Winnipeg Vegetarian Winter 2003 1

www.ivu.org/wva WINNIPEG Vegetarian The Newsletter of The Winnipeg Vegetarian Association ISSUE 48 WINTER 2003/04 COMINGATTRACTIONS HEALTHY ChineseNewYeardinnerandmore. VEGETARIANS Seepagefour. Whattheresearchsays Signsof Hope Last spring, Canadian dietitians Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis pub- Thingsarelookingupforanimalsandvegans lished the second edition of their popular and critically acclaimed book, Be- coming Vegetarian: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Veg- saysPETA’sDirectorofVeganOutreach etarian Diet (Wiley). As the following condensed excerpt shows, the book is By BRUCEFRIEDRICH a treasury of scientific and practical information for people who want to be- come vegetarian (including vegan) or who already are but wish, as the au- ’m an upbeat person — at PETA, I’m often referred to thors write, to “maximize the vegetarian advantage.” as“BrucePoppins.”I By VESANTOMELINAANDBRENDADAVIS I figure worry and pessi- mism are a prescription for here was a time when people believed that meat and milk burnout, not empowerment. Twere the foundation of a healthy diet. Vegetarians were Joe Hill said, “Don’t mourn. looked upon as heretics; their diets were considered risky, if Organize.” Emma Goldman not downright dangerous for children and pregnant or lactat- declared, “If I can’t dance, I ingwomen. want no part of your revolu- Today, even our most conservative nutrition organizations tion.” But the strongest influ- recognize the safety and potential benefits of . ence on my positive outlook The 2003 American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Can- is Monty Python’s The Life of Brian: “Always look on the ada position paper on vegetarian diets provides an excellent brightsideoflife.” reflectionofthecurrentview: So when I look at the world around me, though I’m filled It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dieti- with vicarious pain at all the suffering, I’m also filled with tians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are hope because of all the selfless people working to make healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the world a better place. There are so many reasons to be the prevention and treatment of optimistic in just the last cou- certain diseases. FULLHOUSEFORHOWARD ple of years. These are a few of those that stand out the most There is little question that ays before ’s visit to Winnipeg this Octo- forme. well-constructed vegetarian and Dber, members of WVA’s planning committee were ner- vegan diets can provide com- vously chewing their nails — at times even each other’s. Vegan Video Brigades pletely adequate nutrition at ev- Ticket sales had been sluggish. But on the night of Lyman’s ery stage of the life cycle and fos- In more and more cities, activ- October 1 talk at the Winnipeg Art Gallery an overflow audi- terexcellenthealth. ists are showing people how ence spilled out onto the aisles. More — see page 2. meat is made — taking The Overall Health and TV/VCRs, power generators Longevity of Vegetarians and literature, setting up at bus stops, outside concerts, at fairs, and so on. To my great delight, PETA’s “Meet Your Vegetarians tend to be a very healthy group of people. Death Meat” seems to be the video of choice; and of course, we’re rates from chronic diseases in vegetarians are about half that happy to supply a two-hour loop, free of charge, to anyone ofthegeneralpopulation. who would like to show it. We also have details of how to Some of the advantage can be attributed to non-dietary life- do this event on the “Great ways to promote vegetarian- style factors. Fewer vegetarians smoke or abuse alcohol, and a ism” link at GoVeg.com. Watch the video, narrated by Alec higher percentage are very physically active. When vegetarians Baldwin (a sign of hope himself) at are compared with similar health-conscious nonvegetarians www.MeetYourMeat.com.

