Vegetarian Statistics
Many nonvegetarians and some vegetarians alike question
whether being a vegetarian really makes any difference
at all. Some bring up blurry ethical situations to make it
impossible to see a vegetarian lifestyle as ethical.
If you are a prospective vegetarian for ethical reasons,
but aren’t sure whether or not a vegetarian lifestyle is
truly a more ethical choice, here are some statistics
from EarthSave to help you make your choice (for
or against):
1. Over 1.3 billion human beings could be fed each year
from the grain and soybeans that go to livestock in the
United States.
This means that the entire population of the United States
could be fed (without losing any nutritional value) and there
would still be enough food left over to feed one billion
people.
In a world where millions of people die each year of
starvation, that type of food excess and inefficiency
could be considered unethical.
2. Livestock in the US produces roughly 30 times more
excrement than human beings. While humans in the US have
complex sewage systems to collect and treat human waste,
there are no such systems on feedlots. As a result, most
of this waste leeches into water.
This means that large-scale, massive production and
slaughter of animals is not only unethical, but it also
causes serious environmental degradation.
3. It takes 7.5 pounds of protein feed to create 1 pound of
consumable hog protein; and it takes 5 pounds of protein
feed to create 1 pound of consumable chicken protein. Close
to 90% of protein from wheat and beans is lost to feed
cycling.
This means that an enormous amount of resources are
dedicated to producing wheat and soy just for the purpose
of feeding it to animals, which will be slaughtered as “a
source of protein”–even though they only provide about
1/5 of the amount they consume.
Not only can the production of meat be considered an
injustice against animals, but it can also be considered an
injustice against human beings, as well as the environment
in general.
Why People Become Vegetarians
Many nonvegetarians wonder what drives vegetarians to give
up meat and adopt an entirely different lifestyle.
There is no single answer to this question. Nonvegetarians
become vegetarians for a number of different reasons – some
even for multiple reasons.
Most vegetarians claim that they became a vegetarian for
one of three reasons.
The first reason, which most vegetarians claim, is that
they have ethical problems with eating meat. Most disagree
with how chickens are debeaked, forced to live in small
cages, and are then slaughtered when they do not produce
eggs fast enough.
Most vegetarians also disagree with the crowded and
stressful environments animals are forced into; and
the hormone-laden feed used to make them grow faster
and produce more.
People who become vegetarians for this purpose often
draw ethical boundaries in different spots, depending on
their personal beliefs. For instance, some staunch vegans
wont consume yeast, wear wool, or even eat certain
vegetables, such as carrots, that require killing the
plant to harvest.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, some vegetarians–
sometimes referred to as pseudo-vegetarians–will actually
eat fish and chicken on a regular basis.
The second biggest reason vegetarians claim for not eating
meat is that it conflicts with their dietary preferences.
Some of these vegetarians simply do not like the texture
and taste of meat; others do not eat it because it is high
in cholesterol and often contains high concentrations
of hormones and preservatives.
The third and smallest group of vegetarians cite
environmental reasons for not consuming meat. They complain
that consumption of meat causes farmers to continually
deforest land to create grazing land for cattle.
In addition to these three major groups, there are a number
of other smaller groups of vegetarians who stopped eating
meat for entirely different reasons.
Vegan Alternatives To Gelatin
Gelatin serves both nutritional and culinary roles in
nonvegetarian diets; however, a lot of vegetarians and
all vegans do not consume gelatin in its many forms
because it is often created out of boiled pig skins and
dissolved veal cartilage and bones.
This leaves vegetarians with a gap in cooking
functionality when a recipe calls for a gel or thickening
agent. It also leaves vegetarians with fewer options if they
need a source of gelatin to increase bone and cartilage
health.
If you are a vegetarian and you are looking for something
to replace gelatin, do not despair. Here are some alternative
options for you:
1. Use a rice starch alternative. A&B Ingredients recently
developed a rice starch alternative to gelatins that mimics
the cooking functionality of gelatins closely.
2. Use a soy-based alternative. Soyfoods USA developed
NuSoy Gel, a gelatin alternative which was created
entirely out of of soy isoflavones and contains 100% of
your vitamin c recommended daily allowance.
