The Best Stories of 2008
News For Life
2008 offered hundreds of great articles and deciding what was to go into the “best of” was a difficult decision. I believe that the following stories offer the most for you, the reader. I hope you enjoy them and share this newsletter with family and friends!
General News Index:
VIDEO: A LIFE CONNECTED
THE NEW MEAT: A VEG RESPONSE
MEAT EATERS LIVE A LIE
FORCING BELIEFS
HOW TO PROD PICKY EATERS
10 REASONS TO GO VEGGIE
ORGANIC VEGGIES HAVE MORE
NUTRIENTS
VITAMIN D: NEW MIRACLE
VITAMIN
REFLECTIONS ON THE WESTON A.
PRICE FOUNDATION
CONSCIOUS EATING, OKAY, BUT
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PROTEIN?
70 IS THE NEW 40 (SEE THE
AMAZING PHOTO!!!)
TOUGH EARLY HUMAN LOVED FRUIT
WHY EATING A BIG MAC IS
CHEAPER THAN EATING A SALAD
Health News Index:
A RAINBOW OF COLORS PROVIDES
A HEALTHY DIET
CANCER-BLOCKING FOODS
BEANS, BEANS...
TEA MAY IMPROVE ATTENTION AND
FOCUS, KEEP BRAIN CELLS HEALTHY, & INFLUENCE GENETICS IN CANCER
TOP 10 VEGAN HEALTH TIPS
A VEGETARIAN DIET CAN REDUCE
CANCER RISKS
SOY REDUCES BREAST CANCER
RISK
EATING SOY FOODS IN PUBERTY
PROTECTS AGAINST BREAST CANCER
SMART EATS
HIGH-DAIRY IN CHILDHOOD
LINKED WITH CANCER RISK
101 REASONS NOT TO FEED DAIRY
PRODUCTS TO YOUR CHILDREN
MEAT CONSUMPTION INCREASES
RISK OF BREAST CANCER
SEAFOOD NOT SO HEALTHY AFTER
ALL - FOR US OR THE PLANET
PLANT FOODS FOR PRESERVING
MUSCLE MASS
HARMFUL PESTICIDES FOUND IN
EVERYDAY FOOD PRODUCTS
RESISTANT URINARY TRACT
INFECTIONS LINKED TO MEAT CONSUMPTION
BISPHENOL A: TOXIC PLASTICS CHEMICAL IN CANNED FOOD
Environmental News
Index:
EATING AS IF THE CLIMATE
MATTERED
FOOD MILES DON'T FEED CLIMATE
CHANGE - MEAT DOES
EARTH'S EDIBLE FISH FACE
EXTINCTION
TOP 10: OFFSHORE FISH FARMING
PROBLEMS
SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT FISH
WORLD BANK
BACKS CATTLE RANCHING,
WATER WE
WAITING FOR?
ORGANIC FARMS REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS
Animal News Index:
SIX 'UNIQUELY' HUMAN TRAITS
NOW FOUND IN ANIMALS
EXPOSED: THE LONG, CRUEL ROAD
TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
GRAPHIC VIDEO: UNDERCOVER
INVESTIGATION EXPOSES EGG INDUSTRY!
TRUE STORY (COPIED FROM NEW
YORK TIMES 9-19-01)
Take Action Index:
STOP VILSACK'S
CONFIRMATION AS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
PETITION 'FOOD VS FEED' TO
THE UN
PETITION TO REPEAL ANIMAL
TELL CONGRESS NO INDUSTRIAL FISH
FARMS
MEET YOUR MEAT: END FACTORY
FARMING TODAY!
*********************************************************
General News:
“If you don’t stay informed, then who will tell the others the truth?” JC :-)
VIDEO: A LIFE CONNECTED
For the People. For the Planet. For the Animals.
http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/veganvideo.html
JC Note: This maybe the best 12 minutes you will spend today! This video has all the elements to change people from the heart. Please watch it and pass it along!
STUDY FINDS FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, VEGAN DIET AND EXERCISE
Their lifestyle they had to follow included 30 minutes of exercise 6 days a week for starters, as well as an hour of meditation or relaxing every day.
In regards to their diet, they could only get 10% of their calories from fat, had to take vitamin supplements and consume a diet that was made up of whole foods, fruit, and vegetables.
They found that this was able to increase an enzyme known as telomerase, which protects cells from the effects of aging. A reduction in telomerase has been linked to an increased risk of disease, and premature death. By following this lifestyle, those in the study increased their telomerase levels by 29%.
