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VegMichigan's News Update
* April
2008 Edition *
In this edition
1. Two Weeks to the Great American Meatout!
2. Be a Great American Meatout Volunteer!
3.
Join VegMichigan
for Free Admission to
the Great
American Meatout
4. VegMichigan at Natural Health Fair & Expo
5. How I Beat Diabetes Presentation
6. VegMichigan on Display
7. VegMichigan at Earth Day Expo 2008
8. Paul Nison's 'Formula for Health' Lecture
9. Kids, Obesity & Diabetes
10. VegMichigan Dinner Club ~ April
and...
News for Life
1. VegMichigan's Great American Meatout in Two Weeks! April 13,
2008
When: Sunday,
April 13, 2008 from 12 - 5 pm
Where: Ferndale High
School
881
Pinecrest
Ferndale MI 48220
Click
here
for map
Only two weeks until
the Great American Meatout! Join us for a day of exploring a
plant-based diet with fabulous speakers, food from local veg-friendly
restaurants, cooking demonstrations, vendors, great prizes, and
more. This year's featured speakers are nationally-known Milton
Mills MD, Associate Director of Preventive Medicine for Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and Colleen Patrick-Goudreau,
founder and director of Compassionate Cooks, author of The Joy of
Vegan Baking, host of the Food For Thought podcast, and VegNews
Magazine columnist.
This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce a loved one or friend
to the many benefits of a plant-based diet! To get all the
details about this year's Meatout,
check out our website.
Details are being added often. Click on these links to learn more
about
PCRM
and
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.
Please note: Online
discounted ticket sales end April 11.
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2. Volunteers Needed for VegMichigan's Great American Meatout
Want to be a part of
the most progressive vegetarian event of the year? There is still
time to sign up! You'll join our group of dedicated volunteers
working together to bring a healthy and compassionate lifestyle to
Metro Detroit. Please contact our volunteer coordinator at
volunteer@vegmichigan.org.
You'll can also sign up online at the volunteer
page
of our Meatout website.
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3. Join VegMichigan and Get Free Admission to the Great American
Meatout
The many benefits of
being a VegMichigan member include:
* Free admission to the Great American Meatout - valued at $10.00
(2 admissions per family membership)
* Free subscription to VegNews magazine - 6 issues/year, each
valued at $4.95
* Discounts at local veg-friendly restaurants
* Discounts on events, including a discount on the annual retreat
- valued at $5.00
* Discounts on books, bumper stickers and other merchandise
* Vegetarian Starter Guide
* Monthly e-Newsletter of events and educational articles, as well
as timely e-Updates
* Opportunities to plan and volunteer for special events and
projects to help spread the veg message
* A community of like-minded people to support you in your journey
toward a healthy, ethical, environmentally responsible,
plant-based diet
You can join at the
Great American Meatout by visiting
http://www.vegmichigan.org/membership/
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4. Natural Health Fair & Expo
When: Saturday, May
10 from 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Oakland
Schools Professional Development Center
211 Pontiac Lake Road
Waterford, MI
Click
here for map.
VegMichigan will be tabling at Michigan Healthy Living's 2nd
Annual Spring-into-Health Natural Health Fair & Expo, which will
feature speakers, demonstrations, exhibits and more. It's all
about healthy living! Learn new ways to keep you and your family
healthy.
To find out more,
visit
Michigan Healthy Living online.
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5. How I Beat Diabetes
When: Monday, April
28 @ 7 pm
Where: Caroline
Kennedy Library
24590 George
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
(313) 791-3800
Click
here
for map.
Daniel Sarna, an
economist and natural healthcare advocate, is hosting a
presentation by Earl Duncan. Earl is an ordained minister who was
raised in Dearborn Heights and graduated from Crestwood High
School. In April 2005, Earl was diagnosed with Type II diabetes.
This diagnosis was only made after his weight fell over 50 lbs, he
lost his vision, and his kidneys were failing. Today, Earl is
back to his "fighting weight" (as a young man, Earl was a boxer),
he is off all prescription drugs, and has recovered approximately
40% of his eyesight. Come hear Earl and his wife, Monica, tell
their remarkable story about how simple lifestyle changes helped
Earl reclaim his health. Call Dan Sarna at 313-359-1931 or the
circulation desk at 313-791-3800 to register.
