Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 110

Stop the Monsanto Protection Act!

 

 

Last year, Monsanto was unsuccessful in getting their riders into the 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5973), but now they are back! The Farmer Assurance Provision, Sec. 735, nicknamed “Monsanto Protection Act,” is back and the Senate could pass it as early as next week if we don’t act quickly!
 
Late Monday night, biotech lobbyists slipped this dangerous biotech rider into the Senate Continuing Resolution spending bill. If it passes, it would strip federal courts of their authority to stop the sale and planting of an illegal and potentially hazardous GMO crop. 

It would allow biotech companies to continue to sell their unapproved seeds to farmers, who could plant them while important legal appeals are taking place, instead of halting the planting of the unapproved crop until the court settled the appeal as has been done up until now. It basically temporarily approves farmers to continue to use GMO crops while courts make their decisions about them, even if they're harmful to our health and to the environment!

The Center for Food Safety wrote, “The provision represents a serious assault on the fundamental safeguards of our judicial system and would negatively impact farmers, the environment and public health across America.”

If you want to find out more about the Farmers Assurance Provision, check out this article on FoodDemocracyNow.org.
 
Please help to make sure your Senator demands that Appropriations Chairman Mikulski pulls this rider, and support any amendment that would strike it from the new Continuing Resolution.
 
Send a letter to your Senator through FoodDemocracyNow.Org HERE.
 
Sources: fooddemocracynow.org, infowars.com, Organic Consumers Association, Center for Food Safety

Vegan Shepard's Pie

With St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, I wanted to share this recipe for vegan Shepherd’s Pie from Krista at Inspirations & Explorations. It’s a little bit of work, but it looks delicious and would be great for new vegans or to share with non-veg guests. Plus, you can make big batches and freeze it for a few weeks. Because my parents are both full Brits, we had Shepherd’s Pie all the time…and still do! My mom makes it with lentils these days. This one looks good…

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

 

Ingredients:

Filling:
3 1/2 cups vegetable broth warmed
1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
2 medium carrots diced
2 medium potatoes diced
2 small stalks celery chopped
1/4 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
1 large p0rtobello mushroom or 2.5 cups sliced crimini mushrooms
1/2 cup peas
1 medium onion chopped
5 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 TB canola or olive oil
1 TB dried rosemary
1 tsp sea salt (can use less if using salted broth)
1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 TB flour (I use oats ground finely in the coffee grinder or organic white flour)

Potato topping:
2 large potatoes whole, boiled until soft
1 clove garlic finely chopped
2 TB non-hydrogenated margarine
1/2 cup almond milk
pinch of salt

Crust:
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (if you don’t have just use more regular flour)
1/2 tsp sea salt  (I use grey sea salt for extra minerals)
1/3 cup canola oil  left in freezer for at least an hour
3 TB cold water
2 sheets of wax paper
a rolling pin

Instructions:

For the filling:
Pour the hot vegetable broth over the dried porcini mushrooms in your main large pot. Let steep for five minutes.  Add the carrots, celery, and potatoes and bring to a boil with medium heat.  Add a few tablespoons of temperate water to the flour, and stir to make a paste.  Then add to the pot, stirring until dissolved.  Turn down and simmer on low boil stirring occasionally.

Sauté the onions and garlic cloves in oil in a medium pan on medium heat for approximately ten minutes.  Add the Portobello and black pepper.  Add the rosemary: I like to crush it with my fingers as I drop it into the pan.  Stir frequently and continue sautéing until the onions are soft and transparent.   Add the onion/mushroom mix to the vegetable stock pot.   Add peas, corn and salt. Simmer for fifteen minutes or until the broth is thick.  Now, I tend to just leave my original dried mushrooms in this mix because I find the texture interesting but if this bothers you, you can take them out and cut them up into small pieces before putting them back in, or just take them out and discard them.

If you haven’t already boiled your potatoes for the topping, you might want to start the process now.  Just cover them with water in a pot & let boil for fifteen minutes (I find it best to set a timer when I’m working on two parts of a recipe!) Then drain & set aside till needed.

