vegetarianismo estricto / strict vegetarianism / végétalisme

December 1, 2010

Six Week Holiday Challenge
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HOLIDAY CHALLENGE!

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offer ended 12/5/10
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A message from Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

Happy Holidays and A New Way to Celebrate

For many of us, the holidays are a wondrous time when we are joyful for what life has provided and we celebrate the season with our family and friends. We are usually offered an abundance of everything. Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties are festive times that present us with many choices. We also have the choice to spread good will to others.

Unfortunately, the holidays are also associated with trips to the emergency room and deaths from dangerous eating. The emergency room doctors call it “holiday heart” as the busiest time at hospitals are from heart attacks, strokes and other emergencies that occur the next morning after big holiday meals.

So many people use the holiday season as an excuse for gluttony and addictive binges. My team here and I thought about how we could help to encourage people to enjoy the holidays more, with great tasting holiday food that is healthy too, and have as many people as possible set a good example to encourage people to have a truly healthful and happy holiday season.

I take bad nutrition seriously because people die from it. When junk food is eaten, including the traditional, highly-toxic foods served at the holidays, you may get momentary pleasure as it passes the lips in a short amount of time, but the results continue on to compromise your health. Additionally, not having good health magnifies every emotional problem plaguing your life and exacerbates the holiday blues. Healthy recipes and treats can taste great! It may take more effort to prepare, but there is really no reason to sacrifice your good health.

My Six Week Challenge is dedicated to helping you make the best choices; the ones that will allow you to achieve overall health and quality of life. By pledging to take the challenge, you'll be celebrating your health instead of simply indulging in destructive “fake food”. Can you find friends or family members to join you in taking the challenge too?

I have created an opportunity for those straddling the fence of commitment. For those who step up to this challenge over the next six weeks and commit to a few simple guidelines throughout the holidays, I am offering:


a free six week membership to DrFuhrman.com*
a free Eat To Live Vook (a video enhanced ebook)
an entire support system of holiday recipes
special support from Dr. Fuhrman's Nutritional Education Institute faculty and medical team on medicine, nutrition and motivation
The challenge involves only a few simple promises to make, taken from my book, Eat To Live.

Here are the fundamentals:

Eat a large salad every day
Enjoy a generous serving of steamed greens with mushrooms and onions
Satisfy your sweet tooth with three fresh fruits a day
Have at least one fulfilling serving of beans each day
Here's what you are promising to omit:

Avoid white flour
Avoid sugars & artificial sweeteners
Throughout the challenge, you will have plenty of support. We will answer your questions online in the Member Center. We encourage you to log your progress with "My Health Manager." Seasoned veterans of the Eat To Live diet-style will also be there to help you.

Here is how you get started:

Step 1: Join us on Facebook to share this exciting experience and encourage your friends to also make the commitment for a better life and incredible holiday. (If you don't have a Facebook account you can still participate via the Six Week Challenge forum in Dr. Fuhrman's Member Center.)

Step 2: If you are not already a member of my online Member Center, sign up for your FREE* six week membership and Eat To Live Vook (expired 12/5/10).

Step 3: Enjoy the holidays! Share your experiences and gain support in the new Six Week Challenge forum.

There is more – the challenge is just the start! By joining the challenge you will have the opportunity to participate in a contest where you may be eligible to win an all expense paid trip to my 5th annual 2011 Health Getaway in Park City, Utah at The Grand Summit Hotel at The Canyons. The winner or winners will be chosen based on their documented results during the challenge and into the new year.

I hope you enjoy this holiday gift to help spread the message of good health and healthy eating.


http://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/benefits.aspx

december 1, 2010

There is still time to join over 1,400 people who have already started the
Six Week Holiday Challenge!

People are gaining the motivation, support and encouragement they
need to succeed! Comments keep pouring in on facebook and the member
center, like these . . .

"Eleven pounds so far in 8 days!!!"

"Day 4: My fasting blood sugar dropped from
180 (at the beginning) to 108 (yesterday)."

"Scale dropped 3 lbs in 3 days"

"Love the food!"

"You have to love it when during the first week of
the holidays the numbers on the scale are dropping!"

"Returning to work 3 lbs. lighter after Thanksgiving!"

"I'm a serious food addict. I’m glad to have this support."

Join before December 4th
and you will receive this special gift from Dr. Fuhrman:

FREE six week membership to Dr. Fuhrman's Member Support Center*
and a FREE Eat To Live Vook (a video enhanced ebook)


Among the benefits of joining the challenge and having access to the Member Center are:
Daily recipes and food tips from Dr. Fuhrman
Extensive library of menu plans and recipes
A special Six Week Challenge discussion forum – where you can get all types of questions about following the diet-style, dealing with obstacles, staying motivated, feeding your families, eating out, and so much more answered by other veteran members
Special support from Dr. Fuhrman's Nutritional Education Institute faculty and medical team on medicine, nutrition and motivation
Monthly member center training webinars, next scheduled: December 6th (register)

PLUS

By joining the challenge you will be eligible to participate in Dr. Fuhrman's 2011 Health Getaway contest. By documenting and submitting your experience and your success from the time you start through March 20th, you may be eligible to win an all expense paid trip for two to Dr. Fuhrman's 5th annual 2011 Health Getaway in Park City, Utah at The Grand Summit Hotel, June 26th - July 2nd. The winner or winners will be chosen based on their documented results between 11/20/2010 and 3/20/2011. To be eligible you must join the challenge by December 4th. Contest details available at DrFuhrman.com.


If you are sitting on the fence of indecision, jump on-board today
and feel your best by the New Year!

Here is how you get started:

Step 1: Join us on Facebook. Encourage your friends to join you and also make the commitment for a healthier and happier new year.

Step 2:If you are not already a member of Dr. Fuhrman's online Member Center, sign up for your FREE six week membership*.

Step 3: Enjoy the holidays! Share your experiences and gain support in the new Six Week Challenge forum.

December 3, 2010

Dr. Fuhrman Invites You
To Join His 2011 Annual Health Getaway!
June 26 - July 2, 2011



Dr. Fuhrman invites you to join his 2011 annual Health Getaway. From the moment you arrive at this AAA Four-Diamond Resort an inspiring, learning and fun-filled stay awaits.

Daily events include lectures and workshops led by Dr. Fuhrman, delicious high-nutrient Eat for Healthcuisine, health screenings and planned social events. Dr. Fuhrman's program is a health-promoting life-changing experience for you and your loved ones.

Deluxe accommodations, spa and health club facilities, along with indoor and outdoor activities including scenic gondola rides, hiking, golf, white water rafting, alpine mountain slide and much more make for a never to be forgotten "fun" and healthful revitalizing and motivating vacation.

