Vegan athletes solve the 'protein problem'

One of the most frequent questions I get asked as a vegan is where does my protein come from. This clip is proof that you can still be an active and athletic while vegan. Great news as I prepare for my second running event as a vegan-- my 10km.

Back On My Regiment

Going to the gym or doing any form of exercise for that matter, it is quite an everyday struggle. I need to renew my commitment daily. I am happy with my fitness level but I only wish for it to get better. Yesterday, I went shopping for the first time in months and I was so happy to find clothes that actually fit me properly instead of lamenting the ones at home that fit me tightly. On my quest for motivation this morning, I found this music video by stic.man of dead prez. Now here is some music that I can work out too and be motivate by (and groove to). Gettin' my workout on... My yoga on... My vegan on...

Music Issue of VegNews

I am loving the latest issue of VegNews magazine. It's called The Music Issue and it's so long overdue. In addition to punk and pop articles, there is a whole section on hiphop icons who have gone vegan. Artists like Erykah Badu, MC Lyte, Russell Simmons, and dead prez. By the way, stic.man of dead prez is the husband of Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy cookbook author/holistic health counsellor/master crochet-er Afiya Ibomu. Then there are a whole host of artists that I have never heard of. They even gave a shout out to Canadian hip hop artist k-os who I have met on a few occasions. Although he has stood me up twice for failing to honour his commitment to appear at events I organized, I will let it go on account that he is vegan. In fact, here is a video that he did talking about his veganism for PETA. Then there are folks I'd like to read more about like most of the members of the Roots and WuTang Seeing this kind of stuff connects my heart and my soul (and my ears) to the reason why I've become vegan in the first place. Well, I am technically a vegan who eats ovo-/lacto-desserts. I am not fully okay with that either. I think it is contradictory however this is something I am trying to work on. However I am prouder than ever to be veg. Pick up your copy of VegNews today.

Farm Sanctuary

Look at this pig's cute little face?




Remember when you were a child and you sang songs like "Old MacDonald" and "Baa Baa Black Sheep", imagining some idyllic pastoral scene? The cows nibbled hay, the pigs rolled around in their mudbath, and the chickens pecked at seeds in the dirt. Sigh! What a beautiful scene? But that ideal picture of Canadiana is reserved for history books. Sigh! Most farm animals are not raised in such natural settings. Instead, they are raised in an industrial complex where pigs lose their "pigmanship" (origin in Farm Sanctuary) and become products of protein and consumption. Chances are Old MacDonald does not own his farm any more and is on contract with a mega-billion dollar agricultural giant to grow thousands of products (read: animals) to industry specifications. He does not own his means of production and had to take hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans to transform his farm into a high-tech operation, loans that he cannot repay, and now he may also be depressed and contemplating suicide. "Old MacDonald's Farm", a family-owned business, simply does not exist any more (or at least becoming extremely rare).

Sometimes I must admit that I feel discouraged being a vegan. Walking from restaurant to restaurant, searching for vegan options, asking a million and one questions about food preparation, bringing my own vegan cheese to an Italian restaurant, going to specialty stores to buy vegan basic essentials, spending extra money on going plant-based ($7 for a microwave dinner, c'mon)... it can feel downright like a hostile environment. So when I read a book like Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food by Gene Baur, my commitment to veganism was renewed. Farm Sanctuary tells about more than thirty years of activism for animal rights, fighting against factory farming and slaughterhouses, rescues, and legislation reforms at all levels of government. Baur begins describing his roots growing up in California of German immigrant parents and his agrarian ancestry. He felt moved to animal activism as he began to examine compassion at all levels and pursued studies in animal sciences. In 1986, Gene, and his wife at the time, founded the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY to "to combat the abuses of factory farming and to encourage a new awareness and understanding about 'farm animals.' At Farm Sanctuary, these animals are our friends, not our food" (source Farm Sanctuary website). Backed with the support of its sponsors and a number of Hollywood celebrities to boot, Baur's efforts have resulted in two farms (a 175-acre shelter in upstate New York and a 300-acre shelter in Orland, California), rescue and adoption programs, and educational resources. What is also really awesome is that you can visit this place in real life which I plan to do (Funky Sexy Manifesto #38).

