1. VM's Special Event!

Wednesday ~ May 4, 2005, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm ~ "Diet As Disease Prevention" lecture by Dr. Kerrie Saunders, Ph.D., and hosted by Huntington Woods Library, 26415 Scotia Road, Huntington Woods, MI, west of Woodward between 10 and 11 Mile Road. FREE and open to the public. Pre-registration suggested. Call at (248) 543-9720.

Please help advertise this event by printing the pdf file found at: www.veggiesinmotion.org/images/050405.pdf and posting and distributing it widely.

On March 20th, well over 400 people learned about the benefits of a plant-based diet. Attendees heard engaging health and animal rights speakers, sampled delicious vendor and restaurant food, won fabulous door prizes, saw moving videos, met with veg-friendly organizations and vendors, watched educational food demonstrations, and received copies of informational literature. Only through the hard work and dedication of the Meatout Planning Committee and the Meatout Volunteers was this event able to reach so many people and make such a difference.
Thank you,
Wendy Jones - Great American Meatout Chairperson

3. New Benefit with VM Membership or Renewal!

Author Erik Marcus said that VegMichigan is one of the most effective organizations that he has had the privilege to see. We appreciate the high praise, but he then put his money where his mouth is, so to speak. He has offered to provide his book, “Meat Market: Animals, Ethics and Money” (http://satyamag.com/oct04/hawthorne.html), at cost to us for every new or renewed membership we get! That's right! Go online or send in a membership and we will send you his book for free! See below for more good news and the link.

4. Dining Discounts for Paid VM Members!

The number of restaurants that are honoring our membership cards has grown phenomenally. We now have 17 restaurants offering between 10 and 25% off for dining at their establishments. Anyone who isn't a member already can become one right now and receive the dining discount! Go to our membership page at: http://www.veggiesinmotion.org/membership/index.htm

* To see the list of restaurants, visit our website www.VeggiesInMotion.Org and select "FOOD" from the left column, then "Restaurants."

5. Speciesist Feminism

…at every [feminist] event, intelligent, courageous, thoughtful women surrounded me, consuming and wearing animals... For me it is extremely painful to experience these enriching events that appeal to me on so many levels- intellectually, emotionally, and passionately - and have them simultaneously cause me guttural sadness for the millions of female farmed animals who are being exploited reproductively and for their random body parts. http://satyamag.com/jan05/edit.html

6. Beans May Cut Risk of Breast Cancer

Eating beans or lentils at least twice a week may reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, according to research designed to investigate the benefits of the plant compounds flavonols, writes Dominique Patton. http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=59314&m=1fne415&c=rxvmwvsef simsxv

7. Boomers Driving Up Demand For Greens and Soy

Meals have changed in the last three years at the Meharry home. Joan Meharry, 48, of Anderson gave up cheese and she's improved her health and lost weight. "Just from eliminating the cheese, I dropped 10 pounds," Meharry said. She is one of a growing number of people consuming more vegetables and soy products to improve their health. http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/story.asp?id=12074

Calcium, dairy products, and bone health in children and young adults: a re-evaluation of the evidence by Amy Joy Lanou published in the March 2005 issue of the medical journal Pediatrics found, “Neither increased consumption of dairy products, specifically, nor total dietary calcium consumption has shown even a modestly consistent benefit for child or young adult bone health.” http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl/march/050300pufavoritefive

9. Vegan Diet Not Connected to Weak Bones- USA Today, March 29, 2005

People who adhere strictly to raw-food vegetarian diets are thin but have surprisingly robust bones, US researchers reported Monday. Although nutritionists and the food industry have warned that a diet without dairy food can lead to the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, the team at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis found that the vegans they studied have many of the signs of strong bones. The researchers, reporting in the Archives of Internal Medicine, studied 18 strict vegans, ages 33 to 56, who ate a diet that included unprepared foods such vegetables, fruits, nuts and sprouted grains. The vegans had higher levels of vitamin D, a key to keeping strong bones, and low levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory molecule that has been linked with the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Note from Jim Corcoran: I recently had my bone density checked at a health fair and the nurse on staff said the reading was "off the chart" (T Score 4.2). She said I had the strongest bones in anyone she had ever tested. As a nine-year vegan, I was pleased, but not surprised by the results!