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6. VegMichigan on Display
VegMichigan is also
on display at the William P. Faust Public Library, 6123 Central
City Parkway in Westland, MI. Be sure to let them know you
appreciate the display!
Click
here for map.
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7. VegMichigan at Earth Day Expo
VegMichigan will be
at Oakland University's Earth Day Expo.
Upland
Hills EAC & Oakland University are sponsoring this event.
When: Saturday,
April 19, 2008 from 11 am - 6 pm
Where: OU's Oakland
Center in Rochester Hills
Click
here
for map.
The event is open to
the public and free of charge. The expo will feature over 100
indoor and outdoor displays, presentations, healthy foods and
beverages, and lively entertainment, all focused on earth-friendly
and healthy living.
For information,
check out our
calendar
or e-mail
earthdayexpo@uheac.org.
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8. Paul Nison's 'Formula for Health'
When: April 15,
2008 @ 7 pm
Where: Irene's
Myomassology Institute
2606
Franklin Road
Southfield, MI 48034
248-350-1400
Click
here
for map.
Do you struggle with
raw foods? Are you confused about your health? Are you
interested in learning to improve your immune system, slow the
aging process, avoid sickness and have more energy? Then come
hear Paul Nison's 'Formula for Health' lecture. Cost is $10 per
person.
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9. Kids, Obesity and Diabetes: What Parents Can Do
When: April 14,
2008 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Where: Charles L. Spain
School auditorium
3700
Beaubien Street
(across from the Detroit Medical Center)
Detroit, MI 48201
Click
here
for map.
As diabetes and
obesity have grown as major factors among children in inner city
neighborhoods, VegMichigan is pleased to sponsor this presentation
by Dr. Millton Mills, Associate Director of Preventive Medicine
for PCRM.
In addition to defining diabetes and its relationship with
obesity, Dr. Mills will also discuss the underlying mechanisms of
the disease, modes of prevention and treatment. In addition,
learn which foods contribute to diabetes and obesity, as well as
those that help prevent disease or even offer the possibiltiy of a
cure.
Learn what parents
can do to help their children avoid lifetime complications from
these afflictions.
The event will also feature a short skit on nutrition by the
Charles L. Spain School's drama
club members.
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10.
VegMichigan Dinner Club ~ April
When: Saturday,
April 12, 2008 @ 7 pm
Where: Thai Smile
28742 Van Dyke
(south of 12 Mile, east side of Van Dyke)
Warren, MI
Click
here for map.
By popular demand,
we will return to visit our friends at Thai Smile. They are
vegan-friendly, serving organic tofu and fresh veggies without
fish sauce. We will order off their menu, which includes a
variety of delicious curries and noodle dishes, prepared to your
preferred spice level. To attend, you MUST give an RSVP by April
10. Leave a message at 877-778-3464 or e-mail
karen@vegmichigan.org.
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Stay current on all of VegMichigan's events
by checking out
our online calendar.
April 2008
News For Life
This newsletter, in its 6th year, is
designed to keep you aware of the many effects our food choices
have on our lives; from personal health to a sustainable planet
and respecting other species. I hope you enjoy it and share it
with others!
General News Index:
PAUL MCCARTNEY: I REALISED I'M A MURDERER
ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS PICK UP MOMENTUM
VIDEO: CHRISTIAN CONCERN FOR ALL GOD'S CREATURES
JUDGE RULES POULTRY ARE NOT 'LIVESTOCK'
WHO'S THE CRUELEST SPECIES OF THEM ALL?
WEIGHTY ISSUES
VIDEO: IS CORN MAKING US FAT?
FIGHT RISING FOOD COSTS WITH MEAT-FREE DIET
VEGETARIAN FAST FOOD ENJOYS MORE AND MORE POPULARITY
VIDEO: "HEALTH FOOD VS. HEALTHY FOOD"
NO MILK? WHAT ABOUT MY CHILD'S BONES?