Unlike my parents who grew up in rural Jamaica, I was not brought up with animals around me (aside from a few pet fish). Until about four years ago, my fiance and I adopted two cats. According to me, "cats are people too". Until I lived with Marcus and Makeda, I was totally unaware of the diverse emotions, vocalizations, uniquenesses, longings, and personalities of cats. Animals are sentient (feeling) beings and somewhere along the line, I think many people, myself included, got disconnected from that fact.

Farm Sanctuary had a lot of details about animal rights laws, legislations, and court cases-- a little too much for my taste. I do not find this information interesting but I think without them the book would not be complete. The legal battles and activism have been a part of Farm Sanctuary from the very beginning.

What I appreciated the most were the animal stories in this book. I felt that Gene Baur creates the picture of an animal's soul. Like us humans, animals have an innate desire to live, avoid pain, and attain its basic needs with as little effort as possible. Through personal stories at the end of each chapter, Baur tells about the various animals rescued and brought to the Farm Sanctuary locations. Each animal has a unique journey back to health (reminds me of someone I know, ahem) and a special name. There is even a sheep named Persia, after one of my favourite vegan animal rights activists, film producer/actress/musician and former star of "Girlfriends", Persia White.


I think one of the reasons that these animal stories speak so much to me is because I am a Black person and I know that not too long ago, there were numerous corrupt institutional systems of power which deemed me and other people of colour as "products" for consumption and unfeeling in nature. When I read about slaughterhouses, factory farms, transportation of animals, forced breeding and confinement, crowding, mutilation, separations of offspring from families, lack of sanitation, drugging, denial of basic care, and other abuses to billions of animals each year, I think of the wrongful capture, enslavement, splitting of families, trans-Atlantic crossing of ships packed with kidnapped people, slavery, rapes, forced breeding and feeding, amputations, executions, unethical experimentations, unhealthy living conditions, unsafe practices, and countless other horrors that have happened to my ancestors and people of African origin. Blacks and other people of colour were also called animals, undeserving of basic dignities and treated in cruel and inhumane ways. Now, the wrongful treatment of people in society has come a long way and laws and regulations have been reformed to reflect this evolved consciousness and compassion for humankind. I think there needs to be a change in the way animals are thought about not as just mere products for human consumption but as sentient conscious beings. I have found that a number of other writers and researchers have found parallels between forms of oppression (e.g., racism, sexism) and the modern factory farming industry as well and I have begun reading one such work which I hope to review shortly.

In August 2011, I had the pleasure of meeting Gene Baur. Here is a link about that encounter. In the meantime, read Farm Sanctuary and be prepared to feel a compassion for animals that you may have never felt before. It will enhance your understanding of the unsustainable and negative impacts that the current practices are having on our environment and health and may cause you to want to do something about it.



Coming up next: Sistah Vegan: Black Female Vegans speak on Food, Identity, Health and Society by A. Breeze Harper (editor)

The Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy

The Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy: Your All-in-One Guide for Soulful Vegan Recipes, Grocery Shopping, Dining-Out, Nutrition and More! by Afya Ibomu


I first learned about Afya Ibomu in VegNews magazine. I believe she had published an article about vegan soulfood. Finding information about vegan cuisine in the Black/African diaspora is challenging so naturally I looked up Afya Ibomu. Instantly, I grew an affinity to this woman. First, like me, she is multi-dimensional and a "jill of all trades". She has a website and an online magazine called Nattral. She is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, a trained vegan chef (Natural Gourmet Institute in New Yorkl), a mother, and received a degree in nutrition from Georgia State University. On top of that, she is the wife of stic man of socially and politically conscious hip hop group dead prez, freelance writer, and crochet artist. Her crocheted pieces have been worn by the likes of fellow vegans and vocalists, Common and Erykah Badu.



Afya was also Erykah's nutritionist on the Worldwide Underground Tour.



