Every Friday, I will be posting Feast On This! It will consist of interesting, thought-provoking and socially relative issues and concerns as well as overall health news. I think that when you’ve made the decision to go vegan, it’s impossible to not care about certain things like, animal rights, the environment, and your health. For many people, their health was the motivating factor to go vegan (the American Cancer Society doesn’t promote a vegan diet for nothing)!

My hope in doing this, is that as you finish your work week, you’ll take a gander at these, prompting a discussion with your co-workers, date night companion and guests at the weekend get together.

I tend to do a lot of reading and research on veganism and health and so often, I come across many fascinating, debate-invoking and just plain upsetting issues that I want to share it with others and possibly get some dialogue going. It’s how we learn from one another and hopefully in the process, create a sense of self-awareness and the ability to see things from many angles.

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Folic Acid Overload?

Prevention Magazine (April 2010) did a fascinating (and alarming) article on synthetic folic acid-fortified foods. To help prevent birth defects in babies, the government required enriched grains, such as white flour and white rice, be fortified with folic acid. Over the last ten years of this, other products were added to their list: cereals, nutrition bars, beverages and pastas. Even though this tactic is said to have dropped the rate of birth defects, turns out, it may have risen our risk for cancer.

Last winter, the Journal of the American Medicine Association printed their increasing concerns that the over-abundance of this nutrient has done more harm than good. Health officials in Chile reported that since fortification in their country was introduced in 2000, rate of colon cancer among men and women doubled in their country. Other countries—the US and Canada included, have reported higher rates as well.

Check out the article on this growing issue and decide for yourself if the overdosing of folic acid is cause for concern. (And read food labels, particularly on cereals, breads, and pastas–you’ll find folic acid, usually the last ingredient. But…not in whole-grain products).

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Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (PFACA):

Finally, legislation to protect animals from cruelty—it’s certainly a start. A bill was introduced in March by CA reps, Diane Watson and Elton Gallegly for laws requiring that all animals products purchased by the US federal government will have to come from animals who were able to stand up, lie down, and extend their limbs.

The bill doesn’t pertain to all animals products in the US, just government funded programs such as the Armed Forces and National School Lunch Program. When you consider that more than a 100 million pounds of beef are purchased per year for the school lunch program alone (more than 96,000 schools) this could be huge! A step in the right direction for animals rights. Follow the progress and outcome of this bill.

Source: VegNews, April 2010

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Global Warming and Animal production

It seems there isn’t a hotter, more controversial topic these days than greenhouse gases, global warming and who’s to blame. Others are debating on whether or not it even exists!

There has been particular debate over how much meat and dairy production contributes to this ever-growing problem. And global warming isn’t all. Animal product product is blamed for land degradation, food contamination, and air and water pollution.

A 2006 UN report has it at 18%, while a 2009 study by WorldWatch has it as high as 51%!

No matter where you fall on this issue, check out UN’s study and the WorldWatch study.

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“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of live on

Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”

-Albert Einstein