Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 112

Prevent Acne Naturally for Kind, Clear Skin

When I wrote about how I cleared up my acne, so many of you had great questions about how what you put into your body affects your skin. I invited my friend and macrobiotic expert Christina Pirello to answer your questions with me. Here we go…

Q. Ann Marie: Why have you cut back on nuts and how do you feel about 'fats' in a diet? How do you feel about adapted versions of a raw diet, with LOCAL fruits/veg/nuts/seeds rather than tropical? E.g. apples, almonds, etc.

Alicia: A little bit of natural fat is good… like olive oil and avocado, and some tahini here and there. Don’t go nuts (pun intended!). Local raw can still be bad for your skin. Eating apples and almonds is not bad, but if I was only eating raw foods (especially in the winter) then my skin would still freak out. I eat an apple or a handful of almonds occasionally, but not more than roughly one cup per week. I’ve never had a problem with my skin from eating olive oil, but if I eat a lot of nuts or nut butters, I can run intro trouble. I tell my raw story about going raw in the intro of The Kind Diet and I’ll be doing a post about raw foods soon!

Christina: While fats are good for skin and that includes nuts and nut butters and tahini, once you have skin trouble, you need to cut back on fats (not eliminate, but minimize) until the skin clears up. Anything that is inflammatory to the system (and while fat is good for us, excessive use or inappropriate use of it will turn it inflammatory) or contributes to an acidic pH, will aggravate skin conditions.

So while raw nuts and fruits and avocadoes are fine in a healthy diet, they need to be minimized until skin clears.

Q. Georgia Munro: Any advice for getting rid of acne scars, or more generally, for wound healing?

Christina: Acne scars take time, but you can minimize them and see them fade over time with some ingredients right in your kitchen!

Olive oil is the most amazing treatment I have seen for acne or any other scars. Simply massage it into the affected areas 3-4 times a day. Make sure to use pure or light olive oil (which have high acidity), not extra virgin (which has low acidity and is less effective). It could take 2-3 months to see a big difference. Tea tree oil will also help reduce the scars and you can use it in the same way.

Next, get some fenugreek leaves (from a website like mountainroseherbs.com) and make a paste with the leaves and olive oil to create a facial mask. Do this 2-3 times a week and you should see results in 8 weeks.

You may also boil 1-tablespoon fenugreek seeds in 2 cups of water for 10-15 minutes and pat it on scars when it cools down. You can do this 3-4 times a day and could take 3-4 months to see a difference.

But the number one remedy for acne scars is lemon juice applied right to the scars. Do this 3-4 times a day and you should see some changes in 4-5 weeks.

Q. Ashley Fay: What do you use as a daily cleanser? I’ve been looking for a new natural cleanser

Alicia: I use my Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty Simply Pure Chamomile Cleanser. It smells so great and feels really yummy. It’s so healing… it’s made with the most delicious and healthy ingredients like organic apple juice, organic aloe leaf juice, champagne grape seed oil, passionflower, and white tealeaf. I talk about it more in this video.

Christina: I love Alicia’s cleanser, but I alternate it with a cleanser I make in my kitchen: a gentle scrub made from brown sugar and warm water which makes a soft, exfoliating scrub that works great for my sensitive skin. I alternate days with Alicia’s cleanser and this scrub. You may also use salt or regular table sugar (finally a use for sugar that’s good for us…) but the brown sugar is nice for sensitive skin. If your skin is dry, use olive oil in place of the water to create the scrub. Simply add enough water to the sugar to make a gritty paste. 

Q. Bogette:  Are there any foods that make acne worse or cause more breakouts? And what foods help clear acne?

Christina: The foods that are the worst for acne are white flour, sugar, dairy and any other animal food. Sugar and white flour clog the pores and prevent your skin from breathing as well as increasing the skin’s production of oil. Many times, acne is caused by hormonal imbalances, so you can see why dairy foods and other animal foods are a problem for acne. Most animal products naturally contain hormones (they are animals, after all…) and since most commercially produced animal foods are treated with hormones, it’s a lose-lose…for the animals and for your skin.