Besides, having all of these attributes, Ms. Ibomu has a gummy smile just like me.
Afya's gummy smile


My gummy smile

Okay, okay. I've got more gums on her by at least two centimetres or more.

Periodontology (the study of gums) aside, The Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy is a refreshing addition to my collection. Initially, I wanted to purchase this book because I thought it was a vegan wellness guide. After reading the first section, I realized that this book was actually a cookbook too. Not only that, it came with this snappy DVD called Pimp My Tofu. (I don't know if I want anyone to actually pimp my tofu but it seems to be a catchy phrase.) And there is even a catchy jingle that stic man throws down. See the preview below.


I appreciate that in "punk rock" Kujichagulia (self-determination), Afya self-published this book with her publishing company Nattral Unlimited. Full of glossy black-and-white and colour pages, I am encouraged by a book like this which is very original and independent. (I have a few projects I wish to self-publish.) I also appreciate the breakdown on where a vegan can eat when going out to a restaurant and how to decipher nutritional information. It is evident that Afya was trying to reach an audience of the Black/African diaspora yet her book his in no way exclusive. Her writing is clear and worded like a conversation with your homegirl.

One thing I found a bit odd was that the recipes that were demonstrated in the video tend to be very rich and oily which seemed a bit contradictory. (She is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, you know.) For example, the buffalo tofu was fried in palm oil shortening. I know that palm oil has been consumed by African people for centuries however it is extremely high in saturated fat. (It contains 11.1 grams in just 1 tablespoon.) Traditionally, I understand that African peoples could handle that but today, I am concerned that Black/African people in the diaspora (especially in North America) have high rates of hypertension, heart disease, and obesity which are a lot higher than that in the Motherland.Yet, I do know that Soulfood traditionally is rich. So I plan to compromise by adapting the recipe with some healthier alternatives. I also wished to see a description or some background information about each recipe as I see in other cookbooks. I would have also liked to see more recipes for main dishes and less that contained tofu. Nevertheless, the recipes look sumptuous and I can't wait to give them a try. Can't wait to pimp my tofu!

Coming Up Next: Viva Vegan! by Terry Hope Romero

Sacred Woman

If Crazy Sexy Diet was written by Erykah Badu, Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit by Queen Afua would be it. Where Crazy Sexy Diet is written in magazine-style, Sacred Woman is a manual of how to self-heal the female body focussing on the womb. Why start with healing at the womb? Queen Afua believes that beginning with the womb helps to heal the world of its problems as well as the spiritual, physical, and emotional body of the woman. The book really gave me an insight into the spirituality of Erykah Badu who is one of my favourite singers/artists and an observer of the ancient Khemitic (Egyptian faith). (Listen to the Baduism Live album where she talks about the ankh, ancient Khemitic symbol for life.) She is also listed as a 'Sacred Beauty Contemporary' in Sacred Woman and has a quote praising the book on the first page. (Erykah Badu is also licensed as a Holistic Health Practitioner which follows the "professional footsteps" of Queen Afua and precedes those of Crazy Sexy Diet author Kris Carr.)




What do these 3 women have in common? Holistic health practitioners.


