TOP TEN - AWESOME VIDEOS ON DIET

Five Best Foods on Earth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCe3prLsBSo

Top Ten Best Foods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4shudantHtA

Top Ten Worst Foods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZlVpthaYEs

Top Ten Worst Drinks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ReLQJRicys

Meat off the menu as Windsor Castle goes vegan

Meat off the menu as Windsor Castle goes vegan
Royal banquets, surely, are all about meat. From those four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie to a portly King Henry tearing at whole chickens via roast swan and apple-stuffed suckling pigs, our Hollywood-fuelled vision of princely dining is of a flesh fest.
By Xanthe Clay
LINK TO FULL ARTICLE BELOW02 Nov 2009


Sharpen your pencils, Royal historians, because that may be about to change. Tomorrow, Windsor Castle goes vegan for the day, with a banquet for 200 bigwigs, including UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, the Grand Mufti of Egypt and Archbishop Valentine Mokiwa, President of the All Africa Conference of Churches.

The most surprising part? Heading up the table will be the Duke of Edinburgh, founder of the secular Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) which, with the UN Development Programme, has organised the lunch as part of “the Celebration of Faiths and the Environment”.

It’s hard to imagine the Duke tucking in to a nut roast, which is why, when I was asked to advise on a menu that could be eaten by leaders from nine different faiths with all manner of dietary requirements, I knew that the meatless, dairy-free feast I came up with must be anything but dry and worthy.

Catering for nine different faith groups puts the usual dinner-party dilemma of what to give the vegetarian into perspective. The Muslims need Halal meat while the Jewish contingent have to keep kosher. The Daoists avoid red meat, while Buddhists and Sikhs are generally vegetarian. Hindus don’t eat beef or onions. Sadly the Jains couldn’t come, but at least root vegetables can stay on the menu.

To read the full article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/6488123/Meat-off-the-menu-as-Windsor-Castle-goes-vegan.html

Fruits are healing to your body and life

APPLES: Apple protects your heart, prevents constipation, Blocks diarrhea, Improves lung capacity and Cushions joints.

APRICOTS: It Combats cancer, Controls blood pressure, Saves your eyesight, Shields against Alzheimer's and Slows aging process.
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ARTICHOKES: Its Aids digestion, Lowers cholesterol, Protects your heart, Stabilizes blood sugar and also Guards against liver disease.

AVOCADOS: Battles diabetes, Lowers cholesterol, Helps stops strokes, Controls blood pressure and Smoothes skin.

BANANAS: Banana protects your heart, Quiets a cough, Strengthens bones, Controls blood pressure and Blocks diarrhea.

BEANS: Beans prevents constipation, Helps hemorrhoids, Lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer and Stabilizes blood sugar.

BEETS: Beets controls blood pressure, Combats cancer, Strengthens bones, Protects your heart and Aids weight loss.

BLUEBERRIES: Combats cancer, Protects your heart, Stabilizes blood sugar, Boosts memory and Prevents constipation.

BROCCOLI: It strengthens bones, Saves eyesight, Combats cancer, Protects your heart and Controls blood pressure.

CABBAGE: Cabbage combats cancer, Prevents constipation, Promotes weight loss, Protects your heart and Helps hemorrhoids.

CANTALOUPE: Saves eyesight, Controls blood pressure, Lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer and Supports immune system.

CARROTS: Saves eyesight, Protects your heart, Prevents constipation, Combats cancer and Promotes weight loss.

CAULIFLOWER: Cauliflower protects against Prostate Cancer, Combats Breast Cancer, Strengthens bones, Banishes bruises and Guards against heart disease.

CHERRIES: It protects your heart, Combats Cancer, Ends insomnia, Slows aging process and Shields against Alzheimer's.

CHESTNUTS: Chestnuts promotes weight loss, Protects your heart, Lowers cholesterol, Combats Cancer and Controls blood pressure.

CHILI PEPPERS: It aids digestion, Soothes sore throat, Clears sinuses, Combats Cancer and Boosts immune system.

FIGS: Figs promotes weight loss, Helps stops strokes, Lowers cholesterol, Combats Cancer and Controls blood pressure.

FISH: Fish protects your heart, Boosts memory, Protects your heart, Combats Cancer and Supports immune system.

