Product Description
The ideal accompaniment to the successful Vegetarian Low-Carb Diet—the fast, no-hunger, healthy way to lose weight. One of the joys of the low-carb lifestyle—and one of the reasons why people find that this is a diet they can stick to—is that the food is delicious, and this book is full of tasty ideas for vegetarians who want the slimming benefits of a low-carb diet. With more than 100 fantastic recipes ranging from energizing breakfasts and light lunches to satisfying suppers and even sweet treats and desserts, there’s something for everyone—vegetarians or vegans wanting to shed some pounds, successful low-carbers looking for new ideas, or anyone who loves fresh-tasting, quick, and easy recipes. All … More >>

The Vegetarian Low-Carb Diet Cookbook: The Fast, No-Hunger Weightloss Cookbook for Vegetarians

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In part II of “Vitamin D and the Raw Vegan Diet,” I look at vitamin D3, problems with supplementation, and winter weather.  Be sure to check out Part I for information on where vitamin D comes from, how much we need, and the toxic ingredients in sunscreen.

D3?

Vitamin D (as well as vitamin D supplements) actually comes in two forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).  Although once thought to be equivalent, it is now known that vitamin D3 (manufactured from exposure to UVB rays) is not absorbed by the skin right away.  It actually takes up to 48 hours before the majority of the vitamin D you have been exposed to has entered your bloodstream.

What’s the big deal?

After a nice, sweaty day spent outside, what’s the first thing we want to do?  Take a shower.

And what do we typically do in the shower?  Lather on lots of sudsy soap.

Uh oh.  The problem here is that you are not just washing away your sweat with that soap.  If it’s been less than 48 hours, you are stripping your skin of all that precious vitamin D!

The solution?  Well, there are a couple:

#1: Wait two days to shower

I may not wear makeup or lots of fancy accessories, but I am still a lady.

I am not WAITING two days after sweaty time in the sun to rinse off!

#2: Only use water

I like to take a shower almost everyday so this is my personal preference.

I know, I know.  Only water?!

If you eat a healthy, low fat raw diet, without added salt, spices, or condiments, you really do not need to use soap.  In fact, I NEVER use any form of soap, natural or not, to clean my skin.

But I’ll save that for another post.

Problems with Supplementation

The research out there on problems with supplementation of any kind, including vitamin D, is rather extensive.

One particular study conducted in 2008 showed that vitamin D supplementation can actually block the Vitamin D Nuclear Receptor (VDR), which is necessary for the “repression or transcription of hundreds of genes, including genes associated with diseases ranging from cancers to multiple sclerosis.”

Here is a quote from the professor at Australia’s Murdoch University School of Biological Medicine and Biotechnology, Trevor Marshall, Ph.D., as quoted in a ScienceDaily article on the study:

Molecular biology is now forcing us to re-think the idea that a low measured value of vitamin D means we simply must add more to our diet. Supplemental vitamin D has been used for decades, and yet the epidemics of chronic disease, such as heart disease and obesity, are just getting worse.

Our disease model has shown us why low levels of vitamin D are observed in association with major and chronic illness,’ Marshall added. ‘Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone, and the body regulates the production of all it needs. In fact, the use of supplements can be harmful, because they suppress the immune system so that the body cannot fight disease and infection effectively.

Debbie Took from RawforLife makes a very good point regarding supplementation and animals in the United Kingdom:

The animal world is full of clues as to how to live healthfully. So, as looking at domesticated mammals (ingesting various unnatural substances in their feeds) would complicate things, let’s consider wild mammals such as squirrels, deer, rabbits. They don’t supplement (and neither do they eat oily fish or vitamin D-fortified milk).

Sure, they’ll get lots more sunlight each summer than we will (which gives us a clue as to lifestyle adjustments to be made). However, the supplement manufacturers like to make us feel that no matter how much sunshine we get in the UK summer our health is going to be compromised if we don’t take D supplements in the winter. Yet these animals are doing just fine! (but note they don’t sit behind windows, soap themselves down daily, drink alcohol or overeat either…)

Well said, Debbie!

I think I’ll take a lesson from my animal friends and stick with simple (and free) sunshine.

What About Winter Weather?

Because vitamin D is fat-soluble, it can be stored by the body.  This means that you have the potential to get enough sunshine during the warm months to last you through the winter.

But don’t think you can’t get a wicked tan in the winter time.  Did you know that you can get pretty seriously burned from sunlight that is reflected off of snow?

