Ramanisblog

Tag: vegetarian

  • The Recession Is Taking a Bite Out of Meat Consumption

    One good spin off of recession.

    The recession is having one positive effect. The national cholesterol is going down.

    More than half of Americans have cut back on meat, many becoming “recession-bred flexitarians,” says Gourmet magazine–people who use meat as a condiment not as a meal anchor.

    Even the doyenne of taste and nutrition, Martha Stewart, broadcast a vegetarian Thanksgiving show last week.

    A small drop in meat exerts big consequences on your health says Katherine Tallmadge of the American Dietetic Association because red meat is the “primary source of saturated fat, which can boost levels of bad LDL cholesterol and inflammation.”

    It is no doubt the reason death from heart attacks goes down not up during recessions as Christopher Ruhm, an economist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro reports.

    Unfortunately, it also has a big effect on meat producers for whom the droves of flexitarians are equivalent to Atlanta and all its suburbs going vegetarian. And that’s before you consider the effect that the swine, sorry H1N1 virus has had on the pork industry.

    To address the low demand emergency, the Washington DC-based National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has a kind of Cash for Clunkers plan.

    Funded by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act revenues, its Meat the Need proposal would increase the amount that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients receive in food assistance if they use it for animal products. Recipients would either get a separate electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card or earmarked vouchers.

    “Product purchases will quickly reduce the oversupply on the market while additional funding to SNAP for meat purchases will allow low-income families access to more nutritious meals,” says the NASDA proposal.

    The government purchase program makes so much $ense to producers with unwanted products, 16 businesses expressed their support in Missouri alone including the Missouri Dairy Association, Missouri Dairy Growth Council, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Egg Council, Missouri Pork Association, The Poultry Federation and ag oriented bankers.

    But there are some wrinkles.

    What good is a temporary program if the changes Americans have made in what they eat, spend and drive become permanent after the recession? What if, after our austerity, a consuming, go-go lifestyle no longer appeals?

    Is it really conscionable to dump products that the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and almost every other health group say to limit on poorer people because no one else will eat them? To boost the economy? Because they have less choice? Especially when the products include processed meat, known for its carcinogenic potential?

    Aren’t people with lower incomes who receive food aid disproportionately plagued with diabetes, obesity, heart disease, metabolic disorders, high blood pressure, gallstones, fatty liver and obesity-related cancers already?

    Is dumping food no one wants on the least fortunate any different than the nice venison hunters offered to food pantries two years ago except that it might be contaminated with the mad cow like Chronic Wasting Disease and lead? (The pantries refused it.)

    Or the plan in Illinois to “harvest” the Canadian geese that live at so many subdivisions and corporate parks for the poor to eat? We’re not that hungry food pantry recipients said.

    Doesn’t dumping high calorie, high fat, high cholesterol food undermine government wellness and school lunch programs which emphasize vegetables, fiber and exercise?

    Finally isn’t the hallmark of a capitalist versus command economy demand? When it’s there you become a Bill Gates and when it’s not, an AOL?

    Isn’t an oversupply of milk, pork or beef the market’s own rejection slip? As in 8 track tapes and pantyhose?

    No NASDA’s Meat the Need program which it admits “promotes the policy of providing nutritious meat and dairy products to families while clearing excess inventory of those products,” is just an industry-first-public-second initiative which makes the poor into a client state.

    Why not create a program called Light Their Need giving cigarette vouchers to the poor? Tobacco farmers probably need assistance too.

  • Causes of Liver damage.

    1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

    2. Not urinating in the morning.

    3 . Too much eating.

    4. Skipping breakfast.

    5. Consuming too much medication.

    6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

    7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.
    As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is20very fit.

    8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
    Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

    We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to ‘schedule.’
    9.Consuming Liquor.

  • Food To Beat Depression. What to Eat and Not To.

    Vegetables and Fruits.
    Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

    Food is the most important factor in shaping one’s attitudes and health,both physical and mental.
    Right food, cooked correctly,eaten at the proper time ensures good physical,mental and spiritual health.
    Attitudes determine your mental states.If you observe closely, when you eat food that is spicy,too hot,too cold,remnant foods, reheated foods(including that which is kept in Refrigerator),stale food shall make you fidgety, anxious,tense,low in spirits and make you depressed.
    Every human being has three Attitudonal Categories., which is the result of Nature.


    1.Contented , peacefull,and Knowledgeable.Under this category are people who are cheerful,not too aggressive, sober, not anxious, not irritated, patient,problem solvers without being tense and not too much worried about things they can not control.They shall do their best without bothering to know whether they have done their best and also are not unduly worried about the out come of their actions,once they complete the action.They are moderate in habits, in food and behavior.


    2.Aggressive, ambitious and restless.These people are restless, self driven to the extent of being obsessed with what they do;continuously self evaluating,seeking other’s approval;they set themselves goals without evaluating their aptitude,learn the specific skills and keep on working hard;once they realise their goals they remain dissatisfied ,set other goals and go after it and continue thus throughout their life; they are fidgety,nervous, anxious,arrogant,and always try to bull doze their way in what ever they do.They are of the conviction that the world or a specific task can be done only by them and constantly find faults with others.
    Their habits will be extreme whether food or hobbies or relation ships.


    3.Indolent and sluggish.These people are defeatist, do not aspire to do or become any thing in lfe;they just drift along;their hunger for knowledge will be nil;they follow things of which they are not sure.
    They are indifferent and and eat or do whatever they like.


    These three tendencies are present in each individual at the same time.They keep on changing minute by minute.Depending on the preponderence of one tendency actions will be performed by the individual and one’s mental state also shall change.


    These tendenceis can be balanced and the self satisfied, contented peaceful tendency that shall beat depression can be made permanent by food habits.


    So what food one should take?


    Food that-
    -ensures longevity,health,strength
    -contains the essence the food we eat
    -that which stays in the body, after digetion ,that is ingested properly and that which ensures health
    -that which we like naturally.
    Food to avoid-
    That which is excessively sweet,bitter,spicy,salty,tangy
    -that which causes anxiety and dullness(onion,chillies,fast foods of any kind,sour curd,cheese,butter)
    -that which is half cooked,not fully cooked
    -that which is not cooked directly by fire-gas,oven, -you can directly use a barbecue)
    -that which is a left over, even if it be ours/family
    -that which is not clean
    -that which emanates bad smell/-that which is rancid
    -that which is recooked
    -that which is very hot or very cold
    -thatt which is bought from unclean place.
    Generally, avoid excess oil or too dry.
    Minimise onion,garlic,cheese,butter,ghee,butter.
    Wash the vegetables wholly, not after cutting or chopping.
    Do not cut the vegetables in too small pieces
    Boil vegetables withwith out water;if you have to use water ,drink that water(for vegetables only)
    Drink minimum one liter water in the morning, after washing teeth, in empty stomach
    Take a full breakfast, not later than 9 am.
    Take leafy vegetables more
    Minimise Potatoes or any other roots
    Do nor drink water while eating
    Drink water only after finishing breakfast/lunch /dinner
    Take three meals a day-breakfast,lunch(between 1 and 2 pm) and Dinner,not later than 10 pm
    Take maximum two cups of coffee or tea per day
    Eschew Alcohol,cigarettes non vegetarian foods.
    Eat half somach full,drink one fourth stomach watetr leave balance stomach empty.
    Based on these parameters, you can choose your food and beat not only Stress but develop a Healthy Mind and body.
    (Source.The Bhagavad Gita-Chapter 17. and Smritis)    >