Savvy Vegetarian Blog

news and opinion on vegetarian diet and nutrition, vegetarian lifestyle, green living, and environment

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Tue, 04 Nov 2008

Study Suggests A Vegan Diet Can Improve Diabetes Management

From The IVU Newsletter: Paul Appleby of Oxford Vegetarians (IVU) sent in the following research report:

Journal American Dietetic Association. 2008 Oct;108(10):1636-45: A recent study by David Jenkins and colleagues shows that a vegan diet compares favourably with a conventional diabetes management diet

Study: Changes in Nutrient Intake and Dietary Quality among Participants with Type 2 Diabetes Following a Low-Fat Vegan Diet or a Conventional Diabetes Diet for 22 Weeks. Turner-McGrievy GM, Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJ, Gloede L, Green AA.

Background: Although vegan diets improve diabetes management, little is known about the nutrient profiles or diet quality of individuals with type 2 diabetes who adopt a vegan diet.

Objective: To assess the changes in nutrient intake and dietary quality among participants following a low-fat vegan diet or the 2003 American Diabetes Association dietarybrecommendations.

Design: A 22-week randomized, controlled clinical trial examining changes in nutrient intake and diet quality.

Subjects/Setting: Participants with type 2 diabetes (n=99) in a free-living setting.

Research Design and Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to a low-fat vegan diet or a 2003 American Diabetes Association recommended diet.

Main Outcome Measures: Nutrient intake and Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) scores were collected at baseline and 22 weeks.

Statistical Analyses Performed: Between-group t tests were calculated for changes between groups and paired comparison t tests were calculated for changes within-group. Pearson's correlation assessed relationship of AHEI score to hemoglobin A1c and body weight changes.

Results: Both groups reported significant decreases in energy, protein, fat, cholesterol, vitamin D, selenium, and sodium intakes. The vegan group also significantly reduced reported intakes of vitamin B-12 and calcium, and significantly increased carbohydrate, fiber, total vitamin A activity, beta carotene, vitamins K and C, folate, magnesium, and potassium. The American Diabetes Association recommended diet group also reported significant decreases in carbohydrate and iron, but reported no significant increases. The vegan group significantly improved its AHEI score (P<0.0001), while the American Diabetes Association recommended diet group did not (P=0.7218). The difference in AHEI score at 22 weeks between groups was significant (P<0.0001). With both groups combined, AHEI score was negatively correlated with both changes in hemoglobin A1c value (r=-0.24, P=0.016) and weight (r=-0.27, P=0.007).

Conclusions: Vegan diets increase intakes of carbohydrate, fiber, and several micronutrients, in contrast with the American Diabetes Association recommended diet. The vegan group improved its AHEI score whereas the American Diabetes Association recommended diet group's AHEI score remained unchanged.

Mon, 20 Oct 2008

Dr. Gabe Mirkin, M.D., Report on Gall Stones - Sounds Like a Healthy Vegetarian Diet Is The Answer

We've all heard (or experienced first hand) that gall stones aren't fun. But you know, I've been a veganish vegetarian for a long time, I'm 61, and I've never had a gall bladder attack - touch wood. Which makes me wonder.

Dr. Mirkin's report on gall stones gives me the distinct impression that a healthy vegetarian diet is a great way to prevent them. Not that he comes right out and recommends going veg. But he does say that the best way to treat gall stones is to prevent them, and the best diet for that is a low fat plant based diet. And other interesting things, such as that being overweight or losing weight rapidly are the main culprits, and why. And that having your gall bladder removed isn't always a good idea...

Why not just read the whole report!

Sun, 12 Oct 2008

Prince Charles' PDG, KB* Speech Against GMO Crops

*pretty darn good, kick butt

HRH Prince Charles gave a tough anti-gmo speech Oct 2 2008. Besides being Britain's heir to the throne, The Prince is also an organic farmer, and environmentalist. He was invited to speak by Dr. Vandana Shiva, international environmental activist, and founder of Navdanya, the Indian pressure group for agricultural reform.

Prince Charles' speech (the Sir Albert Howard Memorial Lecture) has been pretty much blacked out in the U.S. press, but was covered by The Independent, UK. Geoffrey Lean reports: In a provocative address to an Indian audience, the Prince echoes Gandhi with a stinging attack on 'commerce without morality'.
Video of the full speech is available on YouTube

Although he is one of the richest men in Britain, and has been accused of agitating for personal gain, Prince Charles remains committed to battling GMO crops. "The reason I keep sticking my 60-year-old head above an increasingly dangerous parapet is not because it is good for my health," he said "but precisely because I believe fundamentally that unless we work with nature, we will fail to restore the equilibrium we need in order to survive on this planet."

According to the report in The Independent: The Prince attacked the contention that "GM food is now essential to feed the world", saying that the evidence showed that modified crops' yields were "generally lower than their conventional counterparts". He called them "a wrong turning on the route to feeding the world in a sustainable or durable manner" and "a risky and expensive distraction, diverting attention and resources away from those real, long-term solutions such as crop varieties which respond well to low input systems that, in turn, do not rely on fossil fuels." There was substantial evidence "to show that a growing world population can be fed most successfully in the long term by agricultural systems that manage the land within environmental limits".

Read The Independent's report on Prince Charles' speech

Get Prince Charles' full speech on YouTube

Fri, 26 Sep 2008

Why So Many People Fail To Keep The Weight Off After Dieting

Trying to lose weight? Here's a nice little reality check from Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine.

A new study shows that older people who diet without exercising lose huge amounts of muscle. When weight loss was combined with exercise, they did not lose muscle ( Journal of Applied Physiology. October, 2008). Loss of muscle slows metabolism even further because larger muscles burn more calories at rest.

In this study, elderly sedentary people were placed in three groups: 1) Diet only, 2) exercise only, 3) diet and exercise. Those who dieted and exercised for four months lost more fat and less muscle than those who only dieted. Most of the exercisers chose to walk on a treadmill, which is not a very vigorous endeavor.

This also explains why losing weight repeatedly through dieting shortens a person's life span. Many people go on diets and lose weight, quickly regain their lost weight and then go on a diet again. These people then become fatter at the same weight because they have lost so much muscle. Therefore at the same weight, they have fuller fat cells.

Full fat cells produce immune stimulants called cytokines that turn on a person's immunity continuously to cause inflammation, which increases risk for cancers, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other harmful diseases.

SV Note: Looking on the bright side, exercise does make you feel more cheerful and energetic - once you can breathe again!

Thu, 25 Sep 2008

New Concerns about Plastic Bottles and Containers

From Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine

A study from Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, U.K. shows that high levels of urinary Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical compound commonly used in plastic packaging for food and beverages, is associated with heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and abnormal liver tests (JAMA. Sept 17, 2008). BPA can break down to form female hormones called estrogens that are linked to breast and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and may also cause birth defects.

You are exposed to BPA, primarily through food, drinking water, tooth sealants that you may receive in a dentist's office, and exposure through your skin and lungs from household dusts. Ninety percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their urines.

Although the safety of BPA is still uncertain, you would be prudent to limit your exposure. The primary concerns are plastic water bottles and baby bottles. Each bottle is supposed to have a number in a circle stamped on the bottom. Try to avoid the following numbers. At a minimum, do not re-use bottles or containers with these numbers. Do not freeze or reheat foods or beverages in them:

• #1 - Most single-use water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE).
• #7 - This is used for many colorful hard plastic lexan bottles made with polycarbonate plastics.

Plastic products that bear the following numbers appear to be safe:

• #2 - HDPE, high-density polyethylene, the most widely recyced plastic
• #4 - LDPE, low-density polyethylene)
• #5 - PP, polypropylene

SV Note: Considering that most plastic isn't biodegradable, and ends up in landfills, or littering every part of the planet, it could be wise to avoid them altogether!

Mon, 15 Sep 2008

A Few Rays of Sunshine in a Gloomy Week

Fairfield, IA: No hurricanes, tornados or floods so far this month, but it has rained A LOT. From the bright side of alternative news, here are a few rays of sunshine to brighten up a gloomy week.