Q. Valerie Mey: What are your thoughts on soy? Why is it on the “no list” now?

Alicia: Soy isn’t on my “no” list. I eat soy, but in the healthy versions… the ones that have been keeping Asian cultures alive for thousand of years with little incidence of cancer (until they were introduced to the Western diet, that is). These include all organic miso, soy sauce, and tofu. I don’t eat processed soy products except as a rare treat (like So Delicious), but not in my regular superhero diet. Here’s more about the deal with soy.

Christina: I completely agree with Alicia on this. Soy is a great food for us, but only when it is a traditionally produced product like tofu, tempeh, edamame, miso or soy sauce…and I also agree that on occasion, foods like So Delicious are fine, but those kinds of foods are occasional treats…if you want lovely skin and good health.

Q. Kanderso: My skin looks much more luminous on a raw diet. Do you have any idea why people react so differently to diverse diets?

Alicia: That’s great! Mine got so bad on a raw food diet. I was happy, but my acne was crazy and I got chubby. But I was happy!

Christina: Everyone is different. We are all born under different conditions; have different constitutions; different health conditions. Some people thrive on raw foods although, in my own experience, I have never seen someone (or their skin) thrive for many years. Most often, raw foods work very well for a time. They are rich in fiber and loaded with moisture and enzymes all of which are just great for skin…and also great for cleansing. Many times our skin glows on a raw diet for a time because the body is cleansing and getting plenty of moisture. If it works for now, go for it, but remain aware of how you feel and be open to adjusting your diet as your health requires.

Q. LC: Why do non-local fruits affect the skin? Is it because tropical fruits have more sugar? Is it because local, organic fruits have more available nutrients? What if you move to a tropical island, would you still not be able to eat the fruit? Does everyone on a tropical island have acne?

Alicia: Fruits like mangos and pineapples are designed to cool off people in those tropical climates. It’s ideal to eat what is indigenous to your area to avoid stressing your body. When you align more with nature and the seasons, you’ll align more with yourself and your body.

Christina: Not all fruit affects our skin in a negative way, but tropical fruits have a lot of sugar, which can contribute to skin trouble if you eat a lot of it. And yes, a lot of people who live on tropical islands struggle with their skin in terms of breakouts. While tropical foods can help cool the body, that concentration of sugar can take a toll. That said, if you also eat lots and lots of dark leafy greens, you can likely enjoy some tropical fruit now and then with no consequence to your skin.

Q. Amy <3: Is there something you can substitute for miso soup? (Every time I have ever tried it, the smell alone makes me nauseated).

Christina: Nope. There is nothing that can do for us what miso does for us. If it makes you sick when you eat it, it’s an indication that your intestines in fact need fermented foods. So you have some choices. You can use a light amount of miso (using salt to make up the flavor) and gradually increase it until you tolerate it better. You may also use other fermented foods like sauerkraut or unpasteurized pickles to help strengthen digestion. Finally, you can take a pro-biotic to help alkalize and strengthen digestion until you can tolerate miso.

Q. Kirsten R: I get acne all the time! Since starting the vegan diet, my acne has become worse…maybe it's the stress. I'm not sure, but I would love for it to go away! Will try to cut back on fruit, though I love it and up my vegetable intake. All the whole grains I've been eating have made me gain a little weight. =/ Maybe I'm doing horribly on this whole balanced and healthy diet-planning thing.

Alicia: Krysten, what are you eating? You won’t gain weight from whole grains so it’s possibly something else in your diet. Maybe the fruit? How much fruit are you eating daily? You can send me a message here.

It might be good to limit your grains to 1/2-3/4 cups at each meal instead of more. Remember to chew really well and make sure that you’re eating superhero style and balanced. Which means, lots of vegetables and legumes as well!

Christina: Sounds like your diet is off balance. You need to eat more protein in the form of beans, tofu and tempeh, less volume of grains (but still eat them) and lots and lots of veggies and a little bit of good quality fats like olive oil. Minimize nuts and avocadoes, and fruit and juice.

Q. Maria: What are the effects of birth control and natural alternatives to it? I have read many times that it is good to get off of birth control, but not about alternatives.

