Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 184

my mushroom pizza!

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This pizza is in the superhero section of my book so if you've been exploring the vegan section more you may not have tried it yet. But it is sooo good! If you haven't tried it yet please make it!
 
Thin Mushroom Pizzas
 
Ingredients

12 dried shitake mushrooms
1 cup dried porcini mushrooms
1 T olive oil plus more for drizzling over tortillas
1 onion halved and cut in half-moon slices
3 garlic cloves
2 pinches of fine sea salt
2 cups fresh button mushrooms sliced
A few drops of shoyu to taste
8 whole wheat tortillas Ezekiel brand is my favorite for this
1 cup tofu cream page 225
8-10 black olives sliced
Chopped fresh basil for garnish

Steps

Preheat the broiler
Soak the shiitake and porcini mushrooms in water to cover for 30 minutes in a small bowl
Remove the mushrooms from the water
Cut out and discard the tough shiitake stems
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat
Add the onion garlic and a pinch of salt and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion and garlic begin to soften
Add the shiitake and porcini mushrooms and cook for 5-7 minutes or until the mushrooms are tender
Add the button mushrooms with a pinch of salt and shoyu
Cook for 2 minutes and set aside
Drizzle the tortillas lightly with olive oil and toast under the broiler until almost crisp being careful not to burn
Spread a thin but generous layer of Tofu Cream on each tortilla and top with the cooked mushrooms and olives
Drizzle with a little more olive oil and broil again until the tortillas are just crisp
Garnish with chopped basil before serving

I usually put a dollop of tofu cream on top and keep more on the side just in case. Yum!

kicking mono's butt!

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Kind Lifer Allix recently sent me her success story about overcoming mononucleosis by switching to a kind diet! Check it out:
 
"This is going to sound strange for someone so young I'm only eighteen but I had virtually no life until I switched my diet. The reason is that I contracted the worst case of mononucleosis that my doctor had ever seen when I was thirteen. Most cases go away fairly quickly but mine stayed with me and I was sick all the time. I had to work my life around whether or not I would wake up sick. I used to throw up until I passed out and that happened at the very least about two to three times a month. I also had chronic sinus infections on top of all that! I went vegetarian but going vegan was what really kicked the mono. I only went that direction because I read an interview with you Alicia Silverstone in the EnergyTimes. After that I was sold. You truly changed my life! Now I can go to the movies with friends and actually can hold a part time job. I'm actually going somewhere! You have made such an impact on my life that I wanted to let you know! I would never have gone vegan without your book. Thank you so much!!"
 
I am so happy for you Allix! Thank you for sharing! It means the world to me - I wish you the best forever!

I love sharing your success stories so be sure to post them in the forum and like them or private message me – I may post your story on The Kind Life homepage!

onion tears go away!

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Lots of delicious recipes call for onions....but chopping them can be excruciating! To keep the stinging eyes and tears at bay we got these very cute-goofy goggles from Delight.com.
 
I thought I'd share so all you kind cooks can enjoy your post-holiday meal prep!

Do you have any tips for chopping onions?

greenridge organics

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Recently a Kind Lifer sent me a link to this skincare company called Greenridge Organics... And oh boy are their products great!

Their Face Petals Organic Cleanser is so nice; the Synergy Facial Day Serum serum so yum and the Calendula Primrose Intensive Cream pictured above is so nice too.

I'm a big fan and wanted to share!

vegan pregnancy q&a - part 3

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If a mother is vegan will there be enough nutrients in her breast milk?

Susan: Yes. But first it's important to note what her child will not be getting. Mothers who are not yet vegan have more chemical pollutants in their breast milk compared with vegan mothers. Having said that it is always important to ensure complete nutrition. Women need more Vitamin B-12 during pregnancy and lactation. For vegan moms it is important to continue B-12 supplementation throughout all stages of the lifecycle.
 
Vegan mothers should make sure they have a reliable source of Vitamin D sun exposure fortified foods or talk to a healthcare provider about supplementation and iodine iodized salt does the trick in the mother's diet while breastfeeding as well.

Will a pregnant woman or woman who is breastfeeding get enough calcium if she is vegan?