Continuedonpage3—see HEALTHY Continuedonpage7— see HOPE 2 Winter2003/04 Winnipeg Vegetarian WVAVOLUNTEERTEAM about Board Phone Line Monitors innipeg Vegetarian is published by SydBaumel Wthe Winnipeg Vegetarian Associa- DennisBayomi(PastPresident) Cecelia Potter Lesley Wise tion, a non-profit group dedicated to fos- TwylaGroeningMimi&AlexKarp Phone Tree Coordinator tering and encouraging vegetarianism FiorinaPasquarelliLesleyWise through social and educational activities. Discount Coordinator Cecelia Potter The Association was formed in 1993 on Francis Grant PhoneTreeCallers (October 1). MembershipCoordinator Audrea Benoit Sylvia Cowan A vegetarian lives on a -based diet, Fiorina Pasquarelli Diana Cox Anne Gavin free of all animal flesh – meat, fish or fowl Karen Merkel-Kopp of any kind. Some vegetarians (vegans) ex- Newsletter,Internet&Mail Judy Seipp Adeline Sokulski clude all animal products from their diets Syd Baumel Restaurant Dinner Coordinators while others may include dairy products (lacto-), eggs (ovo-), or both (lacto-ovo-veg- Picnics & Potlucks Coordinator Twyla Groening Mimi & Alex Karp We need you! etarians). The WVA recognizes that its members are vegetarians or interested in vegetarian- ism for a variety of reasons – including per- WVAWANTS YOU! sonal health, compassion for animals, con- Co-create the WVA experience! Join our volunteer team. Call 889-5789. cern for the environment, respect for peace and non-violence, concern about world hunger, and religious beliefs – and that not HowardDrawsFullHouse(cont’d) all members share these views. Following a vibrant opening set by Winnipeg folk rockers Nathan, the burly, mag- The WVA seeks to provide a forum for netic Lyman regaled the largely young, university-student audience with his often hi- discussion on all facets of vegetarianism. We are run entirely by volunteers and are lariously told personal odyssey — from ambitious young Montana cattleman to always looking for members interested in globetrotting vegan advocate. becoming more actively involved. It was a great way to celebrate WVA’s tenth anniversary and World Vegetarian Day. Howard drew lots of positive media coverage and added a few dollars to WVA’s mod- Winnipeg Vegetarian est coffers and his own Voice for a Viable Future. Association Box 2721 Station Main Our thanks to Howard and Nathan; to our sponsors, Amphibian Design, The Aquar- Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA ian, CKUW, Sunrider Products, The Uniter, and the University of Winnipeg Students R3C 4B3 Association; to donors Twyla and Kelly Groening and Ivor Lockhart; to our event coor- dination group, Syd Baumel, Mimi and Alex Karp, Fiorina Pasquarelli, Adeline Sokulski Phone: and (especially) nail-biter-in-chief Dennis Bayomi; and to our WVA volunteers, Francis (204) 889-5789 Grant, Tataryn and Martin Toews. Thanks also to Mondragon, Caul- Email: [email protected] Website: www.ivu.org/wva field’s/Humboldt’s and the U of W and U of M for selling our tickets.

AFFINITYVEGETARIANGARDEN AngelaC.Loewen,CFP Chinese restaurant – almost fully vegan Independent Investment Advisor 100-208EdmontonStreet u943-0251 EdwardJonesInvestments u 633-0363 DELICIOUS VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT Chinese restaurant – vegan MANITOBAHARVEST WVA Manufacturers of fresh hemp foods 1467PembinaHighway u 477-1530 BUSINESS 2166NotreDame u 953-0233 DYNA-PROENVIRONMENTAL Water purification products SUPPORTERS SUNRIDER Organically grown, highly concentrated 565RoseberryStreet u 774-5370 Weencourageyoutopa- vegan whole food supplements, in tronizeourbusiness capsules EatIt.ca supporters. u Local/Canadian, certified organic, mostly TriciaHolder 668-8840 veg’ virtual foodstore. Pick-up or delivery. TobecomeaWVABusi- nessSupporteryourself www.eatit.ca u 488-6271 VegDining.com forjust$75ayearplease Your online guide to vegetarian restaurants around the world HUMBOLDT’SLEGACY callusat889-5789. Your community’s ecological department store www.VegDining.com 887WestminsterAvenue u 772-1404 Winnipeg Vegetarian Winter 2003/04 3 Flash them. For info, contact Hel- F IT 2 P RINT ena at 774-0459 or Activism [email protected], or call 986-5663 to register. arly this November, a news from the veg’ front EFlash animation flashed Gotnews?Gota across the Internet leaving a trail of enlightened eaters be- submissionforthe hind it. Timed to coincide with the premiere of The Matrix Re- Volunteer News newsletter? loaded, “” (www.themeatrix.com) playfully re- WVA is very pleased to