Alicia:  Birth control is very intense on your body. While very effective at preventing making babies, it's very damaging to our natural balance and is not healthy. That said, my skin was a wreck when I stopped birth control.  When I first went with Christopher to see a macrobiotic counselor, she noticed how bad my acne was after going off the pill and that was how I started on a superhero diet.

I've practiced a natural method for many years. When you practice natural birth control (sometimes referred to as "Natural Family Planning") be aware that you could become a mama if you don't practice it perfectly! I wrote more about what I do and the book that I used to get started in this Q&A blog.

Christina: While birth control can help prevent unwanted pregnancies they do have an effect on our health. This is a complicated answer, so this will just scratch the surface. Preventing pregnancy with pharmaceuticals messes with your body’s natural hormonal balance and the long-term implications are far-reaching and complex. A lot of how birth control affects you depends on what you take, how often, how strong it is and your health and age when you begin taking it.

Natural alternatives exist but are not as effective as pharmaceuticals. They include: withdrawal method; knowing when you ovulate and abstaining during that time; condoms for both men and women; contraceptive herbs like wild yam, neem oil, pomegranate can help; they are between 70-85% effective.

Q. Tracie B: I still get blackheads and little bumps under the skin that never turn into anything but they still annoy me. Any advice for those?

Christina: Sugar and dairy are the main causes of these blackheads, although excessive soymilk can contribute since it’s so fatty.  Skipping these and other fatty foods will help, as well as scrubbing the skin (see the scrubs above). Blackheads are an accumulation of dirt and bacteria and sebum that clog the pores, so steaming your skin can also be helpful. Boil a pot of water with calendula oil in it (a few drops) and then make a tent over your head with a towel and steam your skin for 5-10 minutes. Follow the steam with a scrub and then moisturize with a natural, vegan moisturizer that will not clog pores. You can steam 2-3 times a week.

Q. Rikki S: I began experiencing skin problems a few months into my vegan diet which began last Jan. …After much trial and error, I found that almond milk was the culprit. …I've not had any problems since I've stopped drinking almond milk daily. I now use soy or on occassion coconut milk. Hope this helps someone who may be experiencing similiar skin problems.

Alicia: Yes, too much nut butter or soy and rice milks can cause this problem too… You don’t need to necessarily cut it out completely, but don’t eat/drink a ton of it.

Christina: I am with Alicia on this one. While all the non-dairy milks and nut butters are fun and all that, it’s more important if you want great skin, hair, nails and a normal weight, that you eat whole grains, beans and lots and lots of veggies, especially greens.


Do you have any other questions about acne that we can answer? 

Photo sources: Flickr

Natural Make-up for Every Skin Tone

In talking to people about my Juice Beauty make-up collection, some people would tell me that they wished I would make more colors to match their skin tone. When I tell them the make-up works with every skin tone, people are often skeptical.

So, to show them what I’m talking about, I asked my team to collect some friends with different skin tones to prove that my Simply Flawless Pressed Powder, Irresistible Glow Facial Highlighter, and Purely Kissable Lip Color really do look great on everyone.

 

There were a lot of “wows” and “this is great!” It’s so nice to know they were all excited about how it was going on their skin and about how it looked. 

 

Here are all of the ladies modeling the make-up. They have such pretty smiles, sweet eyes, and check out those dimples!

 

Kendall’s Favorite: “I absolutely loved the highlighter.  It was soft enough that I didn't look like a clown, but just bright enough to bring out my cheekbones and give my pail skin a hint of color.  I also love that it's not your ordinary blush powder (which also gives my skin a cakey look).  The creamy illuminator is so much more appealing!”

Megan’s Favorite: “ Love the powder! It's full coverage without feeling heavy or looking cakey. ”

Faith’s Favorite: “I loved the lip color! It glided on silky smooth - almost like a balm - and the color is a beautiful sheer pink that I'd wear on the daily.”

Allison’s Favorite: “I loved the peachy pink color of the Juicy Beauty lipstick because it brought out warm, glowy tones in my olive skin. It's also a very versatile color, so I would feel comfortable wearing it all year round. It looks pretty when paired with a bold eye for a nighttime beauty look, or with natural makeup for an office-appropriate look. It's an everyday staple!”