This is the first big step to finding out how to truly slow the aging process.
http://www.dbtechno.com/health/2008/09/16/study-finds-fountain-of-youth-vegan-diet-and-exercise/
THE NEW MEAT: A VEG RESPONSE
ONE of my favorite movie lines comes from My Cousin Vinny. Joe Pesci's character is fretting over what to wear on a hunting trip. Marisa Tomei's character paints a picture of a deer in the forest, stopping to quench its little deer thirst at a little babbling brook, when out of nowhere it's shot in the head by a hunter. As Tormei puts it: "Now I ask ya, would you give a f**k what kind of pants the son-of-a-bitch who shot you was wearing?"
This scene leapt to mind when reading Michael Pollan's conclusion to his tome, The Omnivore's Dilemma. After handily making a case for veg*nism based on ethical, environmental and health reasons, he decides he likes bacon too much to give it up. So he comes up with a pseudo-spiritual, show-gratitude-to-the-pig, circle-of-life way to justify continuing to eat meat, but he doesn't follow the logical conclusion of his own arguments.
Now I ask ya: does the pig in the slaughterhouse give a f**k if you're grateful to it?
Let's be clear: "Organic" doesn't mean "humane." "Free-range" isn't a regulated term. Chickens are excluded entirely from the Humane Slaughter Act. The existence of a few bucolic locations which might provide a nearly-guilt-free meat-eating existence to a privileged few doesn't mitigate the fact that it's the products of factory farms that are accessible to the vast majority of nonveg*ns in this country. Most of all: Slaughter is slaughter whether 10 or 10,000 are killed per day. And it's so unnecessary...
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/03.19.08/veggie-0812.html
MEAT EATERS LIVE A LIE
While a big, juicy steak may indeed be culinary nirvana for many, your taste for beef could be based in part on expectation rather than reality. On the assumption that meat is associated with social power in some peoples' minds, researchers rated study participants on what they call a Social Power Value Endorsement measure, to determine their preferences for meat and their cultural perceptions of it...
"Participants who ate the vegetarian alternative did not rate the taste and aroma less favorably than those who ate the beef product," the researchers report in August issue of the Journal of Consumer Research. "Instead, what influenced taste evaluation was what they thought they had eaten and whether that food symbolized values that they personally supported."...
http://www.livescience.com/health/080717-meat-eaters.html
FORCING BELIEFS
Vegans often hear from people complaining that we are trying to "force our beliefs" on others. Yesterday, we received an email attacking our parenting, which said, in part: The problem I have is that forcing your child to be a vegan (or a vegetarian for that matter) is bad parenting; you cannot force your own beliefs on a child. Let a child come to its own decision in its teens. Is "good parenting" simply following society's current norms?
Like everything about raising a child, feeding them means making choices. We aren't forcing our beliefs on our daughter Ellen, we are living our values. We have never forbidden her from eating animals; rather, we have explained (at an age-appropriate level) why we believe it is wrong to support killing and consuming pigs, birds, fish, etc. We would no sooner raise our daughter to view animals as food than we would teach her to hate and discriminate against homosexuals (or, if we lived 150 years ago, to keep other human beings as slaves).
Most children are naturally drawn to and have an affinity for animals; it is frightening and abnormal when a child chooses to torture, rather than befriend, other animals. We believe it is inconsistent, unethical, and yes, bad parenting not to respect and nurture this inherent compassion, but instead feed a child her friends.
When asked, 13-year-old Ellen chimes in: "So what, are you just supposed to not feed the child anything until he or she is capable of making a completely informed decision? Come on! Based on the information I have now, I would choose to be vegan no matter what you had raised me to eat, quite frankly. And I would be mad if you had raised me eating meat and waited until now to let me 'decide.'"
Of course, this discussion ignores the elephant in the room -- or, rather, the pigs, chickens, turkeys, etc. The animals who suffer on factory farms and die in industrial slaughterhouses are individuals whose lives are real and complete on their own. Their lives matter to themselves -- they are not just hypothetical pawns to be tossed about in the abstract. We have to answer to them for every choice we make, including what we eat, how we raise our children, and how we interact with others.
In her last, three-team meet (above), lifelong-vegan Ellen Green won the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m events. She also finished the year with straight-As in every advanced class, with the highest score for the year in Honors Geometry.
http://www.veganoutreach.org/enewsletter/20080611.html
HOW TO PROD PICKY EATERS
New thinking about what determines a child's likes and dislikes when it comes to eating should help parents in their never-ending food wars with the kids... babies ate more veggies after about eight days of tasting them, even though they acted like they didn't like them... The same study found that mothers who breast-feed can influence their infants' acceptance of fruits and veggies when moms regularly eat those foods themselves...
What else can parents do?
