Category Archives: Health

Environmentalism, Health

Intro to Organic- Making the Healthful Choice

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With so much information out there, and all the labeling designed by creative marketing companies, the confusion can get to you. Let’s break it down, so we can heal together.

We will touch on farming methods, toxins used, what GMOs are, some research on how non-organic effects our bodies and the earth, and we will discuss viable options for how to transition to an organic FULL OF LIFE lifestyle!

The FULL OF LIFE method for eating, and living:

 

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Health, Lifestyle

Veganism: Yoga Beyond the Studio

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The true observance of yoga principles leads practitioners to follow a compassionate, vegan lifestyle. To the casual observer in American studios, yoga appears to be the worship of flexible bodies twisted into interesting poses while wearing tight pants. This is how our cultural appreciates (or to some, appropriates) the practice. Beneath the surface of this Western yogic appearance underlies a spiritual practice that is what yoga actually is, even when the depths are overlooked. The word “yoga” itself stems from the Sanskrit word for union. As laid out in the yoga sutra (the fundamental teachings of yoga to devoted followers) by Patanjali, yoga is a tool that a student uses to recognize the true nature of, and interconnection with, the universe.

lokah

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Health, News and Activism

Plant-Based Knock Out

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On Saturday March 5, plant-based fighter Nate Diaz defeated featherweight champion Conor McGregor by rear naked choke in the second round. Although the fight wasn’t for the belt, it was the biggest win in Diaz’s career.

JakeShieldsVegAdUnspoken by many in the media, Diaz is notable because he eats a plant-based diet. At times, Diaz
describes himself as a raw vegan, and at other times he claims that he eats no land animals or dairy products. Also underrepresented in the media, there are many vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based fighters in the UFC. In addition to Nate, his brother Nick, their training teammate Jake Shields,Ricardo Moreira, Jon Fitch, retired fighter Mac Danzig, and even hall-of-famer Randy Couture. Some of these fighters have fought for championships, and some have won belts. Most of these fighters did not choose to eat a plant-based diet because of ethical reasons, but because they recognize the health benefits of eliminating animal products from their diets.

To add another layer of vegan interest, Conor McGregor’s movement coach is Ido Portal, who is notorious for saying that he will not train with vegans. According to Portal, vegans lack the strength and energy that he expects in his training partners.

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Health, Lifestyle

Vegan Health and Economics

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There is a ton of literature out there about how veganism is “healthier” for you, for the planet, and of course for the animals.  While some of us may know that it’s just as possible to be a junk food vegan as it is to be a junk food omnivore, there are some compelling details about veganism that make it not just physically more healthful, but also economically lean as well– and these benefits go far beyond the cost of food. In fact, some insurance companies agree so much they Strongly advocate a plant-based diet for everyone. Below are 7 strong reasons to medically and economically #govegan.

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Health, Lifestyle

Vegan Body Building

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Before I jump into this, a word on promoting male stereotypes:  We do not, in any way, promote an ideal male or female body type or image  (please read these articles on toxic masculinity and why we should recognize what we do to reinforce these cultural norms ourselves) .  This is intentionally an article about male competitive body building, and why going vegan is totally applicable to this lifestyle, and also healthier.  I have included some names of competitive female bodybuilders at the end, but it is not the focus of this article.

We advocate for health, which definitely does not need to involve body building, in fact, I think many or most body builders do ENORMOUS damage to their body in the pursuit of the single minded goal of bulking up, not to mention stress injuries and other common sports injuries that are a risk factor in any athletic pursuit.  I (Suzi) am not a physical trainer, but I have clocked several hours in Rehab medicine, assisted on many studies, read many protocols for treatment and do a  lot of research.  Therefore, I can say it is likely POSSIBLE to be a bodybuilder, maybe even a competitive one, and to be healthy while doing it.  I don’t have the answer, but what I do know is that going vegan responsibly would go a LONG WAY to addressing some of the health concerns that would be generated by ingesting that much saturated fat, and animal protein.

