There is an abundance of scientific evidence which conclusively proves that a vegetarian diet is not just adequate but rather it is absolutely superior in just about every way. Whether it be health, economy, ecology, or the rights of animals, vegetarianism is the right choice.
Reasons To Choose Vegetarianism
One great reason to make a healthy choice for vegetarianism is due to scientific evidence that strongly suggests that humans are not really suited to eat meat. We actually possess features that lend themselves to a strictly herbivorous diet. Our teeth are not sharp enough to tear through the hide or bone of the animals we ingest. That is the reason we alter them through long cooking, tenderizing, etc. Humans are equipped with a long digestive tract as are all herbivores. The anatomical construction of carnivores on the other hand, allows them to quickly rid their digestive tract of the meat before it putrefies. If you are a meat eater, then as disgusting as it might sound, you have undigested putrefied animal flesh in your intestines and it has been there for a long time.
Animal Flesh Is An Inferior Health Choice
Meat is almost completely void of carbohydrates, has no fiber or vitamin C, and is a very poor source of calcium. It is however an excellent source of saturated fat and cholesterol. That is why so many Americans have advanced hardening of the arteries and heart disease. Heart disease takes more American lives than all other diseases and it occurs at a rate 3 times higher in meat eaters than in vegetarians. Meat eaters double their chances of colon cancer and rectal cancer, while tripling their chances of ****** cancer. Moreover, the excessively high protein content in meat puts undue stress on the liver and kidneys. Osteoporosis and gout are just a few more of the bad side effects linked to meat consumption.
It should also be noted that there are a host of unnatural substances in meat and poultry which wreak havoc on our systems. The list is really rather extensive, but just to name a few there are hormones, antibiotics, tranquilizers, preservatives and various pesticides. These and more substances that precipitate your health problems all become part of every piece of meat you ingest during the breeding of the animal and during the processing of its flesh for human consumption.
Meat Consumption Is An Acquired Habit
You do not need meat to survive. In reality, according to medical science and statistics, your love affair with meat is probably going to kill you. The only reason you and I were raised on the flesh of intelligent animals and their by-products is due to misinformation that the meat, egg, and dairy industries have for years forced down our throats through advertising campaigns, and a barrage of media. They have long since bought off the USDA, consequently they have enjoyed a long tenure of our own government actually backing and proliferating this prescription for slow death and heart disease.
Without indoctrination, if given the choice between a colorful piece of fruit, or the bland rotting carcass of an intelligent animal, humans would generally choose the fruit. There is no preparation necessary, except to pick it off the tree. The meat on the other hand would be too disgusting to eat straight from the kill as carnivores do, so we must alter it in such a way that it makes it more palatable. You do not naturally possess a taste for this. You must acquire it. Vegetarian cuisine is full flavored, and naturally colorful and agreeable to look at. You will never get bored eating a full vegetarian diet, nor will you live long enough to even scratch the surface of the many different varieties of meals you can prepare. Vegetarian cuisine gives you a whole world of wonderful flavors, aromas, and textures. Moreover, every time you consume whole natural foods you take a long step towards the healing of your body. This cannot be said for meat consumption.
By: Mark Brohl
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Dedicated to the advancement of informed choices that will benefit our health, our environment, and our animal friends.
Please visit my website at http://www.ourhealthforlife.com and look around awhile. I would very much appreciate comments concerning your reaction to what I have written as well as any input that might aid me in the task of making my site more helpful. I thank you in advance for your consideration.
Filed under News And Society by on Nov 19th, 2010. 
This vegetarian chicken is prepared by using mashed vegetables including cabbage, spring onion, green/red chilies and tomatoes. This mixture of mashed vegetables give unique flavor in this curry and the combination of red and green chilies make it a bit spicy but you can always adjust the spice level according to your taste. This vegetarian chicken is served in sizzling hot dish which makes it more attractive for foodies. It is prepared in just 30 minutes and can be served for 4-5 persons. Nearly all the vegetarians are going to enjoy this dish.