For the crust:
Measure out the water and add a few ice cubes to keep it really cold.  Mix flour & salt in a medium sized bowl.  Pour the oil (fresh from the freezer) in and use a fork to roughly blend.  Do not blend too much; you want more of a crumbly mixture.  Add a tablespoon of ice water and blend with fork.  Continue adding the rest of the water by tablespoons and blending. Form a ball with the dough.  If it doesn’t hold together add a bit more ice water.  Knead the dough a few times.  Place your ball on one of the pieces of wax paper.  Put the other piece of wax paper on top and then use the rolling pin to roll it between the sheets of paper.  Work quickly and don’t overdo it. You want the fats to stay solid and not melt until they make it into the oven.  This is what produces a flaky pie crust!   Make a 9″ circle, approximately 1″ bigger circumference than your pie pan. Carefully peel off the top piece of wax, flip the crust onto the pie pan and press inside.  Now carefully peel off the remaining piece of wax.

Good job. Now fill your pie crust with the filling.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 40 minutes. I put another cookie sheet underneath in case there is overflow.

For the topping:
Take your large potatoes and mash them in a bowl with a fork.  Add margarine, almond milk, garlic, and a pinch of salt and mix to a creamy consistency.

After thirty minutes take the pie out of the oven.  Remove the foil and carefully cover the top of your pie with the mashed potatoes.  Distribute it evenly over the pie.  Place the pie in the broiler part of the oven for ten minutes, or until the top is nicely browned.  Let cool for ten minutes and serve!

If you try it, let me know how it goes!

What’s your favorite Irish-inspired or British-inspired recipe?

Share it in the comments so I can give it a try!

If you have your own recipe to share, make sure to add it to your profile and choose a category under “Please feature my recipe!” at the bottom so we an add it to our Recipe Gallery.

Spring Clean Your Health with a Vegan Cleanse!

Ahhh spring is here!  Finally! Say farewell to cold winter nights and hello to daylight savings. What better time to re-visit your eco-friendly habits and do some serious spring cleaning? That said, don't forget to spring clean your body too! Improve your health and secure that slimmer you with a Kaeng Raeng cleanse!

Kaeng Raeng is an all natural, meal replacement cleanse program that will help you jumpstart weight loss, improve digestion, cut cravings, bolster immunity, and give your skin a natural vegan glow. Just drink one meal replacement pouch 3 times per day for 3-6 days.  The best part? You can eat as many raw fruits and veggies as you want! Kaeng Raeng contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, laxatives or stimulants.

Learn more by listening to what CEO Lindsay Reinsmith has to say about creating Kaeng Raeng:

When I formulated Kaeng Raeng, I wanted to maintain the principles of a raw vegan diet, but in a form that was convenient and easy for everyone.  I had some serious criteria for Kaeng Raeng, and I know you’ll love the finished product.

It had to be simple: So many cleanse programs are completely impractical, whether they require fasting, contain harsh laxatives, have long commitments and complicated instructions, or cost $100/day. We know that’s not for everyone, which is why we created a simple meal replacement system starting at $16/day. No pills, no starving, no headache.

It had to taste good!  I personally created Kaeng Raeng as something I would like to drink, and I’m pretty picky!  We use more than a full serving of real fruit in each pouch with no added sugars or flavors so it’s got a natural, simple taste.  Plus you can customize the shakes to your taste and blend them with water, juice, and fruits and veggies.

It had to be good for you and the environment: Kaeng Raeng is 100% vegan and the only cleanse endorsed by animal rights activist and best-selling Skinny Bitch author Kim Barnouin.  Each pouch contains a serving of fruit, fiber, 15g of lean protein, 2 billion live probiotic cultures, and daily vitamins. We source all of our ingredients from local farmers and use environmentally friendly practices to bring healthy living right to your doorstep.