Susan: Yes calcium needs are easily met when consuming plant foods. Leafy green vegetables have the most absorbable form of calcium kale collards broccoli Brussels sprouts. Beans are a good choice. Supplemented beverages such as soy milk and rice milk can be part of a healthful diet as well.

Does a vegan baby get enough good fat?

Christina: They can if the mother is eating enough fat while nursing and once the baby moves to solid food. Foods like avocado tofu oils oats pureed cooked nuts and seeds in food as long as there are no allergies are good sources of fat for babies.
 
Susan: Yes. A vegan baby gets everything the mother consumes. If the mother is eating a good ratio of essential fatty acids and avoiding the less desirable fats the baby will reap the benefits. If the mother is consuming a typical high-fat American diet then the baby will be at a disadvantage.     
 
Are there advantages to raising kids on vegan diets?

Susan: You are doing your kids a huge favor by starting them off on the right dietary path. Building meals from vegetables whole grains legumes and fruits will help them to stay slim and as research shows more and more help them stay healthy for life.
 
When children have healthful vegan eating habits right from the start they will learn to maintain vitamin- and fiber-rich cholesterol-free eating style throughout their lives.
 
Will a vegan child get enough Vitamin B-12?

Susan: Yes easily. So long as the mother takes a reliable source of B-12 then a breast-feeding child will get enough B-12. Anybody who consumes a vegan diet will need to take a reliable B-12 source. This is easily done either via fortified foods or supplements such as any typical multiple vitamin.
 
Christina: For Vitamin B-12 both the sublingual tablets and the shots are effective. The difference is with the sublingual you need to take the supplement daily and with the shots you have an immediate reaction - fabulous energy! Most people will not need another shot for several weeks or months. I like both the shots and the sublingual but for most people the sublingual is enough anywhere from 500-1500 mcg daily.

Alicia: You can learn more about Vitamin B-12 here

Is there a difference between raising girls vegan versus raising boys vegan?

Susan: There are no major differences between raising vegan boys and girls. Nutrient needs for the whole family are easily met by providing a varied plant-based diet. Vegan children in general tend to consume more protective foods such as fiber iron folate and antioxidants such as vitamins A and C compared with non-vegetarians. They also eat fewer sweets and more fruits and vegetables!

What kind of vegan-friendly lotion helps with stretch marks?

Christina: There is a product called organic beauty breast cream that says it can prevent and can even help repair existing stretch marks...I have not used it but it comes highly recommended. On the other hand I have had experience with pure hemp seed oil and it does an amazing job or preventing and helping to repair stretch marks...and the cool thing is that it's so high in omega 3 that is soaks right into the skin and doesn't leave you oily...

Alicia: If you are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant I highly recommend reading Dr. Holly Roberts' book Your Vegetarian Pregnancy. She has thirty years of experience as an obstetrician and a vegetarian. In her book she covers the details of nutrition for vegetarian vegan and macrobiotic diets for pregnant women. She also discusses the experience of pregnancy month by month - it's a must-read!

royal oaks farmers market

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On a rainy Saturday when I was in Detroit I took a trip to the Royal Oak Farmers Market. It's mainly indoors. It had loads of veggies fruits and a mix of outside vendors selling things like maple syrup yummy breads collectible dolls natural skincare products jewelry...all kinds of stuff.

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There was lots of local produce but only a handful of organic stands. It would have been awesome if they'd had more organic....but it was great that they had some!

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Here is what I ended up getting:

a small seedless watermelon
small cantaloupe
really pretty radishes all pink and purple
the biggest leeks i've ever seen in my life like probably 2 or 3 feet long
an heirloom tomato
1 pint of raspberries
cucumbers

Do you go to your local farmers market regularly?

vegan pregnancy q&a - part 2

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Are prenatal vitamins vegan?

Christina: Not all of them but there are brands that are. I have seen women have good results with Deva vegan prenatal multivitamins. Both Mega and Rainbow Light brands of prenatal vitamins are also of the highest quality and have worked hard to not contribute to the upset stomachs that so many pregnant women deal with. These vitamins have all the nutrients needed and are designed to get to the cells more efficiently.

