our meditation. " (2)
By contrast vegetarian foods do not have this restlessness, they have a mild and peaceful vibration. This is a significant benefit of a vegetarian diet for those who practise meditation.

5. Less Cruelty to Animals.
Many become vegetarians because they don't like the idea of animals being unnecessarily killed. Modern farming methods often lead to poor conditions, where the welfare of the animals is not at the forefront. Being vegetarian avoids the promotion of animal cruelty.
References

(1) http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/vegetarian_diets_health_benefits.php
(2) http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/sri-chinmoy-primer/5.html Vegetarian Diet by Sri Chinmoy

About the Author
Tejvan became interested in meditation and eastern mysticism whilst studying at University in Oxford. After studying various spiritual traditions he became a meditation student of Sri Chinmoy. Tejvan now offers meditation classes on behalf of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Oxford. http://srichinmoybio.co.uk/

Hopefully you now have a good idea of just some of the benefits of eating vegetarian.

Vegetarian Lasagne Recipe

2008-08-31T13:14:00.003+01:00

Are you looking for a good veggie lasagne recipe? Look no further, here is a tasty and easy to make recipe for vegetarian lasagna. It is ideal for dinner parties as you van prepare it in advance, even the day before and just pop it in the oven.

Ingredients:
For the filling:
2 courgettes halved and sliced
2 red peppers diced
1 large onion or red onion chopped
10-15 mushrooms
3 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tin of tomatoes
1 teaspoon of italian seasoning
2 vegetable stock cubes
9-10 lasange sheets

For the cheese sauce:
600ml of milk
30g of butter
35g of plain flour
50g grated cheese
salt, pepper and nutmeg to tast

To make the filling
1) Heat the olive oil in a pan and gently fry the onions and garlic until soft
2) Add the peppers, mushrooms and courgettes and fry for around 5 minutes
3) Add the tin of tomatoes and Italian Seasoning
4) Add the vegetable stock cubes (dissolve in 50ml of boiling water)
5) Leave the mixture to simmer for 30 minutes
6) Add salt and pepper to taste

To make the cheese sauce:
1) heat the milk in a saucepan with the butter
2) When the milk has started to warm add the flour
3) Whisk continually to ensure that there are no lumps
4) Continue to whisk until the mixture thickens
5) Stir in the cheese until it has completely melted
6) Add a pinch of salt, pepper and nutmeg

To Prepare the lasange
1) Place a layer of the lasagne micture on the bottom of a casserole dish
2) Place a layer of cheese sauce on the top
3) Cover with the lasagne sheets. Make sure that the pasta is completely covered
4) Repeat steps 1) -3 until the dish is full
5) Finish with a layer of cheese sauce and optionally add a sprinking of parmesan cheese

Pop everything in the oven at 200 degrees centegrade and cook for around 45 minutes.

Voila! A delicious vegetarian lasagne for 4-6 people! Serve with a crisp salad and some garlic bread.

The Huge Myth about Vegetarian Foods

2008-07-21T00:03:00.001+01:00

There seems to be a misunderstanding in the world of vegetarian foods, most people have a stigma about these types of foods. Unfortunately this stigma is without merit these days, the days of reality TV and all. Today is a new day a new era and people are doing absolutely amazing things with vegetarian foods today, and the food is mouth watering delicious. The stigma or false belief is...

1. Vegetarian foods have little or no taste.

2. The food looks dry and visually unappealing.

3. The food does not look fresh.

4. No taste/no appeal/looks dry = do not want to eat it.

What adds to the stigma is that most of us grew up around fast foods and loving burgers and pepperoni pizza. To put it plain and simple, meat is hard to get away from; this is partly because its so tasty and because its everywhere and most people do not want to eat salads; especially as a full dinner course meal.

In life lots of people want to have and maintain a healthy diet but believe the reason it is so hard to stick to maintaining a healthy vegetarian diet is because most people simply do not crave vegetarian food ' probably because most people do not want to eat what they think is dull food, tasteless salads for the rest of their lives.

This day in time things have changed drastically, there are several great tasty dishes in the vegetarian menu. By coating your vegetables with a peanut oil will get rid of that dry unappealing not fresh look. Some of the tastiest vegetarian dishes today are...

1. Fluffy peach pancakes

2. Different types of breakfast smoothies

3. Several delicious types of crepes

4. Mouth watering spring rolls

Always remember you have one life and one body and one mind so why not take care of your body and adapt a healthy life style. In doing so you will find your mind is less stressed and you feel more comfortable and relaxed and in due time you will also look healthier. There are hundreds of reasons why a vegetarian diet is going to make you a healthier person and hundreds of reasons why meat is bad for you I am sure you probably already know all these reasons and know why becoming a vegetarian or just adding a few healthy dishes to your diet would be good for you. Eat well now and you can be well on your way to becoming a more healthy person. Each and every one of us must decide for themselves what it is they want to eat and how you want to live your life. I am just sharing with you the 100% truth from which you can make an intelligent decision; one that will suit you and your life style; as every one knows when it is all said and done you must live and do what you think is right for you and I wish you all the best in your new vegetarian life style.

Fred Huyghue Jr is dedicated to preparing the most delicious vegetarian recipes and shows you exactly how you can easily prepare them in your own kitchen. To see some great vegetarian recipes go to
=> http://www.bigleagueplayersclub.com/3clicks/published/21741/334598/index.htm

Vegetarian Food Myths

2008-06-20T12:49:00.001+01:00

The Huge Myth About Vegetarian Food

There seems to be a misunderstanding in the world of vegetarian foods, most people have a stigma about these types of foods. Unfortunately this stigma is without merit these days, the days of reality TV and all. Today is a new day a new era and people are doing absolutely amazing things with vegetarian foods today, and the food is mouth watering delicious. The stigma or false belief is...

1. Vegetarian foods have little or no taste.

2. The food looks dry and visually unappealing.

3. The food does not look fresh.

4. No taste/no appeal/looks dry = do not want to eat it.

What adds to the stigma is that most of us grew up around fast foods and loving burgers and pepperoni pizza. To put it plain and simple, meat is hard to get away from; this is partly because its so tasty and because its everywhere and most people do not want to eat salads; especially as a full dinner course meal.

In life lots of people want to have and maintain a healthy diet but believe the reason it is so hard to stick to maintaining a healthy vegetarian diet is because most people simply do not crave vegetarian food ' probably because most people do not want to eat what they think is dull food, tasteless salads for the rest of their lives.

This day in time things have changed drastically, there are several great tasty dishes in the vegetarian menu. By coating your vegetables with a peanut oil will get rid of that dry unappealing not fresh look. Some of the tastiest vegetarian dishes today are...

1. Fluffy peach pancakes

2. Different types of breakfast smoothies

3. Several delicious types of crepes

4. Mouth watering spring rolls

Always remember you have one life and one body and one mind so why not take care of your body and adapt a healthy life style. In doing so you will find your mind is less stressed and you feel more comfortable and relaxed and in due time you will also look healthier. There are hundreds of reasons why a vegetarian diet is going to make you a healthier person and hundreds of reasons why meat is bad for you I am sure you probably already know all these reasons and know why becoming a vegetarian or just adding a few healthy dishes to your diet would be good for you.

Eat well now and you can be well on your way to becoming a more healthy person. Each and every one of us must decide for themselves what it is they want to eat and how you want to live your life. I am just sharing with you the 100% truth from which you can make an intelligent decision; one that will suit you and your life style; as every one knows when it is all said and done you must live and do what you think is right for you and I wish you all the best in your new vegetarian life style.

Fred Huyghue Jr is dedicated to preparing the most delicious vegetarian recipes and shows you exactly how you can easily prepare them in your own kitchen. To see some great vegetarian recipes go to

=> http://www.bigleagueplayersclub.com/3clicks/published/21741/334598/index.htm

Disadvantages of Vegetarianism

2008-01-26T16:50:00.000Z

This blog is all about vegetarianism and how beneficial and ethical being a vegetarian can be. If you read the articles on this blog you will see that there are many benefits to being a vegetarian or a vegan for that matter.

But what are the disadvantages of vegetarianism? It is only fair to cover these as well:

Here are what I see as the Disadvantages of Vegetarianism:

When following a vegetarian diet, especially for children there are numerous deficiencies that could occur as a result. These include iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins like D, B12, B2, B6.
The vegetarian diet usually contains less energy and protein overall, so this can be detrimental to some people, children in particular.
When traveling abroad you may find it harder to find a wide selection of food in some countries.

However, reading this blog you will see that with some thought and care it is easy to maintain a healthy vegetarian diet and the disadvantages of vegetarianism are few.

Macrobiotic Vegetarian Diet

2008-01-05T12:56:00.001Z

Although a Macrobiotic diet can include meat and fish, it is possible to eat a vegan or a vegetarian macrobiotic diet.

Macrobiotics devotees believe that food, and food quality, affects our lives more than is commonly thought. It is thought to affect our health, well being and happiness. They focus on moving away from processed foods, and moving toward more natural and more traditional methods of food preparation. They claim it is better to choose food that is less processed, more natural, use more traditional methods of food preparation for themselves and their family.
Macrobiotics emphasize locally-grown, organically-grown whole grain cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruit, seaweed and fermented soy products, combined into meals according to the principle of balance between yin and yang properties, rather than scientific dietary guidelines.

Macrobiotic diets follow the idea of Yin and Yang. Cereals, fruit, beans, nuts and vegetables, and rice make up the main part of the diet and are considered neutral and are naturally balanced in terms of Yin and Yang.

Foods which are either extremely Yin in nature or extremely Yang in nature are eaten very rarely if at all. Very Yin products include coffee, tropical fruit, sugar, soft dairy products, alcohol and honey. Very Yang products include firm dairy products like hard cheeses, and eggs.

The macrobiotic diet is high in natural, unprocessed foods, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables. It is low in saturated fats, whilst providing the essential fats. Food should be organically grown and eaten fresh.

The Macrobiotic lifestyle also governs how food should be prepared. No microwave should be used - rice must be cooked in a pressure cooker. Food should be eaten and chewed slowly, in a relaxed manner.

Low-fat high-fiber diets are also believed to play a role in preventing some types of cancer. And the macrobiotic emphasis on fresh, non-processed foods may be beneficial to those dealing with certain food allergies and chemical sensitivities.

Followers assert that the balance and harmony of the macrobiotic diet and lifestyle create the best possible conditions for health. They claim that the diet yields many positive health effects, including a general sense of well-being, and some studies actually show that people on the diet have a decreased risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer.

The Argument Against Drinking Cow's Milk

2007-12-14T18:30:00.000Z

A lot of people think that cow’s milk is the “perfect food” and they will stand very firm in this believe.

But parents of young children should try to educate themselves about milk allergies and lactose intolerances so they can be prepared. The main reasons why cow’s milk isn’t perfect for humans are:

1) It was made by cows for cows, not humans.

2) If you don't take magnesium along with cow milk, you won't get any benefit from the calcium.

3) If you consume something with iron in it, your body also cannot uptake calcium at all. So eating red meat and drinking a glass of milk at the same time is not a great idea.

Milk allergy can happen when your child is an infant. This allergy affects the digestive system along with skin and airways. Milk allergies can in some cases be life threatening to infants if not recognized and something done about it. If a child develops a milk allergy, they are usually put on soy milk by the family doctor.

Lactose intolerance can often show up when your child is a little older and is caused by the body not being able to break down the milk sugar lactose. This affects the digestion only, and causes symptoms such as bloating, gas and loose bowels. This only happens after drinking milk or eating dairy products. Lactose intolerance is not a serious intolerance and many people can still drink milk or dairy products in small amounts and not really feel any symptoms.

Vegetarian Food Allergies

2007-12-06T11:57:00.000Z

What do you do if you are a vegetarian with food allergies? Laura Bruno explains in this excellent article - Vegetarian Food Allergies - When Soy Annoys.

Vegetarian Food Allergies - When Soy Annoys
by Laura Bruno

Going vegetarian in college did not exactly bring me the surge in health and vitality that I'd expected. Far from it: my sinuses clogged, thoughts grew fuzzy, skin broke out, and periodically

I developed the worst stomach pain ever! We're talking writhing on the floor, Sigourney-Weaver-in-Alien style pain. After a few weeks of "trying veg," I would crawl back to my meat-eating ways, ashamed that my body seemed to thrive on chickens, cows and fish. Because I can telepathically communicate with animals, though, the Standard American Diet seemed equally
intolerable: I could actually feel the pain, fear and sorrow of each animal I consumed. With the choice to "meet my meat," or suffer the after-effects of another vegetarian stint, I lost all pleasure in food.

Through sheer determination to make a vegetarian diet work for me, I finally isolated the problem: food allergies. By the time I decided to go vegan, I was allergic to soy, nuts, wheat, and some legumes. In fact, a visit to the allergist confirmed that the only foods I was not allergic to were mold and pork. Ewww! OK, most of those I could do without, but soy? How can someone stay vegan without tofu? Especially if they can't fill up on seitan and walnuts!

But a funny thing happened. When I eradicated all hidden sources of dairy for thirty days, many of my reactions lessened. Unfortunately, soy continued to annoy for quite some time, and so I learned to live without it. So many soy-sensitive vegetarians and vegans wonder how, that I decided to write this article.

How can I tell if I'm allergic to soy? You can visit an allergist to have a skin or blood test, which will determine a true allergy; however, you can experience sensitivities without having a full-blown soy allergy. Symptoms can include stomach pain, breast tenderness, altered menstrual cycle, acne, slow thyroid, mood changes, excess phlegm, brain fog, and/or joint pain.

If you suspect soy plays a role in your health concerns, completely avoid it for two weeks and then reintroduce it. Pay attention to any reactions. If you have a reaction but really, really hope it's just a coincidence, repeat the experiment again-two weeks off, reintroduce, observe. You might also test different types of soy. For example, some people have trouble with isolated soy protein or chocolate soymilk, but they can eat organic tofu just fine.

People do occasionally outgrow soy allergies, but it can take a year or more of complete avoidance to stop triggering a negative response. Once you determine you have a problem with soy, your quickest route to embracing tempeh probably involves a year of soy-abstinence. Then you can try your experiment again, taking some food enzymes to encourage a happier outcome.

Where will I get my protein? So many other forms of protein exist that you really don't need soy in order to thrive. If you tolerate gluten, you can enjoy seitan in place of tempeh or tofu. Packed with protein, this "wheat meat" absorbs flavors just like its soy cousins. Legumes and nuts contain large amounts of protein, too. Soaking beans, nuts, seeds and grains activates their enzymes, thereby increasing the protein your body can absorb from them.