FLAX: Flax aids digestion, Battles diabetes, Protects your heart, Improves mental health and Boosts immune system.

GARLIC: Garlic lowers cholesterol, Controls blood pressure, Combats cancer, kills bacteria and Fights fungus.

GRAPEFRUIT: Grapefruit protects against heart attacks, Promotes Weight loss, Helps stops strokes, Combats Prostate Cancer, Lowers cholesterol.

GRAPES: Grapes saves eyesight, Conquers kidney stones, Combats cancer, Enhances blood flow and Protects your heart.

GREEN TEA: Green tea combats cancer, Protects your heart, Helps stops strokes, Promotes Weight loss and Kills bacteria.

HONEY: Honey heals wounds, Aids digestion, Guards against ulcers, Increases energy and Fights allergies.

LEMONS: Lemons combats cancer, Protects your heart, Controls blood pressure, Smoothes skin and Stops scurvy.

LIMES: Lime combats cancer, Protects your heart, Controls blood pressure, Smoothes skin and Stops scurvy.

MANGOES: Mangoes combats cancer, Boosts memory, Regulates thyroid, aids digestion and Shields against Alzheimer's.

MUSHROOMS: Mushrooms controls blood pressure, Lowers cholesterol, Kills bacteria, Combats cancer and Strengthens bones.

OATS: Oats lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer, Battles diabetes, prevents constipation and Smoothes skin.

OLIVE OIL: Olive Oil protects your heart, Promotes Weight loss, Combats cancer, Battles diabetes and Smoothes skin.

ONIONS: Onions reduce risk of heart attack, Combats cancer, Kills bacteria, Lowers cholesterol and Fights fungus.

ORANGES: It supports immune systems, Combats cancer, Protects your heart and Straightens respiration.

PEACHES: Peaches prevents constipation, Combats cancer, Helps stops strokes, aids digestion and Helps hemorrhoids.

PEANUTS: Peanuts protects against heart disease, Promotes Weight loss, Lowers cholesterol and Aggravatesdiverticulitis.

PINEAPPLE: Pineapple strengthens bones, Relieves colds, Aids digestion, Dissolves warts and Blocks diarrhea.

PRUNES: Prunes slows aging process, prevents constipation, boosts memory, Lowers cholesterol and Protects against heart disease.

RICE: Rice protects your heart, Battles diabetes, Conquers kidney stones, Combats cancer and Helps stops strokes.

STRAWBERRIES: Strawberries combats cancer, Protects your heart, boosts memory and Calms stress.

SWEET POTATOES: Sweet potatoes saves your eyesight, Lifts mood, Combats cancer and Strengthens bones.

TOMATOES: Tomatoes protects prostate, Combats cancer, Lowers cholesterol and Protects your heart.

WALNUTS: Walnuts lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer, boosts memory, Lifts mood and Protects against heart disease.

WATER: Water promotes Weight loss, Combats cancer, Conquers kidney stones and Smoothes skin.

WATERMELON: Watermelon protects prostate, Promotes Weight loss, Lowers cholesterol, Helps stops strokes and Controls blood pressure.

WHEAT GERM: Wheat Germ combats Colon Cancer, prevents constipation, Lowers cholesterol, Helps stops strokes and improves digestion.

WHEAT BRAN: Wheat Bran combats Colon Cancer, prevents constipation, Lowers cholesterol, Helps stops strokes and improves digestion.

YOGURT: Yogurt guards against ulcers, Strengthens bones, Lowers cholesterol, Supports immune systems and Aids digestion.

Vegan Before Dinnertime - re. Mark Bittman's new book, FOOD MATTERS

Vegan Before Dinnertime
by Suzy Allman
The New York Times
February 27, 2009

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/vegan-before-dinnertime/

Many people struggle to improve their eating habits. The Times food writer Mark Bittman, appearing this week on WNYC radio, told listeners about an unusual strategy that has worked for him.

All day long, he eats a vegan diet. But after about 6 p.m., anything goes.

In his newest book, “Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating With More Than 75 Recipes,” Mark explains how increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and reducing dependence on processed foods will lead to better health not only for your body, but also for the planet. He explained his “vegan before dinnertime” strategy recently on the Leonard Lopate show:

My arrangement with myself is that from the time I wake up until dinner I eat only fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. I don’t even eat white bread during the day. And then starting at dinner, I do. I have one meal a day when I do pretty much what I want, which is normally quite indulgent.

