Vegan transformed his body and GAINED three stone in muscle after giving up meat!

• Fritz Horstmann, 20, was struggling to get the bulky physique he wanted
• He adopted a vegan diet that helped him gain more than three stone in muscle
• Now he has revealed how others can benefit by switching to a plant-based diet

By Hana Carter For Mailonline

A fitness fanatic has revealed how he transformed his body by going vegan.

Fritz Hortsmann, 20, from Berlin, Germany, has always been confident in his body but was struggling to achieve the muscular physique he wanted.

But after switching to a plant-based diet, the gym-goer was able to gain three stone in muscle and completely change the way he looked. 

He is now sharing his story to help others who want to go vegan too. 

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Transformation: Fritz Horstmann, 20, from Berlin, Germany, gained muscle after going vegan

He said: 'I always get asked: "Don't you lack protein because you need meat to build muscle?"

'Most of them are surprised and people that know me or see me wouldn't associate me with being vegan, maybe it's because I'm tall, pretty big and have a good presence and people think vegans are limps.'

He said: 'I eat all kinds of plant foods ranging from quinoa to the occasional vegan faux meat and a lot more fruit and greens than before I went vegan.

'I know that I provide my body with the right nutrients, so it can thrive and I'm creating a much brighter future for me and for the environment.

'You know the feeling after eating greasy fries or a McDonalds Burger? I just don't want to feel that way after eating, my body basically glows from the inside with all the good, plant-based food.'

He explained that the basis of building muscle is the same for vegans and omnivors.

He added: 'My advice for people wanting to try veganism is to find knowledgeable people on the internet, read about all the benefits, inform yourself which supplements you need to use, go slow or cold turkey, totally depends on you.

'If you want to do it slowly, then cut out eggs and dairy first, meat at the end. You can either do vegan days, three to four days a week working your way up or replacing dinner everyday with a vegan option.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4947930/Vegan-fitness-fanatic-transformed-body-gained.html#ixzz4uiKKDHAX
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Blueberry Bliss Bars (No Baking and Only 4 Ingredients!)

I don’t know if you noticed, but I love recipes that use only a few ingredients.  These Blueberry Bliss Bars are just that.  All you need is 4 simple ingredients to make these blueberry bliss bars!  This no bake recipe is perfect for summer.  I know I don’t want to spend time in my kitchen with the oven on.  It’s hot down here in Dallas!

These blueberry bliss bars are vegan, gluten free and paleo.  This was my first time using coconut cream and I have to say that it was pretty much exactly like coconut butter.  The only difference I noticed, was that coconut cream seemed to soften faster out of the fridge.  Another great thing you could do with these no bake bars is drizzle a little of my 3 ingredient chocolate over the top.  Yum!  If you do that, then you will need to keep the bars in the freezer.

Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutesTotal
Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 18 small squares

Ingredients

• 2 cups creamed coconut (you can probably also use coconut butter)
• 2 cups fresh organic blueberries (frozen, thawed might work too)
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp ground vanilla beans

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor until the mixture is smooth.
• Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, leaving enough room for some paper to stick out the sides.
• Dump the mixture into the pan and spread it out evenly. The mixture is very thick and you may need to wet a spatula to help spread it evenly.
• Once the mixture is in the pan. Gently press down using the extra sides of parchment paper.
• Stick the pan in the fridge to firm up. This should only take about 15-20 minutes.
• Once the mixture is firm, lift the whole thing out by the edges of parchment paper.
• I used a pizza cutter to cut mine into squares.

Please store these bars in the fridge. I keep mine in an airtight container with a piece of parchment between each bar. They should last at least a week in the fridge and you can also freeze them for longer storage. Enjoy!

http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/13381-blueberry-bliss-bars.html

Indian City Becomes First Vegetarian City in the World

Indian City Becomes First Vegetarian City in the World



By Sarah Von Alt

Worldcrunch reports a historic change in Palitana, an Indian city, which has become the first all-vegetarian city in the world.