Renee’s Favorite: “Out of the three make-up products, the powder was definitely my favorite. I was a bit skeptical at first, thinking it would look heavy and wouldn't match my skin tone. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it blended and instantly fell in love with the sheer coverage that was enough to cover any imperfections without making me my face feel too cakey.”

 

Thank you ladies for showing everyone that the Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty collection really does look great on all skin tones!!

Have you tried my collection?

I would love to see it on you!

Add a photo of you wearing all or some of the Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty makeup to your profile and link to it in the comments!

Win The Kind Diet and My Outfit!

 

 

This month for my Kind Diet giveaway, I’m also giving including an outfit straight from my closet! Love this jacket and this top… and them together. The jacket is a size small and made from bamboo and organic cotton by The Batillion. I love this company, but I’m not sure if they’re still in business because their website is down. Sad. The lacy, small, off-white top is from Threads 4 Thought in organic cotton and recycled polyester.

For our January giveaway, I asked you to tell me how you’ve successfully nudged a loved one to try going kind and what you said or did to inspire them. Winner Kim shared this great story:

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Kim: I love this question because I have a great story. My son, Kevin, was unhealthy, overweight and suffering from gout in his mid-twenties. He didn't want to get on medication, so he figured he would try the "gout diet". This diet is quite restrictive, and recommends only an ounce of meat per day. I've been vegetarian for many years, so I told him that I would help him on his journey. I shared recipes, and websites with him. During this time, he bought me a copy of The Kind Diet, which he also read, which was very helpful to him. He learned about nightshade plants and their affect on his health. He also gained knowledge and understanding about many other foods and their health benefits from The Kind Diet. I know it wasn't easy for him at first, but he persevered! He has lost over 40 lbs. His health, physically, emotionally and mentally, is greatly improved. He practices a vegan lifestyle now. And he's a GREAT cook!! His vegan pot pie has been the most popular dish at Thanksgiving the last two years. And when someone wants advice on where to go for Pho or Asian cuisine, they ask Kevin. I'm so proud of Kevin. I realize I helped get him started on his path to wellness, but his own strength and conviction has kept him there.

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I’m so happy to hear this!! Send my love to Kevin! And send over that potpie recipe, please!

 

Win My Spring Outfit & A Signed Copy of The Kind Diet

For this month’s giveaway, I want to hear from all of you kind fashionistas.

What is your favorite eco-friendly clothing or shoe brand? Is there a piece you’ve been eyeing for Spring?

 

TO ENTER:
1. 
Paste a link to your favorite new eco piece or one you’re dying to have in the comments below.

2. If you have it already, tell me in your comment why you love it. If you don’t, tell me why you want it!

3. If you share this blog on twitter with the hashtag #KindFashion you’ll be entered a second time!

 

• You must be a registered thekindlife.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• This contest is open to residents of the USA only.
• Winners will ONLY 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 17, 2013.

 

Is It Superhero?

I’ve noticed there’s some confusion in the forum about when you should eat superhero and how strict you need to be.

What is “Superhero”?

The Superhero plan is loosely based on the macrobiotic diet on top of a vegan foundation. That means, fresh whole foods, grown locally and in season… revolving around whole grains, vegetables, beans, and lots of other good things. White sugar, white flower, and processed junk should be avoided entirely. For detailed information about the difference between the superhero diet and a vegan diet, go to page 97 of The Kind Diet and be sure to check out the transcript of my live chat all about the superhero diet.

How strict should you be?

First of all, I always feel better when I eat superhero. Overall, I’d say I eat superhero about 80% of the time and the rest vegan. This is a good approach for people who are generally healthy. When I’m getting ready for a role or an event, or I feel a little tired or off, I eat a very clean, as close as possible 100% superhero diet. A more strict superhero diet is also ideal if you are trying to lose weight or heal a specific illness or condition, like a bad cold or more serious illnesses like cancer. In the latter instance, I recommend seeing a macrobiotic counselor.

Is the Superhero diet only for sick people?