VIDEO: DOREEN THE DOWNER:
VEG-A-THON.COM
ANTI-WHALING SKIPPER PAUL WATSON SHOT DURING CLASH
Health News Index:
VEGAN DIET HELPS ARTHRITIS AND HEART
GO NUTS! ALMONDS ARE NATURE'S WHOLE HEART PACKAGE
RED CABBAGE, MORE IS BETTER
GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES MAY HALVE LUNG CANCER RISK
SOY ISOFLAVONES LINKED TO EASIER BREATHING
SOY REDUCES BREAST CANCER RISK
HOME REMEDIES IN YOUR SPICE CABINET
VIDEO: LEMON STUDY
PLAYING CHICKEN WITH OUR HEALTH
RESISTANT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS LINKED TO MEAT CONSUMPTION
BISPHENOL A: TOXIC PLASTICS CHEMICAL IN CANNED FOOD
Environmental News Index:
MEAT-EATING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Animal Sentience Index:
DOLPHIN APPEARS TO RESCUE STRANDED WHALES
Take Action Index:
PETITION TO REPEAL ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT (AETA)
*********************************************************
General News:
“If you don’t stay informed,
then who will tell the others the truth?” Anonymous
PAUL MCCARTNEY: I REALISED I'M A MURDERER
... "Many years ago, I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the
poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for the passing
pleasure it brings me.'
"Something inside me clicked. I realised, as I watched him fight
for breath, that his life was as important to him as mine is to
me."
http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Celebrities/0,,2-1225-2108_2286836,00.html
ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS PICK UP MOMENTUM
The growing influence of animal rights activists increasingly is
affecting daily life, touching everything from the foods Americans
eat to what they study in law school, where they buy their puppies
and even whether they should enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride in
New York's Central Park... "Animals are made of flesh and blood
and bone just like humans," says Bruce Friedrich, PETA's vice
president for campaigns. "They feel pain just like we do.
Recognition of that grows year by year. The animal rights movement
is a social justice movement (similar to) suffrage and civil
rights."...
Animal rights campaigns are moving on several fronts:
•The Humane Society says it expects 28 state legislatures this
year to consider strengthening existing bans on dogfighting and
cockfighting; 13 states are considering bills regulating "puppy
mills," mass dog-breeding operations that keep puppies in small
crates.
•Massachusetts activists are collecting signatures to get a
statewide initiative on the November ballot that would ban
commercial greyhound racing by 2010. The Committee to Protect Dogs
says state records show that since 2002, 728 greyhounds have been
injured racing at the state's two tracks.
•Over the past three years, 330 colleges have stopped or
dramatically reduced the use of eggs from hens in cramped wire
crates called battery cages; retailers including Burger King,
Hardee's, Carl's Jr. and Ben & Jerry's now use eggs produced by
cage-free hens, Markarian says.
•More than 90 American Bar Association-approved law schools now
offer courses in animal law, compared with only a handful 10 years
ago. Favre compares the growing interest in animal law among
incoming law students to an explosion of interest in environmental
law in the 1970s...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-27-animal-activists_N.htm
VIDEO: CHRISTIAN CONCERN FOR ALL GOD'S CREATURES
Based on Scripture and the hidden reality in our world's system,
this is an excellent educational tool for Universities, Seminaries
and Churches...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6617908616725944044
JUDGE RULES POULTRY ARE NOT 'LIVESTOCK'
A San Francisco judge has ruled that chickens are not "livestock,"
and, as a result, are not subject to the Humane Methods of
Slaughter Act, according to court filings...
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=202983
WHO'S THE CRUELEST SPECIES OF THEM ALL?
Shamu's mother was harpooned. She was killed in the wild by the
crew that captured the first in a series of young orcas that have
since been trained to do tricks at San Diego's Sea World marine
park, known sequentially as America's most famous performing sea
mammals.
