Dress to Impress

Have you ever heard of Vegetarian/Vegan Clothing?
Many people not only practice Vegetarian/Vegan beliefs when eating, but try and incorporate these beliefs in their daily lives as well. Vegetarian/Vegan Clothing is a new fad that everyone should be aware of.

People whom believe in this clothing style are opposed to cruelty to animals. Watching what you wear can really make a difference. For example, avoiding leather products can make some difference in the world. Its easy to find alternatives and a lot of clothing stores offer these choices.

What is in vegetarian/vegan clothing? Instead of saying whats in it, its easier to say what it is NOT. Wool, silk, leather, and fur make up the majority of clothing. Anything but these products are considered vegetarian clothing. Many fashion designers use furs and animal skins but do not even care where these products come from.

So how can you get these same looks while being animal friendly? Pleather has taken a turn in the fashion industry to mimic the looks of leather and even animal skins in accessories, shoes and different clothing.
Faux fur is also used to mimic the looks of real fur. It is made from cotton, polyester or acrylic fibers which are available in different colors, densities and and piles. Wool and silk are arguable but in reality, true vegans would argue that both these materials are considered not to follow ones beliefs.

The best solutions in vegan clothing are made from eco friendly fabrics like hemp and organic cotton. 

Many websites have vegetarian clothing available in order to help promote these vegetarian/vegan beliefs. So from now on, I will try and be more aware of the clothes I wear. Will you?

Leafy Greens?

Whenever we hear about vegetarians, dark leafy greens is something that always comes up. So now I'm wondering, what are these dark leafy greens anyways? And what good is it? 

Okay so when I hear greens, the most I can think of is spinach, broccoli and some types of lettuce. Thats all there is right? WRONG. According to youngwomenshealth.org, I was able to find out about a whole list of greens that we can incorporate into our daily lives. 

Arugula has a peppery taste and is rich in vitamins A, C, and calcium. Arugula can be eaten raw in salads or added to stir-fry, soups, and pasta sauces.

Broccoli has both soft florets and crunchy stalks, and is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and fiber. Broccoli can be eaten raw or steamed, sautéed or added to a casserole.

Collard Greens have a mild flavor and are rich in vitamins A, C and K, folate, fiber, and calcium. The best way to prepare them is to boil them briefly and then add to a soup or stir-fry. You can also eat collard greens as a side dish. Just add your favorite seasoning and enjoy!

Dandelion Greens have a bitter, tangy flavor and are rich in vitamin A and calcium. They are best when steamed or eaten raw in salad.

Kale has a slightly bitter, cabbage-like flavor and is rich in vitamins A, C and K. Kale is tasty when added to soups, stir-fries, and sauces.

Mustard Greens have a peppery or spicy flavor and are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and calcium. They are delicious when eaten raw in salads or in stir-fries and soups.

Romaine Lettuce is a nutrient rich lettuce that is high is vitamins A, C, and K, and folate. It is best when eaten raw in salads, sandwiches or wraps.

Spinach has a sweet flavor and is rich in vitamins A and K, folate, and iron. Spinach tastes great eaten raw in salads or steamed.

Swiss Chard tastes similar to spinach and is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, potassium and iron. It is best stir-fried or eaten raw in salads.

Dark leafy greens are vegetables that are a good source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, K, D, E, folate, iron, and calcium. Many researchers found that these leafy greens may help in the prevention of certain cancers such as skin cancer, prevention of age-related cognitive declines, prevention of cataracts, boost eye health and help in the promotion of heart health. 

Dark green vegetables are also high in fat-soluble vitamins. Some of these vitamins require a little bit of dietary fat in order for the body to absorb them. Therefore it is important to realize that when you eat these vegetable make sure to add about a teaspoon of dietary fat like butter, olive oil, cheese or salad dressing to make sure that your body can absorb all the vitamins that your eating.  

When talking about nutrition, dark leafy greens are the most nutrient-dense food. Leafy greens also provide a number of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin and also contain small amounts of fatty acids. 

So why should You eat these greens? 5 Important Reasons:

1.   Anti-Aging – Many nutrients are found to help slow the aging process or prevent age-related illnesses. One critical anti aging aspect is vitamin E, which one study by the National Institute of Aging found vitamin E to decrease the overall cause of mortality by twenty-seven percent.

2.  Cancer Prevention - Dark leafy vegetables are one of the best cancer-preventing foods because they are high in antioxidants. Also, the high fiber content helps the body to eliminate toxins and possible carcinogens. Eating these greens anywhere from three times a week to once a day has proven to reduce the risk of many types of cancers.

