Kathryn

Revlon is vegan? I kind of doubt it, but maybe they've changed. Watch out for how animal testing info is presented on the label. Something like "ABC company does not conduct animal texts" could mean "we have XYZ do them for us," expecially if the label also states the product is not made by ABC, but 'distributed by" them. Also, "this product not tested on animals" can mean "but the individual ingredients were. Instead, look for more global disclaimers: "no animal testing, or "ABC company does not conduct or endorse animal testing" or "against animal testing."

In addition to what others have said, there's usually no way to tell if wool comes from shearing (which , unless you are actually there to witness the process, you have no idea how badly any specific group of sheep is treated) or is what they call "pulled wool": wool gathered from a sheep after it is killed. Also, the whole idea that we NEED to use animal products in some way needs to be rethought, and by wearing wool, one seems to support the idea that we need to exploit animals to live well. I agree that you should wear the suits you have until they are no longer wearable (or give away those that are in good shape to Goodwill or the Salvation army and keep wearing those that are still wearable, but not necessarily someone else would wear as used), but don't buy anymore. ' Tencel and hemp are two fibers to look into. Like you, I was vegan in diet before I had gone 'all the way" (and pretty much vegan since I went vegetarian): I didn't buy any more leather or wool, but I wore a few pairs of leather shoes I had until they were no longer wearable. And it took me a while to get rid of the beautiful wool sweaters I had knit myself (I finally decided to , and gave them to my stepmother).

Hmm...it must be from the natural pectin in the apples, then?

Immy, I agree that often raw food experts seem to work more from wishful thinking than science (like some saying that nori and dulse are good sources of B12, when studies have shown that they actually contain B12 analogs), but I also agree your tone is too harsh. For some scientific backing of the benefits of raw over cooked, look into "Pottinger's cats." A scientist names Pottinger fed cats (sorry to make reference to an animal study...I don't know if there are any non-animal studies available) either a raw-food diet (in their case, meat and milk) or a cooked version of the same diet. Subsequent generations of cats fed the cooked food diet became ill and were unable to reproduce...at which time he stopped the experiment).

How do you keep the apples from being runny? Or are they?

I was in the health food store yesterday, browsing through the book section, and in a book on detoxing, there was info on using wheat grass juice to detox, along with a statement that women shouldn't take the quantity suggested for detoxing because it can cause hormonal imbalances (no references or other info was given). Anybody heard of this before? It's news to me.

Raw hemp protein is a good basis for a raw smoothie. Add it to fresh juice or water and fruits, or add some frozen banana to it (peel ripe bananas, then break into 2-3 pieces and freeze in a container).

Most large beans are hard to digest when raw, even sprouted, and even sprouting experts recommend eating small amounts of them only, and steaming them if eating much of any quantity. I can't imagine a smoothie with garbAnzos and kidney beans (though I do like both of those beans raw). I can only imagine the after effects!

I read about that in "The Food Revolution." I must say, John Robbins is much more accepting of others than I am. I can't say I could have been as nice to the farmer as he was (though I wouldn't have done him violence...I might have had quite violent thoughts about him, though!)

Some styles of Schiek gloves are non-leather ('synthetic leather') but not all, so you have to check them out. I use one of their wrist-wrap gloves. I found mine by searching for "Schiek gloves" or "synthetic leather weight gloves," something like that.

I suppose my job is vegan, in that I'm not forced to deal with animal products (I'm a French professor). Though when I first turned vegetarian, I was still working during summers and my school breaks as a waitress/barmaid/lunch assistant at an Eagle's club in my home town, and I had to serve (but not prepare) stuff like chicken and (even worse: liver and onions!).

Here's an article by Michael Greger on the subject: http://www.satyamag.com/mar04/greger.html

When you dehydrate quinoa, what do you do with it? I really like dehydrated buckwheat (good cereal). For those who have sprouted buckwheat, how did you do it? The instructions I followed said that it's difficult, and that it often leads to a slimey mess if done the way most grains are. I soaked it for 15 minutes (only!) then rinsed it every hour for the first 4 hours (as per instructions). The bag I used did get slimey goo on it, but the buckwheat itself ended up okay. Kurt: I see your avatar is back! Did you try that web site? Is it easy to use? (I haven't tried it yet myself).

I definitely think that it's easier to be a raw fooder in warmer climates (Florida, California and Texas in the US, for example) rather than in places where the temperature drops to freezing in the winter. Perhaps because our bodies are in-tune with the weather, and it would definitely be pretty tough to eat raw just living off the land in winter!) I definitely have more of an appetite and craving for denser cooked foods in winter, which is why my raw-food forays have always been in the summer time. It just seems so natural.

I like collard rolls. Thinly slice some mushrooms and onion (I like red onion) and 'marinate' n a bit of Nama Shoyu (raw soy sauce) for a few minutes. Drain, then place on the inside of a collard leaf (cut the stem off the leaf, and thin out the thickest part of the stem that is still the 'spine' of the leaf) with shredded carrots, sliced avocado and sticks of cucumber.