Behind this revolutionary change are the Jain monks who went on a hunger strike to pressure the state of Gujarat to outlaw animal slaughter in their city. The hunger strike was successful and the Gujarat government imposed a ban on animal slaughter and outlawed the sale of meat and eggs.

About 5 million people in India practice Jainism and agree with the ban.

Virat Sagar Maharaj, a Jain monk, says, "Everyone in this world - whether animal or human being or a very small creature - has all been given the right to live by God."

As individuals, the best thing you can do to protect animals is to adopt a kind vegan lifestyle. For more information and tips for transitioning to a vegan diet, check out ChooseVeg.com.

 http://www.mfablog.org/indian-city-becomes-first-vegetarian-city

10 Fun Ways To Eat Chia Seeds!

BY DANA JAMES

 Chia seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients. They're loaded with protein, Omega 3s, and fiber. Plus they're packed with calcium, magnesium and manganese. They are also gluten-free!

Here are 10 fun ways to eat chia seeds:

1. Chia pudding with kiwi fruit and pomegranate seeds

• Place 3 tablespoons of chia seed in a mason jar and pour over 12 ounces of almond milk.
• Shake the jar until the chia seeds are fully immersed in the liquid. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Once seeds have swelled to a tapioca consistency, stir in 1 tsp of coconut sugar.
• Pour into a serving bowl and top with chopped kiwi fruit and pomegranate seeds.

2. Raspberry-coconut chia pops

• Place 3 tablespoons of chia seed in a mason jar and pour over 12 ounces of coconut milk (from a can).
• Shake the jar until the chia seeds are fully immersed in the liquid. Add 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar and 3/4 cup of raspberries. Stir well.
• Let chia pudding set for 2 hours then pour into ice-pop molds and freeze overnight.

3. Chocolate-chia mousse

• Pour 1 can of coconut cream into a blender, add 1/4 cup of chia seeds, 1/4 cup of maple syrup and 1/2 cup of cacao powder.
• Let it sit it blender for 10 minutes to allow chia seed to swell to 10 times their size.
• Once it has formed a tapioca consistency, puree it for 30 seconds or until smooth.
• Pour into serving cups and let it set for 4 hours.
• Top with fresh cherries.

4. Raspberry lemonade chia drink

Add the following to a pitcher:

• 2 cups of coconut water
• Juice 1/2 lemon
• 3/4 cup of blended raspberries
• 2 teaspoons of coconut sugar
• 3 tablespoons of chia seed

Let it sit for 30 minutes until it has formed a gel-like consistency. Enjoy the drink!

5. Raw cherry and chia bars

In a food processor, add the following:

• 1 cup of raw pecans
• 1/2 cup of dried cherries
• 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• 1/3 cup of almond butter
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1/4 cup of shredded coconut

Grind until a paste is formed, about 2 minutes. Add mixture to a baking try and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Slice into bars and serve.

6. Seeded granola with dried apricots

In a food processor, add the following:

• 1/2 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup of raw sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds

Pulse until seeds are in a chunky texture. Then add the following ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of shredded coconut
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup and salt.

Pulse for another 20 seconds. Spread mixture out on to a baking dish.

Add to pre-heated oven at 300F for about 20 minutes, stirring half-way through to avoid burning. You could also use a dehydrator set to 118F for 4 to 5 hours. Allow the toasted granola to cool completely, then stir in the chopped dried apricots and store in an airtight container. Serve with almond milk.

7. Lemon and mango chia parfait

• Place 3 tablespoons of ground white chia seed in a mason jar and pour over a can of coconut milk.
• Add a pinch of vanilla bean, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup.
• Let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight until thick.
• Pour into serving glasses then top with freshly sliced mango.

8. Avocado on toast with chia seed.

Top gluten-free toast with avocado dusted in chia seeds, lemon zest, chili flakes and sea salt.

9. Cacao, chia cherry ice-cream

Add the following to a blender:

• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1.5 cans of coconut cream
• 2 tablespoons of cacao powder
• 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ounce melted unsweetened chocolate
• 4 pitted dates

Let it sit for 15 minutes then blend for 60 seconds or until smooth. The mixture should be thick and creamy. Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturers instructions. Freeze until firm enough to scoop.