The Grand Summit Hotel
Park City, Utah


Early Bird Specials*!

7 Day/6 Night All Inclusive Package
(includes all meals, lectures and more, plus room tax and gratuity)

Single Occupancy: $2598 $2398
*Register before January 5, 2011

Double Occupancy: $2148 $1948
*Register before January 5, 2011

Members Save An Additional $100 Off of Early Bird Specials!

We have set up convenient payment plans
which can be viewed by clicking the link below.

Click Here To Register




Dr. Fuhrman is pleased to announce this year's special celebrity guest emcee, Marilu Henner.

Marilu Henner is a well-known actress and the New York Times' best-selling author of Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover and The 30-Day Total Health Makeover, I Refuse to Raise a Brat, Healthy Life Kitchen, Healthy Kids, Healthy Holidays, Wear Your Life Well, and By All Means Keep on Moving. For more than twenty years she has championed a vigorous, healthy lifestyle and has inspired millions of people along the way.




Daily lectures presented by Dr. Fuhrman on the latest nutritional research
Dr. Fuhrman's Eat For Health cuisine at every meal
Health Screening
Cooking demonstrations
Exercise classes - twice daily
Roundtable discussions - "living it" with Lisa Fuhrman
Discussion groups to support you in a Nutritarian lifestyle
Fun and activities for the whole family
Outdoor Pool
Whirlpool - Tub
Scenic Gondola Rides
Hiking / Mountain Bike Trails
Alpine Disc Golf
Each room comes with complimentary wireless high speed internet
Welcome gift for each guest




For an additional charge, guests can enjoy the following recreational activities:


Full Spa and Health Club
White Water Rafting
Horseback Riding
Alpine Slide
and more

Kids Day Camp (ask us for details)

*Rate is quoted per person, per stay based upon double occupancy and subject to availability. Additional fees apply for some recreational activities and all spa services.

http://drfuhrman.com/events/utah_2011/utah2011_registration.aspx

December 3, 2010

Tomorrow is the last chance to join
over 1,500 people who have already started the
Six Week Holiday Challenge!

People are gaining the motivation, support and encouragement
they need to succeed! Comments keep pouring in on
facebook and the member center, like these . . .

"Eleven pounds so far in 8 days!!!"

"Day 4: My fasting blood sugar dropped from
180 (at the beginning) to 108 (yesterday)."

"Scale dropped 3 lbs in 3 days"

"Love the food!"

"You have to love it when during the first week of
the holidays the numbers on the scale are dropping!"

"Returning to work 3 lbs. lighter after Thanksgiving!"

"I'm a serious food addict. I’m glad to have this support."

Join before December 4th
and you will receive this special gift from Dr. Fuhrman:

FREE six week membership to Dr. Fuhrman's Member Support Center*
and a FREE Eat To Live Vook (a video enhanced ebook)


Among the benefits of joining the challenge and having access to the Member Center are:
Daily recipes and food tips from Dr. Fuhrman
Extensive library of menu plans and recipes
A special Six Week Challenge discussion forum – where you can get all types of questions about following the diet-style, dealing with obstacles, staying motivated, feeding your families, eating out, and so much more answered by other veteran members
Special support from Dr. Fuhrman's Nutritional Education Institute faculty and medical team on medicine, nutrition and motivation
Monthly member center training webinars, next scheduled: December 6th (register)

PLUS

By joining the challenge you will be eligible to participate in Dr. Fuhrman's 2011 Health Getaway contest. By documenting and submitting your experience and your success from the time you start through March 20th, you may be eligible to win an all expense paid trip for two to Dr. Fuhrman's 5th annual 2011 Health Getaway in Park City, Utah at The Grand Summit Hotel, June 26th - July 2nd. The winner or winners will be chosen based on their documented results between 11/20/2010 and 3/20/2011. To be eligible you must join the challenge by December 4th. Contest details available at DrFuhrman.com.


If you are sitting on the fence of indecision, jump on-board today
and feel your best by the New Year!

Here is how you get started:

Step 1: Join us on Facebook. Encourage your friends to join you and also make the commitment for a healthier and happier new year.

Step 2:If you are not already a member of Dr. Fuhrman's online Member Center, sign up for your FREE six week membership*.

Step 3: Enjoy the holidays! Share your experiences and gain support in the new Six Week Challenge forum.


* LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER. Offer valid thru 12/4/10. Credit card will automatically be billed
$14.95/month after the initial 6-week period unless canceled by notifying customer service.

December 6, 2010

Green and Orange Vegetable Consumption – an Indicator of Longevity

No matter how many different dietary theories there are out there, pretty much everyone agrees that vegetables are "good for you". But how good they truly are has been debated - the data from observational studies is often flawed simply because most people don't eat enough vegetables to have a measurable impact on their health. However, some long-term observational studies, do indeed demonstrate that vegetable consumption is an important factor in preventing chronic disease and premature death.

Alpha-carotene is one of over six-hundred different carotenoids, a family of antioxidants that help to defend the body's tissues against oxidative damage, a known contributor to chronic disease and aging.

Beta-carotene is the most widely studied carotenoid, but α-carotene more accurately reflects vegetable intake because α-carotene is not present in most multivitamins and supplements. It is also an excellent marker of high-nutrient vegetable intake, since dark green and orange colored vegetables are the richest sources of alpha carotene.

This study measured baseline serum α-carotene and tracked deaths over a fourteen-year follow-up period. The researchers found that increasing serum α-carotene was associated with decreased risk of death from all causes. Those with the highest serum α-carotene had a 39% decrease in risk of death compared to those with the lowest serum α-carotene. Similar relationships were found between serum α-carotene and risk of death from cardiovascular disease, all causes other than CVD, and cancer.

Alpha-carotene itself does provide significant antioxidant benefit –but more importantly α-carotene is a marker of the thousands of additional compounds in green and orange vegetables, working synergistically to keep the body healthy.1 Green vegetables are the highest in overall nutrient density, according to my ANDI scoring system, and of course they are the foods richest in alpha carotene. This large, long term study gives much support to the concept of nutritarianism, as many foods high in α-carotene tend to be high in micronutrients overall - these are the foods that make up the base of the nutritarian food pyramid.

Examples of foods with a high α-carotene to calorie ratio:2
Bok choy
Cabbage
Red Peppers
Carrots
Swiss Chard
Green Peppers
Asparagus
Collards
Broccoli
Winter Squash
Peas
Now imagine if such a study was done on people eating the dietary quality I recommend, which would result in levels much higher than those in the study, and imagine if a diet of this quality was done for more than 10 years and with other synergistic foods, such as mushrooms, onions, berries and seeds. Just imagine?

December 15, 2010

Eat To Live
The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program
for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss

Now completely revised and updated!