Kurt,' Here's a site (free) that helps you size avatars. I've never tried it myself, but know others who have: http://www.jql.co.uk/avatarsizer.htm

Grains are more calorie dense and lower in fat than many foods. Try Quinoa, millet, amaranth, brown rice, etc. Also, watch your intake of nuts and nut butters, oils. Ideally, don't use any oils or 'added fats', just fatty whole foods like avocado, when you need some fat, like on a salad. For 'stir frying,' you can replace oil with mirin --a japanese cooking sake--or cookiing sherry or wine or apple juice, which all give a mouth feel similar to oil, vs. using water. Neal Barnard and Dean Ornish have lots of ideas for low-fat meals (though I'm not sure about calorie content).

How about a signed picture of Robert in a sash, showing his tasty ass?

We use the word 'have'' in a non-dominating, non-possessive way in other contexts as well (ie: "I have a friend/a sister/an uncle") to indicate a relationship. I was in a feed store the other day, and someone who was promoting some new cat/dog food asked me "Do you own any pets?" I replied "I have cats, but I wouldn't say I own them." He looked very puzzled, then asked me what I meant, and I told him that I don't think you can 'own' a living being, but that I considered them to be companions and part of the family. (I HATE when people use the words 'own' or--even moreso--'buy' when refering to animals. And at the shelter I volunteer at, a couple of the workers tell people about the animals that are up for adoption by saying ËveryTHING in this room is ready for adoption." I'd say "everyONE".)

Heck, I thought it was a sash, like on "Miss America." (I'm still waiting for mine!) Congrats, Crash! It's good to have you on the forum.

Hi,Kurt. Any chance you can make that avatar smaller? (I'm concerned about the server space it will take up every time you post...it also makes 'finding '' your message a bit tougher).TIA! When you use quinoa, make sure to rinse it very well beforehand (like putting it in a fine strainer, then sloshing that around in a pan of water for a bit, then rinsing) as it is coated with a naturally occuring saponin that makes it bitter. I tried sprouted quinoa once, but like you, didn't like the finished product that much (I tried to make a raw 'pilaf' with shreaded carrots, cucumbers, onions). I may try again (or just sprout the quinoa and then lightly steam it a bit).

I think we're actually pretty primitive technologically speaking vs. where we could be. If computers could run on one small solar battery, that would be advanced technology. If all cars ran on waste material and converted it to clean air and water, that would be advanced! I have to use a computer for my work (and for getting on the internet!) as well as a car, but I do have a Prius, which gets much better gas mileage than most cars, and has the best 'non-polluting" rating. I have to laugh when car commercials come on and they are bragging about the car getting 30 mpg on the highway! (Mine gets 51-52).

Lecithin (usually derived from soy: health food stores sell it) comes in either liquid or granular form. It is used to help bind ingredients that usually don't hold together (like oil and water). Lecithin can come from eggs as well, but it's usually soy based. Guar gum is a thickener, and is plant source. Kind of odd ingredients, IMO, for a raw recipe. You could use raw psyllium husk, or flax meal, blended with some water (I have no idea about quantities or proportions!). I think Allissa Cohen has a recipe for raw fruit pie that uses one of these as a thickener. If I remember, I'll look it up (or remind me!).

All responsible pet caretakers should spay and neuter their pets (because there are so many homeless ones that are euthanized--over 100 cats a month at my local shelter that never even see the 'cat rooms' where they are for adoption) that bringing any more into the world is irresponsible. I have a hard time with this: vegans and pets. It's something I've wrestled with personally. I do feel that having non-vegan animal companions and providiing food for them is in conflict with a vegan lifestyle and beliefs. But I have pets: cats. Cats aren't vegan or even vegetarian (even some companies who promoted vegan diets for cats in the past are now recanting, after numerous cases of cats not only not thriving, but becoming ill. I once tried a vegan diet with the supplement you are supposed to add to your own lentils or whatever---they give recipes--on one cat once, and she violenty refused to eat it, and ended up with a very bad case of feline uroligical syndrome from it). Ideally, vegans could have non-exotic, vegan pets (like rabbits) that are not bred for them. Dogs can be veg*n without problems, so they are perhaps the best companion animal (but I'm just not a dog person...can't live with them). I would find it hard to live without my animal companions (and I see I'm not the only one!), they keep me in touch with other species, and ironically, though they are carnivores, it's my first relationships with cats that lead me to veganism, and helped me see the bond between humans and animals. As for not 'owning pets' as a vegan: I think if one thinks in terms of 'buying' and animal, or 'owning' an animal, or having them simply as a decorative object, that is completely in conflict with being veg*n. But cats and dogs in particular were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago, and they can no longer survive 'in the wild' (heck, nowdays, there isn't even enough 'wild' left for non-domesticated animals to be able to survive. Perhaps ideally, animals would all live in a natural environment (impossible unless the human population--and the crap we've replaced nature with, like golf courses and cement---would suddenly be reduced by at least 1/2).