On eating meet and natural tendency towards vegan - The Cycling Network

On eating meet and natural tendency towards vegan - The Cycling Network

The following is shared as a supplement to the above and from my continued research.

Several food labels to consider when purchasing meats and/or ordering meat-based dishes at restaurant.

1. Certified Organic: this could mean that the animal is fed certified organic feed, but there is no guarantee that the animal was raised properly. As an example, as seen in the poultry industry, animals are crowded in cages or barns with little to no sun-light (darkness keeps them calm) and while they are fed organically certified feed (which can be corn based feed not really ideal for them), their lives are pretty much miserable. Same goes for how egg-producing chickens are raised. So, Certified Organic tells part of the story, but not the whole thing.

2. Farm Raised: this could be just a marketing label. Don't let it fool you to think that the animals range freely on the farm land with ample access to water and food. Consider, what is a definition of a farm? Is it the Little House on the Prairie or could it also bee a large track of dirt land that houses animals. Isn't a "farm" the place where live stock is raised, even if it's just a huge building in the middle of the city? Farm Raised does not necessarily mean no cruelty to animals.

3. Locally Raised: think about the carbon footprint of consuming foods, which means considering the amount of gasoline and energy used to transport an animal from the location where it is raised, to a certified slaughterhouse where it is killed and processed, to a store or farmer's market where you buy it, and the trip back to your house where you cook and eat it. Or, to the restaurant where you drive to and order it. Because most states have given up inspecting slaughter houses, this task has been assigned to Federal Inspection and all slaughtering has to be done by FDA approved and monitored slaughter houses that are far and few. Consider, for example, that if you live next to a farm that raises livestock, that animal has to be transported away to an FDA approved slaughterhouse, killed and processed, shipped back to a store where you can buy it. Think about how much energy is spent growing and moving that animal around so you can eat a piece of meat.

They call this the Local Consumption Dilemma, which means that while demand for meat exists in local markets and that local farmers aim to satisfy that demand, the processes in place to process, monitor and distribute that meat burns up a lot of energy, which adds to the cost and risk of consuming that meat.

4. Certified Grass Fed: this means that animals, especially cows and pork, are not fed corn as the primary component of their diets. Corn, as a filler, lacks the nutrition needed for these animals to properly grow and fight diseases such as the infamous Mad Cow, strains of Salmonella and other food infections and intoxications (see here to learn about the different between the two).

Corn fed animals that get sick, can pass on illness not only to humans who consume them, but strains of diseases can show up elsewhere, in other meat and non-meat foods such as spinach. Remember the people who died from eating spinach?

This is so because although illegal in Japan and Europe, in the U.S. and Canada it remains common to include the blood, bone, and unwanted flesh of all types of farmed animals in the feed of chickens, turkeys, and pigs. Of all the animal flesh and bone meal that is processed into food for farmed animals, almost half is fed to chickens and turkeys, 13 percent is fed to pigs, and 10 percent is fed to cows.

So, grass fed is a step in the right direction, but again not the whole of the story.

If you're like me, right about now you're shaking your head and wondering so what is there to do? Does the combination of organically grass fed cruelty free environmentally friendly minimally foot printed meat and dairy that are affordable even exist?

Now can you see the argument for a vegan diet? For me, moving away from eating meat and towards vegan is not a question of nutrition as it is about the process of clearing my conscious, reducing my personal foot print, contributing to social sustainability, and ultimately contributing to the eventual elimination of cruelty to animals.

Simply put, I don't want to eat the meat of animals that have been raised, killed and processed in a cruel fashion.

It's your choice. No one has the right to judge you and that's not what this is about. If you choose to eat meat, at least do the following:

1. visit your local farmer's market and get to know the people who sell meats and dairy products there. Ask them about their farm and where they get their inventory. Ask about how the animals are raised and treated on their farm. Be kind and listen to them. Ask if they are open to visitors to their farm (this could be a good indication if they are telling the truth). And if you feel comfortable with them, and only if you feel comfortable with them, patronize them and build a relationship with them to buy your meat and dairy products from them.

2. Look for Animal Welfare Approved labels on the products you purchase. In my research and opinion, this label is currently more important that certified organic and/or grass fed labels. Ideally, you would want all of these to exist together, but if you had to choose one, seek out the Animal Welfare Approved label.


3. Please, please, please avoid fast food chains at all cost. Every dollar you spend with these organizations is fuel for the continued cruelty to animals and validation that the current system of food production and processing is working (which is not). Most folks consider fast food to be the McDonald's, BurgerKing, Taco Bells of the world. Add to this list the franchised operated restaurants such as Friday's, Denny's, Soup Plantation, even some foods at Starbucks. A good rule of thumb is to avoid franchise chains. You're better off getting carrots and nuts at the market than eating a warm, nice tasting meal at franchise establishments.

