Farm Communities » vegetarian diets

Amaranth Farming

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:19:42 +0000

An amaranth seed is considered as a healthy grain and it can be eaten in its whole grain form. In plant form, it is considered as a weed. In some parts of the country where amaranth is known to grow locally and abundantly, they are even considered as “pesky” due to its unrelenting nature but indeed a lifesaver when food shortage is apparent. This small grain is a native of South America but has its roots in Mexico. Rumor has it that amaranth seeds were used in human sacrifice rituals long before the Spanish conquest. It got so bad that the seed were eventually banned in most localities. It is only now when healthy living is given much importance that amaranth seeds are finally getting the attention it truly deserves.

Amaranth is a tasty seed and it is packed with many nutrients a body needs. It has protein, iron and calcium which make it very ideal for vegans. Aside from that, it can be consumed in many different ways such as flour and bread.

When it comes to farming, Amaranth supports sustainable landcare and it doesn’t require any special care since it is mostly considered as weeds. When left alone, it can grow on its own. It also has a long harvesting period that is perfect for farmers. Today, the amaranth plant is subjected to various tests for agricultural development and was introduced to countries experiencing agricultural difficulties such as Kenya. Experts suspect that the amaranth plant may be the answer to rural sustainable livelihood problems across the globe.

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Going local makes more sense for your health and the environment

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:47:13 +0000

To eat well means avoiding “edible food-like substances” and sticking to real ingredient, especially more and more from the plant kingdom.
Specialists state that if consumers would reduce their meat utilization by 20%, it would help the environment noticeably. There would be less need to raise herds of livestock for food production and therefore cut down on the amount of gases released into the air. If your diet alteration would include mainly vegetarian dishes, then the damage to the global environment can be reduced significantly.
It has also been proven that keeping livestock for purposes of food production increased the toxic chemicals being released in the air because the animals themselves produce methane gases through natural bodily functions. Cows can produce more harmful toxins than your average car! A standard cow farm can literally produce tons of carbon dioxide and methane in a year.
Eating red meat has been associated to some possibility of cancers and consumers are just not getting enough nutrients in their current diets. The utilization of proteins has doubled in just a short period of time. Nutritionist warn that unless you change your unhealthy eating habits and reduce the amount of meat you eat and replace it with fresh vegetables, grains, and fish, you are subjecting your body to various illnesses and disease.
Change your eating habits and make a conscious effort to buy food that is locally grown. This may include various types of fruits and vegetables. It is ideal to grow your own garden and not hard at all. This will ensure that the fruits and vegetables go from the garden to your table without releasing dangerous emissions and pollutants into the air that contribute to global warming.
By eating locally grown fruits and vegetables you can make an impact on your health and environment as well. Making a difference in your carbon footprint can affect your surroundings and global warming specifically. If you follow these suggestions, you will be doing your part in making the world, a healthier world to live in.

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VEGAN 101

admin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:16:51 +0000

Start by orienting yourself with the “no-meat” policy but never announce it to everybody else. Keep this to yourself first so that when this policy didn’t quite pan out, nobody would know except you.

Start by eliminating red meat first; try it for 2 weeks to give time for your stomach to adapt to its new lifestyle. After that, try to forego white meats; the last to bid goodbye are the eggs and dairies. Just wash, rinse and repeat the process. It is also best to prepare meals at home so you can fully control what goes in to the dishes you cook rather than questioning the waiters in the diner extensively.

You can use substitutes like tofu, TVP, tempeh, gluten and veggie meats that are amazingly at par in taste with the real thing.

All though being a vegetarian is good, you have to work on being healthy as well. In the process of avoiding animal products, we may not get the proper nutrients that we need but this can be supplemented as well, we just have to be conscious about it.

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Types of Vegetarian Diets

admin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:50:24 +0000

Reasons vary widely as to why people opt to go vegetarian. Some claims health reasons, others for their stand about animal rights and there are some who just want to try it out.

For vegetarians, there is no specific eating plan. One thing is certain, vegetarians do not eat red meat, which is what the whole idea of turning vegetarian is for.

There are different vegetarian types:
1.    A vegan or total vegetarian do not eat anything else but plants like fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts.
2.    A lactovegetarian is someone who incorporates plants with dairy products like cheese and milk.
3.    An ovo-lactovegetarian is a diet of plants, eggs and dairies.
4.    Semivegetarians eat everything else except red meats.
5.    Pesci-vegetarian eats fish instead of chicken but no red meat.

Being a vegetarian, no matter what type you prefer, is a decision. Decision is something you think about, you research about and you stick about. It has many benefits health wise but it is best to seek guidance from a registered dietitian just to avoid deficiencies that usually comes with vegetarianism.

farmcommunities.com

Tofu: Nutrition and Health Concerns

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:53:57 +0000

Known to the human species as a vegetarian food, as early as 200 years BC, tofu is a highly popular food staple in Asia. Today, it is also cherished by a large number of Americans and can be found commonly in grocery stores throughout the country. Tofu, also called soybean curd or bean curd, is prepared by coagulating soymilk using coagulating agents like magnesium chloride, calcium sulfate, or dilute acids. The resulting curd is compacted by pressing into a block and shaped variously, mostly as small cubes that resemble cheese by their look.

Tofu is regarded as one of the ideal vegetarian diets on account of its protein-rich and cholesterol-free chemistry. It is also low in saturated fat and sodium while containing healthy quantities of iron and the B group of vitamins. Since it is easy to chew and digest, tofu is often the preferred food choice of aging people as well as children in their toddler years. Tofu coagulated by means of calcium sulfate is also considered a good source of dietary calcium. Recently, however, some questions have been raised regarding possible health risks associated with tofu consumption.

The main health concern being investigated in relation to tofu’s consumption is that of breast cancer. Like other soy products, tofu is rich in isoflavones – natural estrogens formed in some plants and, therefore, called phytoestrogens. These natural estrogen-like compounds have similar properties as those of the estrogen hormone found in humans, primarily in women. Since increased estrogen receptors are associated with growth of breast cancer, some researchers in health sciences have questioned the safety of tofu on account of its phytoestrogen content. Another study from Loughborough University in England has found a link between elevated levels of phytoestrogens and the onset of dementia in aging people. The study also points to the possibility of dementia resulting from formaldehyde, used in tofu as a preservative in some places.

The findings of the recent researches, linking breast cancer and dementia to tofu’s intake, are not conclusive and need to be verified by further research. It is also known that the phytoestrogens, found in tofu and other natural soy products, are weak and not likely to create health risks. But the general principle of avoiding overconsumption is certainly worth considering while consuming any food species, including tofu and other soy products. Excess intake of tofu may create health problems in some people, especially elderly individuals with a weaker immune system and women having a family history of breast cancer.

So how much tofu is okay to consume? The FDA approves a maximum of 3 ounces (equal to 85 grams) of tofu per day. Some nutritionists think that taking up to 6 ounces daily is safe. In both cases, it is important to remember that high doses of phytoestrogens packed in soy supplements are not healthy. Tofu made by natural methods, on the contrary, is quite a safe and health-friendly vegetarian food when relished in safe quantities.

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