Vitamin Information Center

Are you popping too many pills along with Alesse and INCREASING your risk of getting pregnant? Find out by checking if you are taking any of these medications and possibly reducing the effectiveness of your oral contraceptive pill.

Alesse is a combined oral contraceptive pill that is very effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. However, did you know that certain other drugs, when taken alongside Alesse, can reduce this effectiveness and possibly increase your risk of getting pregnant? Alesse contains ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel which may react with any of the drugs listed below so please carefully check the package list of ‘active ingredients’ on ANY medications you are taking alongside Alesse.

NB. This includes herbal products, vitamins and minerals, over the counter medications such as pain killers, sleeping pills and other prescriptions you have filled. Check with your doctor if you use illegal drugs as well as Alesse and if you are a heavy drinker of alcohol or smoke to excess.

acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) •anastrozole •antibiotics or medicines for infections, especially rifampin •aprepitant •barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions)secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton) •bosentan •carbamazepine (Tegretol) •caffeine •clofibrate •cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf) •dantrolene •doxercalciferol •exemestane •grapefruit juice •hydrocortisone •letrozole •medicines for anxiety or sleeping problems, such as diazepam or temazepam •medicines for mental depression •medicines for diabetes, including troglitazone and pioglitazone •mineral oil •modafinil •mycophenolate •nefazodone •oxcarbazepine phenylbutazone (Azolid, Butazolidin) •phenytoin (Dilantin) •prednisolone (Orapred) primidone (Mysoline) rifampin •ritonavir (Norvir)or other medicines for the treatment of the HIV virus or AIDS such as modafinil (Provigil) •selegiline •soy isoflavones supplements •St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) •tamoxifen or raloxifene •testolactone •theophylline (Respbid, Theo-Dur) •topiramate (Topamax) •warfarin

………..and possibly certain antibiotics (such as ampicillin and other penicillins and tetracyclines)

WARNING: Do not share Alesse with anyone else and keep the pack of oral contraceptive pills out of the reach of children. Do not use Alesse or any other medication after the expiry date on the pack. Sources: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.Philadelphia, DrugDigest, Drugs.com The above information is intended as a guide only and should not be substituted for the professional expertise and advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

Welcome to a world of nutritional possibilities. As growing numbers feel that modern medicine fails to address the issues that are important to them, people are increasingly turning to nutritional, dietary and herbal supplements to prevent diseases and promote general good health. Currently anyone can indulge in a vast array of nutritional supplements. One amazing aspect of these bars, shakes, snacks and meal replacements is the fact that they’re quite practical and compact. A lot of individuals are now choosing these nutritional supplements for breakfast, lunch or merely a snack.

Therefore, our bodies struggle to get all the basic elements we need to function properly. Nutritional supplements can provide the essential elements our bodies need to thrive, and to achieve optimum health. When you consider all the hustle and bustle of today’s world, it’s no big surprise that most of us fail to get a well-balanced diet. We all know that, it’s not easy preparing three nutritious meals every day. Especially when our careers don’t allow such free time and convenience. This is why so many of us are led a stray by fast food ads and clever marketing. We see those tempting commercials and desire that juicy burger and fries. But, we have to get out of the rut. We can find a lot of alternatives as fast and easy today. Think handy supplements such as protein bars, breakfast shakes, and meal replacement snacks. With these you can curb that hunger and receive the supplements benefits in the process. If you want to find high and low for great nutritional supplements, you truly won’t have to look far. Almost grocery and drug store currently carry at least a few handy meal supplements and vitamin-rich snacks to tide you over until dinner. While you probably assume that General Nutrition Stores are the best places to pinpoint new-age nutritional supplements, I encourage you to consider the Internet as well.

There is an overwhelming wealth of information about nutritional supplements or herbal supplements available today, and it can be difficult to know where to begin. But without proper knowledge, you are simply gambling with your health. Through can find online hundreds of great vitamins, meal replacement bars, protein shakes and healthy snacks to choose from. Furthermore, there are an assortment of deals and specials to be taken full advantage of on the web. High-rated nutritional supplements can be purchased in majority for a lower cost. But, ensure that you are making choices that will benefit your health.

And here’s a few tips regarding today’s massive world of nutritional supplements, here’s an idea of where to begin. You only have to do is start with the convenient bars and multivitamins. All you need is a sip of water with these nutritional supplements and they assist your body with acquiring the daily recommended nutrients. In regards to bars, some you may enjoy are Clif bars, Pure Protein bars, Luna bars for women, Soy Joy bars, Met-RX Meal Replacement bars, Clif Builder bars, Odwalla bars and Geni-Soy bars. All of these great nutritional supplements can be found on the web and in local drugstores.

