I had the pleasure of meeting Melanie Joy in Orlando a year ago when she came to do this same speech to promote the ideas in her book, “Why we Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows“.   If you don’t have time to read her book, this speech sums up the main points.  She talks about how all beings are sentient and it does not make logical sense to eat certain animals and not others.  For example we think it is okay to eat cows, but why don’t we eat dogs?  There is an invisible belief system that conditions us to eat certain animals, this is what Melanie calls “Carnism” or the opposite of “Veganism”.   It is a violent ideology since meat cannot be procured without killing.

To find out more about Carnism after watching the video you can go to Melanie’s website at Carnism Awareness.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t get at least a few emails from people who have suffered negative health effects from veganism: vitamin deficiencies, exhaustion, constant sickness, unwanted weight change, depression, insomnia, anxiety, hair loss, fertility problems, loss of muscle tone, etc. They all want to know one thing: how do you recover from veganism?”

My response to this is:

1. If someone is consuming a Vegan diet and having health issues, perhaps they would benefit from talking to a Vegan Dietician or Plant Based Nutrition Educator like myself who is EXPERIENCED in helping people with eating a nutrient dense vegan diet.  Really, why are they contacting Tasha at Voracious Eats?  Does she have the educational background to counsel people on nutrition, specifically for “Recovering Vegans”?

2. Vegan does not equate to healthy, there are plenty of well intentioned people out there who don’t want to harm animals but are consuming a diet that lacking in nutrients because they eat a lot of fake meats and vegan processed foods and very little of high nutrient foods like kale, bok choy, papaya, broccoli, etc.  Dieticians and Doctors are not educated on Vegan diets in school.  You will find that the handful of dieticians and doctors out there who recommend Vegan Diets are self educated or got educated through organizations outside of their degree program.  As it is clear from Tasha’s original post on leaving Veganism, she went to see a conventional MD who of course discouraged her Vegan diet.

3. There are WAY more people who are consuming the Standard American Diet and suffering with REAL DISEASES that could benefit from a Nutrient Dense Vegan Diet.  Let’s not undermine this fact by making people believe that Vegan Diets in general are not healthy and there are so many Ex Vegans or “Recovering Vegans” out there who are in need of a 12 step recovery program similar to AA.

4. I challenge Voracious to stop putting a focus on “Recovering Vegans” and write something about the benefits of eating a Nutrient Dense Plant Based Diet.  Fine if she wants to consume animal foods, that is her preference, but let’s not make readers think that animal foods NEED to be in their diet on a daily basis for health.  The research points heavily in the other direction and she is doing her readers a great disservice by promoting animal food consumption almost daily on her blog.

If you took the time to read her article and have something against what she is saying, please post your feedback here on my blog because I guarantee that she will not allow your comments on her blog…

“Candida is a form of yeast, an organism that naturally occurs in human blood.  It is supposed to be there.  This microbe consumes sugar for its food. As there is always sugar in the blood, there is always food for the candida organism”

So Candida is not a bad thing, it is only becomes a problem when there is overgrowth.  But should we take the standard advice which is to eliminate all fruits for a period of time?  Where does the real problem lie?  Is it the fruit or the high fat diet that most Americans consume?  Graham goes on to say…

“If fat levels stay chronically elevated due to a fat-rich diet, sugar remains in the bloodstream and feeds the large candida colonies instead of the 18 trillion cells of the body. Starved for fuel, these cells can no longer metabolize energy. You become tired, and feel rundown.  Eliminating the fruit will not remove the cause of your problem, just the symptoms. In the presence of too much fat in the blood, even a small amount of sugar, from any source, can result in abnormally high blood-sugar levels.  Furthermore, to the extent that conscious attempts to lower blood sugar succeed, you feel tired. Trying to eliminate candida by controlling a blood sugar problem inevitably fails, which is why we see thousands of people battling candida for years without lasting success.”

So what should someone who has Candida overgrowth do about it?  Frederic Patenaude, author of “Raw Secrets” and long time follower of a low fat, high fruit, raw vegan diet says

“Advice I give to people who ask me about candida is to go on a really low-fat [vegan] diet for a while, avoiding all oil, nuts and avocado. The problem is generally solved within a few weeks, if not a few days. Often people have been battling with this for years and get instant relief from doing this low-fat diet. After that period, small quantities of fatty foods can be reintroduced”

Patenaude has a “Free Fruit Report” with more information about how a low fat, high raw, vegan diet can improve health.  His book “Raw Secrets” is also a must read for anyone embarking on a raw food diet.