TRY, TRY AGAIN. Offer small amounts of a new food several times so your child gets used to the taste.
MODEL GOOD EATING HABITS. Your kids are watching you. Parents who eat their spinach greatly increase the likelihood that their children will gobble their greens, too.
MAKE SURE BABY EATS HEALTHFULLY FROM THE START. Breast milk can breed veggie-lovin' little ones.
http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/080330/080330thinksmart-student-loans-golf.html
10 REASONS TO GO VEGGIE
1. Helping animals also helps the global poor...
2. Eating meat supports cruelty to animals...
3. Eating meat is bad for the environment...
4. Avoid bird flu...
5. If you wouldn't eat a dog, you shouldn't eat a chicken...
6. Heart disease and cancer are big killers...
7. Fitting into that tiny bikini...
8. Global peace...
9. The joy of veggies...
10. Sir Paul McCartney says so...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article3931260.ece
ORGANIC VEGGIES HAVE MORE NUTRIENTS
A review of nearly 100 scientific studies has concluded
that, on average, organic fruits and vegetables have more vitamins, minerals,
and beneficial antioxidants than their conventionally grown counterparts. In
the new report, scientists from The Organic Center (a nonprofit that promotes
organic farming), examined carefully matched measurements of selected nutrients
in specific organic and conventionally grown foods. The scientists found that
the organic produce had higher levels of tested nutrients in 61 percent of the
cases. Furthermore, the organic foods tended to have higher levels of
antioxidants and polyphenols, nutrients that are
often in short supply in
http://www.organic-center.org/science.nutri.php?action=view&report_id=126
VITAMIN D: NEW MIRACLE VITAMIN
Vitamin D is the hottest nutrient in medical circles now. It has been credited with fighting everything from cancer to chronic pain. The latest news:
Cuts heart attacks. Men with low levels of vitamin D are about two times more apt to suffer a heart attack than men with sufficient D, Harvard researchers say. Their theory: Vitamin D lessens inflammation, high blood pressure and vascular calcification, all factors in cardiovascular disease.
Curbs cancer. A research team at
the
Prevents diabetes. Men with blood richest in vitamin D were 72% less apt to develop type 2 diabetes after age 40 than men with the least vitamin D, says a new Finnish study. Boosts brain. Older people with depression or dementia may benefit from extra vitamin D, Dutch researchers say. Men and women over 65 with major or minor depression had 14% lower vitamin D levels than their non-depressed peers. And among Alzheimer's patients, those with higher vitamin D levels scored better on tests of cognitive function.
http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/080720/080720think-eatsmart-vitamin-d.html
REFLECTIONS ON THE WESTON A. PRICE FOUNDATION
Weston Price was an American dentist who traveled around the world, camera and film in hand, in the late 1920s and early 1930s... He found that as long as these people consumed their native diet, their mouths and jaws developed so that they never experienced crowded teeth, overbites, underbites, or tooth decay. When their wisdom teeth came in, they always had plenty of room. But as his photographs
poignantly showed, once they left the wisdom of their native foods for “civilized” foods the results were ruinous. Now all kinds of dental problems that had been previously unknown became rampant...
... speaking as someone who has great respect for the work of Weston A. Price, I am sorry to say that to my eyes, the foundation that carries Price’s name today is unfortunately exaggerating what was unbalanced in his work, and abandoning much of what was good... the foundation exudes an attitude of “you’re either with us or you’re against us” that is reminiscent of the dark side of cults... Reputable scientists who dare suggest that saturated fat contributes to heart disease are denounced... and totally ignorant.”
... the Foundation has widely publicized an article written by a former member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Stephen Byrnes, titled “The Myths of Vegetarianism.” The article is harshly critical of vegetarian diets, and concludes with an “About the Author” section which states: “Stephen Byrnes… enjoys robust health on a diet that includes butter, cream, eggs, meat, whole milk, dairy products and offal.” In fact, Stephen Byrnes suffered a fatal stroke in June, 2004. According to reports of his death, he had yet to reach his 40th birthday.
http://www.earthsave.org/newsletters/ES_August08.pdf
CONSCIOUS EATING, OKAY, BUT WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PROTEIN?
... humans need only 10 percent of the calories we consume to be from protein. Athletes and pregnant women need a little more, but if you're eating enough calories from a varied plant based diet, it's close to impossible to not get enough... Beans, nuts, seeds, lentils, and whole grains are packed with protein. So are all vegetables as a caloric percentage, though they don't have enough calories to sustain most people as a principal source of sustenance. And these protein sources have some excellent benefits that animal protein does not--they contain plenty of fiber and complex carbohydrates, where meat has none. That's right: Meat has no complex carbs at all, and no fiber. Plant proteins are packed with these essential nutrients.