welcome a new DropeditorSyd styled the hit movie’s lead characters into a pig named “Leo” member to our volunteer board, Twyla Baumelalineat and a basso-voiced guru named “Moopheus,” getting viewers Groening. A belated welcome to Dee 452-1509, to swallow a red pill Dee Rizzo to our phone tree. And a [email protected], of reality about the special thanks to Cecelia Potter for or950JessieAve., tragic state of animal managing our voice mail these last few Winnipeg,MB, farmingtoday. months. R3M1A9. By early December, the nonprofit organi- zation for whom the HEALTHY — continued from page 1 animation was cre- (e.g. those with similar smoking, drinking and exercise hab- ated, the Global Re- its, and who eat plenty of , and whole ) source Action Center their advantage decreases, yet they still hold an advantage. for the Environment This suggests that avoiding flesh foods brings its own health (GRACE), estimated benefits. that more than 2.5 million people had watched it. By late De- Scientific studies consistently show that vegetarians are cember it was the talk of over 25,000 web pages. Its creators, slimmer than Free Range Graphics, have dubbed it the most successful ad- nonvegetarians. Overall, veg- Becoming vegetarian vocacyfilmever. etarians are about 5 per cent Hot in the Meatrix’s footsteps, this December another leaner than nonvegetarians, is no guarantee of a Flash animation called “The Fufanu” parodied The Cat in the and vegans are about 5 per healthful diet. Think Hat totakeonthefurindustry(www.fund.org/fur). cent leaner than lacto-ovo about it. Coconut It’s all part of a growing veg’ and animal advocacy multime- vegetarians. This seemingly diatoolkit.Amongothernotablesviewableonline: small variation leads to re- cream pie, hot-fudge markable differences in the sundaes, jam-filled • PETA’s heartbreaking “Meet Your Meat” video incidence of obesity. Rates of (www.MeetYourMeat.com) obesity among meat-eaters donuts, potato chips are approximately double and soda pop all fit • Six upbeat “choose veg” PSAs by Veg Seattle that of vegetarians and triple the definition of vege- (www.vegseattle.com/adcampaign.shtml) thatofvegans. • A one-minute TV ad by the Christian Vegetarian Association Vegetarians also enjoy tarian foods. (www.chrstianveg.org) greater longevity than nonvegetarians. In the largest long-term study to date com- • And a preview of Tribe of Heart’s moving new documentary paring disease rates of vegetarians and nonvegetarians — the Peaceable Kingdom (www.tribeofheart.org/pk.htm) Seventh-day Adventist Health Study in the United States (al- most 35,000 participants) — vegetarian men were found to live an average of nine years longer and vegetarian women 6.6 years longer than the general population. When com- Veg’ ‘n ‘Peg pared to similar, health-conscious Adventist nonvegetarians, Vegan cooking class vegetarianslivedoneandahalftotwoyearslonger. Don’t be fooled by the course title in the Winnipeg Leisure Vegetarians and Major Diseases Guide. “Cooking Without Cholesterol” (course # 503.86) is actually Helena Tiginagas’s way of luring wary Heart Disease nonvegetarians to her all-vegan cooking class at Heart disease reigns as the number one killer in North Amer- Shaftesbury High School this February (Wednesdays, Feb- ica, accounting for about 40 per cent of all deaths. Vegetar- ruary 4th–25th, 6:30–9:30 pm, $75). Among the dishes ians have a solid advantage over nonvegetarians. On average, Helena will demonstrate are breaded southern fried , death rates from heart disease in vegetarian men are less than spanakopita with tofu, creamy pasta sauces, eggless half those of the general population, with somewhat smaller quiche and “decadent desserts.” Best of all, you get to eat Continuedonpage4— see HEALTHY 4 Winter2003/04 Winnipeg Vegetarian COMINGATTRACTIONS HEALTHY — continued from page 3 differences seen in women. Significant advantages re- main even after other lifestyle choices are taken into U WEDNESDAY JANUARY28 consideration. The largest study ever done, comparing the heart dis- CHINESENEWYEARATDVR ease rates in vegetarians with similar, health-conscious WHERE: Delicious Vegetarian Restaurant, 1467 Pembina nonvegetarians was a collaborative study in the United Hwy. WHEN: 7 PM, Wednesday, January 28. TICKETS: Kingdom, which pooled the results of five large pro- $15 WVA members, $18 nonmembers. Purchase/reserva- spective studies (studies that follow large groups of tion (477-1530) deadline: January 25. people for long periods of time), with a combined