[SusDet Announce] [VegMichigan] Feb. Announcements & News For Life

Sat Feb 24 23:48:20 EST 2007

In this issue:

Great American Meatout is March 18
Volunteer Orientations for the Great American Meatout
Membership Privileges
News For Life

Great American Meatout is March 18

Mark your calendar to attend VegMichigan's premier event:
the Metro Detroit Great American Meatout, on Sunday, March
18, from noon-5 pm.  This year the event takes place at a
NEW, LARGER location:  Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest
(south of 9 Mile, west of Livernois) in Ferndale.  Spend
the day learning about vegetarianism or simply how to eat
healthier by cutting back on meat at this annual event,
taking place in all 50 states and 25 countries.  

Food from local restaurants, first-rate speakers (including
renowned vegan author Dr. Michael Greger, plus 10 others),
cooking demos, exhibitors and more will teach how a
plant-based diet benefits human health, as well as the
planet and its creatures.  Admission is $10 adults, $5
students, children 6 and under and VegMichigan members
FREE. For discounted admission and schedule details, or to
volunteer your help, visit http://VegMichigan.org/meatout

This is a wonderful opportunity to expose a loved one or
friend to the many benefits of plant-based foods!

Volunteer Orientations for the Great American Meatout

VegMichigan has arranged Volunteer Orientation Meetings at
Ferndale High School.  If you attend a volunteer
orientation meeting and volunteer to work the Meatout you
will attend the Meatout free of charge.  You may choose one
of two shifts so you can enjoy all the Meatout has to offer
before or after your shift!  For orientation dates and
times, and for volunteer opportunities, please visit
http://VegMichigan.org/meatout 

Membership Privileges -- get into the Great American
Meatout for free

VegMichigan members get free admission to the Great
American Meatout.  Members, just bring your membership card
with you to the Meatout for free admission.  Not yet a
member?  Join VegMichigan 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.

- You are entitled to a discount on all VegMichigan books
and merchandise.  Be sure to stop by the VegMichigan table
at the Meatout (in the Exhibitor Area).

- You will receive a discount on your bill at about 20
vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the metro-Detroit area.
View a list of these restaurants at the Meatout or on the
VegMichigan web site.

- You will receive a discount to VegMichigan's annual
retreat. When at the Meatout, be sure to look at the
retreat pictures.

There will be a table at the Great American Meatout where
you can become a member. But, better yet, join beforehand
and avoid the rush. For details, go to
http://VegMichigan.org/membership 

Important note: Make sure you are a current member.  If you
joined at last year’s Great American Meatout, renew your
membership so you can get free admission into this year’s
event. 

February 2007 - News For Life

This newsletter is designed to keep you aware of the many
relationships our food choices have on our lives; from
personal health, a sustainable planet to respecting other
species.

General News Index:
An Inconvenient Truth: Choosing A Plant-food Based Diet Is
A Moral Issue
Intelligent Children More Likely To Become Vegetarian
Veggies on the Road
Call-a-Dietitian Day
Vegan Athletes Fare Well at Cyclocross Nationals
The Vegan Chamber of Commerce (VCC)
Vegan Food Guide (Pyramid)
Vegan Comic Strip

Health News Index:
Benefits of Antioxidants for Better Health
Garlic, Onions May Offer Wide-ranging Cancer Protection
Vitamin C and Stomach Cancer
Women's Health: Fight Cancer Naturally
Protection Against Cancer May Begin During Pregnancy
Prostate Cancer Experts Against Overtreatment
Consume More Greens to Prevent Skin Cancer
Prevent Cancer, Use Olive Oil
Eat to Beat Cancer: 15 Ways to Fight Disease
There's More Wrong with Fish than Environmental
Contaminants
Walnuts Improve Bone Health
Can Prunes Reverse Bone Loss After Menopause?
Tea with Milk? It Won't Help Your Heart
Bacteria Found in 83% of Chickens

Environmental News Index:
Livestock generate 18 percent of world's greenhouse gases
Boss Hog

Animal Sentience Index:
Hi-tech Barn Swallows
About Pigs

Problem Solving:
Do You Want Your Food Service Operator to Serve More
Vegetarian Options?
Food for Life, Diabetes
Vegan Buddies

*********************************************************

General News:

“If you don’t stay informed, then who will tell the others
the truth?” 
Anonymous

An Inconvenient Truth: We Are Eating Our Planet to Death
Choosing A Plant-food Based Diet Is A Moral Issue

... For forty years, I have believed people would rise up
and take action once they realized that the vast majority
of human sickness and suffering in developed countries is
due to eating animal foods.  The masses have remained
quiet.  For the past decade, I have witnessed the growing
epidemic of childhood obesity—a misery caused largely by
the fast food giants.  All this time, I have waited for
informed citizens to rise up in protest or, at the very
least, to boycott the perpetrators of this child abuse. 
The sellers of easily-procured beef burgers and milk shakes
thrive uncontested by a single one of us. 