Plus, since plant-based protein sources don't contain cholesterol or high amounts of saturated fat, they are much better for you than meat, eggs, and dairy products. It is also worth noting the very strong link between animal protein and a few key diseases, including cancer and osteoporosis...
And just a few quick anecdotal points:
• Olympian Carl Lewis has said that his best year of track competition was the first year that he ate a vegan diet (he is still a strong proponent of vegan diets for athletes).
• Strength trainer Mike Mahler says, "Becoming a vegan had a profound effect on my training. ... [M]y bench press excelled past 315 pounds, and I noticed that I recovered much faster. My body fat also went down, and I put on 10 pounds of lean muscle in a few months."
• Bodybuilder Robert Cheeke advises, "The basics for nutrition are consuming large amounts of fresh green vegetables and a variety of fruits, to load yourself up with vibrant vitamins and minerals."
A few other vegans, all of whom sing the praises of the diet for their athletic performance: Ultimate fighter Mac Danzig, ultramarathoner Scott Jurek, Minnesota Twins pitcher Pat Neshek, Atlanta Hawks Guard Salim Stoudamire, and Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Tony Gonzalez.
... vegans get all the nutrients our bodies need from plants, and will thus, according to the science, be more likely to maintain a healthy weight and stave off a variety of ailments, from heart disease to cancer...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/conscious-eating-okay-but_b_104502.html
70 IS THE NEW 40 (SEE THE AMAZING PHOTO!!!)
...In all fairness, do you think you could have won the Mr. America title had you been a vegan back in the ’70s? I thought building muscle required protein -- and lots of it. Not only would I have won, I think I would have been spectacular. I won the Mr. America with the largest winning point margin in the history of the contest (30 points, and the record still stands), and I know the margin would have been even larger had I been a vegan. What I have always had going for me is symmetry. It would have emphasized those lines even more by eliminating the “bloat” that comes from eating animal products, especially dairy. Vegetable protein is infinitely better quality protein for humans and is available in more than sufficient quantities in vegetables.
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid59832.asp
TOUGH EARLY HUMAN LOVED FRUIT
An early human with a big mouth made for chomping strangely preferred to eat soft, squishy fruits, new dental analyses suggest. The finding — the big guy's teeth showed only light wear — might force scientists to downgrade everything they thought they knew about hominids' diets...
http://www.livescience.com/history/080429-nutcracker-man.html
WHY EATING A BIG MAC IS CHEAPER THAN EATING A SALAD
We’ve all heard the figures. We know that meat production
uses significantly more land and fossil fuel resources than a vegetarian diet.
But, then, why on earth is it cheaper to eat meat than fresh fruit and
vegetables? The following graph will give you an idea. On the right we have
Federal Dietary Recommendations, compared with, on the left, the government
subsidies that prop up the respective food groups. Almost 75% of
http://www.earthsave.org/newsletters/ES_June08.pdf
Health News:
"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates, the father of medicine.
A RAINBOW OF COLORS PROVIDES A HEALTHY DIET
... "The most nutritious colors are the rainbow colors," said Lilan Cheung, director of health promotion and communication with the Harvard School of Public Health. "Nature has endowed each fruit and vegetable variety with certain vitamins, minerals, fibers and more."
No single food contains all the necessary nutrients, but different plant color groups when eaten in combination fulfill the average person's daily requirements.
"Orange and green, definitely, we should have something from these groups every day," Cheung said. "Purple or blue, dark green and orange. Reds don't need to be part of the daily diet mix but they should be eaten frequently.
"People should be eating nine or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day," Cheung said. "The more, the better."...
Here are some rainbow groupings, along with their disease-fighting capabilities:
• Red: Tomatoes, beets, radishes, red bell peppers. Lycopene, found in tomatoes, is known to reduce prostate cancer risk.
• Green: Spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, green peppers, kale, collard greens, peapods, asparagus. "Phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin are found in spinach, collards, kale and broccoli," Cheung said. "These antioxidants may protect the eyes and fight against free radicals - harmful substances in our body caused by smoke and pollution."
• Yellow and orange: Carrots, pumpkins, yellow peppers. Especially rich in beta-carotene, which strengthens the immune system.
• Blue and purple: Eggplant. Loaded with antioxidants called anthocyanins that may prevent heart disease by blocking the formation of blood clots.