total Veganmenu of 76,000 participants. On average, death from heart disease was 31 per cent lower among vegetarian men • Tofu with Seaweed Soup • Vegetarian Filet with Corn compared to nonvegetarian men and 20 per cent lower • Spring Roll Sauce among vegetarian women compared to nonvegetarian • Straw Mushroom with Bean • Pressed Bean Curd with women. These figures also took in account body mass Curd Sauce Shredded Vegetables and index (BMI – a measure of body fatness), alcohol use, Shanghai Noodles Bean Thread with Vegetar- education level, exercise level, and in most studies, • smoking. Death rates for vegetarians were also lower ian Meat Sauce • Brown and White Rice than for near-vegetarians who ate meat less than once • Vegetarian • , Tea perweek. Examining these studies independently provides fur- U THURSDAY FEBUARY19 ther insight. Among the most interesting findings of the Adventist Health Study was that the food that cut risk of EASTINDIANVEGANBUFFET heart disease the most was nuts. People eating nuts WHERE: Punjab Sweet House, 88 Mandalay Dr. (off four or five times a week cut their risk in half, compared with those eating only one serving of nuts a week or Inkster, west of McPhillips). WHEN: 7 PM, Thursday, Feb- less. ruary 19. TICKETS: $9 WVA members, $11 nonmembers. Purchase/reservation (477-1530) deadline: February 17. Cancer NUTRITIONMONTHATMONDRAGON Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the de- veloped world. Vegetarians experience lower death U WEDNESDAY MARCH10 rates from cancer compared with the general popula- WHERE: Mondragon Bookstore & Coffeehouse, 1-91 Al- tion, although it is unclear how much of the difference bert St. WHEN: 7 PM,Wednesday,March10. TICKETS: is due to diet and how much to other positive lifestyle $12 WVA members, $15 nonmembers. Purchase/reserva- choices. Some, but not all, studies have found less risk tion (946-5241) deadline: March 8. of cancer among vegetarians, when compared with sim- ilarhealth-consciousnonvegetarians. VeganMenu Among the most useful information we have comes from the Adventist Health Study. After adjusting the • Sunflower Pate Roast • Mixed Vegetables data for age, gender and smoking, the nonvegetarians • Soup • Tea or coffee had 88 per cent higher risk of colon cancer than vege- tarians, and 54 per cent higher risk of prostate cancer. • Spinach Salad • Chocolate Cake In the Heidelberg Study (Germany), compared to the general population, cancer in vegetarians was only 48 per cent for men and 74 per cent for women. People IMPORTANTTICKETINFORMATION: Pleasebesuretopur- who had been vegetarian for over 20 years had about chaseorreserveyourticketsforWVAdinnersandother half the cancer deaths of the general population. The eventsbythedeadlineinpersonor(usually)bycallingthe greatest advantages were seen for cancers of the gas- restaurant. CANCELLATIONS&REFUNDS: Intheeventof trointestinalsystemandstomach. insufficientticketsales,arestaurantmaycancelitsdinner. In the Health Shoppers Study (U.K.), cancer death Allticketswillthenberefunded.Sowhenpurchasingtick- rates were about 70 per cent those of the general popu- ets,besuretoleaveyournameandnumberoremail(ifyou lation. In this study, cancer rates did not differ signifi- checkregularly)sowecancontactyouifthere’sacancella- cantly between vegetarian health shoppers and similar tion. Tocancelaticketyourself,pleasenotifytherestau- nonvegetarian health shoppers. In the Oxford Vegetar- rantorWVA beforetheticketpurchasedeadline.Later,re- ian Study (U.K.) death rates from cancer in vegetarians servedticketswillbeconsideredpurchasedandarefund were 59 per cent that of nonvegetarians. Although dif- maynotbepossible. ferences were not significant when vegetarians were compared to healthy-living nonvegetarians, rates were about11percentlowerinthevegetarians. Winnipeg Vegetarian Winter 2003/04 5