Until now, inaction meant other people and their children
became fat, sick and died prematurely—somehow, we have been
able to live with those immoralities.  The inconvenient
truth is that most human beings find the destruction of
fellow human beings, even little ones, acceptable.  You can
assume these same people will sit idly by and let the entire
earth be destroyed.  But we cannot let this happen, because
this is our world, too. This time, failure to act means we
and our children will be lost, along with those who do not
seem to understand or care. 

The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. warned that "our lives
begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter." Nothing matters more than solving global warming. 
Those of us—meaning you and I (experts or not)—who have the
ability to take action, have the responsibility to take
action... 
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/dec/globalwarming.htm

Intelligent Children More Likely To Become Vegetarian

... Recent evidence suggests that vegetarianism may be
linked to lower cholesterol levels and a reduced risk of
obesity and heart disease. This might help to explain why
children who score higher on intelligence tests tend to
have a lower risk of coronary heart disease in later
life... 
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59117&nfid=rssfeeds

Veggies on the Road

All restaurants here offer at least three vegetarian main
dishes. Find a perfect place for having dinner, even with
non-vegetarians.
http://www.veggiesontheroad.com/

Call-a-Dietitian Day

If you have general nutrition questions, Mark Rifkin, MS,
RD, LDN, will be available from 2:30pm - 5:30pm EST on
Friday, March 9. To reserve a 20-minute time slot, please
email the VRG office at vrg at vrg.org or call 410-366-8343.

Vegan Athletes Fare Well at Cyclocross Nationals

... In a sport known for cruel mud bogs, carnivorous sand
pits, and man-eating barriers, several vegan athletes
stamped their mark on this past weekend's racing at
Cyclocross Nationals. Sami Founier of Bend, OR won the
Master's Women 40-44 category in commanding fashion... Sami
races for OrganicAthlete, an organization that promotes the
health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet.
"I've tried a number of times I've tried to hit the
podium," Sami noted, "but it wasn't until I eliminated meat
and dairy from my diet that I overcame chronic injury and
inflammation. Now I'm able to train more effectively and
recover more quickly." Three members of OrganicAthlete's
"pro-activists," a team of professional vegan athletes,
also finished in the top ten over the weekend...  
OrganicAthlete publishes a free Guide to Sports Nutrition
for transitioning to a plant-based diet. It is available
for download at http://www.organicathlete.org/guide
http://prweb.com/releases/2006/12/prweb493080.htm

The Vegan Chamber of Commerce (VCC)

The Vegan Chamber of Commerce (VCC) is a community of
businesses owners, professionals, service providers,
organizations, and individuals who follow a vegan
lifestyle. Supporting vegans reduces our impact on the
environment, prevents global warming, and reduces the
suffering of animals. It also makes a statement to
non-vegan owned businesses that we will not support their
lifestyle.
http://www.veganchamber.org/

Vegan Food Guide (Pyramid)
http://www.nutrispeak.com/veganfoodguide.htm

Vegan Comic Strip "New Year 2007"
http://www.buzzle.com/showImage.asp?image=17583

Health News:

"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your
food."  
Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

Benefits of Antioxidants for Better Health

... Oxygen is essential to life. You can't live without
breathing. But oxygen can also be your worst enemy. When
you breathe in, oxygen starts a process in your body called
oxidation – the formation of free radicals... This is where
the benefits of antioxidants come in. They're the naturally
occurring phytochemicals or phytonutrients that Mother
Nature placed in certain fruits and vegetables to come to
your rescue... Here's a list of some major benefits: 
• Anti-aging, a slowing down of the aging process.
• Greatly reduced incidence of all cancers.
• Prevention of glaucoma and macular degeneration.
• Stronger immune protection from flus, viruses and
infections. 
• Reduced risk of cholesterol-oxidation and heart disease.