• White: Garlic, white onions. "These pungent vegetables add flavor to foods so you can cut back on the salt," Cheung said. "The onion family contains allicin, which has anti-tumor properties. Garlic is being studied for its potentially beneficial role in preventing heart attacks and strokes, although the research is still preliminary."
http://onlineathens.com/stories/093008/liv_338198249.shtml
CANCER-BLOCKING FOODS
Beans, Berries, Cruciferous vegetables, Dark leafy greens, Flaxseed, Garlic, Green tea, Pomegranates, Red and puple grapes, Soybeans, Tomatoes, Whole grains. Find out what they may prevent, the nutrients they contain and specific advice.
http://deliciouslivingmag.com/health/conditions/cancer/0801-cancer-blocking-foods/index.html
BEANS, BEANS...
Everyone is looking for that "superfood." But as I explained in my blog of March 7, 2008, The Real Superfoods, are fresh fruits, vegetables, starchy vegetables, intact whole grains and legumes. However, it turns out that when they look at long-lived populations around the world, one of these food groups shows up more often than the others. And, that food group is... Beans!
Yes, Beans. The musical fruit. :) In one study, Legumes: the most important dietary predictor of survival in older people of different ethnicities. which was published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004;13(2):217-20.) the authors concluded, "This longitudinal study shows that a higher legume intake is the most protective dietary predictor of survival amongst the elderly, regardless of their ethnicity." And, this protective predictor of legumes persisted even after controlling for age at enrollment (in 5-year interval), gender, and smoking...
TEA MAY IMPROVE ATTENTION AND FOCUS, KEEP BRAIN CELLS HEALTHY, & INFLUENCE GENETICS IN CANCER
Drinking four to five cups of tea a day may help maintain a healthy mind and body, according to new research published in a supplement to the August issue of the Journal of Nutrition... "In the past, it was thought that once brain cells were damaged, there was no way to repair them. Not only may the EGCG help prevent brain cells from dying, it appears that the polyphenol may even rescue the neurons, once they have been damaged, to help them repair," says Dr. Mandel.
... Tea May Alter Cancer Genetics... human clinical trial suggests that bioactive compounds in tea have a significant effect on genes that impact cancer susceptibility and repair from environmental insults...
The ongoing scientific exploration of the health benefits of drinking tea has led to a growing body of research that points to tea as an important contributor to overall health
http://www.lifesciencesworld.com/news/view/76705
TOP 10 VEGAN HEALTH TIPS
While the typical vegan diet is much healthier than a typical diet that includes animal products, most vegetarians and vegans could improve their health even more by following the tips below.
1. Include a source of B12 in your diet...
2. Consume More Omega 3's, Less Omega 6's...
3. Eat your greens!...
4. Calcium...
5. Vitamin D...
6. Pay Attention to Iodine...
7. Include beans or lentils in your diet...
8. Choose whole foods over processed foods...
9. Exercise!...
10. Be a Happy Vegan!...
http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-health-tips.asp
A VEGETARIAN DIET CAN REDUCE CANCER RISKS
... Walter Willett, of
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/A-vegetarian-diet-can-reduce-cancer-risks/316322/
SOY REDUCES BREAST CANCER RISK
Women who eat traditional Japanese soy-based foods on a
regular basis face lower risks of breast cancer, a government-sponsored study
showed Friday. Women who had high levels of genistein,
a compound found in soybeans, had less of a chance of developing breast cancer
than women with less of it, said the study by the National Cancer Center in
Tokyo. Soybeans in
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKSPalAEwve-GMTU5Zh5fnCO8-Mg
EATING SOY FOODS IN PUBERTY PROTECTS AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Evidence is growing from animal and human studies that genistein, a potent chemical found in soy, protects against development of breast cancer - but only if consumed during puberty, says a Georgetown University Medical Center researcher in the British Journal of Cancer. The challenge now, she says, is for scientists to understand precisely why soy appears to provide a shield against the most common cancer in women...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409091727.htm
SMART EATS
Are your kids' grades slipping? Maybe they're not eating
enough fruits and veggies. A recent study found that 5,200 fifth-grade students
who ate more fruits and vegetables (and less saturated fat) performed better
when asked to read materials and answer written questions. “Parents should feel
motivated to improve the eating habits of their children, not only because it
will boost long-term health, but also because it will aid learning,” notes Paul
J. Veugelers, PhD, a professor at the
http://deliciouslivingmag.com/health/kids/0901-smart-eats/index.html
HIGH-DAIRY IN CHILDHOOD LINKED WITH CANCER RISK
Children who consume high levels of diary products may have a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer in adulthood, study findings suggest.
Among nearly 5,000 individuals followed for an average of 65 years, those who grew up in families reporting the highest levels of dairy consumption -- nearly 2 cups per day -- had close to three-times the risk of colorectal cancer compared with those from families reporting the lowest intake, Dr. Jolieke C. van der Pols and colleagues report.
