Pre-Vegans

I don't like to look at people as "vegans" or "meat-eaters". No. No, I much prefer to see all these such people as "pre-vegans" - simply people who have not yet recieved the information that they need to be inspired to go vegan.

Surely, for everybody this reason will be different.

Personally, it was the health aspects for me - with a little bit of ethics sprinkled generously on top.

For others, it may be humanitarian reasons - wishing to end the starvation caused in third world countries by the western world's excessive meat consumption.

Some may be concerned entirely with the dismal treatment of factory-farmed animals.

Yet others may be moved by evironmental reasons.

Luckily, there are so many fantastic benefits to just about everybody through a vegan diet, so unless somebody literally does not care about anything there must be some aspect of veganism that will appeal to each individual.

At any rate, never be discouraged or inclined to stop sharing your veganism with those around you. You never know what could be that one little fact or statistic or picture or explanation that will just click with somebody.

Little Kiddies.

Recently I've been feeling uncomfortably negative an cynical... A condition I attribute mostly to the simple fact that I am legally obligated to be in school every day for seven hours, with a structured schedule...rather than frolicking half naked in the hot sun all day - that coupled with other unfortunate realities such as the cooling weather, rarely getting adequate amounts of sleep, as well as being forced to spend the majority of my day the people I've grown up with - many of whom for whatever reason suddenly seem unbearably immature, self absorbed, and ignorant. I don't like thinking that way about people, and it kind of freaks me out that I have been. But anyhow, some part of this equation has lead to my existence becoming less than healthy, happy, and beautiful... And from there I fear it may have begun snowballing, especially had I not noticed it. Anyhow, that's not what this post is about. Just an observation, kind of. Haha.

So, last year, I got a job after school working with elementary aged kids. After about four months off, we started again this Monday - and just two days in, I've noticed just how much calmer, happier, more positive, and humbled I feel. I think something about working with young children is very therapeutic.

I love their honesty, I love their impressionability, I love their energy, I love their individuality, I love their curiosity.

I like that the job forces me to forget about myself and what's going on in my head for a few hours in a day, and focus on the children and their needs. I love seeing children engaged in and excited about learning. I love being able to help stimulate the kids. I love the idea that the things I do can help the child to further develop and learn.

It's amazing what the responsibility and privilege of caring for a little kid can do for a person. I definitely recommend it. (:

The Wolves & The Deer..

As hunting season draws near, I am subjected to enduring the regular discussions of all the rednecks I share my high school with, as they all eagerly anticipate the return of their favorite activity....being all manly, sitting in a tree, shooting deer with big antlers to hang on their wall.

One of these such individuals favorite reasons to give for why they hunt, is because they need to control the deer population, otherwise the deer would starve in the winter. And this is true. But I wonder whether any of them ever actually bothered to stop and wonder why we have to control the deer population? Doesn't it seem odd that every other species has a perfect natural system of checks and balances, but the deer don't?

Well, if you think about it, it's not hard to know why. It's because we've hunted the natural predator of the deer - wolves - to near extinction. And it's still legal to hunt wolves, with a permit. Why?!

It can't be because wolves logically pose a threat to human lives - significantly more people are attacked by dogs than by wolves each year. So the only possible excuse for killing wolves, must be that they kill and/or eat farmers' livestock.

So, I realized that I had just come upon yet another problem that a global switch to veganism would solve! We would finally be able to stop killing wolves, and in turn, we would no longer have to kill deer either! The ecosystem would finally be able to return to its own natural balance!

There are just so many reasons to give up meat. So. Many. Reasons. Come on already, jump on the wagon, join the vegan party and save lives, the environment, the ecosystem, the rainforest, and your health!

Peace!

Healthy Appetite Again!

So I have a story to share, I haven't talked about this much before.

Like most girls of my generation, I once upon a time had an eating disorder. I actually don't know when it started for me. I faintly remember worrying that I was too fat before I was even in school. I think maybe it stemmed from the fact that Daddy spoke badly of fat people on occasion... People would always tell me I was skinny/tiny, even when I was little, but for whatever reason, I didn't believe them. Anyhow, psychoanalyzing that is a job for someone like Sigmund Freud, not a 16 year old who's been in her first psychology class for about 20 days. 'Cause I'm just guessin'. Aha.