Wow! And when the Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts
University measured the total antioxidant protection power
of various foods, colorful carotenoid-rich vegetables and
fruits came out at the top of the list. The highest-ranking
vegetables are broccoli, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts,
beets, red peppers, carrots and tomatoes. The
highest-ranking fruits are berries, oranges, pink
grapefruit, prunes, raisins, grapes and kiwi...  
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48532.asp

Garlic, Onions May Offer Wide-ranging Cancer Protection

High intake of garlic and onions was associated with
significantly reduced risks of a wide-range of cancers,
according to a large epidemiological study from Italy... 
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=72558&m=1fned06&c=frcyuzhbiwodfmg

Vitamin C and Stomach Cancer

... people concerned about cancer risk should consume a
diet that is rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables and
that is also low in red meat in general and in processed
meats (hot dogs, cold cuts, sausage and bacon) in
particular... Stomach cancer, which strikes over 22,000
Americans every year, is hard to detect. Most cases are
diagnosed in later stages, when symptoms develop, but by
then the disease is often untreatable... they found that
those subjects with the highest level of vitamin C in their
blood had a 60 percent lower risk of stomach cancer than
those subjects with the lowest levels... It's easier than
you think to get enough vitamin C, even if you're not a fan
of orange juice. True, citrus fruits and melons are loaded
with it, but green, leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce
and kale offer plenty of vitamin C, as do root vegetables
like sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips and yams. You'll
also find vitamin C in artichokes, bell peppers, broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and tomatoes. 
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/19224/
VM Note: Avoiding animal protein (meat, dairy, egg & fish),
a proven carcinogen, will be even more protective of this
and other diseases.

Women's Health: Fight Cancer Naturally

Fruits and veggies in rich greens, reds and golds — plus
chill-chasing tea and red wine — may help prevent breast
and ovarian cancers, recent studies suggest...

Stock up on the following foods packed with flavonoids to
ramp up your defenses against women-only cancers... black
tea, broccoli, green tea, kale, leeks, red apples, red
cabbage, red grapes, red wine, and yellow onions. 
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/16222851.htm?source=rss&channel=kansascity_living

Protection Against Cancer May Begin During Pregnancy

There may be another reason for pregnant and nursing women
to eat a nutritious diet that includes generous amounts of
cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage - it could
help protect their children from cancer, both as infants and
later in life. 

A new study by scientists from the Linus Pauling Institute
at Oregon State University, done with laboratory mice,
found that supplements of a key phytochemical found in
certain vegetables provided a very high level of protection
against leukemia and lymphoma in young animals, and also
significantly protected against lung cancer during the
rodent's equivalent of middle age... 
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59671&nfid=rssfeeds
* Disclaimer: VM does NOT support vivisection (animal
experimentation). The results are unreliable and often
don't translate well to humans. Many useful drugs have been
delayed being brought to market because of inaccurate animal
testing. As a result of these archaic practices, many human
and animal lives have been lost. We reluctantly report
these test results only because they are widely used and
may demonstrate some useful benefits to humans.

Prostate Cancer Experts Against Overtreatment

... Unpublished results of a study by UC San Francisco and
the Preventative Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito
presented at the conference suggests lifestyle changes
work. In the study, 93 men with early-stage prostate cancer
switched to a VEGAN diet, exercised three hours per week and
practiced stress- management, such as yoga or meditation,
for one hour per week... 

In a two-year follow-up, presented at the conference,
nearly all the men chose to continue with the diet and
exercise program on their own. They had an average 95
percent rate of personal adherence to the program, and they
had similar PSA scores as those who chose conventional
treatment. What's more, those who chose conventional
treatment reported a decline in mental health, physical and
social functioning and sexual function. 

"The men realized how much better they were feeling and
they were energized to continue with the lifestyle
changes," said Joanne Frattaroli, post-doctoral researcher
at the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, who led the
study. 
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/800251/prostate_cancer_experts_against_overtreatment/index.html?source=r_health

Consume More Greens to Prevent Skin Cancer

... The study found that those who consumed at least three
weekly servings of green vegetables could cut their chances
of developing the cancer by up to 55%... Dr Jolieke van der
Pols states that green leafy vegetables have a variety of
nutrients such as folic acid, vitamins A, C and E, the
carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin and others – all of which
work together to produce a synergistic effect... 
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/11563.html

Prevent Cancer, Use Olive Oil

... scientists from five European countries describe how
the anti-cancer effects of olive oil may account for the
significant difference in cancer rates among Northern and
Southern Europeans... the researchers found evidence that
the phenols in olive oil are not the only compounds that
reduced oxidative damage. Phenols are known antioxidant
compounds that are present in a wide range of everyday
foods, such as dark chocolate, red wine, tea, fruits, and
vegetables. Despite reducing the level of phenols in the
olive oil, the study's subjects still showed that they were
receiving the same level of health benefits... 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061211221122.htm