10. Matcha chia smoothie

• Blend 12 ounces of almond milk with 1 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder, 2 pitted dates, 2 cardamon pods and a pinch of vanilla bean for 30 seconds.
• Pour into a large mason jar.
• Add 1 tablespoon of chia seed and shake it well.
• Let it sit for at least 15 minutes until chia seeds starts to swell. Serve over ice.
• http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15072/10-fun-ways-to-eat-chia-seeds.html

70-Year-Old Looks 30, Reveals Fountain of Youth

27 years ago, Annette Larkins decided to become a raw vegan. She was already enjoying a vegetarian diet at the time, but decided to take it a step further. Her main motive was to improve and maintain her health. What she got in return surpassed her expectations and made her a star of the raw vegan community. Watch the video below to hear her full story:

Breast Cancer Survivor Says Raw Food Diet Helped Her Heal

Janette Murray-Wakelin is a breast cancer survivor who credits a raw food diet, meditation, physical activity, and following her intuition for her ability heal. In the early 2000s, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and told that she had just six months to live, without any guarantees. However, within those same six months, she was given a clean bill of health and also went on to participate in hundreds of marathons in only one year.(1,2) That’s right, in just one year.


“I was already compromised, so why would I compromise myself further so I’d get another six months of being sick?”(1) Rather than embrace what she calls a “very fear-driven” mindset that many doctors create in such a situation, she shunned their chemo and radiation recommendations in favor of alternative methods that she felt were significantly wiser and healthier choices. “Most people go with what their doctor says because they don’t realize that they can take responsibility and control themselves,” Murray-Wakelin says


The Decision to Walk Away from Traditional Cancer Treatments

So, without hesitation, she walked away from traditional cancer treatments and started asking herself what she could put in her body to make a difference. What made the most sense to her was to enjoy a diet filled with high-nutrient, living foods.(1)

Australia resident Murray-Wakelin, who was a vegetarian at the time of her diagnosis — something she says worked in her favor, making her better poised to fight her breast cancer and respond to juicing — had always been interested in fitness and health. However, she believes that accidental exposure to high-chemical substances that got on her skin and being in an area where she was exposed to toxic levels of pollution led to her diagnosis.(1)

Upon receiving news of her breast cancer, she immediately immersed herself in research and read up on others who chose to forego traditional cancer treatments. Referring to many books and studies that have a slew of side effects and questionable results listed, she notes that “…the smaller the print got, the more it became obvious that this was not the thing to do.”(1) Instead, she turned to the book The Breuss Cancer Cure by Rudolph Breuss, doing a 42-day juice fast based on its writings.


For her particular situation, the fast included several healthy foods from the Brassicaceae family such as beet root, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.(1) After 42 days, she added other foods such as carrots and green apple to her juices.

Wheat grass was also a must, helping to rid harmful cells. “Cancer cannot survive in an oxygenated environment, therefore the more oxygen I could pump into the body through exercise, conscious breathing and drinking wheat grass, the better,” she says.(2) She says that the idea was to starve her cancer while at the same time, provide the body with nothing but essential nutrients to keep it going strong.(1)

Why Staying Physically Active Keeps Cancer at Bay

As for fitness, she explains that doctors told her to take it easy and to stop running. “So, the first thing I did,” she says with a laugh, “was increase my distance.”(1) Once again, she stresses the importance of how cancer cells can not thrive in an oxygenated environment, which is why she felt exercising more and not less, was essential.

Just how active has she been?

In 2013, her and her husband ran 365 marathons for 365 consecutive days throughout the year. On January 1, 2014, they ran one more which set a new world record for the most consecutive marathons.(3) By the way, they’re both in their sixties! They say their 100% raw vegan plant-based diet, awareness of sustainability, and faith in human kindness and healing naturally keeps them motivated.(3) Barefoot shoes, they add, help too.