Mark made the changes after developing high cholesterol, borderline high blood sugar, bad knees and sleep apnea, and realizing he was about 35 pounds overweight. A doctor suggested he adopt a vegan diet, which means no animal products. But for a food writer, Mark said, becoming a full-time vegan was both unrealistic and undesirable. Instead, he came up with a compromise:

I decided to do this sort of “vegan till 6” plan. I didn’t have huge thoughts or plans about it. I just thought it was worth a try. Within three or four months, I lost 35 pounds, my blood sugar was normal, cholesterol levels were again normal … and my sleep apnea indeed went away. All these good things happened, and it wasn’t as if I was suffering so I stayed with it…. I have not eliminated anything completely from my diet. I haven’t had a Coke in a while, but I didn’t drink that much Coke to begin with.

Mark says he’s not trying to promote a particular diet, but does want people to realize that a simple evaluation of your diet can lead to meaningful changes.

I want to make things as simple as possible. This is consistent with everything I’ve ever done. I’m the guy who says, “Don’t sweat it.” I’m trying to once again say, “Let’s figure out how to do this cleanly and easily.” I would just encourage everyone to examine the portion in their own diet between processed foods and animal food and junk food on the one hand and plants on the other. To the extent the first group is much heavier than the second group, I say make some adaptations to change that.

All you need to know: well-planned vegan diet

All you need to know: Well-planned vegan diet
By Patricia Khashayar, MD.
Press TV, Tehran
Fri, 06 Feb 2009

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=84901§ionid=3510304

It is often said that to stay healthy one must eat meat; however, a combination of vegetable proteins, supplements and fortified foods can easily fulfill one's nutritional needs.

Vegetable proteins contain small amounts of various amino acids; the right combinations of vegetables can provide the body with its required protein.

In many parts of the world, people adopt vegetable protein-based or vegan diets for religious reasons, as they consider the food they eat can determine the purity of their souls.

Traditionally, vegetarianism was defined as abstinence from eating meat, fish and poultry; today, however, individuals with a variety of different eating habits are classified under this group.

Semi-vegetarians are individuals who avoid eating certain types of animal foods. For example, some people abstain from red meat while eating poultry and fish.

Lacto-ovo-vegetarians are individuals who do not eat meat but consume eggs and dairy products.

Semi-vegetarians avoid eating red meat while they continue consuming poultry and fish.
Lacto vegetarians abstain from meat and eggs but eat dairy products.

Vegans do not eat any kind of food which has an animal origin; grains and vegetables account for the main part of the diet of these individuals.

Vegetarian diets are low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemical.

Vegans are therefore at a lower risk of becoming obese and developing diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and certain cancers.

Lacto-ovo-vegetarians avoid eating animal flesh but continue eating eggs and dairy products.
On the other hand, nutrient deficiency accounts for a considerable amount of the health concerns in these individuals.

Lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets can easily meet their protein need through consuming eggs or milk which are rich in essential amino acids. Other vegetarians are however at an increased risk of developing protein malnutrition and deficiency.

Protein deficiency is especially troublesome in small children and adults with increased protein needs such as pregnant women and those recovering from different illnesses or injuries.

Vegans often face vitamin and mineral deficiencies as many of the elements exclusively found in animal products are excluded from the diet. To overcome this problem vitamins such as B12 must be taken in the form of supplements or fortified foods.

Calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are also common among vegans, as they eliminate dairy products -- the major source of calcium and vitamin D -- from their diet. Vegans can overcome these deficiencies by using soymilk and other dietary products fortified with these elements.

Vegans avoid all forms of food with an animal origin.
Iron and zinc deficiencies are not uncommon in vegans, as the best source of these minerals, red meat, is excluded from vegetarian diets.

Zinc is a critical element for the acceptable function of various enzymes needed for the synthesizes of DNA and RNA, the metabolism of carbohydrates and vitamin A, the storage and release of insulin, and the absorption of folates.

To overcome this problem, vegetarians should use unrefined grains, as whole grains lose their high zinc concentration during the refining process.

Flax seed or canola oil are good sources of omega 3 fatty acids in vegan diets.