Now, you won’t catch me sunbathing in 30 degree weather and I certainly do not recommend it.  But if you’re a fan of cold weather (or a masochist), be my guest!

My Advice to You

If you haven’t already, be sure to make the most of the last couple of weeks of mild weather before it gets too cold.

Remember, all it takes is 15-30 minutes outdoors (unless you have dark skin, in which case you will require more exposure) to receive adequate vitamin D.

You can spare a few measly minutes for your health, right?

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One of the most common arguments against maintaining a vegetarian diet is the assumption that you must consume meat to keep a healthy level of protein and other nutrients more easily attainable through animal products. Many people who become a vegan or vegetarian without proper diet research can suffer from protein energy malnutrition (PEM) or iron deficiency, along with too little zinc, calcium and vitamin B. This can lead to a feeling of weakness, lack of energy, as well as head and muscle aches.

However with a little research and planning, a vegetarian can keep to a more full and healthful diet than those who eat meat, without being deficient in any basic nutritional needs and in many instances, can actually have a more robust immune system due to a higher level of antioxidants.

It’s really as simple as eating a wide variety of foods on a daily basis. There are almost limitless possibilities to experiment with and find the right combinations to form a personal diet plan that you will enjoy and that will give you all of the vitamins that your body requires. You can be as satisfied and fulfilled by your vegetarian diet as any meat based plan (or more so) while feeling even more energetic and healthy, because you are less likely to consume saturated fats and cholesterol, as well as the hormones that are given to most animals today.

We need to remember simple facts such as:

- Vitamin C helps our bodies absorb Iron

- Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb Calcium(We can get Vitamin D from sunshine!)

- Having all 8 amino acids in your diet is essential for complete Protein It’s not necessary to have all of them in each meal)

- B12 is the only vitamin a varied plant based diet cannot provide, but you can find many foods that are B12 fortified.(Even in long term vegans, deficiency is rare)

As in any diet, balance is the key to eating healthy as a vegetarian or vegan. It may seem complicated to plan your meals with vitamin and mineral contents in mind, all while making sure it will taste good and you will enjoy it. But don’t let yourself be intimidated, it doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many resources available to help experiment with all of the possibilities a plant based diet has to offer.

You can start with recipes and plans already prepared by others who have done the research for you, such as one of the many eBooks on offer at the various web sites. I have included a couple of links to vegetarian recipes to help as you learn how to balance your own meals and create the right plan to suit your personal needs and tastes!

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Are you concerned about your vitamin D intake?

Besides protein and vitamin B12, vitamin D deficiency is one of the biggest reasons people have reservations about going and/or staying raw (or vegan, for that matter).

This becomes especially true around this time of year, when the sun is waning and the cold temps are movin’ on in.

There’s no question that vitamin D is essential to human health.  Vitamin D is necessary for the proper absorption of both calcium and phosphorus.  I’m sure you have seen images of the disfiguring effects of rickets, a disorder caused by a lack of vitamin D in the body.

Did you know that vitamin D is also necessary to process vitamin C and deficiency is implicated in the cause of 17 varieties of cancer?

Sometimes the fact that so many people (cooked and raw foodists alike) dwell on vitamin D when it is SO easy (and so free) to obtain really boggles my mind.

Then I remember all the COMPLETELY WRONG and often COMPLETELY BIASED information that we are all indoctrinated with from a young age regarding the source of this vital vitamin.

It’s time to debunk all the bull, don’t you think?

Where Does Vitamin D Come from?

Few will argue that vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for healthy teeth and bones.

However, there has been quite some debate about how exactly to achieve proper levels of vitamin D.

According to traditional medicine, the only way we can get enough vitamin D is by consuming fortified milk, eating various species of fish, or by some form of supplementation.

Hmmm…I wonder what Dr. Colin Campbell, author of the renowned nutritional study The China Study, has to say about that?

Although some of the vitamin D present in our bodies may come from food, we can usually get all that we need from a few hours of sunshine each week.  In fact, it is our ability to make our vitamin D that leads to the idea that it is not a vitamin; it is a hormone (i.e., made in one part of our body but functioning in another part).

The sun’s UV rays make vitamin D from a precursor chemical located in our skin.  Provided we get adequate sunshine, this is all the vitamin D we need.

And John Jacob Cannell, MD from Vitamin D council, is there anything that you would like to add?