The needs of individuals vary greatly, and experts don’t agree about the benefits of supplements. Thus, people are making their own choices about what supplements to take both botanical and nutritional for purposes ranging from sports nutrition and longevity to dieting aids. Many people are taking several different supplements at the same time.

Important to remember that our body need more vitamins and minerals. This is where fast food is seriously lacking. Although these ingredients take a terrible toll on your body, the other negative aspect of fast food is that it offers you nothing good at all. It’s like filling your stomach with garbage. In this world nowadays, our body need more healthy meals. That’s why so many individuals are now considering supplements benefits. Such as taking wonderful bars and multivitamins. You should be taking one of these each and every day with a meal. This way your body can absorb plenty of the nutrients it lacks from ordinary meals. Start your multivitamin regime at an early age if possible. The earlier the better.

For all these reasons, there is a clear need for more and better information for you to act both safely and wisely. Well, let me keep things simple for you. What are you looking to focus on as far as your body and health are concerned? There are plenty of supplements for that if you want more protein in your diet. Or if you’re searching for a more complete energizing snack bar, then you may want to check out what Clif bars have to offer. The next time you’re in the supermarket, browse through the supplement isle and explore the new world of nutrition.

Crizza More informaiton about quality weight loss and other supplements, please visit our web site http://www.ehealth-resources.com

It’s often said that good health is the foundation of beauty. I’m willing to take that statement a step farther and claim that a balanced diet is the foundation of good health - and, therefore, beauty. For proof, just read the numerous medical studies that link healthy eating with disease prevention and disease reversal. These same studies connect high fat intake, high sodium consumption, and diets with too much protein to numerous illnesses, including obesity, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diverticular diseases, hypertension, and kidney disease. And of course, there are all the looks-stealing side effects of a poor diet, such as thinning hair, scaly skin, breakouts, pale complexion, nail disorders, and excess weight. A nutrient-weak diet can also exacerbate existing skin conditions such as psoriasis and rosacea.

There are all kinds of health reasons to curb your salt intake to the recommended limit of 500 mg per day. For those prone to breakouts, iodine - a mineral found in iodized salt and seafood is believed by many professionals to contribute to acne flare-ups.

But what exactly is a balanced diet? Generally speaking, it is a diet comprising carbohydrates, dietary fiber, fat, protein, water, 13 vitamins, and 20 minerals. More specifically, it is a diet built around a wide variety of fruits, legumes, whole grains, and vegetables. Animal protein, high-fat foods, high-sodium foods, highly sugared foods, sodas, and processed foods are consumed sparingly, if at all. Of course, there are several ways to get your daily allotment of nutrients. Here are several of the most common diets.

All about omnivores

How healthy is an omnivorous diet? It depends. Omnivores may eat cheese, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, or seafood every day, choose refined snacks, and get only one daily serving of fruits and vegetables. This is not the healthiest option for those on an omnivorous diet.

On the other hand, those omnivores who limit animal-based foods to two or three times a week, choose water over soft drinks, and get the recommended five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables have a much healthier diet. The usual complaints about traditional omnivorous diets revolve around the diet’s high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat (found in animal-based foods), which can increase the risk of cancer diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. However, an omnivorous diet can actually be a healthy one, provided that thoughtful choices are made. To keep cholesterol and saturated fat to a minimum and nutrients to a maximum, omnivores should aim to eat five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables, choose whole grains over refined grains, enjoy daily legume or soy food protein sources, and limit their consumption of animal-based foods.

Most individuals who are interested in colon cleansing do so for health related reasons. However, colon cleansing can also be a good tool to help one lose weight. You won’t be able to lose 30 pounds with a single colon cleanse, but a drop of two to five pounds isn’t out of the question.

Being overweight has become an epidemic in America. Busy lives, fast food, and meals full of preservatives and little nutrients, has created a nation that continuously struggles with their weight. Add to this, a lack of consistent exercise, and the problem becomes hard to overcome.

For other individuals, a familial tendency to be over weight exists and it is harder to take the weight off. People who have at least one overweight parent, have an eighty percent chance of being overweight or obese themselves. However, it is important to note, that being overweight is not a terminal condition. One can turn it around by adopting a healthier lifestyle and exercise. A good colon cleanse is also a great way to kick off any weight loss effort.