This past week I was at a party and was introduced to a mom who when she heard I was vegan made the comment “Oh, yeah, I tried the vegan thing but there’s just so much hummus and pita I can eat”.    I did not know where to start with this comment and then the conversation got changed quickly…but what I was thinking later was, “Seriously? What were your reasons for wanting to go vegan? How long did you try eating vegan and did you only eat Pita and Hummus?”

This is not the first time I’ve heard about how a person found eating vegan or vegetarian to be challenging.   I suppose it can be difficult to make changes if your reason for going veg is not strong.  I’m guessing that a lot of people are trying it because Oprah did it for a week or because their neighbor or friend did it and lost weight, etc.

There are far more meaningful reasons to go veg!  Find your reason or reasons, write it down and then make a plan to make gradual changes that will help you to stick with it for more than a week or a month.

Are you doing it for your health?

• Eating a plant based diet low in animal foods decreases your risk for all degenerative diseases including cancer.  We are constantly hearing news about how plant foods are protective…when did you hear that animal foods were protective against degenerative disease?

Are you doing it for the animals?

• Love dogs and cats but still eat cows, pigs and fish?  Reading Melanie Joy’s book “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows” will help you to understand that farm animals are no different from domesticated animals.  If you have a love for animals, your reason may one that supports animal compassion.
• Approximately 10 billion animals are slaughtered every year so that humans can eat them
• In the US, “food animals” are not adequately protected from inhumane treatment

Are you doing it for the environment?

• Are you an eco-savvy person who has found all the ways to “go green” at home but not yet addressed eating habits?  Going vegan, vegetarian or even plant based is the biggest contribution you can make to going green…so stop worrying about changing out light bulbs and start focusing on your shopping list!
• Did you know over 50% of forest worldwide have been cleared to raise or feed livestock?
• A recent study by the University of Chicago revealed that a vegetarian diet is the most energy-efficient (VegForLife.org)
• Livestock rearing produces more greenhouse gasses than all forms of transportation combined

Once you have figured out a reason for going Veg that resonates most with you, figure out the obstacles or excuses that are keeping you from being successful with a vegan, vegetarian or plant based diet.  What is your plan to move through those obstacles?  I promise you there is a solution!  Need help with it?  Post in the comments section below or give me a call for a free 30 minute consultation!

Neal Barnard of PCRM (Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine) has started a new PBS special, KICKSTART YOUR HEALTH.  Finally the low fat Vegan diet is presented on public TV in an in depth show that has been professional produced!  Dr. Barnard covers a variety of topics including Children’s Health and how it can be greatly improved on a Vegan diet.

KICKSTART YOUR HEALTH WITH DR. NEAL BARNARD is airing throughout March on PBS stations.  Check your local listings and get this program in from of your Omnivore friends and family!

If you live in Orlando, I will give you a heads up that the show is on THIS Friday, March 11th at 2:30pm on WMFE and it is a 90 minute show.

After you watch the show, go to the 21 Day Kickstart Challenge website and sign up to take the challenge!

Above is a photo of the sad truth.  When you consume dairy products of any kind, you contribute to the pain and suffering of cows who’s short life is about producing milk in unnatural amounts.  Cows normally have a lifespan of 25 years and can produce milk for eight or nine years, but the stress casued by factory farm conditions leads to disease, lameness, and reproductive problems that render them worthless to the dairy farmer by the time they are four or five years old, at which time they are sent to the slaughterhouse.(Mercy for Animals)

Cows that live on Organic farms don’t have it any better.  So don’t kid yourself into thinking that because a dairy product is Organic that it is more “humane”.  The only difference is that cows are not injected with Bovine Growth Hormones and possibly fed grass instead of corn.   They are separated from their calf at birth and the calf is sent to slaughter for Veal.

The USDA Food Pyramid has been greatly influenced by food lobbyist, not nutritionists. According to the pyramid we need 3 servings of dairy daily to meet calcium needs. This is up from the previous 1 1/2 servings. This amount increases saturated fat in the diet, which has been linked in numerous studies to heart disease.

