michael

Sorry, I messed up the link with a typo. The correct address is: http://www.galaxyglobaleatery.com Check out the link on books written about hemp--it's amazing that there are several titles out there praising the medicinal/therapeutic value of a food product the majority of people are completely unaware of...and yet it predates the use of soybeans by several centuries. For protein assimilation, hemp is the clear winner over soy, and like Robert, I've noticeably de-emphasized my soy intake since discovering hemp. If anyone ever gives you any guff about how vegetarians don't have a bona fide protein source that can compete with meat, whey or whatever, you can tell them that the very best protein source hails from the plant kingdom after all! Richard Rose, founder of HempNut, Inc. and food entrepenuer who has made a living creating many innovative soy based foods over the last 20 years has recently focused his interest on hemp exclusively, calling it "the soybean of the 20th century". When that happens of course, the disinformation campaign by vendors hurt by soy product sales will have switch gears and find something about hemp to malign. I can see it all now--how they'll be claiming it's marijuana in disguise...

Sorry, I messed up the link with a typo. The correct address is: http://www.galaxyglobaleatery.com Check out the link on books written about hemp--it's amazing that there are several titles out there praising the medicinal/therapeutic value of a food product the majority of people are completely unaware of...and yet it predates the use of soybeans by several centuries. Richard Rose, founder of HempNut, Inc. and food entrepenuer who has made a living creating many innovative soy based foods over the last 20 years has recently focused his interest on hemp exclusively, calling it "the soybean of the 20th century". When that happens of course, the disinformation campaign by vendors hurt by soy product sales will have switch gears and find something about hemp to malign. I can see it all now--how they'll be claiming it's marijuana in disguise...

I purchase 25 lbs unshelled for about $85.00 when shipping is added from Galaxy Global Eatery. This is the most cost effective means of purchasing hemp through this company (and the best I've seen anywhere) but I must admit a preference for the higher priced shelled hemp which I can add to a high power blender and make great tasting hemp milk. Here's their site: http://www.galaxygloblaleatery.com

I'll second Robert's comments on hemp protein. Shelled hempseed, with its high content of essential amino acids and essentail fatty acids is quite possibly the most nutritious plant food found in nature. The total amount of nutrients deemed "essential" is almost two-thirds of the entire hempseed! Does any other food have such a high density of nutrition? Perhaps only chlorella does. Higher in protein than meat, fish, eggs or milk, hemp has exceptionally high quality, highly digestible protein owing to its globular edestin and albumin variety. Unlike soy, hemp is free of trypsin inhibitors and oligosaccharides (long sugar chains) which impair protein absorption and cause digestive problems, respectively. Also, whereas soy is common food allergy and is raised as a GMO to a significant extent, hemp is rarely allergenic and is GMO free. Here's an interesting comparison of the essential amino acid profile of hempseed with egg whites (which mainstream body builders seem to heap so much unwarranted praise for): In mg/g hempseed / egg whites leucine 18.80 / 9.50 lysine 9.10 / 6.48 threonine 10.30 / 4.77 phen+tyro 21.90 / 6.89 valine 14.20 / 8.42 meth+cyst 9.60 / 4.20 isoleucine 11.40 / 6.98 tryptophan 3.90 / 1.64 Nothing has enabled me to gain muscle mass like hemp has. I value it so much that I generally purchase 25 lbs of whole hemp seed at a time from a vendor in NYC.

Either that or the human body is not absorbing vitamins that readily through supplements after all--something I've always suspected.

Got this from the University of Maryland Medical Center web site: The best sources of riboflavin include brewer's yeast, almonds, organ meats, whole grains, wheat germ, wild rice, mushrooms, soybeans, milk, yogurt, eggs, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and spinach. Flours and cereals are often fortified with riboflavin. Something tells me that there is an unnecessary high level of B-2 in supplements--I mean, not even taking a bunch of spirulina (high B-vit. source) turns my urine into anything resembling a caylume glow stick like a tablet does. Strange.

From jamiesonvitamins.com: Question 6: Why does urine often turn bright yellow when vitamin B- complex or a multivitamin supplement is used? Answer: This is caused by the riboflavin (vitamin B2), which has an intense yellow colour. If you are taking more vitamins than you need, you get rid of the excess through the urine. This is a natural process and no cause for alarm.

Veganism always offered the path to optimal human health and nutrition, more so in the past when we did not inhabit a world filled with pesticides, herbicides and other chemical contaminents that are increasingly fouling our air, water and soil. The Pythagoreans of ancient Greece enjoyed the best era of veganism, I would say. I read the article all the way through and have a couple of thoughts to share. Within the body of the article, a bit too frequently are we led to believe that vegans are on the threshold of being malnourished. It reminds me of the many quips from health professionals I read on the internet who proclaim that vegetarian diets are possibly beneficial, "but be aware that you need, B-12, calcium, zinc, iron, protein, blah, blah"--completely ignoring the fact that there is an entire nation of primarily omnivores who are overfed and undernourished in all facets, from low EFAs, mineral imbalances, acidosis (excessive animal product consumption, leading to calcium leaching), etc. With BSE, foot-and-mouth disease, mercury laden fish and now the looming threat of avian flu, circumstances will force us to change and adopt a more plant based diet in the future. I'm all for it--just as long as they don't start handing out wafers of soylent green...