Sixty Thousand Organic Consumers and Locavores Visit "Slow Food Nation"

From OCA: In an amazing demonstration of mass public support and creativity, sixty thousand people attended the nation's first Slow Food Nation convention in San Francisco on Labor Day weekend, underlining America's need and desire for a new system of food and farming that is local, organic, and Fair Trade--not to mention delicious. Among the major themes at the conference was a call to eliminate labor exploitation in the natural and organic food sector. More About Slow Food Nation

OCA Plants Peace at the RNC

"The Organic Consumers Association's Planting Peace brigade actively participated in a series of rallies, street protests, and concert/teach-ins at the Republican National Convention last week, along with tens of thousands of other participants. OCA's Planting Peace contingent supplied organic food and literature to musicians, volunteers, and protesters at the 'Ripple Effect' concert and march on September 2, which culminated in a massive and dramatic street march on the RNC."

"Throughout the week, despite tear-gas, police dragnets, and intimidation ... OCA staff and volunteers spread the positive message that a local, energy-efficient, and Fair Trade system of organic food and farming represents a lifesaving cure for America's current 'quadruple crisis' of food, health, climate, and energy."

Wiki Goes Green

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 9, 2008: Wikia, Inc. has launched Wikia Green, a project to build a community generated online resource for green topics and issues. Just as with Wikipedia, anyone can edit or change Wikia Green to reflect the most current green topics and information.

Jimmy Wales, Co-founder of Wikia, Inc., said "As the whole notion of 'going green' has exploded, so too has the volume of related information floating around on the Internet...for the average person looking for tips on how to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, it can be difficult to know where to start."

Wikia Green will initially focus on six main content areas: Green How To Guides, Going Local, The Green Movement, Sustainable Living, Environmental Issues, Green Science and Technology.

Victory on G.E. Alfalfa Case

UCS FEED Newsletter 9.08: "In an opinion issued September 2, the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the reversal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) approval of Roundup Ready herbicide-tolerant, genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. In a landmark decision, the Appeals Court agreed with the lower court that the USDA had not adequately considered either the economic impact on organic and conventional alfalfa farmers from inevitable contamination of their crops by GE alfalfa or the environmental harm from herbicide-resistant weeds. The case was brought by the Center for Food Safety".

"This important decision affirms that the USDA has been doing a poor job enforcing environmental laws for the regulation of GE crops. The agency needs to take seriously both the economic as well as the environmental harm of gene contamination from GE crops." - UCS senior scientist Doug Gurian-Sherman, who served as an expert witness for the original case.

Read more at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Sun, 14 Sep 2008

Fun In The Park: Walk With Farm Sanctuary Against Animal Cruelty!

Sunday, September 28, Central Park, NYC: Walk for Farm Animals with the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Raise awareness about institutional animal abuse while raising funds for Farm Sanctuary, so they can continue their vital rescue, advocacy, and education efforts.

Start walking for farm animals from Columbus Circle at 12 noon. Come back for free vegan food from The Groovy Baker, live afrobeat and rock music, and a raffle for some fantastic prizes including dinner for two at New York's best vegetarian restaurants. There will also be appearances by celebrity supporters including rapper Princess Superstar, and vegan Iron Man champion Brendan Brazier, plus Senator Liz Krueger, Freeman Wicklund from Mercy for Animals, and Farm Sanctuary Director Jeff Lydon.

Learn more about Walk for Farm Animals. Over 50 walks will take place around the country on or around October 2nd. Sign Up Here.

Sat, 06 Sep 2008

Go Eggless: Savvy Veg Visited This Great Vegetarian Blog, and Recommends It

Go Eggless provides information for anyone who is vegetarian, vegan, or does not eat eggs. The author is a female vegetarian who does not eat eggs. She says that the hardest thing about her diet is when she goes out to eat. It is often difficult to know what menu items are without eggs.

To make life easier for everybody, she writes to various restaurants and asks them to provide lists of their vegetarian and "eggless" menu items. And researches stores like Trader Joes for vegetarian and vegan products.

Go Eggless Likes Cooking, and wants to be as healthy as possible in a a realistic way. By realistic she means without going to extremes. For instance, she wishes she could cook everyday, but let's face it - that's next to impossible to do in the working world of today. I'm sure that will strike a chord for many of you! It does for me.

Go Eggless Has Succeeded In Her Quest: From the posts that I saw, it seems that many restaurants have taken her seriously, and provided valuable information about their menus. (great that restaurants are finally starting to cater to vegetarians, instead of treating us like annoying freaks!) One post is about Chipotle Mexican Grill, where I ate with my daughter - she already knew the drill, and steered me to the black bean burrito.

Of course, Go Eggless asks for vegan options when querying restaurants!

Plus, Go Eggless Has Yummy Recipes! For a special treat, try this vegan brownie recipe, which uses a mix: The Go Eggless author says the're the best she's ever eaten.

Fri, 05 Sep 2008

Vegetarian Diet, Consciousness, and Compassion

Thanks to Darren C., who wrote the following thoughtful letter in response to the July 15 post, 'The Only Diet for a Peacemaker Is a Vegetarian Diet'. Darren's letter reminded me of a book I recently read, Dr. Will Tuttle's 'The World Peace Diet', which expands on the same theme.

"I just read Rev. Dear's article and your comments and thoughts. I really enjoyed his articles as did I your comments. Truthfully being vegetarian, something that has been part of my life for some 23 years now, is something that evolves from a growing awareness of the reality of our modern world. As a compassionate human being it is unthinkable to knowingly inflict suffering on other sentient beings. However my own journey was a gradual revelation."

Dissociation From Our Food Supply: "The obvious connection between an animal and meat is not always apparent.Many people do not even associate animals with what they buy at the store or in a restaurant, especially in the "developed" world where meats come in neat packages that have no apparent connection to the beings who were sacrificed for their creation. In many countries I have visited, animals are butchered in the open, some with reverence and thanks, others with cruelty and zero compassion, while both remain a very sad sight for my vegetarian eyes. In some ways I prefer to see that stark reality because at least those that do consume meat in such places have a direct vision of what they are doing, unlike in the developed world where we are a lot more dissociated from our food supply."

Waste: "Several key points arise from this item of discussion and one of those is waste. I believe that in a world where we are disconnected from our food supply it becomes easier to be wasteful than when we are directly involved in the production and growing of our food. I would hazard a guess that we waste more in the developed and even urban world than areas where people are more connected to their food."

The Value of Life: "Another item to consider is the act of killing itself. It would seem to me that if you can kill an animal for food, the value you place on life may be somewhat lessened."

Speciesism: "I would further add an item that complicates this topic a little further and that is another cultural quirk of human nature, one some refer to as speciesism. When growing up in the UK and before becoming a vegetarian, I made no connection to animals and food most of the time, although I do remember how we would think how cruel the French were for eating horses and the Koreans for eating dogs. I have since realized the ridiculous nature of these thoughts, although it does illustrate how the mind can justify certain things and not see the broader reality."

Evolution: "After all is said and done, I truly identify with the points brought up in the Reverend's article. Through more widespread education, connection to nature, spirit and our food supply and awareness of the realities of how food comes to our table, I believe the natural evolution of human consciousness has to be towards a vegetarian diet."

Sun, 31 Aug 2008

Take a Break From Fun In The Sun With COTG!!

Carnival of the Green is a roving digest of the green blogosphere, managed by Treehugger.

COTG visits a new green blog each week, bringing eco-green-sustainable bytes to entertain and enlighten. Last weeks Carnival appeared at Life Goggles. Next week COTG moves to Tiny Choices.

Some of us start gearing down for Labor Day Weekend several days ahead. Some of us don't seem to know that we're allowed to take vacations, or have forgotten how. Thanks to those dedicated workaholic greenies, Carnival of the Green is happening right here, right now!