3.  Skin Care- Vitamin A, prominent in these leafy vegetables, minimizes the production of sebum, which reduces acne. It also helps flush out toxins and strengthens the protective tissue. Vitamin E found in these greens also helps to protect cells from free radical damage.

4.  Heart Health – Eating these dark leafy greens can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. These greens contain folate, which helps reduce the amount of homocyteine in the body (an amino acid linked to heart disease and stroke). The antioxidants found in these greens also help to prevent free radicals from lining the artery walls, and the fiber helps to remove plaque buildup.

5.  Pregnancy health – It’s important to eat these greens for the health of the mother and because the folate is crucial in the growing process of the fetus as it helps with development of the nervous system and DNA functioning. Also, the nutrients supplied along with the omega-3 fatty acid content, make these greens essential and easy for the body to absorb.

The number of health benefits these dark leafy greens provide is crucial to all of our health. So let's all make a change and GO GREEN! 

The "Dark Side" of Soy

A couple weeks ago I was asked about the "other side of soy." While researching about the negatives of soy, it really made me think if all the soy I eat is good for me. 


While anything in excess is bad for you, the over consumption of soy can lead to many issues. According to the FDA (The Food and Drug Administration), many Americans are eating soy products in large amounts. I feel like this is due to the recent trend in Vegetarianism so many companies are trying to push more soy products into the market. Over consumption however can lead to: 
* thyroid problems (weight gain, lethargy, malaise, fatigue, hair and libido loss) 

* premature puberty and other developmental problems in babies, children, and adolescents 

* cancer 

* brain damage 

* reproductive disorders 

* allergies 

While many of the health benefits of soy are true, there are the downsides. Here is what else science has found out about some of the chemicals in soy: 

(1) Phytates- are phosorphous compounds found in cereal grains, legumes and nuts. These 

compounds interfere with the absorption of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron. Excess 

phytates disrupts the normal growth of children. 

(2) Phytoestrogens (isoflavones)- these chemicals mimic the effects of the female hormone 

estrogen. They could cause infertility in women and lead to breast cancer. Infants should not be 

given soy-based formulae. 

(3) Enzyme inhibitors- interfere with the digestion of protein and can cause pancreatic problems. 

(4) Haemaggluttin- cause red blood cells to clot. 

A 2001 study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry reveals that commercially processed soy products, especially textured soy protein have very high oxalate levels. Oxalate will bind with calcium in the kidneys increasing the risk for kidney stone development. 

The number of examples could go on but what does this all mean? To me it means cutting down the amount of soy I have in my diet. While the benefits are great and the protein I receive is necessary, these effects are something to take into account. Too much of anything good is bad for you...right? 

While studies seem confusing finding the truth behind anything almost sometimes seems impossible. While there is scientific research to back up some of these claims, other sites just simply state facts such as soy containing goitrogenic compounds interfere with thyroid function. Generally, foods with goitrogenic compounds cause problems only in areas where iodine intake is low since this mineral is important for thyroid function. The effects of iodine deficiency can be made worse if the diet is high in goitrogens. What you are not told is that not only soy contains this product but other foods so as well. There is no evidence that eating soy foods regularly causes thyroid problems in people who eat a well balanced diet. Vegans and Vegetarians should make an effort to include adequate sources of iodine in their diet. This is just one example of the many negative aspects found in soy.

I guess what I just wanted to bring about was AWARENESS that soy can lead to these conditions or disrupt certain functions. What I can gain from this is that as long as one is eating soy as part of a well balanced diet it should be okay. 

Vaccines?

So you may be wondering why this post is called Vaccines. I was talking to my friend about being vegetarian and she brought to my attention the fact that some vaccines have non-vegetarian products in them. I decided to do some detective work and found a helpful website. It states that the childhood vaccines Influenza (flu) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) both contain egg or egg related proteins in them. Also, some vaccines contain gelatin in order to act as a heat stabilizer. Those routine childhood vaccines containing gelatin include MMR, varicella (chicken-pox), influenza and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis).  This makes me question whether it is okay for a vegetarian to even get these vaccines. If one will not eat things with eggs in it or gelatin, then getting an injection with these same products would be going against their beliefs as well. It would be so hypocritical.

But then on the other hand while these beliefs are important to individuals, these routine vaccinations are CDC recommended regulations for children to lead healthy lives. They were introduced to prevent outbreaks in our society and so far they have prevented the spread of many diseases. I feel like this is where I would stand with my viewpoint because vaccines are important for one's health. At this point one should realize that although it is against their beliefs it is necessary to have to even lead a healthy life at all.