She describes having tons of energy and feeling “fantastic.”(2)

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that consuming 100% raw food made a huge difference to my recovery time and to my overall healing,” she says.(2) “My diagnosis of cancer and resulting journey to optimum health has been an experience I am truly grateful for. I know for certain that I will continue on the raw path, as I continue to experience more health benefits and an ever-increasing enlightened consciousness. Every day is exciting when you are raw!”
http://worldtruth.tv/breast-cancer-survivor-says-raw-food-diet-helped-her-heal/

Slaying the Protein Myth

BY RICH ROLL

I am plant-based. Essentially, this means I don’t eat anything with a face or a mother. Animals find this agreeable. I’m also an ultra-endurance athlete. Essentially, this means I don’t go all that fast, but I can go all day. My wife finds this agreeable.

Conventional wisdom is that “vegan” and “athlete” simply don’t get along — let’s call it irreconcilable differences. I’m here to say that is utter nonsense.

“But where do you get your protein?”

Not a day goes by that I am not asked this question. If I had a dollar for every time this came up, everyone in my family would be driving a Tesla.

Most vegans bristle at the question. Armed for battle, they assume a defensive position and hunker down for the inevitable, age-old omnivore versus herbivore fight that always ensues. Because belief systems around food are entrenched — they’re right up there with religion and politics — emotions run high. Before you can blink, arrows are flying in both directions. Conversation becomes debate. And debate all too often devolves into mudslinging … an endless, hopelessly unproductive merry-go-round that leaves each side further entrenched in their preferred dogma and never leads anywhere constructive.

I hate that — it’s why a large portion of the general public finds vegans so unpalatable. Instead, I welcome the question. If someone is asking, I presume a genuine interest — simply an opportunity for a productive dialog. So let’s try to have that dialog. The productive kind. My perspective on the elephant in the room … nothing more, nothing less.

We live in a society in which we have been willfully misled to believe that meat and dairy products are the sole source of dietary protein worthy of merit. Without copious amounts of animal protein, it’s impossible to be healthy, let alone perform as an athlete. The message is everywhere, from a recent (and wildly successful I might add) high-profile dairy lobby ad campaign pushing chocolate milk as the ultimate athletic recovery beverage (diabolically genius), to compelling food labels, to a dizzying array of fitness expert testimonials. Protein, protein, protein — generally reinforced with the adage that more is better.

Whether you are a professional athlete or a couch potato, this hardened notion is so deeply ingrained into our collective belief system that to challenge its propriety is nothing short of heresy. But through direct experience, I have come to believe that this pervasive notion is at best misleading, if not altogether utterly false … fueled by a well-funded campaign of disinformation perpetuated by powerful and well-funded Big Food, Big Ag, and industrial animal agriculture interests that have spent countless marketing dollars to convince society that we absolutely need these products in order to continue breathing air in and out of our lungs.

The animal protein push is not only based on lies, it’s killing us, luring us to feast on a rotunda of factory-farmed, hormone- and pesticide-laden, low-fiber foods extremely high in saturated fat. Eating this way, I remain convinced (despite the current populist fervor over high-fat, low-carb diets), is indeed a contributing factor to our epidemic of heart disease (the world’s #1 killer) and many other lifestyle-induced infirmities that have rendered our prosperous nation one of the sickest societies on Earth.

Indeed, protein is an essential nutrient, absolutely critical not just in building and repairing muscle tissue, but in the maintenance of a wide array of important bodily functions. But does it matter if our protein comes from plants rather than animals? And how much do we actually need?

Proteins consist of twenty different amino acids, eleven of which can be synthesized naturally by our bodies. The remaining nine — what we call essential amino acids  —  must be ingested from the foods we eat. So technically, our bodies require certain amino acids, not protein per se. But these nine essential amino acids are hardly the exclusive domain of the animal kingdom. In fact, they’re originally synthesized by plants and are found in meat and dairy products only because these animals have eaten plants.

Despite the “butter is back” hysteria that recently graced the cover of TIME magazine, the best medical science establishes beyond reproach that both casein and whey contribute materially to degenerative disease. A family of proteins found in milk, casein has been linked to the onset of a variety of diseases, including cancer. And whey is nothing more than a highly processed, low-grade discard of cheese production — another diabolical stroke of genius courtesy of the dairy industry that created a zillion-dollar business out of stuff previously tossed in the garbage.