A well-planned vegetarian diet can easily help individuals go through the different stages of life such as pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence without risking health concerns.

As dietary patterns determine a vegetarian's health, following simple meal planning tips can help make smart nutritional choices and obtain the best results:

Choose a variety of foods from different groups to meet your energy needs.

One serving of calcium-rich foods can provide approximately 10% of an adult's daily requirement of calcium.

Include 2 servings of omega 3-rich foods (legumes and nuts) in your daily diet.

Get adequate daily sun exposure or drink fortified-with-vitamin D milk or soymilk.

Include at least 3 sources of vitamin B12 in the every day diet.

the SAD Truth: Is your Diet Killing you?

The SAD truth: Is your diet killing you?
by Peggy Kraus
Disease Prevention Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/x-672-Disease-Prevention-Examiner~y2008m11d10-Will-you-be-the-cause-of-your-demise

Eat more of these!
The standard American diet, commonly refered to as the SAD diet, is a toxic diet. Rich in meats, dairy products, and processed foods, this way of eating will cause disease, such as those of the heart, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. A much more healthful, sustainable way of eating is the vegan diet.

It has been estimated that 60% of deaths are caused by our SAD diet. That's huge! That means that six out of ten deaths is PREVENTABLE! You can prevent your demise!

So, what do we need to do to change this? Largely, the answer lies in the foods we eat.

Vegan diets contain foods that are of unmatched nutritive value. We need to fill our bodies with the nutrients that are required for good health. Unfortunately, these nutrients are not found in chicken or fat-free milk. Ninety-percent of our diet should be made up of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans.

These foods contain thousands of micronutrients, i.e. vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants, that work together to repair the never ending damage that daily living brings about within our bodies.

If you follow the low-fat American Heart Association diet, you are taking a risk. As many as one in three people who follow this diet develop heart disease. That's too many needless deaths. The AHA allows too much meat and dairy, including eggs, and does not emphasize enough vegetables. The key to a long and disease-free life is eating a diet that is plentiful in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and beans.

Ideas for good eatin' --

* Eat three fruits at breakfast with your oats or whole grain toast.
* Lunch can be a salad with a number of fresh vegetables, or perhaps a soup with different squash, lentils, and carrots.
* Have fruit as a snack, or cut up veggies. Skip the dressing.
* And, forget the meat at dinner. Vegetarian chili or pasta primavera is fabulous this time of year.

Remember, you are what you eat! Your taste buds will get accustomed to your new eating style, and you will enjoy better health for a longer life.

Look and Feel Younger By Avoiding the Top Contributors to Aging

Look and Feel Younger by Avoiding the Top Contributors to Aging
By Dr. Joseph Mercola with Sarah Potts

http://www.mercola.com/2003/dec/17/feel_younger.htm

In a general sense, premature aging means that outwardly the way you
appear is older than it should be for your age, and inwardly the way you
feel and the way your brain, bones and the rest of your body functions is
below par to what it should be for your age. Your appearance is
inextricably linked to your “inside” health, of course, as is how long and
how well you live. Therefore, taking the necessary steps to avoid
premature aging is a crucial goal.

While multiple factors can contribute to premature aging, none are so
prevalent in the United States, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe than
the over-consumption of grains and sugars. As detailed below, not only
will avoiding this form of carbs and instead eating the right foods
prevent premature aging but also no matter what your condition today, it
will also actually help you look and feel younger than you currently do.

Insulin Levels

It is vital to understand what insulin actually is. Insulin is something
all humans have, as without it we would go into hyperglycemic coma and
die, but nearly all of us have insulin levels that are too high.

The pancreas releases insulin--produced by beta cells--after you eat
carbohydrates. This causes a rise in blood sugar. Insulin ensures your
cells receive some blood sugar necessary for life, and increases glycogen
storage. However, it also drives your body to use more carbohydrate, and
less fat, as fuel. And, insulin converts almost half of your dietary
carbohydrate to fat for storage. In other words, when we eat too much
carbohydrate, we're essentially sending a hormonal message, via insulin,
to the body (actually, to the adipose cells). The message: "Store fat."

Not only do increased insulin levels tell the body to store carbohydrates
as fat, they also tell it not to release any stored fat. This makes it
impossible for you to use your own stored body fat for energy. So the
excess carbohydrates in your diet not only make you fat, they make sure
you stay fat.