Many of the foods a sick person might eat on a strict superhero diet are delicious for healthy superheroes too! I eat healing foods like brown rice, beans, steamed bok choy or kale, and miso almost everyday. I just dabble in the vegan flirty world from time to time too. I generally don’t deprive myself of the occasional treat, like a vegan cookie, slice of vegan pizza, or a half glass of wine, sometimes more. Whenever I indulge, I know how to help my body recover. If I ever feel less than great, a cup of my healing tea or a good superhero meal usually brings me back to feeling my best.

That said, once you taste the glory of eating superhero and feeling so clean, balanced and pure, it’s hard to want anything else. But I still play a little with the flirty vegan stuff. The rest of the time, I’m macrobiotic/superhero, and I love it.

When I was in New York, the vegan food was way too delicious to resist! It was the holidays, and I wanted to try everything. I will say I was feeling way more tired, grumpy and weird, all because of the sugar and the excessive use of salt at restaurants. I was cooking to balance it out, so I wasn’t going too crazy, but now it feels so great to go back to serious superhero times.  Even Christopher is being more superhero with me right now… Yay! So join us!

I hope this helps!

Do you have more questions about the superhero diet?
Share in the comments below. 

Photo source: flickr.com / Patrick george is taking a break from photography, flickr.com / jules:stonesoup , flickr.com / The Delicious Life

My Two Valentines & a Strong Heart

Happy Valentine's Day, Kind Lifers!

Our family isn't big on exchanging gifts… the best gift is spending time with my two guys.  That said, I was just informed not to make any plans. Christopher said he has something planned… my guess? Partner yogaat our fav yoga spot. But we will see…I may have hinted by leaving out a flyer from our favorite yoga place with a Valentine's Day special event for partner yoga. We went a few years ago and it's so nice. If you haven't tried partner yoga, do it! It's so nice to do with your loved one. It's all yoga with your partner, not just regular yoga poses. 

I’m a lucky lady. See the video below… it’s old, but I just came across it. I can’t remember exactly when this was, but Bear is somewhere between 10 and 13 months old.

 

 

Now, let’s make our hearts stronger in honor of Valentine’s Day! Meat is a major contributing factor to high blood pressure and heart disease, which lead to heart attack and stroke. And beef isn't the only culprit… chicken contains as much cholesterol as beef and trout is right behind! Dr. William Castelli, director of the Framingham Heart Study, says a low-fat plant-based diet would lower an individual's risk of heart attack by 85%! You can read more about this in The Kind Diet. So be kind to your heart today by eating veg!

I hope that your Valentine's Day is filled with lots of love. Whether you're spending it with your partner, your best friend, your family, your coworkers, or even just yourself, I wish you love, and healthy and happy hearts.

 

Vegan Dating Pt. 2

 

 

 

A little while back, I shared some throughts about dating as a vegan. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet. The jist is not to limit yourself to finding someone who is already a vegan. Be open to the person who is right for you.

On the other hand, if you are hoping to find a plant-based partner, here are some more ideas for how to find one...

 

How to meet a veg partner:

• Like I mentioned in my video, try going to eco and vegan events where you might meet like-minded people. The farmer’s market, a yoga class, or volunteering might be a good place to start.

• Meetup.com is a good way to meet people that share your interests (and not just for dating). There are a ton of vegan and eco-friendly groups there that might introduce you to some cool people. In Los Angeles, there’s a group for Roaming Vegan Potlucks, in New York there’s a Vegetarian & Vegan Meetup, and you London Kind Lifers can join London Vegan Meetup.

• There are some vegan dating sites online like Vegan Passions, Vegan Dating, and VeggieDate. I never tried them, but maybe they are good? Have any of you given them a try?

 

If you want to introduce your partner to a kind diet:


I often see questions in the forum from those of you already in relationships with meat- and dairy-loving partners and you want to know how to introduce them to a kinder diet. Here are some suggestions:

• Start with Meatless Mondays. Lots of restaurants are offering Meatless Monday dishes now. Make Monday a date night and pick a different vegan or veg-friendly restaurant each week. 

• Cook Dinner Together. Pick a kind recipe with ingredients they love, open a bottle of wine if you feel like, and get cooking. This is such a simple date, but it’s one of the best.

• Small Acts of Kindness. Surprise him or her by bringing them lunch one day. Try the rustic pasta on page 147 of The Kind Diet or the waffle, sausage and cheese Panini on page 153. Yum!