Instead of following fad diets or the latest weight loss craze, it is important to deal with some of the issues that might be making it more difficult to lose weight. Having a healthy and clear intestinal tract that is free from toxins and other harmful substances will help one restore balance to their system and will allow the body to run more efficiently, which will enable one to lose weight long term.

It is believed that at all times, we have a three meals worth of extra food in our colons. This can lead to bloating and a few extra pounds. Colon cleansing will help you get rid of this extra waste and those extra pounds. Once your digestive tract is clean, you will be able to move food and waste through your system much more efficiently. It won’t get backed up and you won’t experience as much bloating. A clogged system will release toxins into the body and will cause of your bodily functions to slow down and not work as well as it should. This includes your metabolism, which is, in large part, responsible for how well your body burns calories.

A sluggish, clogged up colon results in problems with digestion and also stymies the absorption of important vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to function efficiently. This indirectly can lead to weight gain. A good colon cleanse can help your waist line and stomach slim down, while helping to jump start your metabolism.

Colon cleansing has a number of very good benefits. It is great for general health to have a clear and toxin free colon. Weight loss is another benefit. Besides getting rid of old waste, which can add some extra pounds, good intestinal health can help the metabolism work more efficiently. This allows us to continue to lose weight long term.

* Always consult your doctor before starting any medical or exercise program *

Not unlike their owners, dogs in America are becoming heavier and heavier. Although they may be happy, many dogs are not getting the exercise they need and their diets are not as healthy as they were 10-20 years ago. This results in a higher number of illnesses, more expensive visits to the veterinarian, and a shorter life span for many beloved family dogs.

Some people have begun putting their dogs on special diets. First they do the research to find out what their dog should be eating in the way of regular meals and dog treats. Once they know their dog information, they can make sure they are giving their dogs what they need.

Some dog owners have started to use their own dog information to help them make their own food and treats for their dog. This has to be done very carefully, since learning how to make your own dog food can actually hurt your dog if you do not make it correctly. Your dog may not be able to digest certain meats or fats, for instance. There are also some foods that can harm your dog, such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, bread dough and anything that contains mold.

There are also companies that will make all natural dog food for you. These companies have done all the research and know your dog information including what vitamins and minerals your dog needs to survive and thrive. They also know what foods can make your dog sick. Some companies, like the one that makes flint river ranch dog food, make their food to be human grade. This means that a person could eat it without fear of illness.

An array of “human safe” canine treats can be found on store shelves. There are specific shops which will create these delicacies in an oven, in much the same way baked goods are made for humans. Some of these shops even invite you to bring your animal in to determine which of the items they prefer.

Deciding what to feed your dog is only part of the responsibility assigned to you; you also have an obligation to do your research to give your dog the best life possible. In addition to appropriate food, keeping your dog healthy will require plenty of exercise, water, and rest. Remember that your dog needs you to make the wise decisions for him in order to keep him healthy and fit.

Understanding the “Holiday Blues”

The holiday season can be a difficult time for many. It is meant to bring joy and celebration but sometimes this time of year can bring sadness and despair. Changes in life, such as being separated from family and friends, or living through the grief of a loss, can be especially hard.

Holiday blues are also thought to be primarily caused by expectation and comparison along with a lack of planning and action. People generally have high expectations for the holidays. We often hope that they will make up for a year gone wrong. We expect family members to become friendly, season’s greetings to be sent, gifts to be given, and happiness to reign. The mass media, through news stories, TV specials, and advertising, raise this hope for “what may be.” The reality of “what is” often falls short of the expectation and there is disappointment.

Negative memories may also be associated to the holiday season and those suffering with depression and other mood disorders can also be affected at this time of year due to change of daylight. Many people are lonely at this time of year if they are working or going to school without a way to get back to your family for the holiday season. You may have not been in Vancouver long enough to make many friends. It can be hard to find comfort.