If you still feel concerned about getting adequate protein, Rainbow Light and Nutribiotic make rice protein powders, and a variety of sources sell hemp protein powder, which does not cause the bloating associated with whey or soy supplements.
Also consider some of the largest and strongest animals on earth-gorillas, elephants, bison-who eat mostly greens. Choosing amino-acid rich grasses and leaves, they grow huge muscles without soy sausages and protein supplements. You can, too. To get more greens into your diet, start your day with a "green smoothie," made popular in Green for Life by raw food educator Victoria Boutenko. Blend a handful or two of greens with two cups of water and some fruit. You might even throw in some superfoods like spirulina, acai berries or hemp nuts. Green smoothies improve your digestion, sometimes eliminating the strain that caused your original sensitivity.
Where can I find a soy-free veggie burger and soy-free, dairy-free milk?
Sunshine Burgers and Ruth's Hemp Burgers both offer gluten-free, soy-free vegan grillers. You can also make your own by mixing a grain, some beans or seeds, something gooey like nut butter or oil, fresh herbs, and other seasonings-mashing them all together into a patty. Rice Dream offers various flavors of rice milk, but if you crave the thicker texture of soymilk, you might enjoy Almond Breeze or Living Harvest's Hemp Milk.

Again, you can make your own alternative milks. To make almond milk, soak 1 cup raw almonds overnight in the refrigerator. Rinse and add three cups of water. Blend thoroughly and then strain through cheesecloth or a special nut/seed milk bag. Save the pulp for something else and then re-blend the liquid, adding in any flavoring you desire. Sound too complicated? Jack La Lanne's Power Juicer Elite lets you make almond or rice milk in a flash.

Why should I cleanse if I have food allergies? Allergies of any kind indicate that your body has passed its threshold for effective elimination of toxins. When our liver, colon, lungs and kidneys work well, our skin and immune system don't need to overreact. Ongoing stress, physical or emotional trauma, exposure to pesticides or pollution, medication, and diets rich in animal fat increase our toxic load. Eventually, our organs can't keep up with the demand for detoxification, and things go haywire. Some people develop cancer; others get asthma. Sometimes the body instinctively rejects otherwise healthy foods that require extra processing.

A healthy body digests soy or wheat, but in a compromised state, even health foods can trigger an aggressive immune response. Burdock root and milk thistle provide liver support, while red clover helps the kidneys. Nettles support kidneys and open the bronchia. Green smoothies, psyllium husks and raw foods stimulate and cleanse the colon. You can also try fasting one day per week, in order to give your digestive system a much needed break.

Most people with food allergies also suffer from Candida overgrowth. Commonly known as "yeast," Candida naturally lives in our digestive tracts. A "yeast infection" or "thrush" indicates severe overgrowth spreading into other areas of the body. When the ratio of Candida to "good bacteria" grows too high, this fungus latches onto and tears portions of the intestine, creating a "leaky gut" that allows whole protein molecules to enter the bloodstream. These undigested protein molecules seem like foreign invaders to the immune system, which launches an attack. Oil of Oregano, Pau d'Arco tea, and acidophilus are three common supplements that combat Candida. (Note: in order to reap the highest benefits, take probiotics like acidophilus a couple hours after Oil of Oregano, and don't try to kill the yeast too fast! Candida produces a severe die-off reaction, so cleansing requires patience.)

Can mind-body techniques get rid of my soy allergy? They can certainly help! In my practice, I work with a lot of people who suffer from food allergies, and oftentimes emotions do play a role. Begin by focusing on your breath, inhaling all the way into your belly. Before you eat, consciously relax your mind and body, reminding yourself that you eat for nourishment and healing. If you like meditating, you can invite an allergen into your meditation, imagining the trigger food in front of your heart center. Visualize white, pink, golden or green light emanating from your heart center and surrounding the food with love.

In this quiet space, ask your body why it wants your attention through this food. Notice any thoughts, feelings, memories or images that appear. This takes practice, but it can help a lot! Once you sense the root cause of your resistance, inhale and pull all those feelings up to the top of your head. Then let them go as you exhale. Return to your heart and repeat again, dragging the resistance up to your crown and releasing it with your breath. Continue until you feel lighter and ready to stop.

Sometimes the mental-emotional causes of symptoms lie so deeply buried that you have trouble accessing them consciously. In these cases, you can either request someone else's assistance or ask yourself how badly you want to overcome the allergy. For example, I have resolved all my allergies to vegan foods, but I suspect I'm still allergic to dairy. Since I have no desire to eat dairy again, the possible allergy makes no difference to my quality of life.

Not having access to foods like flaxseed, soy, wheat and nuts did interfere, so for me, it was worth the effort to recover. If you don't care about a particular food allergy, I suggest you let it go for now and focus your attention on the ones you really do wish to heal. Express gratitude for the foods you can eat, and each day, tell yourself, "My tolerance to _____ is actively improving." Imagine yourself enjoying that food with no adverse reactions. If you cannot imagine this scenario, consider ways in which this food allergy might be a sign post to guide you back to health and wholeness. Our bodies always act in the best interest of our souls, so if your body screams for your attention-listen up!

Laura Bruno is a Life Coach, Medical Intuitive and Reiki Master Teacher from Sedona, Arizona. In addition to private coaching and intuitive sessions, she teaches Conscious Eating 101 classes, Intuition workshops and Reiki Certification classes around the country and in beautiful Sedona. For more information on classes, raw food coaching, transitional coaching, animal communication, and letting your gifts shine through your career, please see: http://www.internationalrenaissancecoaching.com or call 928-282-2595.

The Benefits of Juicing for Vegetarians

2007-10-20T00:22:00.000+01:00

Juice can actually be considered a natural water source and provides the body with protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that can be absorbed quickly and efficiently. Fresh juice also contains necessary enzymes, and pigments such as carotenes, chlorophyll, and flavonoids.

Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables provides numerous nutritional advantages that are extremely important to weight loss. In addition, diets containing a high percentage of uncooked foods are significantly associated with weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and lower blood pressure.

Your appetite finds a raw foods diet more filling. Cooking can cause the loss of up to 97% of water-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Since uncooked foods such as juices contain more vitamins and other nutrients, they are more satisfying to the body, so it does not feel starved for nutrients. This means the metabolism will keep running efficiently and keep your weight loss efforts headed in the right direction

Juicing kick-starts your body's digestive process and enables quick absorption of high-quality nutrition, which can result in increased energy. This is one of the great advantages of achieving weight loss through improved nutrition. Fresh juices, combined with a well-balanced diet will provide you with the energy needed to burn more calories, fat, and provide you with the fuel you need for physical activity.

However, juicing does remove the fiber from these nutrient-dense foods. So be sure to include an appropriate amount of fiber-rich foods in your daily diet. Juicing should be a complement to a well-balanced healthy diet, not a substitute.

So with a little planning and creativity, juicing could enhance your well-balanced diet and add some zest. The internet is a great resource for juicing recipes and information, and with the realization that raw foods and juicing is a great health boost, books and magazine articles are touting the benefits and offering recipe ideas.

Eating Vegetarian Indian Food

2007-10-16T16:50:00.001+01:00

I don't know about you, but I love eating vegetarian Indian food. Here is an article which will give you lots of ideas for types of Indian vegetarian food to eat.

Vegetarian Indian Food
by Manasi Gandhi

We recently moved into a new house. Our neighbour Mark is a vegetarian, and lives with his wife and four children. During one of our over the fence conversations he mentioned the monotony of eating vegetarian food. Being Indian, we were quite surprised to hear this. Though we are not vegetarian ourselves, we do eat a lot of vegetarian Indian food regularly. I invited him over for dinner and he happily accepted.

In the few years that I have lived in the UK, I have discovered the love of the Britons for Indian food. When I was training as a teacher at the University of Cambridge, I had the opportunity of visiting schools in the very English Boroughs of Britain. One thing which was common to all these places was that as soon as one stepped out of the railway station the first thing to be seen was an Indian Restaurant. My students had hardly ever seen an Indian, but had tasted a variety of Indian foods.

As much as the Britons love the good old ‘Chicken Tikka Masala‘, they also relish some vegetarian Indian foods. So taking these known dishes as reference points we can easily discover the huge range of vegetarian Indian Dishes. Lets start with ‘Biryani‘. Contrary to the misconception that Biryani contains chicken or meat, it can be vegetarian as well. Vegetable
Biryani is a mixture of fragrant spices, rice and a variety of vegetables, enriched with cashews and slow cooked in a pot with a tight lid. Rice is a staple diet of Indians, and provides the much needed carbohydrates. It is cooked in various ways, plain, sweet, savoury, and is often accompanied by a curry or lentil soup (daal).

‘Daal’ is made from lentils, sometimes cooked with vegetables, the most common example from south India is the ‘Sambar’ which is served with dosa (pancakes made from rice flour- one more rice recipe). There are different varieties of daals served with rice, for example the luscious ‘Daal Fry’ served in restaurants is a lentil soup tempered in butter and a variety of spices. Besides being a rich source of proteins, daal also acts as a hydrating element when mixed with rice or as a dip for Indian bread .

The most known among Indian breads is ‘Naan’ bread. It is made from the flour of wheat which is also an important crop in India. The flour is kneaded and rolled and then baked in kilns similar to a pizza base. Chapati’ which is slimmer version of Indian bread is also becoming very popular. It looks very much like a Mexican tortilla wrap the only difference is that chapati is made from whole wheat flour, unlike the tortilla which is often made from corn. Besides these, there is ‘Puri‘-a deep fried puffed bread, ‘Roti’- similar to naan but less oily, ‘Bhatura’ -which is similar to puri but thicker and bigger in size (often served with Chole- a famous chickpea curry of north India), and Parathas -readily available in frozen form- plain or stuffed with potatoes, onions and a variety of vegetables.

Curry is the main accompaniment in an Indian meal. Most supermarkets now sell Indian vegetarian curries, e.g ‘Paneer Tikka Masala’ -consisting of Indian variety of cheese paneer(similar to Mozzarella) fried in butter and cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with some mild spices, ‘Sarson ka Saag’ -a leafy green vegetable cooked and typically eaten with a bread made from corn makke di roti (one more variety of Indian bread), ‘Bombay Aloo’ -Potatoes boiled and stir fried in spices, ‘Vegetable Korma’ -mixed vegetables cooked in a mild sauce with spices to name a few. If we try to explore all the vegetarian curries in India space wont be enough,.

Besides these there are a number of other dishes served alongside the above main dishes, for example ‘Mango Chutney‘- a sweet and sour sauce of mangoes and a hint of spices (Coconut

Chutney is another very famous chutney served with idlis- Indian rice cakes- and here goes one more rice recipe), ‘Onion Bhaji’ - onions mixed with spices and batter and deep fried in oil, ‘Poppadums’ -deep fried Indian crisps, mostly made from rice flour-(rice once again), Lemon

Pickle -lemons preserved in a mixture of oil and spices and the list goes on.
Mark was a happy man at the end of dinner and wishes to come back again to take recipes from me and try them himself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manasi_Gandhi

How to Lose Weight if you are Vegetarian

2007-09-10T22:23:00.000+01:00

Here is an article that explains how to lose weight the right way if you are vegetarian.

The Vegetarian Weight Loss Diet - How To Do It Right
By Phillip England

Vegetarianism has long been considered an effective way to lose weight, and for good reason. In a nutshell, vegetables have fewer calories, less fat, and more nutrients compared to processed meats. Celebrities who went vegetarian showed dramatic weight loss, and those who tried it for even a few days felt generally healthier.

But as with any weight loss plan, a vegetarian weight loss diet has its risks and benefits. Before trading that steak for a salad, it’s important to know the pros and cons. Here’s a quick guide to help you out.

Weight loss benefits

Several studies have shown that vegetarians are far less likely to become obese than meat eaters. In Western countries, vegetarians have lower blood cholesterol and body mass index (BMI). But people on a vegetarian weight loss diet enjoy several other health benefits. They have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions linked to excess weight. A study of Seventh Day Adventists, a religious group that practices vegetarianism, shows that members had half as much risk of high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, and various cancers.

How it works

So why are vegetables so effective for weight loss? It’s mostly because meat and animal products contain fewer preservatives, calories and saturated fats—the primary causes of unhealthy weight gain. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which eliminate the free radicals that cause cell death and lead to disease. They are also rich in fiber and juice, which makes them more filling. A vegetarian weight loss diet doesn’t require you to starve yourself—you can eat normal servings and still get fewer calories than you would from a meat-based meal.

Some risks

Of course, vegetables can’t provide you with everything you need. One of the main concerns about the vegetarian weight loss diet is that there aren’t enough sources of protein. Most vegetarians get their protein from beans, tofu and legumes. But while these are excellent food sources, their protein content is not as easily absorbed by the body as those that come from meat. If you’re combining your vegetarian weight loss diet with an exercise regimen (which you should), consider taking protein supplements or consuming more vegetable proteins.

Types of vegetarianism
You don’t have to give up all animal foods to enjoy the benefits of a vegetarian weight loss diet. In fact, if you have certain health problems, your doctor may recommend some modifications. Vegetarianism is divided into several subtypes depending on which foods are restricted. Some of the most common are the following:

Semi-vegetarian: A semi-vegetarian weight loss diet rules out all red meat such as beef, pork, and lamb, but allows fish and poultry. Dairy products are also included.

Pesco-vegetarian: This diet prohibits all animal products, except fish and seafood. Some also allow eggs and dairy, although it’s more often a personal choice.

Lacto-vegetarian: Meat, poultry and eggs are prohibited; the only animal products allowed are milk and dairy.

Lacto-ovo vegetarian: This is the most common type of vegetarian weight loss diet. It only prohibits animal meats, but allows by-products such as animal oils, milk, eggs, and dairy.

Vegan: Described as “pure” vegetarianism, vegan diets prohibit all animal products. Vegans are not so much health buffs as they are animal rights advocates. As such, they also stay away from non-food products such as leather and fur. Read labels Just because you’re a vegetarian doesn’t mean you’re consuming less fat. The way you prepare your vegetables greatly affects their nutritional value. What good is a low-fat vegetable salad if you slather it with a creamy dressing? To get the most out of your vegetarian diet, you still need to read the labels and watch your fat intake.

Watch your iron

Plant-based iron is different from animal iron. The former is less easily absorbed by the body, so vegetarians are usually prone to anemia. To increase iron absorption, combine iron-rich foods such as nuts, beans and legumes with vitamin C-rich ones like oranges, strawberries and tomatoes. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for iron is 12 to 15 mg daily. The same goes for calcium: you can compensate for the lack of dairy-based calcium by eating fortified cereals, eggs, milk, and cheese.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report "The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret". To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don't know, or don't want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

Why some Vegetarians do not Eat Sugar

2007-09-05T09:15:00.000+01:00

Some vegetarians--usually strict vegans--will not eat sugar. The reasoning behind this is that sugar is often whitened with bone char from cows.

If you are a vegetarian and you want to continue eating products that contain sugar, but do not want to cause suffering in the process, you have a number of options.

The first option is to only eat products made with beet sugar. There are two major sources of sugar in the United States: beet sugar and cane sugar. Cane sugar is often whitened with bone char from cows; in contrast, beetsugar is never whitened with bone char.