Remember, our ancestors lived naked in the sun for several million years. Then 50,000 years ago, some of us migrated north and south to places with less sun. Then we put on clothes, started working inside and living in cities where buildings blocked the sun. Then we started traveling in cars instead of walking, or riding horses, and glass blocked even more of the UVB in the sunlight. Then, only a few years ago, we started actively avoiding the sun and putting on sunblock. All this time we humans have been steadily reducing the tissue levels of the most potent steroid hormone in our bodies, one with powerful anti-cancer properties.

The really significant reductions in sunlight exposure have occurred since the industrial revolution, just the time the “diseases of civilization” like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer seem to have greatly increased. Pretty frightening when you think about it.

Even Dr. Joel Fuhrman, who advocates supplementation in his book Eat To Live, has this to say:

Most of us work indoors and avoid the sun or wear sunscreen, which lowers our vitamin D exposure.

In other words, vitamin D does not come from packaged breakfast cereals or rancid fish oils.  It comes from good ole’ Mr. Sun.

How Much Sunshine?

The US RDA for vitamin D is 400 IU (international units) for an adult.

Dr. Mercola recommends that each person should get about 5,000 units of vitamin D everyday.

Sounds like a lot, right?

Not really, especially when you consider that only 15-30 minutes of full exposure (or as close to full as you can get) produces about 10,000 IU vitamin D!

What About Sunscreen?

Ah, sunscreen.  That fruity, vanilla-y smelling goop that reminds us of beaches, bikinis, and family BBQs.

Snap out of it!

Not only are most sunscreens full of toxic ingredients, but putting them on your skin actually blocks the absorption of UVB rays, which is what we need to make vitamin D.

A healthy (and free) alternative?  Shade.

If you feel yourself becoming uncomfortably warm in the sunshine, find yourself a nice shady spot, put on some breathable fabric, wear a hat, etc.

Simple, yet solid advice.

P.S. Be sure to check out “Vitamin D and the Raw Vegan Diet: Part II” for more information on the TRUTH about vitamin D.

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Good health starts with eating foods that will help your body to survive the problems that we all face. Among the many foods that you can see included in various diets is that of vegetables. By choosing a vegetarian diet plan that will help you to burn the calories in your body you can soon see a new you emerging.

A good vegetarian diet plan can benefit you in so many different ways. When you look at the many great tasting meals that you will get with eating vegetables you will begin to understand why so many people seem to be switching to a vegetarian diet plan.

Since there are so many different foods that can be made with vegetables you will need to look at how these foods are prepared. This preparation method will help you to see what changes you may need to make. The various vegetarian recipes that you will be able to use; have a multitude of spices, condiments, and fresh vegetables that you will be able to use.

Due to this reason you will need to plan out your meals that you will be going vegetarian in. Looking at these different foods that you can use will allow you to make a meal that provides you with all of the day’s nutrients. You should look at the vegetarian recipes to find the full value of these meals and the different foods.

In your vegetarian diet plan you can see about changing various foods that are added to make your meal. For instance you can see how sautéed foods taste with a minimum of oils. The addition of raw and blanched vegetables will provide an interesting contrast to your meals.

This vegetarian diet plan can be expanded in simple ways to include the finicky tastes of children. To make this plan work you should make sure that you don’t force your children to eat these cooked vegetables. Instead you can cut some raw vegetables and keep them for at home snacks.

The different vegetables and fruits that you can change into delicious tasting smoothies will allow you the opportunity of introducing your family to the delights of vegetarian foods in small stages.

All of these changes that you are introducing to your life and that of your family will be apparent as time goes by. The best way to experience all of this is to simply look at a vegetarian diet plan that works for you.

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You will find that you have access to many great tasting foods. These foods will help you to live a good life. For a more quality conscious lifestyle however you may want to look into switching to a vegetarian diet. The different vegetarian diets that you can look into will help you to see the changes that you can make to the way that you eat and live.

There are many ways that you can plan on having a sensible vegetarian diet, but the most important factor is that of your health. For this reason before you start making any long term dietary plans you should investigate and gather as much information about going vegetarian and vegan diets.

You will find that planning a vegetarian diet is not one that will be boring. There are a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, spices and condiments that you can use in your diet to make them more interesting. While you are looking at the different vegetables and fruits which can be used in a vegetarian diet you should look to the best ways of preparing these items.

To this end your best source of cooking and preparing information can be found in various recipe books. These recipe books can be ones that you find in book stores and also online. From all of these you will be able to look at vegetarian foods from lots of different countries.