Eat to Beat Cancer: 15 Ways to Fight Disease

1 TOMATOES & BROCCOLI - prostate cancer...
2 ONIONS - ovarian, colorectal and laryngeal cancer...
3 AVOCADOS- breast and prostate cancer...
4 BROCCOLI - cancer in general...
5 CARROTS - cancer in general... 
6 WATERMELONS - prostate, esophageal, breast and cervical
cancer...
7 MUSHROOMS -stomach and bowel cancer...
9 GARLIC - stomach and colon cancer...
10 APPLES - bowel, colon and lung cancer...
11 SPICY FOOD - pancreatic cancer... 
12 SOYA PRODUCTS - breast cancer...
13 FISH* - colorectal cancer...
14 NUTS - cancer in general...  
15 OLIVE OIL - cancer in general...
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/810952/eat_to_beat_cancer__scientists_are_discovering_how_specific/index.html?source=r_health
* VM Note: While fish may have a protective effect with
colorectal cancer, it raises other risks. Below is an
article explaining that problem.

There's More Wrong with Fish than Environmental
Contaminants

... This food causes a rise in blood cholesterol levels
similar to the rise caused by beef and pork.(2)  The
highly-acidic animal proteins accelerate calcium loss (3),
contributing to osteoporosis and kidney stones.  No dietary
fiber or digestible carbohydrates are present in fish—thus
having a negative impact on bowel function and endurance. 
Although omega-3 fats "thin" the blood, preventing thrombus
formation (heart attacks), this same anticoagulant activity
can increase the risk of bleeding.  These fats also have
anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial
(reducing arthritis pain) and deleterious (causing immune
suppression, increasing the risk of cancer and infection).4
 Fatty fish, recommended salmon for example, is half fat and
loaded with calories, adding to one's risk for developing
obesity and type-2 diabetes.  Furthermore, omega-3 fats
inhibit the action of insulin, thereby increasing blood
sugar levels... Animal systems lack the ability to
synthesize omega-3 fats, thus fish cannot make essential
fats. Seaweeds and algae synthesize these fats that are
then stored in the flesh, along with contaminants,
cholesterol, animal protein, and calories. To avoid all of
the hazards, the practical alternative is to simply consume
the original sources of these "good fats"—plants.   The
human body has no difficulty converting plant-derived
omega-3 fat, alpha linolenic acid, into DHA or other n-3
fatty acids, supplying our needs even during gestation and
infancy... The well-informed consumers will put the "good
fat/bad mercury controversy" behind them and conclude
fish-eating has an overall negative impact on human health
when it replaces low-contamination, low-fat,
no-cholesterol, starches, vegetables and fruits. 
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/oct/rock.htm

Walnuts Improve Bone Health

Penn State clinical researchers have concluded that walnuts
are beneficial to the skeletal system, decreasing the
breakdown of bone because they are high in alpha-linolenic
acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid. 

In the first human study on the effect of plant based
sources of omega-3 fatty acids on bone health, researchers
found higher consumption of ALA leads to a reduction in
bone turnover and a shift in the balance of bone turnover.

The omega-3s found in walnuts have also been shown to
reduce inflammation, heart and vascular disease rise,
decrease insulin resistance and assist weight management. 
http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?id=97178&lk=alrt3&amd=3077

Can Prunes Reverse Bone Loss After Menopause?

Could a handful of nutrient-rich dried plums each day help
keep the doctor away by actually reversing bone loss in
postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis? A
unique clinical study under way in the Florida State
University College of Human Sciences means to find out. 

FSU Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi is the principal
investigator and a nationally recognized expert on the
effects of "functional foods" (dietary components that may
provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition) on chronic
diseases. His previous studies found that dried plums --
better known as prunes -- restored lost bone in animal
models of osteoporosis, and improved biomarkers linked to
bone formation in postmenopausal women... hopes are high
for those plums. In a 2004 study he led while at Oklahoma
State University, Arjmandi found that a diet supplemented
with dried plums produced significant restoration of bone
mass in female rats whose ovaries had been surgically
removed. 
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/fsu-fsc011107.php
* Disclaimer: VM does NOT support vivisection (animal
experimentation). The results are unreliable and often
don't translate well to humans. Many useful drugs have been
delayed being brought to market because of inaccurate animal
testing. As a result of these archaic practices, many human
and animal lives have been lost. We reluctantly report
these test results only because they are widely used and
may demonstrate some useful benefits to humans.