Finally, I hope this information is helpful to you. My intent is not to fuel the fear engine, but rather to get you thinking and talking about food, nutrition and sustainability.

Keep the dialog open and continue reading, learning and researching on your own.

In health,

Kam

On eating meet and natural tendency towards vegan

On eating meet and natural tendency towards vegan - The Cycling Network

I originally sent this to my family and close friends. After some colorful feedback, I am sharing it because the information is valuable for everyone, especially athletes.

This is not a chain post.... it is written by me and I am responsible for its content.

All the same, I have not been a fan of reading information such as what I'm about to share and am shaking my head as I write this one. Please excuse me.

I justify taking your time because you are important to me and this issue is significant enough that I am taking time to share it with you.

During the past few months I have been educating myself on the status of our food industry and have some information I wish to share with you.

I am not asking for money, your support of a charity, nothing like that at all. It is not my intent to feed the fear engine that is abundantly preset in our daily lives. I'm not wanting us to hold hands, light candles, wear Patchouli and sing Kumbaya.

My intend is simply to share with you that my discoveries have significantly altered my nutritional intake to where I am not wanting to eat meat any longer.

Over the past few months I have weened myself off meat, poultry, dairy and eggs for no other reason other than I can not justify eating these animals and products knowing what has been done to them from the moment of their birth to when they die.

In my coaching and continued progression as an athlete seeking knowledge in health, fitness and wellness, I have always advocated the incorporation of lean meats (such as buffalo/bison, turkey, chicken, eggs and fish) in my personal and athletes' diets to provide the essential protein building blocks necessary for recovery from physical training.

Now, after a lot of research, I am finding that the same benefits of consuming lean proteins can be achieved without actually eating meat. And, that the consumption of commercially available meats and products is actually counter-healing to us and should be avoided, unless the source of growth and production of these meats and products can be personally verified to be drug and cruelty free.

For me, at the age of 43, I am arguably in the best shape of my life. I continue to train hard and can keep up with professional athletes who are almost 1/2 my age! My nutritional needs continue to be demanding and I am continuously looking for advantages to help me recover, heal and gain a health/fitness advantage.

So, please hear me when I tell you that food should be thought of as "medicine" in that it's primary purpose is to heal you and not just fill your stomach.

Consider filling your diet with raw/organic nuts and nut butters, loads of organic fruits and vegetables of all kinds, quinoa and rice, oatmeal, protein powder, and not-farm-raised seafood if you find a craving for protein.

Avoid meats and farm products unless you personally know their source and can vouch for the cruel-free methods of raising, killing and processing them.

You don't need to be a Nazi about this.... make a small change here and there: It's taken me about 6 months to reverse my craving for meat.

When ordering/buying food, think of your pet and know that animals are sentient beings with awareness: they are aware of their environment and process those factors internally. If we eat meat that is commercially raised, we consume all the hormones that the animal released in their system during their miserable lives before being killed.

This is going to sound woo-woo and I can't believe I'm about to say this, but the spirit of the animal that gives up its life for our consumption should be thanked Consider the rituals Native Americans performed when killing buffalo to sustain the survival of their people. They gave thanks to the spirit of that animal and killed without excess.

We are what we eat. We can all afford to be more cognizant of what we eat because our consumption fuels an industry that is not right on many levels, including its impact on your health and the health of your loved ones.

Do not eat fast foods...don't even patronize them because every dollar spent with them is another vote for them to continue butchering our food source, not to mention the negative health consequences on you and your family.

I care about you and want absolute health and wellness for you, which is why I took time to write.

Open up your fridge and take a close look inside. You don't need to throw anything out. Just make a note to make small changes next time you shop for food.

In mine, I have:
• almond butter
• organic peanut butter
• 9 different varieties of hot sauce
• organic mustard
• lots of nuts: Brazil, almond, sesame, cashews, walnut, pecan
• dried fruits: cherries, raisins
• Veggies: carrots, zucchini, avocado, two bags of organic spinach, potato, onions, organic celery
• tempeh
• frozen wild salmon, ahi and scallops: avoid farm-raised seafood please
• organic frozen peas and edamame
• garlic
• brown rice tortillas
• almond cheese
• Brags liquid amino acid
• Tamari sauce