So, if you want to completely avoid the bone char, you can do this by eating only beet sugar. The only challenge--and this is a big one--is finding out which foods contain beet sugar and which foods contain cane sugar.

To make things more complex, you can also consume a number of types of cane sugar, as long as you are willing to findout what the source of the sugar is.

You can do this in a lot of cases by looking at the nutritional panel on food before you buy it. If it says fructose or dextrose, the sugar is from a plant source (either beet or corn). If it says sucrose, it could be from a number of sources, which could include bone char-whitened cane sugar.

Now, if you are cooking with sugar, you can personally verify that is bone-char free by purchasing from the following companies, which have publicly-stated that they do not use bone-char: Florida Crystals Refinery, Imperial Sugar Company, Irish Sugar Ltd., Sugar In the Raw (which isalso less-refined), and American Crystal Sugar Company.

If you can’t find these brands, but want to avoid consumingbone-char sugar if possible, you can avoid these brands, which have publicly-stated that they do use bone-char: Domino, Savannah Foods, and C&H Sugar Company.

How to Eat a Varied Vegetarian Diet

2007-08-09T21:59:00.000+01:00

Choose whole-grain products like whole wheat bread and flour, instead of refined or white grains. Eat a wide variety of foods, and don’t be afraid to try vegetables, fruits, grains, breads, nuts, or seeds that you’ve never tried before. Experiment and explore! You may discover a new favorite or two, and learn fresh new ways to liven up more traditional vegetarian dishes. Many vegetarian foods can be found in any grocery store. Specialty food stores may carry some of the more uncommon items, as well as many vegetarian convenience foods. When shopping for food, plan ahead, shop with a list and read food labels. And if you decide to eat dairy products, choose non-fat or low-fat varieties, and limit your egg intake to 3-4 yolks per week.

Becoming a vegetarian can be as easy as you choose to make it. Whether you enjoy preparing delectable, delicious meals or choose quick and easy ones, vegetarian meals can be very satisfying. If you get in the habit of keeping the following on hand, meal preparation time will become a snap:

-Ready-to-eat, whole-grain breakfast cereals, and quick-cooking whole-grain cereals such as oatmeal, whole-grain breads and crackers, such as rye, whole wheat, and mixed grain and other grains such as barley and bulgur wheat

-Canned beans, such as pinto, black beans, and garbanzo beans

-Rice (including brown, wild, etc.) and pasta (now available in whole wheat, spinach, and other flavors) with tomato sauce and canned beans and/or chopped veggies

-Vegetarian soups like lentil, navy bean, or minestrone

-A wide variety of plain frozen vegetables, and canned and frozen fruit

-Fortified soymilks and soy cheeses, should you choose to not eat dairy

-A wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, which should be the core of any diet

As you learn to experiment with foods and learn that a meatless diet doesn’t have to lack variety, you’ll find your decision for vegetarianism was not only wise, but easy and fun come mealtime.

A Vegetarian Body Builder

2007-08-03T12:14:00.000+01:00

Yes, it is possible to be a body builder and a vegetarian. Read this article to find out how...

The Bodybuilding Vegetarian
By Gray Rollins

Surprisingly, being a vegetarian bodybuilder isn’t really as difficult as many people automatically assume it is. In some ways it may be easier because adhering to a real vegetarian diet takes a lot of focus and discipline, two things that will greatly help you in the gym.

First, we should define our terms because there are three basic groups of people who consider themselves “vegetarians.” I refer to these three groups as pseudo-vegetarians, meat vegetarians and vegetarians. The pseudo vegetarian avoids beef, chicken and poultry but will sometimes eat fish and has no problem with other animal products. A meat vegetarian avoids all meat. A vegetarian avoids any foods (or products in general) that contain any amount of animal product.

This article is aimed directly at the true vegetarians, who avoid all animal products. The meat-vegetarians and pseudo-vegetarians will gain useful information as well, but true vegetarians have very specialized needs during bodybuilding.

Since there is no difference in biological manner in which a vegetarian and a carnivore actually build muscles, we don’t need to go into any specific exercise differences. Instead, we’ll be focusing on dietary issues.

The first challenge goes back to the way muscles build in our bodies. We exercise our muscles, which does microscopic damage to the tissue and then our bodies repair the damage with bigger and stronger tissue while we recuperate. To effectively do this, our bodies need to use protein in massive amounts, which is why bodybuilders increase their protein intake.

Vegetarians face a challenge here because the most common source of protein is meat. Okay, so it’s not actually that much of a challenge. According to the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score, soy is equal to whey and superior to beef in protein content. Soy provides all 8 essential amino acids required by your body for growing and repairing muscles. Vegetarians would be well-advised to consider soy as a primary protein source.

The really good news is that soy is also a fantastic source of glutamine which many bodybuilders already take in supplemental form. Soy is available in many different forms such as tofu, miso, soy powder and soy milk. Soy milk is definitely something to have on hand as it can be used to replace cow’s milk in recipes, which will help expand your basic food options.

Almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and pistachio nuts are all excellent sources of both protein and fat; the vegetarian needs to work on getting enough good fats as well, so with the above examples you can go nuts…was that a pun?

You can also add a tablespoon or so of flaxseed oil, as flax seed is one of the very best sources for the essential fatty acid alpha linolenic acid.

Finally, vegetarians need to ensure that they get enough vitamins and minerals. This can be done in multivitamin form although most of the meal-replacement shakes which are so popular among bodybuilders already contain vitamins and minerals galore. The only additional vitamin to look for is B12, which is generally an animal product based vitamin.

Like I said in the beginning, it isn’t nearly as hard to be a vegetarian bodybuilder as many people would think. You’ve got the discipline part down and, by following the guidelines listed above, you will be set up nutritionally to build massive amounts of muscle!

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for MuscleProgram.com - a site dedicated to helping people build muscle and get fit. If you're interested in reading more about vegetarian bodybuilding, and healthy ways to gain muscle mass, then visit us.

Vegetarianism and Cancer

2007-07-15T22:20:00.000+01:00

You might already have an idea that eating a vegetarian diet is more healthy for you. But do you really know how much less the incidence is of certain types of cancers among vegetarians?

Vegetarian diets are natuarally low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and full of cancer-protective phytochemicals which help to prevent cancer. Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters.

In the U.S., studies of Seventh-Day Adventists, who are largely lacto-ovo vegetarians, have shown significant reductions in cancer risk among those who avoided meat. Similarly, breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in nations, such as China, that follow plant-based diets. Interestingly, Japanese women who follow Western-style, meat-based diets are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who follow a more traditional plant-based diet. Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.

Harvard studies that included tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent. High-fat diets also encourage the body’s production of estrogens. Increased levels of this sex hormone have been linked to breast cancer. A recent report noted that the rate of breast cancer among premenopausal women who ate the most animal (but not vegetable) fat was one-third higher than that of women who ate the least animal fat. A separate study from Cambridge University also linked diets high in saturated fat to breast cancer. One study linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The process of breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) evidently damages the ovaries. Daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement. Regular milk consumption doubles the risk and failure to consume vegetables regularly nearly quadruples the risk.

Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and get abundant fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. In addition, blood analysis of vegetarians reveals a higher level of “natural killer cells,” specialized white blood cells that attack cancer cells.

Leek, Sweet Potato and Tomato Soup Recipe

2007-07-05T13:19:00.000+01:00

Here's another great soup recipe suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Leek, Sweet Potato and Tomato sounds like an unusual combination, but these combine well to make a very colorful and tasty soup. It is also is a very healthy and low calorie option for anyone who is trying to lose weight.

Leek, Sweet Potato and Tomato Soup

Ingredients:
2 Leeks, sliced
2 tins of chopped tomatoes
400g of Sweet potato, chopped
1.5 Pints of vegetable Stock
Low fat Creme Fraiche

Instructions:
(1) Lightly fry the leeks in a pot with a small amount of oil. Add a couple of tablespoons of water and let the leeks sweat in the pot with the lid on for 5 minutes
(2) Add the chopped tomatoes, leeks and sweet potato to the pot
(3) Stir in the vegetable stock mixture and bring to the boil
(4) Put a lid on the pot and allow the mixture to simmer for 20 minutes
(5) Use a hand blender to blend the mixture into a smooth soup
(6) Finally serve the soup and add a little creme fraiche to each bowl
(7) Season with salt and pepper

Raw Food and Vegan Restuarants

2007-06-19T16:13:00.000+01:00

One of life’s great pleasures is going out to eat and trying new restaurants and dishes. This holds true for raw food and vegan restaurants too! There are, believe it or not, more than 5000 natural foods restaurants in the U.S. alone. Predictably many of these restaurants are in major markets and in college towns. You might not live in an area where you can visit a natural foods restaurant regularly, but if you’re traveling, do some research and see where there might be a natural foods place to visit.

Here are a few notable restaurants around the USA:

Delights of the Garden has gained amazing popularity in Washington, DC, considering that city is a haven of power lunches between lobbyists and the like. It features a cool-looking cafe with raw and cooked vegan favorites.

Arnold’s Way is located outside Philadelphia, PA in the Bucks County town of Lansdale. They have a raw café and also have classes in raw foods preparation.

Au Lac in Fountain Valley, California serves 7-course raw dinners, although you want to call in advance to give the chefs time to prepare.

Quntessence in Manhattan features an all raw menu, all organic, salads, fresh juices, soup, guacamole, essene bread, almond shakes, and more.

Dining in the Raw in Key West, Florida features macrobiotic, vegan and raw foods.

The Organic Garden in Beverly, Massachusetts is a living and raw foods restaurant.

Suzanne’s Vegetarian Bistro in Miami, FL has a daily raw soup on its menu.

Golden Temple in Birmingham, Alabama is a vegetarian restaurant that features a juice bar.

These are just a few raw foods restaurants. Many cities have magazines with restaurants listed by categories.

List of Vegan Vegetarian Foods

2007-06-07T19:26:00.000+01:00

Here's a list of vegan / vegetarian foods that are suitable for vegans and of course vegetarians too.

- All Vegetables e.g. lettuce, leeks, celery, carrots, onions
- All Fruits e.g. bananas, apples, strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, pears, peaches, plums
- All Legumes e.g. sprouts, beans, lentils, peas, peanuts
- All Seeds e.g. cereals/grains, nuts
- Milk Substitutes e.g. soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, grain milk, hemp milk
- Meat Substitutes e.g. tofu, mushrooms, quorn, quinoa, tempeh, yuba

Recommended Vegan book with over 150 recipes - Vegan Vengeance

Vegetarians and Weight Loss

2007-05-29T12:48:00.001+01:00

Vegetarian Weight Loss - Can You Achieve Weight Loss the Vegetarian Way?
By Vanessa Youngstrom

Obesity is a growing problem. Two thirds of Americans are overweight. More and more people are searching for natural weight loss options and vegetarian weight loss programs fit the bill.
The commercial market is overflowing with a large number of diet supplements and weight loss options. But natural options are the safest way to shed pounds. Dieticians and nutritionists recommend natural weight loss diets to people who are health conscious.

People who follow a diet of raw fruits and vegetables for weight loss are less prone to heart disease, stroke and cancer. Vegetarian weight loss programs can be structured using a point system so that vegetables are a “0”, fruits are between 1-3 points and nuts and seeds rank higher because they are higher in calories and fats.

The desire for a lean healthy body must include regular intake of water, the right foods and regular exercise. Like in any other program large helpings of high-fat protein sources such as peanut butter, nuts and cheese can cause vegetarians to gain weight.

Instead of using peanut butter or nuts as snacks, use whole grain snacks, fruit and vegetables during the day. Using a vegetarian weight loss program does not ensure automatic weight loss. Keep a written record of everything you eat during the day to keep a handle on your eating habits. Keep watch on everything that isn’t raw fruit and vegetables.

Plan your meal choices during the day since last minute choices are usually higher in calories. Those chips, cookies, power bars and candy, although meatless, are higher in calories, sugar and fats. Use a daily multi-vitamin to fill in the gaps.

There are convenience foods sold in the grocery store that fit a vegetarian weight loss program. Check out the health food store and watch the calories, sugars, fats and oils in the products. Do not resort to junk foods. When all else fails apples and bananas are convenient, filling and full of good nutrition.

You can also put together pre-made bags of your own trail mix. Include almonds, raisins, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds for a healthy nutritious snack. Try to eat only raw and organic nuts and seeds for the best flavor and fuel.

Preparation of your vegetarian weight loss program can be just as important as the foods you eat. Grocers now carry vegetarian burgers that can be microwaved as opposed to fried. Frying foods is just as dangerous as eating meats because of the increased animal fats and the processing that vegetable oils and lard go through to make them palatable. Try to eat as much raw foods as possible to help your digestive system.

Vegetarian weight loss is a healthy and natural weight loss option to add to your weight loss arsenal. Done right you’ll see some fast weight loss initially and you’ll feel better and have more energy.

Vanessa Youngstrom, a nurse practitioner, enjoys writing and educating on health and wellness topics. You’ll find more articles at http://www.PathToYourHealth.com

Vegetarian Lasagna

2007-05-24T12:24:00.000+01:00

By Melissa Lastelle

If you are looking for the best vegetarian lasagna recipe available on the internet then you have come to the right place!

I made this vegetarian lasagna for my family and they loved it so much that it is now in the permanent family recipe book!

This vegetarian lasagna is not only delicious but highly nutritional. What other vegetarian lasagna recipe can claim to be enriched with potassium and folate?

Many people are under the impression that by not eating meat you would be lacking in protein and essential vitamins and minerals. They could not be further from the truth.

The high spinach content in this vegetarian lasagna recipe is believed to reduce the risk of cancer, help to avoid and relieve anemia and is said to protect against eye degeneration and heart disease!

Who ever said lasagna had to be unhealthy? This vegetarian lasagna is also high in protein and low in carbohydrates, courtesy of the cottage cheese content.

Vegetarian lasagna is widely believed to bland and unsubstantial in comparison to regular lasagna. This is not the case, choosing your favorite sauce or a sauce that the family (or whoever you are preparing the vegetarian lasagna for) usually have with pasta dishes will help to familiarize them to the idea and it is certain to be highly rated! We all know how scary it is to try new recipes out on the family, especially with fussy children.

If you are new or are introducing your family to the vegetarian lifestyle then starting off with dishes such as vegetarian lasagna or anything similar is wise. It is not advised to go straight to recipes and ingredients that your family members are not used to. This usually results in negative feedback and will only make it harder for you to be a successful vegetarian.

This delicious vegetarian lasagna recipe is highly nutritional, popular with the family (yes even the kids!) And easy to make! Best of all, it’s free!

VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

INGREDIENTS:

1 Package lasagna noodles
1 Jar favorite meatless pasta sauce
1 Small package lite mozzarella cheese 1 Fresh medium eggplant
3 Tomatoes
Parsley Flakes
1 Package frozen spinach
Salt and pepper
1 Small package of cottage cheese

METHOD:

Thinly slice eggplant into rounds and lay on a paper towel, salt lightly. Lay another paper towel on top and layer with eggplant slices and salt lightly. Continue this layering method until all eggplant is used.
Place a heavy pan on a cookie sheet on top of stack and leave to sit for half an hour to two hours. Defrost spinach and drain as much water out as possible. (Using a colander)
Cook lasagna noodles in oven at 180˚C until soft and tender
Mix cottage cheese and defrosted spinach together in a large bowl and add salt and pepper
Using a casserole pan, spread a layer of sauce and then place a tender lasagna noodle on top
Place a layer of spinach/cottage cheese mix, sauce, eggplant slices and then a noodle. Repeat this process until pan is full then place in the oven.
Place sauce and thinly sliced tomatoes on the last layer and then sprinkle mozzarella cheese heavily on top.
Bake in the oven for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees. (Eggplant should be soft and a brown color)
SERVES-4

Melissa Lastelle-Founder of http://www.TheVegetarianBible.com

Spirituality and Vegetarianism

2007-04-23T10:36:00.000+01:00

How do you feel spiritually when you eat a meal that contains meat? You’ve probably never given it any thought, but that may because spiritually you feel nothing after eating a meal of meat except tired and sluggish. A diet of meat makes our bodies less functional, and we think of nourishing our bodies in terms of our organs and blood, but we don’t often think about how what we eat can impact the most important organ in our body, the brain.

When you eat a vegetarian diet, you begin to feel physically lighter and fit. When your body is fit, your mind is also lightened. Most cultures that focus more on spirituality and enlightenment are also vegetarian cultures. From the beginning of recorded history we can see that vegetables have been the natural food of human beings. Early Greek and Hebrew myths all spoke of people originally eating fruit. Ancient Egyptian priests never ate meat. Many great Greek philosophers such as Plato, Diogenes, and Socrates all advocated vegetarianism.

In India, Shakyamuni Buddha emphasized the importance of Ahimsa, the principle of not harming any living things. He warned His disciples not to eat meat, or else other living beings would become frightened of them. Buddha made the following observations: "Meat eating is just an acquired habit. In the beginning we were not born with a desire for it." "Flesh eating people cut off their inner seed of Great Mercy." "Flesh eating people kill each other and eat each other ... this life I eat you, and next life you eat me ... and it always continues in this way. How can they ever get out of the Three Realms (of illusion)?"

These are cultures that are considered more enlightened and focused more on spirituality than is Western culture. If we are to evolve into more spiritual beings, then we must begin to manage our physical lives in a way that will enhance our spirituality, and this means taking the path of vegetarianism as a path to enlightenment.

Reasons for not eating Pork

2007-04-13T10:26:00.000+01:00

Many people reject eating pork and other meats derived from pigs for religious reasons or health reasons. When people start eating a more vegetarian diet, red meat is usually the first thing they eliminate from their diets. When they do, various health indicators generally start to improve, such as their cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings. Health is one of the most compelling reasons to eat vegetarian, but the inhumane treatment of the animals mass-produced for human consumption is another reason many people are rejecting a carnivorous diet.

Pig farming follows the same processes that chicken farming and other animal farming employ. The pigs are kept in small crates with limited movement. They’re overfed so they can be slaughtered more quickly. Their living conditions can be dirty and they’re fed growth hormones to stimulate weight gain and antibiotics to ward off diseases that are the results of their living conditions.

They’re forced to live in unnatural conditions and they exhibit signs of chronic stress that other animals produced for human food do. They chew on the bars of their cages or worry with their water bottles excessively. Their limited range of movement prevents the rooting behavior that’s natural for a pig.

The pigs pay an extremely high price to feed us. And we pay a high price for eating pork and other red meat. We’re basically not made to eat meat. Our teeth weren’t developed to rip and tear meat. We evolved from herbivores and it’s still the better way for us to eat. When we eliminate red meat and other meats and animal products from our diet, we get healthier – more lean and fit, less tired and sluggish. And there’s the added psychological benefit of knowing that we’re not contributing to the suffering of innocent animals.

Does being Vegetarian help to Prevent Cancer?

2007-04-02T17:20:00.000+01:00

Does being Vegetarian help to Prevent Cancer? The answer to this question is a definite "Yes".

Vegetarian diets—naturally low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and replete with cancer-protective phytochemicals—help to prevent cancer. Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters. In the U.S., studies of Seventh-Day Adventists, who are largely lacto-ovo vegetarians, have shown significant reductions in cancer risk among those who avoided meat.

Similarly, breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in nations, such as China, that follow plant-based diets.

Interestingly, Japanese women who follow Western-style, meat-based diets are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who follow a more traditional plant-based diet.

Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.

Harvard studies that included tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent. High-fat diets also encourage the body’s production of estrogens. Increased levels of this sex hormone have been linked to breast cancer.

One study linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The process of breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) evidently damages the ovaries. Daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement. Regular milk consumption doubles the risk and failure to consume vegetables regularly nearly quadruples the risk.

A recent report noted that the rate of breast cancer among premenopausal women who ate the most animal (but not vegetable) fat was one-third higher than that of women who ate the least animal fat. A separate study from Cambridge University also linked diets high in saturated fat to breast cancer.

Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and get abundant fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. In addition, blood analysis of vegetarians reveals a higher level of “natural killer cells,” specialized white blood cells that attack cancer cells.

Sample Diabetic Vegetarian Menu

2007-03-28T19:19:00.000+01:00

Though the task of planning out a diabetic vegetarian menu might seem a little daunting, with a little creativity and forethought, it can actually be very straightforward. Here is a sample two-day menu for some ideas and inspiration:

Day One
Breakfast: 1/3 cup cranberry juice orsugar free cranberry juice cocktail3/4 cup cooked oatmeal with 1/2 banana and1 teaspoon vegan margarine8 ounces enriched soymilk
Morning Snack: 3 cups low fat popped popcorn with2 teaspoons nutritional yeast1/2 cup orange juice
Lunch: 6" pita stuffed with 2 ounces meat substitute (equivalent to 2 ADA meat exchanges), lettuce, radishes, and cucumbers1 cup shredded cabbage with 1-1/2 Tablespoons vegan mayonnaise8 ounces enriched soymilk
Afternoon Snack: Fruit smoothie made with8 ounces soymilk, 2 ounces silken tofu, and1/2 cup frozen or fresh berries, blended together3 sugar-free ginger snaps
Dinner: Baked eggplant (1/2 cup) with1/4 cup tomato sauce1/2 cup black beans with 1/3 cup brown riceone medium baked apple
Evening Snack: 2 Tablespoons peanut butter on 6 crackers

Day Two
Breakfast: 1/2 cup melon slices2 slices French toast (made with soy milk and cooked in vegetable oil with 1/4 cup chopped peaches or apricots4 ounces enriched soymilk
Morning Snack: 1/2 cup fresh grapes6 assorted low-fat crackers Sparkling water
Lunch: 1 cup mushroom barley soup with2 ounces smoked seitan (A chewy, protein-rich food made from wheat gluten and used as a meat substitute) 1/2 cup green and wax bean salad with2 teaspoons sesame seeds and 2 Tablespoons reduced-fat salad dressing8 ounces enriched soymilk
Afternoon Snack: 1/2 cup sugar-free chocolate pudding (You may create this at home with a sugar-free mix like Sorbee or Estee and any nondairy milk.)
Dinner: 1 cup chili with lentils with1/4 cup prepared Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) over 1/3 cup white rice 1/2 cup steamed or roasted carrots1/2 cup fresh pineapple slices
Evening Snack: 1/2 cup pretzels8 ounces enriched soymilk

Reasons for not eating Chicken

2007-03-11T20:53:00.000Z

If most of us thought about the conditions in which chickens used for meat and eggs are raised and slaughtered, we’d become vegetarian immediately. Egg-laying chickens can be raised in cages with 6 chickens to a cage, each chicken getting only 67 square inches of space for its lifetime.

Unless they’re certified and labeled as being free-range or organic or natural, they might have been fed growth hormones to get them to slaughter faster, and antibiotics to combat the diseases which come from being raised in cramped and less-than-clean conditions.

And consider what the recommendations are for cleaning up after touching poultry? It’s recommended to clean surfaces with bleach to remove bacteria, and to wash your hands thoroughly after touching a chicken.

Do you really want to put something into your body that requires bleach to clean up after? Something that needs to be cooked to specific temperatures to be sure you’ve destroyed any bacteria that could make you sick?

Chickens and turkeys have become so mass-produced and injected with antibiotics and hormones that there’s no taste to it anymore, so why bother? Even the most humanely treated chicken has either been stunned in a salt-water brine before being beheaded. In John Robbins excellent book and video, Diet for a Small Planet, he shows us pictures of chickens being grabbed in groups by the neck and thrown into cages. Can you really consider eating a chicken with that vision in your head?

Any means of mass-producing animals for human consumption is by its very nature unhealthy and cruel for the animals, and unhealthy for humans as well. Even if you’re of the opinion that man is a natural hunter, how natural is it to eat an animal that’s been raised in captivity and fed a diet of hormones and antibiotics?

A Sample Menu for a Pregnant Vegetarian

2007-03-06T20:58:00.000Z

Though your nutritional needs increase now that you’re pregnant, your pregnancy vegetarian diet shouldn’t have to change all that much. With some careful planning to ensure your caloric, vitamin, and mineral needs are met, you can still enjoy a rich variety of nutrient-dense delicious foods and help give your baby a nutritious jump-start. Consider the following daily menu for ideas and inspiration.

Breakfast:
1/2 cup oatmeal with maple syrup
1 slice whole wheat toast with fruit spread
1 cup soy milk
1/2 cup calcium and vitamin D fortified orange juice

Snack:
1/2 whole wheat bagel with margarine
Banana

Lunch:
Veggie burger on whole wheat bun with mustard and catsup
1 cup steamed collard greens
Medium apple
1 cup soy milk

Snack:
3/4 cup ready-to-eat cereal with 1/2 cup blueberries
1 cup soy milk

Dinner:
3/4 cup tofu stir-fried with 1 cup vegetables
1 cup brown rice
Medium orange

Snack:
Whole grain crackers with 2 Tbsp peanut butter
4 ounces apple juice

If morning sickness is causing you problems, try eating low fat, high carbohydrate nutrient-dense foods. These are digested more quickly and stay in the stomach for less time giving less time for queasiness. Remember to eat often. Sometimes nausea is really hunger in disguise.

Be sure to drink juice, water, or soy milk if you can't eat solid food. Keep trying to eat whatever you can. If you’re unable to eat or drink the appropriate amounts of foods or fluids for 24 hours or more, get in touch with your healthcare provider.

The Benefits of Tofu

2007-02-21T22:21:00.000Z

If you aren’t a vegetarian now and haven’t been one in the past, you probably also haven’t eaten tofu many times. In fact, the only time most people hear about tofu it is in jokes aimed at vegetarians.

So why is it that vegetarians eat this stuff all the time? Is is it simply because they have no other choice?

The answer is both yes and no.

Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to eat tofu. In fact, there are many vegetarians who never eat tofu or any popular meat-replacement dishes--such as "veggie burgers" or "tofurkey"--for that matter.

As long as they research and create meal plans, vegetarians can maintain a healthy diet eating traditional meals or ethnic dishes. Tofu is often cited as something exclusively vegetarian because it is a versatile, highly-nutritional, and can
be used to replace meat dishes.

Not only can it be created in textures, consistencies, and flavors that simulate a range of meats--from turkey to hamburg--but it can also actually replace and far exceed the nutritional value of similar meat dishes.

While vegetarians do not actually need to consume tofu, doing so is often a wise dietary choice--and also the next best thing to eating similar meat products (for those who enjoyed meat dishes before they became vegetarians).

Tofu is a low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie food made out of steamed and compressed soy beans. Not only is it a great source of protein--which many vegetarians lack--but it is also heart-healthy and has been linked to a decreased
risk in cancer.

In addition to being served as a meat alternative, tofu is also served in a number of spicy and ethnic dishes, which were never intended to contain meat. Many ethnic Indian dishes contain large amounts of tofu cooked and spiced
in different ways.

So here is my suggestion to you: If you aren’t already a vegetarian, but want to become one, don’t let tofu get in your way. You can maintain a healthy vegetarian diet without ever eating it. However, if you already are a vegetarian, but haven’t tried tofu, I highly suggest you do. It is both nutritional and versatile - and it might not taste as bad as you think.

Benefits of Eliminating Fish from your Diet

2007-02-16T18:14:00.000Z

Many people think if they just eliminate red meat and poultry from their diets, their eating healthier. This is partly true, but there are hazards to eating fish and seafood as well. The harm that humans have done to the environment has had a direct effect on the fish and seafood we eat.

There are elements of fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children's proper growth and development. So, women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits. However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury.

For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

Is this any way to eat? In fear of what unhealthy elements are lurking in the food we eat? Eliminating red meat and eating a more vegetarian diet is an excellent start on the road to more healthy eating. Eliminating fish and seafood is one of the final steps towards eating a complete vegetarian diet and the health benefits that are your reward for making that change.

Vegetarian Cheese

2007-02-02T13:36:00.000Z

Vegetarian cheese is cheese that is not curdled with rennet, an enzyme that occurs naturally in animal stomachs. Most vegetarian cheeses are curdled with either plants, fungi, or bacteria.

Vegetarians who do not consume cheese with rennet generally choose not to because it involves slaughtering animals to extract the enzymes.

Vegetarian cheese is hard to distinguish from cheese made with rennet. This lack of distinguisability often forces vegetarians who are ethically-opposed to harming animals to consume cheeses that contain rennet.

Even though more cheeses are being made with vegetable rennet, it is usually impossible to spot the difference, unless the package is clearly labeled "vegetarian cheese."

Recently, some grocery stores have started doing this to aid vegetarian shoppers, who would not otherwise be able to distinguish the difference between the vegetable and animal rennet cheeses.

In addition to eating cheeses made with vegetable rennet, there are more alternatives to eating regular cheese.

Vegans, for instance, do not consume cheese at all because it is an animal byproduct and subsequently requires animals to be caged and suffer. Many vegans, however, do
consume cheese substitutes.

Chreese is one of these substitutes. Chreese is an all natural, non-soy, cheese replacement that requires substantially less natural resources and energy to create than cheese with rennet.

And chreese is just one substitute. There are a number of other all natural alternatives you can find at local organic and health food stores.

If you are a vegetarian and you don't support animal suffering on your behalf in any capacity, you may also want to consider adjusting your dietary habits if you consume cheese made with animal rennet.

To summarize, you have three basic options:

(1) you can look for grocery stores that label vegetarian cheese;
(2) you can purchase vegetarian cheese online; or
(3) you can purchase cheese alternatives online or at your local organic or health food store.

A Vegetarian Barbeque

2007-01-29T14:37:00.000Z

Whether you’re expecting vegetarian guests to your barbeque or you have newly transitioned to vegetarianism yourself there are lots of different ways to prepare vegetarian barbeque options.