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Cooking and Recipes, Health

Kimchi- Delicious Recipe for Digestive Health

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Korean traditional kimchi includes fish paste, Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste), cabbage and daikon, which means not only is it not vegan, but is uses obscure ingredients. Tradition is important, and is a food obstacle for many vegans, but so is accuracy.

Never fear!

Did you know that basically every Korean with a mother and a kitchen has done their Kimchi differently?  So let’s make our own!

Here is an easy recipe with 9 grocery store ingredients, many you already have:

 

Napa Cabbage
Carrot matchsticks
minced garlic
Scallions
ginger
Sea Salt
Tamari, GF soy sauce
Sriracha red chili sauce
Date Honey/Syrup

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Health, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Food IQ

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One of the biggest obstacles towards a healthy lifestyle (not to mention an ethical one!) is sifting through all the misinformation.  We grow up with one set of food traditions, and encounter a million different messages: low-fat, low-cost, low-carb, brain food, organic etc etc.  Many people describe being told contradictory messaging from one group or era and some conclude “well everything will kill you, so just eat what tastes good”

What if what tastes good, also looked good, was good for you, and didn’t break your bank?

Last Bites

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Events, Health, Lifestyle

Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference 2015

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20150930_131000It’s registration day at the 3rd Annual IPBNHC in Anaheim, CA and you can feel the excitement as die-hard PBD and Vegans gather along with medical professionals some of whom already subscribe to a PBD/Lifestyle and some who are here to learn more and jumpstart this way of life for themselves and their patients!

The agenda for the next few days is full of information from some of the world’s most famous and prolific Plant-based advocate Doctors, dietitians and researchers, along with all meals presented to attendees to fully integrate the message.  I look forward to learning from these brilliant minds, experiencing the creativity in the healthy foods they’ll be serving, and networking with like-minded people around these meals.20150930_130948

And such goodies they give in your welcome bag that really indicate that they take the mission seriously to have it serve in all areas of your life.   Continue reading Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference 2015 →

Health

2015 International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference

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As a vegan consultant and researcher for INOVA, I investigate the efficacy of plant-based diet, and the prevalence of inclusion of PBD in peer-reviewed studies, for a variety of health concerns relevant to current medical studies and patient treatment plans. Plant-based diets are on the rise, I am happy to report, and there is more and more interest in scientifically quantifying the results, which will likely make PBD more than just another passing dietary fad. plantricianproject-w590h590

“A nation in which physicians and allied healthcare professionals have received compelling education about the foundational pillar of prevention: a whole food, plant-based dietary protocol. A sustainable, financially sound healthcare system wherein nutritional medicine and its proven ability to prevent, suspend and even reverse virtually all chronic disease, as well as many autoimmune diseases, is fully integrated throughout the healthcare practice spectrum.”

That is the vision statement from the conference, colloquially referred to as the Culinary Medicine Conference.  2015 International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference

It is exciting to know there is such a dedicated and growing community of people spreading the good news about an animal-free diet.  It is my hope that this continues to grow, and more and more people become aware of the practices surrounding these industries, and that these industries are pressured to change as a result.

Stay tuned for more links to publicly published medical studies.  The bigger picture includes health, compassion, and great food!

Health, Lifestyle

Vegan Lifestyle versus Plant-Based Diet

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The vegan community, internally, has divided positions on the Plant-Based diet.

Vegan-for-Everything-VSVegans take a holistic approach to Veganism, as a complete lifestyle.  This includes food choices as well as other commercial consumable goods, and is typically also accompanied by a spectrum of involvement in Animal Rights Activism, Animal Liberation, Environmental Activism, and related political, economic, spiritual, and social pursuits. Also, a fair amount of research and investigation goes into this from documentaries such as Vegucated, Earthlings, and Speciesism to national medical studies, and the ongoing efforts of exposing organizations such as Mercy for Animals.

Vegans abstain, to the best of their knowledge and ability, from any and all animals products (think food but also cosmetics and clothing) and animal industries (think Sea World and also Horse-Drawn Carriages).

Vegans typically identify as Vegans, beyond their diet, and consider this a central or large part of their social identity, as a pervasive philosophy and conscious effort to address the system they protest. Continue reading Vegan Lifestyle versus Plant-Based Diet →