And maybe that's all you need to know to realize just how far
humans will go. Maybe that's all you need to know -- were you
beside me on those bleachers, years ago, cheering Shamu? -- to see
blood, even faded and vestigial, on your hands...
http://alternet.org/rights/77543/
WEIGHTY ISSUES
I made the attempt at a totally plant-based diet no less than four
times before it stuck. The problem? The first three tries added a
whopping nine pounds each to my middle in the first two months. I
love animals. I do. But I love my rear end inside my pants, not
flowing over. So what was the difference the fourth time? And why
the weight gain? Aren't vegans supposed to be skinny?... just
think of all the processed foods, of all the junk foods that are
vegan----French fries, soy ice creams, Fritos, vegan chocolate
chips, Duncan Hines cake mixes, vegan chocolate chips, Cracker
Jacks, Wonder Bread, soft pretzels, vegan chocolate chips. Stop
me, I’m salivating! PETA has even compiled an unbelievably huge
list (www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/) of tons of grocery store
foods that are totally animal free. While convenient, the items on
their I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan website are still processed
foods. Eating too much of the wrong foods, vegan or not, is eating
too much of the wrong foods...
So, I had the healthy vegan diet going, I was walking half an hour
a day, and guess what?! I started losing weight! It worked! After
about eleven months on plan, I had reached my goal and was
enjoying a healthful strict vegetarian diet. I was moving more,
eating less, and only had one chin. I loved the earth. I loved the
animals. And I loved my butt in my jeans! And what was the secret?
Commitment, support, and creating a new I-love-myself attitude.
Plunking down money to let someone else look at your weight turns
out to be extremely motivating. Go figure! And research shows that
support groups of any type build positive emotions and reduce
stress. As far as the I’m-worth-it part? Yes, I am!
http://www.vegfamily.com/health/weighty-issues.htm
VIDEO: IS CORN MAKING US FAT?
Corn products are found in everyday foods that may surprise you
and impact your health. Apples, bacon, fish...
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=6960848&ch=4226723&src=news
FIGHT RISING FOOD COSTS WITH MEAT-FREE DIET
... If you don't want to spend your retirement fund on food,
consider investing in a vegan diet. Some of the most versatile
vegan foods — including beans, rice, vegetables, soy products and
pasta — cost relatively little compared to animal products.
According to a 2007 MSN MoneyCentral article, the cheapest cuts of
beef, such as ground round, average $3 per pound; boneless chicken
breasts cost $3.40 a pound; and canned tuna costs around $2 per
pound. In comparison, dried beans and lentils cost less than $1 a
pound, and rice is cheaper than $1 a pound. Tofu usually costs
less than $2 per pound. Even vegans who buy costlier products like
soy sausage and nondairy ice cream can still spend less than
people who load up on beef, chicken and fish...
If you factor in all the money you'll save on hospital bills,
medications and weight-loss plans by avoiding unhealthy,
artery-clogging animal products, a vegan diet is downright
economical...
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-moore0318.artmar18,0,4257803.story
VEGETARIAN FAST FOOD ENJOYS MORE AND MORE POPULARITY
More and more restaurants and chains are offering solely
vegetarian food, a trend that reflects consumers awareness of the
environmental impact of eating meat... Zen Burger, a chain of
vegetarian restaurants in the US that specialises in meatless fast
foods that copy those sold in traditional fast-food chains...
http://www.foodweek.com.au/main-features-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=1554
VIDEO: "HEALTH FOOD VS. HEALTHY FOOD"
This is a one hour video of an entertaining talk with Jeff Novick,
R.D. on Health Foods.
http://vsh.voip-info.org/Novick.html
NO MILK? WHAT ABOUT MY CHILD'S BONES?
The most common question a vegan will hear once someone learns
they don't feed their children milk: What about their bones? Yes,
our mothers and grandmothers have been well taught all their lives
by the dairy industry that animal milk consumption is required for
humans to "build strong bones." Yet, each successive generation,
consuming more and more dairy, demonstrates weaker and weaker
bones. Something doesn't gel here...
http://www.vegfamily.com/health/no-milk.htm
VIDEO: DOREEN THE DOWNER:
Cartoon Educates About Hamburgers
Due to the recent slaughterhouse investigation in a California
plant, the abuse that animals raised for food suffer, especially
downed ones, reached the public's eyes and, one hopes, their
consciences. While most people have a hard time watching graphic
videos about animal abuse, it is important to be aware of the
reality of factory farming. Cartoonist and animator Mark Fiore has
produced a skillful short video, suitable for everyone, showing
the way hamburgers are produced, the dangers to human health, and
of course the cruelty inflicted on downer animals. To view it:
http://www.markfiore.com/doreen_downer_0
VEG-A-THON.COM
What is a Veg-a-thon?