Anyhow, I remember being like 10 years old, and I would eat more than I needed. I wouldn't really be hungry - I just loved the taste of bagels and Ritz crackers!

In 5th grade, I visited France on foreign exchange; I was there for about 3 weeks, and spent  the last half frightened that I had gained weight eating all of this rich, probably unhealthy, french food. And I didn't have a scale to make sure I hadn't gotten fat! Not kidding. 5th grade.

In 6th, I went on my first diet.

In 7th was when the eating disorder started, officially, I think. I started eating like 200calories per day, pro-ana sites, the works.

In 8th grade, I started going through binge-starve phases. At times I would decide I wanted to get better, but at the time I didn't really know how to do it, and I was still super afraid of gaining weight... So even though I tried not to care and just "listen to my body", it had me eating crazy amounts of food (to make up for starving at other times), I puffed up to my highest weight of 114. (It doesn't sound that bad...for whatever reason, I'm lucky enough my weight actually has never fluctuated horribly.)

Around 9th grade, bulimia started as well.

Throughout all this, I was slowly working my way through veganism, gourmet raw veganism, and fruitarianism.

Recently, I came to a place where I really feel like I understand food and what I'm eating. I understand what my body needs, and no longer feel like its a fight.

I've been raw for almost two years now, and I finally feel like my appetite has returned to normal. Like, normal normal healthy healthy. I eat when I'm hungry, and I don't eat when I'm not. The food I'm eating feels good in my body, and I don't regret what I'm eating.

I feel like I've reached equilibrium. I think a lot of this long-sought-after peace is thanks to my raw vegan fruitarian diet, and I feel so lucky that I found the diet and had the strength and resolve to stick with it this long.

I can't explain exactly what the diet has done for me, I don't think someone who hasn't experienced it could understand. But I feel more confident, I feel more mature, I feel more empathetic, I feel more in tune with my body, I am able to feel emotions more purely and strongly, I feel capable of truly loving, I feel more positive, I feel more at peace, I feel stronger, I feel more independent, I feel better.

And I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't want to live this way. And lucky you, now that you've heard about LFRV, you have the opportunity to make it yours, too.

Might Piss Off Some Nationalistic Spaniards,

I hate bullfighting. I hate the idea that an entire people is enthralled with sombody exploiting and killing an animal. Congrats, you fucking coward.

 We're learning about it in my "clasé de Español" right now, and I'm seriously angry.

 They keep the bull in the dark for a day before the fight, did you know that? So it's disoriented when the fight starts. There are THREE guys that team up on a single bull, using weapons to pick on it. They wave that cape in its face. They poke it with these spear-like things. And after making a lovely fucking show out of the bull's torture, they kill it.

When a matador dies, it's a tragedy. Why is it so hard for these sick, desensatized zombies to feel at all bad for the BULL, who also suffers, has feelings, and emotions?! It's wrong. :/

 Bullfighting is pathetic. It is the epitimy of cowardice and bullying.

Dear Hunters,

Do you hunt? I don't. But that's just me. I know lots of people who do.

"If people didnt hunt, there would be too many deer!" they say "I help keep the deer population under control!" Ahahahaha, ahahaha, ahaha, yeah you do, you big bad hunter, you! Good job, protecting us from all those virtually defenseless animals! However, if i may offer a suggestion... I see You just killed one huge buck...congrats. However,  if you shot more does and less bucks, you wouldn't have to work so hard to keep populations under control, and less dear would have to die! Sounds like a win-win to me!

"It's a sport!" I'm told. Yes. Yes, Just like molesting children is a sport. Until the hunter and hunted both have a 50/50 chance of being the winner, and both parties chose to participate, hunting is not a sport. Hunting is a cowards game.

"I love the taste of venison!" you protest. If I told you I love the taste of brains, would that justify me killing you to eat them? "But it's so much healthier than any meat you can get at the supermarket!" Oh! So you do understand this concept! Good! Well you know even what's healthier than venison? FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. Do you violently fight for your right to eat those?