Trying, Or Continuing? Sally Kneidel at Veggie Revolution tells how, in his last few months, Bush is trying to undermine the Endangered Species Act - a parting gift to his corporate cronies.

Only in America! Green Grocery Shopper Conumdrum: To drive to the cheaper grocery store, or to to one that's more expensive, but within biking distance, these are the kinds of decisions greenies like Marguerite Manteau-Rao face every day.

46 Simple Ways to Save Cash Now with Green Travel: -- Elizabeth covers everything from planning the trip, to getting around. Save money and make your travels eco-friendly at the same time.

iPhone + Green = ? Karina at Tiny Choices takes a look at the most eco and green-friendly accessories for her new iPhone.

We Can, But Will We? Natalie Bennett in the U.K. explores the topic, What We Can Learn From the Roman Empire.

CSA Anyone? Joe at Eco-Joe's offers a review (with pictures) of a local, organic produce delivery company in Raleigh, NC.

Beth Terry At Fake Plastic Fish Says, "While single-use compostable containers and utensils are certainly a better option than non-biodegradable plastic, they are still a source of waste and require materials and energy to manufacture."
And Ponders, "What if we focused more on bringing our own durable cups and containers and less on throw-aways, no matter what they're made from?"

Green Readers! 10 ways to recycle books without creating waste! Mrs. Green presents excellent ideas for paying books forward.

15 Must Read Books That Will Forever Change How You See The World: Sarah Irani of Eco Salon says these 15 are essential reading for anyone interested in sustainability, human and animal welfare, and the future of the planet.

Well, I Never! Fight Club The Greenest Movie In 10 Years! Nimic takes a look at the green and anti-consumerist message presented in the movie, and applies the lessons to everyday life.

Viva Los Verde Vegas: How To Green Your Los Vegas Home Some good ideas. But, excuse me, isn't Los Vegas in a desert? Wouldn't it way easier to green your home in - say, Portland, Oregon!

Leave No Trace In Your Favorite Wild Place: Steve Sergeant is host of the weekly N.P.R. podcast, The Wildebeat. He tells in a one minute audio how to go into the wilderness without leaving a trace of your being there, taking only photos, bugbites, and sunburn as souvenirs.

Renewable Energy in Hawaii: Hawaii is making great strides in the use of solar energy. But I have to say - when I went to Hawaii, it struck me that American culture is redundant there, and the best way to save energy would be for the tourist industry to collapse, and all the energy-hogging Americans and Europeans to go away.

4 Reasons Why Green is Good, But Isn't Always Better: Linsey B. Knerl asks the tough questions: "Is it possible that we've taken 'green' issues at more than their face value? Do we accidentally limit our discernment and give false credence to anything that calls itself 'globally-aware'"?

Re-Useable BPA Free Bottles: Nature Mom reviews all the choices for families. Very useful article, with a 'bottle giveaway' for commenters.

Savvy Veg Read This In Common Dreams: A Modest Proposal For Sustainable Eating. This weekend in San Francisco, Slow Food Nation's expo and conference is "modestly billed as the largest celebration of food in history ... the event is part detox program and part renewal agenda." Savvy Veg agrees with all 10 points of the slow food checklist, but would add that you should probably filter your tap water before drinking, and consider going vegetarian as point #11.

Treehugger and Savvy Vegetarian thank you for making Carnival of the Green a part of your holiday weekend. See you next week at Tiny Choices.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008

Breadtopia: Heavenly Bread Making Blog, With Easy, No-Knead, Artisan Bread

Breadtopia is a heavenly bread baking support site - blog actually - for breadmaking, complete with excellent bread and pizza recipes, accompanied by video tutorials, recommended bread cookbooks, and a full line of bread-making supplies.

Eric and Denyce Rush started Breadtopia to share their passion for bread with the world. What sets Breadtopia apart is that it's a truly interactive site, driven by their above-and-beyond attitude.

It's all in the details: Complete, easy, thoroughly tested bread recipes; relaxed, easy-to-follow bread making video tutorials; Eric's friendly, knowledgable responses to the posted comments, and the posters themselves.

The posted comments are a very useful feature of Breadtopia, full of the posters' helpful tips, shared passion for bread, and enthusiastic appreciation for Breadtopia. There were no less than 398 comments on the no-knead bread recipe! Eric links to the best comments and adds them to the recipes.

Future Trends: I noticed that Breadtopia had a great looking recipe for Moist Whole Wheat Banana Bread, using baking soda. It called for butter, eggs, and honey, but could easily be made vegan using veggie spread or oil, agave nectar or corn syrup, and a little extra banana in place of the eggs.

There was also Denyce's yummy strawberry rhubarb pie recipe, which Eric nominates as The Ultimate Food. Just use a vegan pie crust and skip the egg wash, to make it The Ultimate Vegan Food.

I'm hoping that Breadtopia will soon branch out into unyeasted flat breads, which I love - polenta, chapatis, puris, naan bread, tortillas, etc.

If you've always wanted to whip up professional quality, divinely delicious artisan bread for pennies and almost no effort - Breadtopia is the place to go.

Tue, 15 Jul 2008

The Only Diet for a Peacemaker Is a Vegetarian Diet - by John Dear, for the National Catholic Reporter

Rev, John Dear S.J. is a Jesuit Priest, Peace Activist, Organizer, Lecturer, Retreat leader, and author/editor of 20 books on peace and nonviolence, including Living Peace, published by Doubleday. Archbishop Desmond Tutu has nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

John Dear's gentle article, or rather, sermon, 'The Only Diet for a Peacemaker Is a Vegetarian Diet', starts off briefly documenting the environmental damages from the first world's meat based diet, the attendant animal cruelty, and the health issues.

Then Fr. John addresses the elephant in the room, which both herbivore and omnivore avoid - the moral issue: Our largely violent and destructive presence on this planet is an extension of our habit of enslaving and mistreating animals, killing and eating them, when there is no need to do so.

Fr. John Dear says, "A vision of a nonviolent world, all creatures nonviolent, children safely at play with them, and no violence anywhere. That is the peaceful vision of creation that we are called to pursue — in every aspect of our lives, from the jobs we hold, to our use of gasoline and alternative energies, to what we eat and wear, say and do."

"... for me being vegetarian boils down to peacemaking. If you want to be a peacemaker ... reflecting the sentiments of Leo Tolstoy, you will want to eat as peaceful a diet as possible. 'Vegetarianism,' Tolstoy wrote, 'is the taproot of humanitarianism.' Other great humanitarians like Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer and Thich Nhat Hanh agree. The only diet for a peacemaker is a vegetarian diet."

When Fr. Dear's mild, peaceful article appeared in Common Dreams a few days ago, it not surprisingly polarized vegetarians and non-vegetarians, aka herbivores and omnivores.

There have been more than 90 intensely passionate comments posted to date, many of them as long or longer than Fr. Dear's article, with very strong emotion on both sides. Debate raged on the following topics: whether or not humans are natural herbivores or omnivores, whether the bible supports vegetarianism, was Hitler a vegetarian (no), people's individual rights to eat however they please, the insufferable moral superiority of vegetarians vs. the selfish greedy behavior of meat eaters.

Personally, I agree with Fr. Dear. BUT. For what it's worth, here's my view on vegetarian diet and peacemaking:

From my own experience and observation, lifestyle changes such as going vegetarian tend to follow from growth in consciousness, or spiritual evolution. Peace comes from within. Without that inner change, outer change doesn't get much support. When you become a more peaceful person, a more peaceful diet follows, easily and naturally, along with other more peaceful behavior.

I feel that it's futile to pressure people to go vegetarian as a way of changing their behavior. As John Dear says, "If you want to be a peacemaker ..." (my italics). Desire is the key.

To John Dear, being vegetarian is probably as natural as breathing, and that's how it should be. He became vegetarian as an extension of his spiritual path, when he entered the Jesuit order, after whatever personal evolution led to that step. I tried to go vegetarian at age twenty, with lots of confusion, doubt, ignorance, resistance - and malnutrition.