Characteristics of “The Blues” are emotions - sadness, loneliness, depression, anxiety - and, although intense and unsettling, these emotions are generally short-lived and usually subside within a few weeks once a daily routine is resumed. Other symptoms of the “Holiday Blues” may include:

* headaches * inability to sleep or sleeping too much * changes in appetite causing weight loss or gain * agitation and anxiety * excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt * diminished ability to think clearly or concentrate * decreased interest in activities that usually bring pleasure, such as: o food o sex o work o friends o hobbies o entertainment

The most important things to remember are: it’s a normal response to a stress-filled time of the year and you don’t have to suffer unnecessarily. If you anticipate feeling very lonely on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, there are ways that you can help yourself feel better and survive the holiday season. 26 Ways to Improve Your Mood During the Holiday Season:

1. Volunteering offers a way to interact with others, give to the community, and help keep your spirits up through giving. The Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Carnegie Community Centre, or various churches will provide Christmas dinners and benefit by receiving help from volunteers. This is a good way to help yourself by not being alone and by helping others in need.

2. If you are in a new community, try to get an invitation somewhere for Christmas. Let others know that you would enjoy having dinner with them.

3. Invite someone to join you in celebration.

4. Find out what the community offers and participate in it. Go to the concerts and parades. Get involved.

5. Takes gifts to a children’s home.

6. Be active by going for walks. Getting some exercise will help keep mood levels up. Don’t stay cooped up inside too long. 20 minutes of exercise every day will raise endorphin levels and allow you to absorb what sunshine there is.

7. Be aware of your diet - try not to overindulge in alcohol or sweets. Alcohol and sugar can really affect mood and brings on ‘moodiness’.

8. Get enough rest: general self-care of the body is important.

9. Organize your time: make lists and prioritize.

10. If you are going home to be with family, bad memories might come up that can be really stressful. Take items from your current home that you have positive associations with. This might be a teddy bear, pictures of friends, a good book, or candles. Anything to help you feel more comfortable.

11. Plan time away from family. If you are going for a few days, it can be stressful. Getting away can help to lessen the stress.

12. If you find that you fall back into old patterns when you are around family members, it can he helpful to remember that you are an adult now and you have the ability to behave and respond in a different way. Spend some time planning ahead. What kinds of circumstances will occur that might bring up old feelings?

13. Be Prepared. There may be certain things that happen every year that drive you up the wall. This year, talk to the people involved ahead of time and try to defuse those situations before they occur.

14. If finances are a concern, be aware of this and set reasonable limits.

15. If there is a significant loss that you are reminded of this time of year, such as a death in the family or a divorce, it can be helpful not to push it away and pretend it didn’t happen. Recognize that there was a loss and take time to acknowledge it. Create a healthy way of remembering. Examples could include putting out favorite photographs and lighting a candle before them.

16. If you are in a new city or find yourself lonely, try to create new memories for yourself. You may enjoy events around the city such as the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden -

Dates and times: 4:30 to 9 p.m. every night, December 7th, 2007 through January 1st, 2008 (except December 25th when the Garden is closed).

17. Another tool to help you get through the Holiday Blues is to remember that the Christmas season will pass.

18. Also, remember that winter will pass. Winter does not last forever.

19. Remember to take your medication. Also, taking multi-vitamins and fish oil capsules daily can contribute to overall health and keep stress down. Other vitamin supplements such as Vitamin D or a B Complex can be helpful for mood.

20. Keep yourself busy to take your mind of things if that helps. Make plans to go out for lunch, go for walks, go to the movies or even curl up at home and watch a movie.

21. If you are suffering from clinical depression, getting some help can be beneficial this time of the year. Go to see a therapist, look for a support group, or contact the mental health team in your area. Get as much help and support as you can.

22. Give yourself a break — plan to prepare (or buy) one special meal, purchase one special gift, and take in one special event.

23. If you don’t like shopping, shop online or make small gifts.

24. Do your best not to create unrealistic expectations and don’t get caught up in comparisons.

25. Find someone to talk with who can help you through this difficult time — a family member, friend, a spiritual leader, or professional counsellor.

26. Call a crisis line in your time of need: Vancouver area 604-872-3311.

© Janel Ball 2007

Thank you and plesae take care of yourself over the holiday season,

Janel Ball, MA, RCC, MBACP Healing Solutions Professional Counselling Services janel@healingsolutions.ca http://healingsolutions.ca

With the availability of many commercial pet foods in the market, you may be confused in selecting the complete pet food that takes good care of your pet’s health. You may be wondering whether it is safe to feed commercial pet food or pet food prepared at home. Your pet’s health can be spoiled through any source of pet food and hence you should make sure that whatever food you feed to your pet should not have been contaminated.

Food related illness could occur in your pet due to bacterial infections, chemicals, mycotoxins, metals etc. Mycotoxins are toxins formed by fungus and some type of toxins affect one fourth of the world’s food crops. Hence mycotoxin litigation is a big problem and pain to the pet food industry.