Would a woman who is vegan during pregnancy need to take more supplements than a non-vegan pregnant woman?

Susan: The needs are the same between vegan and non-vegan pregnant women with the exception of iron. The prenatal vitamin takes care of most of the iron needs during pregnancy. Because vegans do not get their iron from meat it is advisable to focus on plant sources of iron such as whole grains beans spinach chard dried fruits and beets. You can increase the absorbability of dietary iron by pairing iron foods with high Vitamin C foods.

Christina: Dark leafy greens like kale collards and bok choy are a great sources of iron in our diets. Broccoli whole wheat black turtle beans escarole watercress dandelion greens and lentils are all great sources of iron as well. Try to limit spinach and Swiss chard as they contain high levels of oxalic acid which inhibits absorption of calcium and iron.

Iodine like that found in Kombu or iodized sea salt is important during pregnancy and breast feeding because iodine deficiency is the cause of the most preventable form of brain damage in newborns. It's been my experience that most macrobiotic women who do not eat fish are deficient in iodine - but getting enough is as simple as using iodized sea salt or taking a kelp supplement.

Are there solid facts that state that a vegan pregnancy is healthier than a non-vegan pregnancy?

Christina: According to www.happycow.net and www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com a vegan pregnancy can be just as healthy and nutritionally adequate as any other. Experts like Dr. Neal Barnard will take it a step further and tell you that a properly nourished vegan woman will be healthier during pregnancy and not struggle as much with digestive issues bloating swelling of the feet insomnia and all the other things that plague women during this special time.
 
Susan: In a 1987 study of 1700 pregnancies at a vegan community in Tennessee pregnancies were dramatically healthier. And only one in 100 babies had to be delivered by cesarean section compared with much higher rates in the general population.
 
Alicia: All of the vegan pregnancies I have witnessed have been way smoother than those of my non-vegan friends. My friends Heather Laura Lalayna Desire and "Macro-Mom" Sarah Forrester Wendt did not have to worry about all the medications and interventions that our society has come to consider normal. From my point of view the more vegan you are the more healthy you are – and that makes your pregnancy go more easily and helps your baby to be super duper healthy!

Will eating vegan increase the risk of the baby developing certain allergies later in life?

Susan: A vegan diet offers increased intake of immune boosting foods to help protect against chronic health problems.

Christina: As long as the mother is getting adequate amounts of zinc in her diet or as a supplement there is no concern. Zinc is essential to health. It doesn't prevent allergies directly but having a balanced concentration of zinc in the body results in a strong immune function that often is the key in allergy prevention and treatment. Zinc can be found in foods like whole wheat and nuts.

In part 3 we'll cover child nutrition and breastfeeding. Stay tuned!

the most superhero toothpaste...

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I love Jason Sea Fresh toothpaste. But I know that the Weleda Salt Toothpaste is the superhero way to go so I use that one sometimes too.  

I usually use the Weleda one at night. It's not as fun or yummie as the Jason toothpaste but it has cleaner ingredients. So give it a try if you are looking for superhero toothpaste.... Just don't be surprised if it slightly grosses you out...but only slightly as it's just the taste of salt.

Do any of you use this toothpaste?

vegan pregnancy q&a - part 1

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Christina Pirello and Susan Levin have answered some of your very important questions about vegan pregnancy. These are the most common questions I received from you Kind Lifers when I first asked last January. There's a lot of great information below so take a look at it and keep those questions coming! I'll be posting more answers to your questions in parts 2 & 3!

What kind of formula should a vegan baby drink?

Christina: Well first I have to say that the best food for babies is breast milk. In the rare instance that a mother cannot nurse then a formula can be used. There is a lot of controversy around soy and the isoflavones that include phytoestrogen. Somehow it has been put out there that phytoestrogens are the same as estrogen - but they're not at all the same. Unlike estrogen phytoestrogens are plant-based. They just behave in the same manner as estrogen receptor cells which regulate levels of estrogen in a woman's body. That said the soy formula I have found to be the most natural - without simple sugars additives GMOs antiobiotics or other questionable ingredients - is Baby's Only Organic sweetened with brown rice syrup.
 