• Appeal to Their Sweet Tooth. If your gal or guy likes sweets, make them chocolate peanut butter cups or for a fancy treat, make my candied ginger pears.

• Revamp Their Fav Meal. Just veganize the ingredients or make something in that general realm. Like, mac & cheese or fettuccini alfredo. No need to make a big deal about it being vegan, just share the yum food with love. 

 

Be careful not to turn them off to the kind lifestyle:

This is a very gentle process.

• Try not to lecture about veganism if they haven’t expressed an interest in learning about it. Wait for them to ask. If it’s been a while and they haven’t inquired, give them a book that best suits their personality. Maybe Meat is for Pussies, The China Study, Food Revolution, No Impact Man, Engine 2 Diet, or The Kind Diet.

• Try not to criticize their food choices. Be patient and stick to your kind habits. Chances are, they’ll warm up to them without even realizing it. Continue sharing all the good foods like my Cheesy Oozy Guacamole Bean Dip and Artichoke, Mushroom, and Leek Crostini with pesto from The Kind Diet. Continue to take care of yourself and they will see that you look better than ever and that you feel great. How can they not eventually be curious? The love and good vibes will be contagious. 

 

What do you think?

2% of people in the US are vegans, according to a Gallup poll last year. Vegan women outnumber men by about three to one. The odds might seem to favor plant-based dudes, but Rob Masters of the London Vegan Meetup Group says that veg ladies are more willing to pair with a non-vegan partner. So whether you’re  a guy or gal, if you’re looking for a plant-based partner, the odds are tough!

After reading those numbers, I was curious to see how you all feel about being in the dating game or in relationships as vegans. So, I created this little survey. It's pretty short so it won't take more than five minutes and I'll share the results of the survey after Valentine's Day! Could be fun, right?

 

What are your tips for finding a vegan mate or introducing your partner to veganism? 

Share in the comments below, and if you have more questions about this topic, post those too. I’ll try to answer them in a future blog.

Speaking of comments, we have some brand new comment capabilities! Now, you can reply to someone else's comment and give a comment a "thumbs up." Hope you enjoy the new features!

Photo source: flickr.com / Bahoolala

PETA POST: Time to End the Military's War on Animals

 

I’m really pleased to introduce a new series on The Kind Life, I want to be able to bring all of you the most urgent animal causes each month and ways that you can help that case, whether that be sending an email, making a phone call, signing a petition, or just sharing the post with some friends. To help with this, I’ve partnered up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (who you all know as PETA). Once a month, one of their experts will be sharing about an urgent cause here on The Kind Life. Here’s our very first one from Justin Goodman, director of laboratory investigations:

Time to End the Military's War on Animals

By Justin Goodman
 

 
Outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has just made history for gender equality by lifting the military's ban on women in combat. He's also been presented with a rare opportunity by President Barack Obama to join one of his predecessors and leave a legacy of compassion for animals.
 
Exactly 30 years ago, PETA learned about U.S. military plans to obtain 80 live dogs from animal shelters, string them up, and shoot them with high-powered rifles for a crude "wound lab" to teach military personnel to treat traumatic injuries. PETA leaked the news to The Washington Post, and hours after a cover story ran, then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger—who was known for his fondness for his canine companion Kiltie—took swift and decisive action and scrapped the misguided plan. Soon, the military formally banned the use of cats, dogs, and primates in training drills, although the move did not protect the many other animals who were also tormented in these exercises.
 
Though PETA has since convinced the military to replace cruel training laboratories involving monkeys, cats, and ferrets in favor of humanlike simulators, today approximately 10,000 pigs and goats are still shot, stabbed, dismembered, and killed in archaic U.S. military training drills. But President Obama has just signed a bill that requires the Department of Defense (DoD)—which Panetta will still head until at least mid-February—to report to Congress by March 1, 2013, with a strategy and timeline for replacing these violent animal laboratories with modern non-animal methods such as lifelike human simulators that breathe, bleed, cry, and even "die."
 