3. Use seaweed-based alternatives. Agar-agar, for instance,
is a seaweed based alternative to gelatin that can simulate
the culinary functions of gelatin.
4. Increase your calcium intake. One component of gelatin
supplements that allegedly increases joint health is
calcium. If you want to increase your calcium intake
without eating gelatin, you can simply consume more
calcium-fortified foods and even take supplements.
5. Increase your vitamin c intake. Another component of
gelatin supplements that allegedly increases joint health is
vitamin c. You can increase your vitamin c intake by
consuming more citrus fruit.
6. Increase your glucosamine intake. No foods contain
glucosamine, but you can increase your intake by purchasing
supplements at your local grocery store or pharmacy. This
is rumored to improve joint health if taken regularly.
To reiterate – gelatin has two major functions: it works
as a thickening agent for foods and is rumored to improve
joint health; both of these functions can easily
be mimicked by structural and nutritional alternatives.
What is a healthy lifestyle? Truly now?
What is a healthy lifestyle? Truly now? Is it to scale every food you want to it? Or is it starving in between meals? Or is it simply to feel good about what and how you live your life? I vouch for the latter. There is a lot of misconception in today’s world that being part of a healthy lifestyle means going all out and either depriving yourself or over-exercising in order to ‘look perfect’. Coming from a person who did it all, I can assure you that those things will not bring you a happy lifestyle. Let me give you some tips on how to make put fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness into your life without going all out. Tiny changes is where it’s key.
The first step is to motivate yourself on a daily basis. Excuses are part of our everyday lives, especially when it comes to working out or losing weight. We always seem to have that little voice in our head that says, “let’s start Monday!” or “I ate healthy yesterday, I can indulge in a bit today,” but just because they are present doesn’t mean that we have to listen to them. We all know that mental strength is what we really need to work out when we want to get on the journey of health. Here are a few tricks that might help you self-motivate and stay healthy.
Write down weekly goals. Every beginning of the week, may it be Sunday or Monday, write down what you want to accomplish this upcoming week. Divide the week up in days and every night draw a green or red dot on the goals you accomplished that day and the goals you will need to work on the next. This will help your mind to stay focused on what you want. It will also create competition within yourself to be better than the day before, which will keep you on your toes.
Create a vision board. In this vision board, write down your daily, weekly, and monthly goals to see everyday when you wake up. Write down motivating quotes that will boost you in the morning. Put pictures of inspirational people and your favorite quotes from them. Put anything you find inspiring and motivating, just make sure that you see the board every single morning and evening before you go to bed. I would suggest putting in your bedroom. The psychology behind the vision board is the habit it creates in your brain. By seeing motivating quotes everyday and visualizing your goals on a daily basis, your brain makes a habit of working on them. If you see “I can do it!” everyday, your brain will start believing that you actually CAN do it and your motivation will spark up right away.
Create a motivation playlist and listen to it everyday. Listen to this playlist before you work out and while you workout. This will help you get out of your pyjamas and into your work out clothes. Listening to upbeat music will also wake you up in the morning or in the evening when you come back from work.
Keep a weight loss and/or fitness journal. Every night, before you go to bed, write down five wins of the day. If you decided to eat an apple instead of an ice cream, write it down. If you decided to work out 30 minutes instead of going to drinks for the third night in a row, write it down. Everything you a proud of for that day, put it in the fitness journal. Also write down what your three project wins for the next day are. You can write down that you wish to run 35 minutes tomorrow instead of thirty. Anything that can be positive in your fitness journey, put it in writing.
Most importantly, keep believing that you can do it and don’t listen to people who put you down. They are not the ones on your journey, which is also why you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people.
By motivating yourself, you will see that small changes will happen. By seeing your progress skyrocketing you will just want to keep going. You don’t have to leave the gym looking like a wet swimmer, but you do have to go. You do have to pick up some weights and run a little faster every now and then. The Seven Wonders of Life were built by men, and you know what? It took a very long time and a lot of small rocks to build them. Today, people use man-made machines to build buildings, and it does take less time but it will never be as wonderful as the Seven Wonders. Just remember to keep going! Everyone has their own journey, so start creating yours!