It had to be made with YOU in mind:  No two people are going to do a cleanse program exactly the same way, which is why Kaeng Raeng is customizable to meet your specific goals and needs. Kaeng Raeng is completely vegan (dairy free), gluten free, caffeine free, and peanut free. Choose Beginner (for first time users), Veteran (for vegetarians or anyone whose done at least one cleanse), or Master (for experienced cleansers).  Not sure which one is best for you?  Take this quiz to find out.

As a small business, we’re dedicated to helping our customers get healthy in a safe and natural way. I personally use Kaeng Raeng every March to alleviate allergy symptoms!  Check out this video to learn more:

Win it!

You’ve probably seen the Kaeng Raeng cleanse mentioned here before. Our last giveaway was so successful that we decided to do it again!  Comment on why YOU want to try a vegan cleanse and follow Kaeng Raeng on Facebook to be entered to win a free 3-Day Beginner program. Can’t wait?  Just use promo code KINDLIFE15 for 15% off at kaengraeng.com. Hurry! This offer expires on March 20, 2013 at 11:59 PST.

Kaeng Raeng ships anywhere in the US and several countries worldwide!  KR is available at select Whole Foods Market stores in the US.  Check with your local store for availability.

• You must be a registered Kind Life member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• This contest is open to residents of the US residents only.
• Winners will be contacted via private message to their thekindlife.com inbox and by email. If our team does not hear back within 24 hours, a new winner will be selected in your place.
• Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
• This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on March 14, 2013.

 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

 

Bring It On Down to Veganville with Justin Timberlake

 

 

SNL had this vegan-related skit on last Saturday's episode and it's great that it has a positive and fun vegan message! I loved it... it made me happy and I smiled the whole way through! You must watch it...RIGHT NOW. You will be happy you did... and might fall in love with Justin and SNL for doing this! What a delight!

 

Justin Timberlake - Bring It On Down 2... by IdolxMuzic

 

Do you know of any other fun videos with a positive vegan message?

Share them with me below! Maybe we'll do a roundup of the best videos....

10 things you can donate to your local animal shelter

Animal Shelters depend on donations to save lives. You can use your spring cleaning to get rid of old things you’re not using any more and donate these items to animal shelters to help them not only save lives, but make the lives of those animals a little softer, warmer and more comfortable.

Used pet toys or new eco ones

Used dog and cat sweaters and clothes or new eco ones

Used bedding or new eco bedding

Used towels or new, eco towels

 Recycled paper and plastic bags

Veggie dog food

Newspaper

Office supplies

Dog & cat beds (used or new and eco)

Kennels & crates (used or new and eco)

 
If you’re not sure where your closest shelter is, here is a full list of shelters by state.

What are some other things that you donate to your local animal shelter?

Let us know so that we can all make a contribution.

Photo Source: PETA.org

Whole Foods Promises to Label GMOs!

 

Yahoo! On Friday, Whole Foods announced that all products in its North American stores that contain genetically modified ingredients will be labeled as such by 2018!

I wish that they could implement it sooner than 2018, but it's my understanding that it takes that long for companies to sell out of their existing products and get new labels on their products. And it's crazy to think that 2018 actually is only 5 years away. It feels like a lifetime from now!

 
This is exactly what us Californians were hoping for with Prop 37 on the ballot in November and even though it didn’t pass, Whole Foods heard us! Whole Foods is the first store in the US to institute the labeling policy, but hopefully not the last.
 
It would be even greater if this type of policy in grocery stores encouraged more food companies to make products that don’t contain GMOs. A.C. Gallo, the president of Whole Foods, said that because in the UK (where there are 7 Whole Foods stores) already requires GMO labeling, there aren’t many products that have GMO ingredients. Apparently the UK is far more sensible than the U.S. In this department… but that's great news!
 
To tell the FDA and Congress to implement GMO labeling for all food, products, you can sign this petition at JustLabelIt.org.
 
Do you think this will make an difference in eliminating GMOs?

What kind of impact do you think it will have on your own shopping habits? Will you shop at Whole Foods more now?