Hailed a "medical breakthrough" by Dr. Mehmet Oz, Eat To Live offers
a highly effective, safe, and scientifically proven way to lose weight quickly.
The new Eat To Liveincludes updated scientific research supporting Dr. Fuhrman’s revolutionary six-week plan and a brand new chapter highlighting Dr. Fuhrman's discovery of how enhancing nutrient intake lessens hunger, removes food addiction, enables appetite control and leads to a favorable weight. This new chapter provides novel and important insights into sustained weight loss. It explains how and why eating the wrong foods causes addictive withdrawal symptoms (toxic hunger) and the desire to over consume calories.

Other updates include:

• New recipes and meal ideas

• Inspiring success stories from people who have used the program to lose shockingly large amounts of weight and recover from life-threatening illnesses

This easy-to-follow, nutritionally sound diet can help anyone shed pounds quickly-and keep them off.


If you have struggled with health or weight issues in the past,
Eat To Live and control your health destiny.

Makes a great gift for the Holidays! Give the gift of health!


Buy now at DrFuhrman.com

December 15, 2010

Eat To Live
Now completely revised and updated!

Hailed a "medical breakthrough" by Dr. Mehmet Oz,
Eat To Live offers a highly effective, safe, and scientifically proven way to lose weight quickly.
The Eat To Live 2011 revised edition includes lots of new success stories from readers of the original book, plus a brand new chapter highlighting Dr. Fuhrman’s discovery of toxic hunger and the role of food addiction in weight issues. This new chapter provides novel and important insights into weight gain, and explains how and why a diet of high micronutrient quality leads to the sensation of true hunger and maintenance of a healthy weight. It instructs readers on how to leave behind the discomfort of toxic hunger, cravings, and addictions to unhealthy foods.

Other updates include:

New recipes and meal ideas
Inspiring success stories from people who have used the program to lose shockingly large amounts of weight and recover from life-threatening illnesses
New and revised Frequently Asked Questions
All references and material reviewed and updated to reflect current research and knowledge in the field of nutrition.
This easy-to-follow, nutritionally sound diet can help anyone shed pounds quickly-and keep them off.

Losing weight under Dr. Fuhrman's plan is not about willpower: it is about knowledge. The key to this revolutionary diet is the idea of nutrient density expressed by the simple formula:

Health= Nutrients/Calories

When the ratio of nutrients to calories is high, fat melts away, and health is restored. Losing 20 pounds in two to three weeks is just the beginning.

The more nutrient-dense food you consume, the more you will be satisfied with fewer calories, and the less you will crave fat and high-calorie foods. If you are an adult diabetic, you will likely be insulin-free in no time; if you are on heart medication, your doctor may stop your prescription; if you are planning a June wedding, you will have the dress size of your dreams. Dr. Fuhrman's meal plan offers recipes for power foods and delicious meals that deliver the biggest bang for the caloric buck. He promises that you can lose at least thirty pounds in three months without ever going hungry. Moreover, after you try his Six–Week Plan, you will lose your appetite for unhealthy over processed foods. These types of foods account for America's having the second-highest incidence of cancer and heart disease in the world.

This is a book that will let you live longer, reduce your need for medications and improve your health dramatically. It is a book that will change the way you want to eat, but most important of all, if you follow the Eat To Live diet, you will lose weight faster than you ever thought possible.

NEW: Eat To Live, 2011 Revised Edition (Paperback) $15.99
NEW: Eat To Live, 2011 Revised Edition (Paperback - Case of 20) $255.80
Eat To Live Vook, 2011 Revised Edition: (web browser application)
Also free with membership $6.99
Eat To Live Vook, 2011 Revised Edition: (iPhone, iPad and iPod)
Not available for purchase directly thru DrFuhrman.com. Can be purchased at vook.com or thru iTunes. $6.99 Click Here

Eat To Live, First Edition Audio Book (6 disk set) $26.99
Eat To Live, First Edition Audio Book (6 disk set - Case of 10) $199.99


All books can be signed by Dr. Fuhrman upon request. Additional fees apply: $5 for standard and $10 for custom inscriptions, per signed copy.
Required reading for Dr. Fuhrman’s Nutritional Education Certification Program

http://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/ETLBook.aspx

Green and orange vegetable consumption - an indicator of longevity
Posted on December 3, 2010 by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
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Share LinkNo matter how many different dietary theories there are out there, pretty much everyone agrees that vegetables are “good for you”. But how good they truly are has been debated – there are plenty of observational studies linking vegetable consumption to favorable health outcomes, but other studies have made headlines by casting doubt on how powerful plant foods are for preventing disease. The data from these observational studies is often flawed simply because the majority of people in the Western world don’t eat enough vegetables to have a measurable impact on their risk of chronic disease – only about 25% of Americans eat the recommended three one-cup servings of vegetables each day.[1] Also, total vegetable consumption isn’t necessarily an accurate indicator of the healthfulness of one’s diet, since some vegetables are far more nutrient-dense than others. Of course, long-term controlled trials of consumption of a high-nutrient vegetable-based (nutritarian) diet have not yet been published (with the Nutritional Research Project, I aim to fill this gap in the medical literature). Some long-term observational studies, however, do provide clear, high-quality data demonstrating that vegetable consumption is an important factor in chronic disease prevention – a recent study on serum α-carotene levels and risk of death provides such data.


Alpha-carotene is one of over six-hundred different carotenoids, a family of antioxidants that also includes β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin. Carotenoids help to defend the body’s tissues against oxidative damage, which is a natural byproduct of our oxygen-dependent metabolism. [2] Oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids is a known contributor to chronic disease and an accepted mechanism of aging. The body’s defenses against oxidative damage consist of naturally produced as well as diet-derived antioxidant molecules.

Many prospective studies in the past few years have supported the epidemiologic association between plasma carotenoids and reduced risk of disease and/or death. [3-6] However, these studies didn’t differentiate between carotenoids from food and those from supplements. Carotenoid supplements have failed to duplicate this effect in clinical trials. In fact, supplemental carotenoids are likely to be harmful. A recent meta-analysis of several trials found a 7% increase in mortality risk in subjects taking β-carotene supplements. [7, 8] Also, high serum β-carotene has been associated with decreased lung cancer risk, but β-carotene supplements may increase the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers.[9] Attempting to duplicate the beneficial effects of carotenoid-rich foods with isolated nutrients is foolish - it completely neglects the contribution of additional and/or synergistic effects of other nutrients contained in those foods.

Beta-carotene is the most widely studied carotenoid, but α-carotene more accurately reflects vegetable intake because α-carotene is not present in most multivitamins and supplements. It is also an excellent marker of high-nutrient vegetable intake, since dark green and orange colored vegetables are the richest sources of alpha carotene. Green vegetables are the highest in overall nutrient density, according to my ANDI scoring system and of course they are the foods richest in alpha carotene.