High levels of insulin can cause major damage to your body. The most
recognized of these is diabetes. In addition, hypertension, obesity, high
levels of cholesterol and other lipids, heart disease, kidney disease,
female infertility and neurodegeration are all causes of eating too many
carbohydrates, resulting in high insulin levels.

If you want to use more fats for energy, the insulin response must be
moderated. Diets high in refined sugars release more insulin thereby
allowing less stored fat to be burned.

The #1 Way to Avoid Premature Aging: Avoid Sugars and Grains

If you look and/or feel older than you should, whether the symptoms are
showing themselves in your skin, face, bones, energy, or mind, chances are
that the excess sugars and grains in your diet are the primary culprit. We
all need a certain amount of carbohydrates, of course, but we need the
good carbohydrates that foods like vegetables provide.

In other words, the popular Atkins diet got it partly right--people are
consuming too many carbs, but more particularly, they’re consuming too
many of the carbs found in grains and sugars while most are not consuming
enough of the healthy carbs found in vegetables.

Through the Western addiction to grains, sweets, soft drinks, and
high-starch foods like potatoes, the modern diet virtually guarantees that
not only will a majority of the population become overweight, but they
will also look and feel much older than they should. That’s because any
meal or snack high in the carbohydrates found in grains and sugars
generates a rapid rise in blood glucose. To adjust for this rise, the
pancreas secretes the hormone insulin into the bloodstream, which lowers
the glucose.

Unfortunately, the body is not designed to accommodate these unnaturally
high levels of insulin spiked by grains and sugars. So not only does this
excess insulin store calories from the carbs in the form of fat (which is
why so many are overweight and obese these days), but the excess insulin
also suppresses essential hormones and the immune system--all absolutely
essential for avoiding premature aging.

Meanwhile, in addition to avoiding grains and sugars to avoid premature
aging, what you should be eating instead also has everything to do with
it. If you really want to look and feel younger, live longer and prevent
disease, and optimize your weight while you are at it, the key to remember
is this:

Eating the right forms of foods--the right forms of carbohydrates,
proteins and fats--is absolutely essential.
Eating the right proportion of these carbohydrates, proteins and fats for
your specific body biochemistry, or “metabolic type,” is also absolutely
essential.
Eat the Right Forms of Foods to Look and Feel Younger

There are healthy forms of carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make all
the difference in the world to whether you will age prematurely or look
and feel as young as you are supposed to (and prevent disease and live
longer). You should not “reduce all carbs” in your diet, as some popular
diets suggest, but instead reduce or completely eliminate the bad carbs
like grains and sugars and instead eat the healthy carbs like
vegetables--particularly vegetables that grow above ground (most root
vegetables are high in starch and would best be limited).

Similarly, you should focus on eating healthy fats and proteins, like
those found in naturally raised meats, toxin-free fish, and healthy oils
like coconut oil.

To delve into all the carbs, fats and proteins you should avoid and those
you should be consuming takes an entire book--and I have written that
book, which I encourage you to consider if you really want to avoid
premature aging--but on the topic of avoiding premature aging by eating
the right foods, here are a few links you can explore right now:

Reduce Grains and Sugars to Improve Health
Increase Intake of Omega-3 Fats to Prevent Disease
Six Foods that Will Give You the Most Health Bang for Your Buck
What Does Europe’s Ban of Most U.S. Meats Mean to You?
Why Do You Need Organic Food?
Trans-fat: What is It, and Why is It So Dangerous?
Eat Clean Poultry If you can’t find it locally we have Free-Range
Certified 100% Organic Chicken: An Exceptionally Clean, Healthy and
Delicious Source of Protein
Eat the Right Proportion of Carbs, Proteins and Fats for Your Metabolic
Type

Just as important as eating the right forms of carbs, proteins and fats
are eating the right proportion of them for your particular body
biochemistry. For some this may be a new concept, but there is a reason
most people fail on those one-size-fits-all diets: just as on the outside
you are unique, on the inside you are unique as well. In other words, your
body biochemistry, or metabolism, is distinct, and therefore you have
distinct nutritional needs.

