not only is cookbook author and host of her own cooking show christina pirello a cancer survivor, she healed herself with a macrobiotic diet back in the early 80's. here she tells her amazing story:
below, her take on breast cancer awareness month and real preventative measures. a must see for all!
another preventative step i take against cancer is using only all-natural deodorants free of aluminum-based compounds found in most antiperspirants. either i make our own deodorant with this recipe or purchase crystal essence roll-on deodorant and body spray for mid-day freshening. when i don't have to go out into public and in the winter months, i don't wear deodorant at all. i'd rather smell a tad ripe than battle a terminal disease. are ya with me?
as a baby, elvis was found tied up in a barn, waiting to be sold to a veal farmer. he was rescued by an animal lover and now resides safely at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. unfortunately, most cows aren't so lucky.
elvis' mother was a dairy cow. to increase milk production, female cows are inseminated. after given birth, the babies are taken away from their mommies so the milk can be bottled and sold. the mothers mourn the loss of their young, as any mother would do.
because they are of no use to the dairy industry, the male babies are confined to a dark cramped space, chained by the neck to restrict their movement. the confinement makes the veal meat "tender" as their muscles have no chance to develop.
=(
many of us unknowingly support this fate for cows each time we purchase milk or veal. think about it, does it really taste that good?
"If you're eating or drinking something made from cow's milk, it's because a calf chained in a box somewhere isn't." ~Dan Piraro, Cartoonist and Author
to read more about elvis and other rescued animals (and maybe even to adopt! =), visit the Woodstock Farm site.
if you love and care for the well-being of all animals, are looking to lower your cholesterol, and/or enjoy tasting the batter without fear of salmonella, you may want to try using egg replacers when baking. trust me, baking without eggs can be done!
vegan egg replacers:
simply whisk the following ingredients until foamy:
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp flour
3 Tbsp water
= 1 egg
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
4 Tbsp flour
6 Tbsp water
= 2 eggs
for quick baking and making sugar cookies minus baking powder, i use Ener-G egg replacers.
sadly, cage-free eggs are not all they're cracked up to be. pastured eggs from a local farm seem to be the most humane way to obtain eggs. find local pastured eggs here!
picking our eggs up from a farm may be inconvenient and a bit more costly, but we will get healthier eggs from happier hens. it's worth it!
i think i may have cured my seasonal allergies with organic, plant-based eating.
for as long as i can remember, every spring and fall i'd suffer miserably from sinus pain, itching, headaches, congestion, and eventually end up with a nasty cough. not the case this spring, and i've been spending much more time outdoors (with my face stuck in a garden).
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i do occasionally get itchy and sneezy from pollen and dust, but my neti pot takes care of that.
you can purchase one of these babies virtually anywhere for around 15 dollars.
if you've never tried a neti pot, i strongly suggest you look into it. it's a wonderful tool to help you rinse the nasty stuff from your nasal passage. yes, it's a little uncomfortable, but it's only a few minutes - much better than feeling crappy for days!
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so here is my theory (but don't take my word for it - educate yourself on what you are eating!):
a healthy system can fight off allergens more easily. non-organic products contain pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other unnatural substances which are toxic to the system. a system fighting toxins from what you eat and drink will not be prepared to fight off other intruders like bacteria, viruses, dust, or pollen.
consuming milk and other dairy products is not natural after childhood. i'm sure you've heard it before, but humans are the only mammals that drink milk after being weened from our mothers (from another species better yet). in my opinion, it would be more natural for us to drink human breast milk in a glass then milk from a cow.
anyway, our bodies treat cows' milk as an invader. milk is a secretion of fluids from animals' breasts that sometimes includes pus and blood. your body fights off anything that is foreign. a secretion from another breed, filled with chemicals and other substances, is foreign. period.
they say not to drink milk when you are sick - it may cause your body to produce more mucous. the mucous traps allergens in your nasal passage and throat. it's like a sticky trap for the pollen and dust in the air (think of those sticky bug traps). when your body is attacked by foreign substances , it naturally fights off the intruders, producing more mucous. end result - a stuffy, itchy, runny upper-respiratory system trying to purge itself of nasty allergens!
"but what about calcium and vitamin D?"
where do you think the cow gets vitamins and minerals? from plants! i have readfrom many sources that dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, beans, and some nuts and seeds are great sources of calcium. calcium is also found in a wide variety of fruits and veggies.
our bodies are designed to obtain vitamin D through sun exposure. many brands of milk alternatives are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, like organic Rice Dream, which claims to have the same amount of calcium as cows' milk!
"then how will i prevent osteoporosis?"
the highest rates of osteoporosis are said to be in populations that consume a lot of animal products. "The correlation between animal protein [intake] and fracture rates in different societies is as strong as that between lung cancer and smoking," says T. Colin Campbell, professor of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University. yikes! too much phosphorus (found in high amounts in soft drinks) can also cause calcium to be lost from the bones.
many sources say the best way to prevent osteoporosis is engaging in regular exercise and eating a wide variety of mineral-rich foods.
really, it's time we stop TREATING our ailments and start PREVENTING them!
A Look At Dairy
and if you haven't seen this video, watch it! it could change your life.
do your own research. make changes to your diet and observe how your body reacts. make your own informed decisions. (beware of information and sites that are backed by the all-powerful dairy and pharmaceutical industries!) it's time we stop relying on the medical industry and their side-effect producing pills and start taking care of ourselves.
ok, i'm off my soapbox now =)
just know i do this for two reasons:
1) i love you and want you to be happy and healthy and feel your best
2) i love animals and want them to live freely without suffering and pain
it's a transition, i know. it took me more than a year and i'm still not there 100%. but this information and the video above really helped me and i hope it helps you. =)
"The industry doesn't want you to know the truth about
what you're eating, because if you knew, you might not want to eat it".
I was fortunate to attend an advanced screening of Food, INC, an expose' on the food industry due out in theaters soon, thanks to my friend and former cooking-class teacher, Lisa Melian.
check out the trailer
The film was hard to digest at times (no pun intended) as it lifted the curtain hiding the truth of our food system. I must note that this movie was NOT a pro-vegan/vegetarian flick - in fact, vegetarianism was not even mentioned. Instead, this film urges us, the consumers, to educate ourselves on where our food is coming from so we can make healthier, more humane choices for all living beings and our planet.