Before you start, remember that most vegetarian foods are more fragile than meat, and do not contain as much fat. Therefore, a clean and well-lubricated grill is essential to successfully grilling vegetables. It’d be a shame for those beautifully grilled peppers to stick to the grill!

Traditionally, vegetables have been considered a side dish in most meals, but at a barbeque they can take center stage as the entrée. Almost any kind of vegetable is great for grilling. Complement your meal by serving them over pasta, rice or polenta. You can also make them into great sandwiches with a soy-based cheese and some freshly baked rolls or bread.

Cut the vegetables lengthwise into thin slices in the case of zucchini and eggplant, or into thick rings, in the case of onions, tomatoes and peppers. If you'd rather have your veggies in handy bite-size pieces for serving with pasta and the like, try using a special pan for the grill with small holes that keep the veggies from falling through the grill and being lost. And probably the easiest way to grill vegetables on the grill is shish-ka-bob style!

Don’t forget to balance out those grilled vegetables with some fresh fruit salads, perfectly chilled and juicy. Watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and citrus fruits all complement one another well in a delightful fruit salad prepared with non-dairy whipped cream. Also use fruits to experiment with some fun smoothies and slushies for the kids – they’re fun and better for them than sugary sodas.

The Top Nutrients lacking in a Vegetarian Diet

2007-01-19T12:39:00.000Z

Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets have advantages. Vegetarian diets tend to be rich in antioxidants, certain vitamins, and healthy fats. Non-vegetarian diets, by contrast, tend to contain more protein, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin B-12.

If you have already decided to adopt a vegetarian diet, it is essential that you learn how to increase your intake and absorption of these nutrients to avoid short-term and long-term health complications.

Here is how you can regularly assimilate larger portions of these nutrients into your regular diet:

1. Protein - Different types of protein are made up of different permutations of amino acid chains. In order to create a "complete protein" or a protein that can be assimilated into the human body as tissue, you must consume foods that contain complementary chains of amino acids.

Wheat, nuts, and beans are three types of vegan-friendly incomplete proteins; however, wheat is hard to digest and up to 50% of its protein is lost during the process.

Isolated soy protein, which you can get from a number of sources (including soy milk), can be digested efficiently-enough to match the animal protein yields.

2. Iron - Plant sources contain a significant amount of iron, but in nonheme form, which is more sensitive to inhibitors than iron that comes from animal products. You should do two things to increase your blood-iron levels: 1) consume more plant iron; and 2) avoid absorption inhibitors, such as tea, coffee, and fiber.

3. Zinc - Whereas non-vegetarian diets seem to enhance the absorption of zinc; vegetarian and vegan diets do the exact opposite--they inhibit it.

Nutritionists suggest that you can overcome this by consuming more foods that contain zinc, such as soybeans, cashews, and sunflower seeds while reducing your intake of inhibitors by washing vegetables and grains.

4. Calcium - While vegetarians can easily consume an adequate amount of calcium without any dietary additions, it is important that vegetarians avoid consuming certain foods that are high in oxalates, which inhibit calcium absorption.

Dietitians suggest that vegetarians do not consume spinach, beet greens, and swiss chard as the
calcium component of a meal plan. While they are rich in calcium, they also contain high amounts of oxalates.

Rather than consuming those foods for calcium, vegetarians should consider other options, such as soy yogurt, tofu, beans, almonds, and calcium-fortified foods.

5. Vitamin B-12 - Many vegetarians lack vitamin B-12 simply because it does not exist naturally in any non-animal forms. Vegetarians should seek out vitamin B-12 fortified foods, such as certain soy milks and cereals to supplement what they lack.

As I outlined, there are a number of nutrients vegetarians can lack of they do not research and plan. This is not meant to discourage people from becoming vegetarians, but instead to encourage them to spend time planning a healthy approach to their vegetarian diet before starting it.

When planned adequately, a vegetarian diet can not only make up for what it lacks from animal products, but it can far exceed the healthfulness of most non-vegetarian diets.

Vegetarian Spicy Tomato and Pepper Soup Recipe

2007-01-12T19:10:00.000Z

This is a really quick and easy recipe to make. The soup is delicious and it's also packed full of vitamins and fiber!

Ingredients:
2x 400g (14oz) Tins of chopped tomatoes
Tablespoon of Olive Oil
2 garlic cloves
1 medium onion
2 medium carrots
2 peppers (red, yellow or orange)
600ml (1 pint) vegetable stock
Cayenne Pepper
Fresh basil, salt & black pepper to season

Method:

(1) Chop the carrots, peppers and onions into small pieces
(2) Gently heat the oil in a pot and crush the garlic
(3) Add the onions, peppers and carrots to the pot and stir for 3-4 minutes
(4) Add the two tins of chopped tomatoes
(5) Pour in the vegetable stock
(6) Add a teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
(7) You can also add a handful of red lentils at this stage if you wish to make this a more filling soup
(8) Bring the soup to the boil
(9) Allow to simmer for 20 minutes
(19) Use a hand blender to liquidise the soup
(11) Season with salt and pepper and garnish with fresh basil

Hope you anjoy the soup. It's really warming on a cold winter's day!

What Alternatives are there to Gelatin?

2007-01-05T11:34:00.000Z

If you are a vegetarian or vegan and you are looking for something to replace gelatin, do not despair. There are ingredients that you can use instead.

Gelatin serves both nutritional and culinary roles in nonvegetarian diets, but all vegans and many vegetarians and do not consume gelatin in its many forms. This is because it is often created out of boiled pig skins and dissolved veal cartilage and bones.

This leaves vegetarians with a problem when a recipe requires a gel or a thickening
agent. It also leaves vegetarians with less options if they need a source of gelatin to increase bone and cartilage health.

Here are some alternatives to Gelatin:

1) Soy-based alternatives. Soyfoods USA developed
NuSoy Gel, a gelatin alternative which was created
entirely out of of soy isoflavones and contains 100% of
your vitamin c recommended daily allowance.

2) Seaweed-based alternatives. Agar-agar, for instance,
is a seaweed based alternative to gelatin that can simulate
the culinary functions of gelatin.

3) Rice starch alternatives. A&B Ingredients recently developed a rice starch alternative to gelatins that mimics
the cooking functionality of gelatins closely.

4) Increase your calcium intake. One component of gelatin sulplements that increases joint health is calcium. If you want to increase your calcium intake without eating gelatin, you can simply consume more
calcium-fortified foods and even take supplements.

5) Increase your glucosamine intake. No foods contain glucosamine, but you can increase your intake by purchasing supplements at your local grocery store or pharmacy. This is rumored to improve joint health if taken regularly.

6) Increase your vitamin c intake. Another component of gelatin supplements that allegedly increases joint health is vitamin c. You can increase your vitamin c intake by consuming more citrus fruit.

To summarise, gelatin has two main functions: it works as a thickening agent for foods and is alledged to improve joint health. Both of these functions can easily be mimicked by alternatives.

Detoxing

2007-01-03T23:10:00.000Z

Now that Christmas and New Year is over, many people start to think about Detoxing. Not surprisingly, January is the most popular time for detoxing, with many of us wanting to reverse the damage from that overindulgement in alcohol after the holidays.

When people talk about detoxing and cleansing the body of harmful toxins, it’s often seen as a fringe element of vegetarians. People really don’t like to think about harmful toxins building up in their colons or in their arteries, but it’s often a by-product of a carnivorous diet. A diet that’s high in fat and processed foods tends to slow down our digestive systems, and our elimination processes are also interrupted.

This can allow harmful bacteria and toxins to accumulate and can create a general feeling of sluggishness, as well as a host of digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome or colitis. When we begin eating a more healthy vegetarian diet, we start to get more dietary fiber into our systems, and all of a sudden, our digestive systems start to work better,

When you eliminate high-fat meat and processed foods from your diet, then much of your body’s energy is freed from the intense work of digesting these foods. Everything becomes clearer – your blood, your organs and your mind. You start becoming much more aware of the toxic nature of the food you’d been eating before.

Toxicity is of much greater concern in the twentieth century than ever before. There are many new and stronger chemicals, air and water pollution, radiation and nuclear power. We ingest new chemicals, use more drugs of all kinds, eat more sugar and refined foods, and daily abuse ourselves with various stimulants and sedatives. The incidence of many toxicity diseases has increased as well. Cancer and cardiovascular disease are two of the main ones. Arthritis, allergies, obesity, and many skin problems are others. In addition, a wide range of symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, pains, coughs, gastrointestinal problems, and problems from immune weakness, can all be related to toxicity.

When you start a vegetarian eating plan, your body eventually cleanses itself of the harmful effects of these toxic foods.

So if you are planning on Detoxing this year, consider following a vegetarian diet for a natural healthy way to clean out your system.

Vegetarian Food versus Raw Food

2006-12-31T20:59:00.000Z

Is there a difference between vegetarian dietsand raw food diets?

A raw foodist is a vegetarian, but one who generally is not going to cook his vegetables or fruits. A vegetarian is someone who simply doesn’t eat meat, fish or poultry, but only consumes vegetables, pasta, and rice. A vegetarian might eat meatless spaghetti sauce or order onion rings in a restaurant. (Not the healthiest choice, but sometimes it’s hard to find something to eat in a restaurant if you’re vegetarian – even harder if you’re a raw foodist.)

There are different categories of vegetarians, like vegans, or fruitarians, and raw foodist is a category of vegetarianism. We haven’t seen anything about sushi being considered a raw food, but it is. Raw food, though, generally means eating raw, uncooked fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, seaweeds, etc.

But to be a raw food purist means raw broccoli, not steamed. To a vegetarian, someone committed to not eat meat or fish or animal products, steamed vegetables are just as good, although everyone would agree that steaming can take out nutrients from foods, rendering them less nutritious. A vegetarian might consume dairy or egg products; however a vegan will not consume any animal products at all. And a raw foodist is a vegan who consumes only uncooked, unprocessed raw foods.

Proponents of the raw diet believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us digest foods completely, without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes.

It is also thought that the cooking process destroys vitamins and minerals and that cooked foods not only take longer to digest, but they also allow partially digested fats, proteins and carbohydrates to clog up our gut and arteries.
Followers of a raw diet cite numerous health benefits, including:

• increased energy levels
• improved appearance of skin
• improved digestion
• weight loss
• reduced risk of heart disease

Does being Vegetarian Make a Difference?

2006-12-27T21:53:00.000Z

Many nonvegetarians and some vegetarians alike question
whether being a vegetarian really makes any difference
at all. Some bring up blurry ethical situations to make it
impossible to see a vegetarian lifestyle as ethical.

If you are a prospective vegetarian for ethical reasons,
but aren't sure whether or not a vegetarian lifestyle is
truly a more ethical choice, here are some statistics
from EarthSave to help you make your choice (for
or against):

1. Over 1.3 billion human beings could be fed each year
from the grain and soybeans that go to livestock in the
United States.

This means that the entire population of the United States
could be fed (without losing any nutritional value) and there
would still be enough food left over to feed one billion
people.

In a world where millions of people die each year of
starvation, that type of food excess and inefficiency
could be considered unethical.

2. Livestock in the US produces roughly 30 times more
excrement than human beings. While humans in the US have
complex sewage systems to collect and treat human waste,
there are no such systems on feedlots. As a result, most
of this waste leeches into water.

This means that large-scale, massive production and
slaughter of animals is not only unethical, but it also
causes serious environmental degradation.

3. It takes 7.5 pounds of protein feed to create 1 pound of
consumable hog protein; and it takes 5 pounds of protein
feed to create 1 pound of consumable chicken protein. Close
to 90% of protein from wheat and beans is lost to feed
cycling.

This means that an enormous amount of resources are
dedicated to producing wheat and soy just for the purpose
of feeding it to animals, which will be slaughtered as "a
source of protein"--even though they only provide about
1/5 of the amount they consume.

Not only can the production of meat be considered an
injustice against animals, but it can also be considered an
injustice against human beings, as well as the environment
in general.

A Tasty Vegetarian Holiday Season

2006-12-27T21:12:00.000Z

Planning a lovely, yet nutrient-dense, delicious holiday meal for both your meat eating and vegetarian guests can be quite daunting at first, but it can also bring out your creativity! Many side dishes you make can be easily made vegetarian, with little difference in taste.

The first step in planning would be to find out which of your guests are vegetarian, and what kind of vegetarian they are. Do they eat eggs or cheese? If so, you’ll have a few more possibilities. If they don’t, no problem, you’ll still have plenty of options to work with.

If you’re new to the vegetarian lifestyle and aren’t quite sure where to start, just ask for some input or help from your vegetarian guests. They will probably have some great recipe ideas, shortcuts, or simple tricks of the trade they can share with you to make your holiday meal preparation go smoothly.

For instance, you can substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth, or simply leave the meat or meat drippings out of vegetables and soups. This will also cut down on the fat content. It’s also very simple to divide some of the dishes, making one portion meatless, using the same vegetarian ingredients just mentioned.

Most importantly, keep in mind that the holidays are about peace, love, and understanding. With this in mind, please try not to be judgmental of what people you love choose to eat if you are not vegetarian yourself. Support your family member or friend’s choice to eat vegetarian. Seize the opportunity to learn from them. Incorporate ideas from a vegetarian lifestyle into your own to ensure your family is eating a variety nutrient-dense, delicious fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts at every meal.

Be Careful to Choose the Right Kind of Carbs

2006-12-17T18:25:00.000Z

We’ve all been there. We’ve just come in from a long day at work and the last thing on our minds taking the time to prepare a healthy, nutritionally sound vegetarian meal. But choosing a refined or enriched carbohydrate over the beneficial carbohydrates that a solid, well-balanced vegetarian diet offers defeats the purpose of your decision to live a vegetarian lifestyle, and that’s for optimal health. Consuming refined carbohydrates presents different hazards to your health.

The over-consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugars can result in excess insulin in the bloodstream. In the presence of excess insulin, glucose, the blood sugar, is converted to triglycerides and stored in the fat cells of the body.

According to one study, consuming refined grains may also increase your risk of getting stomach cancer. The research found that a high intake of refined grains could increase a patient's risk of stomach cancer.

In addition, refined sugars and carbohydrates have been implicated as a contributing factor in increased gallbladder disease, according to a recent study. It showed a direct link between the amount of sugars eaten and the incidence of gallbladder disease. Another study looked at the role carbohydrates play in the incidence of heart disease. The researchers noted that as carbohydrate consumption increased, so did the level of triglycerides in the blood of the participants. Diets low in fat and high in carbohydrates not only dramatically raised triglyceride levels but significantly reduced levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol.

And lastly, refined white sugars increase the rate at which your body excretes calcium, which is directly connected to your skeletal health. Simply put, as your sugary and refined carbohydrate intake increases, your bone density decreases.

So don’t be lazy! Do your body right and take the time to prepare a nutrient-dense and delicious vegetarian meal. Your body, and your conscience, will thank you for it in the long run.

