earthling and my decisions

I just finished watching "Earthlings" I don't know where to start.

When I first made a decision to eliminate animal products except seafood from my diet my main reason was an environment one. Then I realised there are health benefits. I was fortunate enough to meet and hear Peter Singer in person and after that I slowly started to eliminate seafoods as well. The environment and health were the main reasons for me to not to have any animal products and desire for my daughter to do the same. (Though I know she is her own person and she is and will be making her own decisions).

Knowing the truth and doing something about it are two totally different thing. Some people don't want to hear it. Some people find out about the facts but don't change their behaviour. For me it was the decision already made. I knew the fact and I had to decide which way to go. there was no middle.
I have struggled with this decisions, not because it was hard for me to switch my way of eating and living. But because of the pressure I felt from my friends, family and society. It constantly challenged my beliefs and philosophy and some occasions I doubted my motives. Is this my way of trying to control myself, family and my environment? Is this because I am not happy or have too much time? I swayed a couple of times to make people other than me happy, or so that they would feel that I listened and was not selfish. Deep down I knew what I was doing was right for me so I always came back to the way I wanted to live.
If you know me personally my life turned in a different angle a month or so ago. It was not easy but I can now say that it was the right thing to do. I feel happier and more confident about who I am and what I believe in. This positive feeling has made me become more tolerant and flexible.
Life is a journey. I will come cross other things that will challenge me in the future. That might change me in a different direction again. I can not make any promises. All I can do is live now and appreciate the things and feelings that I have with me now. If you look back and look forward all the time we do not see what we have right at this moment.

I have read and watched many sources about how the animals are unfortunately treated. "Earthling" is the most powerful one for me so far. I couldn't help myself but fearing for our human souls and feeling some kind of responsibility for these animals. How could anyone do this to other living creatures? That was my first thought and probably for most people's.
"I can't watch", "I would never treat animals in such ways"you may say. Even you are not doing this directly are you and am I still doing this to our other earthlings?
Felling sad is not changing anything. Only thing I could do is to change the way I live. If you can't do it every day. how about just one day. And then two days a week. It does get easier.

food matters, super size me

I have been watching different documentaries lately. Today I would like to mention these two .
FOOD MATTERS
informative documentary film that covers issues such as using food as medicine, organic foods, safety of our food etc. Interviews with leading nutritionists, Naturopaths, Scientists, M.D.'s and Medical Journalists, including Andrew W Saul, David Wolfe, Charlotte Gerson, Ian Brighthope.

SUPER SIZE ME
documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock. In the film he eats all the meals for 30 days at McDonald's. The film follows the effects on Spurlock's physical and mental well beings as well as the fast food industry's influence on our society.

the new whole foods encyclopedia

Here is another book of mine.
It is a great reference to keep. There are more than 1000 fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and herbs. It is easy to follow, as they are listed in an alphabetical order. They include common and uncommon whole foods in details. Description, medical benefits, use and safety.

becoming vegan, vegetarian and raw

These three books are written by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. Great complete guide to becoming vegetarian/ vegan or vegan raw. They are registered dietitian so there are lots of nutritional facts in the books. it covers many different issues such as vitamins, minerals, scientific researches, myths, lifestyle. I often go back to these three books for some guidance. Only thing that I would mention is use of veggie meats and burgers. I don't believe they should be included in your dairy diet as these products are highly processed.

individiuality

"It takes two to make a case of illness: he who gets sick and the bug that bites him" (Galen, the Greek physician)

This book "biochemical individuality" explains why some people are affected by different nutritional and environmental factors in a different degrees.
Why some people become alcoholics and diabetes?
why some people need certain vitamins or minerals more than others?
Even identical twin could be different in their needs for optimal functions.
There are so many debates about which one is the "right diet" High carbohydrate? or high fat and protein? how about vegetarian or vegan diet or low fat diet. No wonder we are so confused.
On the top of that there is a RDA for almost every vitamins and minerals for average person. So what is normal and average? Real persons have highly distinctive patterns of biochemical abilities, needs and responses.