You Really Are What You Eat
Recent dietary research has uncovered 14 different nutrient-dense foods that time and again promote good overall health. Coined “superfoods,” they tend to have fewer calories, higher levels of vitamins and minerals, and many disease-fighting antioxidants.
Beans (legumes), berries (especially blueberries), broccoli, green tea, nuts (especially walnuts), oranges, pumpkin, salmon. soy, spinach, tomatoes, turkey, whole grains and oats, and yogurt can all help stop and even reverse diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and some forms of cancer. And where one might have an effect on a certain part of the body, it can also affect the health of other body functions and performance, since the whole body is connected. With these 14 foods as the base of a balanced, solid diet, weight loss gimmicks and other fly-by-night programs can become a thing of the past in your life.
Conversely, the ill-effects of an unbalanced diet are several and varied. Low energy levels, mood swings, tired all the time, weight change, uncomfortable with body are just a few signs that your diet is unbalanced. An unbalanced diet can cause problems with maintenance of body tissues, growth and development, brain and nervous system function, as well as problems with bone and muscle systems.
Symptoms of malnutrition include lack of energy, irritability, a weakened immune system leading to frequent colds or allergies, and mineral depletion that can trigger a variety of health concerns including anemia.
And since the body is connected, realizing that an unhealthy body will result in an unhealthy spirit only makes sense. When we nourish our body with these superfoods and complement them with other nutrient-dense and healthy fresh foods, our spirit will be vitalized and healthy as a direct result.
Many modern diets based on prepackaged convenience foods are sorely lacking in many vitamins and minerals, which can affect our mental capacities as well, and cause irritability, confusion, and the feeling of ‘being in a fog’ all the time.
Superfoods can be the basis of a sound, healthy, nutritious solution to curing many of these ailments and more.
Sneaking vegetables in every chance you get
There is a great article over at momtastic about 6 Sly Ways to Sneak Veggies Into Breakfast. If it works for kids, it might work for you, right? From smoothies, to waffles, to pumpkin butter, the article has some great tips. Think you don’t have a kid that needs vegetables snuck into their diet? Let’s not kid ourselves!
Weight Loss – Get The Basics Right
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Weight Loss – Get The Basics Right
Have you decided to lose weight? Well you are certainly not
alone. Did you know that statistics show more than half the
population of the USA are overweight and about 80% of them
are on a diet?
Now if 80% of the overweight people in the USA are on a
diet at any given time, and the diets worked, you would
expect that number and percentage to fall.
Right?
But it doesn’t! There are still 50% of Americans overweight
and this percentage is rising.
Unfortunately statistics also show that the vast majority
of people who lose weight, following a diet, just put it
all back on again (and often times more). So, if you are
planning to lose weight and want to try a diet or weight
loss plan make sure you get the basics right so you don’t
become another statistic!
There are almost as many diet and weight loss plans are
there are people who use them. Due to the vast array of
choices, combined with so many differing opinions, it
becomes overwhelming and seems almost impossible to decide.
So before you begin investigating, the best weight loss
plan for you, here are a few tips to get you started.
Consult a professional who specializes in weight loss, and maybe go out and get a warm up suit. This
does not mean someone who runs weight-watchers or “Sue”
next door who lost 20 lbs. Your doctor is usually the best
place to start as he/she will direct you to the
appropriate, recognised, health care professionals. Watch
your fat intake. Many times people launch into a diet and
watch every tiny calorie they consume but fail to read the
fat content on the label. Calories still count but fat is a
killer as well as a big contributor to weight gain. If you
reduce your fat intake this will have a dramatic effect on
your overall weight-loss and your health! Keep a food
diary. Health and nutrition professionals advise this as a
first step in weight management. A diary of your food
intake and exercise routines is a great way to analyse your
eating habits. Doing this can also identify any emotional
or stress factors that may be causing you to over-eat. Pick
a few weight loss plans that you think you could stick to
or (dare I say it) even enjoy. Research them and find out
which has the highest PERMANENT positive gains. Look at
what food is allowed and what is not. How much exercise is
recommended? Do you have time to cook all those strange
dishes? There is no point launching on a health quest to
lose weight if you are going to get discourage at the very
outset. Plan ahead. Once you’ve picked your diet run it
past your doctor or health care professional. Many diets
can be dangerous if not followed to the letter and a very
low calorie diet (below the recommended level) can cause
long-lasting harmful effects to your body.