A vegetarian diet during Pregnancy

2006-12-09T17:14:00.000Z

Now that you’re pregnant, you’re wondering if your decision to become vegetarian can still be carried out successfully during your pregnancy. And while it is possible for you to obtain all the nutrients your body will need during pregnancy through a well-planned, nutrient-dense vegetarian diet, careful planning and observation will be crucial to your overall success transitioning to vegetarianism during your pregnancy.

A good vegetarian diet has a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, lentils, and nuts and some eggs and dairy or their equivalent if you so choose. Fast food, highly processed junk foods, and canned fruits and vegetables are eaten rarely if at all. It’s imperative that you make wise food choices at this crucial time, since a pregnant woman only needs approximately 300 more calories per day and about 10-16 extra grams of protein; however, the body's need for certain nutrients increases significantly. Every bite you take is important when you're pregnant.

While the RDAs (recommended daily allowances) for almost all nutrients increase, especially important are folic acid, iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12. Attention to adequate amounts of vitamin B-12 is crucial for vegetarians who choose not to eat eggs and dairy.

Work closely with your healthcare professional during this transition. The changeover from a meat-eating to a vegetarian diet can be rough on your body as it actually goes through a detoxification process during the transition. So, you want to ensure your baby is getting all the nutrients it needs at this time, and is growing and developing at a healthy rate. Start very slowly; perhaps only one or two days per week eating a vegetarian diet.

Gradually work soy and other plant-based proteins into your diet, and little by little use them to replace proteins obtained from eating meat products. Be sure to adequately supplement your diet with a quality prenatal supplement, and get adequate amounts of exercise and exposure to sunlight to promote your body to naturally produce vitamin D.

With careful planning, observation, and your healthcare professional’s guidance, the transition to vegetarianism during your pregnancy can be a cleansing and healthy start for both you and your baby to a lifetime of optimal health.

Becoming vegetarian while keeping variety in your diet

2006-11-29T21:07:00.000Z

You’ve weighed your options carefully, studied the pros and the cons, and decided that the vegetarian lifestyle is right for you. But where do you start making the changes? Do you go ‘cold turkey?’ Do you adopt a more gradual approach to transitioning to vegetarianism? However you choose to make the change, you can begin to achieve the health benefits of vegetarianism by significantly cutting down on the amount of meats consumed, and making vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains the focus of your meals.

Choose whole-grain products like whole wheat bread and flour, instead of refined or white grains. Eat a wide variety of foods, and don’t be afraid to try vegetables, fruits, grains, breads, nuts, or seeds that you’ve never tried before. Experiment and explore! You may discover a new favorite or two, and learn fresh new ways to liven up more traditional vegetarian dishes. Many vegetarian foods can be found in any grocery store. Specialty food stores may carry some of the more uncommon items, as well as many vegetarian convenience foods. When shopping for food, plan ahead, shop with a list and read food labels. And if you decide to eat dairy products, choose non-fat or low-fat varieties, and limit your egg intake to 3-4 yolks per week.

Becoming a vegetarian can be as easy as you choose to make it. Whether you enjoy preparing delectable, delicious meals or choose quick and easy ones, vegetarian meals can be very satisfying. If you get in the habit of keeping the following on hand, meal preparation time will become a snap:

- Ready-to-eat, whole-grain breakfast cereals, and quick-cooking whole-grain cereals such as oatmeal, whole-grain breads and crackers, such as rye, whole wheat, and mixed grain and other grains such as barley and bulgur wheat

-Canned beans, such as pinto, black beans, and garbanzo beans

-Rice (including brown, wild, etc.) and pasta (now available in whole wheat, spinach, and other flavors) with tomato sauce and canned beans and/or chopped veggies

-Vegetarian soups like lentil, navy bean, or minestrone

-A wide variety of plain frozen vegetables, and canned and frozen fruit

-Fortified soymilks and soy cheeses, should you choose to not eat dairy

-A wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, which should be the core of any diet

As you learn to experiment with foods and learn that a meatless diet doesn’t have to lack variety, you’ll find your decision for vegetarianism was not only wise, but easy and fun come mealtime.

Vegetarianism & Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia

2006-11-27T22:07:00.000Z

For the majority of people, vegetarianism is a very healthly way to live and as discussed in my earlier postings, eating vegetarian food can often help you to live longer and be less likely to be diagnosed with heart diseases and certain cancers.

Very occassionally adolescent vegetarians can become more weight and body conscious after embarkling on a meat free diet. The following articles discusses the symptoms and affects of anorexia nervosa and bulimia, so you can be aware of the signs.

Malign Effects of Anorexia and Bulimia
By Groshan Fabiola

Eating disorders make lots of victims among people nowadays. The persons suffering from these conditions are exposed to many threats, developing obsessions with food and experiencing changes in their behavior. Eating disorders are a sort of mental illnesses that seriously affect the health and the lifestyle of the persons who suffer from them. People with eating disorders usually feel depressed, tired, anxious and confused. Eating disorders lead to severe mental and physical damage, making people susceptible to malign behaviors and activities.

Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia) and Bulimia Nervosa (bulimia) are considered to be the most common and dangerous eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia both involve obsessions with food and a constant fear of gaining weight. The differences between anorexia and bulimia, however, are related to the body weight and the behavior of people who deal with their effects.

Anorexia involves a constant desire to be thin, regardless of how much the persons actually weighs. People who suffer from anorexia have a distorted perception of their physical appearance, always feeling that they are fat. No matter how much effort they may sustain in order to lose weight, the persons with anorexia are never appeased with their accomplishments. Anorexics are usually a lot thinner than bulimics. People with anorexia usually have a strong will, eat very little food, respect drastic diets and carefully count the calories of their meals.

Bulimia involves several different eating habits. People who suffer from bulimia may eat very little food for some periods of time and then eat large amounts of food instead. However, despite the great deal of food they eat at once, bulimics make sure to get rid of it from their system. The persons who suffer from bulimia purge the food from their bodies by vomiting or by taking laxatives and diuretics. They also exercise a lot in order to burn the food they consume.

Both anorexia and bulimia can lead to internal complications and even death from malnourishment. Anorexia and bulimia, as well as other eating disorders can be treated but it is very important to act quickly when dealing with this sort of illnesses.

Anorexia and bulimia affect people regardless of their age or sex. However, girls and young women are more exposed to developing eating disorders, especially due to their permanent preoccupation with their looks. Studies indicate that around one percent of young women and girls suffer from anorexia, while two percent are confronted with bulimia. The number of male persons suffering from anorexia exceeds the percentage of female persons affected by the same illness. The percentage of male people with anorexia is somewhere around five percent or more.

Despite the fact that anorexia and bulimia has attracted the attention of many scientists and psychiatrists lately, the performed studies haven’t yet clarified the causes of anorexia and bulimia. Although it is thought that eating disorders are exclusively of psychological nature, appearing on the background of emotional instability and depression, there is also the possibility that some eating disorders might be developed due to some physical predispositions.

Anorexia and bulimia can be prevented by eating properly, respecting an appropriate eating schedule and by making improvements in your lifestyle. You should learn to take better care of your body and to be content and appeased with your physical appearance. Good self-esteem and self-respect are very important in the prevention of eating disorders.

Follow this links for great information on anorexia and bulimia. It's one of the best anorexia information sites on the internet with great content about girls with anorexia.

The Argument Against Drinking Milk

2006-11-26T22:08:00.000Z

Many Americans, including some vegetarians, still consume large amounts of dairy products, but here are several strong reasons to eliminate dairy products from your diet.

Milk has long been praised as a ‘weapon’ in the war against osteoporosis, but recent clinical research shows that it actually is associated with a higher fracture risk, and there’s been no protective effect of dairy calcium on bone. Increasing your intake of green leafy vegetables and beans, along with exercising have been shown to help strengthen bones and increase their density.

Dairy products are also a significant source of fat and cholesterol in the diet, which can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. A low-fat vegetarian diet that eliminates dairy products, as well as adequate amounts of exercise, proper stress management and quitting smoking not only will help prevent heart disease, but could also reverse it.

Ovarian, breast, and prostate cancers have been linked to dairy product consumption. According to a recent study by Daniel Cramer, a Harvard doctor, when excessive amounts of dairy products are consumed and the body’s enzymes are unable to keep pace with breaking down the lactose; it can build up in the blood and affect a woman’s ovaries.

Another recent study showed that men who had the highest levels of IGF-I, (insulin-like growth factor) which is found in cow’s milk, they were at four times the risk of prostate cancer compared to those men who had the lowest levels of IGF-I.
In addition, milk may not provide a consistent and reliable source of Vitamin D in the diet. Milk samplings have been found to have inconsistent levels of Vitamin D, and some have been found to have as much as 500 times the indicated safe level. Excess Vitamin d in the blood can be toxic and can result in calcium deposits in the body’s soft tissues.

Milk proteins, milk sugar, fat, and saturated fat in dairy products may pose health risks for children and lead to the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and formation of plaques in the circulatory system that can lead to heart disease.

By choosing to consume a nutrient-dense, healthful diet of grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fortified foods including cereals and juices, you can help meet your body’s calcium, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin D requirements easily and simply, without the added health risks from dairy product consumption.

Almost Vegetarian Cookbook

2006-11-24T16:54:00.000Z

The Almost Vegetarian cookbock is an excellent book for vegetarians, people who are vegetarian some of the time or for people who just like good wholesome, tasty food.

Almost Vegetarian by Diane Shaw has over 200 pages of recipes and useful information. It includes recipes for soups, salads, pasta, starters, side dishes, main dishes and desserts as well as a directory of fresh vegetables and a directory of seasonings.

The book has a great easy to follow format with lots of "How to" boxes beside the recipes and nutritional information for those health conscious people.

Recipes include chilled corn chowder, chick pea curry, spinach and ricotta cannelloni, vegetable tofu stir fry and sweet potato pudding

Overall Almost Vegetarian is an excellent book and I highly recommend it!

You are What you Eat

2006-11-20T12:55:00.000Z

You’ve certainly heard the expression many times, “You are what you eat.” Have you ever really thought about what it means? And do you think about it when you’re making food choices?

In some ways, we do become what we eat, literally. Have you ever seen an example of your blood plasma after eating a fast food hamburger? What was previously a clear liquid becomes cloudy with the fat and cholesterol that’s absorbed from eating a high-fat hamburger.

And when you think about it, we also become what we don’t eat. When we switch from eating meat to a vegetarian-based diet, we become less fat and less prone to many types of cancers. Our cholesterol can improve. When we’re leaner and eating fewer animal products, then many other health and fitness issues are reduced. The incidence of Type II diabetes is reduced. Blood pressure falls into normal ranges. When you’re healthier, you’re taking fewer medications. Even if you have a prescription drug benefit in your health plan, you’re still saving money with fewer co-payments on medications.

If you have a family history of high cholesterol or high blood pressure, then it’s particularly important for you to revise your eating habits. Moving towards a more vegetarian diet has been shown statistically to reduce the incidence of so many of the diseases of industrialized countries. Vegetarians are statistically healthier than omnivorous persons; they’re leaner and live longer.

Isn’t it time to think about what you want to be and to eat accordingly? Do you want to be sluggish and fat? Do you want the risk that goes with eating animal products, with their high fat content? Or do you want to look like and be what vegetarians are? Leaner and fitter with a longer anticipated lifespan. It’s never too late to change what you’re doing and increase your chances for a longer, fitter life.

How to eat a Healthy Diet if you are Vegetarian

2006-11-17T22:33:00.000Z

The vegetarian way of eating can be a very healthy style of eating. The rules still apply with healthy eating, although you should add variety, balance, and moderation.

Vegetarians will often wonder how they'll get enough protein. Although you may not realize it, the average American actually consumes more protein than they actually need. For the lacto-ovo vegetarian, dairy products are an excellent source of protein. Vegans on the other hand can get their protein from nuts, seeds, and soy products.

There are several types of beans and pulses to choose from, including green or red lentils, peanuts, split peas, pinto, soy, kidney, and many more. Some of them you are already familiar, such as kidney beans in chili, refried beans in Mexican dishes, red beans and rice, and pinto beans. Although some beans taste good as they are, others are available with different flavors
to help enhance their taste. Nuts are high in protein, although they deliver a lot more fat than beans, which means you should enjoy them in moderation. Did you know that by having one cup of cooked beans, you'll get the same amount of protein as eating two ounces of meat!

The nutrients of concern for vegans, who avoid all types of animal food, are vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D. In the average North American diet, the primary source for B12 is animals. To have an adequate intake of B12, vegans should reguarly consume vitamin B12 supplements or foods, which contain vitamin B12, such as soy products or milk.

For calcium, vegans can rely on orange juice or soy milk, as they are fortified with calcium. Beans and leafy green vegetables will also contain some calcium as well.

Although all types of vegetarians rely on simple food groups, controlling your vitamins and calcium intake is something you should always do. This is very importantfor eating healthy, as well as staying healthy. If you control what you eat, you'll have many years of healthy eating ahead of you.

Eliminating Red Meat from your Diet

2006-11-15T12:20:00.000Z

If you’re thinking of changing to a vegetarian diet, how do you start? Do you just start shopping in the produce aisle of the grocery store? You might have some anxiety attached to this change as well, and this is understandable.

Try to think of this as adding to your dietary habits, rather than a drastic change. If your diet has consistently included red meat, perhaps you can start substituting other foods for the red meat. Or eliminate the most processed and high-fat meats first, such as bacon and hamburgers. Certainly try to eliminate fast food burgers, which have such a high fat and sodium content. If you think you’ll miss the taste of bacon in the morning, try substituting a turkey or vegetable-based bacon substitute. It won’t be the same, but you won’t be giving up the foods you’re used to all at once.

If you’ve had a health scare and feel the need to change everything at once, make sure you include a lot of variety in the foods you buy as you begin to discover new flavors and textures that you’ll like to replace the ones you’re used to eating. If you don’t need to make a dramatic change all at once, you’ll have a much greater chance of long-term success if you take it slow. Reduce the amount of red meat that you eat on a weekly basis, even if it means substituting pasta with marinara sauce for meat just one night a week. Increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables you eat. Start with raw vegetables at night before dinner so you’re not so hungry when you get to the main meal. Start reversing the proportions of meat and vegetables and make meat a side dish, with vegetables and grains your main course.

We’re creatures of habit and resistant to change. This is why so many diets fail, because we make drastic changes to facilitate dramatic results, quickly. This is a decision and a change you want to make for a lifetime. Make it a natural and gradual change and you can look forward to many more years of healthy living.

Vegetarianism and Heart Disease

2006-11-13T23:09:00.000Z

No matter what your reasons for eating a more vegetarian diet, there’s no denying the obvious health benefits that are derived from removing of red meat from your diet. On average, vegetarians have lower levels of the blood fats, cholesterol and triglycerides than meat eaters of similar age and social status. High levels of blood fats are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Lacto-ovo vegetarians, those who eat eggs and dairy products, which contain cholesterol-raising saturated fats and cholesterol, have higher cholesterol levels than vegans. But even among lacto-ovo vegetarians, cholesterol levels are generally lower than they are among meat eaters.