You might have noticed if you ran a 5k race this year in Orlando that free pints of Chocolate milk are now being handed out before and after the race as a “Recovery Drink”.  They are advertising with Track Shack and getting the coaches to tell thousands of marathon runners to drink milk! The Dairy Council hires Dieticians who sell this false information to schools, restaurants and athletic trainers.  Don’t be fooled, the Dairy Council is powerful and it’s pockets are deep.

Let’s take a look at some of the common misunderstandings about dairy and what we can do to improve our health without it:

Milk is a “health food”.Not really. Dairy and animal products lack the nutrients that give us protection against degenerative diseases like cancer and heart disease. Fiber, antioxidants, phytochemicals, folate, Vitamin E, and plant proteins are all protective nutrients that come from plant sources. Dairy is instead an abundant source of saturated fat and cholesterol, both of which are scientifically linked to cancer, obesity, and heart disease. If you consume any form of dairy (whole fat, low fat or non fat) on a regular basis, along with daily servings of any type of meat, you are consuming a diet high in animal protein.  High protein diets actually leach calcium from bones due to their elevated phosphorous content.

Plant milks are an excellent substitute, though milk of any kind is not necessary for human health.  You can buy or make your own Almond Milk, Soy Milk, Oat Milk, Hemp Milk, etc. 

Kids need Milk to grow.Not true. What they need is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, some in their raw state, in order to get a wide variety of nutrients from food sources that are protective against disease.  They also need lots of exercise and 20-30 minutes of unfiltered sunlight for natural Vitamin D.   The only thing dairy has going for it is fat and calories.  Besides contributing to arthrosclerosis, dairy products consumed early in life have been linked with Type I Diabetes, ear infections, and for infants under one year, iron deficiency.

Breast milk provides the best nutrition for infants under one year, and it is optimal for them to have it to age 2.  Cow’s milk formula has no place in an infant’s diet.  It is concentrated cow’s milk protein, sugar, poor quality oils, synthetic vitamins and fat.  Read the label on on any can of formula and decide if that is something that YOU would put in your body. Sure infants can survive on it, but do their growing cells thriveon formula like they do on breastmilk?  Formula should be the absolute last option.  Even The World Health Organization (WHO) states: “The second choice is the mother’s own milk expressed and given to the infant in some way. The third choice is the milk of another human mother. The fourth and last choice is artificial baby milk.”

Milk banks like “Get Pumped” in Orlando, FL are popping up around the country for parents who want to feed their baby breastmilk but have challenges with milk production.

Dairy products are the best source of calcium.It is true that dairy products contain a lot of calcium. However, only 32% of the calcium in dairy is absorbed by the body. Compare that to the calcium in dark green vegetables and other plant foods where 50% or more is absorbable- making foods like kale, bok choy, broccoli, swiss chard, collards, tofu, and almonds the better way to get your calcium.

The Harvard Nurses’ Health Study of 77,761 women, aged 34 to 59 followed for 12 years, found that those who drank three or more glasses of milk per day had no reduction in the risk of hip or arm fractures compared to those who drank little or no milk, even after adjustment for weight, menopausal status, smoking, and alcohol use. In fact, the fracture rates were slightly, but significantly, higher for those who consumed this much milk, compared to those who drank little or no milk. (Feskanich D, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA. Milk, dietary calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective study. Am J Publ Health 1997;87:992-7.)

Is drinking milk Natural?

How is drinking something that is not biologically appropriate, natural?  How natural it is to consume the milk of another animal?  Cats don’t drink dogs milk and goats don’t drink sheep milk.  Why are we as humans drinking milk from a cow that is meant to grow a 90 pound calf into a 2,000 pound cow over the course of two years?

If you are struggling to get milk products out of your family’s diet, post below and I will offer suggestions!

Bill Clinton was recently interviewed by Wolf Blitzer and admitted to going on Caldwell Esselstyn’s Plant Based Diet for Heart Patients.  This diet is very strict because it requires a person to eliminate all overt fats- nuts, seeds, avocado, and oils.  It is also a vegan diet where ALL animal foods are eliminated, though Clinton admits to having fish occasionally.  

Esselstyn works at the Cleveland Clinic and his plan has reversed damage to arteries in all patients who have been 100% compliant.  Those who were not compliant had 2nd episodes and some even died!