I had to go back to square one - eating meat. During that time, I learned to meditate (Transcendental Meditation). As my stress levels dropped, and body and mind became more clear, coherent, and peaceful, my desire to go vegetarian was naturally supported. My vegetarian knowledge and skills continue to grow without effort or conflict on my part.

Although it's clear to me that the world would be better off following a plant based diet, and I don't hesitate to say so, I don't want to make vegetarian diet into a religion (vegetarianism). Whatever a person's path, and wherever they are in becoming vegetarian, I try to offer practical vegetarian advice and support, based on what they need, from whatever knowledge I have, and quietly continue my meditation practice.

Read Fr. John Dear's article 'The Only Diet for a Peacemaker Is a Vegetarian Diet'

Sat, 12 Jul 2008

Meat of the Matter: E Magazine on the Environmental Consequences of Livestock, And Why It's Important To Go Vegetarian

By Jim Motovelli, from the July/August 2008 cover story of E - The Environmental Magazine. "Ask most Americans about what causes global warming, and they'll point to a coal plant smokestack or a car's tailpipe. But it's two other images that should be granted similarly iconic status: the front and rear ends of a cow."

I like Jim Motovelli's article, because it pulls together in one place the thoughts that have been rolling around in my head for years, and just lately appearing here, there and everywhere (an encouraging sign). 'Meat of the Matter' has lots of satisfying factual detail about what the global obsession with meat is doing to the environment, followed by a concise, compelling argument for vegetarian diet as the cure for environmental degradation, and global warming. Below are a few choice quotes from the article:

"According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the American meat industry produced more than 1.4 billion tons of waste in 1997 — five tons for every U.S. citizen and 130 times the volume of human waste. Michael Jacobson, the longtime executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, adds the fact that just one midsized feedlot churns out half a million pounds of manure each day. 'The methane that cattle and their manure produce has a global warming effect equal to that of 33 million automobiles,' the Center reports in its book 'Six Arguments for a Greener Diet.'"

"To understand livestock's impact on the planet, you have to consider the size of the industry. It is the single largest human-related use of land. Grazing occupies an incredible 26 percent of the ice and water-free surface of the planet Earth. The area devoted to growing crops to feed those animals amounts to 33 percent of arable land. Meat production is a major factor in deforestation as well, and grazing now occupies 70 percent of previously forested land in the Amazon region. In Brazil, 60 to 70 percent of rainforest destruction is caused by clearing for animal pasture, one reason why livestock accounts for nine percent of human-caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Other sources of CO2 include the burning of diesel fuel to operate farm machinery and the fossil fuels used to keep barns warm during the winter."

"The environmental consequences of meat-based diets extend far beyond their impact on climate change. According to the UN report, producing the worldwide meat supply also consumes a large share of natural resources and contributes to a variety of pressing problems. Livestock production consumes eight percent of the world’s water (mainly to irrigate animal feed); causes 55 percent of land erosion and sediment; uses 37 percent of all pesticides; directly or indirectly results in 50 percent of all antibiotic use; and dumps a third of all nitrogen and phosphorous into our fresh water supplies."

"The few commentators who have taken on the connection between meat consumption and global warming ignore the most obvious solution: not eating meat."

"Jim Mason, coauthor of the book 'The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter (Rodale Books)', offers another possible reason we've kept vegetarianism off the mainstream agenda. 'People who eat meat and animal products are in denial about anything and everything having to do with animal farming,' he says. 'They know that it must be bad, but they don't want to look at any part of it. So all of it stays hidden and abuses flourish — whether of animals, workers or the environment.'"

"Offer these facts to many meat eaters, and they'll respond that they can't be healthy without meat. 'Where would I get my protein?' is a common answer. But the latest medical research shows that the human body does not need meat to be healthy. Indeed, meat is high in cholesterol and saturated fat, and a balanced vegetarian diet provides all the protein needed for glowing health. Were humans 'meant' to eat meat, just because our ancestors did? Nonsense, says Dr. Milton Mills, a leading vegetarian voice. 'The human gastrointestinal tract features the anatomical modifications consistent with an herbivorous diet,' he asserts."

For years, many environmentalists have been among those in denial about the the environmental effects of a meat based diet. I'm relieved to say that seems to be changing. Read the article, 'Meat Of The Matter', July/August 2008 cover story, E - The Environmental Magazine

Sun, 29 Jun 2008

It's Happening! The World Is Going Vegetarian!

Friends sent me links to the following three inspiring news stories from the last month. It doesn't surprise me that the world is going vegetarian, because it's crystal clear that massive meat consumption, mostly by developed countries such as the US, is horribly destructive and completely unsustainable.

Of course, a world wide trend toward plant based diet can't be built on three news items. But in the last two years, I've noticed an ever increasing number of stories like this in the news, and ever more frequent articles, books, blogs, etc. on going vegetarian. And much more main stream attention to vegetarian diet. So, I'm optimistic. Read on!

One Million Vow To Reduce Global Warming By Going Vegetarian

'More than one million people in Taiwan have pledged to help cut carbon emissions by being a vegetarian. Taiwan's population is about 23 million, and the one million vegetarians would reduce at least 1.5 million tons of carbon emissions in Taiwan in one year.'

'The Union of NoMeatNoHeat made the announcement during its anti-global warming drive. Many prominent politicians, such as the legislative speaker, the environment minister, and Taipei and Kaohsiung Mayors all pledged to become vegetarians.'

'The Union said 20 percent of the world's carbon emissions are created by the livestock industry, which is higher than the 15 to 18 percent produced by all the world's transportation vehicles.'

Copyright RTI Radio Taiwan International. Read the full article on 1,000,000 going veg.

Who Says You Have To Eat Meat To Be A Successful Athlete?

ESPN, "The Worldwide Leader in Sports" [Owned by Walt Disney Company], 6.17.08:

"Already we've seen a number of world-class athletes move toward vegan and vegetarian diets. NBA guard Salim Stoudamire, former NFLers Desmond Howard and Ricky Williams, track and field greats Carl Lewis and Edwin Moses and others have followed that path. Four other athletes who have made the switch to vegan or vegetarian diets recently shared their thoughts on these and other meaty issues tied to their choices. Here's what they had to say:"

Read this long, positive article from Jonah Keri on ESPN, about athletes going veg

Putting Meat Back In It's Place

Even the New York Times is getting into the act - as in this article by Mark Bittman on 6.11.08

'Let's suppose you've decided to eat less meat, or are considering it. And let's ignore your reasons for doing so. They may be economic, ethical, altruistic, nutritional or even irrational. The arguments for eating less meat are myriad and well-publicized, but at the moment they're irrelevant, because what I want to address here is (almost) purely pragmatic: How do you do it?'

'Reducing the meat habit can be done, and it doesn't have to make you crazy. Although there will undoubtedly be times you'll have cravings, they'll never give you the shakes. So, in no particular order, here are some suggestions to ease your path to eating less meat.'

If you're thinking about going veg, but not quite ready to go cold tofu, read author Mark Bittman's suggestions for reducing your meat habit

Fri, 02 May 2008

For Vegetarians and Vegans: Dr. Mirkin on Vitamins and Exercise

Dr. Gabe Mirkin always has interesting alternative, holistic health and nutrition info in his weekly ezine, especially about exercise, fitness, nutrition and weight loss. His comments and advice are often relevant and valuable to vegetarians.

In the May 4th 2008 issue of Dr. Mirkin's Health and Fitness Ezine, he has good advice for people who just realized how out of shape they are (seems to be a spring thing), and want to get fit immediately, if not sooner. The good news is, anybody can get fit. The bad news is, for the average unfit person, it takes WEEKS, even MONTHS, not days, to get fit.