Researchers have found that older men who eat meat six or more times a week are twice as likely to die of heart disease as those who abstain from meat. Among middle-aged men, meat eaters were four times more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack, according to the study. As for women, who are partly protected by their hormones and generally develop heart disease later in life than men do, the risk of fatal heart disease has been found to be lower only among the older vegetarians. In a 1982 study of more than 10,000 vegetarians and meat eaters, British researchers found that the more meat consumed, the greater the risk of suffering a heart attack. Though eliminating meat from the diet is likely to reduce your consumption of heart-damaging fats and cholesterol, substituting large amounts of high-fat dairy products and cholesterol-rich eggs can negate the benefit.

To glean the heart-saving benefits of vegetarianism, consumption of such foods as hard cheese, cream cheese, ice cream and eggs should be moderate. And the introduction of more vegetables, fruits and raw foods will definitely enhance the benefits of abstaining from eating meat.

Should a Yoga Teacher be Vegetarian?

2006-11-10T12:00:00.000Z

There are many beliefs and myths about what one should do to become a Yoga teacher. Some Yoga teacher organizations do make official statements in regard to Yoga teacher ethics; and diet is included, sometimes.

However, if you teach Yoga, should you be a vegan? Are dairy foods and eggs okay? What about goats, chicken, or fish? Yes, some Yoga teachers do eat goat, but not beef. Some people still claim that fish feel no pain, but I never heard that from a Yogi. Are you confused? What is right and what is wrong?

Firstly, let’s step back a second. What you were taught about your religion and diet should be followed. This is for your spiritual health. You will feel more at ease, and you can live with it. Maybe Yoga teachers, and the world, could be a little more conscious of meat consumption and its consequences.

Due to the cultures people are raised in, they are used to the taste of a particular meat. An example of this is the global beef consumption. The Japanese had been used to eating whale meat. There are cultures that have acquired the taste of dogs and cats. Luckily, cannibalism has been outlawed worldwide.

Most of us are in agreement that our forests should be preserved. The forests serve as a filtering system for all of the fossil fuels we expel into the atmosphere.

Global warming may not be the only problem, if the last human on earth is gasping for oxygen. Removing any more forests, to make room for cattle to graze, is a slow form of global suicide. This only makes environmental sense.

Health problems, due to meat consumption, will require a book. If a person consumes any kind of meat, it should be in moderation. Obviously, there are better choices to eat than others, when considering cholesterol, cancer, and parasites.

Most of us have heard of Mad Cow, salmonella, E. coli, and campylobacter. With fish consumption, mercury is always a factor. Fish is an excellent source of Omega-3 fats, but consumption should be limited when you consider mercury. Pregnant women should get a professional opinion about any fish consumption.

For the record, flax seed oil is also a good source of Omega-3 fats. Therefore, we do not have to eat fish for Omega-3 fats. When you eat meat, you are always gambling that nothing will happen. This is life - and life is a gamble – however, let me approach one last point.

Is eating any kind of an animal humane - when we do not have to eat them? Does any one of us really think that animals feel no pain? In the past, I have heard people state than animals have no soul. Throughout history, some people made the same claims about slaves. Will our opinions of animals evolve over time?

In summary, Yoga instructors are teaching an holistic method of health for maintenance of mind, body, and spirit. When you teach Yoga, awareness is instilled within you and your students.

At the very least, global meat consumption should be cut back. This is in the best interest of human survival, and all life on this earth. Yoga teachers should be examples of holistic health and high moral standards.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Cooking For A Vegetarian This Holiday Season

2006-11-08T20:21:00.000Z

Are you worried about cooking for a vegetarian in your
family this upcoming holiday season? Well, worry no more.
This article will tell you exactly what you need to do
and know before you start cooking this holiday season.

You can start off by finding out what type of vegetarian
your guest is. For instance, if she is a strict
vegan, then there’s a chance she will not eat food
that contains honey or yeast; however, if on the other
hand, she is a "semi" or "pseudo" vegetarian, there is a
chance she will actually eat the meal as it is prepared,
including the meat. And if she’s a lacto-ovo-vegetarian,
she might eat anything with eggs and milk, but will
probably avoid meat dishes.

If you talk to the vegetarian in your family before you
prepare your holiday meal, you should consider asking the
following five questions:

1. Do you eat certain types of meat or none at all?

If the vegetarian in your family will eat certain meats
(generally fish, chicken, and turkey), then you should
consider preparing that as a side dish or asking them if
they would like to bring a small dish of it for their
own meal.

2. Will you use serving utensils that have been placed in dishes
containing meat?

Some vegetarians experience severe gastrointestinal stress when they
consume meat and grease from meat, so it is a good idea to find
out whether or not they can do so ahead of time. If they can’t,
you can simply put out one utensil for all non-meat dishes and
ask that guests do not cross-contaminate.

3. Do you eat foods that contain milk and eggs?

As I mentioned above, lacto-ovo vegetarians will eat milk
and eggs, but other sub-categories of vegetarian will not.
Some wont do it for health reasons; others wont for
ethical reasons. Whatever the case, you can get around this
problem by either creating more dishes that do not contain
milk and eggs or by using egg replacer, which you can find
at most supermarkets, and milk replacements, such as soy
milk.

4. Do you eat honey and yeast?

Some vegetarians do not eat honey and yeast for ethical
reasons. If you find out that the vegetarian in your family
does not eat honey and yeast ahead of time, you can either
prepare alternate dishes or ask if they are willing to
bring an alternate dish.

5. Would you like to bring your own main dish (to replace
the turkey, ham, etc.)?

Many vegetarians eat popular meat-replacement dishes,
such as "tofurkey" and "veggie burgers." Your guest will
probably be more than willing to bring their own meat-
replacement dish if you ask.

To reiterate, there are a number of things you should take
into consideration when you cook for a vegetarian
this holiday season; however, the single most important
thing you can do is actually approach the vegetarian
and ask how you can accommodate her and if she would
like to cook with you or bring her own dish.

If you keep this in mind, your holiday meal will be a
success with everyone - even the vegetarian in your family!
Learn to accept things as they are with vegetarian food. Only through this will you learn the true value of vegetarian food.

Losing weight and being vegetarian

2006-11-04T12:23:00.000Z

Think about it, have you ever seen a fat vegetarian? Probably not. In fact, for most of us, vegetarian is almost synonymous with lean and healthy, isn’t it? And when you start any diet, what’s the first thing the experts tell you? Generally it’s to increase the amounts of vegetables you’re eating and to eat limited amounts of meat, especially high-fat red meat and pork.

And what happens when you resume your old eating habits? Generally the weight will come right back on. Even the greatest will-power can’t overcome the unhealthy effects of eating high-fat meat.

When you eat a diet that’s higher in dietary fiber, that’s primarily if not totally vegetarian, you’re naturally healthier. You’re feeding your body and getting it the nutrition it needs to run efficiently. You have more energy and stamina; you wake up more easily and more refreshed. It’s easier to exercise, because you’re not so weighed down by digesting the high fat and excessive protein that comes from eating a carnivorous diet.

Many diets fail because we think of them as depriving ourselves of food we love. The trick is to change that thinking. There are so many compelling reasons to eliminate meat from our diet, so why not forget about losing weight? Focus instead on eating healthier, or eating in a way that’s in balance with the earth, and that doesn’t need to subsist on the suffering of animals. You’ll probably find you’ll start to lose weight without even thinking about it!

And when you do lose weight, so many other health risks can fall by the wayside as well. You’ll find your blood pressure falls into a healthier range and your risk for Type II diabetes can decrease. You’ll look better and feel better and probably never go back to your old ways of eating!

Your family and the transition to a vegetarian diet

2006-11-03T14:11:00.000Z

If you’re considering moving to a vegetarian diet as an adult, you probably want to pass on this good nutrition and improved way of eating to your family as well. In fact, it’s your responsibility as a parent to nurture your children and help them develop physically, mentally and spiritually.

But that can be hard to do, especially in a culture where our children are bombarded with messages from fast food restaurants in the media. How do you teach kids to resist lure of Ronald McDonald? There isn’t a plate of vegetables on the planet that’s going to look as good to them as a Happy Meal!

You have to start slowly to change not only your own eating patterns, but your family’s as well. Like any other dietary endeavor, it starts at the grocery store. Begin stocking the refrigerator with healthy snacks like apples and carrots. Exchange good, chewy brown rice for white rice and processed side dishes, which are so high in fat and sodium. Make meat portions smaller and smaller and start incorporating more vegetables and grains in your family dinners.

Don’t make changes all at once. If you do give in and stop at a fast food restaurant, get fruit or yogurt in addition to or part of that meal. Make the changes so gradual that they’ll never notice their diets are changing. Kids are usually very sympathetic about animals, and it’s not too early to talk to them about eating in a way that isn’t cruel to animals.

You’ll be doing them a favor that will last them a lifetime. With childhood obesity at epidemic levels in many western countries, you will be setting up your children for lifelong eating habits that will help ensure a long and healthy life.

A Vegetarian Diet can help prevent Osteoporosis

2006-10-31T17:21:00.000Z

You probably know that eating a vegetarian diet can decrease the incidence of heart disease and certain types of cancers. You may also know that it can make you slimmer and healthier. But so many of the health studies are done on men. What about women and the impact of a vegetarian diet on their health as they age?

Diets that are high in protein, especially in animal protein, tend to cause the body to excrete more calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. These three substances are the main components of urinary tract stones. British researchers have advised that persons with a tendency to form kidney stones should follow a vegetarian diet. The American Academy of Family Physicians states that high animal protein intake is largely responsible for the high prevalence of kidney stones in the United States and other developed countries and recommends protein restriction for the prevention of recurrent kidney stones.

For many of the same reasons, vegetarians are at a lower risk for osteoporosis. Since animal products force calcium out of the body, eating meat can promote bone loss. In nations with mainly vegetable diets (and without dairy product consumption), osteoporosis is less common than in the U.S., even when calcium intake is also less than in the U.S. Calcium is important, but there is no need to get calcium from dairy products.

We continue to consume meat, while at the same time downing calcium supplements and prescription drugs to prevent osteoporosis, that often have drastic side effects. And most experts agree that calcium supplements are inferior to calcium derived from natural food sources. Doesn’t it make more sense (and cents) to get your calcium from eating a healthier diet?

What are some good vegetarian sources of calcium? Orange juice, for one. Dry beans, such as black-eyed peas, kidney beans and black beans are another good source, as are dark leafy vegetables such as broccoli and kale. Tofu is also a good source of calcium.

Making the Transition to a Vegetarian Diet

2006-10-29T14:18:00.000Z

If you’ve made the commitment to becoming vegetarian yet finding it difficult to make the transition in your diet and your lifestyle, here’s some suggestions on how to make the switch a smoother ride.

Start out with committing to be a vegetarian for three days per week for the first couple of weeks. Start substituting ingredients in your favorite dishes to make them truly meatless. Throw in mushrooms to that marinara sauce to take the place of meatballs, or try some textured vegetable protein (TVP) in that lasagna recipe. Making simple replacements in your tried and true recipes can inspire you to stay on the vegetarian track once you see how delicious they can be.

Next, commit to five days per week for the next two weeks. Study the natural foods aisle at your local grocer, or make it a point to introduce yourself to the local health foods store. Treat yourself to a few new vegetarian products and try them in your next meal. The internet can be a great source of vegetarian recipes. And don’t limit yourself to being vegetarian only at home; most all restaurants offer delicious vegetarian entrees, so be sure to try them. You may even find inspiration for your home cooking by doing so.

Now all that’s left to do is add two more days on your week, and you’ll be a converted vegetarian all week long! After all, you’ve been doing it for a month now; you’ve become a seasoned rookie in the game. Take pride in your accomplishments, because not only have you made positive changes in your lifestyle and eating habits, but for the environment and animals as well. Remember it’s not about being perfect; every animal-positive change you make it your diet has a great effect. By rewarding yourself for each vegetarian choice you make, and you’ll be motivated to continue in the right direction.

Vegetarian diet for a toddler

2006-10-22T14:58:00.000+01:00

Though many people have the idea that feeding a toddler a vegetarian diet isn’t safe, so long as parents take care to make sure that all the appropriate nutrients are met, it’s actually quite healthy. Some benefits to a lifelong, proper vegetarian diet include a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

The main problem with vegetarianism and toddler nutrition is making sure your child gets enough nutrients and calories. Calorie consumption is important for ensuring your toddler has the energy he needs to play hard and grow.

It can be challenging to develop a well-rounded vegetarian toddler menu that provides enough protein and iron. Since toddlers already have such a small appetite, it can be difficult to get them to eat enough vegetables or beans to receive all of their nutrients. Therefore, it is important that vegetarian children are served nutrient-dense foods.

Iron can be found in many vegetarian-friendly foods. Kidney beans, lima beans, green beans, and spinach are all excellent sources of iron. However, unlike iron derived from animal sources, iron from vegetables can be hard for your body to absorb properly. But serving a vitamin C rich food with those beans or spinach can make the iron easier for your toddler to absorb. Some great sources of vitamin C include tomatoes, oranges, broccoli, red peppers, and cantaloupe.

Soybeans and tofu are a great source of protein for adults and children over four. For toddlers, though, it shouldn’t be used as their main source of protein. In this instance, compliment the tofu or soybeans that you serve with soymilk that has been fortified with vitamins and minerals. Not only will this help provide some protein, it will also help your toddler’s nutrition by providing calcium, and vitamins A and D, which can often be hard to get in a vegan diet.

While it is possible to raise a healthy vegan, it can take a bit more work. You may need to supplement your toddler’s diet to ensure they get all the nutrition that they need. Vitamin B-12 can be especially difficult for vegans to get enough of. While vegetables contain some B-12 vitamins, the body does not easily absorb these. Your toddler’s healthcare provider can help you decide on a B-12 suitable for toddlers.

A diet that does not allow for calcium can also be detrimental to your child’s health. Calcium helps to make bones stronger and aids in proper growth and development. Choose soymilk that is calcium-fortified, but be sure it’s also fortified with other nutrients that your toddler needs for good nutrition.

A vegetarian diet for a child

2006-10-20T23:51:00.000+01:00

Eating habits are set in early childhood. Choosing a vegetarian diet can give your child—and your whole family—the opportunity to learn to enjoy a variety of wonderful, nutritious foods. Offer your child a wide variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and soy products, keep it simple and make it fun, and they’ll learn good eating habits that will last them a lifetime.

Children raised on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes grow up to be slimmer and healthier and even live longer than their meat-eating friends. It is much easier to build a nutritious diet from plant foods than from animal products, which contain saturated fat, cholesterol, and other substances that growing children can do without. As for essential nutrients, plant foods are the preferred source because they provide sufficient energy and protein packaged with other health-promoting nutrients such as fiber, antioxidant vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.