months on a vegetarian diet. Participants showed significant Vegetarians and Other Diseases long-term improvements in joint swelling, pain, morning stiff- There are a few other diseases for which the evidence ness,gripstrengthandotherindicatorsofoverallhealth. of a protective effect from a vegetarian diet is Diabetes (Type 2). Studies show that vegetarians are less likely particularlycompelling. to develop type 2 diabetes. In the Adventist Health Study, rates Gallstones. One study of over 600 nonvegetarian and of type 2 diabetes were 53 per cent lower for male vegetarians 130 vegetarian women aged 40 to 69 years found that and 55 per cent lower in female vegetarians than in the nonvegetarians had two and a half times the risk of nonvegetarians. People aged fifty to sixty-nine showed the great- developing gallstones. Even after age and body weight est difference in diabetes rates, with 76 per cent less diabetes in were taken into consideration, their risk was still dou- vegetarians. ble. Gastrointestinal Diseases. Nutrition Recommendations Since fibre, which is found for the Prevention of Chronic only in plant foods, is so CAUTION Disease supportive of intestinal Do Not Undermine Heart Disase Advantages! health, it’s no surprise that The current view on vegetarian diets vegetarians have fewer gas- For maximum protection against heart disease, vegetari- is well reflected by the words of Dr. trointestinal disorders than ans must ensure that their diets include reliable sources Marion Nestle, Chair of the Depart- nonvegetarians, and specif- of: ment of Nutrition and Food Studies at ically less constipation and NewYorkUniversity: diverticulitis. For example, U Vitamin B12 one study showed that di- There’s no question that largely vegetar- verticulitis was 50 per cent U Omega-3 fatty acids ian diets are as healthy as you can get. lower in vegetarian adults The evidence is so strong and overwhelm- Some vegetarians, and especially vegans, have diets low ing and produced over such a long period (aged 45 to 59) compared in vitamin B12. This is both unfortunate and completely of time that it’s no longer debatable. with nonvegetarians. An- other study found a 50-fold unnecessary. It is unfortunate, because a lack of this es- sential vitamin has numerous negative health conse- While one might imagine all vegetar- difference in diverticulosis ians dancing until dawn on their 90th quences, including a significant rise in homocysteine lev- risk between people who birthday, it is important to understand ate a lot of vegetables but els, increasing risk of heart disease. It is unnecessary, as that becoming vegetarian is no guar- rarely consumed meat, and it is easy for vegetarians and vegans to insure sufficient antee of a healthful diet. In fact, it is those who rarely ate vege- vitamin B12 intakes with fortified foods or supplements. possible to completely blow it. Think tables and frequently con- It is extremely important that vegetarians, who make sumedmeat. about it. Coconut cream pie, such positive diet and lifestyle choices, do not under- hot-fudge sundaes, jam-filled donuts, High blood pressure. Vege- mine these benefits by ignoring their need for vitamin potato chips and soda pop all fit the tarians have only one-third B12. definitionofvegetarianfoods. to one-half as much hyper- Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids — EPA and DHA — tension as nonvegetarians. If we are to enjoy the benefits of veg- can help to reduce blood pressure, triglyceride levels, etarianism to their fullest, we must platelet aggregation, inflammation and cardiac construct our diets with some Kidney Disease and Kidney arrhythmias. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids come thought, being mindful of the valuable Stones. Research shows mainly from fish. Vegetarians can improve levels of lessons learned thus far. The following vegetarians to be at lower EPA by consuming sufficient quantities of ALA, the risk for kidney disease and guidelines are designed to assist you kidney stones than form of omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed, walnuts, and inthisendeavor: other plant foods, or by consuming direct sources of nonvegetarians. Once con- 1. Centre your diet on a wide variety DHA (DHA-rich eggs or supplements). sidered inappropriate for of plant foods. Plant foods should people with renal disease, form the foundation of your diet. In- vegetarian diets have re- From BecomingVegetarian cently been shown to be clude a wide variety of vegetables, usefulinitstreatment. fruits, , whole grains, nuts and seeds. Select minimally processedfoods,wherepossible. Rheumatoid arthritis. Vegetarian diets may be valu- able in both the prevention and treatment of rheuma- 2. Eat seven or more servings of vegetables and fruits per day. toid arthritis. In the Adventist Health Study, vegetari- Vegetables and fruits are extraordinarily nutrient and ans enjoyed a 50 per cent reduction in rheumatoid ar- phytochemical-dense foods. Include them with every meal. Aim thritis compared to nonvegetarians. In clinical re- for a wide variety of colourful vegetables and fruits. While usual search, one study of 24 