Why These 7 Doctors Are Vegan

"A vegan diet is just what the doctor ordered. As the health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle are going mainstream, these doctors are leading the charge on advocating for plant-based nutrition as medicine."

12 Houseplants That Have the Power to Heal

"A growing body of research proves that simply being around nature can improve human health and happiness."

12 Houseplants That Have the Power to Heal

Plastic pollution threatens human health on a global scale

“The heavy toxic burdens associated with plastic – at every stage of its life cycle – offers another convincing argument why reducing and not increasing production of plastics is the only way forward. Plastic is lethal, and this report shows us why.”

Plastic pollution threatens human health on a global scale

Your Home and Companion Animal

"Whether you become a vegan for health reasons or due to ethical values and beliefs, you may want to look into making your entire home vegan. This can be a segmented process that requires some consideration, since most people do not realize how many of the products and materials in their homes come from animals. It may be a long, and at first expensive, process, but if you are committed to the cause it will be worth it in the end."

Here are some tips:

Veganism: Your Guide to Veganising Everything in your Home

Here are more ideas for creating a animal-friendly, stylish and comfortable home for you and your dog:

Is your home 'best friend' proof?

Simply Vegans Come in All Healthy Shapes and Sizes!

Before I go any further, I want to say that before taking on any change in diet, please consult your doctor first, preferably a vegan doctor or one that is vegan-friendly and knowledgeable.
The American Dietitian Association has said that a vegan diet is safe for all stages of the life cycle. I have met many vegans, but I now see more and more people who want to go further than having a vegan diet and are restricting all processed and cooked foods, becoming raw food vegans.

There has not been enough research to prove if a 100% raw food diet is safe, whereas simply having a vegan diet has been scientifically proven as safe.

What I have personally seen is that raw food vegans are very thin, and many look sickly thin, and that is not good for them or for the animal rights cause. People see these raw food vegans and think they are anorexic--I think that too sometimes. It does raw food vegans no good to look sick and therefore are sick/malnourished. In fact, some foods are better nutritionally and need to be cooked for it to be digested better for the body, including some antioxidants that fights cancer. So at least one should have some cooked foods in their meals along with some oils.

This obsession vegans have with being super-thin is ridiculous! Don't get me wrong; I am anti-severely overweight fat/not being healthy. But what I like about being simply a vegan, unlike a raw food vegan, is that we come in all healthy shapes and sizes, but what I find disturbing are some vegans who feel embarrassed because they are not pencil thin--I've met these vegans.

Regarding image--especially if looking for a romantic partner: Not every guy or girl wants a lollipop body looking person as a mate. Many people love a person with some meat on their bones--and muscle. I very rarely see any muscle on raw food vegans. They look weak and feeble--not attractive at all, in my opinion. This is not what many people want and that's why some people may not be interested in being a vegan because they think they will look like a skeleton.

A good example of size is the singer Beyonce. She is reportedly a strict vegetarian--eating no animal products--and many, many guys (and women) love the way she looks. She has said she will never be thin and she loves her curves, and so do millions of people. That is just one example of how we can be of any shape, so that's one good thing Beyonce is doing is showing the world you can have a great curvy body and be a strict vegetarian (meaning the diet part only of veganism). I've yet to see a raw food vegan be anywhere near her weight and looks (btw, I've seen Beyonce with no make-up at all and she still looks great--doesn't need make-up).

So vegans, of all shapes and sizes, be proud of your body, as long as you are not dangerously overweight (and your doctor can determine a healthy weight for you). Being simply a vegan is perfect for your health, for the animals, and for the planet, so there's no need to restrict yourself of any more food.

Eat well!

Live And Let Live - Trailer

Live and Let Live is a feature documentary film examining our relationship with animals, the history of veganism and the ethical, environmental and health reasons that move people to go vegan.

Check out the trailer:

Montreal’s First Ever “Vegan Super Store”

Finding exclusively vegan products can be a bit of struggle at times. Even though Montreal has many restaurants, health stores, and grocers that cater to the vegan life, no establishment exists that solely stocks vegan products. Antidote Superalimentation, Montreal and Quebec’s first 100% vegan grocery store, has changed that:

Montreal’s First Ever “Vegan Super Store”

So, Why Become Vegan?

Veganism is a combination of everything in coming to understand about life. To inspire others to commit to an eco-friendly and animal-friendly life, author Sandra Kimler has published a new book titled, “So, Why Become Vegan?: A. Nutritional Reasons B. Spiritual Reasons C. Environmental Reasons D. Ethical Reasons E. All of the Above” (published by Balboa Press).

Drawing upon years of study in nutrition and iridology, Kimler describes her motivations to live a vegan lifestyle in this new health guide. She begins by introducing the reader to tips on becoming more aware of one’s impact upon the earth and its animals. Continuing with chapters on nutrition and veganism recommendations for recipes, websites and books, and finishing with information about the ethical and environmental reasons for veganism, Kimler makes a case for the lifestyle choice.

What Kimler likes for people to take away is the confidence to change their eating habits, thinking patterns and behavior. Her message is: ‘Be kind to yourself. Never feel guilty--but always learn, change and be fiercely curious.’

Shopping to Help the Environment

Everyday choices can affect your family's health as well as the environment.

There's a growing trend among consumers to make choices reflecting the goals and values that matter to them most. So here are a few ideas for easy changes:

Starting with the products you use most frequently can be a simple way to shift your choices to a healthier place. Many hygiene products, such as soap, shampoo and toothpaste use unnecessary chemicals and animal ingredients that are harmful to our human body and, of course, cruel for the animal it was made from. Natural, cruelty-free (and not tested on animals) ingredients work just as well or better than the artificial/cruel variety, so look for options that don't rely on dyes, formaldehyde, parabens and animal ingredients. Ingredients with chemicals directly impact waterways once they go down the drain. More cruelty-free options can be kinder to your body, to animals and to the environment.