"Start your new exercise program at very low intensity and low volume. Gradually increase your workload for several months before you try to run fast, lift heavy or exercise intensely. If you are just beginning to exercise, go at a relaxed pace until your muscles feel heavy and then stop. For the first several days or weeks you may be able to exercise only for a few minutes at a time. If your muscles feel sore the next day, take the day off. Increase the amount of time gradually until you can exercise 30 minutes a day at a relaxed pace and not feel sore. You may progress rapidly to the 30-minute goal, or it may take you two, four, six weeks or more. No matter how long it takes, don't get discouraged. Exercising too much or too hard, too soon will set you up for injuries."

In case you were thinking to skip the 'no-pain-no-gain' route to health, and just take a few vitamin supplements, Dr. Mirkin shoots that one down too. It isn't that he thinks vitamins aren't important - but that we're better off getting them holistically and synergistically - from food. I'm including his vitamin comments from the May 4, 2008 issue, because we all need to know this stuff:

"Most vitamins are parts of enzymes that start chemical reactions in your body. Each chemical reaction produces end products that are changed by further chemical reactions from other vitamins to other products that benefit your body. When you take a vitamin that has been isolated from the hundreds of other substances found in foods, that enzyme causes a chemical reaction that accumulates a disproportionate amount of its end products. If the substance that acts as an enzyme for the next chain of chemical reactions is not available, you can accumulate end products that may be harmful.

"For example, people who take niacin to lower cholesterol show a marked elevation of homocysteine, a major risk factor for heart attacks. Homocysteine levels are raised by a deficiency of B12, folic acid and pyridoxine. When you eat your niacin in whole grains, all of those components are present, along with many others whose functions we may not yet understand. Several of you asked for a link to the study I mentioned last week; it has been added to this issue."

My question is, "What about Vitamin B12? Vegans have a hard time getting this vital nutrient from food, and as people age, they tend to lose their ability to absorb it. So, if we take a B12 supplement, are we risking a heart attack? Or are the risks of B12 deficiency greater than the risk of taking an artifical and isolated vitamin?" Apparently.

I read several of Dr. Mirkin's posts about Vitamin B12 - One,   Two,   Three. I was reminded about the dire effects of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Dr. Mirkin recommends B12 supplements, especially for people over 60 and vegetarians - it's a cheap and easy way to prevent pernicious anemia, brain and nerve damage, and heart attacks.

Taking Vitamin B12:

• Supposedly, methylcobalamin B12 is absorbed more readily by the body, especially if you take it sublingually.
• BUT - the doses (1000 mcg is typical) are much higher than what our bodies need, which is a few micrograms a day, so you won't lose much by taking cobalamin and making your body convert it.
• You sure don't need 5000 mcg - go for 500 mcg if you can find that size. Most of it will still end up in the toilet.
• In my experience, once you're up to speed, you can usually take half a tablet every few days with no harm done.
• Plus, any B12 tablet can be taken sublingually - just let it dissolve under your tongue.
• Another point is that all B12 is made in labs, and is vegetarian by definition. Just watch out for non-veg gelatin capsules.

Mon, 07 Apr 2008

World Wide Food Crisis - Grains Gone Wild, by Paul Krugman

Published on Monday, April 7, 2008 by The New York Times

"These days you hear a lot about the world financial crisis. But there's another world crisis under way - and it's hurting a lot more people."

"I'm talking about the food crisis. Over the past few years the prices of wheat, corn, rice and other basic foodstuffs have doubled or tripled, with much of the increase taking place just in the last few months. High food prices dismay even relatively well-off Americans - but they're truly devastating in poor countries, where food often accounts for more than half a family's spending."

"There have already been food riots around the world. Food-supplying countries, from Ukraine to Argentina, have been limiting exports in an attempt to protect domestic consumers, leading to angry protests from farmers - and making things even worse in countries that need to import food."

How did this happen? The answer is a combination of long-term trends, bad luck - and bad policy.

SV Note: Food doesn't yet cost half my income, but it is by far the biggest expense in my budget. That's with eating simply, cooking most of my own food from scratch, buying bulk, buying local whenever possible, and keeping a garden. But we still eat far better than most people in the world, mainly because of all the cheap imported food that's available - cheap relative to the actual social, environmental, and economic costs of producing and transporting it.

Read Paul Krugman's article, Grains Gone Wild, to find out why cheap food, like cheap oil may be a thing of the past.

Thu, 14 Feb 2008

Enjoy Socially Responsible, Humanitarian, Eco-Friendly Travel - Volunteer in Latin America

Every year about this time in the dreary dog days of winter, I long for sunny beaches in tropical climes. And then I think, 'What a drag to fly to some third world country as a hated tourist!'. Then I got a timely email from Stephen Knight, webmaster at Volunteer Latin America. For those who need a real reason to travel, VLA is a UK based organization providing a customized information service for humanitarian volunteers. VLA also offers environmental projects.

Along with a link request, Stephen kindly included an article (excerpted below), meant for anyone looking to travel in a way that lessens their impact on the environment and provides genuine benefits for conservation and local people. When I read the article, I realized that most of these socially responsible, eco-friendly travel tips apply to all of us - in our daily lives, and when travelling any distance, from the local farmers market to the other side of the world.

'Being a responsible traveller means more than just offsetting your carbon emissions, it requires thought and preparation. Responsible travel is based on the principles of sustainability and it requires you to examine the environmental, social and economic dimensions of your trip. Thus, responsible travel is all about minimizing the impact of your travel and maximizing the benefits for local economies, environments and host communities. Making informed choices before and during your trip is the single most important thing you can do to become a responsible traveller.'

'If you intend to volunteer overseas, try to choose a locally run organisation so all your money goes to the cause rather than paying for the marketing and administration of a volunteer-sending agency. Some foreign run agencies offer little more than glorified holidays and are often more interested in making money than helping the environment or local people. No one benefits from these placements apart from the companies that organise them.'

SV Note: Helpful information from VLA will allow you to avoid that scenario, and fulfill your dream of becoming a humanitarian volunteer in Latin America.

Read the VLA article: Eco Friendly Socially Responsible Travel

Wed, 13 Feb 2008

Vegan Express: New Cookbook from Nava Atlas, prolific cookbook writer, and publisher of In A Vegetarian Kitchen

Excerpt: Cookbook Review by Sarah Kingsbury, for Savvy Vegetarian

This a very usable cookbook with a lot of great stuff packed into it, from basic vegan nutrition, to grocery shopping tips, to a wide variety of quick flavorful recipes accompanied by handy menu suggestions. Just pick one of Nava's suggestions and you will instantly have the complete answer to the dreaded question, 'What should we have for dinner?'

The answer is sure to be always delicious. We had Pineapple Coconut Noodles the other day and they were a big hit with the whole family, young and old. Other recipes I'm looking forward to trying very soon include: Tofu Triangles with Rich Peanut Sauce, White Bean and Escarole Soup, Creamy Pasta with Asparagus and Peas, and Black Bean, Mango, and Avocado Salad, to name just a few.

Read The Vegan Express Cookbook Review

Try Pineapple Coconut Noodles

Buy Vegan Express!

Tue, 12 Feb 2008

Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumers Association: Corporate Globalization: Standing at the End of the Road

I just read an excellent article in Common Dreams by Ronnie Cummins, director of the Organic Consumers Association.

Ronnie Cummins writes from Mexico, which has been economically devastated by NAFTA - the North American Free Trade Agreement. He was part of a demonstration against NAFTA in Mexico City: "...one hundred and fifty thousand small farmers, teachers, workers, and neighborhood activists are marching to repeal the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and end the illegal 'dumping' by Cargill, ADM, and Monsanto of billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidized U.S. agricultural crops – beans, rice, sugar, powdered milk, soybeans, and genetically engineered corn – onto the Mexican market."

"NAFTA, pushed through in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. in 1994 over the opposition of the majority of North Americans, is literally driving Mexico's thirty million small farmers and villagers off the land and into the slums of Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana, Juarez, and other cities; or else, following the path of twelve million others before them, across the increasingly dangerous border into the United States to find work. Rural villages in Mexico have become literal economic ghost towns of women, children, and the elderly. In some municipalities, 80-90% of the men and boys are gone, increasingly joined by the young women."