10. Fish Can Cause Heart Disease

Fish is promoted as health food, a preventative for heart disease, and the only “safe meat” to eat. Here is a case of a little bit of truth being blown way out of proportion. Fish fats (omega-3 fats) will thin the blood and make the formation of a potentially fatal blood clot in your heart artery less likely. The problem is, mercury causes the blood to clot. http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl/march/050300pufavoritefive

While serving as chairman of the Cleveland Clinic's Breast Cancer Task Force, Dr. Esselstyn became concerned about how physicians approach the problems of cancer and heart disease, focusing on diagnosis and treatment and often losing sight of prevention. He began a groundbreaking research study in which he virtually eliminated heart disease among his patients by encouraging them to change to a low-fat vegetarian diet. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-04/pcfr-cpt041405.php

12. Organic and Vegan Eating Spawn Good Health, Sustainable Environment

At the April 20th Earth Day festival, you will likely be overwhelmed by the major environmental issues confronting us: preserving wilderness, stopping species extinction, and maintaining clean air and water. Yet, there is one thing little ol' you can do every day to help each of these environmental problems. Drum roll please: Eating plant-based foods, especially organic and those locally grown, and choosing vegan proteins instead of meat, eggs, and dairy, is even more powerful than our current healthy habits of recycling, biking and turning off the water when we brush our teeth. http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/19/4264a9b304ee9?in_archive=1 

* About 20% of the population looks for a restaurant with vegetarian items
* About 33% of the public would order non-meat items if they were offered
* Approximately 7% of the total population considers themselves vegetarians
* Approximately 3% of the vegetarian population considers themselves vegans (absolutely no animal products)
* More restaurants and businesses are marketing to vegetarians and putting vegetarian products on their shelves
* The number of vegetarians has almost doubled in the past 10 years

Published by the Vegetarian Resource Group www.vrg.org 

Many of the graduates of the 3-month Certification Program as "Advanced Practitioners of Natural Health" worked their way through as Energy Exchange students. Many Advanced Practitioners have started successful home-based businesses as Living Foods Lifestyle Consultants and Practitioners, opened Mini-Institutes in their homes, or found pleasant gainful employment in similar centers. CHI still has two positions available: Gardener for our Super Organic Garden, and Kitchen Staff.
For a full description, more information and an application, please visit http://creativehealthinstitute.us/energyexchange.htm.

On Tuesday, March 29, the largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals on the planet began off Canada's Atlantic coast. By the end of this year's hunt in May, more than 300,000 baby seals will have been brutally killed - many, incredibly, as young as 12 days old. The Humane Society of the United States has been on the front lines in Canada, reporting and videotaping events as they unfolded. Stand with us today as we continue to fight this atrocity and stop the seal hunt forever. Sign the pledge to protect seals at: http://www.protectseals.org/

Ask the Detroit Tigers to offer mouthwatering options like fresh-grilled veggie dogs and veggie burgers, hearty burritos, vegetable wraps, and more exotic regional foods. Log on and take quick action at: http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/help/email.jsp?c_id=det&prima rySubject=Other&secondarySubject=None&dest=fanfeedback@tigers.mlb.com

Enjoy a simple but elegant vegan meal prepared for your dining pleasure at Comfort Inn & the Village Conference Center in beautiful Chelsea. The evening is designed to provide the funds necessary to continue our mission of providing a safe haven and sanctuary for over 230 farmed animals now residing at SASHA Farm. There is much work to be done to provide for their support and to improve the sanctuary so more farmed animals can be rescued and guaranteed a clean shelter, healthy feed and lifetime medical care.