Ingredients:
250 gm boneless chicken (cut in small pieces)
1/4 piece of medium size cabbage (or 1 cup roughly chopped)
2 medium size tomatoes
4-5 green chilies
10-12 dry red pepper (soaked in boiled water for 15 minutes)
2 spring onions (coarsely chopped)
1/2 cup tomato paste
3 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
2 tbsp ginger (finely chopped)
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tsp mix spice powder (2 cinnamon sticks, 3 cloves, 2 green cardamom, 1 black cardamom)
Salt to taste
1 cup oil
Cooking Instructions:
At first put chopped cabbage, spring onions, green chilies, dry red chilies and half cup of water, blend all these ingredients together and make smooth paste. In a sauce pan, fry ginger garlic in half cup of oil on medium heat until they become light brown in color. It would take at least 5-8 minutes. After that add the blended mixture of vegetables and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat. When the mixture starts bubbling add pinch of salt, tomato paste, black pepper and allow the mixture to simmer for 8-10 minutes until oil starts to separate from the gravy.
In the mean time when the gravy is cooking, fry chicken pieces in the remaining oil for at least ten minutes or until all the water of chicken has dried and its turns white in color. When the gravy is done put the fried chicken pieces in it and give final flavors to the gravy by adding cumin powder and mix spice powder. Let the chicken cook for 10 minutes so that it absorbs the flavor of gravy and becomes tender. This vegetarian chicken is served in sizzling hot dish giving a splendid taste particularly with fried rice.
By: Kashif Mahmood
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Filed under Food And Drink by on Nov 19th, 2010.
Today I’d like to introduce you to two popular vegetarian dishes in my house, oft-requested favorites even though none of us are officially vegetarians.
Instead, we chose to incorporate some vegetarian meals into our diets purely because of the health and environmental benefits of not eating so much meat. At least, my wife decided – if it was up to me, we’d have steak everyday. Still, the benefits of eating vegetarian are obvious, but there’s a heavy social stigma still attached to anything labeled ‘vegetarian’ and I’d like to dispel that today by showing you vegetarian food can actually be just as delicious as meat, too!
Firstly, let me say I won’t be using Quorn or Tofu as a meat substitute, because it isn’t a meat substitute and never will be. Anyone who tells you they “honestly can’t tell the difference” probably shouldn’t be trusted. Instead, learn to appreciate Tofu in it’s naturally form, not reconstituted and flavored to look like meat. It took me until I was 25 to learn that Tofu actually tastes nice just as it is, thanks to a devout meat-eating upbringing and vegetarianism ridiculed at the dinner table.
So what are we going to make?
Tofu BBQ Skewers:
I like this recipe because nothing can really taste bad once it’s been BBQed and got a little sauce on it. It’s easy to prepare, all fresh ingredients, and oh so healthy. Oh, and the kids will eat it too!
Ingredients:
- 1 pack of Tofu (may be labeled “hydrated soy” – how delicious sounding!)
- 1 punnet of button mushrooms
- 1 red and 1 yellow pepper
- Some garlic
- Olive oil
- BBQ Skewers
If you’re having trouble finding real Tofu and not the imitation meat stuff, try the local Asian supermarket. They sell little packs that are the perfect size for 2 people. It comes in white squares, about an inch deep, and usually swimming in it’s own juices. Lovely…
Prep is simple for this one, just chop it all up and stick it onto a skewer. Crush the garlic into the olive oil, then drizzle and coat the skewers all around (not too much). Salt and pepper to taste.
Parsnip and Parmesan Bruschetta:
An Italian snack favorite, this one is also super easy.
Ingredients:
- 1 mini ciabatta or panini roll, cut into 12 smaller sli
- 1 garlic clove
- 50g butter
- 3 large parsnips, cored and cut into 1cm cubed.
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- A handful of rocket leaves
- 50g parmesan cheese (or a vegaternative if you prefer)
Preparation:
Heat a griddle pan and toast the bread for about 2 minutes until golden and marked. Rub a clove of garlic over each piece.
Heat some butter in a large frying pan then fry the parsnips over a medium heat for about 20 minutes until they are softened. Add a little if you need. Remove and mash to a puree in a mixer. Should be served at a room temperature, so leave it to cool down if needed (or warm up if you already prepared it).
Spread the parsnip on the toast, and garnish with some rocket leaves and parmesan. Voila! A deliciously easy canapee for your party!
You can find more easy ones like this at Vegetarian Recipes.
By: James A Bruce
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Filed under Food And Drink by on Nov 19th, 2010.
This vegetarian wraps recipe is so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you’ve never made it before. You can use any bean, but I used aduki, or adzuki, beans that are small and reddish-brown. They are one of the fastest beans to cook, making them one of my favorites for quick and healthy vegan recipes.