After describing the effects of NAFTA and similar global agri-business deals - cheap abundant food for the U.S. and starvation for other countries - Ronnie Cummins ponders the way forward from the heartbreaking injustice he describes.

"The simple solution to all this is to scrap NAFTA, make organic and sustainable farming once more the dominant practice in agriculture (as it has been for most of the last 10,000 years), help the globe's two billion farmers stay on the land, make healthy organic foods and lifestyles the norm, and restructure global agriculture and commerce so that sustainable local and regional production for local and regional markets and Fair Trade become the norm, not just the alternative."

"Implementing these obvious alternatives," Cummins states, "will require nothing short of a global grassroots rising."

Savvy Veg sees a peaceful transformation of world consciousness making positive global change inevitable. Evidence of that transformation can be found in the phenomenal numbers of people, all over the world, adopting a vegetarian diet. It's typically spontaneous - people just wake up one day and realize that they have to be vegetarian. Will Tuttle, in his book of that name, calls vegetarianism 'The World Peace Diet', and it's part and parcel of Ronnie Cummins simple solution to corporate globalization.

Read Ronnie Cummins article, Corporate Globalization: Standing at the End of the Road

Sat, 09 Feb 2008

Using Food Crops for Biofuels Increases Carbon Emissions

Common Dreams newsletter 2.08 edition, has a most interesting article on biofuels, by Alan Zembaro of the LA Times. Here's the intro:

'Biofuel Crops Increase Carbon Emissions: The conversion of forests and grasslands into fields for the plants offsets the benefit of using the fuel, researchers find. Greenhouse-gas output overall would rise instead of fall.'

The article references two recent studies from the University of Minnesota, and Princeton University. One study found that 'clearing forests and grasslands to grow the crops releases vast amounts of carbon into the air — far more than the carbon spared from the atmosphere by burning biofuels instead of gasoline.' The second study states that 'Even converting existing farmland from food to biofuel crops increases greenhouse gas emissions as food production is shifted to other parts of the world, resulting in the destruction of more forests and grasslands to make way for farmland.'

Alan Zembaro's article makes it clear that biofuels from food crops is not the way to go. Even more interesting (as usual) were the comments posted by Common Dreams readers, e.g. the following excerpt from Hopeful Brewer's post:

'The discussion of bio fuels seems to me to have consistently omitted the most productive crop of all : HEMP. ... the truth is that hemp has many advantages over corn, soy, and even switchgrass. It is a nitrogen fixer, which means that it can be grown year after year with minimal input of nutrients, it thrives on a multitude of soil conditions, its fiber and oils have literally thousands of applications, and it makes a dynamite viscous fuel. ... The paper industry has long fought hemp in favor of further deforestation, but the truth is that hemp will produce 4 times as much raw fiber for paper as a 75 year old forest, with less energy in harvesting and considerably less impact on ecosystems.' Etc.

Of course, that brought forth many more lively and informative posts.

Read The Article

Sat, 05 Jan 2008

How To Recycle Everything That Isn't Paper, Plastic and Glass

Don't leave it on the sidewalk! A number of resources are now available to help consumers recycle everything from electronics to fluorescent light bulbs to disposable batteries.

From E-Magazines's 1.6.08 EARTH TALK column.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia

It's true that recycling items other than paper, plastic and glass is still no easy task. But if you're committed to unloading something without adding it to a landfill, a little research can go a long way. Fortunately there are some great resources out there to help.

One of the best is a May 2006 article published in E – The Environmental Magazine by Sally Deneen entitled "How to Recycle Practically Anything". Besides debunking myths about the ineffectiveness of municipal recycling programs, Deneen outlines where and how to recycle dozens of different types of household items not typically picked up by the recycling truck at your curbside.

Regarding compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)— which shouldn't be thrown in the trash as they contain trace amounts of the toxic heavy metal mercury—Deneen recommends first checking with your local household hazardous waste disposal facility to see if they will take them for recycling. If not, many hardware stores will take back spent CFLs. If none of these options pans out, a free online listing of companies that recycle CFLs can be found at Lamp Recycle.

As for disposable batteries, Deneen says they, too, can usually be dropped off at municipal hazardous waste facilities, where they will be disassembled and their parts recycled for use in other products. If such facilities in your area won't take them, some local or national retailers (such as Walgreen's in some areas and Batteries Plus nationwide) may — just call and ask. Another option is to pay for the privilege by sending them to Battery Solutions, a mail-order company that will recycle them for 85 cents per pound.

Another common question is how to recycle (or at least responsibly dispose of) portable electronics — cell phones, video games, MP3 players, etc. — given that they usually contain heavy metals and chemicals that can pollute soils and groundwater. Deneen recommends dropping them off at your local Staples, Office Depot or Radio Shack store, which should take them back free of charge even if you didn't buy them there. Another option would be shipping the worn out items to CollectiveGood (4508 Bibb Boulevard, Tucker, GA 30084), which will recycle them and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice.

If you're stumped about how or where to recycle an item, check out Earth911. It offers a free keyword-searchable, zip code-based database of municipal and commercial recycling and hazardous waste disposal facilities across the United States. The frequently updated database, which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as state governments and several non-profits, can also direct you to the proper municipal facility or local business to off-load potentially toxic items, like old tires or unused paint, in a safe and responsible manner. If you don’t have handy Internet access, give Earth911's toll-free telephone hotline a call at 1-800-CLEANUP.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881;
Submit it at: Earth Talk This Week, or e-mail: earthtalk at emagazine.com.

Read past columns at: Earth Talk Archives

Thu, 03 Jan 2008

Cold Weather Hinders Weight Loss

Dr. Gabe Mirkin is a diabetic health and fitness enthusiast who gives out a lot of useful info in his Fitness and Health E-Zine - about diet, exercise, weight loss and other interesting health stuff which may even apply to you. For instance, if you're eating right and exercising, even though it's cold, and your weight loss program has stalled or reversed, here's a reasonable explanation.

"Many people gain weight during the cold months even if they exercise and watch what they eat. One reason may be that you burn fewer calories when you exercise in cold weather than you do when it's hot. The hotter it is, the more extra work your heart must do to prevent you from overheating. More than 70 percent of the energy produced by your muscles during exercise is lost as heat. So the harder you exercise, the hotter your muscles become. In hot weather, not only must your heart pump extra blood to bring oxygen to your muscles, it must also pump hot blood from your heated muscles to your skin where heat can be dissipated."

"On the other hand, in cold weather, your heart only has to pump blood to your muscles and very little extra blood to your skin to dissipate heat. Your muscles produce so much heat during exercise that your body does not need to produce more heat to keep you warm. So your heart works harder and you burn more calories in hot weather. This information should not discourage you from exercising when its cold, because staying in shape is a year-round proposition. However, it may help to explain why so many people find the pounds creeping on in the wintertime, even when they stay active."

Sun, 09 Dec 2007

Word Of The Year 2007: Locavore!

From Union of Concerned Scientists 12/7/07 FEED newsletter.

O.K. I'll bite. What is a locavore??? At first glance, I thought the word was 'locovore' - a carnivore with mad cow disease maybe? Then in my dyslexic state I mispelled it as 'lovacore' - someone who lives on love? Finally I got it right. The New Oxford American Dictionary's 2007 Word of the Year is LOCAVORE, defined as 'a person who seeks out locally produced food'.

UCS tells us that the local foods movement is gaining momentum as people discover that the best-tasting and most sustainable choices are foods that are fresh, seasonal, and grown close to home. Amen! Some locavores draw inspiration from the 100-mile diet or from advocates of local eating like Barbara Kingsolver. Others just follow their taste buds to farmers' markets, community supported agriculture programs, and community gardens.

Savvy Veg notes that UCS doesn't mention your own back yard as a source of locally grown food. However, if your thumb is even slightly green, and there's any way that you can grow things where you live - just do it!