 
Last year, people were outraged when PETA released disturbing, never-before-seen undercover footage showing live goats as they were stabbed, had their organs yanked out, and had their limbs broken and cut off with tree trimmers during a military training drill, all while the animals moaned and kicked. This cruelty continues even though strikingly realistic simulators are available, military policy requires that they be used instead of animals whenever available, and more than three-quarters of our NATO allies don't use any animals for this kind of training.
 
High-profile military veterans Oliver Stone, Bob Barker, and Gideon Raff as well as current and former military doctors and medics have called on the DoD to modernize its training program. A PETA staffer who is a former U.S. Navy medical specialist recently explained in The Huffington Post why using simulators for emergency medical training is better than tearing apart live animals.
 
Like Caspar Weinberger, Leon Panetta has been open about his affinity for animals. He recently posed with his loving golden retriever, Bravo, for a photo shoot in Esquire and told the magazine that having Bravo by his side during trying times helps reinforce "what life is really about."

 
Write to Secretary Panetta

...and urge him to make compassion for all animals his swan song by recommending to Congress an immediate end to the use of animals in military training drills. Send a message here.

 
Do you have any questions for PETA that they can answer in their next update?

 

 

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

 

 

Photo source: flickr.com / tintedglass

A Veg Guy Shares About Valentine’s Day

We have a lot of ladies here who guest blog here, but it’s not often to come across a cool veg guy who wants to share. I was really excited when Kind Lifer Kalem agreed to guest blog about his experience as a veg guy on Valentine’s Day. Here’s what he had to say!  Love, Alicia

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My First Vegan Valentine’s Day
by Kalem

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This time last year, my girlfriend and I had been vegan almost one month and were feeling great. However, there was a small cloud looming on the horizon: Valentine’s Day.

I’m not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day. I’m sure I have my reasons deep down someplace, but this might just be an old fashioned case of being a “stick in the mud.” Still, I knew my girlfriend would be excited, and I was determined to do things right. I had a great plan. We would go to a restaurant, get some drinks, order up the best thing on the menu, and cool it all down with a chilled desert. A fine meal is an easy way to show someone you care. Unfortunately, you can’t “make it rain”(aka spend a lot of money) at a vegan restaurant, or at least it’s very difficult. I learned that even after drinks, appetizers, main courses, dessert, and coffee, I would be lucky if I would be paying more than $75. I began to panic a little. It wasn’t really about the money. I knew she would be happy with a nice dinner, but I felt I needed something more.

I looked online for jewelry, but nothing inspired me to purchase. I found a flower shop, but that seemed cliché.  I even hit up my friends for craft ideas, but execution would fall well short of the sentiment.  Then it hit me. I needed to think about what we shared, and why that was special to me. Our lives needed to inspire how we celebrate the holiday, and inspiration was staring me straight in the face.

Our first steps into veganism were also corresponding with us deciding to move in together. New beginnings were popping up for us everywhere , and we were both very excited and hopeful for the possibilities. I decided I wanted to harness some of that energy into our Valentine’s Day celebrations. For dinner, we picked a vegan restaurant that was eco, and mirrored our concern for healthy food, prepared well, and grown locally (we picked Café Gratitude in Hollywood). This was what we cared about. For our relationship, I got diamond earrings, but with raw diamonds that were conflict-free. This was to recognize that we have something strong and special, but very new. She loved it.

While I am not a big fan of the Valentine’s Day spirit, I do have to say I learned a lot. Through the hustle and bustle, I was able to find out what really mattered. It isn’t about being flashy, and making a huge fuss. When it comes down to it, the day is about taking the time to tell the person you love how much they mean to you. Sometimes that means “making it rain” at a restaurant, and sometimes that means buying a set of raw diamond earrings. Other times, it’s about the smaller details that make it all more significant. 

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Thank you, Kalem! The thought and effort you put forth is just so sweet. Your girl is lucky!

How do you make Valentine’s Day meaningful for you?

 

 

About Kalem: Kalem works in film postproduction and is an aspiring screenwriter. He enjoys trying new recipes, Scorsese films, and most things nerdy. Add Kalem as a friend.

 

Photo source: flickr.com / seanmcgrath, Flickr.com / jewels globe, Flickr.com / makelessnoise, Flickr.com / bymanu

Is Your Chocolate Fair?