Like Crazy Sexy Diet, Sacred Woman focuses on the foods we eat (mostly raw vegan is recommended, although Queen Afua does not use this term), juicing, cleansing, colonics, meditation at an altar, and yoga. At first, I wondered if Kris Carr rewrote Sacred Woman as Crazy Sexy Diet because her tips were so similar to those of Queen Afua. Sacred Woman was quite dense and detailed and, at times, I felt a bit lost wondering what exactly was the bigger picture. This book is like a whole course on Africentric (more specifically Khemitic) spirituality, womb healing, nutrition, and alternative healing practices. Queen Afua uses an instructive, very prescriptive, and disciplined plan (she recommends rising at 4 to 6 am everyday to begin the healing program) that is a series of 9 Gateways of Initiation to be completed over several weeks for each one. One may interpret this book as trying to convert one to practice a particular religion, yet on page 133 Queen Afua depicts how women of nine faiths (Christianity, Yoruba, Nubian/Khamitic, Rastafari, Islam, Hari Krishna, Hebrew Israelite, Buddhism, and Aboriginal) may find a connection to this text. Sacred Woman is very specific with such things as the elements, oils, prayers, colour visualizations, and herbal tonics designed for each gateway. Other more general practices which apply to all the gateways include libations, prayers, fire breaths, and chants. I did not read the entire book but stopped at page 137 since Queen Afua devoted the next 225 pages of very detailed rituals, recipes, homeopathic, and herbal recommendations for each Gateway. Each Gateway has creative suggestions that I like too for literature, movement, music, and even hairstyles to celebrate the woman. I find many of her suggestions helpful but it is a lot to wrap my head around. This healing plan does have some proven effectiveness since it shrunk the uterine fibroids of A. Breeze Harper, the author of Sistah Vegan: Black Female Vegans Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society. Click here to listen to her speak about how Sacred Woman helped her. There is some "taken for granted"-ness in Sacred Woman that the reader fully understands Queen Afua's healing philosophy. It feels a lot like getting a textbook for a course that you know bits and pieces about without having an instructor to guide you through. Nevertheless, I am interested in reading more Queen Afua books like Heal Thyself which I thought Sacred Woman was when I first bought it in Harlem. Perhaps, a re-read or comparison of other works will help me to gain a better understanding.

Coming Up Next: Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food by Gene Baur and God, Faith, and Health: Exploring the Spirituality-Healing Connection by Jeff Levin, Ph.D.

The Last Heart Attack

The Last Heart Attack is a really informative documentary about the benefits of a vegan diet on heart attack prevention. I know its not about cancer prevention but the steps and suggestions are useful to prevent illness and do promote a healthy lifestyle. As indicated in Crazy Sexy Diet, The China Study, and other books, going vegan can help prevent cancer and a host of other conditions including diabetes and heart attack.

Crazy Sexy Diet

The title of this book should be "How to Make Going Vegan, Living Healthy, and Holistic Healing Hot and Sexy". Budweiser babe/model/actress turned author Kris Carr of Crazy Sexy Diet, does it again with an enlightened and detailed book about how to revolutionize and shake up your existence with green juice, meditation, alternative medicine, and righteous living. This book is Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman meets The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone with a few splashes of Cosmopolitan Magazine in the mix. It's too bad that this book is called Crazy Sexy Diet. Although, Carr selected a sensational title with sexy catch words ("crazy" "sexy" and "diet"), most folks may think this book is all about losing weight. That it is not. In this book, "diet" refers to the meaning of the word which is regimen, routine, habitual nourishment and, specifically, cleanse. (But no one would by a book called Crazy Sexy Cleanse. "Diet" is a sexy word for marketers.) If you "habitually nourished" yourself, using Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet, you'd be one righteous, glowing, and vibrant babe. Unlike her other books Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor and Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, Crazy Sexy Diet is not specifically designed for cancer patients, survivors, or supporters. Crazy Sexy Diet is for everyone!!!

Chock full of hypercolour "retro" graphics, bright photos, CSD (Crazy Sexy Diet) testimonials, and "brainfood" from such holistic experts as Kathy Freston (The Veganist) and Dr. Neal Barnard (Food for Life, Dr. Neil Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes), Crazy Sexy Diet is a fun light read. Carr does an amazing job of making raw veganism look doable, easy, and fun. (Instead of hours and hours of preparation.) Although, she states that she is not trying to convince everyone to become a herbivore, she provides many compelling reasons. Carr, who was diagnosed with an extremely rare uncurable sarcoma called epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), took life "by the balls" and her health into her own hands. She became an expert in her illness, certified at the Hippocrates Health Institute (HHI), and changed her life patterns (no more "flirting with coke" and drinking). As a result, although her cancer was diagnosed at Stage 4, it has not progressed and "it is frozen in time". Carr is an amazing person who shows you that living with cancer is not a death sentence. The Crazy Sexy Diet is the secret to her longevity and vibrancy, the theory behind her madness or should I say "crazy"ness. Testimonials from a number of her readers and workshop-/class-takers attest to the effectiveness of the CSD in relieving symptoms from cancer, diabetes, depression, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis, and other conditions.