A few of the many reasons why growing veggies is my favorite way to eat locally:

• Grow a lot of food in a little space from just a few little seeds. You can even buy food seeds & plants with food stamps!
• Turn your kitchen scraps into compost for your plants, and send less garbage to the landfill.
• It costs almost nothing to grow food, especially if you scrounge for free local materials and inputs.
• Gardening is a great way to get fresh air and exercise, save on gym fees, and escape doing the dishes.
• It's Cheap Therapy: You can't have a problem when you're digging in the dirt.
• Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, tastes as good as a veggie you just harvested from your own garden, even if your garden is just a lone tomato plant on your apartment balcony

Check out Local Harvest to find sustainably grown food near you, and make a New Year's Resolution to become a Locavore in 2008!

Mon, 03 Dec 2007

Diet Detective

Allena Tapia from Diet Detective just wrote to tell me she linked to my 'awesome site' (that would be Savvy Veg). Curiosity led me to her awesome site.

Although Allena says that she's a 'transitional vegetarian' according to Savvy Veg, Diet Detective is an excellent resource for vegetarians or anyone in healthy lifestyle and weight loss. The section that I'm really excited about is one of the best food resources I've seen online: the Food Search Section of Diet Detective. This is a thorough nutritional analysis of thousands of foods, including most everything that vegetarians & vegans eat - exactly what I've been looking for. Even spices & herbs are listed, making it clear what nutrition powerhouses they are. For example, 1 tsp of cumin has 1% of the daily value of Vitamin A, 2% of calcium, and 7.9% of iron, plus trace amounts of Vitamins C, E & K, Thiamin, Niacin, Folate & B6. Who Knew!?

The Food Search section is a valuable tool for meal planning, weight loss, or weight gain for some lucky people! I plan to use it for developing recipes on Savvy Veg. In addition, Diet Detective offers a weight loss support group (membership is $49.95 per year), health & diet articles and advice, community forums, newsletter and more.

Mon, 19 Nov 2007

Savvy Vegetarian is proud to host the 104th Carnival of the Green

COTG is a roving digest of the green blogosphere, managed by Treehugger. Carnival of the Green roams from blog to blog each week, offering entertaining and enlightening bits and bytes - with an ecopolitical-green-sustainable focus.

Last weeks Carnival of the Green was a No-Show. Next week's carnival is happening at Great Green Goods

Since this is the season of consumerism (aka holiday spirit), to which green people are not immune - we present sustainable green shopping opportunites. Sadly, global warming is still with us, but solar power and other alternative energy sources are on the rise.

Mindful Momma tells us why our next appliance purchase should be Energy Star Rated. My question is, why would anyone do otherwise?

Thoughts On Global Warming: Simmons writes about a solar powered mp4 player, which he describes as 'pretty sick'. For the un-hip among us, I think that means it's very very good.

Preston Koerner at Jetson Green posts about a modern, green, affordable ($100 K) house in Philadelphia. That pushes all my consumer buttons, except (whine) why isn't it in Florida?

OK, Here It is! Corbett Kroehler at Keyboard Culture talks about Florida's Showcase Green Envirohome, which embraces solar energy, and will even have a solar air conditioner! I wonder if its a $100K eco-house like the one in Philly. Just a thought.

Last week, Beth Terry at Fake Plastic Fish tried to post about finding plastic in places you might not expect, as in Evert Fresh 'green' bags, which have been advertised as un-plastic. This week Beth posts about toxic PVC lurking in your house and how to deal with it, plus her quest for the 'greenest' plastic-free cutting board. I want to know about that!

Eco Books For Today's Kids: MC Milker, The Not Quite Crunchy Parent, looks beyond eco friendly subjects in kid books to truly environmentally friendly kid books.

Nick Aster at Triple Pundit announces: Yokohama to Launch Tires Made of Orange Rinds.

Gourmet Coffee Reviews reports: Specialty Coffee Retailer Introduces ?Green Cup? Tully's, a handcrafted coffee roaster in Washington state, recently became the first major coffee retailer to adopt a fully renewable and compostable paper beverage cup. Tully's also has an in-store collection program to divert the used 'green' cups and other compostable food waste from local landfills to organic composting facilities. Go Tully's!

Coinciding with the seasonal consumer feeding frenzy, the Nov. 18th edition of E-Magazine's weekly Earth Talk column answers the question,'What are the best sources out there for environmentally friendly consumer products?' According to Earth Talk, online is one of the best bets. Savvy Vegetarian also has a list of favorite online green retailers and directories.

JP Davidson at Green Deals Daily tells us the Top 5 Ways to Convince People who Don't Give a Damn about the Environment - with varying degrees of success. Plus, tips for going green without spending a dime, AND how to get environmentally friendly products FREE. Living more sustainably has never been easier (or cheaper!)

Three Posts From Adam Williams at Life Goggles:
Recycline Preserve Razors Adam's girlfriend, and friend Rob loved this recyclable razor.
The Fun Green Roundup #6 Salmon Sperm & LED's, Pandas & Bamboo, Green Faith, and Shower Shock.
The Green Wall of Shame: Naughty people, things and places which are damaging the environment or seem against improving it.

Ken Philby's Top Tip: Get Over Yourself, Buy Used: Philby's Finance encourages us to buy used products whenever possible to save money and help the environment.

Posted by Peter Jones, Indigenous Issues Today: Biofuel and It's Non-sustainable Impacts: A Case from West Papua.

The Inspired Protagonist on Concentrated Solar Power: Inkslinger wants to know: If this technology can supply 90% of the world with 100% emissions-free electricity, why are we even talking about fossil fuels anymore? Good question!

Kevin Cawley posted Cure for Cancer Powers Engines, in which a medical researcher seeking a cure for cancer accidentally found a viable alternative energy source.

Ed Yong at Not Exactly Rocket Science explains how the deep soil contains a massive stable store of carbon, and it's important that agricultural practices don't disturb the soil to avoid stirring this 'sleeping giant'.

Veggie Revolution: What kind of forests absorb more carbon than any other? Read about the special ecosystems that could become important tools for stabilizing our climate.

Lisa Baker of The Christian Environmentalist posts about a project to build a cellulosic (pine wood chips) ethanol plant in Georgia, and the problems that need to be addressed before cellulosic ethanol can be environmentally feasible.

Melanie Rimmer at Bean Sprouts tells why the International Slow Food movement is an example of "foodies" and "greenies" being on the same side. I always suspected it was so. But wait. Does this mean that the slow foodies have resolved the eco-contradictions between eating meat and being green? Not quite...

So here we are - still stuck between our consumeristic tendencies, and our desire for a greener world. May we resolve the conundrum with grace and good cheer! Thanks for visiting Carnival of the Green! See you next week at Great Green Goods.

Sun, 18 Nov 2007

Where To Find Earth Friendly Consumer Products

We're well into the seasonal consumer feeding frenzy, and green people are not immune. Just coincidentally, this week's Earth Talk column from E-Magazine answers the question, 'What are the best sources out there for environmentally friendly consumer products?' According to Earth Talk, online is one of the best bets, and Savvy Vegetarian agrees.

Earth Talk recommendations for green shopping:

Gaiam, which acquired Real Goods in 2000. They also have a print catalog, and partner with retail giants like Target for wider distribution of green goods.

Another good one-stop shop for green consumer goods is Green Home, which sells thousands of environmentally responsible home products online.

The best one-stop source for green building materials is Ecohaus (formerly the Environmental Home Center). The company has three stores in Portland and Bend, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.

For harder-to-find green goods, check out Ecoseek.net, which bills itself as 'the Internet's first green product search engine' with links and reviews for more than 6,500 different green products from over 300 merchants.

Another good online stop is EcoMall, which lists thousands of socially responsible manufacturers and distributors of just about every type of green product imaginable.

Here are just a few of Savvy Vegetarian's online eco-shopping favorites:

Aubrey Organics: Has been around longer than most, and is just what it claims to be - organic herbal body care products. Extensive online catalog, many more products than you ever see in stores. There's also a handy store locator on the site.