This study measured baseline serum α-carotene and tracked deaths in the 15,318 participants over a fourteen-year follow-up period. After controlling for potential confounding factors, the researchers found a significant trend – increasing serum α-carotene associated with decreased risk of death from all causes. Those with the highest serum α-carotene had a 39% decrease in risk of death compared to those with the lowest serum α-carotene. Similar relationships were found between serum α-carotene and risk of death from cardiovascular disease, all causes other than CVD, and cancer.


Serum α-carotene % Decrease in risk of death from all causes
0-1 µg/dl (Reference group)
2-3 µg/dl 23%
4-5 µg/dl (average 4.79 µg/dl) 27%
6-8 µg/dl 34%
≥9 µg/dl 39%


Alpha-carotene itself does provide significant antioxidant benefit –but more importantly α-carotene is a marker of the thousands of additional compounds, working synergistically to keep the body healthy present in green and orange vegetables. [10]

These results suggest that not only quantity of vegetable consumption, but the type of vegetables consumed has a major impact on health. This is the main principle behind the nutritarian diet – eating according to nutrient density. This large, long term study gives much support to the concept of nutritarianism, as many foods high in α-carotene tend to be high in micronutrients overall – the foods that make up the base of the nutritarian food pyramid. And of course keep in mind, even in the highest alpha carotene group in this study, the levels of vegetable consumption as a percent of total calories are likely not nearly as high as in someone following a nutritarian diet. Also, the serum level of alpha carotene in someone following a typical Western diet likely reflects mostly carrot consumption compared to the wide variety of green and yellow vegetables that would be consumed as part of a nutritarian diet, from which further benefits would be expected to accrue from the variety of phytochemicals contained within those vegetables.

Examples of foods with a high α-carotene to calorie ratio[11]:
•Bok choy
•Cabbage
•Red peppers
•Carrots
•Swiss chard
•Green peppers
•Asparagus
•Collards
•Broccoli
•Winter squash
•Peas










Now imagine if such a study was done on people eating the dietary quality I recommend, which would result in levels even much higher than those in the study, and imagine if a diet of this quality was done for more than 10 years and with other synergistic foods, such as mushrooms, onions, berries and seeds. Just imagine...



References:

1. State-Specific Trends in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adults --- United States, 2000--2009. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report September 10, 2010 November 24, 2010]; Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5935a1.htm.
2. Krinsky, N.I. and E.J. Johnson, Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. Mol Aspects Med, 2005. 26(6): p. 459-516.
3. Lauretani, F., et al., Low total plasma carotenoids are independent predictors of mortality among older persons: the InCHIANTI study. Eur J Nutr, 2008. 47(6): p. 335-40.
4. Akbaraly, T.N., A. Favier, and C. Berr, Total plasma carotenoids and mortality in the elderly: results of the Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing (EVA) study. Br J Nutr, 2009. 101(1): p. 86-92.
5. Ito, Y., et al., A population-based follow-up study on mortality from cancer or cardiovascular disease and serum carotenoids, retinol and tocopherols in Japanese inhabitants. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2006. 7(4): p. 533-46.
6. Ray, A.L., et al., Low serum selenium and total carotenoids predict mortality among older women living in the community: the women's health and aging studies. J Nutr, 2006. 136(1): p. 172-6.
7. Bjelakovic, G., et al., Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2008(2): p. CD007176.
8. Bjelakovic, G., et al., Systematic review: primary and secondary prevention of gastrointestinal cancers with antioxidant supplements. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2008. 28(6): p. 689-703.
9. Druesne-Pecollo, N., et al., Beta-carotene supplementation and cancer risk: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Cancer, 2010. 127(1): p. 172-84.
10. Li, C., et al., Serum {alpha}-Carotene Concentrations and Risk of Death Among US Adults: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Follow-up Study. Arch Intern Med, 2010.
11. NutritionData.com: Nutrient Search Tool. 2009]; Available from: http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/nutrient-search

http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/healthy-food-green-and-orange-vegetable-consumption-an-indicator-of-longevity.html

December 16, 2010

Watch Marilu Henner on 60 Minutes!

Dr. Fuhrman's celebrity guest emcee for the 2011 Health Getaway, adding frivolity, motivational insights, dance, and more, is another reason why you don’t want to miss this year’s event. Check out Marilu on 60 MINUTES, this Sunday, December 19, 2010, on CBS as she will featured in this two-part expose on memory. (check for local time).

We are excited that she will be joining us at the 2011 Getaway, and will be tuning in to watch her on 60 Minutes

Dr. Fuhrman's 2011 Health Getaway
June 26 - July 2, 2011


The Grand Summit Hotel
AAA rated Four-Diamond resort
Park City, Utah


Dr. Fuhrman invites you to join his 2011 annual health Getaway. From the moment you arrive at this AAA Four-Diamond Resort an inspiring, learning and fun-filled stay awaits.

Daily events include lectures and workshops led by Dr. Fuhrman, delicious high-nutrient Eat for Health cuisine, health screenings and planned social events. Dr. Fuhrman's program is a health-promoting life-changing experience for you and your loved ones.

Deluxe accommodations, spa and health club facilities, along with indoor and outdoor activities including scenic gondola rides, hiking, golf, concerts and much more make for a never to be forgotten health revitalizing vacation.

Highlights

Dr. Fuhrman is pleased to announce this year's special celebrity guest emcee, Marilu Henner.

About Marilu
Marilu Henner is a well-known actress and the New York Times' best-selling author of Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover and The 30-Day Total Health Makeover, I Refuse to Raise a Brat, Healthy Life Kitchen, Healthy Kids, Healthy Holidays, Wear Your Life Well, and By All Means Keep on Moving. For more than twenty years she has championed a vigorous, healthy lifestyle and has inspired millions of people along the way.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


2011 Health Getaway
All-inclusive package:
Daily lectures presented by Dr. Fuhrman on
the latest nutritional research

Dr. Fuhrman's Eat For Health cuisine at every meal
Health Screening
Cooking demonstrations
Exercise classes - twice daily
Roundtable discussions - "living it" with Lisa Fuhrman
Discussion groups to support you in a Nutritarian lifestyle
Fun and activities for the whole family
Outdoor Pool
Whirlpool - Tub
Scenic Gondola Rides
Hiking / Mountain Bike Trails
Alpine Disc Golf
Each room comes with complimentary wireless high speed internet
Welcome gift for each guest
For an additional charge,
guests can enjoy the following recreational activities:

Full Spa and Health Club
White Water Rafting
Horseback Riding
Alpine Slide
Kids Day Camp (ask us for details)


Members receive an additional $100 off Early Bird Specials!

