Vegan Campus

It is a very surprising observation that the French have among the least number of heart attacks when compared to their western counterparts.

One study felt that this was because of their high consumption of red wine. Researchers were not sure, if this was the main reason and were cautious in their conclusions, although tipplers all over the world were very pleased with these research results.

Others speculated that compared to Europeans and Americans, the French set apart time for a luxurious and elaborately time consuming lunch and their relaxed lifestyle could be contributory to the lesser rates of coronary artery disease. One other overlooked fact is that the French cuisine is rich with generous amounts of asparagus in their dishes. It makes me wonder if asparagus was also contributing to the good health of the French?

What is Asparagus?

Asparagus is a perennial garden plant belonging to the Lily family (Liliaceae). Of the 300 varieties of asparagus, only 20 are edible. Asparagus has been prized as an epicurean delight and prized for its medicinal properties for over 2000 years

Today, asparagus is cultivated in most subtropical and temperate parts of the world with the majority of commercially available asparagus grown in United States, Mexico, Peru, France, Spain and other Mediterranean countries.

The nutritional value of Asparagus:

Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin K, the B vitamin folate, vitamin C, vitamin A. Asparagus is a very good source of numerous B vitamins — including vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B6 - as well as dietary fiber, manganese, copper, phosphorous, potassium and protein. (source)

Some health benefits of Asparagus:

• It is rich in vitamin K and Folic acid. This is said to prevent birth defects in the fetus, such as neural tube defects and spina bifida.
• It is great for the heart because it has anti-oxidant properties; it lowers cholesterol levels and wards off high blood pressure. It also reduces the homocysteine levels and thus prevents heart attacks.
• It is useful in women with menstrual cramps and infertility.
• It is considered to be a diuretic and removes the water retention in PMS.
• It is said to detoxify the body and improve digestion.
• It eliminates warts.
• It has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties.
• Prevents recurrent bladder infections.
• It has aphrodisiac properties (Is that why the French are into it?).
• It has anti-cancer properties.
• It has been used in chronic fatigue syndrome.
• It is said to prevent multiple sclerosis.
• It is said to limit hair loss and even fight toothaches.

Asparagus Drawbacks:

• It contains purine and people who suffer from gout and kidney stones are advised not to consume it.
• It can make urine smell and that disturbs certain individuals.

This yummy little vegetable is one of our healthiest foods. Not only does it have a small amount of calories per serving but it also provides many protective nutrients. Many doctors have cited that the carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, and selenium protect our bodies against cancer and heart disease. And yes, asparagus has all of these and more.

References

• healthmad.com
• mothernature.com

Do you suffer from an energy crisis and feel that you need a high-energy fix from time to time? Do you then resort to drinking coffee, eating a bar of chocolate, or go on an eating binge of junk foods and high sugared snack. If you do I suggest that you should read on…

You are not going to believe this:

You are going to be very surprised to hear that ayurveda, the most ancient Indian medical system, has an answer and has golden tips for solving your energy crisis. Ayurveda advocates a diet that is generous in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The ancient ayurvedic texts tell us that these foods are rich in life giving energy, healing powers, fighting body fatigue and have the power of detoxifying the body.

Grains have power:

Long distance runners from Africa have always relied on carbohydrates in grains for long-term endurance and energy. All carbohydrates are not the same. For instance the croissant is high in fat and low in nutrition. Whole grains have lower cholesterol; they also have anti-bacterial properties and actually lower elevated blood sugar levels.

Ayurveda considers rye, millet and amaranth as highly nutritious, as they have high protein and mineral content. In fact, these grains are considered so auspicious that they are used during Vedic ceremonies as items for worship.

Rye for instance, contains high proteins, and one cup yields about 15 grams of protein, 9 grams of iron and adequate quantities of B-complex vitamins, iron, zinc and copper which is an important trace element for boosting energy levels and raising the body’s immunity. The ancient seers used a term called as ‘Ojas’, an energy, which is the result of good digestion and creates a sense of lightness in the body, gives a person the inner energy or glow, confers immunity against infections and bestows the individual with bliss.

Energizing Vegetables and Fruits:

Ayruveda advocates that fresh vegetables and fruits should constitute forty percent of every meal. Green, leafy vegetables are rich in mineral and fiber, and they should be eaten often.