One of the most important steps you should take right now if you want to
avoid premature aging (and optimize your weight and increase your energy)
is to learn your metabolic type, and then start eating the right
proportion of healthy carbs, proteins and fats for your type.

My book presenting my entire dietary program is a must-have resource if
you do not know your metabolic type or the proportions of nutrients you
should be consuming to ensure you look and feel younger. It provides a
test and the means to help you determine your type, and a full
understanding of how to find the proportions of foods that are ideal for
you.

Beyond proportions, there are certain healthy foods that are ideal for one
metabolic type that are not as ideal for other types. For instance, if you
are a “Protein Type,” there are six types of vegetables that you should
definitely be eating to help you avoid premature aging, optimize weight
and live longer.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

http://www.mercola.com/2003/dec/20/feel_younger.htm

Listed below are several other contributors to premature aging that you
should be aware of.

Cigarettes

Whether you smoke yourself or are around people who do, cigarette smoke
exposes you to damaging free radicals that will accelerate the aging
process by damaging the microcapillaries in the skin. This limits the
skin’s ability to absorb nutrients, which accelerates wrinkling and aging.
Antioxidants, such as those found in fresh vegetables and fruit like
organic blueberries, can help to fight free-radical damage and will
naturally promote healthy, young-looking skin. A diet with plenty of
vegetables will also provide plenty of micronutrients and antioxidants.

Lack of Sleep


Regularly catching only a few hours of sleep can hinder metabolism and
hormone production in a way that is similar to the effects of aging.

I think most of us do not fully appreciate the value of a full night’s
sleep. Getting seven hours is an absolute minimum for most all of us, and
most of us would benefit from closer to nine hours. In the winter months
try and be in bed by 9 p.m., other months, 10 p.m. would be ideal. Read
“Sleep Well to Live Well” for all of my recommendations on how to sleep
for your health.

Distilled Water

Many health conscious people are often surprised to hear me state that
distilled water on a routine basis may actually damage your health. While
the issue of distilled water is somewhat controversial in natural medicine
circles, I believe distilled water is an active absorber and when it comes
into contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it acidic. The
more distilled water a person drinks, the higher the body acidity becomes.
More importantly the water loses its healthy structure. If you do a search
on Google you will find the many health benefits of properly structured
water. This maybe is the single largest reason why distilled water is not
a wise choice.

The most toxic commercial beverages that people consume (i.e. cola
beverages and other soft drinks) are made from distilled water. Studies
have consistently shown that heavy consumers of soft drinks (with or
without sugar) lose huge amounts of calcium, magnesium and other necessary
trace minerals into their urine.

Additionally, distilled water will tend to leach healthy minerals from
your body, which is very difficult to compensate for in the long run, even
with mineral supplements. The more mineral loss the greater the risk for
osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease,
high blood pressure and a long list of degenerative diseases generally
associated with premature aging. Read, “Drink More Spring or Filtered
Water to Improve Every Facet of Your Health” for details on drinking
clean, healthy water.

The Sun

Exposing your skin to intense sunlight (UV-A rays) for an extended period
of time may result in sunburn, wrinkling and premature aging. Sunburned
skin is more susceptible to damage and may age more quickly. Also please
read my article, “Sunscreen is a toxic chemical” to learn about the
dangers of sunscreen use.

Remember that sunlight is not something to be avoided. You need sunlight
in order for the body produce vitamin D. The key is to gradually build up
your resistance to the sun by going out slowly in the beginning of the
season, perhaps 10 minutes at a time to start, and always avoid getting
burned.

Certain Diets

A recurrent cycle of gaining and losing weight will cause your skin to
stretch and become less elastic. As you age, this loose skin will be more
prone to sagging and wrinkles simply by the force of gravity. If you need
to lose weight, my book is designed to help you keep the weight off for
good.

Omega-3

The main sources of omega-6 fats are vegetable oils such as corn and soy
oil that contain a high proportion of linoleic acid. Please read my
article “The Great Con-ola” to learn more about the dangers of these oils.
It has become clear that an excess of omega-6 fatty acids can have dire
consequences, and most people are consuming far too much omega-6 while
consuming not nearly enough omega-3.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to healthy skin. Making sure you get
enough omega-3 in your diet, by taking high-quality fish oil or cod liver
oil regularly, will help to keep your skin looking young and healthy.

