Post Meatout

Our Meatout events on March 20th and 21st were a success! We tabled two days in two different locations and couldn't have asked for better weather. We found that having a 'give away' item really attracted folks and was a segue to handing them our plant-based diet information. We chose Newman's 'Oreo' type cookies for our treat this year. Next time, we would like to hand out one of the meat substitutes that are available if we can find some in sample-sized portions. Not only did I enjoy my own interactions with people but also I enjoyed observing my fellow tabler's conversations. Even if our visitors don't choose to make a change in their food choices now, we may have planted a seed for a later time. I am so proud to work along side of Anna, Lisa (not pictured) and Susan - a group of dedicated, strong women!

More on Fats and Oils

The comment on the Coconut Oil post inspired me to do a little research into oils and fats. The University of Illinois, McKinley Health Center has a short summary of why some fat is essential for our diets, and in what foods they are found. Recognizing that some fat is necessary for health, I went to Dr. John McDougall’s website and read what he has to say on the subject. I was impressed by his description of what he calls “free oils”, which are the oils that we buy in the store for cooking, salad dressing, etc. These are oils taken out of their natural environment, or “whole food” source. Rather than a “food”, he refers to them as “medications”, as they are extracted and concentrated unnaturally. The difference between fat and oil is whether they are a solid or a liquid at room temperature.

The amount of fat that our bodies need to function at its best is very small. When we use fats in such a concentrated form, such as oils and other solid-type fats, we risk weight gain and the complications that arise from obesity. Research is also showing that too much fat can be toxic to our bodies, promote some cancers and suppress our immune systems.

We can easily get the necessary fats from a whole food diet that includes modest amounts of oil-rich foods such as nuts, avocados, seeds and olives. Fat is also found in the foods that our common oils are derived from – corn, soy, olive, etc. Ideas for cooking without oil can be found in the August 2007 McDougall Newsletter. Also see the link to Fat Free Vegan in the 'Links' section to the right.

McKinley Health Center

Dr. McDougall on Oil

Cooking Without Oils

The Animal Odd Couple

This amazing video of Bella the dog and Tara the elephant touched my heart and made my day!

Coconut Oil

For several years now, I have been hearing a buzz about a new ‘health food’ product, Coconut Oil. My brother, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was advised by his nutritionist to use only this particular oil for its health benefits. For those of you who don’t know, Coconut Oil is a solid, white, ‘Crisco-looking’ substance. When I first saw a jar of Coconut Oil, I couldn’t help but wonder how a human body could benefit from something that was that solid at room temperature. It turns out, my hunch was right. This is not a ‘health’ food!

Back in February, I took a nutrition seminar put on by The McDougall Program, called the McDougall Advanced Study Weekend. Dr. John McDougall promotes a plant-based diet primarily for health reasons. There, I was introduced to a highly educated and very entertaining speaker, Jeff Novick. Jeff has lots of degrees and titles next to his name: MS, RD, LD, and LN, and he’s a stand up comedian too!

One of the topics that Jeff discussed was the nutritional advantages and disadvantages of oils in the diet. Here are the conclusions he presented in regards to Coconut Oil. This excerpt is taken from his newsletter dated April 10, 2008:

1) Coconut oil has virtually NO nutritional value. It has not protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, or fiber.
2) Like all oils, coconut oil is pure fat. Of the fat in coconut oil, over 90% is saturated fat.
3) All oils, including coconut oil, are the most calorie dense food on the planet.
4) While there may be a rare example of some healthy and fit native population that managed to be healthy in spite of their consumption of coconut, this does not make coconut oil into a health food, or a food that Americans should consume with complete abandon as part of their already unhealthy American lifestyles. The coconuts may have been the only risk factor in the otherwise healthy lifestyle of these native populations. However, recent studies have shown the harmful effects of even one high fat meal when the fat comes from coconut oil.
5) While it is true that coconut oil may have some antimicrobial properties, this is not why we consume food, especially one that has so many other negative aspects to it. Remember, our main nutritional and health problems are not bacteria, microbes and infections, but being overfed and undernourished with too many calories and too few nutrients and the resulting weight and lifestyle related diseases. Coconut oil, which is extremely high in calories and void of any nutrients, only makes this already unhealthy situation worse.
6) You are welcome to add all the coconut and/or coconut oil you would like to you diet, on one condition; you keep the total amount of saturated fat in your diet below 7% of your total calories (with below 5% being optimal). :)
Bottom line?
Don't Go Cuckoo Over Coconut Oil!

