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November 1, 2008 – Evolving Appetites

Welcome to Evolving Appetites’ monthly newsletter. Short, informative and hopefully fun to read veggie bits. Let us know if we don’t deliver on this – we always love feedback from our readers. Contact info is at the bottom of the page.

 In this issue:

• Veg health: Heart Disease – entirely preventable and reversible
• Mixed blessing – Canada’s only Vegetarian Food Bank booming
• Recipe of the month: Indian chick pea curry – PLUS – link to video of Thanksgiving recipes
• EVENTS update

Veg Health – Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer in North America: everyday, nearly 2,600 Americans die of some type of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease caused by blockages in the arteries to the kidney. In Canada, 74,626 died of heart disease in 2002 (the latest year for which stats are available) – that represents 32% of all male deaths and 34% of all female deaths.

In 2008, an estimated 770,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack, and about 430,000 will have a recurrent attack (That’s more than a million people in the US affected by heart disease every year!).

Yet, with all our advances in medical technology, heart drugs and efforts by the medical establishment, there’s no dent in these staggering statistics. If anything, the situation is getting worse, not better.

The crying shame is that the people swallowing these drugs and subjected to heart surgeries are never told that heart disease is preventable and reversible without drugs or surgery! That’s right – you don’t need blood pressure medication, cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) or by-pass surgery to treat the common forms of heart disease. High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and angina (chest pain) from arterial blockage can be reversed simply by diet and lifestyle changes. Even severely blocked arteries can be cleaned up by changing eating and exercise habits.

Harvard trained cardiologist Dr. Dean Ornish published “Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease” in 1990, unequivocally proving the efficacy of lifestyle changes in reversing and preventing heart disease. Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. Hans Diehl, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. William Castelli and many others have also proven similar results. (Google them to find detailed works by them).

You may be wondering, am I at risk? Here are the major risk factors:

Smoking – wreaks havoc on your blood vessels and heart.

Dr. Dean Ornish’s initial study subjects were asked to follow four steps that yielded spectacular results – perhaps you want to consider trying them for yourself? (The control group received the standard care that doctors usually prescribe, meaning diet centered on “lean” meat, poultry and fish, along with various medications and the usual advice not to smoke). Here are the 4 steps for the study group:

1. A low-fat vegetarian diet
2. Brisk walking for 1/2 hour every day OR one hour three times per week
3. No smoking
4. Stress management exercises (deep breathing, meditation, etc.)

One year later, all patients had an angiogram, and the results were compared to the angiogram taken at the beginning of the study. The results made medical history. The control group patients, who had been following the more traditional medical routine, had not improved much at all. In fact, the blockages in their coronary arteries were worse, on average, than at the beginning of the study. They still had chest pains and still needed medications.

For the experimental study group who followed the 4 steps outlined above, the story was decidedly different. Chest pain began to disappear within weeks. Their cholesterol levers dropped dramatically. And their coronary arteries were actually starting to reopen. The angiograms showed clear evidence of reopening in 80% of patients in the first year. The only “side effects” were good ones: the average patient lost 22 lbs in the first year!

The other researchers who have shown similar results in reversing and preventing heart disease recommend similar steps: Whole foods, plant-based diet; moderate exercise, avoid refined and processed foods; no smoking.

These are the types of changes that yield results – they have a much better track record of success than the drugs and surgery approach to heart disease.

DISCLAIMER: This site does not provide medical advice. This newsletter is for information purposes only. The nutritional information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health practitioner with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this web site.

Evolving Appetites and its owner accept no liability for any injury arising out of the use of material contained herein, and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents of this publication.

Vegetarian Food Bank Booming

The fact that we even need food banks in countries like Canada and the US is a shame. But, once the reality is accepted, it’s heartening to know that a food bank catering to vegetarians is available, and that it’s meeting a need. Canada's only vegetarian food bank is barely five months old and already serving more than 200 people from Toronto suburbs of Scarborough and North York – areas under-served and with large vegetarian Hindu communities. Anyone interested in helping can call 416-744-4357. Or visit www.vegfoodbank.com for location and other details.

Indian Potato/Chickpea Curry - Serves 4

As the weather gets colder, warming foods bring comfort. Making a spicy curry fits the bill. Keeping oil to a bare minimum, this dish yields all the flavour without the fat.

Video link to Thanksgiving Recipes:

Last month, this section provided several recipes suitable for Thanksgiving. I was invited by the kind and compassionate folks at www.suprememastertv.com to tape the preparation of these recipes for their on-line TV show. Many thanks to everyone who helped make it possible, and special thanks to my fellow Toronto Vegetarian Association volunteer Lisa Pitman for being my co-host.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our US friends who’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving on November 27!

Here is a link to each of the shows we taped:

Rich Nut Loaf        

Wild Rice Squash

Events update:

15900 Bayview Ave. (St. John's Sideroad & Bayview)
Aurora
(905) 726-9532

7:00 – 9:00 pm – Warming Winter Soups & Stews - $30

Please call 1-800-296-2332, ext. 3 to register

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Tell us what you think – is the newsletter too long, too short, or just right? What would you like to see more of? Less of? Tell us your veggie success story, and we’ll publish it [we reserve the right to edit for space and clarity]. Contact us at info@evolvingappetites.com

DISCLAIMER: This site does not provide medical advice. This website is for information purposes only. The nutritional information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health practitioner with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Evolving Appetites and its owner accept no liability for any injury arising out of the use of material contained herein, and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents of this publication.