participants found consider- recommendations are for 5–10 servings per day, evidence sug- able relief from symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis with gests that aiming slightly higher may provide further benefits. a 10 per cent-fat vegan diet for four weeks. Four stud- (Note that a serving is a small quantity, such as 1/2 cup. It’s easy ies used a period of fasting followed by at least three Continuedonpage6-see HEALTHY 6 Winter2003/04 Winnipeg Vegetarian HEALTHY - continued from page 5 WVADISCOUNTS to eat two or three times that amount – and itwon’tmakeyoufat.) Membership Has its Privileges 3. Select whole products, and limit refined complex and simple carbohy- WVAMemberDiscounts drates. Whole grains contribute significant amounts of protein, vitamin, mineral, fibre ê PLEASE BE SURE to present your membership card be- fore buying or ordering. Businesses may disallow a discount if and phytochemicals. Refined complex car- you don’t (it’s a clerical thing, they’re not being petty!). WVA dis- bohydrates such as white flour products, counts can’t be combined with a business’s other discount offers. and simple carbohydrates such as sugar are stripped of the greatest portion of these Affinity Vegetarian Garden protectivedietarycomponents. 15% off all 100–208EdmontonStreet,943-0251u 4. Make plant foods your primary protein orders. sources. Your best sources of protein are legumes, and products made from legumes Delicious Vegetarian Restaurant (like tofu, , falafels and hummus.) 1467 Pembina Highway,477-1530 These protein-rich foods are low in satu- 15% off all dine-in, cash food orders – excluding beverages. rated fats, contain no cholesterol, and are free of trans fatty acids. They are also rich Earth Mother Accessories sourcesofvitamins,mineralsandfibre. u 10% off www.earthmotheraccessories.com, 284-1090 5. everything. Keep total fat intake moderate, and se- lect healthful fat sources. While total fat in- FUDE Inspired Cuisine & Wine Bar take may be less important than the type of fat, it is recommended that fat consump-

DISCOUNTS DISCOUNTS 303-99OsborneStreet,284-3833 u 10% off all vegetarian dishes. tion be moderate. Nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, and other whole plant Massawa Restaurant foods provide the healthiest types of fat. As an added bonus, the fat in these foods is 121 Osbome Street,284-3194 u 10% off all vegetarian dishes. packaged with many protective compo- nents. Nuts, seeds and soybeans are excel- Mondragon Bookstore & Coffeehouse lent sources of several trace minerals such as zinc and selenium. If using concentrated 1-91AlbertStreet,946-5241u 10% of all restaurant orders (except alcoholic drinks) and books on vegetarian fats and oils, select those rich in cooking, food politics, and . monounsaturated fats (olive oil), and or omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed, walnut or Stone-Ground Daily Bread oil). 1399 Pembina Highway,474-5900 u 10% off all fresh 6. Include a reliable source of omega-3 baked veg’ products on $10 minimum order. fatty acids in the daily diet. Plant foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include Sweet Palace flax seeds and flax seed oil, hemp seeds and 1425 Pembina Highway,475-7867 u 10% off all veg’ hemp seed oil, canola oil and walnuts. Be entrées – buffets not included. sure that they are fresh when purchased, and store them in the refrigerator or Taste of India freezer. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can 9–510SargentAvenue,775-1098 u 10% off all also be obtained from microalgae supple- vegetarian food orders, except alcoholic beverages. ments. Vita Health 7. Limit intake of saturated fat, choles- Alllocations,984-9551(Osbornestore) u 10% off all terol and trans fatty acids. Saturated fat beauty products, supplements and foods, except produce and cholesterol are concentrated in animal (5% off). foods. Trans fatty acids are found primarily in processed foods. These are your least de- Underground Café sirable fat sources. Our main sources of sat- 70ArthurStreet,956-1925 u 15% off all dine-in urated fat are animal products, and to a vegetarian orders – not applicable to beverages. lesser extent, tropical oils. Animal products are our only source of cholesterol. If you Winnipeg Vegetarian Winter 2003/04 7 use animal products such as dairy, select those that HOPE— continued from page 1 are low in fat. Trans fatty acids are found primarily in processed foods containing hydrogenated fats, Farmed Animals are People Too and to