A veg-a-thon is a fundraiser where you eat a vegetarian diet for
one to eight weeks and collect pledges for your efforts to benefit
the nonprofit organization of your choice.
Why Make Trying Vegetarian Eating a Fundraiser?
For several reasons. First, fundraising for a cause may be just
the incentive that gets someone off the fence about trying
vegetarian eating and stick to it for at least the duration of
their veg-a-thon. Second, when someone does a veg-a-thon they tell
people about it when they collect pledges, introducing others to
some of the many benefits of vegetarian eating. Third, because
we're helping nonprofit organizations raise funds, we figure we
can count on some of them to help promote veg-a-thon.com and
thereby endorse vegetarianism and expand the reach of the
campaign.
Veg-a-thon.com aims to reduce animal suffering and encourage
charitable giving by providing information and advice for people
interested in doing or sponsoring a veg-a-thon. Our hope is that
those who do veg-a-thons will eat more vegetarian meals after
their veg-a-thon is over and perhaps even decide to eat vegetarian
or vegan foods exclusively.
http://veg-a-thon.com/
ANTI-WHALING SKIPPER PAUL WATSON SHOT DURING CLASH
The world's most prominent anti-whaling skipper, the Canadian Paul
Watson, claimed today to have been shot in the chest in a clash
with a Japanese whaler in the Antarctic. Mr Watson, captain of the
Sea Shepherd vessel the Steve Irwin, said that he had been saved
from injury by his bulletproof vest but two members of his crew
were injured by flash grenades thrown from the whaler Nisshin Maru...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3504189.ece?Submitted=true
Health News:
"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your
food." Hippocrates - the father of medicine.
VEGAN DIET HELPS ARTHRITIS AND HEART
Researchers in Sweden suggest a gluten-free vegan diet provides
help for rheumatoid arthritis patients' hearts as well as
joints... The diet also protected against heart attacks and stroke
by lowering cholesterol levels and lowering body weight, the study
said.
In contrast, none of the indicators differed significantly for the
control group on the conventional healthy diet, the study said.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2008/03/19/vegan_diet_helps_arthritis_and_heart/8201/
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=36473
GO NUTS! ALMONDS ARE NATURE'S WHOLE HEART PACKAGE
A new study from the University of Toronto suggests that eating a
healthy diet, including almonds, reduces inflammation by about the
same level as taking a first-generation statin drug... effectively
lowers C-reactive protein levels, a key marker of inflammation...
may also lower your cholesterol as much as a statin drug...
A one- ounce, 164-calorie serving of almonds, or about a handful,
is an excellent source of vitamin E and magnesium, and a good
source of protein and fiber. It also offers heart-healthy
monounsaturated fat, potassium, calcium, phosphorous and iron.
http://www.foxcentraloregon.com/health/1608166.html
RED CABBAGE: MORE IS BETTER
Plant pigments called anthocyanins provide fruits and vegetables
with beneficial blue, purple and red coloring. Now Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) scientists are learning more about these
compounds and their absorption into the human blood stream.
Anthocyanins are a group of healthful compounds that fall within
the flavonoid class of plant nutrients. ARS scientists have
identified 36 anthocyanins in red cabbage, including eight that
had never before been detected in the cabbage...
Emerging evidence suggests that anthocyanins may provide cancer
protection, improve brain function and promote heart health. An
earlier ARS study showed that some anthocyanins yield twice the
antioxidant power of the same amount of vitamin C in test tubes,
though the amount absorbed by the human body was not explored...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307081409.htm
GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES MAY HALVE LUNG CANCER RISK
An increased intake of green leafy vegetables, but not fruit, may
reduce the risk of lung cancer by 50 per cent, suggests a new
study from Spain...