"Hunting IS a sport! It really is a challenge! It's hard to ..find dear and stuff!" oh? You're still caught up on that one? Well. If you want a challenge, I've got one for you! Try going vegan! A lot of people have a bit hard time with that one - and rather than "fighting" the innocent and harmless deer, the fight is internal, and with your cravings and addictions - and the fight is to change the world for the better. That sounds like another win-win..-win to me!

"I'm protecting the farmers crops! And if we didn't hunt, there would be lots more car accidents from dear!" Ok, fair enough! People do need to eat, after all...how 'bout you get rid of them does, then? 

"It brings in revenue for the US!" seriously? where do you think the money was BEFORE? It didn't just materialize, it was already in the US. Lmao

I can't stop you from hunting, but honestly, stop trying to convince me that your doing it for any reason other than selfishness. It's pathetic. The animal, the farmer, the cars don't matter to you, as long as you get that 16-pointer or whatever hanging on your wall. 

Real men don't sit in a tree and shoot things to make themselves feel manly. Real men care for those who are weaker than them. Real men eat plants (;

I Suck On Cow Tits!

Hi! My name's Kati, I'm 16 years old, & one of my favorite things to do is suck on cow titties!

But that's not the only way I eat my dairy - I also like it curdled, fermented, pasteurized, AND in an unappealing lump of fat on my toast in the morning!

Mmmm! It's nature's perfect food!

And it's so HEALTHY, because it's full of calcium! ......Nevermind the fact that it's high protien content actually results in calcium being leached from my bones, leaving them weaker than they were before... No. The important thing is... Milk has lots of calcium! Yayyyy!

Cow milk is just such a perfect food...for calves! So it's obviously perfect for me and my family..of humans!

I used to nurse my child... But people milk isn't good for 2 year olds! Instead, My child now drinks the milk of a completely different species, which has completely different needs!

Cow milk is amazing! It helps a baby calf grow up big and strong!

In fact, it helps a calf more than triple in size in a single year.

Uhh... Do I look like I've gained weight to you?

It's my damn genes!

...

Come on, guys. You're a grown man or woman. You stopped suckling years ago...for a reason. But you're still so dependent on these mammary secretions, that you've justified enslaving an entire species, just to fulfill those 'needs'? Talk about mommy problems.

I don't think I need to tell you how unhealthy milk is, or how unethical it is. Adults drinking the milk of another species is just weird, and completely unnatural. You wouldn't suckle cow tits. The product doesn't change when you put in a carton.

Stop. Just... Stop. That's all.

Valuable Beginner Tips!

•young people (under 20) don't be afraid to eat a little extra fat (between 10 - 20%, probably-ish)

•get fats from fruits (avo is best from experience) rather than nuts & seeds

•surround yourself with fruit that you love!

• don't be afraid of overreating! (eat as much as you desire, that's the beauty)

•eat enough! Dont end up one of those people who decides veganism made them sick, emaciated and tired all the time - that was you under relating cause you're not used to the light caloric density of whole plant-based carbohydrate. (ideally fruit)

•if you're craving salt, eat greens. As many greens as you desire (try fruit-based dressings, no oil)

•it's not an all or nothing thing. Almost all raw foodists eat cooked sometimes. (not naming specific people, but I have heard from close friends of some big raw names, that they occasionally eat cooked; a few others like durian rider & Fredric patenaud are open about it. (i personally drink pasteurized not-from-concentrate oj, and will have marinara sauce sometimes) you do eat some cooked it's ok, just keep it high raw, always keep it vegan (although if you don't think you can do that even, then obviously mostly vegan is better than not at all), and try to keep cooked foods whole and carb-rich as much as you can.

•do what is right for you! Every step in the right direction is better than where you started, if you don't think your ready for something, that's fine. Don't push yourself and end up giving up and going back to SAD.

•educate yourself! Watch earthings, read 80-10-10 - if you know exactly why youre doing this, you'll obviously be more likely to stick with it.

•try smoothies! I'm personally not a big fan, but I know lots of people love smoothies and it enables them to get lots more fruit in, and even positively share part of this diet with those around them, and that's excellent.

•start paying attention to just how you feel after eating things, emotionally, mentally and physically. Rather than following diet dogma, listen to your body. As your body becomes more accustomed to a whole food, raw, plant-based diet, your body will become better and better at sending you signals - and it'll get more and more natural for you to pick up on them.

