LInda asked:


I’m cleaning out the crap in my life, and after A LOT of extensive research over the years, I have begun to make lifestyle changes slowly and am ready for a 90 day raw/vegan superfeast transition. I noticed a lot of these superfood mixes are REALLLY expensive, also, there’s so many brands out there with different main ingredient components. Please help! Thanks!

Christine Louise asked:


Any negative?
I made it through my first week…and I definately noticed the energy increase! I also feel like I am thinking clearer, but I dont know if that is just from the increased energy?

As obesity continues to rise alarmingly, it places extreme pressure on our health systems and medical facilities. In the United States alone nearly two-thirds of adults are now classed as being overweight and half of these (more than 72 million people) are considered obese. Obesity, once a disease of old age and high living is now affecting younger and younger slices of the population. For the first time in history we could see a whole generation of children develop diseases at an earlier rate when they become adults.

The reasons for this rise in obesity are many and varied but center largely on the fact that many people are now less active than they used to be, preferring to sit in front of the television and watch sport rather than participate in it. Of course, one of the other major reasons is the availability of a huge variety of fast and convenient foods containing high levels of saturated fats, salt, sugar and cholesterol. This means that the we are not burning off the calories consumed each day, leading to weight acceleration.

Some experts on this subject argue that dieting is not the solution as most dieters set themselves unrealistic expectations and when they do not achieve their goals, tend to blame the diet and give up altogether. Losing weight gradually at one or two pounds a week (1kg) is fine but anything more than this is simply not realistic or sustainable in the long term.

A change of mindset is required to successfully lose weight and keep it off. The bottom line is, you have to make serious lifestyle changes that include include your eating habits and a regular exercise regime. Reduce the quantity of food you are eating and/or replace high calorie foods with low calorie alternatives. Combine this with regular exercise to burn off more calories and you will lose weight.

Starting this new lifestyle should be a gradual change, however as people become more motivated and have more energy, they tend to appreciate these new feelings that have been absent from their lives for a long time.

Many simple vegetarian recipes can be of value in controlling obesity. They are generally high in nutrition and energy, tasty, low in fat and calories.

You should now leave the word “diet” out of your vocabulary and think more about a “change in your lifestyle” in order to conquer your weight problem and look forward to a healthy and prolonged life.

By: Bill Hansen

About the Author:

Teens around the world are increasingly making the transition to a vegetarian lifestyle. But like any diet, vegetarianism requires that teens develop good eating habits. With the right knowledge, teens can become vegetarians without relying on a diet of soda and potato chips.

Being a teen vegetarian can be healthy and rewarding. The American Dietetic Association says, “Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence”.

Here are some tips for embarking on a well-planned vegetarian diet.

There are several different degrees of vegetarianism. Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat dairy and egg products along with plant-based foods. Lacto vegetarians eat dairy products but pass on egg products. Conversely, ovo vegetarians eat egg products but not dairy. Finally, there are vegans, or pure vegetarians, who abstain from eating any type of animal product.

Teens who plan on going vegetarian may go “cold turkey” (don’t mind the pun), but it is recommended that teens ease the transition by slowly phasing out animal products. For example, limit meat consumption to three times a week for the first couple weeks, then two times a week and so on. Teens who choose to go vegan may do the same with dairy and egg products.

Since becoming a vegetarian entails a significant lifestyle change, teens’ nutritional intake will change upon making the transition to a vegetarian diet. For example, since vegetables are typically high in nutrients like vitamin C and fiber, teen vegetarians will usually get more than enough of these nutrients. Also, a vegetarian diet may reduce a teens’ intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, since few plant foods contain saturated fats and no plant foods contain cholesterol.

However, teen vegetarians should be aware of their intake of nutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin B-12, since these nutrients are not always present in all vegetables.

Calcium is important for healthy bones. For vegetarians who include dairy in their diets, calcium will be easy to come by. For those teens who forgo dairy, calcium can be found in fortified soy milk, tofu and green leafy vegetables such as spinach.

Iron is also an important nutrient. Girls in particular should be conscious of their iron consumption since loss of iron occurs during the menstrual cycle. Iron can be found in fortified cereals, whole grain foods and in beans.

Zinc can be found in whole grain foods, miso, sunflower seeds and nuts and legumes, which are also high in healthy monounsaturated fats.

Since vitamin B-12 occurs naturally in animal products, it is an important nutrient for vegetarians and especially vegans. Luckily, the human body only requires a very minuscule amount of this vitamin to function. B-12 can be found in fortified foods such as soy milk, orange juice and cereal.

A multivitamin, which can be found in virtually any grocery store, is a good option for teen vegetarians. Taking one multivitamin a day will ensure that teens get the recommended daily allowance of most important nutrients.

Another legitimate concern for teen vegetarians is the question of where to eat out. Because of the increasing demand for vegetarian food, many restaurants offer at least one vegetarian entree. To be sure, teens or their parents should call the restaurant they’ll be visiting beforehand and ask them if they have vegetarian options. To avoid confusion vegans should specify that they do not eat meat, dairy or eggs.

When a vegetarian option cannot be found on the menu, teens should explain to the server that they do not eat meat (and/or dairy and eggs) and ask if the chef can prepare them something. In most cases, restaurants will be happy to accommodate vegetarians even if there are no vegetarian options on the menu.