Early Bird Special
Until January 31st After January 31st
Non-Member Member Non-Member & Member
Single
Occupancy $2,398* $2,298* $2,598*
Double
Occupancy $1,948* $1,848* $2,148*

*Rate is quoted per person, per stay and subject to availability.
Additional fees apply for some recreational activities and all spa services.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/events/utah_2011/utah_2011_health_getaway.aspx

DDember 28, 2010

Vitamin D recommendations have been raised, but not enough.

A few weeks ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) surprised many of us when it announced its new dietary reference intake (DRI) for vitamin D. The consensus of the scientific community was that the previous DRI of 400 IU was insufficient, and that supplementation with at least 1000 IU would be necessary for most people to achieve vitamin D sufficiency. The IOM disagreed.

The IOM's new recommendations:

Recommended intake: 600 IU per day (for children and adults under age 70)


Tolerable upper limit (amount not to be exceeded in one day): 4000 IU (raised from 2000 IU)


Sufficient blood 25(OH)D level: 20 ng/ml
There has been a great deal of research in recent years on vitamin D's role in a variety of human diseases. Low vitamin D status has been associated with cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, cognitive decline, depression, diabetes, pregnancy complications, autoimmune diseases, and even a 78% increase in all-cause mortality risk (<17.8 ng/ml 25(OH)D compared to >32.1 ng/ml).1 However, because there are not yet enough randomized controlled trials to clearly and conclusively confirm the benefits of vitamin D supplementation for conditions unrelated to bone health2, the IOM did not find the existing evidence for non-skeletal conditions sufficient enough to raise the daily recommendations any higher than 600 IU. The 600 IU figure is based solely on bone health - they did not take into account whether a greater quantity of vitamin D might be necessary to prevent non-skeletal diseases, even though there are vitamin D receptors in almost every cell of the human body.

Many experts are weighing in on - and disagreeing with - the IOM's report, and there is general agreement among the experts on these points:


The increase of the tolerable upper limit to 4000 IU is a positive change.


The IOM's definition of 20 ng/ml as a sufficient 25(OH)D is potentially low, and this could be dangerous for some people


The lack of randomized controlled trials does not mean that we should ignore the epidemiological evidence showing vitamin D’s importance for preventing non-skeletal diseases.
Compare my recommendations to those of the IOM:

Recommendations:25(OH)DVitamin D supplementation (adults)
Institute of Medicine>20 ng/ml600 IU
Dr. Fuhrman35-55 ng/ml2000 IU*

*adjust supplementation according to 25(OH)D level

I agree that the IOM's recommendations are inadequate. My recommendation is a safe, conservative amount of vitamin D which is supported by the literature. To learn more about why following the IOM's guidelines may be risky, read my full commentary here.





1. Melamed, M.L., et al., 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Risk of Mortality in the General Population. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2008. 168(15): p. 1629-1637.

2.Zhang, R. and D.P. Naughton, Vitamin D in health and disease: Current perspectives. Nutr J, 2010. 9(65).

December 25, 2010

Vitamin D recommendations have been raised, but not enough.

A few weeks ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) surprised many of us when it announced its new dietary reference intake (DRI) for vitamin D. The consensus of the scientific community was that the previous DRI of 400 IU was insufficient, and that supplementation with at least 1000 IU would be necessary for most people to achieve vitamin D sufficiency. The IOM disagreed.

The IOM's new recommendations:

Recommended intake: 600 IU per day (for children and adults under age 70)


Tolerable upper limit (amount not to be exceeded in one day): 4000 IU (raised from 2000 IU)


Sufficient blood 25(OH)D level: 20 ng/ml
There has been a great deal of research in recent years on vitamin D's role in a variety of human diseases. Low vitamin D status has been associated with cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, cognitive decline, depression, diabetes, pregnancy complications, autoimmune diseases, and even a 78% increase in all-cause mortality risk (<17.8 ng/ml 25(OH)D compared to >32.1 ng/ml).1 However, because there are not yet enough randomized controlled trials to clearly and conclusively confirm the benefits of vitamin D supplementation for conditions unrelated to bone health2, the IOM did not find the existing evidence for non-skeletal conditions sufficient enough to raise the daily recommendations any higher than 600 IU. The 600 IU figure is based solely on bone health - they did not take into account whether a greater quantity of vitamin D might be necessary to prevent non-skeletal diseases, even though there are vitamin D receptors in almost every cell of the human body.

Many experts are weighing in on - and disagreeing with - the IOM's report, and there is general agreement among the experts on these points:


The increase of the tolerable upper limit to 4000 IU is a positive change.


The IOM's definition of 20 ng/ml as a sufficient 25(OH)D is potentially low, and this could be dangerous for some people


The lack of randomized controlled trials does not mean that we should ignore the epidemiological evidence showing vitamin D’s importance for preventing non-skeletal diseases.
Compare my recommendations to those of the IOM:

Recommendations:25(OH)DVitamin D supplementation (adults)
Institute of Medicine>20 ng/ml600 IU
Dr. Fuhrman35-55 ng/ml2000 IU*

*adjust supplementation according to 25(OH)D level

I agree that the IOM's recommendations are inadequate. My recommendation is a safe, conservative amount of vitamin D which is supported by the literature. To learn more about why following the IOM's guidelines may be risky, read my full commentary here.





1. Melamed, M.L., et al., 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Risk of Mortality in the General Population. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2008. 168(15): p. 1629-1637.

2.Zhang, R. and D.P. Naughton, Vitamin D in health and disease: Current perspectives. Nutr J, 2010. 9(65).

http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/vitamin_D_recommendations.aspx

Home > Vitamins & Supplements > Vitamin D protects against death from heart disease and stroke
Vitamin D protects against death from heart disease and stroke
Posted on November 10, 2009 by Deana Ferreri, Ph.D.
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The evidence connecting Vitamin D deficiency with chronic disease continues to mount. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis, multiple cancers, musculoskeletal diseases, thyroid disease, depression, and Type II diabetes. This is especially troublesome since several studies have found that most Americans are Vitamin D deficient.