Once you are set and have started your diet be sure to
write all your positive gains in your diary. Don’t be
afraid to congratulate yourself on every little gain. Do
not get discouraged if you don’t hit your target or if you
only lost 1 lb. You are still going in the right direction.
Spoil yourself a little. Buy yourself some new clothes for
your new body and enjoy the fact that you have succeeded.
This is positive reinforcement and will help you to
maintain your dietary plan and your weight.
About the Author:
Review of the weight loss system that doesn’t involve a
diet and that was successfully tested on British TV at
http://www.personal-development.info/weight-loss.html
Review of the best weight loss hypnosis system at
http://www.personal-development.info/weight-loss-hypnosis.ht
ml
How To Keep A Deciduous Tree Healthy
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Deciduous trees thrive in a variety of climates. They are a
hearty lot of trees but proper care is necessary to see that
your deciduous trees flourish and survive.
Call it being proactive, call it using your green-thumb, call
it common horticultural knowledge. However you choose to see
it, becoming deciduous-tree savvy is needed, and fairly easy to
do. If you are unfamiliar with how to care for your deciduous
trees, read on to build a knowledge-base to keep your trees
healthy and promote longevity.
Many deciduous trees, fruit trees especially, can survive in
mountain regions=97such as the apple tree or cherry tree, for
instance. The apple tree requires extra chilling and cooler
summer temps, so mountain regions offer this weather-bound
setting. Many mountain regions, however, suffer from a risk of
late frosts. Desert locations are another potential location
for deciduous fruit trees. You rule out late frosts, for the
most part anyway. Yet, mountain or foothill regions are, by
far, a fairer location to plant deciduous trees.
When you plant your deciduous trees, choose a location with
lots of sunlight and, if possible, protected from high winds.
This will aid protecting trees during any unfortunate storms
that blow across the region.
Some deciduous fruit trees require cross-pollination in order
for the fruit tree to germinate and bud. Be certain that you
find a compatible pollinator. You can do this by using a
two-in-one or three-in-one grafted tree can be used. See your
local nursery for further details.
Just as taking a proactive mindset to your planting is key,
it’s also a good idea to label varieties. If, for instance, a
tree dies, you can quickly replace it. Having a backup map with
written labels is another good idea, in the event that labels
are lost or damaged due to inclement weather conditions.
Deciduous fruit trees should be pruned annually. Do so before
buds swell. This promotes optimal growth and yield. Pruning,
although sometimes arduous, doesn’t need to be a complicated
endeavor. Again, it’s a matter of doing a little research,
become familiar with the trees life cycle.
Three pruning phases are necessary for deciduous fruit trees.
The first phase occurs during the planting phase of the tree.
The goal is to help the tree create a vase-shaped structure.
Also, when visiting a local nursery, be certain to purchase
trees with well-developed root structures. Even though the
upper portion of the tree might catch your eye when shopping for
a hearty-looking tree, if the root system is weak, you may have
trouble harvesting deciduous fruit trees.
The second pruning phase begins once the first year of growth
is complete. Prune back your tree and cut it into scaffolds.
This layering of branches promotes the greatest yield. Create
some gaps, but don’t prune back too much.
The third phase of pruning occurs once a tree reaches maturity,
anywhere from 5-7 years for most deciduous trees. Prune the
tree for fruit production during this phase. Pruning, again,
needs to be focused on layering, or designing well-spaced
scaffolding for fruit development and growth.
For more information on pruning fruit trees, contact the UC
Cooperative Extension in Bakersfield, California. They have a
47-page journal entitled Pruning Fruit and Nut Trees. You can
also contact your local nursery to gain further information on
caring for deciduous trees in your area.
About The Author: http://www.mishobonsai.com
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Pro Team Issue Cycling Apparel: The Way To Win
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If you want to go from a weekend cyclist to a true cycling
superstar, it is going to take time, training, and the right
gear to get you there. When the Santini pro-sponsored team rode
in the Tour de France, they were doing it wearing a sleeveless
jersey which helped them ride in comfort on those hot and humid
days. If you are looking for gear that gets you through rough
terrain, multiple climates and long excursions, look for the
same gear that the professionals use.