Abundant Earth: Catalog of goods-for-the environment made with organic and recycled materials - bedding, linens, furniture, rugs, cleaning supplies, air and & water purifiers, candles ...

Kush Tush: Healthy, eco-safe organic bedding and bath essentials, for natural protection from allergies, MCS, and SIDS. Complete Organic Baby Shop.

Nature's Crib: Natural and organic products for babies and parents, including organic baby clothing & bedding, natural baby care, cloth diapers, and cleaning products.

Green Elegance Weddings: Designed for the stylish couple who also wants to do the right thing for the planet, while at the same time bringing an atmosphere of elegance to their celebration.

Green Kits: Green-kits offers green cleaning products, reusable grocery bags, organic baby care, green product kits for kitchen, bath and baby, tips on why and how to green your home.

Organic Selections: Natural Selections website, a wonderful store in Fairfield IA, filled with beautiful, natural and organic products - clothing for the whole family, body care, gifts, furniture, bedding.

Mountain Rose Herbs has consistently delivered exceptional quality certified organic products with a strict emphasis on sustainable agriculture. Bulk organic herbs and spices, essential oils and herbal teas.

Happy Cow: Global, searchable vegetarian dining guide and directory of natural health food stores, including nutrition & health tips, vegan recipes, raw foods, travel, vegetarian issues.

Green People: Very Large Directory of eco-friendly and holistic health products: Organic food, pet supplies, baby products, beauty products, home improvement, hemp, organic cotton, health products, recycled products.

Eco Business Directory Organic food, solar energy, sustainable housing, organic cotton, vegetarian dating, organic farms, sustainable communities, eco products.

Wed, 10 Oct 2007

2007 Blog Action Day Theme: The Environment

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone's mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. The aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. That means you! Here are 3 ways to participate:

• Post on your blog relating to the environment on Blog Action Day
• Donate your day’s earnings to an environmental charity
• Promote Blog Action Day around the web

2007 Blog Action Day Organizers Are A Core Team of Bloggers:

Collis Ta'eed: Collis runs Sydney-based startup Eden Creative Communities as well as blogging on NorthxEast about blogging itself. He has a background in design and web development and previously art directed an interactive design agency. Collis is a Baha'i and Blog Action Day was inspired by the belief in the unity of humanity.

Leo Babauta: Leo is author of the wildly successful ZenHabits. Leo has also served as a writer on such heavyweight blogs as LifeHack.org, DumbLittleMan, FreelanceSwitch and the WebWorkerDaily. Accompanying his blog writing exploits, Leo has been a reporter, editor, speech writer and freelance writer for the last 17 years.

Cyan Ta'eed: Cyan is responsible for one of the fastest growing blogs around -FreelanceSwitch, a blog that in just four months has grown an RSS audience of some 12,000 subscribers and broken into Technorati's top 500.

Watch the BlogActionDay Video on YouTube

Wed, 19 Sep 2007

Fake Plastic Fish - How To Have Our Plastic and Be Green Too

Beth wrote to comment on my paper or plastic post, saying that she writes about alternatives to plastic, but is really all about reducing all of our waste, plastic and otherwise. I promptly visited her excellent blog, Fake Plastic Fish, and replied:

"Hi Beth. I loved your post about re-using plastic bags! (Monday Sept 17th 2007 at Fake Plastic Fish) It's true - without plastic bags, our lives would be much more difficult. As you say, the thing is to never throw them away, and re-use them over and over again. Now, if only we could get stores to give away bags that never got holes in them, and never ripped. Seriously, I think we should explore traditional ways, lost to plastic and refridgeration, of keeping food fresh."

"My sense is that when people lived down the road from the greengrocer, ate all their meals at home, had gardens, etc, then plastic bags weren't needed. Personally I have no desire to go back to being a woman in the middle ages, or even the 1950's, but there should be ecological ways to have our fridges and plastic bags (or the equally convenient green alternative.'

Beth wrote back:
"I do wonder how people kept bread from drying out before plastic. Any ideas about that? Since I started buying artisan bread in paper bags, I've had the worst time with it getting hard. At first I didn't want to resort to putting it in plastic, and then I thought, why not? The plastic is here. There's no point in living in denial about that. And as long as it's here, it would be better to use it than have it go to waste."

"I have stopped using plastic bags for most of my produce. Like I said, I carry used plastic grocery bags for little things or stuff with a lot of dirt on it. But I see no need to put my apples, bananas, oranges, avocados, stuff like that into a plastic bag. What's all this fruit and veg segregation about anyway? It's not like they're going to contaminate each other if they touch!

"So please let me know anything that you find out about alternative ways to store food, especially ways that don't involve going out and buying a bunch of new stuff. I like it when environmentalism and frugality meet."

I thought about when I was a kid long ago, and remembered metal bread boxes, big glass jars, waxed paper and waxed paper bags. I also remember bread pudding, french toast, bread crumbs stretching the hamburger, stuffing the chickens and turkeys, or crusting the mac'n'cheese. Plus we ate things besides bread, like biscuits and muffins, and the inevitable porridge and potatoes. Sometimes my mother baked bread, or went to the local bakery where they put the bread in paper bags. But it never lasted long enough to get dry and stale, with five hungry children in the house.

My question is, 'Can we be green without domestic slavery?' And Beth at Fake Plastic Fish needs your ideas, opinions, suggestions, and advice about how we can eliminate unnecessary plastic, dramatically reduce our plastic waste, and live responsibly with the kinds of plastic that do have real benefits.

Sat, 15 Sep 2007

Paper Or Plastic - Which Is Better For The Environment?

According to the 9.9.07 Earth Talk newsletter from E-Magazine, neither paper nor plastic is environmentally friendly.

As the Earth Talk article points out: "... to the non-profit Institute for Lifecycle Environmental Assessment, 'paper versus plastic?' is not the question we should be asking ourselves, since the answer is really 'neither.' After all, energy and waste issues aside, the manufacture of paper bags brings down some 14 million trees yearly to meet U.S. demand alone, while at the same time plastic bags use up some 12 million barrels of oil each year."

"The group urges consumers to 'just say no' to both options and instead bring their own re-usable canvas bags, backpacks, crates or boxes to haul away the groceries. Some supermarkets, such as the Albertson’s and Wild Oats chains, even offer a small discount (around five cents) to those who do so. Another benefit of bringing your own, of course, is setting a good example so that other shoppers might do the same."

After reading the Earth Talk article, I realize that I've been practicing environmental truth avoidance (ETA), and not stepping up to the daily paper-plastic-challenge.

Bags are big, but so are electronics, cars, furniture, housing, packaging - all of which use plastic-and-or-paper. Then there's all the paper used in schools and business, baby diapers, toilet paper and tissue, plastic bottles, etc - all of which end up in the trash about five minutes after we use them.

The truth which I've been avoiding is that we are a disposible society addicted to convenience. Everything is made to be thrown away, and the environment is choking on our garbage. I'd guess that a very tiny percentage of green consumers actually generate zero waste. Come to think of it -'green consumer' is probably an oxymoron.

I'm not trying to guilt anybody - Goddess Forbid! I'm not ready to live naked in a cave and forage for roots and berries.

Of course it's a good thing to bring your own containers and bags to the grocery store. And if stores charged the true environmental cost for every bag they gave out, that would cut down on bags right smart quick! It would be even better if stores didn't offer those fiendishly convenient bags at the checkout counter, and sold nothing in packages.

And wouldn't it be lovely if cars were made to last a lifetime, or two or three? Likewise clothing, electronics, houses - all made sustainably from natural non-toxic materials. Amazing, if everybody drank tap water from pottery made by the guy down the street. And we didn't have advertising to tell us what we want and need. How fantastic to be so highly evolved that you didn't need to write anything down to remember it, and knew everything without reading books, newspapers, and magazines! And we all cooked our vegetarian food from scratch. And shared and played nice with the other kids.

Living like that isn't just a nice dream. This is the world we can have, if we want it. Ditching the bags is a place to start.