Now, a long-term study has examined the connection between blood Vitamin D levels and death from cardiovascular disease – and the results were dramatic:

Serum Vitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the study, and subjects were followed for 26 years. The researches found that those individuals with the highest blood levels of Vitamin D were 24% less likely to die from any cardiovascular disease, and 52% less likely to die from stroke.1

This new data supports results from the Framingham Heart Study, in which subjects were followed for 5 years – even after 5 years, those with low blood levels of vitamin D had a 60% greater risk of heart disease.2

How might Vitamin D affect cardiovascular health? Vitamin D localizes to most tissues and cells in the human body and is involved in several vital processes – to name a few - insulin production, immune cell function, inflammation, and heart contractility. Vitamin D deficiency could possibly lead to a pro-inflammatory environment, which would promote cardiovascular disease.3

How can you get adequate Vitamin D? Food sources of Vitamin D are scarce, and it is almost impossible for your body to produce sufficient Vitamin D from a safe amount of sun exposure, especially if you work indoors and don’t live in the tropics. So a Vitamin D supplement is your best bet. Remember – the standard dose of Vitamin D found in most multivitamins is not enough to assure adequate blood Vitamin D levels. In order to support all of Vitamin D’s important actions in the body, additional supplementation is necessary. Be cautious of Vitamin D supplements geared toward bone health – they may also contain excessive amounts of calcium, which can result in poor absorption of other minerals. Dr. Fuhrman’s Osteo-Sun was designed to deliver adequate amounts of Vitamin D along with a low dose of calcium in order to promote bone health without causing adverse effects associated with excess calcium intake.



References:

1. Kilkkinen A et al. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Oct 15;170(:1032-9. Epub 2009 Sep 17. Vitamin D status and the risk of cardiovascular disease death.

2. Wang TJ. Circulation. 2008 Jan 29;117(4):503-11. Epub 2008 Jan 7. Vitamin D deficiency and risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. Holick MF. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6 Suppl):1678S-88S. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease.

December 22, 2010

Are you one of the 100,000 Kickstart alumni? Think you don’t need to participate in another? Think again! You’ve heard the saying “the third time’s the charm.” Many past Kickstarters feel the same way about Kickstart. They love the program the first time, but by the third time they realize they just can’t get enough! They are experimenting with their own vegan recipes, starting Kickstart groups in their community, feeling healthier than ever, and still keeping the pounds off.
So join us again! It just keeps getting better. We have some new and special things in store for the next Kickstart:
Cooking demonstration webcasts
Celebrity coach Daphne Oz, author of the national best-seller The Dorm Room Diet
Updated recipes from celebrity coaches including Kris Carr, author of the new book Crazy Sexy Diet, and Alex Jamieson, author of the new book Vegan Cooking for Dummies
And if you have friends or family that want to take this healthful challenge with you, encourage them to sign up today at 21DayKickstart.org. We look forward to another incredible journey with you in 2011.

Kickstart Your Health this January!

Based on research by Neal Barnard, M.D., one of America’s leading health advocates, this program is designed for anyone who wants to explore and experience the health benefits of a vegan diet. Low-fat vegan—plant-based—diets are the easiest way to trim excess weight, prevent diabetes, cut cholesterol, lower blood pressure, prevent and reverse heart disease, and reduce cancer risk. They even trim our carbon footprint.

The Kickstart will give you an all-access pass to:

http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=21day_vegan_kickstart

December 17, 2010

As a graduate of PCRM’s 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, I hope the program has helped you incorporate healthy eating into your everyday life and that you are realizing the many benefits of following a plant-based diet!
Kickstart participants continue to lose weight, increase metabolism, lessen risk of disease, and increase their overall health. And there are additional benefits to the environment and animals when you make healthful eating choices. As someone who recognizes the importance of diet to our overall health, I think you will be excited to hear about a special offer from one of our members.
A generous friend of PCRM has issued a challenge to help us in our efforts to promote healthy nutrition policies and practices and advocate for ethical research and medical training with a special year-end $100,000 Matching Gift Challenge!
When you make a tax-deductible donation, from now until the end of the year, it will have DOUBLE the impact on PCRM’s important work to make prevention a top health care priority.
Your donation will help fund our challenging 2011 initiatives, including:
Expanding our outreach campaign to educate people around the globe how to live healthier lives through programs such as our newly enhanced Kickstart, publications, PSAs, and many other free online resources that reach millions of people each year.
Educating even more physicians (who receive surprisingly little nutrition education) about how to incorporate a healthy diet into patient care plans. A plant-based diet can greatly affect diabetes, obesity, cancer, and many other life-threatening diseases.
Advocating on Capitol Hill for legislation that helps put people, especially vulnerable children, before the profits of the fast-food and agribusiness industries.
There’s so much at stake if we can convince people to make healthy choices: Lives will be saved, health costs will go down, and even our environment will improve if the demand for products from factory farms is reduced!
Please lend your support with a generous tax-deductible gift, which will be doubled if you act before the end of the year.

December 23, 2010

Food for Life TV: Winter Holiday Feast

Food for Life TV is a weekly nutrition webcast designed to improve and maintain your health. Tune in each week for nutrition lectures by health experts, such as PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D., as well as cooking demonstrations, nutrition tips, and group support on the Get Healthy Club message board.
Share the gift of good health with friends and family. Create a new tradition by serving these holiday foods that are tasty, nutritious, and slimming. Watch as Katherine Lawrence, a Cancer Project Food for Life cooking class instructor, shows you how to make a winter holiday feast:
Appetizer: Texas Caviar
Salad: Great Green Salad
Side: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Entrée: Pan-Seared Portobello Mushrooms with Lentil Artichoke Stew
Dessert: Banana Dream Pie
We would like to thank Delectable Planet for the video production.
View this week’s episode now or download dozens of past episodesin the Food for Life TV archive. If you have questions about this week’s show or want to share your vegan diet success story, visit the Get Healthy Club message board.
We look forward to having you join Food for Life TV!

December 16, 2010

Food for Life TV: Potassium and Protein Powerhouse: Cream of Broccoli Soup

Food for Life TV is a weekly nutrition webcast designed to improve and maintain your health. Tune in each week for nutrition lectures by health experts, such as PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D., as well as cooking demonstrations, nutrition tips, and group support on the Get Healthy Club message board.
On today’s episode, watch as Katherine Lawrence, a Cancer Project Food for Life cooking class instructor, shows you how to make Cream of Broccoli Soup. This creamy, low-fat soup is a delicious way to serve broccoli, a nutritional powerhouse, and the addition of chickpeas makes it a one-dish meal.
We would like to thank Delectable Planet for the video production.
View this week’s episode now or download dozens of past episodesin the Food for Life TV archive. If you have questions about this week’s show or want to share your vegan diet success story, visit the Get Healthy Club message board.
We look forward to having you join Food for Life TV!

http://www.pcrm.org/health/diabetes/support_group.html

September 15, 2010

Join Jillian Michaels and PCRM in Improving Nutrition for America's Children!