The level of milk consumption in the high-diary group was
similar to the estimated average daily intake of children in the
http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/news?NewsItemId=20071219elin004.xml
101 REASONS NOT TO FEED DAIRY PRODUCTS TO YOUR CHILDREN
Children who are not fed dairy products enjoy:
1. Far less colic
2. Far less osteoporosis
3. Reduced childhood cancer
4. Drastically reduced chance of developing Type I Diabetes
5. Drastically reduced chance of developing Type II Diabetes
6...and on to 101
Explanation and research documentation for nearly all of these can be found in Baby Matters, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby (link provided)
http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-children/101-reasons.htm
MEAT CONSUMPTION INCREASES RISK OF BREAST CANCER
A substudy of the Diet, Cancer and Health study, a prospective cohort study established to evaluate the role of diet and cancer among 24,697 postmenopausal Danish women, was set up to evaluate the relationship between meat consumption and risk of breast cancer. This nested study looked at 378 women who developed breast cancer and matched them to controls who did not develop breast cancer. A higher intake of meat (red meat, poultry, fish, and processed meat) was associated with a significantly higher breast cancer incidence rate. Every 25 gram increase in consumption of total meat, red meat, and processed meat led to a 9, 15, and 23 percent increase in risk of breast cancer, respectively. However, the degree of risk may depend on genetics. Certain genes activate the carcinogens (heterocyclic amines) found in cooked meat. The study showed women with genes that rapidly activate these carcinogens are at particular risk of breast cancer if they eat meat.
Egeberg R, Olsen A, Autrup H, et al. Meat consumption, N-acetyl transferase 1 and 2 polymorphism and risk of breast cancer in Danish postmenopausal women. Eur J Canc Prev. 2008;17:39-47.
From http://www.pcrm.org
SEAFOOD NOT SO HEALTHY AFTER ALL - FOR US OR THE PLANET
Several decades ago a fish-centric diet was considered to be not only healthy but also environmentally friendly. But today those of us who eat a lot of fish may not be doing ourselves or the environment any favor. The two major concerns are overfishing and pollution...
For those looking to cut down on or eliminate seafood from their diets but still gain the health benefits of eating fish, plenty of alternatives exist. As most vegetarians know, beans, tofu and many nuts can be significant alternative sources of protein. And walnuts, flaxseed and hemp oil/seeds are all rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids common in many fish and thought to help ward off heart disease, cancer, macular degeneration (age-related blindness), arthritis and inflammatory disorders.
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4155
PLANT FOODS FOR PRESERVING MUSCLE MASS
Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that are key to good health. Now, a newly released study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-funded scientists suggests plant foods also may help preserve muscle mass in older men and women.
The typical American diet is rich in protein, cereal grains and other acid-producing foods. In general, such diets generate tiny amounts of acid each day. With aging, a mild but slowly increasing metabolic "acidosis" develops, according to the researchers. Acidosis appears to trigger a muscle-wasting response...
... volunteers whose diets were rich in potassium could expect to have 3.6 more pounds of lean tissue mass than volunteers with half the higher potassium intake. That almost offsets the 4.4 pounds of lean tissue that is typically lost in a decade in healthy men and women aged 65 and above, according to authors. The study was published in the March issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Sarcopenia, or loss of muscle mass, can lead to falls due to weakened leg muscles...
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080523.htm
HARMFUL PESTICIDES FOUND IN EVERYDAY FOOD PRODUCTS
Government promises to rid the nation's food supply of brain-damaging pesticides aren't doing the job, according to the results of a yearlong study that carefully monitored the diets of a group of local children.
The peer-reviewed study found that the urine and saliva of children eating a variety of conventional foods from area groceries contained biological markers of organophosphates, the family of pesticides spawned by the creation of nerve gas agents in World War II.
When the same children ate organic fruits, vegetables and
juices, signs of pesticides were not found... "Once you switch from
conventional food to organic, the pesticides (malathion and chlorpyrifos),
that we can measure in the urine, disappears. The level returns immediately
when you go back to the conventional diets," said Lu, a professor at
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/349263_pesticide30.html
JC Note: More reason than ever to go vegan organic!
