VegWorld Magazine
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You Sure Don’t Look Like a Baby Cow! | Vance Lehmkuhl hazelnuts and others. Almond milk is the success story of the moment; it’s now available in supermarkets everywhere and challenging soy for the top spot. Coconut milk (a beverage distinct from the cooking liquid) has also made great strides in market share. So now that you’re curious, which one should you try? One advantage to the multiplicity of different milks is that they excel in different situations. While I never took to soy milk on cereal — too cloying — rice milk and almond milk work wonderfully. For cooking or baking, you’ll almost always want an unsweetened variety; soy, almond and coconut all perform well. Flax milk is great in smoothies, boosting omega-3s without altering flavor (and without leaving flax seeds to clean out of your blender). And for drinking? That will depend on your taste, as well as what you’re drinking it with. I find almond and coconut both go well with cookies, while rice and oat may be better standalones, but that’s subjective. I also enjoy blending the different types to get the best balance for a given occasion. Cholesterol-free milks made from nuts, grains and legumes have been around for centuries, and the modern versions are calciumfortified. Whether or not you consider them superior products, one thing is clear: They are made for humans, by humans. Weird, huh?
Almond milk is “made for humans, by humans” and is naturally cholesterol-free and delicious.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vance Lehmkuhl is a cartoonist, writer, musician and 10-year vegan. “V for Veg” chronicles the growing trend of vegan eating in and around Philadelphia. Follow Vance at @V4Veg on Twitter.
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NUTRITION
AND THRIVING Did Angelina Have Another Choice? The Truth About Vitamin D
The Truth About Vitamin D | Dr. Janice Stanger which penetrates the skin more deeply to generate free radicals and speed skin aging. Yet UVA is powerless to form vital vitamin D. Sunscreen blocks critical UVB rays. That’s why some unprotected exposure is necessary for vitamin D production. The length of time each individual needs in the sun varies quite a bit. Here are some factors that increase the amount of time required to make enough D: darker skin, older age, obesity, sun filtered through polluted air or overcast, and certain medications. There are no simple, rule-ofthumb solutions. Some experts advise you get enough midday sun to turn your skin just pink. Do avoid sunburn, and shield your face from the sun, as well as any areas of skin that have been previously damaged. In our sun-phobic society, you may be surprised to learn that moderate sun exposure has not been substantiated to increase the risk of skin cancer. In fact, people who routinely work at least part of the day in the sun actually have a lower risk of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Work with a healthcare provider as needed, especially if you have concerns about a specific health condition. However, educate yourself and don’t rely on any one “expert” to make sure you have the optimal amount of D. This is an area of legitimate controversy, so you want to avoid jumping to extremes or relying on limited information.
A Plant-Strong Diet Will Help you Get Your D and Keep the Wrinkles Away So here’s the big picture: If the parts of your VegWorld Magazine
A whole-food vegan diet helps to keep healthy all of your body parts needed to produce vitamin D - including your liver, kidneys and circulation. And, hey, it will also help prevent wrinkles!
body involved in the manufacture of vitamin D are working properly – including your skin, liver, kidneys, brain, and circulatory system – your body will work to ensure that you have enough D without overdosing. As always, a whole-food, plant-based diet is the foundation of health. In addition, the antioxidants in whole plant foods help protect your skin against wrinkles and damage while you are in the sun making your vitamin D. These same foods help safeguard your liver and kidneys, both of which are essential to converting D to its Issue 011 - June 2013 |
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The Truth About Vitamin D | Dr. Janice Stanger
final, active form. A whole-food, plant-based diet can also prevent – and even reverse – the build-up of plaque in your arteries. This plaque impedes the free circulation of D where it is needed.
Even though D is a hormone and not dietarybased, you still need to eat healthy to maximize your ability to manufacture, store, and use D. Now, isn’t that a happy fact.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Janice Stanger has a Ph.D. in Human Development and Aging from University of California, San Francisco. As an adult, she went through multiple unsuccessful weight loss attempts, binge eating, and numerous chronic illnesses and debilitating pain. Since following the Perfect Formula Diet the author is now in perfect health, at her perfect weight, and takes no prescription drugs (with ideal cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose level) at age 58. Find out more about Dr. Janice Stanger by visiting her website by tapping here.
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