I’ve been doing some reading this weekend and came across a lot of interesting articles, so I have lot’s to share.

First, though not vegan friend, may be of interest to our vegetarian friends, Ben and Jerry’s has vowed to use eggs from only free-roaming, cage-free hens. Though I would love to see every company go egg and dairy-free, I think this is a great step in the right direction and will reduce the amount of suffering for a significant amount of chickens. It seems that cruelty to chickens used for eggs is receiving a significant amount of attention. A DC city council member wants all stores to clearly label eggs that may not be cage-free and both Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats will no longer be selling eggs from caged hens. These are substantial victories in the fight against animal cruelty.

Of general interest to animal lovers and anyone who may be concerned with their own health, the chemical xylitol has been linked to liver damage and death in dogs. What is xylitol one might ask? Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in many sugar free chewing gums, candy, baked goods in toothpaste. At least five dogs have died from consuming foods that contain this product. It is thought the the chemical causes a quick release of insulin which causes a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels. This can lead to liver failure in dogs. There are currently no reported links between this chemical and problems in human health, but I know personally I wouldn’t risk consuming this chemical until proven safe for human consumption. If you do have any products with this chemical in it, please be sure to keep them out of the reach of your dearly loved furry family members.

In the past I have discussed the idea of ecopsychology. This basically espouses the idea that humans are disconnected from the food that they eat because we longer grow and cook our own food. Because of this we lack a connectedness to earth and therefore have little appreciation for the earth. We abuse the earth because we aren’t in tune with nature. Well, a new book by Michael Pollen, Omnivore’s Dilemma, a candid discussion based on these principles. He talks about how obesity and eating disorders are linked to this disconnect and how many people are oblivious to what they are really putting in their mouths. This book sounds like an interesting read. If anyone has already read it, I would love to hear your comments on this book. I will be putting it on my Christmas list. I am really excited about this book, because I truly believe that most people have no understanding of what it takes to bring the food that nature provides us to our plates. Most people don’t even have an appreciation for food in its natural state. We want everything fast and we want it right now.

This next bit of information is pretty much common knowledge to most vegans, but is a reminder of the health benefits of a vegan diet. The American Dietetic Association has reported that vegans as a whole are much closer to their desirable weights than nonvegans. In addition, research shows that vegans live an average of 6-10 years longer than nonvegans, and have much lower rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other forms of degenerative illness. Another reason to give our omni friends for going vegan.

I came across a fascinating article called “Got Vegan?” that I hope you all take the time to read. It talks about one person journey towards veganism and some of their experiences. It also provides some advice for those contemplating going vegan. I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too.

I hope everyone is having a great Monday.