The advantages of beans are that they’re low in fat, high in protein and loaded with fiber. Gram for gram, they’re a much more economical source of protein than meat. Topping off the wrap, sprouts (like alfalfa or clover) are one of the foods most packed with nutrient, and putting them in a wrap is a delicious way to eat a big portion of them.
This vegetarian wraps recipe makes enough for 6 large wraps.
Vegetarian Wraps Recipe Ingredients
1 cup canned or cooked aduki beans (or another bean) 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp lemon juice 2 Tbsp olive oil Flat leaf parsley, chopped half of a sweet onion, sliced 2 tomatoes, chopped 1 cucumber, sliced with skin 1 cup sprouts (alfalfa, clover, broccoli, etc) 6 wraps
Vegetarian Wraps Recipe Directions
Dried aduki beans, if you’re using them, need to be fully cooked before you start. Soak half a cup of the dry beans overnight with lots of water. Drain them, add 2 cups of water, bring to a boil and simmer for an hour. Do not use salt during the cooking process. Putting a piece of kombu (seaweed) in the water while the beans cook will help make the beans more easily digested. Using canned aduki beans is less work, but be sure to look for beans that do not have any salt. Some brands actually cook the beans with kombu, which is ideal. Mix the olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice together, and you can add any herbs or spices you like, but be sure to add a pinch of salt. If you are using a vinaigrette from the store, make sure there’s salt in the ingredients. If not, add some! Since the beans are not cooked with any salt, they need a bit after cooking. Pour the vinaigrette over the cooked beans in a small bowl. Chop some parsley, then stir it into the beans. The beans will appreciate marinating for at least an hour, but they only get better the longer you leave them. To get dinner together once the beans are flavored, heat a small pan tp medium. Sauté the onions briefly in a small amount of olive oil, to soften their flavor. Feel free to can skip this step if you prefer your onions raw. There are a few ways to heat up your wraps: toaster oven, full-size oven, or heat briefly in the pan you used for the onions. Arrange some beans, vegetables and sprouts in the middle of the wrap, fold one end in, roll and enjoy your vegetarian wraps recipe!
By: Heather Nauta
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Filed under Food And Drink by on Nov 19th, 2010.
David Letterman once quipped on his Late Night Show, “‘Vegetarian’ is actually an old Indian word which means, ‘Poor Hunter’.” Someone else stated, “”I’m not a vegetarian because I love animals; I’m a vegetarian because I **** plants!”
As funny as those quotes are, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to the real definition of a full time veggie eater. Vegetarian stands for so much more. Not only a veggie meal lover someone who stands for something in life, it is someone who believes very strongly in a special diet.
That being said, a veggie diet plan can differ depending on what type of vegetarian someone is and to what way of life they subscribe. Believe it or not, there are a lot of different types and sub-types of vegetarians. And depending on what type of vegetarian you are, your veggie diet plan will vary deeply.
In the very strictest sense, a person that considers themselves in this veggie world is someone who does not consume meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, etc. Rather, they eat vegetables, grains, seeds, fruits, etc. However, from there there are many different sub-sets of vegetarians and vegetarian meal plans:
A lacto-vegetarian is someone who is someone who will still eat dairy products (cheese, yogurt, milk, etc.). However, they do not use eggs. The vegetarian meal plan for the lacto-vegetarian is almost double in size what a vegan can consume because of the potential that dairy can add to a vegetarian dinner. A lacto-vegetarian can create a 2000 calorie vegetarian diet menu simply because of the addition of dairy to the menu.
An ovo-vegetarian, on the other hand, is someone who is just the literal opposite. They use eggs, but not dairy products. Again, veggie recipes for an ovo-vegetarian may consist of an egg salad sandwich, a fried egg, or a side of scrambled eggs. But dairy is against the rules.
An ovo-lacto vegetarian is someone who eats both dairy products and eggs. Obviously, the vegetarian meal plan for this person can be much more wide-ranging with the addition of these items. The number of veggie recipes explodes considerably for the ovo-lacto vegetarian.
Finally, a vegan is someone who excludes all animal products from their diet (sometimes even honey). A vegan meal plan is the most preventative of all the vegetarian meal plans. However, because there are no dairy products or eggs, the vegan meals are the preeminent vegetarian diet when it comes to losing weight. A vegetarian weight loss meal plan can be fashioned simply because most of the items that cause weight gain are not allowed to the vegan.