I’m the tough trainer on The Biggest Loser and Losing It with Jillian, and I am passionate about helping people reach a healthy weight. But I’m writing to you with a request that just might put me out of business.
I want you to help fight childhood obesity so that fewer people will need to go through the difficult process of shedding excess pounds. More than a third of America’s children are now overweight or obese. That’s why I recently wrote to Congress asking for healthy school lunches.
Now I’m inviting you to take action! Will you please contact your member of Congress and ask him or her to ensure that H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, is voted on and passed this month?
This bill will help schools serve more fruits, vegetables, and plant-based meal options—healthy choices that will help students reduce their risk of obesity and diabetes.
When students go from health class to the school cafeteria, the lessons they just learned should be reflected in the lunch line. They should see fruits, vegetables, and vegetarian meal options naturally low in fat and free of cholesterol. They shouldn’t be forced to load up on processed meat and other high-fat, high-sodium foods that could harm their health.
Please contact your member of Congress today and ask for healthy, plant-based options in the school lunch line. Your support would make a world of difference for children.

September 15, 2010

You Can Help PCRM's Legal Team

ATTENTION, WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH THE FOLLOWING:1) DO YOU OR ANY OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, OR PATIENTS OWN STOCK IN PFIZER, INC (PFE)?
2) ARE YOU AN ATTORNEY OR LAW STUDENT INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH PCRM
1) The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is working on a campaign to require pharmaceutical companies to adopt, implement, and enforce meaningful written policies designed to accelerate replacement and reduction of animal testing. We will be filing a number of shareholder proposals that request companies to act with transparency regarding animal use and their efforts to replace and reduce animal testing. We are in need of persons owning stock in Pfizer, Inc., to support these proposals. These proposals are an important step in our campaign to bring an end to outdated, unscientific, and cruel animal testing. Our deadline for filing the proposals will soon be approaching, so please contact us at your earliest convenience.
One or more stockholders for each one of the companies are needed to file the proposals. The stockholder must own at least $2,000 worth of stock, since at least early November 2009 and intend to hold them through the date of the annual shareholder meeting in April 2011. The stock certificates can be held by the stockholder or a broker, but the stock cannot be owned through a mutual fund. If you or someone you know fits into this category and is interested in helping, please contact PCRM senior counsel Leslie Rudloff either by e-mail at lrudloff@pcrm.org or phone at 202-527-7370. If you would like to help, please act now.
2)In response to numerous requests, and in concert with PCRM's successful outreach to state and local bar associations, animal law sections and committees, and law schools, we are establishing a law section within our membership.
The purpose of the law section is to provide information and opportunities of particular interest to the legal profession, particularly as these relate to PCRM's mission and programs. State and local legal bodies have helped PCRM achieve victories in our campaigns to end animal use in medical education, trauma training, and other areas. We hope this new law section will create new partnerships to advance PCRM's campaigns, which we know are important to you.The PCRM law section is not for the purpose of obtaining legal services from our members.
For this initial contact, please provide some points of information so we can create our law section member list. Once we are up and running, we will have more information and opportunities heading your way. And we hope you will have ideas and recommendations that will help us gain more victories for medicine, science, and animals.
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, click here. Please forward this message to suitable colleagues and law students. We'll get back to you after our initial law section member list is created.

http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pcrm_legal_constituent_group_survey&autologin=true

September 16, 2010

Food for Life TV: Firefighter Rip Esselstyn Puts out Your Dietary Fires

Food for Life TV is a weekly nutrition webcast designed to improve and maintain your health. Tune in each week for nutrition lectures by health experts, such as PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D., as well as cooking demonstrations, nutrition tips, and group support on the Get Healthy Club message board.
If you’ve been following the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, you already know from Rip Esselstyn, author of The Engine 2 Diet, that eating a plant-strong diet is the best way to fight the dangerous fires raging inside us—fires that create all the chronic Western ailments including heart attack, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. To make one of his favorite firefighting recipes, watch Food for Life TV host Jill Eckart, C.H.H.C., prepare Rip Esselstyn’s Vegetarian Sandwich Wrap.
View this week’s episode now or download dozens of past episodes in the Food for Life TV archive. If you have questions about this week’s show or want to share your vegan diet success story, visit the Get Healthy Club message board.
We look forward to having you join Food for Life TV!

September 29, 2010

Urgent: Support Plant-based School Lunch Options, Your Voice Needed

Congress is on the verge of voting for a new Child Nutrition Act and the health of the nation’s children is at stake.
The House of Representative’s version of this bill, called the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act (H.R. 5504), would allow more children to have access to healthful plant-based options. However, Congress may reject it for a much weaker, stripped-down Senate version.
If Congress does not vote for the House’s version of this bill, we risk losing historic improvements in child nutrition programs, including increased funding for healthy food and more vegetarian options. Please ask your representative in Washington to pass H.R. 5504 before it’s too late.
Join other motivated constituents and help us fight the child obesity epidemic!
» Call your U.S. representative today!
» Send an automatic e-mail!
Please call or write your representative today, before it’s too late!

http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hsl_5504_find_us_representatives&autologin=true&AddInterest=2362

january 2, 2011

Are you one of the 100,000 Kickstart alumni? Think you don’t need to participate in another? Think again! You’ve heard the saying “the third time’s the charm.” Many past Kickstarters feel the same way about Kickstart. They love the program the first time, but by the third time they realize they just can’t get enough! They are experimenting with their own vegan recipes, starting Kickstart groups in their community, feeling healthier than ever, and still keeping the pounds off.
So join us again! It just keeps getting better. We have some new and special things in store for the next Kickstart starting tomorrow:
Cooking demonstration webcasts
Celebrity coach Daphne Oz, author of the national best-seller The Dorm Room Diet
Updated recipes from celebrity coaches including Kris Carr, author of the new book Crazy Sexy Diet, and Alex Jamieson, author of the new book Vegan Cooking for Dummies
And if you have friends or family that want to take this healthful challenge with you, encourage them to sign up today at 21DayKickstart.org. We look forward to another incredible journey with you in 2011.

http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=21day_vegan_kickstart

December 31, 2010

It's your first full day as a vegan! Are you excited?
Going vegan means making the most positive impact that you can on your own health, the environment, and, of course, animals! But let's be real … you're probably a little worried about what you're going to eat. Am I right? Don't worry—we've got you covered! Check out the following ideas:
Need recipes? The peta2 Recipe of the Week blog is here for you. We feature recipes for dishes such as macaroni and cheese, meatball subs, burritos, and more—all veganized! We pick the easiest, cheapest, and most family-friendly foods for you to try. Check it out here!
Looking for a day-by-day, meal-by-meal plan? Our brand-new two-week vegan meal plan is perfect for you! We're giving you the goods on what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Heading out with friends but not sure where you can eat? Check out peta2's Top 10 Fave Vegan-Friendly Restaurant Chains.
Hittin' the grocery store with your parents? Our Accidentally Vegan food list and our list of Top 10 Fave Vegan Foods That You've Gotta Try are must-haves.
Questions? Hit us up at peta2@peta2.com—we're here to help.
Talk to you soon!
For all animals,

http://www.meat.org/

December 28, 2010

Help Even More Animals in 2011!