We generally get confused with food infection and food poisoning. Pet food infection can be caused when the pets consume food with infectious microbial cell. They initially attack your pet’s tissues and start reproducing. Another important aspect to be noted is most of the clinical diseases will not be visible to you before 12 hours. Food poisoning occurs as a result of pet food that already contains a microbial toxin. The food poisoning symptoms are visible within an hour after your pet consumes the pet food. It is always recommended that homemade food preparation should be hygienic and if you are buying commercial pet food, take suggestions from people who are used to feed pets with such foods.

Selecting nutrition filled pet food is a challenging task particularly when there are many pet food providers offering more varieties of pet food. You can choose a complete pet food with balanced nutrition by evaluating the ingredients mentioned on the pet food package. The ingredients will represent fat, fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals in percentage values.

When you are ready to pay a higher price for the pet food, it is reasonable that you look for high and better value and additional health advantages for your pet. Cheap pet foods have more of ingredients that are grain based like wheat, soy and corn. Cheaper pet foods use ingredients like grains, bone meal and meat that are inexpensive and hence show poor nutritional quality. These pet food manufacturers justify that grain protein is equally nutritious when compared with meat protein. But there are arguments that grain proteins put excessive stress on your pet’s digestive system and also result in illness in the later stages of the pet’s life. Pets like dog and cat eat meat and their digestive system is designed for meat and not for grains. So it is always advisable to provide pet food suitable for your pet’s digestive system.

Normally pets are fed with the same kind of food every day if complete nutrition value is available with regular foods. Your pet always should be served the best nutritious pet food and so take time in choosing the perfect pet food for those deserving pets of yours. You can follow the below mentioned tips to avoid pet food problems:

Try to avoid commercial foods for your pets as stool hardening agents are used by most of the pet food manufacturers. Understand the terms used in the pet food label and select the food that provides the calorie needed by your pet. Never over feed your pet. Provide them plenty of fresh water.

Life normally includes anxiety at different points. However, if you are constantly anxious for no reason you can figure out, and if your anxiety is difficult to control and long-lasting, you may have an anxiety disorder. The components in this natural treatment formula are designed to relieve anxiety as well as general nervousness. Included are powerful botanicals which have been proven to ease tension and facilitate peaceful sleep. St. John’s Wort Extract, Hops Extract, and Valerian Extract are some of the botanicals included in this formula.

Anxiety has many related unpleasant symptoms and associations. These include restlessness (as well as fatigue); trouble concentrating; irritability; muscle tension and sleep problems. St. John’s Wort Extract helps to maintain a steady mood and supports mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract can act as sedatives, inducing sleep and relieving anxiety and tension.

When people reach middle age, the gel-like vitreous begins to liquefy and contract. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of floaters, and it is more common for people who are nearsighted, have undergone eye surgery, have had laser surgery of the eye, or have had inflammation inside the eye.

Anxiety has many related unpleasant symptoms and associations. Some of the symptoms of anxiety include restlessness, and also, contrarily, fatigue. Other symptoms are difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems. St. John’s Wort can facilitate a steady mood and support mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract can act as sedatives, inducing sleep and relieving anxiety and tension.

St. John’s Wort Extract helps to maintain a steady mood and supports mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract can act as sedatives, inducing sleep and relieving anxiety and tension. Valerian Extract should be taken 30 minutes before bedtime. Skullcap Extract has historically been used as a sedative for people with nervous tension and insomnia, and may therefore be helpful in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder. Chamomile Extract contains active constituents that contribute to smooth-muscle relaxing action. People with anxiety disorder (also known as Nervousness or Panic Attacks) are often deficient in essential nutrients, including Calcium, Magnesium, and B Vitamins. Zinc is an essential mineral that is a component of enzymes that protect against free radicals caused by anxiety, and may be important in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder.

The ingredients in this formula include St. John’s Wort Extract. St. John’s Wort has a positive effect on mood and mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract act as sedatives and can serve to induce sleep and relieve anxiety and tension. Valerian Extract should be taken 30 minutes before going to sleep. Historically, Skullcap extract has been used to calm those with nervous tension and insomnia. Therefore it is likely to be helpful in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder. Chamomile Extract contains active constituents that contribute to smooth-muscle relaxing action. Anxiety is sometimes exacerbated when the body is lacking essential nutrients. Lack of such nutrients as Calcium, Magnesium, and B Vitamins may contribute to anxiety. Enzymes that protect against free radicals contain Zinc, which may be important in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder.