Ayurveda considers fruits as a rich source of energy. Ayurvedic physicians recommend pears and apples, if you are hungry between meals. They recommend papaya, if you feel bloated after lunch.

Ayurveda strongly recommends the generous use of dry fruits, especially raisins. The ayurvedic texts extol the virtue of raisins calling them the best among dry fruits because it has the quality to enhance purity of the mind and pacify the mind and heart. Dry fruits are a rich source of iron and Vitamin B6, and provide magnesium, calcium, zinc and potassium. Raisins aid digestion and elimination when they are soaked in water overnight. One handful per person is a good amount everyday.

Ayurveda also cautions against energy draining foods:

The ayurvedic texts warn us not to eat left over foods or highly seasoned foods and foods that make us sluggish. Ayurvedic physicians were extremely conscious of energy draining foods, which clogged the micro-channels called as Nadis and created an accumulation of toxins.

We have advanced a lot in this millennium

But our diet practices are abysmal. We eat foods bereft of energy, we consume milk, which is a poison, we eat meat, and we eat tinned, canned and processed foods and do not realize how much harm we cause to ourselves. It is fascinating how Ayurveda, a science that dates back thousands of years warns us of these dangers. It was almost as if our ancient seers who wrote these treatises were aware, what humanity was going to come to in this millennium.

Sources:

• bigshakti.com
• bluelotusayurveda.com
• experiencefestival.com

I don’t know about the rest of you out there, but I don’t like to eat fecal matter. If you’re eating meat, you are undoubtedly eating feces. Feces belongs in the toilet or used for fertilizer, not human consumption.

Wondering why you get sick so often? Why you have about 20 nasty colds per year? Why get get those stomach viruses? Why you get sore / strep throat? Why you have no energy? Why you are tired all day long after 8 hours of sleep?

Well, I’m sure it has a lot to do with meat consumption. It’s bad enough that you cells are being invaded with toxin-riddled flesh, now your body has to deal with animal waste on top of that! Phew….

Would you sprinkle dried pellets of human feces on your salad? No, I don’t think you would. But you may as well, since you’re already enjoying plenty of feces every time you bite into a juicy hamburger or rip a part some “mouth watering” steak. Think about that the next time you consume some animal flesh.

Washington, D.C.-A new study shows that 84 percent of adults have no idea that the primary source of salmonella, campylobacter, E. coli, and other foodborne pathogens on poultry and meat is animal feces.

The survey of 1,000 men and women was completed during the period of July 26-29, 2001, by Opinion Research Corporation International on behalf of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Foodborne illnesses are at epidemic levels in the United States; the Centers for Disease Control estimate there are at least 76 million cases each year, usually from consumption of animal products.

“Our findings show the vast majority of Americans do not understand there are feces on meat and poultry,” says PCRM staff attorney Mindy Kursban. “In fact, there’s a major disconnect in the public consciousness between the foodborne illnesses that sicken so many of us and their originating cause: animal excrement.”

Survey respondents answered the following question: “When salmonella and other disease-causing bacteria are found on meat and poultry, which of the following do you think BEST describes where these bacteria originally came from?”

The answers were as follows:

“They [foodborne pathogens] came from animal blood.” [10 percent]

“They came from dirty hands.” [19 percent]

“They are naturally present in the meat.” [17 percent]

“They are naturally present in the animal’s skin.” [9 percent]

“They came from animal feces.” [16 percent]

“They came from dirty air in a slaughter house.” [15 percent]

Didn’t think any of these were the right answer or didn’t know. [13 percent]

Doctors Petition USDA to Ensure “Feces-Free” Meat or Issue Biohazard Labels

In the year 2000, Jackie Chan, Hong Kong’s ambassador for tourism was dismayed and saddened by the well documented torture of millions of Indian cattle, who were killed for meat and leather export. In deep anguish he shot off a letter to the Indian Prime-minister urging him to fight the widespread corruption and illegal practices that permeate the cruel transport and slaughter. The Indian prime minister promised remedial action. But nothing has changed since.

The cows, bullocks and calves are transported from remote places in India in the dead of the night. The animals are racked with pain and filled with fear and often have to endure a long journey without food and water. The collapsing animals are savagely beaten, have chilly and pepper rubbed into the their eyes, their tails are broken and some have their horns broken without the use of anesthesia.

