The Joy of Being Vegetarian

This entry was written on Jan 05, 2010 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

Do you ever have one of those intense reminders of why you're vegetarian? In the last 24 hours I've had two--and they were both so powerful.

My husband got a documentary on Netflix for us called "The Cove." (I highly recommend it.) It shows how dolphins are captured and taken into captivity and how this industry supports dolphin killing and the eating of their meat (Yes! It's served to Japanese school children and is very toxic--poisoned with lead and mercury). There was one scene in the movie that just burned in my mind. One of the captured dolphins was trying to break through the net to swim free. It was thrashing like mad, splashing everywhere frantically...and it went on with that violent desperation and intensity for minutes straight. The will to survive that all living things have...how miraculous.

My next reminder of the joy of being vegetarian was in watching 60 Minutes (recorded on the DVR from last Sunday). They did a story on elephant communication and how scientists are working on creating an elephant dictionary. Anyway, from the scientist's observation tower at the edge of the elephant's watering hole, she saw how the elephant community reacted to the body of a dead baby elephant laying out in the mud. The footage just grabbed me! The elephants milled around it making distress calls. For days, they formed a kind of receiving line and mournfully walked past the dead baby. Each elephant that passed the body would touch it gently with its trunk. This was the clencher for me: several adult elephants tried to lift the dead baby onto its feet. Over and over again, they tried to pick the baby up, and it would slump back into the mud.

Vegetarians, we make a difference. At the end of each one of our lives, we will never have to wonder if we left a mark or changed a life. It's hard to live outside of the box. Statistics show that as little as 3% of the US population is vegetarian or vegan. Everyday we stand up to scrutiny and ridicule for doing what is right. Take a minute today to feel good about your lifestyle as a vegetarian...to feel the joy of being vegetarian.

Live Longer by Eating Veggies

Want to have a better chance of maintaining a healthy body weight as you grow older? Become a vegetarian. It had been proven that vegetarians have much faster metabolisms than meateaters. In the inevitable slowing of the metabolism with age that results in weight gain, vegetarians have a big advantage.

Recently, a study was conducted that showed that vegetarians have resting metabolic rates (RMR) that are 11% higher than the RMR's of nonvegetarians. A heightened RMR will allow a person to burn fat and calories a lot more quickly than average. On the other hand, a lower RMR will increase the risk of becoming overweight and developing serious health problems that are related to weight issues (like diabetes, heart disease, and strokes). So, by merely substituting every meat dish with a tasty vegetarian dish you can actually increase both your quality of life and your life span.

The So-So Vegetables

This entry was written on Oct 05, 2008 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

When compared to the nutritional values of those vegetables in the first two category these are not as beneficial to your health. Let's take a look at this list:

Corn, Jicama, Lettuce(iceberg), Lima Beans, Mushrooms, Potato(white), Rhubarb, Water Chestnuts

It looks like corn and potato are the most popular vegetables on this list especially with children. We know how much they love corn on the cob and french fries. It's okay to eat the vegetables on this list, but try to limit your intake since some of these are too starchy and/or high in calories.

Good Reason To Eliminate Meat

Did you know that poultry producers and pig farmers routinely use arsenic as a growth stimulant for the animals? Strangely enough, federal law permits the usage of arsenic in commercial animal raising. The trick is that the government stipulates that commercial livestock farmers must stop adding arsenic to the animal feed at least 5 days before the slaughter so that arsenic residue levels will reach a legal level that is approved by the FDA (.55 parts per million).

The truth is, however, that several studies indicate that many livestock farmers do not adhere to these regulations. In fact, the USDA estimates that about 16% of the nation's poultry supply contains levels of arsenic that are above the legal limit. Do your body a favor and skip those meat meals; treat your body to vegetarian entrees instead.

Second Best Vegetables

This entry was written on Oct 05, 2008 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

You will find that the vegetables on this list are not very common so don't be surprised if you don't find too many favorites here. Let's take a look at these.

Artichoke, Eggplant, Okra, Split Peas, Avocado, Celery, Chickpeas, Cucumber, Green Beans, Kidney Beans, Lentil Beans, Navy Beans, Radishes, Turnips, Zucchini

It looks like the majority of these vegetables are legumes, however they are actually vegetables if you recall my mentioning it in one of my previous blogs. Although all of these are not considered the cream of the crop as far as providing health benefits they are still very important to include in your diet. So, if you haven't been eating a lot of these it would be a good idea to start doing so. There are a lot of great recipes for the legumes that I will include later on.

