From: Veggies In Motion all4vegan@yahoo.com Subject: Veggies In Motion February 2006 News For Life Veggies In Motion February 2006 News For Life This newsletter is designed to keep you aware of the many relationships our life choices have on personal health, a sustainable planet and respect for other species. By simply shifting towards a plant-based lifestyle you can realize many truly wondrous things! --------------------------- 1. Want to get into the Great American Meatout for free? The Veggies in Motion (VIM) Board recently approved a new benefit for VIM members - free admission to the Great American Meatout. VIM members, just bring your membership card with you to the Meatout for free admission. Not yet a member? Join VIM before, or on the day of the Meatout, and get into the Meatout for free. Actually, there are many benefits to membership. Here are a few additional examples. As a member, you are entitled to a 10% discount on all VIM merchandise, including veggie-related books, t-shirts, buttons, etc. Be sure to stop by the VIM table at the Meatout (in the Organizations/Product Vendors room). You will receive a discount on your bill at about 20 vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the metro-Detroit area. Pick up a list of these restaurants at the Meatout. You will receive a discount to VIM's annual retreat. When at the Meatout, be sure to look at the pictures of last year's VIM week-end retreat and learn some of the details about this year's upcoming retreat. There will be a table at the Great American Meatout where you can become a member. But, better yet, join prior to and avoid the rush. For details, go to www.veggiesinmotion.org/join . --------------------------- 2. Lessons to Be Learned from the "Fiber Not a Cancer Stopper" Story With few exceptions, every news service throughout the Western world told people what they wanted to hear: "Well, scientists now find that there may be no need to "rough it" after all... For most of us, there seems to be no benefit for loading up on rough fruits, beans, and vegetables." These welcome comments were based on a December 14, 2005 article by Yikyung Park in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This article and the accompanying media coverage provide some excellent examples of how the truth can be distorted to support people's gluttony and avoid arousing their feelings of guilt... ...Therefore, a well-informed consumer will not be discouraged by isolated reports that seem to speak negatively about a healthy plant-based diet. Instead, this person keeps focused on the fact that when they follow a diet of starches, vegetables, and fruits, they will not only prevent colon cancer, but also ward off heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer and most other common aliments -and cut their food and medical bills- and help save the planet- and be kind to animals. The reasons to make conscientious food choices seem to never end. http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl/december/fiber.htm --------------------------- 3. Broccoli and Curry May Save American Men from Prostate Cancer The most common cancer in American men - prostate cancer - may be prevented, and possibly treated, by something as easy as eating certain vegetables like broccoli, and the curry spice turmeric (also watercress, cabbage, winter cress, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, kohlrabi and turnips), says a new study... and could be effective in treating established prostate cancers... This has been attributed to the dietary consumption of large amounts of plant-based foods rich in phytochemicals - nonnutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease-preventive properties. http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Health/6-01-15-BroccoliAndCurry.htm --------------------------- 4. The Nuts that May Clobber Cholesterol If you are looking for a way to keep your heart healthy and still satisfy your snacking mood, pistachios and sunflower seeds may be the powerful cholesterol-fighting tool your body needs. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Cholesterol/story?id=1479883&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds03 12 --------------------------- 5. Vegetables Help Lower Blood Pressure Eating more plant protein improves heart health, study finds People who get their dietary protein from vegetables rather than meat have lower blood pressure, and the more plant protein consumed the better, researchers said on Monday. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10776695/from/RSS/ --------------------------- 6. Fruits, Vegetables May Keep Memory Strong Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables not only makes you healthier but may also help keep your memory strong, says a study... Moreover, those who nibbled on plenty of veggies and fruits were able to maintain their memory over time. http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=187024&n_date=20051210&cat=H --------------------------- 7. Experts Urge Less Focus On Antioxidants, More On Variety Tired of trying to keep track of all the so-called superfoods you're supposed to eat? You know, oregano that packs 42 times more antioxidants than apples, cooked tomatoes that may prevent prostate cancer, and chocolate and wine that may or may not be health foods? Then here's the good news -- you can stop trying. Instead, experts advise focusing on balance, moderation and variety, and leaving the phytochemicals, flavanols and phenolic acids to scientists. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/health/20051211-0907-antioxidantconfusion.html --------------------------- 8. Thyroid Deficiency Strikes One in Six Hypothyroidism is the most common of all the "hormone diseases," yet most people who have it are unaware. The test for this deficiency is simple and almost painless, and the treatment is effective, safe, and inexpensive. Left unattended, a subtle malfunction could mean heart disease and an earlier death. http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl/december/thyroid.htm --------------------------- 9. Fresh Start, Fresh Produce ...Kids aren't as anti-vegetable as you might think, especially if you follow three simple rules: 1. Let your children help out in the kitchen. 2. Make produce a regular part of your meals. 3. Enjoy what you're eating. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/food/13498724.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_food --------------------------- 10. Runners Must Remember: They Are What They Eat Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr. and Dr. Neal Barnard - three of the most prominent scientists and doctors at the forefront of researching nutrition - conducted seminars at RunTex. All three had an identical message: eat a plant-based diet that's high in nutrients, whole grains, legumes and fiber, and you'll not only be healthier and live longer, but, as a nice side effect, you'll also improve your running endurance. http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/other/12/27HOBAN.html --------------------------- 11. A National Assessment of Tap Water Quality: More than 140 contaminants with no enforceable safety limits found in the nation's drinking water An Environmental Working Group analysis of tap water tests from 1999 through 2003 shows that customers of the city of Detroit drank water containing up to 18 pollutants, including one unregulated contaminant. The city of Detroit is one of 65,000 water suppliers across the country wrestling with treating water polluted by sprawl, sewage, factory farms, and industry. http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/yourwater/system.php?pwsid=MI0001800 VIM Note: Bottled water is not a solution. Bottlers are not under the same strict government standards that municipalities are under. Many bottlers exceed contaminant levels deemed safe. Your best option is a home filtration system. --------------------------- 12. Clear Choices for Clean Drinking Water Whether you'd like to improve the taste of your water, are concerned about possible contamination, or you simply want to learn more about the water in your home, our report can help. Based on interviews with government officials, manufacturers, and consumer groups, and drawing upon our own tests of 19 water-filtering systems, it provides a comprehensive guide to clean drinking water. http://www.consumerreports.org/main/content/display_report.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=341419&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=333143&bmUID=110185037157 9 A free copy of this report is available in most libraries. Ask for the January 2003 Consumer Reports magazine. --------------------------- 13. Chemical Farm ... Enough chemicals circulate in our animal products to stock a medicine cabinet. Consider the turkey raised in a factory farm in conditions of pain and squalor. Close confinement requires the use of a long list of antibiotics to control diseases. And let's not talk about what the bird picks up during processing. One of the last stages at the slaughterhouse is a dip in chlorine to wash off pathogens... http://www.alternet.org/story/28576/ --------------------------- 14. Antibiotic Uptake by Plants from Soil Fertilized with Animal Manure Antibiotics are commonly added to animal feed as supplements to promote growth of food animals. However, absorption of antibiotics in the animal gut is not complete and, as a result, substantial amounts of antibiotics are excreted in urine and feces that end up in manure. Manure is used worldwide, not only as a source of plant nutrients, but also as a source of organic matter to improve soil quality, especially in organic and sustainable agriculture. http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/34/6/2082 VIM Note: This is a good reason to grow your own vegetables at home "veganically" (no manure or animal by-products). --------------------------- 15. Vegan-organic (Veganic) Gardening Vegan-organic gardening is a healthy, compassionate alternative to organic or commercial gardening. Soil is