I Hate It When People Kill Flies.

I hate it when people kill flies. Not the biting kind, but the kind that just sits there. It doesn't hurt you. It just sits there. Symbiosis.

Why would you kill it? That's such a cowardly act. I understand killing a mosquito that lands on you, or not wanting to be stung by a wasp. That could be regarded as an attack. It then becomes survival of the fittest.

But the fly is harmless. And the fly is so much smaller than you, defenseless. It's not a fair fight, and it's not a justifiable fight.

As primitive as the fly is, as much as it doesn't think like you or feel like you, it is a life, and that life is all it has, and it wants to live. How can your needs be so much more important than anything elses, that you would take a harmless life, for no reason other than that it's a little annoying to you?

It's a fantastic thing to be able to coexist with another life, neither of you harming one another.

The strongest, most mature, and most successful do not destroy those that they do not like, but learn to coexist with them.

Animal Consumption Is Genocide!

Genocide is happening in the US, right now.

Babies are being stolen from mothers.

Newborns are being mass slaughtered.

Female bodies are being exploited.

Millions are being held in imprisonment, all over the country.

Violent and inhumane methods are being utilized to keep them under control,

And millions are tortured and killed, every day.

This isn't a conspiracy theory.

Why haven't you heard of this before?

Chances are, you have.

But just as with the haulocaust and other incidences of genocide, you have been desensitized and conditioned to believe that taking away their freedoms and rights is okay.

You've been told they don't think like you, they don't feel pain like you.

So it's alright to allow them to suffer.

...

There is genocide going on in America right now.

You are supporting genocide.

Wake up. Empathize with those who aren't like you. Speciesism...equals racism...equals sexism. Support equal rights. Go vegan.

DAIRY=VEAL

Your Body Is Amazing!

Shell123ey.

This is an amazing video, so inspiring! One of my favorites. ❤

Shell123ey is definitely one of my favorite YouTube-ers, if you're not subscribed, I suggest you get on that. (:

Cold, Hard Facts For Veganism

I did not assemble these statistics. This post is taken from the "Veganism" Facebook page.

The Hunger Argument
Number of people worldwide who will die as a result of malnutrition this year: 20 million
Number of people who could be adequately fed using land freed if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10%: 100 million
Percentage of corn grown in the U.S. eaten by people:20
Percentage of corn grown in the U.S. eaten by livestock:80
Percentage of oats grown in the U.S. eaten by livestock: 95
Percentage of protein wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 90
How frequently a child dies as a result of malnutrition: every 2.3 seconds
Pounds of potatoes that can be grown on an acre: 40,000
Pounds of beef produced on an acre: 250
Percentage of U.S. farmland devoted to beef production: 56
Pounds of grain and soybeans needed to produce a pound of edible flesh from feedlot beef: 16

The Environmental Argument
Cause of global warming: greenhouse effect
Primary cause of greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels
Fossil fuels needed to produce meat-centered diet vs. a meat-free diet: 3 times more
Percentage of U.S. topsoil lost to date: 75
Percentage of U.S. topsoil loss directly related to livestock raising: 85
Number of acres of U.S. forest cleared for cropland to produce meat-centered diet: 260 million
Amount of meat imported to U.S. annually from Central and South America: 300,000,000 pounds
Percentage of Central American children under the age of five who are undernourished: 75
Area of tropical rainforest consumed in every quarter-pound of rainforest beef: 55 square feet
Current rate of species extinction due to destruction of tropical rainforests for meat grazing and other uses:1,000 per year

The Cancer Argument
Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat meat daily compared to less than once a week: 3.8 times
For women who eat eggs daily compared to once a week: 2.8 times
For women who eat butter and cheese 2-4 times a week: 3.25 times
Increased risk of fatal ovarian cancer for women who eat eggs 3 or more times a week vs. less than once a week: 3 times
Increased risk of fatal prostate cancer for men who consume meat, cheese, eggs and milk daily vs. sparingly or not at all: 3.6 times.