In my pantry I have:
• organic canned beans
• wild salmon bought at Costco
• 3 different kinds of rice cakes
• coconut milk
• red quinoa
• white quinoa
• mung beans
• brown rice
• wild rice
• almond milk
• canned organic pumpkin
• dates
• 3 different protein powders: organic chocolate rice, chocolate soy and Rainbow Light Vegan vanilla protein energizer (my new favorite, which also comes in chocolate)

Fruits:
• lemons
• apples
• pears
• banana

Supplements:
• Metagenic lemon flavored fish oils
• Metagenic methalated folic acid
• CoQ10 bought from Costco
• men's one a day, but not centrum, formula multi vitamin & mineral: a good way to gauge the absorbency of a multi vitamin is to put one in a small glass of water overnight. if it's not completely dissolved by the morning, don't take it as your body will not absorb it. It's also important to get both vitamin AND minerals.
• Triphala: an auyervedic mixture of herbs to help balance my dosha
• Milk Thistle: for liver
• Vitamin C: 1000mg
• Olive leaf extract: for when I feel my immune system needing a boost
• Branch Chain Amino Acids for training purposes and recovery

You can sustain a healthy intake with the above example of foods and supplements

If you use a reverse osmosis water filtration system, please supplement your water with a few drops of liquid trace minerals.

You can sustain a healthy dietary intake with a variation of the above.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or if I can help you clean up your diet and promote better health and healing.

My best wishes for a great 2010 and healthy, prosperous new decade.

Kam

Pesticide use in California, 200 million "active" pounds per year.... Are you kidding me?

PAN Pesticides Database: Pesticide Use in California

California pesticide use data show that between 1991 and 2000 almost 2 billion pounds of active ingredients were applied in California alone. After a massive increase in pesticide use in the early to mid-1990's, reported use has stabilized at about 200 million pounds of active ingredients each year. This figure only includes farm use and professional pesticide use. Not included are consumer and much institutional pesticide use. Also not included in this figure are so-called 'inert' ingredients. U.S. pesticide use is about 1.2 billion pounds each year, and worldwide pesticide use is about 5 billion pounds each year. For detailed information on pesticide use in the U.S. overall and in the California, New York or Oregon pesticide use reporting systems, please see our Pesticide Use pages.
Search CA Pesticide Use
Search California pesticide use data for any combination of chemical, crop, or county. Includes data from 1991 through 2007.
CA Crop Use
Find pesticide use information on over 250 crops and sites in California for 2007. Crops are organized into the following groups:
Vegetables and Melons
Fruits and Nuts
Field Crops
Spices and Herbs
Nursery Products Forests
Livestock
Other Agriculture
Non-Agricultural
CA County Use
Find pesticide use information for 58 California counties for 2007.
Additional Resources
Links to additional information on pesticide use in California, other states, the U.S. and Europe.

10 Reasons to Go Grain-free | The Nourished Kitchen

Why You Should Go Grain-free

1. If you can get it from grain, you can get it elsewhere.

The big heroes of most grains’ nutrient profile are dietary fiber and B vitamins. Take heed, every grain is different and different grains offer different nutrient profiles. Yet, one thing remains constant: if you can find the nutrient in grain, you can find the nutrient in better quantities in other foods. For example, 100 grams of whole wheat flour contains 44 mcg of folate; however, a 100-gram portion of lamb liver will give you 400 mcg of folate and a 100-gram portion of yardlong beans will give you a whopping 658 mcg per 100-gram portion. Similarly with the B Vitamins niacin and thiamin, while a 100-gram whole wheat flour contains 30% of the RDA for niacin and 32% of the RDA for thiamin, you can find these nutrients in higher quantities in other foods – namely flaxseeds and sesame seeds. Whole grains are often touted as health foods for their fiber content, but you can find dietary fiber in better quantities in other, more nutrient-dense foods. For example: 100 grams of cooked brown rice offers up 1.8 grams of dietary fiber; by contrast, a 100-gram serving of cooked collard greens offers 2.8 grams; 100 grams of raw fireweed contains a whopping 11 grams of dietary fiber and even green peas contain about 5 grams of fiber per serving.
2. Grains aren’t good for your gut.

Intestinal health is critical to your overall health. If you’re gut isn’t healthy, you can’t absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. If you can’t absorb nutrients from the foods you eat, your body is malnourished and is more prone to disease. Grains are associated with a condition called leaky gut syndrome. Tiny particles of grains, when ingested, can slip through the intestinal walls causing an immune response. With your immune system excessively taxed by constantly attacking these out-of-place particles of grain, it cannot effectively fight against true threats like pathogens.
3. You’re probably gluten-intolerant.