Enshrined in the Indian constitution are the rights for cattle. It prohibits cruelty to cattle but the government simple looks the other way.

The problem of illegal abattoirs:

According to some estimates there are more than 800 illegal slaughter shops in Mumbai, where illegal slaughter goes unchallenged. These shops are concealed in marketplaces and there is no animal welfare regulation, no adequate water supply and poor drainage.

There is no proper animal waste disposal. The waste is simply dumped into the sewer system and putrefaction results and poisonous gases are released. The whole sewer system is a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode one day. In addition the organic waste can breed bacterial and viruses and it can spread infectious diseases. In fact there is no proper waste removal system at the Deonar Abattoir, which is Mumbai’s biggest facility.

At a recent press meeting the members of PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, accused the municipality for turning a blind eye to the burning problem. In the past year, PETA representatives have made several unannounced visits to Deonar, but the shocking inhumane conditions still persist and nothing seems to have changed. The PETA officials repeatedly caught officials lying about animal welfare measures. The slaughtering facilities are in violation of both Indian and Muslim law.

How can we make a change?

The Leather industry In India employs 2.5 million persons. A large part (nearly 60-65%) of the production is in the small/cottage sector. The annual export value poised to touch about 2 billion US dollars. India is endowed with 10% of the world raw material in terms of leather hide and export constitutes about 2% of the world trade. This sector has enormous potential for future growth.

Hidden within the statistics lie the solution to the problem of cruelty to animals. The Indian government must step in and must monitor animal transportation and implement international slaughter norms. The leather industry on its part must wake up because it can be shut down if the major importers clam down on Indian leather products on the grounds of cruelty to animals.

Finally, we can make the biggest difference. We have to be actively compassionate to animals

References and links:

petaindia.com
mcgm.gov.in

A total of 1,444,920 new cancer cases and 559,650 deaths for cancers are projected to occur in the United States in 2007. Cancer still accounts for more deaths than heart disease in persons under age 85 years. From a total of 58 million deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million (or 13%) of all deaths.

The main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality are:

• Lung (1.3 million deaths/year)
• Stomach (almost 1 million deaths/year)
• Liver (662,000 deaths/year)
• Colon (655,000 deaths/year)
• Breast (502,000 deaths/year)

Deaths from cancer in the world are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 9 million people dying from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million dying in 2030.

Quick Cancer Facts

• Forty percent of cancer can be prevented (by a healthy diet, physical activity and not using tobacco).
• Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world. Tobacco use causes cancer of the lung, throat, mouth, pancreas, bladder, stomach, liver, kidney and other types; Environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking) causes lung cancer.
• One-fifth of cancers worldwide are due to chronic infections, mainly from hepatitis B viruses, causing liver cancer. The human papilloma viruses HPV cause cervical cancer. Helicobacter pylori are implicated in Stomach cancer. Parasites like schistosomes can cause bladder cancer and the liver fluke bile duct cancer.

A celebrity who conquered cancer:

Melissa Etheridge, one of the most recognizable and popular was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2004 at age 43. She underwent chemotherapy and a lumpectomy and is on the road to recovery. Melissa actually attended a Grammy award ceremony with her beautiful baldhead. Melissa said in Organic Style magazine, “People said I was courageous because I went on the Grammy’s with no hair. For me, it was just the best decision…I didn’t see it as an act of courage.”

Since the cancer diagnosis Melissa Etheridge has made some major changes in her life. She was quoted in Organic Style as saying, “When I was told I had breast cancer last October at 43, I began to change from the very second I got the diagnosis. I started listening to my body, and I became more aware of everything. With cancer, you start looking at your whole life and cutting the dark things out of it. I often say that cancer is a gift in that way.”

Melissa also reports that she loves yoga now and does it every day. And she watches what she eats, but she doesn’t use food to reward or deny herself anymore.

Having cancer does not necessarily mean that it is a death sentence. Although the incidence of cancer has been increasing, it is possible to prevent cancer and even fight it off successfully. 40% of the all cancers can be prevented by a healthy diet, which could be more vegetarian or vegan. The studies also highlight the importance of exercise in our lives and avoidance of tobacco in all its forms.