Cleaning products like floor polish, glass cleaners, and bathroom disinfectants can be harsh and tested on animals. Consider gentler, cruelty-free alternatives.

Even if your foods are vegan/cruelty-free, certain food products can contain artificial sweeteners or use pesticides. Try switching to less processed foods and buying organic when possible. Look for locally sourced foods for added freshness and to reduce overall carbon footprint in transit.

Companies with smart environmental policies do exist. Do your research and support brands that work to lessen their environmental impact, and take pride in the quality of their ingredients, which should be listed in full on the packaging.

Brands like Tom's of Maine, which makes personal care products like soap, deodorant and toothpaste, as well as others, share their progress in helping the planet by publishing goals and results to the public. They recently released their second edition of the Tom's of Maine Goodness Report that details the company's approach to ingredients, packaging, waste, water, energy, the community, and its employees. For example, the company has opted to use steam capturing technology, ultimately reducing water usage. Cartons used for packaging toothpaste are made of 100 percent recycled paperboard and can be recycled again after use. The company is even looking into future "smart packaging" alternatives, such as biodegradable packaging made of potato starch.

Seek out a list of simple and understandable renewable and naturally-sourced ingredients. Also, inspect the material on which it's printed. Minimal packaging made of recyclable materials is ideal.

If your town doesn't take in a wide range of waste for recycling, TerraCycle is an innovative USA based up-cycling leader that enlists volunteers to recycle waste to make products such as benches, picnic tables or deck materials, ultimately sending less to landfills.

The impact of a few simple changes can have a lasting ripple effect that goes well beyond your home and life.

Vegan Organic Gardening

For those who are preparing their garden plot for this season, or contemplating creating a garden for the first time, this is a terrific opportunity to explain what “natural” and “organic” truly mean.

Many new gardeners may be surprised to find that blood, bone meal and fish emulsion are all considered “natural” ways to fertilize organic gardens. These substances are obtained from slaughterhouse floors or mass fishing operations… and they reek of the industries which they support.

But there is another way to garden, without animal products (including manure). It is often called veganic, vegan-organic or stock-free gardening; there are a lot of different gardening styles under these labels, so you’ll have plenty of options to explore, for the benefit of our fellow animals, our health and the health of our planet.

Whether you are new to gardening or looking to transition your garden to a vegan organic plot; from how to set up your compost pile to an overview of veganic fertilizers, check out more on this subject at the link below:

(source: gentleworld.org)

What is Vegan Organic Gardening?

Kick Your Leather Habit For Good With These Awesome Alternatives

Womens' vegan leather jacket

Mens' vegan leather jacket

Many people see leather as fashionable, timeless and think it lasts forever. But if people knew how it affects our planet, people's feelings about leather may change.

As we know, leather is the skin of a slaughtered animal. In many cases, these skins come from cows, but skin from goats, sheep, pigs, and even cats and dogs are used to make leather. Some of the most luxurious and softest leather comes from the skin of newborn calves; so if you have decided to stop eating veal because you just can’t stomach the thought of eating a baby cow, but you’re buying leather, you are likely still contributing to the cruel exploitation of these babies.

Also, the leather industry is wreaking havoc on the planet. The leather tanning process, which turns raw skins into usable leather, fills the environment with such nasties as formaldehyde, cyanide, lead, and other known carcinogens. Tannery workers, as well as people who live in close proximity to tanning facilities, are riddled with a host of health problems which have been linked to the chemicals used in the leather making process.

Manufacturers are taking notice and are offering up products made from materials that are cruelty-free and kinder to the environment, which is better for us all. Here are five terrific alternatives that won’t even have you missing the leather:

Kick Your Leather Habit For Good With These Awesome Alternatives

"I am 'all in.'  It is a singular devotion to moving forward with all you have with confidence knowing that you not only have the cards on your side, but in the case of this conscious lifestyle, the answer for so many of the challenges we face in the world today and what is absolutely necessary for justice for animals, for our personal health, well-being, and to preserve the precious resources of our planet.  This is what living a conscious, vegan lifestyle brings to this  world. It is my contention that in order to move this great movement forward, we are going to need to move beyond just a casual allegiance to eating a particular way.  Being vegan is not a hobby, it is a lifestyle that should have a profound impact on not only how we live, but also impact all living creatures and the planet that we all inhabit."

Read more of what Paul Graham has to say about veganism at this article:

BEING VEGAN – It’s Time to Go All In

F.A.A.R.M.'s Expertise is Helping You LIVE!

 

 

As of today, F.A.A.R.M. is in the Expert Health & Medicine category at LivePerson, answering any questions you may have about veganism--dietary, ethically, and environmentally. This category is technically titled: Health & Medicine: Diet and Nutrition, so F.A.A.R.M. can also counsel people on that in general as well, having worked professionally in managing health food stores and working in diet clinics for several years in the past, but the main focus will be on veganism:

 

Professional Service

I will help you to understand abolitionary veganism, and veganism as a whole, which is about diet, ethics and the environment, but it's mainly about ethics. While being vegan is mostly about ethics, I'll show you how all three can not be separate, as being vegan is about saving animals, humans and the entire planet. I will offer recipes, and suggest places as to where you can get very affordable vegan items of food, clothing and cosmetics, both online and offline. Proceeds from my services will go towards helping stray/rescued animals get fed, spayed or neutered and to help guardians take great care of their companion animals by providing healthy nutrition and great information for them as needed. So happy with the "virtual office"! F.A.A.R.M. is looking forward to serving you!