If you’re white, there’s a good chance that you’re gluten-intolerant to some degree. Current research estimates that about 1% of the population suffers from celiac disease, an auto-immune condition related to the ingestion of gluten-containing grains like wheat and barley; however, some researchers on celiac disease and gluten intolerance estimate that 30% to 40% of people of European descent are gluten-intolerant to some degree. That’s a lot of people who are regularly consuming a food that makes them sick. (And, yes, I’m one of them.)
4. Grains cause inflammation.

Due to a high starch content, grains are inflammatory foods. The more refined the grain, the more inflammatory it is. For example, unbleached white flour is more inflammatory than whole grain flour; however, whole grains are still moderately inflammatory foods and certainly more inflammatory than other foods like fresh vegetables and wholesome fats. Chronic inflammation is linked to a myriad of degenerative, modern diseases including arthritis, allergies, asthma, cardiovascular disease, bone loss, emotional imbalance and even cancer. Unbleached white flour earns an inflammation factor of -421 or strongly inflammatory on NutritionData.com while whole wheat flour earns an inflammation factor of -247 or moderately inflammatory. Similarly, whole cooked millet earns an inflammation factor of -150 and cooked brown rice earns an inflammation factor of -143 – also moderately inflammatory.
5. Grains are fairly new on the scene.

While still a traditional food, grains are, nonetheless, the new kids on the block. Prior to the advent of agriculture, humans relied on hunting and gathering for their foods. They foraged for wild greens, berries, fruits and other plants. They hunted wild animals. They fished for wild fish. They didn’t plant a garden, or grow any amber waves of grain or, for that matter, drink dairy from domesticated animals since there simply wasn’t any domesticated animals. Humans survived like this from the development of the appearance of the first homo sapiens sapiens about 47,000 years ago to the advent of agriculture some 10 – 12,000 years ago. So, for the better part of human existence grains did not comprise any notable portion of the human diet. In essence, what has become the bulk of our modern diet was missing from the diet of our prehistoric ancestors.
6. Grains aren’t good for your joints.

Due to their inflammatory nature, grains – even whole grains – are linked to joint pain and arthritis. Grain’s amino acid composition mirrors that of the soft tissue in your joints. Because both synovial tissue and grains are chemically similar, your body has difficulty differentiating between the two. So, when your immune cells get all hot and bothered by inflammation caused by grain and begin to attack it as a foreign invader, they also begin to attack the soft tissue in your joint – leading to pain, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and, of course, more inflammation.
7. Poorly Prepared Grains prevent mineral absorption.

When improperly prepared as they most often are, grains can inhibit vitamin and mineral absorption. Grains contain substances like phytic acid which binds up minerals and prevents proper absorption. Essentially, though your diet might be rich in iron, calcium and other vital nutrients if you eat improperly prepared grain, you’re not fully absorbing nutrients from the foods you eat. However, please note that souring, sprouting and soaking grains neutralizes phytates and renders the nutrients in grain more absorbable.
8. Grains are bad for your teeth.

Due to those high levels of phytates in grain, grain is linked to dental decay. With high levels of mineral-blocking phytic acid coupled with low mineral absorption rates and plenty of starches for bacteria to feed on, grain contributes to dental decay. Anthropological records of our pre-agricultural ancestors indicates very little to no tooth decay; however, that changed after the dawn of agriculture. Indeed, some anthropologists use the presence of tooth decay is an indicator of an agricultural society.
9. Grains aren’t good for your skin either.

Grains have a very high carbohydrate content, and while the carbohydrates in grain are complex they are still broken down into sugars nonetheless. These sugars instruct your body to produce more insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IFG-1). Elevated insulin levels lead to a cascading hormonal response and these hormones activate the sebum-producing glands in your skin – encouraging them to produce more oil. IFG-1 is also linked with the increased production of keratinocytes which also contribute to acne.
10. Eating grain makes you crave grain.

You know how the smell of bread creates a longing in you – a yearning for a slice, slathered with butter and maybe jam. Or consider a plate of cookies set in front of you – so delicious – and you can’t just have one? Foods rich in carbohydrates give you quick energy, but that energy wears off just as quickly as it came. Since grains break down into sugar, they create a rise in insulin levels when those levels fall you crave more grains and, thus, the vicious cycle continues.