The Cholesterol Argument
Number of U.S. medical schools: 125
Number requiring a course in nutrition: 30
Nutrition training received by average U.S. physician during four years in medical school: 2.5 hours
Most common cause of death in the U.S.: heart attack
How frequently a heart attack kills in the U.S.: every 45 seconds
Average U.S. man's risk of death from heart attack: 50 percent
Risk of average U.S. man who eats no meat: 15 percent
Risk of average U.S. man who eats no meat, dairy or eggs: 4 percent
Amount you reduce risk of heart attack if you reduce consumption of meat, dairy and eggs by 10 percent: 9 percent
Amount you reduce risk of heart attack if you reduce consumption by 50 percent: 45 percent
Amount you reduce risk if you eliminate meat, dairy and eggs from your diet: 90 percent
Average cholesterol level of people eating meat-centered-diet: 210 mg/dl
Chance of dying from heart disease if you are male and your blood cholesterol level is 210 mg/dl: greater than 50 percent

The Natural Resources Argument
User of more than half of all water used for all purposes in the U.S.: livestock production
Amount of water used in production of the average cow: sufficient to float a destroyer
Gallons of water needed to produce a pound of wheat: 25
Gallons of water needed to produce a pound of California beef: 5,000
Years the world's known oil reserves would last if every human ate a meat-centered diet: 13
Years they would last if human beings no longer ate meat: 260
Calories of fossil fuel expended to get 1 calorie of protein from beef: 78
To get 1 calorie of protein from soybeans: 2
Percentage of all raw materials (base products of farming, forestry and mining, including fossil fuels) consumed by U.S. that is devoted to the production of livestock: 33
Percentage of all raw materials consumed by the U.S. needed to produce a complete vegetarian diet: 2

The Antibiotic Argument
Percentage of U.S. antibiotics fed to livestock: 55
Percentage of staphylococci infections resistant to penicillin in 1960: 13
Percentage resistant in 1988: 91
Response of European Economic Community to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: ban
Response of U.S. meat and pharmaceutical industries to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: full and complete support

The Pesticide Argument
Common belief: U.S. Department of Agriculture protects our health through meat inspection
Reality: fewer than 1 out of every 250,000 slaughtered animals is tested for toxic chemical residues
Percentage of U.S. mother's milk containing significant levels of DDT: 99
Percentage of U.S. vegetarian mother's milk containing significant levels of DDT: 8
Contamination of breast milk, due to chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides in animal products, found in meat-eating mothers vs. non-meat eating mothers: 35 times higher
Amount of Dieldrin ingested by the average breast-fed American infant: 9 times the permissible level

The Ethical Argument
Number of animals killed for meat per hour in the U.S.: 660,000
Occupation with highest turnover rate in U.S.: slaughterhouse worker
Occupation with highest rate of on-the-job-injury in U.S.: slaughterhouse worker

Just Say No... To GMO!

A good number people have probably heard of Monsanto. I'm sure a lot haven't. At any rate, I think it is very important that people understand just what this company does, and what they really stand for.

To start off, Monsanto is a huge, American corporation that produces herbicides and pesticides.... But that's not all they do! They also genetically modify crops for the food we eat.

Because these foods are "created" by Monsanto, they "own" them and all the offspring, etc. Farmers that buy Monsanto seeds are not permitted to save seeds for the next year - rather, they have to buy new seeds from Monsanto the following year. Clever concept, right? Annoying - but clever.

Just wait. This is about to get a little more clever....and a lot more annoying.

Even if a farmer doesn't buy Monsanto's product, should GMO crops cross pollinate with non-GMO crops, the gene can be found in this farmers crop the next year. So if said farmer reuses the seeds from his non-GMO crop, Monsanto could test for their genes and find them. This means a lawsuit for the farmer - which the rich and powerful Monsanto almost never loses.

So farmers not caving to Monsanto and using their product, are now in danger of a lawsuit that would leave them bankrupt. In this way, Monsanto is moving towards monopolizing the food industry in America.

If that's not scary enough for you, don't let out your sigh of relief yet.

Recently, Monsanto released their first direct-to-costumer product: GMO corn. This corn contains a Bt toxin - a protein that ruptures the stomach of any insects that attempt to feed on it.

This toxin has been found to cause organ failure in small mammals.

Umm. I know it's a stretch to say that the corn could be dangerous to people - but I'd prefer my corn the way millions of years of evolution designed it...not exploding my insides.