enriched with vegetable compost, green manures, crop rotation, mulching and other ecological methods, ensuring long-term fertility without animal exploitation. Veganic gardening uses no blood or bone meal, sludge, fish parts/oil or manures from facilities where animals are abused. Vegan soil conditioners/fertilizers are lime, gypsum, rock phosphorus, dolomite, rock dusts, rock potash, wood ash, hay mulches, composted organic matter (fruit/vegetable peels, leaves and grass clippings), green manures/nitrogen-fixing cover crops, seaweed and other liquid feeds. Veganic Gardening Supplies: http://www.gentleworld.org/vegan_alternatives/gardening.html --------------------------- 16. Food Crisis Feared as Fertile Land Runs Out: Maps show 40% of Earth's land is used for agriculture New maps show that the Earth is rapidly running out of fertile land and that food production will soon be unable to keep up with the world's burgeoning population. The maps reveal that more than one third of the world's land is being used to grow crops or graze cattle. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1206-01.htm VIM Note: By switching to an entirely plant-based diet the world could conserve between 90 to 95% of the cropland currently in production. --------------------------- 17. Scientists Say Too Many Fish Are Snared in the Wrong Nets Commercial fisheries in the U.S. kill a pound of fish for every four pounds intentionally caught, jeopardizing efforts to restore some struggling stocks, scientists said Wednesday. Their peer-reviewed study, sponsored by the environmental group Oceana and published in the December issue of Fish and Fisheries magazine, found that 1.2 billion tons of fish annually are left for dead with every 4 billion tons caught in commercial nets... Most of the fish -- such as skates, monkfish, swordfish, tuna, sharks, salmon and halibut -- are snared by shrimpers' nets in the Gulf of Mexico or in the huge trawling nets some vessels use to reach the ocean floor. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=9367 --------------------------- 18. Fishing Subsidies Hurting Marine Ecosystems ... the world's fisheries are nearing "irreversible collapse" and three-fourths of the fish populations have reduced. Many of these are of high commercial value. Big fish such as marlin, swordfish and tuna have almost disappeared from the oceans with their populations down to one-tenth of their natural availability. The only cause for this depletion is overfishing encouraged by high fishing subsidies. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/4730.html --------------------------- 19. Five Fish Species Regarded as Endangered Trawling in ocean depths among stocks that were once considered inexhaustible has depleted some fish species so quickly and completely that they meet international criteria for being listed as critically endangered, Canadian scientists said yesterday. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/science/05fish.html --------------------------- 20. Toxic Risk On Your Plate (Eat at your own risk: A Fishy Tale) Seafood for sale in area stores is tainted by toxic mercury, Tribune testing shows. Government and industry fail to protect consumers, even as Americans buy more fish than ever. Supermarkets throughout the Chicago area are routinely selling seafood highly contaminated with mercury, a toxic metal that can cause learning disabilities in children and neurological problems in adults, a Tribune investigation has found. http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1538229/posts VIM Note: Since the same suppliers for Chicago supply Detroit, you can be certain that the results translate to us as well. --------------------------- 21. Daring Whale Rescue Team members realized the only way to save the endangered leviathan was to dive into the water and cut the ropes. It was a very risky maneuver, Stoudt said, because the mere flip of a humpback's massive tail can kill a man. Lines were cinched so tight, Moskito said, that the rope was digging into the animal's blubber and leaving visible cuts... "When I was cutting the line going through the mouth, its eye was there winking at me, watching me," Moskito said. "It was an epic moment of my life." When the whale realized it was free, it began swimming around in circles, according to the rescuers. Moskito said it swam to each diver, nuzzled him and then swam to the next one. "It seemed kind of affectionate, like a dog that's happy to see you,'' Moskito said. "I never felt threatened. It was an amazing, unbelievable experience." http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/12/14/HUMPY.TMP --------------------------- 22. It's Better To Green Your Diet Than Your Car Thinking of helping the planet by buying an eco-friendly car? You could do more by going vegan, say Gidon Eshel and Pamela Martin of the University of Chicago. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg18825304.800 Note from the Editor: Why not do both?! No one says you can only do one or the other! ---------------------------