On a personal anecdotal level, adopting a plant-based lifestyle eight years ago repaired my health wholesale and revitalized my middle-aged self to reengage fitness in a new way. As hard as it may be for some to believe, the truth is that my athletic accomplishments were achieved not in spite of my dietary shift but rather as direct result of adopting this new way of eating and living.

I’m not alone in this belief:

• Just ask Oakland Raiders defensive tackle David Carter.
• Watch this video of strongman Patrik Baboumian breaking a world record for most weight carried by a human being when he hauled over 1200 pounds — roughly the weight of a Smart Car — 10 meters across a stage in Toronto last year.
• Witness two-time World Champion Freerunner and parkour artist Timothy Shieff hopscotching off rooftops like a video game character.
• And be amazed by this video of plant-based strength athlete freak-of-nature Frank Medrano doing things with his body you didn’t think possible.
• Then there are MMA/UFC fighters like Mac Danzig, Jake Shields, and James Wilks.
• And multisport athletes like Brendan Brazier, Rip Esselstyn, and Ben Bostrom — a world-renowned motorcycle, mountain bike, and road bike athlete & victorious member of this year’s Race Across America 4-man relay team.
• Also professional triathlete & Ultraman World Champion Hillary Biscay who just raced her 66th Ironman.
• Check out ultramarathoners extraordinaire like Scott Jurek, his fruitarian compadre Michael Arnstein, and my old friend Jason Lester, with whom I completed 5 Ironman distance triathlons on 5 Hawaiian islands in under a week. Jason has since criss-crossed the USA on two feet and is currently prepping for a 100-day run across China.
• Then of course there is Timothy Bradley, Jr., who took down Manny Pacquiao last year (well kind of, but you get my drift).

The point is this: each of these athletes, and countless others, will all tell you the same thing: rather than steak, milk, eggs, and whey supplements, opt instead to eat lower on the food chain and source your protein needs from healthy plant-based sources like black, kidney, pinto, and other beans, almonds, lentils, hemp seeds, spirulina, and quinoa. Even eating less-concentrated sources of protein like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and bananas will get you exactly where you need to be.

If you ate nothing but a variety of fresh fruit, you still would never suffer a deficiency of protein (or even any particular amino acid). Short of starving yourself, it’s almost impossible. Despite the incredibly heavy tax I impose on my body, training at times upwards of 25 hours per week for ultra-endurance events, this type of regimen has fueled me for years, without any issues with respect to building lean muscle mass. In reality, I believe that eating plant-based has significantly enhanced my ability to expedite physiological recovery between workouts — the holy grail of athletic performance enhancement. In fact, I can honestly say that at age 47 I am fitter than I have ever been, even when I was a world-class-level competition swimmer at Stanford in the late 1980s.

And despite what you might have been told, I submit that more protein isn’t better. Satisfy your requirement and leave it at that. With respect to athletes, to my knowledge no scientific study has ever shown that consumption of protein beyond the RDA-advised minimum (10 percent of daily calories) stimulates additional muscle growth or expedites physiological repair induced by exercise stress. And yet most people — the overwhelming majority of whom are predominantly sedentary — generally consume upwards of three times the amount of daily protein required to thrive.

The protein craze isn’t just an unwarranted, over-hyped red herring, it’s harmful. Not only is there evidence that excess protein intake is often stored in fat cells, it contributes to the onset of a variety of diseases, such as osteoporosis, cancer, impaired kidney function, and heart disease.

Still not convinced? Consider this: some of the fiercest animals in the world — the elephant, rhino, hippo and gorilla — are Plant powered herbivores. And nobody asks them where they get their protein. So ditch that steak and join me for a bowl of quinoa and lentils.

This 78-Year-Old Vegan Bodybuilder Might Make You Reconsider Your Diet

Jim Morris was a competitive bodybuilder for 30 years, and became vegan within the past twelve. At 50 he was a vegetarian, and at 65 he was a vegan.