"In light of these findings, the protective effect detected for
total greens, cabbage, turnip tops, lettuce, tomatoes, green
beans, and potatoes, rather than being due to a specific nutrient,
could be due to their combined effect and to interactions between
the various component nutrients," wrote lead author Olga Dosil-Diaz
from the Galician Public Foundation for Health Emergencies.
The study adds to a rapidly expanding body of science linking an
increased intake of vegetables to a reduced risk of certain
cancers.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=83862-antioxidants-lung-cancer-green-leafy-vegetables
SOY ISOFLAVONES LINKED TO EASIER BREATHING
... an isoflavone from soy, may suppress the inflammatory process
and ease breathing and explain previous reports linking the
isoflavone to reduced asthma severity, suggests a new pilot
study...
Isoflavones from soy have been shown to provide a number of health
benefits, including the promotion of heart health and the
maintenance of bone health in post-menopausal women. They have
also been studied for their role in cancer prevention and slowing
down the ageing process in peri-menopausal women, and have proved
to be a popular alternative to HRT for those wishing to control
menopause symptoms without resorting to drugs...
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=82290-soy-isoflavones-genistein-asthma
SOY REDUCES BREAST CANCER RISK
Women who eat traditional Japanese soy-based foods on a regular
basis face lower risks of breast cancer, a government-sponsored
study showed Friday. Women who had high levels of genistein, a
compound found in soybeans, had less of a chance of developing
breast cancer than women with less of it, said the study by the
National Cancer Center in Tokyo. Soybeans in Japan are eaten as
tofu, miso soup or Japanese fermented beans known as "natto." The
study followed approximately 25,000 women aged between 40 and 69
throughout Japan for an average of 10 and a half years...
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKSPalAEwve-GMTU5Zh5fnCO8-Mg
HOME REMEDIES IN YOUR SPICE CABINET
Scientists are finding that spices can ease inflammation, kill
bacteria and viruses, and even cause cancer cells to
self-destruct...
... half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day lowered blood sugar levels
in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a study of 60
subjects carried out at NWFP Agricultural University in Peshawar,
Pakistan, and published in Diabetes Care in 2003. The same study
found that cinnamon also lowered cholesterol...
... turmeric contains curcumin, a compound that is both a powerful
anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. It's also non-toxic... might
help prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease and cancer...
... researchers reported in Phytotherapy Research in 2005 that
mildly and moderately depressed adults who received a daily
30-milligram capsule of saffron for six weeks experienced a
significant improvement over those who were given a placebo...
All hot peppers, from cayenne to habaneros... get their kick from
capsaicin, a compound that triggers the body to produce more heat,
and hence, burn more energy... Scientists think capsaicin may
cause cancer cells to self-destruct while leaving normal cells
unharmed.
... women who received one gram of ginger per day had
significantly less nausea and vomiting from morning sickness than
a control group given a placebo... ginger has powerful antioxidant
properties that protect against the toxic effects of radiation
treatment and skin diseases caused by ultraviolet B radiation...
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/79774/?page=1
VIDEO: LEMON STUDY
Restaurants are spiking your drink with germs. It's the lemons.
They're loaded with bacteria.
http://healthinspection.com/video.cfm?bWVkaWFJRD0yOA==
PLAYING CHICKEN WITH OUR HEALTH
American chickens are fed a steady diet of tetracycline and other
antibiotics, not to keep them from getting sick, but simply
because the treatment makes healthy birds grow faster. The
downside is that some bacteria mutate and develop resistance to
drugs that once would have destroyed them. These drug-resistant
“superbugs” can sicken and even kill people who eat undercooked
meat... workers in poultry slaughterhouses are 32 times more
likely than the rest of the population to carry drug-resistant E.
coli bacteria in their intestines. Apparently, just working around
infected birds was enough to pass the bacteria on to the
employees, and they, in turn, could spread the germs to the
population at large...
http://www.gourmet.com/foodpolitics/2008/02/politicsoftheplate_02_20_08
RESISTANT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS LINKED TO MEAT CONSUMPTION
A new study indicates that women suffering from urinary tract
infections (UTIs) caused by drug-resistant E. coli bacteria
reported eating more chicken and pork than women whose UTIs were
easily treated with antibiotics. This study adds to the evidence
that UTIs are antibiotic-resistant diseases originating in animals
that can be passed to people through meat consumption. According
to a UCS report, 70 percent of the antibiotics and related drugs
in the United States are used to promote growth and ward off
disease in livestock that are not sick. This practice creates an
ideal breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant diseases.