By: Rick Porter
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Filed under Health And Fitness by on Nov 19th, 2010.
Many people are making the move to a healthy vegetarian diet because they want to improve their health. But, is this style of eating really better for your health? Critics everywhere are claiming that not eating meat can be detrimental to your health… but the truth is coming out in the research studies that have been conducted.
Countless research studies are finding that eating high amounts of meat can cause serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, kidney problems, and osteoporosis. Meats are high in saturated fats and they are higher in calories.
But, if meat isn’t as good as we originally thought, why do we eat so much of it? The food pyramid shows that eating meat is a good way to get protein, and we should have several servings per day. We learn in schools that meat is good for you, and advertising pushes us to eat more and more meat.
The reason there are so many misconceptions about the health factors relating to meat is because the meat industry is so heavily involved in government lobbying. The food industry is a huge business, which means that there is a lot of money to be made by selling those products. So, you need to remember that the meat companies are trying to earn more money-they are not necessarily interested in your health.
If you choose to follow a healthy vegetarian diet, be sure that you are eating a variety of whole foods. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats and you will get plenty of nutrients that are necessary for living.
Following a healthy vegetarian diet can be a great way to improve your health. Of course, this is a very personal decision that each individual needs to make. But, once you do the research you will see the facts and understand that a plant based eating plan is a great way to improve your health.
By: Becki Andrus
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Filed under Health And Fitness by on Nov 18th, 2010.
If you are becoming a vegetarian, there are a few things that you need to know about healthy eating. People choose a vegetarian lifestyle for many different reasons, but the main 2 reasons are for health or for moral values.
Following a meat-less diet can be a great way to improve your health, regardless of your motivation to start eating this way. Studies have shown that cutting down on meat consumption can help lower your risk for many serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and high cholesterol (just to name a few).
The first thing that you need to understand is that you should be replacing the meat in your diet with healthy alternatives. Make sure that you are eating a variety of whole foods, because they contain the best nutrition. Whole foods have the essential amino acids that your body needs to build the proteins that are necessary for living.
Eating a variety of whole foods is important for a healthy lifestyle, because different foods contain different amino acids. So, be sure that you are eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, seeds, nuts and healthy fats each day in order to ensure that your body is getting the nutrition that it needs.
Try to avoid eating junk food and processed foods, because these foods are usually stripped of their nutrition. The processing removed the vitamins and minerals that are essential for health, so you are eating empty calories when you consume these types of food.
When you are grocery shopping, be sure to buy different colors of produce. Green vegetables have great plant-based protein, and reds, yellows, and oranges also have good nutrients that they provide. Also, eat different types of beans, legumes, nuts and seeds because they all have different nutrients. Additionally, various whole grains can provide different nutrition to support your health.
Becoming a vegetarian is a great way to improve your health, especially if you are eating a variety of plant-based whole foods.
By: Becki Andrus
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Filed under Health And Fitness by on Nov 18th, 2010.
Being a vegetarian can be tough in a meat-focused culture, our Standard American Diet has centered around eating meat. There are many valid reasons to become vegetarian, but meat-eaters often don’t understand the reasons and will commonly shake their heads at “unknowing” vegetarians.
The truth is that decreasing meat consumption can actually improve health. Studies have found that higher meat consumption can lead to higher amounts of disease such as cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, and more. But, many people don’t understand the implications that meat eating can have on their health, because there is so much conflicting information out there.
If you are being criticized for choosing meat-less meals, the best approach to take is to let the person know that you respect their eating choices and ask that they in turn respect your choices. It is even appropriate to let them know that you have researched the topic and there is solid evidence showing that lowering meat consumption can improve health.
Also, remember that many times people speak up even when they don’t actually know what they are talking about. Most meat-eaters don’t know why they eat meat… other than the fact that they have always been told that meat is a great source of protein and they should eat it everyday. Often, explaining to them that there are other plant-based protein sources can be a great way to diffuse the situation.
The most important factor to consider is this: make sure that you are not critical or harsh of your meat-eating friends choices. Everyone has the right (and ability) to choose their food choices, and offering respect for their personal choices can often lead to them respecting you back.
Being a vegetarian can be tough, especially when there are so many people questioning your food choices. But, I have found that education and discussion is usually the best way to help other people understand why you are making vegetarian food choices.