Vegetarian Diet Can Prevent Impotence

Real men are vegetarians! OK, maybe not all real men are vegetarians but one of the biggest benefits of a vegetarian diet for men is that it can help fight impotence. Believe it or not, it was been proven that a diet with a meat base that is high in fat can curb a man's sexual appetite.

Fatty foods like chicken fingers and bacon cheeseburgers cause a higher body fat level which lessens testosterone levels--this can increase the chances of impotence. The reason? Lots of fat can clog the arteries, including arteries that pump blood to the penis. Arterial blockages are a major contributer to impotence problems today.

So, fellas, next time you're cruising through that fast food drive-through, pass on the cheeseburger and opt for a salad or yogurt parfait instead.

The Superstars List

This entry was written on Oct 05, 2008 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

Let me introduce you to the vegetables that are at the top of the list. Let's see how many of these are your favorites.

Alfalfa Sprouts, Asparagus, Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chives, Collard Greens, Garlic, Onions(white or green), Green Peas, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce(red or green), Parsley, Pumpkin, Sauerkraut, Snow Peas, Soybeans, Spinach, Summer Squash, Sweet Potato & Yam, Tomato, Turnip Greens, Watercress, Winter Squash

If you eat the majority of these vegetables on a regular basis then you are doing the right thing for your health. If not, you might want to start thinking about including these in your diet so the next time you go grocery shopping don't forget to add them to your list.

Skip Those Menopausal Symptoms

Ladies, ladies, we all dread it…the big "M." Menopause isn't something that any of us look forward to but did you know that a huge vegetarian benefit is that a meatless diet can fight menopaual symptoms. There are many unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flashes, sleeplessness, depression, water retention, weight gain, mood swings, and loss of sexual desires (yikes!)

A study was actually done where 15,000 women were questioned about their personal experiences with menopause. Vegetarian women reported having far less symptoms than women with meat in their diets. Scientists believe that the reason is that plants contain natural estrogens (there is a relationship between falling estrogen levels and increased menopausal symptoms). Consuming more fruits, vegetables, and grains can actually curtail the drop of estrogen levels.

Vegetarian Foods at Your Fingertips

A huge vegetarian benefit nowadays is that vegeatrian dishes don't taste like they're good for you--they just taste really good! Many people have caught on to the fact that being a vegetarian is bebeficial to your health which has resulted in an emergence of great vegetarian recipes. In addition, convenience has become a big issue as well.

Let's face it, we're all busy and there are days when we don't have the time to whip something up from scratch. Many vegetarian food companies, like Fantastic Foods, recognize this fact and, as a result, they sell prepackaged vegetarian meals and mixes that you can throw together in minutes. Preparing meatless meals has never been so convenient!

Reap the Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet Monetary Wise

Do you want to have some extra cash in your pocket? Who doesn't?! According to studies, people living on vegetarian diets are reaping financial benefits left and right. An average American family spends an estimated $4,000 a year on meat products. Can you imagine how much money you could save if you completely cut meat out of your diet?

Just imagine all of the additional things you could purchase if you were putting an extra $4,000 in the bank annually. And, not only do vegetarian meals cost less than meats but they are costing the body less as well. Many meats are filled with saturated fats, chemical additives, nitrates, cholesterol, and hormones, all things that take a toll on the body. On the other hand, vegetarian foods pump the body full of vitamins and nutrients that can improve overall health--add that up!

Vegetarian Diet Can Reduce Your Cholesterol Levels

Want to have a cholesterol-free diet? Well, my friend, ditch the meat. There is not one single fruit or vegetable that contains any cholesterol; it is a fact that cholesterol only comes from animal sources. Keep in mind that every time you eat a meatless dish you're doing your body a favor and it will end up thanking you in the long run with better health.

In addition, increasing the amount of oat bran or beans in your diet can drastically decrease cholesterol readings (a daily intake of oat bran that is slightly more than a cup or a daily ingestion of 1/2 cup of cooked beans has been proken to reduce cholesterol by 20 %). Try eating soup cups filled with beans or trying out some great vegetarian chili mixes.

Eating Veggies Can Help You to Stay Well

Are you trying to find out some of the benefits of a vegetarian diet? How about your health? Aside from the fact that following a vegetarian diet can help you stay lean, it can also boost your immune system. Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin C and beta-carotene, both of which are thing that help immunity.

Vegetarians demonstrate that they have much stronger immune systems as a result of their diets. And, recent studies in Germany that compared the blood of male meateaters to that of male vegetarians found that the vegetarians' white blood cells were twice as effective against tumor cells. Eat well and stay well by following a delicious and healthy vegetarian diet.