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/fpd.2007.0026
BISPHENOL A: TOXIC PLASTICS CHEMICAL IN CANNED FOOD
Independent laboratory tests found a toxic food-can lining
ingredient associated with birth defects of the male and female
reproductive systems in over half of 97 cans of name-brand fruit,
vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods... There
are no government safety standards limiting the amount of BPA in
canned food... BPA is associated with a number of health problems
and diseases that are on the rise in the U.S. population,
including breast and prostate cancer and infertility... Studies by
European scientists show that BPA is just one of many chemicals
that leach out of food can linings. Tests of just three can
coatings found at least 23 different BPA-related chemicals
leaching into food, all without legal limits...
http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola
How do you get rid of it?
Unfortunately, BPA is so widely used and manufactured that you're
not likely to eliminate it from your system altogether. There are
some steps you can take to minimize your exposure, though:
*When possible, and especially if you’re pregnant and when feeding
a young child, limit the amount of canned food in your diet.
*Avoid using old or scratched polycarbonate bottles. If you're in
the market for a new water bottle, look for stainless steel water
bottles that do not have a plastic liner.
*Don't use plastic containers to heat food in the microwave. Opt
for ceramic, glass, or other microwavable dishware.
*Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
*If you're formula feeding your infant, consider using powdered
formulas packaged in non-steel cans. Also, choose baby bottles
made from glass or plastics that don't leach BPA (like
polypropylene or polyethylene).
http://www.enviroblog.org/2007/09/bisphenol-a-in-your-body.htm
Environmental News:
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for
survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian
diet." Albert Einstein
MEAT-EATING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
... Mounting evidence suggests that meat-based diets are not only
unhealthy, but that just about every aspect of meat
production—from grazing-related loss of cropland, to the
inefficiencies of feeding vast quantities of water and grain to
cattle, to pollution from “factory farms”—is an environmental
disaster with wide and sometimes catastrophic consequences...
Harvard nutritionist Jean Mayer says that reducing U.S. meat
production 10 percent would free grain to feed 60 million
people... U.S. animal farms generate billions of tons of animal
waste every year, which the Environmental Protection Agency says
pollute our waterways more than all other industrial sources
combined. ...
Other than polluting water, beef production alone uses more water
than is used in growing our entire fruit and vegetable crop. And
over a third of all raw materials and fossil fuels consumed in the
U.S. are used in animal production. Meat also increases our carbon
footprints. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture
Organization, livestock around the world contribute more
greenhouse gases (mostly methane) to the atmosphere—18 percent of
our total output—than emissions from all the world’s cars and
trucks...
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4100 (second item down)
Animal Sentience:
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were
not made for humans any more than black people were made for
white, or women created for men." Alice Walker, author and
activist.
DOLPHIN APPEARS TO RESCUE STRANDED WHALES
Most days, Moko the bottlenosed dolphin swims playfully with
humans at a New Zealand beach. But this week, it seems, Moko found
his mojo. Witnesses described Wednesday how they saw the dolphin
swim up to two stranded whales and guide them to safety...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23588063/
Take Action:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has." Margaret Mead, anthropologist
PETITION TO REPEAL ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT (AETA)
Restore Freedom of Speech for Farm Workers and Animal Rights
Activists! Repeal the AETA!
AETA offers no defense to activists who expose illegal activities.
Animal researchers and factory farms that are operating illegally
can use AETA to protect themselves from whistle blowers. The
effect of AETA is to label social justice activists as terrorists
when they work to expose animal cruelty, poor labor conditions, or
environmental violations in agribusiness or the biomedical
industries.
It's time to repeal AETA. Please personalize the letter and send
it to your Senators and Congressperson.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=23537
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