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This page: RECIPES: ... vegetarian INTERNET RECIPE LINKS
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RECIPES General Philosophy The quality of food we eat is so vitally important in determining our general state of health. a number of years ago, the US Surgeon General stated that almost 70% of our disease processes are related to the food we eat. Chocolate can cause migraines. Wheat can lead to gas and indigestion. Strawberries and raspberries (and many other foods) can lead to cancer sores. Milk can lead to eczema. Poor fat quality or an excess of fat leads to cancer, strokes, heart attacks. Vitamin deficiencies lead to birth defects, poor skin, memory loss. Low fiber diets lead to constipation and cancer of the colon. Poor quality foods can kill us. And high quality foods can prevent and heal. And if we are sick as a result of non-dietary factors, a high quality diet can support our bodies as they attempt to heal, as well as bear the onslaught of treatment side effects. And too much of most foods lead to weight gain and obesity. As I mentioned in Winning the Weight Loss Game, we must experiment in our diets. Find the foods that work for us. Pay attention to the results. The recipes included are ones that I use. They are designed to be altered, spiced up or down and played with, so often the measurements are left to the user to determine. For 20 years, I was a vegetarian. Why? Many reasons, mostly involving my care about all life on this planet. And my concern about the saturated fat content and hormone/antibiotic additives found in so much of our meat. That said, more recently I have found that a small amount of meat in my diet seems to be beneficial in my overall health. At this point, I believe that many people do well with some meat, and many people thrive without it. Vegetarians live significantly longer than meat eaters , reason enough to reduce meat. As a veterianarian, I can tell you that many animal husbandry practices are cruel and inhumane, and are only tolerated as a result of "econonmic pressures" (they are not really animals, they are ...food). Similar practices of extreme overcrowding, filthy and stressful environments and non-anesthetized surgeries would lead to prosecution if the animals in question were dogs, horses or cats. So, if you choose meat, make it a practice to choose lean, organic and free range, thereby eating happier, more contented and less contaminated animals.
The debate rages over the safety of our foods. And whether or not "organic" is truly a better choice. From my perspective, I choose to minimize my exposure to pesticides and herbicides. The chemical mix in our foods is becoming so complex that I find it easier to avoid as many as possible. There is no way we can ever figure out the effects of all the chemical combinations we are exposed to. So, the only answer is avoid exposure, period. Sure, organic may not be totally free of poisons, but it will be significantly more pure. In the chemical game, you play the odds. Reduced exposure to unneeded chemicals will likely increase your odds of survival. And organic methods encourage strong, healthy plants and animals, filled with the nutrients we need to also thrive. The agricultural methods used to grow organic plants and animals support nature. In general, add less salt. These days, we have an abundance of salt in our diets, and too much is not good for us. So go light on the salt in your cooking.
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