Dry Skin

Finally, using virgin coconut oil as you would any lotion is an ideal way
to rejuvenate skin. Not only does it prevent the formation of damaging
free radicals and protect against them, but also it can help to keep the
skin from developing liver spots and other blemishes caused by aging and
overexposure to sunlight.

Vegan Body Builder Shows off his Meatless Muscles

Vegan body builder shows off his meatless muscles
By: Kelly Halpin
Posted: 10/27/08
Instead of being a master of the universe, Robert Cheeke has become the master of vegan bodybuilding.

Source: http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=632d889f-c6f2-48b8-bdb7-5d346c50612c

"We want to be something that we never had a chance to be," Cheeke said. "I always wanted to be a bigger, stronger He-Man character."

With his long blond hair and muscular physique, he very well could be.

Cheeke spoke to UCF students Thursday about his Web site, www.veganbodybuilding.com, and his transition from skinny teenager to vegan muscle man.

Growing up on a farm in Portland, Ore., Cheeke was surrounded by animals raised for food. His father is a professor of animal agriculture at Portland State University and his mother came from a farming background.

Cheeke said that as a teenager he raised and slaughtered animals for food himself.

"That's where everything about me began, but it all changed for me on Dec. 8, 1995," Cheeke said.

It was then he decided to do something different about his diet. His sister organized an animal rights awareness week at the high school they attended and Cheeke was able to watch videos and read literature advocating a vegetarian diet. He educated himself about animal testing and what he describes as "real world factory farming."

Cheeke decided not to support such institutions and switched to vegetarianism.

"When I first became vegetarian, it didn't work so well," he said.

His high school vegetarian diet consisted of bread rolls, grapes and candy and he was 120 pounds. He wanted to become vegan and exclude all animal products from his diet but wanted to gain weight and strength as well.

"I thought, 'why don't I get big and strong now and be vegan when I'm 20,'" Cheeke said. His animal-activist sister encouraged him to attain both goals - become vegan and gain muscle mass.

"I took supplements for a year and only gained one pound," Cheeke said. He was working out three times a week and eating relatively healthy but still wasn't getting the results he wanted.

One day, while flipping through a magazine, he saw an advertisement for Bill Phillips Body for Life program, a fitness regime based around the concept of tracking everything you do.

"I did the Body for Life program and gained 16 pounds in two weeks," Cheeke said.

The idea of consistency and accountability appealed to Cheeke.

"Consistency leads to adaptation," he said.

So far Cheeke's consistency with exercise and healthy eating has led to his growth from 120 pounds to almost 200 pounds. He no longer eats bread rolls and candy; instead, he eats plant-based and organic products and has transformed himself from scrawny high school athlete to champion bodybuilder and motivational speaker.

He has been on a national speaking tour for the past 18 months and stopped by UCF to talk to students before he spoke at Central Florida VegFest Saturday. He launched a successful bodybuilding Web site, Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, and produced a vegan bodybuilding DVD in 2005.

"Vegan Bodybuilding created a worldwide commitment that allows me to be an activist on the global scale in ways I thought I never could do," Cheeke said. "If you're passionate about animal rights, then it behooves you in some way to be an example."

And that is exactly what Cheeke is doing. His nutritional, exercise and lifestyle plan consists of seeking wellness, setting goals, eating a healthy plant-based diet and regular exercise.

The plan has inspired many to follow in his footsteps, as evident on his Web site.

Those in the audience didn't need to be bodybuilders to appreciate Cheeke's advice.

Kayla Bloomer, outreach activities coordinator for Body of Animal Rights Campaigners, can relate to Cheeke's previous eating habits from her own voyages into transitioning from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian diet.

"In the beginning you're living on pasta and things you don't want to eat, so it's good to hear from someone about different protein sources, the importance of whole foods and eating organically," Bloomer said.

Justin Sirizzotti, a senior and vegan, said he has also struggled with good eating habits in college.

"Just because you're vegan doesn't mean you're eating healthy, but now I have a clear idea of what I need to be eating to sustain a healthy lifestyle," Sirizzotti said.

"Vegan bodybuilder - the words don't go together," Cheeke said.

For him, though, they make the perfect fit.