Robert, Nice photos. Did you by chance come in contact with Dreena Burton, author of "Vive Le Vegan" and "The Everyday Vegan"? She mentioned that she had hoped to listen to Brendan speak but didn't get the chance because she was so involved in her own speaking/book signing. This week I've been corresponding with her following her podcast on hemp foods on vegan.com She thought I had a dynamite idea for a introducing a new vegan food to the market and suggested I contact Brendan. Do you think he might be open to partnering on an idea of mine? Michael

Indeed I have and they are exceptional! At Central Market here in N. Texas I purchase them for around $1.50 All the bars have around 3-5 ingredients, all whole foods. The Cherry Pie is best (dates, almonds and unsweetened cherries).

That's understandable. Cheese products, as it turns out have the highest concentration of casomorphins. Basically a natural and addictive opiate, they reputedly have 1/10 the strength of morphine Nature puts it there to dope the offspring.

I agree with you regarding the USDA, as my prior post attests. It really upsets me when I think how much the meat and dairy industries have the USDA in their hip pocket, especially where the national school lunch program is concerned. It is encouraging, though when I see some small scale changes occurring in our nations schools, as it gives me reason to hope.

Personally, I stay away from all refined white flour based food products (bagels, white sandwich bread, dinner rolls, etc). Many of the foods that Daywalker mentioned, i.e. quinoa, buckwheat, spelt, kamut, whole wheat, amaranth, rolled oats and others offer high levels of beneficial, slow blood sugar releasing/nutrient rich complex carbohydrates. Further down the list of desirability are ones like corn and white rice (the foods most Americans eat).

I would definitely mix the cardiovascular workouts with weights as Daywalker suggests. One of the best foods that I've found for helping to shed body fat is flaxseed. I recommend 2 tablespoons daily (pre-ground). Here's some advice by Dr. Neal Barnard that may prove useful to you: HERE ARE THE KEYS TO FASTER CALORIE BURNING: 1. By far, the biggest increase in metabolism comes with physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, running, dancing or singles tennis. Your calorie burn is dramatically higher than at rest, and the effect may persist briefly after you stop. 2. Weight training helps, too, because it increases--or at least maintains--your muscle mass. Muscles burn calories more quickly than most other body tissues. 3. If you limit your calories, be careful. Even if you're eager to lose weight, very low-calorie diets tend to slow down your metabolism. Here's my rule of thumb: Take your ideal body weight, and multiply it by 10. This gives you your calorie minimum. For example, if I would like to weigh 150 pounds, my calorie minimum would be 1,500. I can eat more than this, but if I'm restricting calories, I cannot go below this number. If I do, I risk slowing down my metabolism. 4. Increase your after-meal burn. Your body has to work to digest the food you've just eaten, and, in the process, it burns some calories as body heat. This after-meal burn is sometimes called the thermic effect of food. It turns out that vegetarians seem to have a better after-meal burn than meat eaters do, as we here at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine observed in lab experiments done in 2000 and 2001 at George Washington University. We measured the after-meal burn in 59 overweight, postmenopausal women consuming the same liquid breakfast drink. Then half of the group went on a low-fat, vegetarian diet, while the others went on a low-fat diet that included modest amounts of animal products. After 14 weeks, we brought each participant back into the lab and checked her after-meal calorie burn again. It turned out that members of the vegetarian group had significantly increased their after-meal burn while the others had not. We measured the effect for about three hours after the meal, but it likely persists a bit longer than that. Here's at least part of what seems to be going on: The vegan diet improves insulin sensitivity, which means it's easier to turn the nutrients you eat into energy. Because the after-meal burn comes largely from carbohydrates, not fatty foods, vegetarian diets are ideal. They are generally rich in complex carbs and low in fat, so they generate a better after-meal burn naturally, which may be part of why most people lose weight when they go vegetarian. Now, the after-meal burn is small, totaling about 10 percent of your calorie expenditure (about 200 calories each day). However, small changes can add up, so it may well be that plant-based diets help with weight loss because they are lower in calories to begin with, and they may also increase metabolism after meals. So, yes, you can rev up your metabolism and burn calories faster. By using aerobic exercise and weight training, maintaining an adequate calorie intake and increasing your after-meal burn, you will give yourself an edge. Neal Barnard, MD, the founder and president of the Physicians Committee Jar Responsible Medicine (PCRM), is an advocate for health and plan-based nutrition. He maintains a healthy weight with a little help from a vegan diet. COPYRIGHT 2005 Vegetarian Times, Inc. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

I ate several dried figs for lunch yesterday, in fact. A good source of fiber, calcium, Vitamin A and magnesium as well. This is one of the foods that has been revered since antiquity--and for good reason. Too bad that most people's only exposure to figs their whole lives is by eating an occasional sugar laden, processed Fig Newton cookie.