Although being a teen vegetarian in a world of meat eaters has its challenges, going vegetarian should be a fun and exciting experience. For many teens, going vegetarian is a decision that opens up the doors to a more healthy and fulfilling life.

By: Michael Russell

About the Author:

BeforeAndAfterTV asked:

How to make Lentil Walnut Veggie Burgers Video. Veggie Burgers are a nutritional alternative to beef burgers. Many people don’t think of making their own veggie burgers but they are really easy to make at home. Store bought veggie burgers are nutritional but often very high in sodium and preservatives. You can substitute the eggs in this recipe with “flax eggs” which are a mix of 6 tbsp ground flax to 2 tbsp boiling water. The milk in this recipe can be substituted with either soya milk or rice milk. This makes the recipe completely vegan! Lentils are high in fiber which makes them a good protector against bowel cancer. I recommend organic, low sodium lentils if you are buying canned. They are an excellent source of protein and are an important source of B vitamins, especially B3, which is essential for both a healthy nervous system and digestive system. They are high in iron, zinc and calcium and are a good replacement for red meat. Like meat, the iron in lentils is better absorbed when they are eaten with a good source of vitamin C like leafy green vegetables. Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a special type of fat that is essential for our bodies, but that the body cannot produce. (Re omega 3 see also flaxseeds.blogspot.com ) Walnuts are also a very good source of monounsaturated fats. Walnuts contain many powerful antioxidants, including ellagic and gallic acids, pus antioxidant phenols and vitamin E. The minerals copper and manganese are also …

Paul asked:


My girlfriend is vegan. I have a completely unused cast iron wok, that I would like to season. I would prefer to use ingredients that are completely vegan. What would be the best recommendation? Also, looking for options that don’t include peanut oil, as she could be allergic.

SisyphusRedeemed asked:

A response to Antybu86’s video “How to convert a meat eater to veganism (part 1).” In his video, Antybu critiqued four arguments in favor of vegetarianism/veganism. I think his arguments are (on the whole) rather poor, and I try to explain why.

Enn W asked:


When I told my doctor I’m a vegetarian, he said it’s fine, but that should eat fish once a week just to get some extra minerals and vitamins. He said especially since heart disease and osteoporosis run in my family, I should eat fish for the phosphorus and the omega fatty acids. I know I’m being difficult, but I don’t want to give up my ethics. How can I replace fish?
Thanks!

While making the decision to become a vegetarian is a personal choice and can be done for physical, mental, or spiritual reasons, here are some great reasons that can make the decision to become a vegetarian easier.

Many vegetarians choose this lifestyle for ethical reasons. They are animal lovers and do not want to take any part in harming a living creature. When a person chooses not to buy and eat meat products, they are sending out a message to the corporations that operate “factory farms”, that they will not support inhumane treatment of animals. When animals are slaughtered, it is violent and usually done by hanging the animal upside down and slitting its throat. Animals contained on these so-called “farms” are also enclosed in cramped quarters where they cannot move and have no access to fresh water and sunshine. Many of these unfortunate creatures die either in cages or on their way to be slaughtered. When you learn of these things, you realize that by not eating meat, it is a small sacrifice compared to what the poor animal must endure.

A plant-based diet is also wonderful for health reasons. Acne can clear up and be replaced by glowing skin. You will be more fit and trim compared to someone that eats meat. There are few, if any, obese vegetarians. Coronary disease risk is cut almost in half. The risk of diabetes is reduced. Type II diabetes is a serious, growing problem among adults and youth in the United States.

Plants contain the majority of vitamins and minerals that are essential for our bodies to be strong and healthy. From omega-3’s to complex carbohydrates, plants have it all. Plants contain fiber and that is something that is sorely lacking from the American diet. Fiber is needed to help move wastes through the body so they can be eliminated. Elimination is important and this function helps reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Many meat products have been found to contain parasites and bacteria. It wasn’t too long ago that Mad Cow disease made headlines around the world. Who hasn’t heard of foot and mouth disease? These are some scary things to face for a meat-eater, even if the risk of being affected by them is low.

Let’s not forget about the environmental benefits that leading a vegetarian lifestyle includes. It takes three or more times as much water for animal products to be made than plant-based products. That is a huge water savings alone and considering that several parts of the world are facing a water shortage, there is no better time to begin water conservation. More plant-based food can be produced, feeding more people. This is because for just one pound of beef to be produced, sixteen pounds of grains must be used. That’s sixteen pounds of edible plants that could be sent to a third-world country to feed starving people there. We also save trees, by not cutting them down for livestock grazing land.

If all of these things were not reason enough to become a vegetarian, there is the financial savings of it. Being a vegetarian is even good for your pocketbook. Health costs will go down because you will be in better physical and mental health. Try to buy fruits and vegetables in season, when they are fresh and plentiful and will cost less too.

There are so many reasons to become vegetarian and these were just a few. You can see what a change to this type of lifestyle can produce and how it can help benefit not just yourself, but others as well.

By: Michael Russell

About the Author:

Bleue asked:


I am new to being vegan and am having trouble finding meals to eat that are not salad or soup. I am also feeling tired. What should I eat to get all the nutrients I need. If your a vegan, whats your typical daily menu?