The complex carbohydrates found in whole grains, beans, and vegetables provide the ideal energy to fuel a child’s busy life. Encouraging the consumption of brown rice, whole wheat breads and pastas, rolled oats, and corn, as well as the less common grains barley, quinoa, millet, and others, will boost the fiber and nutrient content of a child’s diet. In addition, it will help steer children away from desiring sugary sweet drinks and treats.

And though children need protein to grown, they don’t need high-protein, animal-based foods. Different varieties of grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits supplies plenty of protein, making protein deficiency very unlikely.

Very young children need a bit more healthy fats in their diets than their parents. Healthier fat sources include soybean products, avocados, and nut butters. Parents will want to make sure their child’s diet includes a regular source of vitamin B-12, which is needed for healthy nerve function and blood. Vitamin B-12 is abundant in many commercial cereals, fortified soy and rice milks, and nutritional yeast. Growing children also need iron found in a variety of beans and green, leafy vegetables and when coupled with the vitamin C in fruits and vegetables, iron absorption is enhanced.

The benefits of being vegetarian if you are diabetic

2006-10-16T13:06:00.000+01:00

Diabetics have to choose any food they eat very carefully, as each food choice they make has a profound impact on their overall health on a meal-to-meal basis. Diabetes affects people of all ages, both genders, from all walks of life and backgrounds. Untreated, it can cause wounds to heal slowly, infections take longer to cure, blindness, and kidney failure. Diet is one of the most important ways of controlling diabetes, and a vegetarian lifestyle with its emphasis on low fat, high fiber, and nutrient-rich foods is very complementary.

Affecting more than 30 million people worldwide, this disease prevents the body from processing foods properly. Usually, most of the food we eat is digested and converted to glucose, a sugar which is carried by the blood to all cells in the body and used for energy. The hormone insulin then helps glucose pass into cells. But diabetics are unable to control the amount of glucose in their blood because the mechanism which converts sugar to energy does not work correctly. Insulin is either absent, present in insufficient quantities or ineffective. As a result glucose builds up in the bloodstream and leads to problems such as weakness, inability to concentrate, loss of co-ordination and blurred vision. If the correct balance of food intake and insulin isn’t maintained, a diabetic can also experience blood sugar levels that are too low. If this state continues for a prolonged period of time, it can lead to coma and even death.

Though incurable, diabetes can be successfully controlled through diet and exercise, oral medications, injections of insulin, or a combination. Instead of counting calories diabetics must calculate their total carbohydrate intake so that no less than half their food is made up of complex carbohydrates. Many diabetic vegetarians have discovered that as a result of their meatless diet, they’ve had to use insulin injections less, which gives them a feeling of power and control over their disease.

Vegetarianism and Animal Suffering

2006-10-12T13:03:00.000+01:00

There are many compelling reasons to move towards a vegetarian diet, many of them health-related. But many people refuse to eat meat because of the inhumane treatment of the animals that are mass-produced to feed the population. Animal farming on the scale that it needs to be to satisfy consumption is grotesquely cruel. When you eat meat, you’re eating the flesh of an animal whose life has been artificially shortened by overfeeding it to get it to a slaughterhouse earlier. They’re kept in small pens and cages, where they endure chronic stress. If they bear their young live, their babies are taken from them, sometimes a day after they’re born. They’re fed growth hormones and antibiotics and kept from the natural behaviors and actions that characterize the normal life span. Pigs aren’t allowed to root. Calves are kept immobile. Chickens are kept in cages, their beaks seared off with a burning hot knife to thwart aggressive behaviors that are the result of unnatural confinement.

Do you really think the flesh of the animal is separate from its spirit and its energy? The agony and stress they endure in their shortened lives infuses every cell of their bodies. Consider that depression and stress can make humans ill, can infect our muscles and organs. Is an animal so very different? We don’t need meat or milk for survival. We’re no longer a hunting society; we’re merely a consuming society.

Isn’t it time we all started thinking differently of what we consume to nourish our bodies? We’re evolved from herbivores, and yet we’ve veered off our own evolutionary path. One can make a case for hunting and eating meat when it’s the only means for survival. But that’s no longer the case and our options are plentiful. Do they have to include the flesh of suffering animals? How can that possibly be considered nourishment?

What is PETA?

2006-10-11T22:48:00.000+01:00

PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and is an organization devoted to changing that mindset among humans. PETA are against using animals for food or for clothing, especially for what they consider the needless or particularly inhumane use of animals, such as killing or trapping them for their fur.

PETA are passionate about their cause. In their own words, they believe that animals have rights and deserve to have their best interests taken into consideration, regardless of whether they are useful to humans. Like you, they are capable of suffering and have an interest in leading their own lives; therefore, they are not ours to use—for food, clothing, entertainment, experimentation, or any other reason.

We are supposedly an evolved society. But how evolved can a society be that thrives on the suffering of animals? In his excellent book, When Elephants Weep author Jeffrey Masson explores the emotional lives of animals and presents compelling evidence for it. As a species, we must begin to re-evaluate our place on this earth and where we fit in relation to every other creature that inhabits it. PETA believes this as well and is a passionate advocate for the rights of animals.

Mexican Style Vegetarian Bean Lasagne Recipe

2006-07-12T17:11:00.000+01:00

Here's a bit of a twist on the regular veggie lasagne recipe - Mexican Style Vegetarian Bean Lasagne:

Makes: 5 Servings

Ingredients

4 x Cans of chopped Tomatoes
1 x 12 Oz Bottle Taco Sauce
2 x Cups Corn
15 x Lasagne Sheets
1/2 Cup Black Olives
1 1/2 Cups Cottage Cheese
2 x Cans Refried Beans

Directions

1. Add 5 oz taco sauce to the bottom of a lasagne dish. Spread around the bottom.
2. Cover sauce with a layer of lasagne sheets.
3. Add the beans, cheese, corn, diced tomatoes, the remaining lasagne,
and the remaining sauce in any order you wish, but save enough beans
for a final layer.
4. Place a layer of lasagne over the alternating layers.
5. Finish with a layer of beans and taco sauce.
6. Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 degrees until
lasagne noodles are cooked.

Are Vegetarian diets safe for your infant?

2006-06-17T16:27:00.000+01:00

If, for dietary or ethical reasons, you have decided
that you want to put your infant on a vegetarian diet,
you should be very careful in choosing formulas and solid
food for your child.

If you plan to breastfeed the infant and you
are also a vegetarian, you may need to supplement
breastmilk with additional sources of nutrition, depending
on your dietary restrictions. If you are a vegan, or an
ovo-vegetarian, you should add sources of vitamin B-12 to
your child’s diet.

Other than the B-12 supplements, your infant should be
able to receive all micro and macronutrients through
breastfeeding, even if you are on a strictly vegan
diet.

If you plan to use formula rather than breastmilk, you
should stick to commercial formulas, which contain the
proper amounts and ratios of nutrients. If you opt for
a homemade formula or soymilk over a commercial product,
your child could experience developmental problems from
a lack of proper nutrition.

If you want to keep your infant on a vegan diet, you can
select a soy commercial formula, as long as it is
nutritionally-adequate.

After about a year, you can begin to supplement formula
or breastmilk with other sources of nutrition, such as
homemade formulas, soymilk, yogurt, and cow’s milk (if you
are not a vegan).

Nutritionists suggest that you keep your infant on a
full-fat, high protein diet after age one, which includes
vegetarian-friendly foods, such as mashed and pureed
avocados, soy milk, nutrient-fortified tofu, and yogurt.

When you are ready to switch your infant to solid
vegetarian foods, you can introduce solid tofu, pieces of
vegetarian burgers, eggs, and cheese.

If you supplement what a nonvegetarian diet lacks, maintain
a full-fat diet, and increase your infant’s sources of
protein, you should have no problem maintaining a healthful
vegetarian diet during your child’s crucial developmental
stages.

Different Types of Vegetarians

2006-06-16T19:45:00.000+01:00

If you recently started reading about vegetarian
diets, you have probably read all sorts of
strange vegetarian terms and categories like "vegan,"
"ovo-lacto vegetarian," and "semi-vegetarian."
You probably wondered what the big deal was.
Afterall, what is so conceptually tough about not
eating meat?

The distinctions between these sub-categories of
vegetarian are actually small, but each is very important
to members who belong to the groups. For them, these
distinctions aren’t arbitrary lines; they are important
dietary or ethical decisions.

Let’s take a look at some of these groups:

VEGETARIAN:

Vegetarian is a blanket term used to describe a person
who does not consume meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.
This grouping includes vegans and the various sub-
categories of vegetarian; however, it generally implies
someone who has less dietary restrictions than a vegan.

SEMI-VEGETARIAN:

The term semi-vegetarian is usually used to describe
someone who is not actually a vegetarian. Semi-vegetarian
generally implies someone who only eats meat occasionally
or doesn’t eat meat, but eats poultry and fish.

OVO-LACTO-VEGETARIAN:

Ovo-lacto vegetarians are vegetarians who do not consume
meat, poultry, fish, and seafood, but do consume eggs and
milk. This is the largest group of vegetarians.

OVO-VEGETARIAN:

Ovo-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who
would be a vegan if they did not consume eggs.

LACTO-VEGETARIAN:

Lacto-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone
who would be a vegan if they did not consume milk.

VEGAN:

Vegan is the strictest sub-category of vegetarians.
Vegans do not consume any animal products or byproducts.
Some even go as far as not consuming honey and yeast.
Others do not wear any clothing made from animal
products.

Take some time to figure out what group you will belong
to when you become a vegetarian. You will want to consider
both dietary and ethical reasons for choosing this
lifestyle.

Ethics and Vegetarians

2006-06-15T12:36:00.000+01:00

Many non-vegetarians and some vegetarians alike question
whether being a vegetarian really makes any difference
at all. Some bring up blurry ethical situations to make it
impossible to see a vegetarian lifestyle as ethical.

If you are a prospective vegetarian for ethical reasons,
but you aren't sure whether or not a vegetarian lifestyle is
really a more ethical choice, here are a few statistics
from EarthSave to help you make your choice (for
or against):

1. Over 1.3 billion human beings could be fed each year
from the grain and soybeans that go to livestock in the
United States.

This means that the entire population of the United States
could be fed (without losing any nutritional value) and there
would still be enough food left over to feed one billion
people.

In a world where millions of people die each year of
starvation, that type of food excess and inefficiency
could be considered unethical.

2. Livestock in the US produces roughly 30 times more
excrement than human beings. While humans in the US have
complex sewage systems to collect and treat human waste,
there are no such systems on feedlots. As a result, most
of this waste leeches into water.

This means that large-scale, massive production and
slaughter of animals is not only unethical, but it also
causes serious environmental degradation.

3. It takes 7.5 pounds of protein feed to create 1 pound of
consumable hog protein; and it takes 5 pounds of protein
feed to create 1 pound of consumable chicken protein. Close
to 90% of protein from wheat and beans is lost to feed
cycling.

This means that a huge amount of resources are
dedicated to producing wheat and soy just for the purpose
of feeding it to animals, which will be slaughtered as "a
source of protein"--even though they only provide about
1/5 of the amount they consume.

Not only can the production of meat be considered an
injustice against animals, but it can also be considered an
injustice against human beings, as well as the environment
in general.

The advantages of eating a vegetarian diet

2006-06-13T12:23:00.000+01:00

A lot of people lament the nutritional disadvantages
of a poorly planned vegetarian diet, but few stress the
health advantages of adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.
There are three major nutritional
advantages of becoming a vegetarian or vegan.

(1) The first major advantage of a vegetarian diet is
increased heart health. Vegetarians, on average, consume
more nuts (often as a supplemental form of protein). Nuts
contain "good" fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6. This
promotes good heart health by reducing "bad" cholesterol
and unclogging arteries.

As well as nuts, vegetarians also consume more soy
milk (often to replace milk), which reduces "bad"
cholesterol and has been linked to good heart health.

(2) The second major advantage to eating a vegetarian diet is increased
skin health. In addition to consuming larger quantities
of nuts (which contain healthful oils), vegetarians tend
to consume more fruit and vegetables, which are rich in
essential vitamins, including A and E, which are linked
to good skin health.

Fruits and vegetables also contain high amounts of fiber,
which helps to flush out toxins from the body, further
contributing to better skin health.

(3) The third health advantage enjoyed by vegetarians is an increased
natural consumption of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are foods that help prevent cancer by
destroying free radicals. Vitamin C and Vitamin E, two
strong antioxidants, are commonly found in vegetarian
meals.

Vitamin C can be found in berries, tomatoes, citrus fruit,
kale, kiwis, asparagus and peppers.

Vitamin E can be found in wheat germ, seed oils, walnuts,
almonds, and brown rice--all foods that are commonly a
part of a well-balanced vegetarian diet.

So what does this all mean for you as a prospective
vegetarian?

It means the popular mythology about vegetarian diets
is false. Not only can a vegetarian diet be nutritionally
sufficient, but it can also affect better skin
health, prevent cancer, and increase your
heart health.

Why should I become a Vegetarian?

2006-06-12T20:40:00.000+01:00

Many non-vegetarians wonder what drives vegetarians to give
up meat and adopt a completely different lifestyle.
There is no single answer to this question. Non-vegetarians
become vegetarians for lots of different reasons - some
even for multiple reasons.

Most vegetarians claim that they became a vegetarian for
one of three reasons.

(1) The first reason, which most vegetarians claim, is that
they have ethical problems with eating meat. Most don't agree
with how chickens are debeaked, forced to live in small
cages, and are then slaughtered when they do not produce
eggs fast enough.

Most vegetarians also disagree with the crowded and
stressful environments animals are forced into; and
the hormone-laden feed used to make them grow faster
and produce more.

People who become vegetarians for this purpose often
draw ethical boundaries in different spots, depending on
their personal beliefs. For instance, some staunch vegans
wont consume yeast, wear wool, or even eat certain
vegetables, such as carrots, that require killing the
plant to harvest.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, some vegetarians--
sometimes referred to as pseudo-vegetarians--will actually
eat fish and chicken on a regular basis.

(2) The second biggest reason vegetarians claim for not eating
meat is that it conflicts with their dietary preferences.
Some of these vegetarians simply do not like the texture
and taste of meat; others do not eat it because it is high
in cholesterol and often contains high concentrations
of hormones and preservatives.

(3) The third and smallest group of vegetarians cite
environmental reasons for not consuming meat. They complain
that consumption of meat causes farmers to continually
deforest land to create grazing land for cattle.

In addition to these three major groups, there are a number
of other smaller groups of vegetarians who stopped eating
meat for entirely different reasons.

Welcome to Suzy's Veggie Blog

2006-06-12T20:23:00.000+01:00

Hello fellow Veggies or Wanna be veggies!

My name's Suzy and I've been a vegetarian now for over twenty years. I'm putting together this blog to share with you some of my favourite vegetarian recipes as well as tell you a bit about why I am vegetarian and give you some tips if you are a new vegetarians or are considering becoming a veggie!

Drop by and visit again to find out about everything vegetarian.

See you soon :-)
Suzy