Clinton is obviously very motivated to make these changes since having open heart surgery and a stint put in.  These two operations are painful for anyone who has to undergo them.  Clinton says he is commited to staying on the program because he “wants to be around for his grandchildren”.   I hope he sticks to it because media will provide continuing coverage on his health on this diet and it’s the type of news this country needs to hear to impact real change in the eating habits of Americans!

To get more information about Calwell Esseltyn’s plan, you can buy his book titled “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease”.

Step 1- De-clutter your Kitchen.
Take everything out of your cabinets and off your counter tops one section at a time and get rid of or donate things like canned goods and processed foods that are expired, worn kitchen utensils, pots and pans with scratched Teflon, unused kitchen appliances, and dust collectors like large bread boxes and paper stacks piled on your counters. Buy red sticky notes and flag items with negative ingredients like Partially Hydrogenated Oils, High Fructose Corn Syrup, MSG, artificial colors and flavors, and basically anything that looks factory made. Post the notes on those items to remind you that when they are finished they will not be purchased again. If you can afford to, toss them out (empty and recycle the packaging), or donate the items to a local food pantry. Make sure the canned goods you have on hand are BPA free.  Eden Organic Foods has BPA free canned goods that also contain no added salt. 

Step 2- Get Organized.
Now that you have some empty cabinet space and counter space, it’s time to assess what you need to keep things organized and help you to make healthy meals. Keeping things organized helps you see what you have so you don’t let food expire or purchase items you already have on hand. The goal is to waste less! It also brings a sense of calm and enjoyment to being in the kitchen. When everything is easily accessible, the counter tops are clean and clutter free, and you have a menu plan, you will actually look forward to preparing meals instead of feeling stressed and reaching for whatever is quick “out-of-the-box”.

There are lots of great organizing items you can get online and in local stores, but be practical and make sure you are not spending money on silly gadgets or bins to organize clutter. Remember, you were supposed to get rid of the clutter in step one!

Step 3- Go Shopping!
This is the fun part.  Before you go shopping, make sure you have coupons!  Don’t get crazy buying organics without understanding that you can save a ton buying the items on sale and matching them up with store and manufacturer’s coupons.  See my post on my other blog at whatahealthyfamilyeats.com for details.

Besides stocking your refrigerator and pantry with whole foods (raw fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, seeds, nuts/nut butters, and nut milks that contain little or no sugar), you will need to purchase some additional items.

Some items I recommend (which can be purchased over time) are:
-A spice organizer that fits inside your cabinets for organic spices.
-A quality Juicer like the Omega 8005. Juicing is something you may want to save for the weekends, unless you have health issues that can be alleviated with daily doses of raw juice. Even though the Omega is easy to clean up, preparing fruits and vegetables to juice can be time consuming.
-A quality non-stick pan for oil free cooking at medium and low heat levels. Use cast iron or stainless steel for occasional high heat cooking.
-Sharp knives and a bamboo cutting board for chopping lots of fruits and veggies.
-Sprouting containers for growing your own sprouts.
-A water filter for your tap, like the PUR brand filters. You’ll want to find a filter that removes contaminants and keeps the minerals.
-A quality blender like the Vita-Mix for making healthy soups, dips and smoothies
-A sign for your microwave that says “Use only in an emergency and only to warm foods or beverages, not cook them! Absolutely NO Breast milk goes in here.” Okay, so you can make that sign, but it’s critical to your health to stop using the microwave on a frequent basis and definitely if you are a new mom, stop warming breast milk in plastic bottles or bags.

This is not a comprehensive list, it’s just a list for beginners to get started in preparing healthy meals. Enjoy setting up your Holistic Kitchen and let me know how it goes!

I encourage clients and anyone interested in preventative health to read The China Study. It is 20 years of evidence based research that tells us the healthiest populations on the planet consume a diet centered on plant foods. These populations have almost NO incidence of degenerative disease unlike the United States where Type II Diabetes and Heart Disease have become an epidemic.

How does eating a Plant Based Diet and having healthy habits contribute to making the planet greener?

1. Eating less animal foods means less pollution in our ground water and air from factory farms
2. Eating less animal foods means wasting a lot less water and grains to raise animals from birth to slaughter
3. Eating less animal foods means we have more land to use for growing plant foods which require less resources.
4. And finally eating less animal foods and more nutrient dense plant foods makes populations healthier. They will require fewer pharmaceutical drugs that pollute our environment, especially our water ways.

A Plant Based Diet + Healthy Habits = Optimally Healthy Families and a Greener Planet!