Check out Jeff Novick’s article for the complete story:
Coconut Oil

First Vegan Potluck

Here's the press release for the new North Bay Vegan Potluck! It is being launched through Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/North-Bay-Vegan-Potluck/. You can go there to see more information and you don't need to be a Meetup member to attend.

Press Release:
Are you a vegan, vegetarian or just curious about all of it? Come join us for good conversation and good food at Petaluma's first monthly Vegan Potluck. Discuss living a healthy vegan lifestyle, free from animal cruelty. We request that potluck items be free from all animal products including dairy and eggs (check your ingredient list for hidden animal products like casein, whey, gelatin, meat or fish broths, honey, etc.) Please bring your own serving and eating utensils, plate, cup, bowl, and napkin. Please also include an ingredient list with your potluck dish. Paper and pen will be provided if you forget to do this beforehand.
When: March 27th @ 6:30 pm
Where: 825 Middlefield Drive, Petaluma, CA, 94952 (United Church of Christ)(No affiliation)

Activist Inspiration

While listening to NPR tonight on the car radio, I heard an interview with a most amazing woman. She is Nobel Peace Laureate, Jody Williams, who is a Human Rights activist and the leader of the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines. Even though she works for human rights and I've chosen animal rights, her message of how even one person can make a difference in this world applies to both.

She, along with most of us, share the same dream for a peaceful world without violence and war. If we could end these atrocities between humans, could we really have a peaceful world when violence and terror still exist on our farms and in our slaughterhouses? I believe that non-violence does not just apply to people, but to the animals whose bodies we unnecessarily use for food, fur, and testing.

As an activist, it can sometimes feel hopeless when you work alone towards what you believe in. Jody Williams believes that the only way to bring about change in this world is to take action. In Ms. Williams words, "I believe that if enough ordinary people back up our desire for a better world with action, I believe we can, in fact, accomplish absolutely extraordinary things."

Read an interview with Jody Williams:
When Ordinary People Achieve Extraordinary Things

Processed People Trailer

Meatout is coming up!

The international event, Meatout, is coming up on or around March 20th! Here's the description from their website:

The occasion is Meatout, the world's largest and oldest annual grassroots diet education campaign. This year is the 25th annual observance! Every spring, thousands of caring Meatout supporters educate their communities and ask their friends, families, and neighbors to pledge to "kick the meat habit (at least for a day) and explore a wholesome, compassionate diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains."

Please check out the website and consider hosting an event in your area. They supply all of the literature and banners, but order soon as the date is nearing. You can also order sample 'meat substitutes' from participating vendors to distribute at your event. This is an exciting addition to leafleting as it adds some reality of what a non-meat diet could look like. (I know, not all of you agree with the 'meat substitutes', but sometimes it's a good bridge to healthier eating and going vegan.) Also note the ongoing 'Meatout Mondays' where non-vegan folks are being encouraged to try at least one meatless day per week.

http://www.meatout.org/index.htm

Welcome

Welcome to Caring for Creatures. This is a site for the animals, for our physical and spiritual health, and for the health of our planet. I'm hoping to use this forum as a means of inspiration and education on issues related to a vegan lifestyle including animal rights, health and environment. I look forward to your ideas, opinions, questions and expertise. Some recipe ideas would be great too!