More than a million people around the world are affected by this very disagreeable disorder of the digestive and the GI tract called Crohn’s, it has many unpleasant symptoms, to alleviate which, a remedy (drug-free) called Ablene was developed by scientists.

What is this remedy Ablene?

Forcible discharge of the nutrients from the body with diarrhea, vomiting, and fever are one of the symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease. Ablene is specifically developed to supplement these nutrients in patients with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. This makes the patients recover from such a loss.

The biggest irony of the various medical treatments for this disease is that they make the intracellular deficiency even worse. Ablene is developed to addresses this aspect of the treatment, especially.

The way Ablene works:

Apart from diarrhea and abdominal cramping, other notable symptoms are major weight loss, loss of appetite, rectal bleeding, and fever. While keeping the patients under close observation to monitor and control these, they are advised to avoid allergy-causing foods like diary products, fats, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, and cereal grains.

Ablene resists inflammation-causing substances and enzymes, as it contains anti-inflamatories.

Nutrients of optimum quality: Ablene contains sufficient quantity of those nutrients found to be ideal for digestive health, as it is designed with a view to improve the quality of life of the people whose digestive tract is affected.

The ingredients:

The body loses vital nutrients necessary for the body due to a digestive system affected by Crohn’s.

The following are some of the important ingredients of Ablene:

The extracts of iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, and copper are most important in the regulation of the functions of the digestive tract.

Vitamins A, C, E, and B-complex, natural plant extracts of olive, cat’s claw and licorice to control inflammation.

To control the side effects of Crohn’s, Inositol, choline, l-glutamine, and rutein are present in Ablene.

When combined with the physician’s treatment program, the ingredients of Ablene significantly lower the symptoms of Crohn’s. It is proved by the available research that these ingredients are very useful in the battle against Crohn’s disease and GI tract disorders.

With the growing awareness of the importance of healthy food, many people are also becoming vegetarian because it matches the kind of low fat, high fiber diet recommended by dieticians and doctors. Concern about the environment is another factor as people become more aware of the effect raising animals for their meat is having on the environment. Or you may be concerned about wasting world food resources by using land to raise animals for meat instead of growing crops that can feed more people directly.

Animals need far more water than grain crops. According to the USDA, growing the crops necessary to feed farmed animals requires nearly half of the United States’ water supply and 80% of its agricultural land. Additionally, animals raised for food in the U.S. consume 90% of the soya crop, 80% of the corn crop, and a total of 70% of its grain.

One acre of pasture produces an average of 165 pounds of beef; the same acre can produce 20,000 pounds of potatoes.

Vegetarian diets have been found to satisfy the nutritional needs for all stages of life, and large-scale studies have shown vegetarianism to increase longevity, improve health, and significantly lower the risks of many diseases.

Studies show that vegetarian diets help to keep body weight under control and reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoperosis and many cancers - particularly lung cancer and colon cancer. Vegetarians tend to have lower levels of cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and less incidence of dementias such as Alzheimer’s. Vegetarian diets that are low in saturated fats have been successfully used to reverse severe coronary artery disease.

It was once widely believed that vegetarians had to carefully combine plant protein sources in each meal in order to obtain all the essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids needed to stay healthy. However, scientific studies have shown that the human body can store essential amino acids and combine them as necessary. So, while combining beans and rice, or peanut butter and bread produces a complete protein, it’s not necessary to consciously do this at every meal. If you eat a varied diet and adequate calories, combining proteins is not an issue.

Vegetarian diets are lower in saturated fats, cholesterol, and animal protein. They’re also high in folate, anti-oxidant vitamins like C and E, carotenoids, and phytochemicals.

Some famous vegetarians are Leonardo Da Vinci, Charles Darwin, Socrates, Plato, Sir Isaac Newton and Thomas Edison. Famous modern day vegetarians include Bryan Adams, Alicia Silverstone, Liv Tyler, Jerry Seinfeld, Kim Basinger, and Paul McCartney.

If you are new to vegetarianism, The Higher Taste by Srila Prabhupada is a great beginners booklet. Not only does it explain vegetarianism clearly but it also gives some delicious easy to follow recipes.

There are many vegetarian websites today that provide many delicious recipes. There are a large variety of vegetarian recipes available from Italian and Greek cuisine to Middle Eastern, Indian and Chinese cuisine.