By: Becki Andrus
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Filed under Health And Fitness by on Nov 18th, 2010.
Due to the raising problems associated with modern day processed foods an increasing number of people and health experts are considering how to be healthy eating vegetarian foods. It is becoming increasingly agreed that a vegetarian diet implemented with nutritional wisdom is an effective way of living a healthy lifestyle. Millions of people today suffer from ailments such as hypertension, cancer and such related diseases directly as a spin-off of the type of foods that they consume. Meats are generally full of hormones, antibiotics and dangerous viruses for example.
Meat is hard to break and difficult to digest and robs the body of vital energy during the process of digestion. Undigested portions of meat that fail to be digested since the process is difficult to carry out may end up rotting in the colon. This may result in the production of toxic chemicals which are harmful to the body. There are particular types of vegetarian approaches that when implemented in a particular manner will include plenty of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. There are also long term benefits associated with a vegetarian lifestyle. These benefits will include better prevention of high blood pressure as well as cardiovascular diseases.
Solid and reputable studies have shown that vegan diets provide a longer life to those who participate. Vegetarians outlive the general population by up to ten years according to some assertions. In fact Mari-Louise Meilleur who died at age 122 was a vegetarian. Studies further show that vegans run a risk 50 percent lower than meat eaters in developing heart disease. They possess a healthy cholesterol levels, blood pressure and are at an advantage when it comes to developing hypertension, diabetes (type 2), and colon and prostate cancer. Individuals who eat meat are nine times more likely to have weight or obesity problems compared to vegetarians.
A strong link has been established between meat and diary foods and medical conditions like Alzheimer’s, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, impotence, obesity, and osteoporosis. Vegetarians have a stronger immune system providing them with greater protection against common flu and cold. They have a robust ability to ward-off infection at an early stage. There has been many concerns about a vegetarian diet and children. A vegetarian diet is also good for children. Its been shown that children brought up in a vegetarian lifestyle are taller and have a higher IQ compared to other children.
By: Aurther Shoko
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Filed under Health And Fitness by on Nov 18th, 2010.
Vegetarians may be able to avoid the harmful growth hormones, chemicals, and bad cholesterol sometimes found in meats, but they are also at high risk for omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFAs) deficiencies. These essential fatty acids are critical to cellular health, brain structure, and brain function. Aside from making up 60% of our brain’s structure, omega-3 EFAs also contribute to cardiovascular health, joint flexibility, immune system health, balanced moods, and sharp concentration. It is often difficult for vegetarians to obtain omega-3 EFAs because they are usually found in deep-sea fatty fish like salmon and tuna. Although flaxseed oil is one widely-used vegetarian source for EFAs, they only contain one kind of omega-3 fatty acid – alpha linolenic acid (ALA). ALA can be converted into an important long-chain fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), but the conversion process can be lengthy and inefficient.
Recently, however, scientists discovered that the seed of the purple wildflower Echium Plantagineum is a rich source in omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 EFAs. Research shows that echium oil has a rare omega-3 EFA called stearidonic acid (SDA). SDA has a molecular structure similar to EPA, which means it can easily be converted to EPA than ALA. In fact, SDA is known to produce 5 times more EPA than ALA.
Echium oil also contains another long-chain omega-3 fat called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is essential for brain function in adults as well as the visual abilities and nervous system development of infants six months old and younger. DHA is also a structural EFA that makes up part of the brain and retina’s physical component.
Aside from these omega-3 fats, echium oil also has an important omega-6 fat called gamma linolenic acid (GLA). Most omega-6 fats actually get in the way of omega-3’s health benefits, but GLA actually boosts omega-3’s functions. Supplements with GLA are known to improve ****** cancer treatment, skin conditions like psoriasis, cardiovascular health, and mental health. Although evening primrose oil is the only other plant source of GLA, nutritionists observe that echium oil contains more GLA per milligram than evening primrose oil.
Finally, echium oil serves as a source of the omega-9 fat oleic acid, a healthy mono-unsaturated fat that promotes antioxidant production, reduces heart disease, and lowers bad cholesterol levels.
The health benefits of echium oil have been studied for several years, and now many health stores carry echium oil supplements. Don’t let your dietary choices prevent you from consuming the essential fatty acids you need for good health. Consider making echium oil supplements a part of your diet and lifestyle today.
By: Dr. Yannick Pauli
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Filed under Health And Fitness by on Nov 18th, 2010.