a lesser extent, in animal products. If using Animal behaviourists are finally studying society’s most neglected processed foods, select those that avoid or mini- animals: rats, mice and farm animals. And they’re publishing their mizetheiruseofhydrogenatedfats. findings, so we now know that rats and mice dream, play, and have a sense of fun, and we know that chickens, pigs, fish, and cows are ev- 8. Use salty foods in moderation. Too much salt ery bit as interesting and intelligent as any dog or cat. In 2003, The can contribute to hypertension (in some people), New York Times and The New Yorker both reported that chickens score osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer. Be moder- better on cognitive functioning tests than dogs or cats do, and pigs ate in your intake of salty foods, and your use of salt do even better than a three-year-old human child. We learned that fish have long-term memory and use tools, an ability once thought in cooking and at the table. Heavily salted foods in- by anthropologists to separate humans from other primates. Once clude salty snack foods, many commercially pre- people start to see these animals as interesting and deserving of re- pared foods (such as soups, canned pasta products, spect, some basic protections are sure to follow, and fewer and frozen entrées, packaged pasta and rice mixes), fewerpeoplewilleatthemortormenttheminlabs. pickles and . Tamari, soy sauce and The Christian Vegetarian Association and Fr. John Dear, arehighinsalt,too. S.J. 9. Limit your use of smoked, charred and There have been Jewish vegetarian groups for years. Finally, the reli- gion that comprises about 90 percent of Americans has one of its cured foods. These own. CVA’s What Would Jesus Eat? pamphlet (recently retitled methods of food Honoring God’s Creation) is excellent, and I encourage all readers to preparation and pres- order it by the hundreds from ChristianVeg.com and place copies in ervation, especially the literature area of your nearest Christian church — you don’t with animal products, havetobelongorevenbeChristiantodothis. increase our exposure The first piece of literature by a member of the Catholic clergy to to carcinogens, and invoke as a reason to adopt a vegetarian diet also should therefore be came out about a year ago. Christianity and Vegetarianism by Fr. John minimized. Dear, S.J., is available free in bulk from PETA for anyone who wants toplacecopiesinCatholicchurches. 10. Use plant foods grown without the Felony indictments for cruelty to farmed animals use of pesticides, For the first time in U.S. history, farmed animal abuse has resulted in where possible. Se- felony indictments — a few years ago as a result of a PETA investiga- lect foods that have tion on a pig farm in Belcross, North Carolina, and more recently at a been grown without pig farm in Guymon, Oklahoma. That rural DAs could look at the pesticides or with abuse done under the auspices of massive corporations against minimal use of pesti- farmed animals and indict people for felonies strikes me as a true in- cides.Lookforcertifiedorganicproducts. dicationthattheanimalrightsmovementiswinning. 11. Alcohol, if consumed, should be used in moder- The BK & soy cheese at Pizza Hut ation. Frequent use of alcohol takes the place of March, 2002 saw the largest vegetarian product introduction in hu- more nutritious foods and can contribute to degen- man history when Burger King started offering the BK VEGGIE bur- erative disease. If consumed, limit alcoholic drinks ger in more than 8,000 new stores. More recently, McDonald’s totwodrinksadayformenandoneforwomen. started selling its McVeggie in all its Canadian and California outlets, and Pizza Hut and Taco Bell have started experimenting with soy 12. Avoid being underweight or overweight, and cheeses. Since the most common problem for animal lovers who are get regular physical exercise. Both overweight and not yet veggie is convenience, I celebrate this growing ease of ac- underweight can increase the risk of disease. The cessforvegetarianfastfoods. safest way to maintain a healthy body weight is to The farmed improvements from the fast eat a varied, balanced diet and to exercise regularly. food giants Vesanto Melina, R.D., M.Sc. is a vegan dietitian, author, “Farmed animal welfare” has always been determined exclusively by speaker and nutritional consultant. She can be reached industry profitability. In September, 2000, for the very first time, a at (604) 882-6782 or by visiting www.nutrispeak.com. major