Reading this book deepened my understanding on the importance of treating a person or patient for their individual needs. Unfortunately there is no answers to Your need though. You will need to experiment and listened to your body to know what is right for you and you only.

Heling with whole food

I don't know why I haven't mentioned about this book earlier. This book is one of the most useful, informative books I own.
If you are interested in your health, relationship with food and your mind, looking to improve your life in general this is a great book for you.
It is not one of "quick-fix" book. there is so much information in this book that I always find myself going back to it as a reference. Featured here are guidelines on nutrition basics including "green foods"; clear discussions on the Chinese healing arts; tips on making appropriate dietary transitions; sections on weight loss, women’s health, food combining, fasting, pregnancy, children, aging, and physical and emotional disorders; and detailed "regeneration diets" designed for cancer, AIDS, and other ailments. some recipes are great too.

some good statement

I just got this book out from the library.
there are some great statements that made me think deeply about how I see myself. How many people could confidently say this to themselves. "I love you. I really really love you. I enjoy living my life with you. My love for you is constant. All the love in our lives begins with us."


UNIQUENESS
We are unique and different expressions of the one life. There has never been anyone like me before, and I rejoice in my uniqueness. I am neither too much nor too little, and I do not have to prove myself to anyone. I choose to cherish and love myself as the divine, magnificent expression of life that I am. Being me is an exhilarating adventure! I follow my inner star, and sparkle and shine in my own unique way. i love life, and I love me!

CHANGING MY THINKING
It is time for me to acknowledge that I create my own reality with my thoughts. If I want to change my reality then it is time for me to change my mind. I do this by choosing to think and speak in new and positive ways. I change my life when I change my thinking.

CHILDREN
I can teach but I cannot force.

RELATIONSHIP
Relationships are wonderful, and marriages can be wonderful, but they are all temporary because there comes a time when they end. The one personI am with forever is me. My relationship with myself is eternal, so Im choose to be my own best friend. I choose to love and accept myself and to talk to myself as I would to a beloved person in my life.

kind diet by alicia silversone

Like lots of celebs Alicia Silverstone has published a book. And I have to say this book is not bad.
She covers all the different reasons why she eats a plant based diet in an easy to understand form (health, animal and environment aspect) and I can feel how passionate she is about her organic vegan whole food diet.

Readers choose from three different entry points into The Kind Diet, from the first, "flirting," stage to the "ultimate superhero" stage. The flirt level encourages readers to slowly replace meats with plant-based foods and suggests they will see immediate results to spur them on to the next level. "Vegan" is the next tier, eliminating all animal products but allowing meat substitutes, grains, fruits and vegetables. The final, "superhero" stage is a diet built mostly on grains and sea vegetables.

aromatherapy

This is the book that inspired me to use more aromatherapy more in my life.
Like chocolate for woman



Now I have a collection of several essential oils.
Jasmine -exotic oil with a sensual aroma - helps you to move forward
Lime -zesty and refreshing aroma - helps you feel uplifted and light hearted
Lavender - universally loved oil- excellent for skin care, mental conditions and first aid for headaches, burns and stings.
Rose otto - queen of all flowers - nurturing the famine spirit
Tea tee - cleansing aroma - antiseptic. great for cleaning as well
Rosemary - brisk and refreshing aroma - great study aid
Frankincense - rich, strong and woody aroma with a hint of spice - like an armour. great for meditation
Bergamot - delicate citrus, floral aroma - great complement to any blend. keeps "butterflies" in your stomach
Geranium - green and floral aroma - helps restore equilibrium to body and soul.

The china study

This is an amazingly well-reserched and important book on the connection between nutrition and many diseases and illnesses. Dr campbell shows that People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease … People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease. The whole plant based diet even has an ability to reduce or reverse the risk of effects of these illnesses.
you ask why this information is not well known. He also explains why in the book. How lots of information we hear about is controlled by powerful government and lobbies and misguided by some scientists.