Jim talks about health problems he endured when he ate meat and dairy products. He explains that if he continued to eat unhealthy animal based products he wouldn't be alive today. “The protein in animal products is filled with fats and chemicals and all sorts of stuff that's harmful to you. When I was competing and stuffing down all that stuff, I had lots of digestive problems, I was constipated and bloated, just miserable all the time. I don't concern myself with protein anymore, because there is enough in what I eat. I am not only healthy, but I feel better about myself and how I relate to other creatures in the world.” –Jim If you are curious about vegetarian and vegan diets, hopefully this post will inspire you to look into it further. Studies show that vegetarians and vegans live, on average, 6 to 10 years longer than meat-eaters and they're less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses. It's always important to do your research if you are considering a major dietary change, don't just take my word for it, look, search, and you will see for yourself.
http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2014/01/this-78-year-old-vegan-bodybuilder-make-you-reconsider-your-diet.html

Relax, it's no longer weird to be a vegan

Harriet Walker


Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi held a vegan wedding. Photograph: Getty Images

Vegan used to be one of those insults thrown around with the same mainstream anti-beard incomprehension as "socks and sandals" or "Guardian reader". Unfortunately, since the latter two became cool – and beards did too – the former's prospects are also looking up. So it's time to revise our ideas of who's a weirdo and who isn't.

You can't swing a nut roast right now without hitting something to do with veganism – whether it's the arrival from Germany of the first all-vegan supermarket chain, Veganz, or the 22-day no meat, no dairy diet that Beyoncé and Jay-Z have just celebrated the end of (well you would, wouldn't you?).

Then there's the vegan couple in their 60s who have just completed a year of running marathons every day, eating only bananas; the trendy vegan blogger and chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz, who has a new book out and 30,000 Twitter followers, not to mention Tal Ronnen, the guru behind Oprah's vegan cleanse, Ellen DeGeneres' vegan wedding, and the first vegan dinner at the US Senate.

And that's just the famous ones. There was a recent vegan festival where I live – north London, sure, but quite a grotty part of it – and it was well attended despite the lashing rain. How those participants in socks and sandals stayed dry, I'll never know.

So has veganism stopped being a joke? In the old days, it was mentioned in the same breath as "fruitarianism", which shares a common root of ugly footwear but was what the really joyless people did in the 70s, and what landed Ashton Kutcher in hospital this time last year. (No, I didn't have him down as a fruitarian either.)

But it's easy enough to see, in these days of horse lasagne and milk more full of hormones than a teenager, why people are restricting their diets to things they can trust. Veganism tallies with the zeitgeist of opting out of consumer society, of eating locally, of growing a beard and becoming very earnest. And the middle classes refine their diets with every generation – in the meat-happy post-CJD late 90s, even vegetarianism was presented as an alternative lifestyle choice. Once upon a time, buying organic practically made you Edward Carpenter.

I have a friend who went non-dairy five years ago. At the time it seemed like she did it just to be rude to the waiters in mid-priced Italian restaurants. But in the past year, three more friends have followed suit, one for allergies, one for depression – and one just because she feels better without dairy products.

That's what it's about, after all. While the near-religious vegan zealot paradigm might endure at the front of our brains, there's a cheese-ravaged lower cortex that knows that eating great quantities of some things simply isn't very good for you.

No doubt the rise in veganism has plenty to do with eating fashionably – there are any number of raw food, sugar water, saline drip extreme diets shipped over from LA at this time of year to lure the would-be January convert. There's every chance many people will try out veganism for three days because they ate too many mince pies last week. And there's the ample tranche for whom faddy eating is a handy disguise for whatever issues they might have with food itself.

But for many, it presents a viable way to navigate health concerns and the ethics of what the hell we're even eating anymore. And there's an irony more delicious than the spiciest beanfeast: where once vegans were accorded a contempt reserved for the worst sort of loser, they are now likely to be some of the most popular people on Instagram, showing off plates of butternut squash the way Rihanna does her bottom, their socks and sandals just out of shot.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/04/vegan-fad-meat-dairy-health-option

This 4 Ingredient Juice Will Relax Every Muscle In Your Entire Body




Anyone who's gone on a long run or hike knows what muscle cramps feel like. They're caused due to lack of necessary hydration. If you find yourself cramping up before, during, or after your work out, try making this four-ingredient juice to relax them away!