I am inspired by the helpful hints and plan to try the Crazy Sexy Diet in two weeks (#3 on my Funky Sexy Manifesto list). This week is Wean Week in which I begin to drop my junkfood vegan ways. First, of all, I need to get back into juicing my veggies. (I totally dropped of the bandwagon on that one. It's certainly worth my time.) Second of all, I need to eat more salad, greens, and vegetables raw. (I am going to look for more ways to dress them up.) Third, I need to drink more water and phase out gluten for a while. (Aaahhh!) We'll see how the Wean Week goes and then I'm off to try the Crazy Sexy Diet. I must admit that I'm a little nervous with the other suggestions. The meditations, massages, and yoga I can handle but enemas and colon therapy? A little scary but if it worked for the Ancient Egyptians... well... we'll see... Raw foods (60/40, 80/20) are a little stretch for me with my cooked foods. Enzymes, probiotics, and dry-brushing, now that I know the value of these, I can implement them. I hope the CSD can give me an energy boost as I prepare to return to work. Carr states the CSD benefits to be:
- a super-sexy glow
- fewer colds
- quick healing of both cuts and colds
- terrific, regular, stink-free poops
- healthy organs
- clear skin and sinuses
- leaner abs and a tighter butt
- a revved-up sex drive
- better sleep
- sweet breath
- strong bones and pain-free joints
- lower cholesterol and blood pressure (without pills)
- balanced blood sugar
- consistent energy
- fewer blues, and more clarity
- less "dis-ease"

Sounds great, eh? (That was so Canadian, eh?) And it's drug-free so no drug company is profiting from the CSD (but maybe the alternative healing/natural wellness companies which make the products listed in this book do). Unlike those prescriptions medications advertised on television, you will not get a list of all those side-effects muttered at the end of the commercial that sound a lot worse than the disease/illness you were trying to retreat. However with the CSD, like all "detox" programs, there are some temporary side effects that happen but do not last due to all of the toxins leaving your system. (Doesn't that sound nice?)

I loved this book and will continue to refer to it in the future. Nothing that Kris Carr is saying is new here (except in her own unique voice). Crazy Sexy Diet connects with many of the books I read and reviewed like Anti-Cancer, Skinny Bitch, The China Study, The Kind Diet, The Veganist, and Foods That Fight Cancer. With creativity and gusto, Kris does add new information and re-packages the information with young and sexy appeal, showing she did her research, knows her shit, and gives credit when it is due. Check out Kris Carr here on video:


21-Day Cleanse

Coming Up Next: Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit by Queen Afua

Vex in the City: Part 4 One Love

>< >< >< >< >< Taste of the food These dishes always come out on top. The BBQ Tofu is outstanding. The spicy sauce that marinades the tofu pieces is slightly sweet and just perfect. Reminiscent of a Caribbean marinade. On the second visit, I had a very typical Jamaican dish of boiled green bananas, yam, and sweet potato with pumpkin and spicy callaloo. Very much like mom used to make. My third visit which is profiled here I had the whole wheat dhal puri roti with spicy Jamaican pumpkin filling. It's very mild but I turned up the heat with the complimentary spicy red sauce. Of course the corn soup is always amazing.
>< >< >< >< Look of the food Great presentation. I wish I had more photographs of the food.
>< >< >< Environmentally-Responsibility One Love uses reusable plates, utensils, and cups.
>< >< >< >< >< Health Savvy Ikeila, one of the owners, is very knowledgable about health and food. When I caught up with her on a slower afternoon, she was able to speak. I told Ikeila about my diagnosis and she highly recommended Chinese herbs and finding out from Jah what I am to learn from my cancer. I took her advice.
>< >< >< >< >< Hospitality/Warmth Very good. I think this is One Love's strong suit. They are pleasant, hospitable, and welcome you with a smile. When you are finished, they come to your table to clear your plates. They make you feel at home.
>< >< >< >< Décor/Vibe The music ranges from Lauryn Hill to roots reggae to soul. The first time they went they were even willing to take a special request from my friend. The decor inside is pretty simple but they have a beautiful wall mural outside.
>< >< >< >< Added Perks The health advice on my second visit was very useful. Also, I was allowed to take pictures.
>< >< >< >< Ethical and Community-Minded One Love has local newspapers, business cards, and flyers for upcoming events accessible to clients. During the summer months, they have a One Love corn and corn soup stand permanently set-up at the Harbourfront during its festivals.