Susan: Soy-based formulas are the best option for a non-breast feeding baby. Human breast milk is unique and not mimicked by anything else in nature so grocery-store brands of soy rice cow's milk by themselves are not substitutes for formula.
 
Also macrobiotic counselor Warren Kramer recommends checking out this book about organic baby food.

Is soy bad for a pregnancy and while breastfeeding?

Christina: No. Even if a baby is shown to be sensitive to soy nothing seems to come through in the mother's milk so there is no worry. While the baby gets all the nutrients the mother consumers experts say that if a baby has food sensitivities that does not mean the mother can not enjoy the foods the baby is sensitive to. The baby gets the nutrients but usually does not show signs of distress from the sensitivity. And usually an infant's sensitivity to soy is not something they are born with; often the mother has one too. We say that the mom should eat normally and see if there is a negative reaction in her infant like excessive fussiness indigestion crying...it will not usually be severe. In fact studies have shown that mothers eating traditionally-produced organic soy like tofu tempeh shoyu and miso are more relaxed and as a result so are the babies.  
 
Susan: Soy products are safe and may even have health advantages. In fact research has shown that the earlier people consume soy in life the greater the health advantages. So sharing your love of soy with your children may be a priceless gift. Soy is not essential but it does reduce cancer risk later in life. Additionally protein needs go up during pregnancy and lactation and soy is a great high-protein source. Emphasize whole soy foods such as miso tempeh tofu soy milk and of course the whole soy bean edamame.

Christina: People are freaked out by soy because they have been told to be freaked out. The truth is that traditional soy can help women with so many things from PMS to hot flashes associated with menopause; to reducing breast cancer risk; to reducing muscle tension in the legs. On the other hand any soy products with soy isolates or isolanted soy protein should be avoided because the way they're processed makes them unhealthy.
 
Are soy formulas safe?  If so which one should a mother feed her baby?

Christina: Most soy formulas are loaded with sugar and are not made from organic soybeans so you could be getting GMOs pesticides herbicides antibiotics and other additives. Again the only one I have found to be free of all that jazz is Baby's Only Organic.
 
Susan: Yes soy formulas are safe. According to published research there does not seem to be any difference in outcome between babies who drank soy and cow's milk formulas. Dr. Spock himself felt soy formula did have advantages over cow's milk formula because of cow milk's link to various diseases such as type 1 diabetes lactose intolerance and dairy allergies.
 
In the 8th Edition of Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care it states "cow's milk itself … is not safe for infants. The protein and sugar mix is wrong and infants fed straight cow's milk are likely to become seriously ill."

How can a vegan pregnant woman increase her protein without going overboard on soy?

Susan: Don't sweat the protein issue. If you consume adequate calories your protein needs will be met. When you eat more calories during pregnancy you naturally consume more protein as well. It takes care of itself! Remember protein is found in whole grains beans peas nuts seeds and vegetables. Yes even broccoli gets 1/3 of its calories from protein!

Christina: There is no need to go crazy with protein because you're pregnant. There is protein in everything we eat except fruit. Women should get their protein from beans soy foods traditional again no isolated soy seitan and grains like quinoa and amaranth which contain the same levels of protein and structure as an egg and a daily serving of nuts. A vegan woman need not go nuts with soy to get what she needs. I usually recommend people eat tofu once a week and enjoy fermented soy more often: twice a week for tempeh daily for miso. Fermented soy is easy on digestion so people have fewer difficulties with it.

That covers your soy questions! In parts two and three we'll look at your questions about breastfeeding stretch marks Vitamin B-12 and much more!

the most eco running shoes!

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My friends Jeremy and Claire recently sent me this link to the Brooks Running Green Silence shoe. It's made from recycled materials and dyed with soy-based inks!
 
Brooks Running has been around since 1914 and it's a subsidiary of Warren Buffet's Berkshire-Hathaway Inc. Buffet is one of the cooler guys in the world of finance because of his commitment to philanthropy and close collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world but seems to have a strong desire to use his wealth for good.

Anywho it's always nice to find sustainably-made running shoes! Do you know of any other great eco-friendly sneakers or running shoes?