Got the Facts on Milk?

Still think milk is a healthy drink?  Watch GOT THE FACTS ON MILK? and learn why it's a problem with far reaching tendrils  With our healthcare system in crisis why are we still consuming something which is implicated in so many diseases?  Have we all been brainwashed to think milk is needed for healthy bones?  Yes!  But it's just the opposite.   How has this happened?  How are we still operating under outdated bad information?

Got the Facts on Milk explores some of the reasons we got into this way of thinking and how the dairy industry permeates our culture.   Heavy hitters like Dr. Campbell of the China Study, Dr. Furhman, and Dr. Barnard speak out on why dairy is Not healthy and contributes to cancer, diabetes, obesity, and a myriad of other serious health issues.

This is very important for people who still think it's a good idea for children to have milk with their lunches.  In  some states, it's still required. Schools should be banning milk, not requiring it!  At any rate, this is a very watchable, award winning documentary that should be in every school and library.  Find more HERE.

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Forks Over Knives--Movie Trailer

Check this out, Forks Over Knives promotes the concept that disease can be avoided and reversed with the appropriate diet.  This could be one of those life changing films along the lines of the book THE CHINA STUDY.  Sometimes people are more willing to watch a film than read a book.  For those who read this blog, it might be sort of singing to the choir, but I'm looking forward to seeing this and passing it along to family and others.

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But where do you get your protein?

Twice this week I have been asked, by two different health care professionals, where I get my protein.  This is a common response to finding out you enjoy a vegan diet* and it never ceases to amaze me how much the protein myth has got its teeth into our culture.  I want to say, but I'm afraid it would sound rude, have you ever seen a gorilla?  Or a chimp?  Their diet is mostly leafy greens, which are loaded with protein by the way.  And they could tear your head off with a casual swat, that's how strong and powerful they are on their vegan diets**.

You can take one look at a gorilla and see that protein is not an issue for them.  It's not for us either but rather a long standing myth making people think they need animal products. Protein is just a chain of amino acids and they come in many varieties. Pure, unadulterated food from the plant kingdom is the highest quality, most easily assimilated protein we can eat with leafy greens topping the list.

There is a ton of literature out there on this topic, so I am not going to try to encapsulate it in a blog post, but I will steer anyone who would like to know more to the following books:  THE CHINA STUDY, by Campbell and GREEN FOR LIFE by Boutenko.

* I do eat raw organic honey on rare occasion--vegan police don't come after me!
** Gorillas eat about 3% insects, but it's 97% plant food otherwise.

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Need Last Minute Gifts?

I always thought books make for great gifts. A quick trip to your local bookstore can solve all your last minute gift quandaries. For kids, how about SNOWMEN AT NIGHT and SNOWMEN AT CHRISTMAS, by Buehner and Buehner? The illustrations are awash with blue hues and very soothing to look at, and the stories explain what snowmen do when no one is looking.

For your Gluten Free friends (or anyone who loves to bake): THE FLYING APRON, by Katzinger, containing recipes from her Seattle bakery with the same name. It's a beautiful book that makes Gluten Free Vegan baking very very enticing.

And, for anyone who can read, THE CHINA STUDY, by Campbell. In a word, life-changing. Most important book on my shelf. If everyone at medical school read this book, the entire health landscape would be revolutionized.

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Book Review: Green Smoothie Revolution by Victoria Boutenko

One of my favorite books is GREEN FOR LIFE, by Vicoria Boutenko. This book had a big effect on me, convincing me for the first time in my life to eat kale. I always tried, but never liked it and only ate it dutifully and smothered with earth balance when I did. Green For Life taught me to put leaves of raw kale in my blender with fruit for an ultra nutritious beverage/meal. I got that book two years ago and green smoothies have been a big part of my life ever since and for that I'm grateful to Victoria.

Her latest effort, GREEN SMOOTHIE REVOLUTION, has about 150 recipes for those needing ideas. There are also many stories of how individuals were able to transform their health by the simple addition of green smoothies into their diet. Public health could be completely revolutionized by following Victoria's advice, so I think it's an apt title.

After two years of green smoothies, I feel like I can't live without them. I often joke that if my house were on fire, the first thing I would grab after my son is the blender. You get hooked. My son loves them too, we drink them several times a week, and in the summer, at least once a day. Green smoothies are for everyone, not expensive, and she even tells you which greens you can find through foraging.

There is an interesting back story. Her family had some health issues the medical system failed to cure or even provide manageable care for. So she did a ton of research and her family transitioned to a raw food diet. Their health dramatically improved and then hit a plateau at one point. After doing extensive research on the chimpanzee diet, Victoria realized the missing link was greens. The story is fascinating, illuminating and very exciting. Why wasn't this obvious to all of us all along--it's so simple!

Green Smoothie Revolution stands on its own, but I would highly recommend Green For Life first. You don't have to be a raw foodist or even heading down that path. This is for everyone, and that's the beauty here, it's accessible to all. If you feel like you need to boost your nutrition levels or know anyone who is suffering from ill health or a chronic condition, these books could be potentially life changing. Highly recommended.

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