Dr Campbell is a well respected professional in the field. The study presented in this book is so compelling If you need legitimate scientific reasons to change the way you eat this is a must-read.

The ethics of what we eat

Today I'd like to mention about this vital read. The ethics of what we eat by Peter Singer and Jim Mason.
I have personally listened to Peter Singer talk at a sustainable festival one year and it is not an exaggeration to say that the day changed my lifestyle completely.
I have a deep respect for what he has done and continues to do for animals, environment and human rights.

This book is well researched and without being preachy it gives a very important message. Yes. what you decide to buy and eat does make a greater impact than you may imagine.

The issue "ethical eating" is raised following three families in America. One follows the Standard American Diet [SAD], which contains high levels of meat consumption and fast food. Their primary consideration is availability and cost. The second, although aware of more ethical option their purchase is influenced by the available time and convenience due to their busy lifestyle and family demand. The third, a "vegan" family has managed to shun all animal foods and seek out organically grown food whenever possible. Their greatest problem is acquiring foods that meet their standards and not being able to fit in to their "average" community.

It covers factory farming, labelling, seafood, local eating, fair trading, vegan and vegetarianism.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested to know more about where our food comes from and how we could help ethically.
Our food choice is a form of political action. why give money to those who are doing unethical things in the world?

omnivores dilemma by michael pollen 2

I have finished reading "omnivores dilemma".

No wonder it is one of the best selling books on the industrial food issues. The book is well written and contain lots of (scary) informations.

He mentions three options in the book.

1) look away

2)be a vegetarian/vegan

3)look and obtain yourself.

I can't look away and pretend that it is not happening. I don't think I can go and hunt my dinner. (though I do and will grow and gather) So my choice was quite obvious.

One of the very interesting topics that he talks about is a industrial organic businesses. Personally I always try to buy from small organic businesses. Though I have to admit without these industrial businesses the whole organic and sustainable industry would not have become as mainstream as it is today. Because if it is a choice between a conventional and organic/bio dynamic I will always choose latter option.

there will always be a tricky situation. conventional and local or organic and overseas? how about low quality organic products or high quality small conventional businesses?

Question I always ask myself is if I really need it. For example you want to make a lentil soup. You go to a shop and see there is a bag of organically grown lentil from china. do you really need that lentil? or can you replace that with australian organic chickpeas instead?

Do you need to have a banana that has traveled from Queensland or can you eat a local new-season crispy fuji apple? (I am in melbourne)

remember we have a choice...

Here is a picture of these beautiful fuji apples. it must be the best apple season this year

... sorry I couldn't help myself

omnivores dilemma by michael pollen 1

I have started reading omnivores dilemma by Michael Pollan

It is a must read if you'd like to know more about what you are eating. Pollan follows each of food chains- industrial, organic and alternative food. When you have a meal it is no longer a simple food for us anymore. The choice you make will have a tremendous impact on not just your health but the health of our environment, plant and animal species and our future generations.

The process that goes behind the high wall is as shocking and unnerving as I imagined and more.

The knowledge is power and the important thing is to act on the knowledge too.

books

I have just finished a book called Eating with the Seasons by Paula Bartimeus. It is not a macrobiotic book but there is a great amount of useful information in the book. she talks about the inportance of seasonal ingredients, cooking methods, yin and yang, warming and cooling foods etc.

Another book is 'How to see your health:the book of oriental diagnosis' by Michio Kushi. He has written over 5o books on macrobiotics and this is one of very fascinating ones. It is a diagnosis method that tells you various conditions by looking at someone's physical characters. I knew what you eat and environment you are in at present influence how you look and feel. But even before you are born (what your mother was eating when you are inside her tummy) could influence how you look and your tasting buds!? It was a very interesting read.