KIND CURE: Kevin Loses Weight & Goes Off Prescriptions with a Kind Diet

For our January Kind Diet giveaway, our winner Kim told us how she inspired her son to go kind. I was so excited about his story that I asked Kim if he would be willing to share. Here is her son Kevin’s "Kind Cure" story!

“Five years ago, I was suffering from moderate depression and very low energy.  Finally I went to the doctor because it felt like I broke my toe—funny what extreme ends ultimately force men into the doctor. Blood work diagnosis was that I had gout, hypertension, my bad cholesterol was high and the good...well, it was alarmingly low.  What should have been more alarming was the doctor labeling me pre-diabetic...what a wake up call (or should have been!).  I was eating horribly - the typical American diet. And here I was—25 years old, given multiple prescription drugs, with a body screaming for help.

“My doctor gave me a 5-page packet filled with foods to avoid—I didn't follow it (the list didn't make too much sense either).  My next two visits to the doctor showed worse and worse blood work.  I began to research what causes gout.  Turns out the Shelled-fish, red meat, white meat, fish, and nightshades (in that order) contain high levels of purines, which metabolize into uric acid in the blood.  It's the uric arid that gets clogged in joints and crystallizes between cartilage causing sharp pain. More frightening is uric acid collects in organs and can eventually cause organ failure. 
My mother suggested going vegetarian, but I shrugged it off.  I really wasn't until I read The Kind Diet and gifted it to my mother when it start it started to click that it was possible healing all my ailments by eating the right foods!

“I gave up meat, and almost instantly started feeling better.  My energy was up and I stopped taking my prescriptions within 3 month.  It wasn't until I gave up dairy altogether to adopt a completely vegan diet did I see bigger changes.

“Today, I cook all the time and I love it—I used to NEVER cook.  I am 55lbs lighter, I no longer take any prescriptions, hypertension is gone, cholesterol is where the it should be.  Most importantly, I feel great!”

Thank you for sharing, Kevin! And congratulations on your new diet and your healthy body!!

If you’ve had a similar experience and are feeling amazing and you want to ditch your medications, it’s a good idea to get your blood tested to validate how great you’re feeling. Plus, your doctor will learn from you that a vegan diet can cure so many health issues! When your doctor sees your improvement, I have no doubt that he will advise you to wean yourself from your medications. If he asks you to stay on meds after great blood work, it might be time for a second opinion.

Will you share how a plant-based diet has changed your life?

I want to hear YOUR story!

Send me a private message with the subject "Kind Cure" with your story to be featured on the homepage!

PETA UPDATE: Monkeys Belong on the No-Fly List

Monkeys Belong on the No-Fly List
By: Justin Goodman, Director of Laboratory Investigations at PETA

Most travelers have no idea that right below their feet on a plane destined for a vacation or business trip, there may be crates stuffed with dozens of terrified monkeys headed for pain and misery in laboratories. And thankfully, this scenario is becoming increasingly unlikely because most airlines around the world have decided that they want no role in transporting primates for cruel and archaic experiments.

Recent efforts by PETA have convinced China Eastern Airlines, United Airlines, Air China, China Southern, El Al, Air Canada, and others to stop accepting these ill-fated primate passengers. These were some of the most crucial airlines that were involved in the international primate trade, and their compassionate decisions are already bearing fruit for animals. With only three major airlines in the world still shipping primates to laboratories, facilities are finding it harder to keep their horrendous cages filled.

In 2012, according to documents obtained by PETA from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there were 17,000 primates imported to U.S. laboratories. This number sounds like a lot, and it is, but it's 1,000 fewer than in 2011 and also a whopping 40 percent decrease from just five years ago. That means thousands fewer monkeys are being ripped from the wild or bred at horrendous factory farms in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean and sold to barbaric experimenters.

Still, there are 125,000 monkeys and other primates currently imprisoned in U.S. laboratories at pharmaceutical companies, universities, and private-contract laboratories, such as those of leading importers Covance and SNBL. These social, intelligent individuals are frequently shocked, poisoned, starved, crippled, cut into, addicted to drugs, and have their brains damaged. They are driven mad by the stress and terror of being locked in tiny barren steel cages all by themselves and begin to spin and rock incessantly, rip out their own hair, and bite themselves.