I guess this is the time when you ask yourself..... where do you draw the line on either standpoint?

More details about the vaccines can be found at: http://allergies.about.com/od/medicationallergies/a/vaccinesfoods.htm.

Whats really in our food?

How many times have I eaten something that actually had meat in it? The number of items that I found on this list are incredible.

It all came to thought when my friend asked me which kind of beans I ate when I went to Qdoba. Black or Pinto? I heard that the pinto beans have pork in them.

To my surprise its not just these beans that I have eaten before which contains some kind of meat product. Many soups have chicken or beef broth, jello and marshmallows contain gelatin which is made from animal bones and Caesar salad/dressing contains anchovies.

To many of us vegetarians it’s a big deal because we would not eat any of these things but to our surprise we just do not know and unintentionally do end up eating it. It doesn’t seem to amaze me that we do not know the full extent to what manufacturers or restaurants put into our food but at the same time it is something that we need to be cautious of.

If one wants to practice a strict vegetarian diet, knowing about hidden non-vegetarian ingredients is something that one needs to know ahead of time in order to decide what is and what isn’t acceptable for their diet.

In order to help you know what contains some non-vegetarian products, here is a link that I found while doing some research. http://www.suite101.com/content/hidden-nonvegetarian-ingredients-a56686

Something on that list that caught my attention is that the gel-caps on medications contain gelatin. Medication is something that everyone takes and is important for health so it would be hard to boycott taking it because of one’s belief in vegetarianism. It really makes one think.

After researching I would like to say I am vegetarian, but sad to say, somewhere in my diet, a few meat products have gotten by. =/

Vegetarian vs. Vegan

You know what really gets me sometimes? When your sick and you go to get soup and they say they offer a veggie option and then you find out its clam chowder. How and when did clams become vegetarian!? This inspires this post about trying to understand what vegetarianism really is.

While being vegetarian, I sometimes do not fully understand what it means to be one. Many times I am asked why I am not a vegan. Truth is.... I did not really know the difference between the two. So on my journey to find out I found lengthy explanations, but this one site helped me break it down. So now, I'll help you.

A Vegetarian is one who does not eat meat, fish or poultry.. You can be vegetarian by choice, religion, health reasons, love for animals, or any other reason. A vegetarian diet can and does meet all nutritional requirements as long as you include plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, whole grain products, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Now, whats a vegan? A vegan is someone who does not eat meat, fish, poultry, AND do not even use animal products or by-products like eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk. wool, cosmetics, soaps derived from animal products and much more.

I guess you can say a vegan is 'stricter' when it comes to what they eat or use in life.

So now that we know the difference, I better understand why I eat the way I do. Yes I am vegetarian partially by religion and partially by choice, but I am also vegetarian and not vegan because of health reasons. Eggs are a good source of protein for me and dairy products adds nutrients to my diet so I eat them. I am against animal violence but I do not believe that using animal products such as eggs or milk is wrong. My beliefs make me the vegetarian that I am.

The website http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/ really helps to understand vegetarianism and veganism more in depth and I have gained more perspective on other point of views. While I may agree with some, I also have  opinions about a few ideas but that just makes each vegetarian and vegan different! =)

Soy!

Last week in my Comp. & Alt. Medicine class we learned about herbal medicine. The professor pointed out something that really caught my attention. When speaking of vegetarians, soy (which is one of my favorite things to eat) is a common thing which is found in a lot of vegetarian dishes. Did you know that soy is the primary source of proteins for animals so that they could survive? The very animals that mankind likes to eat are fed leafy greens, soy product, or other vegetarian options so that they can grow into strong, healthy animals. It all comes back to being vegetarian!

According to http://www.soyconnection.com/health_nutrition/index.php, soy is a complete protein and soy foods are rich in vitamins and minerals. The FDA stated that about 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. There are many additional health benefits to soy that could be found on that website but it amazes me why we do not use this low-cost source of protein to our benefit.

Morningstar Farms makes a whole line of soy products that anyone could use to add more protein into their diet. At their website, http://www.morningstarfarms.com/, a whole bunch of recipes can be found. I personally love most of their products. My favorites are: Italian herb chicken patties, Buffalo wings, chicken nuggets, ribs, grillers crumbles, and chicken strips. All of these products have great nutritional value which are the nutrients most vegetarians lack in their diet.

Confused? These soy products are made into fake “meat” dishes in order to give taste to the soybean. I know I am big on the whole be vegetarian idea, and eating fake meat might sound like I want meat in my life, but reality is, Morningstar products are just so tasty and if any of you try it beware! …..You just might get addicted!