RESISTANT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS LINKED TO MEAT CONSUMPTION
A new study indicates that women suffering from urinary
tract infections (UTIs) caused by drug-resistant E.
coli bacteria reported eating more chicken and pork than women whose UTIs were easily treated with antibiotics. This study adds
to the evidence that UTIs are antibiotic-resistant
diseases originating in animals that can be passed to people through meat
consumption. According to a UCS report, 70 percent of
the antibiotics and related drugs in the
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/fpd.2007.0026
BISPHENOL A: TOXIC PLASTICS CHEMICAL IN CANNED FOOD
Independent laboratory tests found a toxic food-can lining
ingredient associated with birth defects of the male and female reproductive
systems in over half of 97 cans of name-brand fruit, vegetables, soda, and
other commonly eaten canned goods... There are no government safety standards
limiting the amount of BPA in canned food... BPA is associated with a number of health problems and
diseases that are on the rise in the
http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola
Environmental News:
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." Albert Einstein
EATING AS IF THE CLIMATE MATTERED
...when the U.N. added it all up, what they found is that eating chickens, pigs, and other animals contributes to "problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity," and that meat-eating is "one of the ... most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global."
And on the issue of global warming, the issue the New York Times deems critical enough to demand that we "change [our] lifestyles" and for which Al Gore and the IPCC received the Nobel peace prize, the United Nations' scientists conclude that eating animals causes 40 percent more global warming than all planes, cars, trucks, and other forms of transport combined, which is why the Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook says that "refusing meat" is "the single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint"...
http://www.alternet.org/environment/74605/
FOOD MILES DON'T FEED CLIMATE CHANGE - MEAT DOES
That locally-produced, free-range, organic hamburger might not be as green as you think. An analysis of the environmental toll of food production concludes that transportation is a mere drop in the carbon bucket. Foods such as beef and dairy make a far deeper impression on a consumer's carbon footprint. "If you have a certain type of diet that’s indicative of the American average, you're not going to do that much for climate while eating locally...
EARTH'S EDIBLE FISH FACE EXTINCTION
A
In addition to the extinction of edible fish species, he said without the immediate implementation of ocean-protection measures, larger dead zones and toxic algal blooms may form along the coastal zones of all of the world's continents, increasing disease outbreaks and inhibiting vertical mixing of ocean waters.
"Some may say that it is irresponsible to make such
predictions pending further detailed study to be sure of every point,"
said
TOP 10: OFFSHORE FISH FARMING PROBLEMS
Offshore fish farming, also known as open ocean aquaculture, involves giant cages located about 30 feet under water anywhere from three to 200 miles off the coast. Here are 10 reasons why this is so problematic.
Competing/Conflicting Interests...
Escapement...
Growing Exotic / Mutated Species...
Growing Genetically Modified /Transgenic Organisms (GMOs)...
Habitat Impacts...
Inefficiency...
Mitigation Plans for Hazards...
Human Health Concerns...
Unexpected Environmental Harm and Abandoned/Bankrupt Facilities...
Water Pollution
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/fish/fish-farming/offshore/problems
SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT FISH
... Fish’s bodies absorb toxic chemicals in the water around them, and the chemicals become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. Big fish eat little fish, with the bigger fish (such as tuna and salmon) absorbing chemicals from all the other fish they eat. Fish contain contaminants, such as DDT, PCB’s, zinc, copper, chromium, nickel and mercury. Most fish caught in the wild come from sites that contain industrial waste and sewage sludge. The human pathogens in the sludge contaminate fish and are passed back to the consumer. Fish can accumulate up to 9 million times the concentration of toxins in the waters in which they live. Even legally acceptable PCB concentrations accumulating in fatty tissues of fish have been found to cause learning and behavioral difficulties in children. About 40 percent of the fish caught for human consumption worldwide have cancerous or bacterial skin diseases.
Many consumers choose farmed fish to avoid the dangers of wild caught fish. Fish farming shares many of the problems of other intensive animal farming, not only causing suffering to fish, but resulting in pollution of the environment, destruction of wildlife and chemical residue in the meat...
http://www.plantpeacedaily.org/files/Something_Fishy_About_Fish.htm
WORLD BANK BACKS CATTLE RANCHING,
The World Bank has emerged as one of the key backers behind an explosion of cattle ranching in the Amazon, which new research has identified as the greatest threat to the survival of the rainforest. Ranching has grown by half in the last three years, driven by new industrial slaughterhouses which are being constructed in the Amazon basin with the help of the World Bank. The revelation flies in the face of claims from the bank that it is funding efforts to halt deforestation and reduce the massive greenhouse gas emissions it causes.
WATER WE WAITING FOR?
WATER IS the one thing none of us can live without. But it
now seems the well may be running dry, and closer to home than expected. Water
woes in developing countries are no secret. But the Associated Press recently
noted the
The change? Stop eating meat and
other animal products. Even cutting down would significantly save water. David
Pimentel of
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20071116_Water_we_waiting_for_.html
ORGANIC FARMS REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS
http://www.panna.org/files/I-SIS20080214.pdf
Animal News:
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men." Alice Walker, author and activist.