Of course, if you’re not quite ready to give up grains in their entirety, take care to make sure you eat the best quality grains prepared for optimal nourishment. Choose organic grains and make sure you eat them sprouted, soaked or soured. Or go on a grain-free trial

Boulder County releases final plans for defraying bike-car tensions - Boulder Daily Camera

Boulder County releases final plans for defraying bike-car tensions
Working group addressed problems in the canyons
By Laura Snider Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 12/11/2009 06:19:40 PM MST

A cyclist rides in Lefthand Canyon in April. Boulder County's Cyclist-Motorist Working Group just released its final recommendations for increasing the safety of the roads for both bike riders and drivers -- and decreasing the tension that's grown between the two. ( CLIFF GRASSMICK )
Some of the recommended improvements

Prompted by increased tensions over the last year between bike riders and drivers in the canyons west of Boulder, the county convened a cyclist-motorist working group in August. The group got together several times over the fall to brainstorm ways to increase safety and decrease frustration on Lee Hill Drive, Olde Stage Road, James Canyon Drive and Lefthand Canyon Drive. They presented a draft of their ideas at a public meeting in November.

Here's a look at a few of the final recommendations made by the group:

Place a temporary restroom facility at mile marker 11 in Lefthand Canyon to cut down on public urination and the use of facilities in Ward and Jamestown.

Install asphalt barriers by driveways to prevent runoff of dirt and gravel onto the main road.

Create paved bicycle pullouts to give cyclists a place to rest and congregate out of the stream of traffic.

Put up signs aimed at both cars and bikes to remind both parties of good etiquette. Signs might remind drivers to share the road or request that cyclists ride single file for a designated distance.

Add more bike racks in Jamestown and pullout for bicycle parking across from the fire station.

Increase patrols by sheriff's deputies on busy weekends and have some of those patrols conducted on bikes.

For more information, visit bouldercounty.org/transportation/CyclistMotoristWorkingGroup.htm.

Only a few cyclists were still cruising around town this week, most navigating the snow-packed roads with beefy mountain bike tires, head-to-toe layers and an apparent predisposition for suffering.

But next spring, when roads are dry and the skies are blue, bikers will likely be back in droves, ready to ride up Boulder County's spectacular canyons.

And when they do, the county hopes to have already implemented a host of recommendations for increasing the safety of the roads for both bike riders and drivers -- and decreasing the tension that's grown between the two.

The plan for the improvements comes from the county's Cyclist-Motorist Working Group, which just released its final recommendations. The group was created by the county's Transportation Department in August to address the increasing tension between the two groups, especially in Lefthand and James canyons.

"The goal was to find things we could do in the short term," said George Gerstle, transportation director. "We wanted to get the ideas out so we could start implementing them before the first bike season."

The working group included cyclists, drivers who frequently commute up and down the canyons, mountain residents who deal with an influx of bikes coming through their small towns in the summer, and representatives from the Sheriff's Office and the Transportation Department.

Gerstle said he wasn't sure how well such a diverse group would work together, but in the end, he was impressed by its success.

"Going into this, I was very nervous about the whole effort," he said. "But I've been very gratified by how well everyone worked together. I could tell there were times when people on all sides of the table were biting their tongues, but they did it out of respect for each other."

The final plan lists about 40 suggested improvements, which cover everything from putting up signs that remind drivers and riders of etiquette, adding restroom facilities, clearing debris off shoulders and paving pullouts where cyclists can congregate and take a break. The plan also has a heavy outreach component, which includes sheriff's deputies handing out fliers and volunteers acting as cycling ambassadors.

Working group member Patrick Griffin -- who is a canyon resident, a frequent driver and a road biker -- said he's excited to see the recommendations implemented, but he also acknowledged it will take more than just the participation of the group members to make the situation better in the canyons.

"The canyon is a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy," he said. "The volunteers in this working group want to improve the situation in the canyons. ... That is really our only motivation, whether we were cyclists, motorists, residents or all three.

"But it will be up to each and every one of us that use the canyons to reduce the tensions."

Gerstle said the county will monitor how well the changes work throughout the 2010 cycling season and call the group back together next fall if there's more work to be done.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Laura Snider at 303-473-1327 or sniderl@dailycamera.com.

Recipe: Flour-less Banaba Pancakes

Almond Banana Pancakes | Mark's Daily Apple

Ingredients:

ingredients 12 Almond Banana Pancakes

* 2 ripe bananas
* 1 egg
* 1 heaping tablespoon of almond butter

Instructions:

Mash the bananas, add the egg and mix well.

banana egg Almond Banana Pancakes

Stir in the almond butter, adding more than a tablespoon if you want a more pancake-like texture.

batter 1 Almond Banana Pancakes

Warm butter in a pan and pour batter into small cakes.

cooking pancakes Almond Banana Pancakes

Brown on each side and serve warm.

pancakes Almond Banana Pancakes

Qik - 12/5/09 Extended Swami's Ride by Kam Zardouzian