Well, there's a special PLU code for GMO products. I could just make sure to stay away from codes with five numbers, starting with an eight.

OH WAIT! Companies aren't required to use the special PLU, so I really have no way of knowing whether I'm eating genetically modified "food" or not.

That makes me a little scared, super frustrated, and even angry. Does it make you angry? Because it should.

But what can We do about it?
Well, There's actually a few things you can do to help make a difference. Send letters to your legislature or house of representatives protesting Monsanto. Elsewhere in the world, GMO products are already illegal or at least regulated by the government. We deserve the same protections.

Also, you should know about the companies that are known to use GMO products.


"Control the food supply, control the people." Dont let that happen. Fight back. Just say no...to Monsanto.

On My Mind//10

So you think you're tasting the rainbow in a package of processed, artificial pellets? I dare you to try real fruit!

Did You Know...

Did you know that humans cannot taste fat or protien? Our taste buds pick up 5 flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty.

When you eat meat or something fatty, you're actually just tasting the sugars, minerals(salts), acids (sour), ect. Isn't that fascinating?!

Moreover, these are the flavors found predominantly in raw fruits and vegetables! So excite your tastebuds.... Naturally! Eat your fruits and veggies! (Especially fruit )

Why Are People Still Eating Meat?!

(the video and text say the same thing, so you can watch or read, based on your preference)

Do you eat meat? If so, could you tell me why, if i asked? Honestly, it blows my mind that so many people still eat animal products, and i want to tell you why. A lot of meat eaters aren't going to want to hear about this, but I really hope you'll read this through youth the end. I can't make you agree with me - but I really want to help you at least understand why many people are switching to a vegan diet themselves.

First of all, the meat industry obviously causes suffering to the animal that is destined to be eaten. Most live out their lives in tiny, uncomfortable, unclean, crowded spaces where they are nearly unable to even move. On top of this, even free-range animals must go to slaughter, where they are still alive and frightened as they are hoisted into the air, and are still conscious and kicking as their throats are slit and the blood drains from their necks, taking their only life with it. A lot of people know this to some extent, though many pretend they don't, or they deny that it is true.

This is only the beginning, though. It's not just domestic animals that are being killed for the purpose of our animal consumption. Elsewhere in the world, rain forests are being cut down for space to raise animals or forage for these animals. As rainforest is cut down, exotic plant species are disappearing and animals are going extinct at a breathtaking rate as their habitat is destroyed.

Huge amounts of fossil fuels are used to grow crops for all of the animals that we eat, and even more are used to transport these grains, as well as water and other supplies...and finally, the livestock itself must me transported to and from the slaughterhouse. Add all of this up and - did you know that animal farming is the number one producer of greenhouse gasses emitted to the atmosphere?

Did you know that with all the grain we produce just for livestock in the US, we could feed 800 million people? That means that if we were to feed this grain directly to people, rather than animals, we could virtually eradicate world hunger. Knowing this, I believe that by extension, one could say that by eating meat, we are contributing to the starvation of men, women, and children in 3rd world countries.

Finally, it's about time we all just accepted that meat is not necessary for optimum health. In fact, many studies have been conducted which show that eating animal products is actually detrimental to human health (for more info see Forks Over Knives), and that a diet of whole plant foods is the best and most straightforward way to stay healthy.
Despite this, there are many people who still argue that without meat, you will not get the protein you need. To those people, I say - did you know that there has never in history been a case of protein deficiency, without a caloric deficiency? This means that if a person is eating enough calories even from nothing but rice (not that i am suggesting it) they will NOT be deficient in protein. Supplement with some beans, greens, or nuts and seeds? Your getting more than enough.

When I asked you why you eat meat, you probably thought "because it tastes good", right? Well, I implore you right now - is all of this...starving children, species going extinct, poor health and degenerative diseases, as well as suffering animals...worth a few moments of sensual pleasure?
If you know the answer to this and you don't like it, I hope you will try to take a step out of your comfort zone and try out some soy products and/or experiment with some vegan recipes.

What can a little bit of experimenting hurt? I think we've all got a lot more to gain than to lose from your brave, mature, and selfless decision to go vegan.