You might think that you could never afford the pro gear that
riders everywhere are turning to in large numbers with but these
cycling clothes are available to cyclists at all levels for
reasonable prices. The comfort and durability of items like the
sleeveless jersey from Santini are worth owning. The item will
last longer than a lesser brand and you will perform better in a
product that is designed for professionals. Looking into owning
a few pieces of biking gear used by the pros is a step toward
better biking performance and a more enjoyable experience.
As you consider purchasing cycling attire for your self or
family members, look for brands such as Inverse, Santini, Ms
Tina and BioRacer. These brands offer original team issue
clothing sure to get any cycling enthusiast in the pro biking
mindset. As you train and begin to understand the powerful
benefits of owning quality gear, evaluate what areas you could
use help with and consider additional pro gear pieces to help
you move up in your training. Look for pro clothing when it
comes to your cycling jerseys, both long and short sleeved.
Look for the right bike shorts, such as Santini bib shorts, and
get the comfort and style that the pros have.
Don’t forget about the little details when it comes to your
biking style, either. While you are checking out the best
cycling jackets on the market, look for a cycling cap as well as
knee warmers and arm warmers to keep you on the trails even when
it the temperature dips as the evening sets in. You will be
feeling the burn and keeping cozy as well with the best riding
gear on the market to back you up. The pros trust these brands
for good reason. You too can rely on them to get you through the
rough patches of your training in great condition.
Let’s not forget, you will love the way that you look in
original team issue clothing from brands like BioRacer, Inverse,
Santini, or Ms Tina, as much as you love the way that you feel.
There is nothing like knowing that you have all of the
advantages behind you to help you step up your training and
really push the limits of what you thought you could handle.
Original team issue gear is more comfortable, more durable, and
the kind of gear trusted by the pros to help them get through
the toughest races like the Tour de France as well as their
daily training and practice. With the power of the pros behind
you, you will be ready to take on any race.
Ben Anton, 2007
About The Author: Ben Anton lives in Portland, Oregon and
writes for Team Sales Cycling. To find out more about pro issue
cycling attire, visit http://www.tscyclingusa.com
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The Use Of Bodybuilding Equipment To Maximize Results
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In order to achieve their goals, bodybuilders must have a bevy
of tools at their disposal. Of course, their greatest tool of
all is their body; but in order to elevate their physical body
to the level that they need to compete, they must utilize a
combination of intense diet and exercise. However, the exercise
required by bodybuilders also necessitates the use of
bodybuilding equipment to maximize the building and sculpting of
muscle.
Bodybuilding equipment includes those materials that help
bodybuilders increase their muscle mass and sculpt muscles. Such
equipment normally includes different sized weights and is
either used as a part of a weight training machine or as free
weights (those weights free of the machine). What is most
important in the use of this bodybuilding equipment is proper
technique. For those who are novices in weight training, it is
absolutely imperative to work with a trained professional who
can guide you in proper technique so as to avoid injury and
maximize results.
The easiest and most convenient way to find professionals of
this kind is to sign up at a local gym. If you are serious about
bodybuilding, a reputable gym can provide access to all of the
bodybuilding equipment you will need to realize your goals; and,
even more important, it will provide you access to personal
trainers who can help you meet your objectives in an effective
and safe manner. Gym membership may be pricey. But it is not as
high a price as you’d pay if you should injure yourself lifting
weights incorrectly.
Bodybuilding equipment =96 such as weights =96 is used to
continually strengthen, and therefore build, lean muscle mass.
Effectively building muscle relies on consistent weight training
through “sets” of different moves focused on particular muscle
groups. Many bodybuilders follow a routine in which they work on
legs and abdominal muscles one day and arms and back the next. A
professional trainer can help you put together a routine that
works best for your schedule and is based on the specific
fitness goals you wish to meet.
Ultimately, the most important piece of bodybuilding equipment
is your body itself. No weight training will effectively help
you realize your goals without the proper support through diet
and other healthy lifestyle commitments. With an overall
lifestyle committed to working towards optimum physical fitness,
you will quickly realize your bodybuilding goals.
About The Author: For easy to understand, in depth information
about bodybuilding equipment visit our ezGuide 2
http://bodybuilding.ezguide2.com
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