Since taking 1-2 tablespoons each day (freshly ground in my grinder, of course) my friends and family noticed a distinct increase in the fullness/thickness of my scalp hair! In three months time I was pleasantly surprised by how I needed to apply more strength when brushing my hair. In recent years I had been experiencing the usual male thinning/limpness of hair brought on by age and heredity--was starting to seriously look like Martin Mull or William Hurt. Turns out that Omega-3s are possibly the most beneficial nutrient for enhancing fullness and luster to one's hair. If thinning hair is an issue with you, try this before investing in expensive topical lotions.

Between the nuts, seeds, whole grains, spinich and other green leafy vegetables that I eat each day I guess I'm doing OK in that department. Contributes to a healthy circulatory system, speeds up wound healing and demolishes free radicals...great. Excuse me, now--back to my freshly ground, organic peanut butter with organic 3 seed flat bread by Dr. Kracker--hey, what do you know?...vitamin E!

I'm a German-American living in Texas--how's that for confusing things? Wilkommen!!

Right you are, Megan! I just now sent a letter of gratitude to the Poughkeepsie School for taking such great strides in their lunch program. Nearly half the menu vegan--awesome! I plan on being a proactive parent when my son enrolls in kindergarten next year. It's not easy to succeed in bringing about changes in our meat-ravenous state, but I will give it my best. What is really criminal to me is the USDA sponsored school lunch assistance program and the "dumping" of tons of, say pork, just to bolster the market for pork! I thought it was a free and open market?! More like agri-welfare! I wonder to what extent some of these progressive schools are beset with angry retorts by meat/dairy suppliers...?

Congratulations to the food service directors and chefs that are striving to make a change in our nation's schools by introducing wholesome and nutritional alternatives. In the near future, I would love to see a study undertaken to determine to what extent improvements will be noted in school attendance, student enthusiasm/participation and general behavior down the road. I wish my son could attend a school like Poughkeepsie Day School! http://www.pcrm.org/cgi-bin/lists/mail.cgi?flavor=archive&id=20051012115523&list=news

Since you have some experience with hemp, I recommend just buying the raw shelled hemp seed and blending with water, fruit and a healthy sweetener. You'll get a complete protein without the soy "phytates" that have been written about lately, plus a perfect Omega3:6 fatty acid ratio. Here's a link to the best prices I've come across: http://www.galaxyglobaleatery.com I'd do my best, compassionategirl! What I make in all honesty would not win over too many people at the moment. I wonder now if the chlorella in Vega makes the supplement less tasty than, say a decadent shake...that stuff, no matter the amount, makes everything it comes into contact with taste like seaweed. Ah, but what a superfood...! Brendan hit a bullseye in combining this with hemp and maca. Adding generous amounts of xylitol would help, but gosh, it's nearly 10X as expensive as sugar! Check out this interesting piece written about it: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/xylitol.htm

Compassionategirl, I agree with you over the questionable nutritional merit of soy protein isolates. Personally, when I choose packaged product foods, whether they be supplements, cereals, etc. I seek out those that have the fewest processed ingredients. I too get enough soy protein from tofu and the homemade soymilk I make using non-GMO whole soybeans. (Last night in fact, I made a sugar free tofu/peanut butter pie with my soymilk--it was awesome!) There are entirely too many soy derivatives out there... By the way, I think that your fondness for Prue Trim over Vega stems from the fact that the sweetener used is fructose, which is far more palatable than stevia (used in Vega) to most individuals. Tastier, to be sure, but unfortunately a step down from a nutritional and health standpoint. As for the pineapple, I'm going to do my best to purchase it more often. Tropical fruits, whether they be pineapple, guava, passionfruit or papaya seem to deliver the biggest bang for the buck, nutrition-wise. Michael

Yes, I'm quite sure the air quality in Houston may be as much a factor for you as what I'm faced with in Dallas-Ft. Worth. I believe we moved up several notches on the list of cities with the worst air quality--we're now #8! This area is easily the most anti-green city I've ever lived in and is easily more regressive than what the S.F. Bay Area was 25 years ago. I know that my food choices has been a factor in alleviating some of the worst symptoms over the last several years and once I purged dairy from my diet, the results were better still. Recently, like you I pretty much eliminated refined carbohydrates and table sugar as well. I'm putting my order in for the bromelain--thanks!

Michelle, I notice that you are a Texas resident also, and presumably an allergy sufferer like me. Just how well did bromelain aid you and what allergens are you most susceptible to, if I may ask? Mtn and Red Cedar, bermuda grass and many of the outdoor molds affect me. Oddly enough, before I moved to Texas I was never an allergy sufferer. I will definitely try a bromelain supplement now seeing that it has benefitted you. Are you able to take it in place of the over the counter medication?

Too often I've been discarding the stem portion of the pineapple (which I assume is the center core?)--sure won't be doing that now.