You should try your best to avoid refined foods such as white sugar and white flour to ensure adequate intake of water.

Ingredients:
2 carrots
1 celery stem
½  of  cucumber
1 cup of broccoli
Place in juicer, mix well, and enjoy!
http://higherperspective.com/2014/09/4-ingredient-juice.html#JTWScZIki7PLpvkE.99

How Veganism Changed These 58 People

• Angel Flinn

Although I’m not much of a Facebook person, I must admit that there are a few things I love about it. One of those is the way it connects activists with each other, so that we can feel a sense of community and share in each other’s successes and struggles.

A while ago, Gentle World volunteer Butterflies Katz did an experiment on her Facebook page where she simply asked her friends to complete the following statement: “Since I became vegan, I’ve noticed…”

What a response she received! The following excerpts are some of the highlights, and they indicate (contrary to popular opinion) how overwhelmingly positive the transition to veganism can be for the individual. Far from feelings of deprivation or sacrifice!

 

I’ve noticed that going vegan is easy – take it from a ‘newbie’. And I didn’t think it would be easy! I have not once been sorry. I have not missed anything I used to eat. I can’t even begin to tell you the wondrous ways my life and views have changed. ~ Bridget

I’ve noticed how much happier I am. ~ Batty

I’ve noticed life become grander in so many ways. I feel healthier than ever, my skin is clearer and younger, I think clearer. I love feeling love for all of life. ~ Claire

I’ve noticed how good it feels to have my actions in line with my values. ~ Diane

I’ve noticed that I have more passion for life. I have a purpose. I am a vegan superhero. ~ John

I’ve noticed the beauty, complexity, and inherent value of all sentient beings. ~ Gary

I have noticed that I feel so much more inner peace, and a sense of connection with other beings. It is quite liberating. ~ Peter

I have noticed how wonderfully connected I feel to Mother Earth and all her creatures. My soul is at peace. ~ Kerry

I’ve noticed I feel lighter. ~ June

I’ve noticed my energy levels went through the roof. ~ Coileán

I have noticed I am sexier. ~ Justina

I’ve noticed I’ve become a better person. ~ Madhur

I’ve noticed how much I didn’t see or know before! ~ Rose

I’ve noticed how much happier I am, the weight has been lifted from my shoulders – I feel clarity and I’m able to show people this so they too see the right path. ~ Alta

I’ve noticed I’ve found Peace within myself. ~ Helen

I’ve noticed how animal exploitation is virtually a part of every aspect of society. ~ Jody

I’ve noticed cruelty is everywhere and most people are oblivious to it. ~ Shelley

I’ve noticed how every other commercial on TV has some kind of animal product in it. ~ Diane

I’ve noticed how good fruits and vegetables taste. ~ Elizabeth

I’ve noticed how differently I perceive the world. ~ Urosh

I’ve noticed that vegans come in all sizes, shapes, colors, races, religions, political parties. ~ Michael

I’ve noticed that I still have a LOT to learn. ~ Barbara

I’ve noticed I feel so much more peaceful and connected to everyone, and that brought me a new found sense of spirituality. ~ Don

I’ve noticed how much goodness I can help bring into this world. ~ Alan

I’ve noticed my conscience is clearer. ~ Paul

I’ve noticed food tastes better!  ~ Molly

I notice ALL forms of oppression more easily. ~ Danny

I’ve noticed I feel better about myself and living up to my values. ~ Nan

I’ve noticed that I am also kinder to myself. ~ Luis

I’ve noticed that other animals can feel my veganism and I’ve formed very close bonds with other species of animals. ~  Butterflies

I’ve noticed that I actually feel like “me” more than I ever have before. Sometimes it’s lonely – But it’s also REAL – I can live with that. ~ Bea

I’ve noticed that I feel lighter, happier and more at peace inside. People say I look younger than ever. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. ~ Kathy