SIX 'UNIQUELY' HUMAN TRAITS NOW FOUND IN ANIMALS
To accompany the article So you think humans are unique? we have selected six articles from the New Scientist archive that tell a similar story. We have also asked the researchers involved to update us on their latest findings. Plus, we have rounded up six videos of animals displaying 'human' abilities.
1. Culture...
2. Mind reading...
3. Tool use...
4. Morality...
5. Emotions...
6. Personality...
EXPOSED: THE LONG, CRUEL ROAD TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Millions of animals are suffering unnecessarily at the hands of meat traders by enduring cruel, drawn-out journeys across the world to be slaughtered on arrival... Thousands of animals die en route from disease, heat exhaustion, hunger and stress. The others escape the intolerable conditions only to confront, immediately, the butcher's knife... Across the world, more than a billion live animals are transported every week, many over long distances...
JC Note: Three graphic videos are available through the website!
GRAPHIC VIDEO: UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION EXPOSES EGG INDUSTRY!
A new Mercy For Animals undercover
investigation takes you behind the closed doors of one of
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/CAEggs/
TRUE STORY (COPIED FROM NEW YORK TIMES 9-19-01)
James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the
But she wasn't through yet, she knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly against James' wishes she ran back in the building. On her second run, she saved 392 lives. Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapses. James hears about this and falls on his knees into tears. Against all known odds, Daisy makes it out alive, but this time she is carried by a firefighter. "She lead us right to the people, before she got injured" the fireman explained. Her final run saved other 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967 lives.
The next week, Mayor Guilaini
rewarded Daisy with the Canine medal of Honor of
Take Action:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, anthropologist
STOP VILSACK'S CONFIRMATION AS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
President-Elect Obama has chosen former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to be the next Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack's overall record is one of aiding and abetting Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) or factory farms and promoting genetically engineered crops and animal cloning. Equally troubling is Vilsack's support for unsustainable industrial ethanol production, which has already caused global corn and grain prices to skyrocket, literally taking food off the table for a billion people in the developing world.
The Organic Consumers Association is calling on organic consumers and all concerned citizens to join our call to action and block Vilsack's confirmation as the next Secretary of Agriculture. Please help us reach our goal of 100,000 petition signatures against Vilsack' nomination. Sign today! Your email will be sent to your Senators and the President-Elect's office.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1783
PETITION 'FOOD VS FEED' TO THE UN
An appeal to the United Nations and its agencies to channel available food resources to needy people and not to farm animals...
PETITION TO REPEAL ANIMAL
Restore Freedom of Speech for Farm Workers and Animal Rights Activists! Repeal the AETA!
AETA offers no defense to activists who expose illegal activities. Animal researchers and factory farms that are operating illegally can use AETA to protect themselves from whistle blowers. The effect of AETA is to label social justice activists as terrorists when they work to expose animal cruelty, poor labor conditions, or environmental violations in agribusiness or the biomedical industries.
It's time to repeal AETA. Please personalize the letter and send it to your Senators and Congressperson.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=23537
TELL CONGRESS NO INDUSTRIAL FISH FARMS
A bill being considered in both the House of Representatives and the Senate would open our oceans to industrial fish farms and could harm ocean wildlife, fishing communities, and consumer health.
The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007, also known as H.R. 2010 and S. 1609, lacks basic environmental and socioeconomic safeguards, while promoting a dubious new industry.
Aquaculture proponents claim that wild fish are in trouble and the only way to meet consumer demand for seafood is through aquaculture. The situation is not this cut and dry. Raising one pound of farmed fish requires two to six pounds of wild fish to be used as feed, thus increasing pressure on wild fish populations. This industry also threatens consumers with fish produced using antibiotics, chemicals, and hormones. Further, it could unfairly compete and undercut the price that small-scale fishermen receive for wild-caught fish.
Please follow the instructions below to tell your Representative and Senators no to industrial fish farms.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/fwwatch/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=11212
MEET YOUR MEAT: END FACTORY FARMING TODAY!
In factory farms, pigs (who are considered smarter than 3-year-old children) are forcibly impregnated and confined to tiny metal crates where they can't even turn around. Is this humane? No way.
Cows - gentle giants who are visibly distressed when separated from their calves - are subjected to castration, branding and de-horning, all without anesthesia.
I won't even go into the horrors that chickens and other animals face in factory farms. This suffering is cruel and the meat that results is unhealthy for humans.
It's time for this to end. Speak out for these animals today! Sign the petition to the House of Representatives to express your outrage at these horrible conditions for animals!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/250249376?z00m=14652645
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