How's being vegetarian treatin' ya? Are you still gung ho and inspired about your new way of eating? Or could you use a little extra push to stay on track? I must admit, it's always easier—and more enjoyable—to share the experience with others.


Did you know that being vegan saves more than 100 animals every single year? That's right—with tens of billions of animals being killed for food annually, it's a simple lesson in supply and demand: the fewer animals we eat, the fewer animals who will be raised for food in the first place.


The more family members, friends, and coworkers you get to join you in going vegan, the more animals you will save. Just think—asking three friends to join you will save 300 animals this year! And five friends will save 500 animals!


Need help convincing them to make the compassionate choice? Show them this video and sign the pledge to go vegan in 2011.


Thanks for taking a stand for animals!

http://www.peta.org/issues/Animals-Used-For-Food/default.aspx?c=causesvegv2010

December 24, 2010

Animals Used for Food
..
...From the meat industry's rampant abuse of animals and environmental devastation to the tremendous health benefits of a vegan diet to helping end world hunger and deplorable working conditions in slaughterhouses, there are countless reasons why more and more people are leaving meat off their plates for good and embracing a healthy and humane vegan diet.

....Cruelty to Animals
Farmed animals are every bit as intelligent and capable of feeling pain as the dogs and cats we cherish as our companions. They are inquisitive, interesting individuals who value their lives, solve problems, experience fear and pain, and are capable of using tools.

Yet the more than 16 billion animals who are killed for food every year in the U.S. have little legal protection from cruelty that would be illegal if it were inflicted on companion dogs or cats. They are neglected, mutilated, genetically manipulated, put on drug regimens that cause chronic pain and crippling, transported through all weather extremes, and killed in gruesome and violent ways.

Even so-called "free-range" animals are often mutilated without the benefit of painkillers; kept in filthy, disease-ridden sheds; forced to endure long trips to the slaughterhouse without food or water; and killed in the same ways as animals from factory farms. Going vegan is the best way to stop these atrocities.

Your Health
Giving meat the boot is also the best way to ensure a lifetime of good health. Vegan foods provide us with all the nutrients that we need, minus the saturated fat, cholesterol, and contaminants that are found in meat, eggs, and dairy products. Plant-based diets help protect us from heart disease, diabetes, obesity, strokes, and several types of cancer. Vegans also tend to have stronger immune systems and, on average, live 10 years longer than meat-eaters do.

The Environment
Going vegan helps keep the Earth healthy too. America's meat addiction is poisoning and depleting our drinking water, arable land, and clean air. More than half the water used in the U.S. goes to animal agriculture, and since farmed animals produce 130 times more excrement than the human population does, the runoff from their waste greatly pollutes our waterways.

World Hunger
Not only does raising animals for food gobble up precious resources and produce tons of waste, it also steals food from hungry people. Raising animals for food is extremely inefficient. For every pound of food that they eat, only a fraction of the calories are returned in the form of edible flesh. If we stopped intensively breeding farmed animals and grew crops to feed humans instead, we could easily feed every human on the planet with healthy and affordable vegetarian foods.

Worker Rights
Animals aren't the only ones who are abused by the meat industry. Human Rights Watch has said that slaughterhouse workers have "the most dangerous factory job in America." The industry has refused to do what's necessary to create safe working conditions for its employees, such as slowing down slaughter lines and supplying workers with appropriate safety gear, because these changes could cut into companies' bottom lines. Many workers endure crippling injuries and many have even lost their limbs—or their lives—from working with dangerous meat-processing machines. Refusing to buy or eat meat ensures that you aren't contributing to this exploitative industry.

Factory Farms: Poisoning Communities
People who live near factory farms suffer too. Factory farms pollute the air and water for many miles in every direction, often spreading contamination and illness to the people who live and work nearby. Chronic sickness, brain damage, poisoned waterways, elevated cancer rates, and even death plague these communities, while the government does nothing to protect citizens or regulate the industry. It's up to us to help stop these farms from poisoning small-town America by refusing to buy their products.

Government Negligence
Between 2000 and 2005, agribusinesses funneled more than $140 million to politicians, who helped to ensure that laws that might protect consumers, animals, and the environment did not pass. The federal government does little to protect human health, animal welfare, and our environment from the factory-farming industry's negligence and excess, but each of us can make a major difference by going vegan and encouraging our friends and family to do the same.

Take PETA's Pledge to Be Vegan for 30 Days, and we'll send you tips and recipes to help you get started on a healthier, more compassionate way of life.

Browse hundreds of vegan recipes.

June 5, 2010

Factory Farming: Cruelty to Animals
..
...On today's factory farms, animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy, windowless sheds and confined to wire cages, gestation crates, barren dirt lots, and other cruel confinement systems. These animals will never raise their families, root around in the soil, build nests, or do anything that is natural and important to them. Most won't even feel the sun on their backs or breathe fresh air until the day they are loaded onto trucks bound for slaughter. The green pastures and idyllic barnyard scenes of years past are now distant memories.

The factory farming industry strives to maximize output while minimizing costs—always at the animals' expense. The giant corporations that run most factory farms have found that they can make more money by cramming animals into tiny spaces, even though many of the animals get sick and some die. The industry journal National Hog Farmer explains, "Crowding pigs pays," and egg-industry expert Bernard Rollins writes that "chickens are cheap; cages are expensive."

....Cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and other animals live in extremely stressful conditions:

Kept in small cages or jam-packed sheds or on filthy feedlots, often with so little space that they can't even turn around or lie down comfortably
Deprived of exercise so that all their bodies' energy goes toward producing flesh, eggs, or milk for human consumption
Fed drugs to fatten them faster and keep them alive in conditions that could otherwise kill them
Genetically altered to grow faster or to produce much more milk or eggs than they naturally would (many animals become crippled under their own weight and die just inches away from water and food)
When they have finally grown large enough, animals raised for food are crowded onto trucks and transported over many miles through all weather extremes, typically without food or water, to the slaughterhouse. Those who survive this nightmarish journey will have their throats slit, often while they are still conscious. Many remain conscious when they are plunged into the scalding-hot water of the defeathering or hair-removal tanks or while their bodies are being skinned or hacked apart.

You can help end this abuse. Order a copy of PETA's free "Vegetarian/Vegan Starter Kit" for tips and recipes to help you make the transition to an animal-free diet today.

To order a free copy of Meet Your Meat and Glass Walls, email: Chalissa1@aol.com.

..

http://www.peta.org/issues/Animals-Used-For-Food/default.aspx?c=causesvegv2010