I’ve noticed that it improves mental health. ~ Tharan

I have noticed that I began to understand the meaning of speciesism. ~ Wendy

I have noticed how deeply rooted suffering, cruelty and injustice is and how it’s so completely normalized. ~ Sarah

I have noticed I sleep better! ~ Nerida

I have noticed that I’m happier! At the end of the day having compassion for animals has made me a better person and has enabled me to enjoy a richer life. ~ Andres

I have noticed I have more energy, less to no aches, clear skin and better mood. Now I notice all the time how much our society relies on animal exploitation, how dairy is everywhere, how apathetic people are to violence against animals. ~ Martina

I have noticed that I feel a true kinship with all life. ~ Donna

I have noticed that although the world seems a much weirder place now, I am much happier and I am extremely glad to have had the opportunity to encounter veganism. ~ Vera

I have noticed how deep in denial most of the world is about the production of dairy products. Dairy is still seen by most people as something good, nourishing – something to nourish and reward children with. I’ve also noticed how unaware most people are of what it actually means to be vegan, and that it’s widely seen as a mere diet. ~ Flavia

I have noticed that there are a lot of different vegan foods out there that I had never tried before. That we are all animals and all persons – and that forcing others to do our bidding is just plain and simply, wrong. And-that we can live without using nonhuman animals. ~ Michaela Österlund

Since I became vegan I’ve had an overwhelming sense that I finally have found my purpose in life. ~ Jeffrey

I’ve noticed a whole weight of guilt was lifted from me when I thought I had to eat animal products to survive. I have since found so many other options for what I eat and consume in other ways. ~ Maida

I have noticed that I feel so liberated in mind, body and spirit. I have also gained clarity of mind and am so healthy. I love knowing that the choices I make do not harm other sentient beings. ~ Melissa

I’ve noticed for the first time that I am living a clean life – clean physically, spiritually, emotionally and morally. ~ Christine

I have noticed that a layer of gloom was lifted from my mind and soul. I began to realize that 1. I don’t need animal protein to survive, 2. I can think more clearly and rational about things in general than before, 3. My allergies improved tremendously, 4. I continue to grow spiritually and easier now as to where I was before was like pulling the ball and chain. 5. I can eat a lot more now and stay at a healthy weight. ~ Clara

I’ve noticed so many things: Mental clarity, a heightened appreciation for life, a greater love for animals… even for humans, a need for more knowledge…and on and on and on. ~ Shelly

I notice I can relate to the world better. Veganism has allowed me to transcend my habitual thoughts and actions, obviously in regards to animals, but also humans and the natural world. It encourages me to be compassionate and it motivates free thinking. ~ Steven

I’ve noticed I feel better, no guilt, and better tasting food! ~ Sarah

I have noticed how easy it is to be vegan, how much better I feel, both physically and mentally. I have also noticed that there is an enormous variety of different foods that I would never have tried… In fact, I wonder why more people have not embraced this lifestyle. ~ Carlos

I’ve noticed that my chronic and often terrifying asthma disappeared completely, that I had loads more energy, that bodily symptoms I’d attributed to age disappeared, and that I felt so much happier, having a clear conscience to go with the joy of the ‘clean’ food I was now consuming. ~ Sue

I noticed I have better skin, a cleaner conscience, and I’ve been effortlessly losing weight. ~ Justin

I’ve noticed how something so simple as respect for all, can be made so complicated and demeaned by social conditioning. ~ Lorraine

I realize that I can make a real difference in alleviating the suffering of other animals. I am not powerless to help them, therefore I no longer feel ashamed of being a human being. Relationships with my animal kin have become free of guilt and confusion. I have found a meaningful moral baseline. The missing piece of the puzzle has fitted into its rightful place. ~ Katia

To say it in a simple way: my eyes have been opened, finally!  ~ Janne

I have noticed that it changes your life in every way for the better. ~ Wendy

I’ve noticed all of the above and a sense of FREEDOM. ~ Ann

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-veganism-changed-these-58-people.html?cid=email_na