Ten Steps To Creating Real Change on the Planet

Source: Ten Steps to Creating Real Change on the Planet

by Sheryl Walters (see all articles by this author)


(NaturalNews) Are we capable of living in a society that is free of money? Imagine...if this is possible? Actually, it is inevitable. A society based on one person having more than another is an outdated, highly flawed system that must go.

It is incredibly difficult for any of us to fathom a society free of money because our whole way of life revolves around it. It is difficult to imagine how things could be distributed fairly when we have never seen it as a possibility. Yet we also have to remember that our great grandparents could not have imagined cars, the internet or mobile phones.

So how can we be a part of the transition from a world based on money to a world based on equality, where everyone is entitled to the gifts that Mother Nature has provided us? How can we get closer to a model where abundance and unity override scarcity and fear?

Here are some steps that we can take for real change (REAL CHANGE!)

1.
Avoid pharmaceutical drugs as much as possible.
These companies as a whole are not interested in true health, their main agenda is profit. Every dollar/pound/euro etc spent on reputable, naturally healing products rather than drugs is money spent on real change.

2.
Buy local.
Many people don�t even live in an area that has local businesses, but if you do, support the little guy rather than the multinational corporations. Even if it costs a little extra, it is worth it if possible. Corporations are at the core of the system that believes one person should have more than another.

3.
Get your money out of the most unethical banks.
Citibank, JP Morgan and Bank of America are some of the worst. If you live in the UK, put your money in the Cooperative Bank or Smile Bank, both of whom are as ethical as a bank can possibly be. Search out the most ethical bank near you.

4.
Stop watching the mainstream news.
The media is just propelling the lies that we are told. Fox News, CNN, NBC, BBC, and most other news stations are owned by corporations who have a profit making agenda. If you want real news, get on the internet and find independent information.

5.
Don�t allow yourself or anyone you know to join the Military!
People in the military are fighting for corporations, not the people. There is an incredibly high suicide rate among those who have been in the military, and a quarter of all homeless people are veterans. When everyone on the planet has equal access to resources, there will be absolutely no need for war.

6.
Support the energy companies as little as you possibly can.
Look for alternative sources of energy. Sun, wind, and water are all viable ways of getting clean energy. The only reason why we are not using them right now is because powerful energy, oil and gas companies will become obsolete. Walk as often as you can rather than driving, this will improve your health and make small but incredibly powerful changes. Fly as little as possible; get smaller more energy efficient cars.

7.
Reject the political system.
The whole voting frenzy at the moment is just a way of making people believe that they are going to get real change. If you look at the companies who are contributing to both McCain and Obama�s campaigns, many of them are the same. Both presidents will inevitably make decisions based on profit rather than the good of humanity. Politics is a lie and the only real change will be seen when money does not run the world. We must focus our energy on how to transcend this failed system.

8.
If possible, figure out what you love to do, and then try and figure out a way to make money from it.
How can you make a genuine contribution to the world from your heart? What makes you feel creative and in the moment? While we haven`t transcended our financial system yet, we can at least begin this process by doing things that truly move us. When we are in touch with that "place" inside of ourselves, we are transforming the world. Working in a meaningless job for the mere purpose of financial gain is incredibly difficult to let go of, but you can work on and let go of the issues and beliefs that are keeping you there.

9.
Believe in abundance.
Everything that we need for every single person on the planet to live in abundance is right here. The only thing in our way is the financial system and the limiting beliefs that uphold it. The more we reject limiting beliefs about scarcity and money, the less we will have, and the less that all people on the planet will have. There is enough for all of us! Right now we must live with money, so believe in abundance without believing in money. It�s not easy because of our conditioning. But when our society is built on the belief that every single person is entitled to equally enjoy the resources provided by Mother Nature, and then we will see real change.

10.
Question everything.
Are your beliefs and ways of living in harmony with the planet? Are some of your beliefs outdated? Are there certain beliefs that make you feel superior or inferior to others? In order for true transformation on the earth to take place, we must all become conscious of our beliefs and our actions. Part of that is knowing that we are all connected and equal. Do whatever therapies, meditations, plant medicines or anything else you are drawn to that can help you become truly free of the limitations of the mind. The most important change has to occur inside of us. A transformation in our inner world will be reflected in our outer world

�The real revolution is the revolution of consciousness� www.zeitgeistmovie.com.