Tea with Milk? It Won't Help Your Heart

Black tea helps arteries relax and expand, but adding milk
cancels the effect, according to research in Germany... A
protein in milk called casein decreased the concentration
of catechins, a flavonoid that help the heart... 
http://www.wsbtv.com/health/10722775/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=nationalnews

Bacteria Found in 83% of Chickens

... Consumer Reports found that 83% of 525 chickens it
tested were infected with either campylobacter or
salmonella bacteria or both. The chickens were purchased
from supermarkets, bulk retailers, gourmet shops and
natural food stores in 23 states. Both bacteria can cause
diarrhea, cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting, and
life-threatening infections in the elderly, babies and
people with impaired immune systems... The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention estimates that campylobacter
and salmonella from all sources sickens more than 3.4
million Americans each year and kills more than 700...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-12-04-chicken-bacteria_x.htm

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

Livestock generate 18 percent of world's greenhouse gases

A new report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization found that domestic animals are a major source
of greenhouse gases, producing 18% of the world's total -
even more than transportation. Unless more sustainable
techniques such as controlling soil erosion, providing
animals with better diets, and using water more efficiently
are adopted, the environmental impact of animal production
will worsen, as world production of meat and dairy products
is expected to double by 2050.
http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.htm

Boss Hog

America's top pork producer churns out a sea of waste that
has destroyed rivers, killed millions of fish, and
generated one of the largest fines in EPA history. 

Welcome to the dark side of the other white meat...
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12840743/porks

Animal Sentience:

"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.

Hi-tech Barn Swallows

A couple of Minnesota Barn Swallows have raised the bar on
the scale of "Swallow IQ." For the past four years, a pair
of Barn Swallows has nested inside the lumberyard entryway
at the Home Depot store in Maplewood, Minnesota. At least
one pair has learned that if they fly a tight circle in
front of the motion detector above the double doors at the
entry to the Home Depot, the doors open. Each bird then
flies one more loop as the doors open and swoops inside
where the pair has built a nest atop a small pipe near the
ceiling. When a bird is ready to leave, it flies a tight
circle in front of the motion detector inside the doorway
and the doors again open for Home Depot's small avian
customers...
http://www.birdersworld.com/brd/default.aspx?c=a&id=344

About Pigs

Pigs are intelligent animals, and many consider them to be
equal—or superior—to dogs in intelligence. When living
among humans, piglets learn their names within two to three
weeks and respond when called. Pigs have also demonstrated a
strong sense of direction, with the ability to find their
way home even across long distances. Pennsylvania State 
University Professor Stanley Curtis conducted research that
found pigs can respond to verbal communications and play
computer games. The pigs used their snouts to move
joysticks, which controlled cursors on the screen that
could hit their targets. The pigs had a hit rate of over
80%.
http://www.hsus.org/farm/resources/animals/pigs/pigs.html

Problem Solving:

"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

Do You Want Your Food Service Operator to Serve More
Vegetarian Options?

If you want a food service to serve more vegetarian
options, you need to understand how a professional kitchen
works and the decision-making process for special diet
requests...
http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2006issue3/vj2006issue3college.htm

Food for Life, Diabetes

The first session of Food for Life, Diabetes online series
has been completed. This exciting new series offers
education on diet and diabetes, along with group support.
The classes feature lectures by PCRM president Dr. Neal
Barnard and cooking demonstrations by Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine nutritionist Dulcie Ward, R.D.

The next session will begin in early 2007. Dates and times
have not been finalized. You can view the entire session
via video archives and download PowerPoint presentations of
all the classes at http://diabetes.pcrm.org/

Vegan Buddies

The Vegan Buddies Project is an exciting venture that has
been created to provide all the support people need to go
vegan.

Those of us who are already vegan know that one of the most
valuable resources is a friend - someone to provide tips on
the best soy ice cream, where to find stylish non-leather
shoes, and, most importantly, how the heck to make tofu
taste good. We know there are lacto-ovo-veggies out there,
and even carnivores, who are interested, compassionate and
ripe for "converting,*" but are floundering in a sea of
animal-eaters and haven't quite managed to kick their
meat/egg/dairy habit for good! 

Please join us in making this life-saving project work! If
you're vegan, sign up to be a big brother or sister and we
will pair you up with an aspiring vegan in your area. All
you need do is be there to answer their questions, offer
moral support and show the newbies how fun, easy,
convenient, healthy and cool it is to be vegan!...  
http://www.myspace.com/vivaveganbuddies

*********************************************************

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