The ticket price is $55.00 and $15.00 from each ticket, plus the proceeds from the silent auction and merchandise sales, goes directly to benefit the deserving animals at SASHA. For information regarding the banquet or to purchase tickets please contact Bob Harvie at 248-676-2033 or at banquet@sashafarm.org

http://www.sashafarm.org/calendar/documents/BANQUETFLYER-FINAL_001.doc

Flaxseed is the most highly concentrated plant source of the omega-3 fatty acid (alphalinolenic acid). Other sources include canola oil, walnuts, pumpkin seed oil, soy, purslane, and fenugreek. Scientific claims have been made regarding the relationship between eating foods high in omega-3s and decreased incidence of diseases and disease symptoms. Heart disease, depression, asthma, arthritis, and lupus are just a few of the conditions that have been reported as benefiting from omega-3 intake. Here's a yummy muffin recipe that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Happy brunching!

Banana Flaxseed Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup raw cane sugar
1/4 cup softened soy margarine
1 1/2 tsp. Ener-G egg replacer powder
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup soy or rice milk
1 Tab. vinegar
1 cup chopped walnuts

Combine all ingredients in the order given. Drop into muffin cups and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

VM'S PUBLIC OUTREACH
For all other regional events go to: http://www.veggiesinmotion.org/calendar

VM Library Display for the month of May
Grosse Pointe Public Library (Central), 10 Kercheval Avenue 

Wednesday ~ May 4, 2005

7-9 PM ~ "Diet As Disease Prevention" lecture by Dr. Kerrie Saunders, Ph.D., and hosted by Huntington Woods Library, 26415 Scotia Road, Huntington Woods, MI, west of Woodward between 10 and 11 Mile Road. FREE and open to the public. Pre-registration suggested. Call at (248) 543-9720.
Please help advertise this event by printing the pdf file found at: www.veggiesinmotion.org/images/050405.pdf and posting and distributing it widely.

Thursday ~ May 5, 2005

7:30 PM ~ VM Raw Food Potluck and Food Preparation Demo. Unity of Livonia, 28660 5 Mile Road, Livonia, MI, between Middlebelt and Inkster Road. Bring your favorite raw VEGAN dish sized for 8 servings or a $7.50 donation. Call Flo or Jerry at (313) 541-0162

Friday ~ May 13, 2005

7 PM ~ VM Mugs & Jugs, Come out and have some fun at Plush Pockets on Dequendre between 11 and 12 Mile (next to Krogers). Dine on a vegan burger and shoot some pool or just shoot the breeze. Peter: peter.fulda * us.bosch.com or (248) 515-3367. 

Saturday ~ May 14, 2005

7 PM ~ VM Dinner Club at the Peacock Restaurant, 4045 Maple St., Dearborn. Let's give a big thank you to this restaurant for participating in our Great American Meatout this year. Owner Aji will prepare a family-style dinner for us at the fixed price of $18, tax and tip included. To attend, you MUST RSVP by May 11th. Contact Karen at(248)544-4030 or email thorndike * yahoo.com. For more information and directions go to our calendar of Events page at www.VeggiesInMotion.Org.

Saturday ~ May 21, 2005

Noon ~ VM's "Potluck in the Park" at Starr Park, W 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, on the south side of 13 Mile just east of Crooks Road. Bring a vegan dish to pass, a Frisbee or other outdoor game and a smile. A donation of $1 would be appreciated to offset the rental of the picnic shelter. For more information call (248) 616-9676

Sunday ~ May 29, 2005

1 PM ~ VM VEGetariAN Potluck and Speaker, Alan Moglovkin. Back by popular demand, Alan will further explore the benefits of natural uncooked foods. Unity of Livonia, 28660 5 Mile Road, Livonia, MI, between Middlebelt and Inkster Road. Bring your favorite VEGAN dish sized for 8 servings or a $7.50 donation. Call Flo or Jerry at (313) 541-0162