Price
$10-$19 This covered the price of my large whole wheat dhal puri roti and Kiss Me juice.
Same when I bought my BBQ TOfu, juice, and cupcake. (Yes, they have cupcakes.)

None of my summers are complete without spending time enjoying the wonderful festivals at the Harbourfront Centre. For the last eleven years, I have attended several free concerts and events. It has been such a blessing to see some of the best live roots reggae acts perform as well like Ernest Ranglin, The Melodians, Queen Ifrika, Frankie Paul, and Lee Scratch Perry, all for free. I have also had a chance to see and sample the arts and foods from cultures around the world. One permanent fixture of this beautiful gathering of people is the infamous One Love Corn Soup and Corn-on-the-Cob. Enrobed in a perfect blend of spices and butter, this corn is nothing like you have ever had before. The soup is hot, spicy, and thick with chunks of carrot and corn-on-the-cob. So after many summers with long line-ups of famished patrons who were willing to wait up to an hour under the blazing sun to sample some these well-loved items, One Love Vegetarian Cafe has opened up a much-anticipated location on Bathurst street, north of Bloor. Formerly Joyce's, a Jamaican owned store which sold island produce and products for almost forty years, One Love now dominates the corner across from Bathurst subway station. I remember my mom telling me that when she first arrived to Canada in the seventies, this neighbourhood was where new Jamaican (and other island immigrants) could get a flavour of home. Today, you still see evidence of this with beauty salons, barber shops, and the occasional elder walking around. One Love is well-loved by its patrons. Everyone who comes in there seems to know exactly what they want. The environment is casual and I get that it is very much a takeout restaurant. However, I can never bare to leave once I purchase the food, so I am one of the patrons who sits and eats the food. The first dish I had was BBQ tofu with rice which was outstanding in flavour. Since I usually like to try something new, I sampled the Jamaican typical dish on my second visit and on my third, the spicy pumpkin roti. By far, my favourite is the BBQ Tofu and a friend of mine has eaten it pretty much any time she visits One Love (which is often). The word of One Love is getting around so it is no surprise that on my second visit, I saw Hollywood-celebrity Woody Harrelson there. I did go star crazy a bit. (You can read about that encounter at my post Living La Vega(n) Loca). It is also so nice to eat vegan food with an ethnic twist (familiar flavours of my Jamaican background). Although they do not make the corn at the restaurant, you can order their famous corn soup. The nice thing is you can try to make this dish at home since One Love has shared their recipe with the Food Network. I have made this recipe a few times and it has always gone over well. My kindergarten students and their parents, my friends, my fiance... they all love it. (See my corn soup here.) Come to One Love and try island cooking at its best!










Kiss Me! juice (combination of mango, strawberry, and lemonade)


Home-Brewed Ginger Beer


Whole Wheat Dhal Puri with Seasoned Jamaican Pumpkin filling








Ikeila Wright (One Love owner), Woody Harrelson (Hollywood actor/environmental activist), and I skinnin' teet' (smiling) at One Love in March.

