On Tuesday evening, I joined Kathy and Tom Freston at their home in New York City to help welcome Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, for an event about PCRM's work. Neal discussed upcoming events on Capitol Hill that will affect animals and human health — particularly children's health. He explained how we can all play a critical role by simply commenting on the USDA Web site that you want vegan meals added to our school lunch menus.
Another issue Dr. Barnard talked about, that is near and dear to my heart, is diet and breast cancer. He spoke about the toxins that concentrate in the fat of animal products, such as meat (this includes chicken and fish), and dairy products, which increase estrogen in our bodies. He suggested that if we stop eating these foods, we can decrease our estrogen loads. He also spoke about how animal products contain no fiber ... thereby contributing to constipation and further increasing circulating estrogens. A diet high in whole grains, beans and vegetables can combat this estrogen cycle with high fiber. This increases regularity while lowering estrogen.
Dr. Barnard told us his story about growing up in North Dakota in a family of cattle ranchers. The summer before going to medical school, he was helping with autopsies. During that time, he observed many cadavers that had deposits that looked like bubblegum, but harder, in the coronory arteries and many other places in the body. One day after opening the chest of a cadaver, the doctor he was helping explained to him that this was plaque, which caused heart attacks and other diseases. The doctor explained that plaque was caused by eating bacon and luncheon meats. That day, Neal went to the hospital cafeteria, and ribs were being served for lunch. This was a turning point for him ... and from that time on he began to change his diet. He has since worked tirelessly to promote a better way of eating.
Another issue talked about was the epidemic of Type II diabetes in children and how this can be prevented by making dietary changes. Options like whole grains, beans and vegetables must be made in our school cafeterias. Hot dogs and other luncheon meats need to come off the menus.
Diabetics have a 75 percent chance of having a heart attack in their lifetimes. Many also have limbs amputated as a side effect. I know firsthand about amputated limbs ... and let me assure you that this is not a road children should ever have to go down if simple dietary changes are all that it takes to avoid these perils.
Neal spoke of a 39-year-old man in Washington D.C. with diabetes who changed from a standard American diet to a vegan diet. The man was able to decrease his medication and then finally get off of it completely. He lost weight int he process. But the best side effect for him was the disappearance of his diabetes-related erectile dysfunction. How is that for a happy ending?!
I met many dedicated PCRM supporters at this event. Among them was the beautiful Kris Carr of Crazy, Sexy Cancer fame. She has graciously agreed to let me interview her in the future for my blog.
We also met Bart Potenza (a youthful 70-year-old, who I liked instantly), owner of Candle 79. Funny that we had booked a reservation there for after the PCRM event. Synchronicity! So
afterwards, my family and I went out to dinner at one of New York
City's toniest vegan restaurants. It was a fabulous experience for
the palette and the eyes. Because I was traveling light, I didn't
bring my camera, so imagine ... For a starter I ordered the Wild Mushroom & Spinach Paté: crostini, roasted garlic bulb,
balsamic reduction. My entree:Fall
Harvest Paella: Valencia rice, fall vegetables, smoked
seitan sausage, saffron-red pepper. I tasted the: Beet Salad mache, arugula, apples, fennel, baby
carrots, haricots verts, toasted pecans, vanilla-fig dressing and the Smoked Hummus grilled paratha bread, olives, roasted garlic bulb, red
pepper oil. I shared the: Seasonal Fruit Pie ... apple!
The
service was excellent and we were well taken care of. I was in heaven!
I floated out of the restaurant on Cloud Nine. We all enjoyed everything. This was my very first visit to Manhattan ... can you believe it? Very nice time for my first 24 hours in NYC!
On Tuesday evening, I joined Kathy and Tom Freston at their home in New York City to help welcome Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, for an event about PCRM's work. Neal discussed upcoming events on Capitol Hill that will affect animals and human health — particularly children's health. He explained how we can all play a critical role by simply commenting on the USDA Web site that you want vegan meals added to our school lunch menus.
Another issue Dr. Barnard talked about, that is near and dear to my heart, is diet and breast cancer. He spoke about the toxins that concentrate in the fat of animal products, such as meat (this includes chicken and fish), and dairy products, which increase estrogen in our bodies. He suggested that if we stop eating these foods, we can decrease our estrogen loads. He also spoke about how animal products contain no fiber ... thereby contributing to constipation and further increasing circulating estrogens. A diet high in whole grains, beans and vegetables can combat this estrogen cycle with high fiber. This increases regularity while lowering estrogen.
Dr. Barnard told us his story about growing up in North Dakota in a family of cattle ranchers. The summer before going to medical school, he was helping with autopsies. During that time, he observed many cadavers that had deposits that looked like bubblegum, but harder, in the coronory arteries and many other places in the body. One day after opening the chest of a cadaver, the doctor he was helping explained to him that this was plaque, which caused heart attacks and other diseases. The doctor explained that plaque was caused by eating bacon and luncheon meats. That day, Neal went to the hospital cafeteria, and ribs were being served for lunch. This was a turning point for him ... and from that time on he began to change his diet. He has since worked tirelessly to promote a better way of eating.
Another issue talked about was the epidemic of Type II diabetes in children and how this can be prevented by making dietary changes. Options like whole grains, beans and vegetables must be made in our school cafeterias. Hot dogs and other luncheon meats need to come off the menus.
Diabetics have a 75 percent chance of having a heart attack in their lifetimes. Many also have limbs amputated as a side effect. I know firsthand about amputated limbs ... and let me assure you that this is not a road children should ever have to go down if simple dietary changes are all that it takes to avoid these perils.
Neal spoke of a 39-year-old man in Washington D.C. with diabetes who changed from a standard American diet to a vegan diet. The man was able to decrease his medication and then finally get off of it completely. He lost weight int he process. But the best side effect for him was the disappearance of his diabetes-related erectile dysfunction. How is that for a happy ending?!
I met many dedicated PCRM supporters at this event. Among them was the beautiful Kris Carr of Crazy, Sexy Cancer fame. She has graciously agreed to let me interview her in the future for my blog.
We also met Bart Potenza (a youthful 70-year-old, who I liked instantly), owner of Candle 79. Funny that we had booked a reservation there for after the PCRM event. Synchronicity! So afterwards, my family and I went out to dinner at one of New York City's toniest vegan restaurants. It was a fabulous experience for the palette and the eyes. Because I was traveling light, I didn't bring my camera, so imagine ... For a starter I ordered the Wild Mushroom & Spinach Paté: crostini, roasted garlic bulb, balsamic reduction. My entree:Fall Harvest Paella: Valencia rice, fall vegetables, smoked seitan sausage, saffron-red pepper. I tasted the: Beet Salad mache, arugula, apples, fennel, baby carrots, haricots verts, toasted pecans, vanilla-fig dressing and the Smoked Hummus grilled paratha bread, olives, roasted garlic bulb, red pepper oil. I shared the: Seasonal Fruit Pie ... apple!
The service was excellent and we were well taken care of. I was in heaven! I floated out of the restaurant on Cloud Nine. We all enjoyed everything. This was my very first visit to Manhattan ... can you believe it? Very nice time for my first 24 hours in NYC!