Since each of these countries has different methods of cooking food you will need to look at what is used to cook the vegetables. Also if you are serious about losing weight then you should see if there is any way that you can reduce or change the way that certain dressings and fillings are made.

There is also another point that you should consider when you are planning a vegetarian diet meal plan. Until you have managed to work out the various details of the nutritional value of the different vegetables that you are going to be using, it is best to see what the values are for the vegetables and meals in these vegetarian recipes that you will be using.

While being on a vegetarian diet does mean that you will be eating more green vegetables and leafy greens you don’t have to worry about losing sight of some of your favorite meats. The only thing that you will need to do is to reduce the quantity of meats that you are eating.

Once you have planned this step out you will see why eating a vegetarian diet can be good for you on many levels. The great tasting food and the health benefits that you will get from your vegetarian diet will begin to show themselves in the way that you look and participate in life.

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Dining out can be a challenge for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Many restaurants have an extremely limited selection of vegetarian dishes and are unwilling to modify menu items to meet the needs of vegetarian diners. At Paul Martin’s American Bistro®, we provide vegetarians with superior meals created from local, sustainable and mostly organic fresh ingredients. An equally important part of our mission is to ensure that every diner has a memorable meal and dining experience, we are happy to personalize our dishes to create an inspired plate that meets any conscientious food choices.

Our mantra of “Eat organic. Believe in sustainable. Buy local.” embraces the basic values of health, taste and preserving the rural landscape. We have thoughtfully handpicked our vendors to provide the freshest in-season produce for our vegetarian offerings. Our vendor list includes local growers such as Coke Farms in San Juan Bautista, who have demonstrated their strong commitment to sustainability and growing organic fruits and vegetables in Northern California for more than two decades. Our diners benefit from the superior taste and freshness of produce from Earthbound Farms, where environmentally friendly farming methods are a top priority. Our menu features an assortment of certified organic exotic mushrooms from local mushroom farming pioneers, Gourmet Mushrooms. We are proud of establishing an extensive network of vendors who share our values, vision and commitment to quality.

When dining at Paul Martin’s American Bistro, vegetarians can look forward to a selection of crisp, fresh salads such as the Butter Lettuce and Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese (http://pointreyescheese.com) salad with candied walnuts, apples and maple vinaigrette. Start your meal with our Roasted Summer Tomato Soup with basil pesto, or add an organic green or house Caesar salad and fresh organic artisan bread to round out your meal. Vegans will enjoy our Fresh Linguini and Farmers Market Vegetables, featuring the freshest in-season vegetables and a tomato saffron broth. Our soul satisfying Macaroni and Cheese or Spinach Dip (Heirloom Organic Bloomsdale spinach grown by Heirloom Organics) white cheddar cheese from the Fisculli family in Modesto http://www.fiscalinicheese.com/ sauce and sun dried tomatoes are delicious choices for those whose diets include dairy products.

With the extensive selection of seasonal fresh produce we keep on hand at all times, the choices for vegetarians are limitless. Our chef is happy to prepare special requests for vegetarian and vegan diners. Simply let your server know what appeals to you and we’ll create a customized meal that will delight your palate.

Of course, you can top off a delicious meal with fresh fruit or perhaps a Lemon Meringue Tart made with tree-fresh lemon curd, shortbread crust, and chocolate, drizzled with fresh fruit coulis. Sit back and sip a cup of organic and free trade coffee from Mr. Espresso or organic tea from China Mist after your meal, enjoy the atmosphere and your dining out experience.

Paul Martin’s American Bistro

® in Roseville and El Segundo

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In a vegan lifestyle, there is a strong goal that one should succeed, but they are often lost in nutritional issues. It’s just normal to be confused with this because there is a lot of conflicting information booming from everywhere. But we should realize that we have to a bit creative to see what will be most suitable for us. Well most people have found the following diet more suitable for them:

1. Cut-out all foods that have additives and preserving chemicals. Instead you should just munch on fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts

2. Cut-out starches or gluten. If you are still on a diet of bread, try those who are made from whole grains. Some bakeries can sell you whole grain breads. Also, yams are far better than potatoes.

3. Try vegetable salads of different varieties

4. Cut-out sugar in your meals. Too much sugar in the body can lead to health problems. If you are craving for sugar, make an effort to balance the meal by adding essential fat everyday such as olive oils or fish oils.