Heartless experimenters have demonstrated that they won't voluntarily stop tormenting primates, even though it's cruel and ineffective and a large percentage of citizens who involuntarily fund the cruelty with their tax dollars oppose it. But airlines can't and won't ignore the will of potential customers.

Here’s how you can help:

Help keep monkeys out of deadly laboratories and in the wild with their friends and families, where they belong, by telling Air France, Vietnam Airlines, and Philippine Airlines that cruelty doesn't fly.

Send your message here.

 

If you have an animal-realted cause that is near and dear to your heart, write a guest blog about it for thekindlife.com!
You can submit it as a private message to Alicia's profile.

 

Justin Goodman is the director of laboratory investigations at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Let’s Read About How Your Diet Can Save Your Life!

Our next book club selection is John Robbin’s book The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World. It’s a follow up to John’s first book Diet for a New America, but you don’t have to have read that first to enjoy this one. Everything in this book is backed up by scientific studies and research and it’s still very straightforward and engaging.

This book is great for anyone who is thinking about getting healthy, or who wants to reenergize his or her convictions. Or for people who don’t think a vegan diet is healthy.

I read this book a few years after I first went vegan about…fourteen and a half years ago? I’m losing count. But, it inspired me and I really loved it. So much so that I used to give it away to everyone I worked with. When we wrapped a show, this was my gift.

It’s available for Kindle, iPad, and Google Books, for all of you who prefer an electronic reader. It’s also available on paperback in bookstores, on Amazon, and hopefully in your local library. Amazon has used copies and that’s how I buy my books to save trees!

Also, for anyone who didn’t read our last book club book, Ed Begley, Jr’s Guide to Sustainable Living, I just want to give you a little reminder of how great that book it’s and really worth reading!

If you’re reading The Food Revolution with us:

What was your favorite part of the book?

Did you learn anything new?

Was there anything you didn’t understand or want to know more about?

Would you recommend this book?

 

Leave your answers to some or all of those questions in the comments!

At the end of the month, we’ll discuss what we learned.

Preventing Osteoporosis with Excellent Nutrition

I’m happy to have Dr. Joel Fuhrman here to share about which foods are good and bad for bone health and preventing osteoporosis. Because of the milk industry, so many people believe that milk builds healthy bones, but Dr. Fuhrman is here to explain why that just isn’t true:

 

Preventing Osteoporosis with Excellent Nutrition
By: Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

 

Bone health is directly linked to nutrition. Certain foods promote breakdown of bone and osteoporosis. Other foods, such as beans and vegetables, supply your body with the nutrients necessary to build and maintain healthy, strong bones and prevent osteoporosis.

The worst foods for bone health: 

Animal protein and other high protein foods leave acidic residues in the blood, and the body responds by dissolving bone to release basic calcium salts to neutralize the acid, which results in loss of calcium in the urine. Many studies have found animal protein intake to be associated with low bone mass.[i],[ii]In contrast, plant protein intake is associated with decreased hip fractures in the elderly.i  Natural plant foods do not leave an acidic residue in the blood or promote urinary calcium excretion.[iii],[iv]

Salt promotes the excretion of calcium in the urine.[v] (Careful here! It’s good to have some good quality salt, but most people go way overboard. – AS)

Caffeine also contributes to urinary calcium loss. High caffeine intake is associated with increased bone loss and osteoporotic fractures.[vi],[vii]

Soda, including diet and decaffeinated soda, is associated with bone loss.[viii],[ix] Soda consumption increases parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the blood, which increases blood calcium concentrations by stimulating bone breakdown. This increased blood calcium is then excreted in the urine.[x]

 

The best foods for bone health:

Studies show that individuals with the highest consumption of vegetables have the strongest bones.[xi],[xii]

Whole plant foods are the best foods for bones:

Beans, seeds, and greens. A diet full of natural plant foods provides the calcium required to build strong bones. Green vegetables in particular are rich calcium sources. For example, one four-ounce serving of steamed kale has just as much calcium as one cup of milk. Broccoli, bok choy, spinach, sesame seeds, and garbanzo beans are also excellent calcium sources. Furthermore, the body absorbs over 50% of the calcium in green vegetables, compared to only 32% of the calcium in milk.[xiii]

Green vegetables are high in vitamin K, which is a crucial component for maintaining healthy bones.[xiv]

Nuts and seeds are rich in magnesium, an essential mineral for the formation of bone tissue.[xv] They also help maintain adequate calorie and protein intake, to maintain muscle and bone mass without having to rely on high acid-forming animal products.

 

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

Please share this with your veg and non-veg friends and family!

Do you have more questions about this?

Post them in the comments and I’ll try to answer in a future blog.

 

 

Dr. Fuhrman is a best-selling author, nutritional researcher and board certified family physician specializing in nutritional medicine.  Learn more by visiting his informative website at DrFuhrman.com and his blog at Diseaseproof.com, and following Dr. Fuhrman on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

Photo source: flickr.com / akeg  

[i]Sellmeyer DE, Stone KL, Sebastian A, Cummings SR. A high ratio of dietary animal to vegetable protein increases the rate of bone loss and the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73(1):118-122.
[ii]Devine A, Dick IM, Islam AF, et al. Protein consumption is an important predictor of lower limb bone mass in elderly women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81(6):1423-1428.
[iii]Welch AA, Mulligan A, Bingham SA, Khaw KT. Urine pH is an indicator of dietary acid-base load, fruit and vegetables and meat intakes: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk population study. Br J Nutr. 2008 Jun;99(6):1335-43.
[iv]Massey LK.. Dietary animal and plant protein and human bone health: a whole foods approach. J Nutr 2003 Mar;133(3):862S-865S.
[v]Teucher B, Fairweather-Tait S. Dietary sodium as a risk factor for osteoporosis: where is the evidence? Proc Nutr Soc. 2003;62(4):859-866.
[vi]Rapuri PB, Gallagher JC, Kinyamu HK, Ryschon KL. Caffeine intake increases the rate of bone loss in elderly women and interacts with vitamin D receptor genotypes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;74(5):694-700.
[vii]Hallström H, Wolk A, Glynn A, Michaëlsson K. Coffee, tea and caffeine consumption in relation to osteoporotic fracture risk in a cohort of Swedish women. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17(7):1055-1064.
[viii]McGartland C, Robson PJ, Murray L, et al. Carbonated soft drink consumption and bone mineral density in adolescence: the Northern Ireland Young Hearts project. J Bone Miner Res. 2003 Sep;18(9):1563-9.
[ix]Mahmood M, Saleh A, Al-Alawi F, Ahmed F. Health effects of soda drinking in adolescent girls in the United Arab Emirates. J Crit Care. 2008 Sep;23(3):434-40
[x]Larson NS, Amin R, Olsen C, Poth MA. "Effect of Diet Cola on urine calcium excretion" ENDO 2010; Abstract P2-198. http://www.endojournals.org/abstracts...
[xi]Tucker KL, Hannan MT, Chen H, et al. Potassium, magnesium, and fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with greater mineral density in elderly men and women. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69(4):727-736.
[xii]New SA, Robins SP, Campbell MK, et al. Dietary influences on bone mass and bone metabolism: further evidence of a positive link between fruit and vegetable consumption and bone health? Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71(1):142-151.
[xiii]Weaver CM, Plawecki KL. Dietary calcium: adequacy of a vegetarian diet. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59(suppl):1238S-1241S.
[xiv]Feskanich D, Weber P, Willett WC, et al. Vitamin K intake and hip fractures in women: a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69(1):74-79.
[xv] Rude RK, Singer FR, Gruber HE. Skeletal and hormonal effects of magnesium deficiency. J Am Coll Nutr. 2009 Apr;28(2):131-41.