Living La Vega(n) Loca

My before total thyroidectomy


My after is on the right

Some have questioned my desire to go vegan especially considering the "tribal war" my body has been through with the removal of my thyroid gland, 3 out of 4 of my parathyroid glands, and some lymph nodes. Now it's time for an ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY lesson: The thyroid is responsible for a myriad of functions including protein synthesis, energy, and metabolism. (It's shaped kind of like a butterfly hence the name of this blog.) The parathyroid are tiny rice-shaped glands which are responsible for the amount of calcium within the blood and bones. And now I am preparing for radiation therapy in the form of Radioactive Iodine (RAI) which I take in a pill or liquid form. That is next week. For the week following, I will be RADIOACTIVE and have to remain in isolation for the first 3 days and after that limited contact with people. Freaky. I know. Sorry science fiction lovers, I will not be glowing green. There is no cause for thyroid cancer but there are definite links to genetics and radiation exposure. (Think Chernobyl, Hiroshima, the recent Japanese earthquake.)



Anyway, when I got out of the hospital after my surgery, I spent time reading about diet and foods. In particular, I read "THE KIND DIET" by Alicia Silverstone which discussed the benefits of going vegan. Then I read "ANTI-CANCER: A New Way of Life" by David Servan-Schreiber. What I was discovering was that food (among other things like lifestyle and genetics) but especially nutrition can greatly impact your health. I have always eaten healthfully but I became more mindful of the actual benefits on a molecular level of certain foods. Another book on my TO-READ list is FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER: Preventing Cancer through Diet by Richard Beliveau and Denis Gingras. The long and the short of it is that food is medicine and I wanted to get the best medicine to fight off this cancer. I WANT TO KICK CANCER'S ASS AND MAKE SURE IT'S NOT COMING BACK. The amazing thing about our bodies is that we all have cancer cells but not all of us get cancers. In most people, the immune system kicks into high gear destroy those cancer cells. In other people (like me), the conditions become as such which permit the cancer cells to go. Many plants have properties which actually fight cancer by, for example, releasing anti-oxidants and creating more alkaline environments so malignant cells do not grow.

Food is something I can work with. I cook so much anyway and it feels amazing to find good things to put into my body. (That didn't come out right. Get your mind out of the gutter people.) Anyway, I decided to try out my veganism during Lent. Forty days. The first few days were tough. I was feeling weaker and "airy" and having headaches. I decided to give it a full week before thinking of quitting but not without doing some research. I went online and found THE VEGAN PYRAMID. http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-food-pyramid.asp

I follow this pyramid religiously and record my food intake daily to ensure I am getting enough. Once I began this on days 5 and 6 of my vegan journey, I felt so different. I felt more energy and I felt very full. I also felt positive and happy that I was doing something good for my body. I get lots of recipes from THE KIND DIET, CARIBBEAN VEGAN, and 1, 000 VEGAN RECIPES. (I promise to post photos of all the awesome dishes of made.)

Since reading THE KIND DIET and THE ANTI-CANCER, I have read other books about veganism such as SKINNY BITCH (loved the book but couldn't they have chosen a less misogynistic title?) and this amazing magazine called VegNews. I watched FAST FOOD NATION and now I am reading the book. As I learn more about factory farming, slaughterhouses, environmental impact, and the ethics, veganism is looking much more appealing. I have watched two documentaries: EARTHLINGS and THE FUTURE OF FOOD.

So far, I don't feel deprived but instead amazed at the plethora of wonderful foods and the combinations that I can eat. I even got to meet Woody Harrelson. Yup. Woody fuckin' Harrelson. (If you watched ZOMBIELAND, you'll understand that reference.) You'll also understand that I was totally like his character Tallahassee was when he met Bill Murray. I got his autograph, told him my life story, and had to snap a photo. Besides inspiring Alicia Silverstone to become vegan and being a Hollywood actor, Woody Harrelson is an environmental activist and so fuckin' cool. He was so not pretentious and very embracing. (Other cool people that I admire and love who are vegan include Persia White, Erykah Badu, John Salley, and Saul Williams as well as a 'hole 'eap a roots reggae artists.)


Saul Williams and Persia White


Erykah Badu (below right)























John Salley


Tarrus Riley








Woody Harrelson as Tallahassee in Zombieland


Ikeila Wright, Woody Harrelson, and me













Anyway, I'm feeling like this might be more of a permanent choice for me. The dishes can be a little time consuming and the food items a little tricky to find but for now, part of my healing therapy, is coming from the whole process of food and I'm loving it.