5. Have a moderate exercise regimen. Food is part of our health. If you really want overall wellness, you should go out and move your stagnant body. You can do some weight lifting, push-ups, pull-ups, and gym exercises. You can also take yoga classes and other forms of meditation to relieve stress and acquire peace of mind.

6. Avoid meals that are composed of fruits alone. Though, a vegan lifestyle is also composed of fruits, eating fruits alone is not usually beneficial to most people. You may experience some problems such as significant weight loss, dental plaques, mental and emotional imbalances and many more. You should take note that there is no such thing as 100 percent fruit diet. You should take a complete set of meals with vegetables and grains.

7. Consume a lot of green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and celery. These vegetables are a high source of minerals, proteins and some nutrients. Once you start eating more vegetables, you wellness will improve significantly. You should make a habit to add green vegetables with every meal. Sea vegetables such as weeds, kelp, dulse and nori are very nutritious.

8. Drink fruit and vegetable juice. Purchase a juicer rather than buying canned juices. You can take juice of kale, spinach or celery at least 8 ounce every day. This will better alkalinize the body.

9. Do not be very conscious with your diet. If you are talking about it all the time, the people around you will likely to get sick of hearing about it. Not all people will agree with your beliefs. A vegan lifestyle is not a religion or any mysticism.

10. Follow the diet. If there is one aspect where you should not sacrifice, it is your vegan diet. Cut-out all animal products including dairy, milk and other products that are tested on animals. Also cut-out meat such as chicken, fish and seafood. Meat is normally contaminated with various hormones, chemicals, bacteria and metals. Also, meat can also contain saturated fat which can increase the risk for heart diseases, cancer, eye problems and other diseases. The mass raising of animals on farm consumes large amounts of energy resources, such as land, water and it plays a major role in destroying the environment.

Raising animals just to satisfy our cravings is a cruel thing. Being a vegan is a vow against this inhumanity. The best way to start changing the world is to begin with yourself.

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Almost every fitness enthusiast and doctor routinely states the importance of having more raw food diet and it will only be wise to listen to them. Vegan diet books are readily available almost everywhere which can help both the occasional eater and also the enthusiast. These diet books are filled with enticing recipes for making anything from entrees, to raw desserts, raw salads, raw soups, hemp dishes, raw snacks to name a few. A raw food diet book can also be used for starting out into the vegan lifestyle. For the uninitiated a vegetarian diet is the diet which consists predominantly of vegetarian food and makes exception for animal foods such as milk, honey and eggs whereas a vegan diet is more of a lifestyle wholly comprising of vegetarian food and does not allow any animal based foods. A Raw food diet book can be used by people who want to follow either style. A vegan diet is now being considered as the healthiest diet as it packed full of nutrients including vitamins, minerals and even protein. On of the most important thing that you get by following a vegan diet is dietary fiber which is only too important to maintain a healthy digestive system. Most of the vegetarian diet books will teach you to make recipes which are both very delicious and also high in dietary fiber. Trying out the vegan lifestyle can be quite a life changing decision. With the aid of raw food diet books you can easily whip up an entrée or even a dessert which can be filling nutritional, and very delicious. Try out some recipes</a> and see the difference yourself.

Almost every fitness enthusiast and doctor routinely states the importance of having more raw food diet and it will only be wise to listen to them. Vegan diet books are readily available almost everywhere which can help both the occasional eater and also the enthusiast. These diet books are filled with enticing recipes for making anything from entrees, to raw desserts, raw salads, raw soups, hemp dishes, raw snacks to name a few.

A raw food diet book can also be used for starting out into the vegan lifestyle. For the uninitiated a vegetarian diet is the diet which consists predominantly of vegetarian food and makes exception for animal foods such as milk, honey and eggs whereas a vegan diet is more of a lifestyle wholly comprising of vegetarian food and does not allow any animal based foods. A Raw food diet book can be used by people who want to follow either style.

A vegan diet is now being considered as the healthiest diet as it packed full of nutrients including vitamins, minerals and even protein. On of the most important thing that you get by following a vegan diet is dietary fiber which is only too important to maintain a healthy digestive system. Most of the vegetarian diet books will teach you to make recipes which are both very delicious and also high in dietary fiber.

Trying out the vegan lifestyle can be quite a life changing decision. With the aid of raw food diet books you can easily whip up an entrée or even a dessert which can be filling nutritional, and very delicious. Try out some recipes</a> and see the difference yourself.

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In this article, Dr. Jameth Sheridan shares candidly on the pitfalls of a raw food or vegan diet. (more…)

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