I’m happy to have Kind Lifer Katie (who has shared about sewing kids clothes and eco weddings) share this blog about the organization she works with, the Food Empowerment Project. They want to make the chocolate industry fairer!

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Buy Fair Chocolate!
By: Katie Gillespie

Photo source: ©Romano

 

 

Did you know that the worst forms of child labor, including slavery, are a huge problem in chocolate production? Seventy-five percent of the world’s cocoa is grown and harvested in Ghana and the Ivory Coast – countries where child labor, slavery and human trafficking is prevalent. Children (as well as adults) working on cocoa farms are exposed to dangerous working conditions, harmful agricultural chemicals and sometimes physical violence. Extreme poverty in the region forces many children to seek work on cocoa farms. When they arrive at these farms, most of these children receive no education, they are paid next to nothing if they are paid at all, they are housed in unhealthy living conditions and fed a diet lacking in necessary nutrients. You can read about this issue in more detail here.

A fantastic California-based nonprofit organization – Food Empowerment Project – has launched a campaign to end the worst forms of child labor in cocoa production. Food Empowerment Project is a vegan, food justice organization that has a number of great campaigns to address pressing concerns about human, animal and environmental forms of injustice.    

When I found out about child labor, slavery and human trafficking in the chocolate industry, I was shocked and wanted to do something to make change. If you’re like me, you might be asking, “What can I do to help?” As members of The Kind Life community, we can do a few very easy and important things to help:

 

•  Buy only FEP-recommended chocolate! Purchase vegan chocolate from companies that do not source cocoa from regions where the worst forms of child labor are common. Use this handy list as a buying guide!  (They don’t have every brand, but it’s a great place to start! – AS) 

•  Sign a petition! Food Empowerment Project works tirelessly contacting companies to find out where they source their chocolate. Clif Bar has shockingly refused to disclose the country of origin for their chocolate! Sign this petition now to ask Clif Bar to be transparent in their sourcing.

•  Spread the word! Post info on your social networks about Food Empowerment Project, their chocolate campaign and recommended chocolate list, as well as the Clif Bar petition.

•  Volunteer and/or donate! If you want to get more involved, Food Empowerment Project would love your help and is always in need of volunteers and donations. 

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Thanks Katie for sharing this great and really important information!!

Before we get too sad about one more thing we can’t have, I have good news! All of my favorite chocolate companies on the list are all on the recommended list (or the “working on it” list). I was suddenly devastated when I saw my new favorite chocolate company Chocolate Inspirations listed as “Cannot recommend: companies that did not respond.” I asked my team to reach out to them to find out why they weren’t on the awesome list and to urge them to get on it… only to find out that they are sustainable and fair trade and now they’re communicating with FEP. Hopefully they’re on their way to “recommended” status! If your favorite company isn’t on this list or isn’t recommended by FEP, reach out to them and urge them to make their practices sustainable and to get on FEP’s recommended list!

Is your favorite chocolate company on the recommended list?

I hope we can all get inspired to do something to help make chocolate production more kind! 

Sneak Peek: Jeffrey Campbell Vegan Shoes For Spring 2013

I wrote about Jeffrey Campbell’s super chic vegan shoes back in November, and I’m happy to bring you a sneak preview of what he has in store for spring. Jeffrey Campbell is once again collaborating with Convert to bring us vegan versions of the season’s hottest footwear trends. This season, look for small floral patterns, reds and yellows, knotted wedges, weaves and straps, and sneaker wedges. Here’s a sneak peek of the Jeffrey Campbell / Convert collection for Spring 2013:

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I just got these “Deposit” penny loafers from their current collection:

I’m really excited to try them out. He also has some great-looking flats called “Wrapped” and they come in blue/silver and gold—both of which are on my wish list!

Jeffrey Campbell’s collection will be available exclusively at Convert in Berkeley, California. If you’re in the U.S., you can also order online at Convert’s eBay shop.

Pin With Me!

Let’s continue discussing spring style on Pinterest! Here’s how:

1. Follow me on Pinterest
2. Pin your favorite eco/vegan spring must-haves to your own pin board.
3. Paste the link for your pin or your board and I'll repin my favorites!

What spring trends have caught your eye?