corporation (McDonald’s) said, in effect, “certain things are Brenda Davis, R.D., is also a vegan dietitan, author and not okay” and “birds have interests that must be considered.” In ad- speaker. She currently is touring North America in the dition to significant amelioration of abuse in the lives and deaths of Compassion for Animals Road Expedition (CARE). For millions of animals (most notably the way chickens are slaughtered), McDonald’s, Burger King and a growing number of other food cor- more information visit www.hope-care.org. Vesanto and porationshavechangedthescopeofthedebate. Brenda are also co-authors of Becoming Vegan (The I am convinced that people continue to eat animals because they Book Publishing Co., 2000). Continued on page 8 -seeHOPE 8 Winter2003/04 Winnipeg Vegetarian membershiphas Get six extra months never free when you pay for beenmore BecomeaCard-Carrying affordable Vegetarian. two years. Sayyes,I’dliketojointheWinnipegVegetarianAssociation.

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– continued from page 7 HOPE watching hours of new footage for inclusion in “Meet see them as totally insignificant, totally “other.” These re- Your Meat,” it’s easy to become despondent, easy to wish cent corporate concessions to animal welfare grant that ill of those who would treat animals so badly, easy to be- chickens and other farmed animals are not so “other.” And I comeirrationalandlosesightofhowfarwe’vecome. believe that the point at which someone says “cruelty to It is interesting to recall that one hundred years ago, farmed animals is not okay” is the point at which we’ve there wasn’t a single law against child abuse in my coun- movedsocietymorethanhalfwayto. try Not one. Your child was your property. Historically, it’s been a mere blink of the eye — less than 150 years — since we got around to saying “Hey, maybe people Mathew Scully quit working as special assistant and senior shouldn’t hold slaves, and maybe people shouldn’t be speechwriter for George W. Bush to promote what the Hu- free to beat their children, and maybe women are ratio- mane Society’s predicts “will be the most in- nalenoughtobegivenasayingovernance.” fluential book on animal protection in the last twenty-five Of course, the challenge is not to say, “Hey, look what years.” Titled Dominion: The Power of those moral reprobates were doing Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the What we are doing to other animals today to one another back in the dark Call to Mercy, Mr. Scully’s book is a is the moral equivalent of what we did to ages.” The challenge is to say, fast-paced and eloquent defense of “What are we doing today that is compassion for animals. Scully does other people just that short time ago; and equally wrongheaded?" What we as good a job of getting inside the in the future, our descendants will look are doing to other animals today is mind of a pig in a as back on what we’re doing to other animals the moral equivalent of what we did to other people just that short anything I’ve read. His book has with the same awe and revulsion. shaken the conservative establish- time ago; and in the future, our de- ment, netting positive reviews from scendants will look back on what thelikesofChuckColsonandPatBuchanan. we’re doing to other animals with the same awe and re- vulsion. The Onion The eighteenth century saw the beginnings of the American democratic system, which was the first to hold My favourite stories from “America’s Finest News Source” re- that “all men are created equal.” The nineteenth century main “Heroic PETA commandos kill 49, save rabbit” and “Ani- abolished slavery in the developed world. The twentieth mal rights activists release 71,000 cows into wild.” When you need a laugh, and we all do if we’re doing advocacy for century abolished child labour, criminalized child abuse, animals or the environment, look no further than The Onion and gave women the vote and blacks wider rights. If we (onion.com). all do as much as we can, the twenty-first century will be theoneforanimalrights. Parting Thoughts is the Director of for People for A few of the things I do at PETA can be, for lack of a better the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). He encourages those phrase, real downers. For example, when I’m reviewing the interested in becoming more active to visit the “Great ways to obscene studies discussed in industry trade journals or promote vegetarianism” link at GoVeg.com. The views ex- pressed are his own.