The World Peace Diet - A Non-Hippie Review

Most hippie books are written by hippies, for hippies, and then later quoted by other hippies in support of their hippie agenda.  So I think it is important to say from the start that I am not a hippie and I didn't read The World Peace Diet with hippie eyes. I like beer, football and red meat; I even voted against the 2008 California ballot initiative that allowed chickens to get out of their cages and walk around for an hour a day. So it's safe to say that my take on this book is from an anti-vegetarian prospective.

Most people eat hamburgers and drink milk and try not to think about how the meat gets on their plate or how the milk gets in their glass. But this book forces you to confront a lot of the issues that the majority of people intentionally or unintentionally avoid.

Why do you eat meat? Is eating meat good for your health? What impact does eating meat have on the environment? Do the animals we consume suffer - and if so, how much?  All of these issues are addressed in the book.

These are difficult questions to examine. Most people probably know that they are not going to like the ultimate answers to these questions, so they avoid dealing with them.  I am no different, I guess, which is why the book sat on my shelf for over a year.  I knew that when I confronted these questions I was going to have a lot of thinking to do.  And I was right.

So why am I a meat eater?  Honestly, I never really thought about it very deeply. Do I eat meat simply because it tastes good? Do I eat meat because humans are designed to eat meat? Do I eat meat because by evolutionary luck humans have found ourselves on top of the food chain? Do I eat meat because I've made the choice that it is essential for good health?

Tuttle claims in his book that I have been socially programed to eat meat. And I think there is some validity to that argument. My parents exposed me to meat (I ate a lot of hot dogs as a kid). Their parents exposed them to meat, and their parents before them, and their parents before them.  That alone doesn't necessarily make eating meat wrong, it just helps explain why I - and maybe you - eat meat.

I must confess, the idea that we are socially programed to eat meat really fascinates me and it got me thinking about all the other things in life that people have been socially programed to do and think - religion is one thing that springs to mind. This probably isn't the intended message of the book - but it is the concept that personally struck the biggest chord with me. But I digress... Back to the book.

Tuttle makes some valid points on many other fronts, as well. He argues that it is morally wrong to consume animals, it is unhealthy to eat animals, and it is bad for the environment to eat animals, just to name a few. Several times he goes off the rails and gets a little too hippie on me. For example -- this isn't in the book but instead took place after the lecture I saw him give -- he offered to compose, for a small fee, a piece of music for me based on the connection he felt from my aura. Now, the dude can really play the piano - but no thanks.

I do have to confess, he makes some strong arguments to support his position that we should stop eating meat, fish and dairy, and that instead people should switch to plant based diet. Now, coming from a fervent anti-vegetarian this is hard to digest (pun intended).

For example, the book highlights the pain and suffering the animals we consume are forced to endure, which is 100 times harsher than I ever imagined.  I am not sure why, but the suffering of the average dairy cow is something I learned about in the book and it greatly troubles me.

Before I read the book, when I had a glass of milk, which I love to drink, I didn't give much thought to how that milk went from the cow to my refrigerator, and I definitely didn't give much thought to the quality of life of the cow that produced the milk. "Happy cows live in California,"like the TV commercial says. Right? Wrong!

If I considered cows at all, I had a vision of an old farmer getting up early in the morning, going out to the barn, milking his cow by hand, the milk going into an old bucket, and then somehow that milk got magically transported to me.  But that's not how it happens.

Deep down inside I probably knew that there aren't happy cows in California, or anywhere else for that matter.  I knew that there was no old farmer milking the cows by hand, but I just blocked it out of my mind like most people do, and I just enjoyed my glass of cold milk. The World Peace Diet forced me to honestly confront the process of how the milk I love gets to me, and the tremendous suffering endured by dairy cows in order for me to drink my milk.

I am not going to go in to detail about the animal suffering or environment impact.  You'll have to read the book for yourself - if you are ready.  But I truly think that everyone - especially meat eaters should read this book and educate yourself about the food you eat and the food you feed your kids. At the end of the day if you still choose to eat meat that's your choice - but at least it will be an educated choice.

So, now that I've read the book and a lot of these issues are at the front of my mind - what am I going to do about it?  Well, I am going to go vegan for 21 days, starting on May 28th. Right after I watch the Indy 500 and eat a fridge full of pork sausage.

I'll keep you posted on both my progress and struggles - I anticipate a lot of struggles. At this point, it's just an experiment and not a permanent life altering choice. It's possible that being a vegan is just too hard, but I'll give it a try - because deep down inside I know it's the right thing to do for many reasons - all illustrated in The World Peace Diet. But remember, even if I go vegan I am still not a hippie!

The Herbal Remedy Wife’s Thoughts on Veganism

First of all, what is a vegan diet? In a nutshell it’s a plant-based diet that includes no beef, no chicken, no pork, no seafood, no dairy, and definitely not these lovely chicks that were hatched from a carton of eggs using an incubator. 


Let me start by saying that I am not a vegan - at least not a pure vegan. I did attempt to be a hard core vegan for several months, but it is really challenging to swim against mainstream society - and it's even harder to find tasty vegan cookies. 


Now I would describe myself as more an aspiring vegan, or an every other Wednesday kind of vegan. 


During my exploration with veganism I've discovered that it is probably the best diet for your health, your conscious, and it is the best thing for our planet; knowing this makes me feel great - even if I'm only 97% vegan. 

Honestly, The Skeptical Husband and I had never considered why we eat an animal-based diet, and we never considered how it might affect our health and the health of the planet. Then we made the brilliant mistake of attending a lecture by Will Tuttle, author of The World Peace Diet, and we were forced to think about these things. 


Standing before us was a lean, articulate man who looked half his age talking about his journey to veganism. He spoke of how people are socially programmed to eat meat from birth. He talked about the health consequences of a meat-based diet (diabetes and heart disease to name a few).  He shared how thousands of gallons of water are used to raise one pound of meat and how animals are tortured and enslaved during their short lives in order to feed our meat hungry culture. He promised his book would lay out even more arguments against eating the standard American diet.

Following the lecture The Skeptical Husband surprisingly lined up to buy an autographed copy of the book. I looked at him and said, “You know what’s gonna happen if I read that,” and sure enough less than a week later I was a vegan. As the holidays drew near my resolve weakened and the Skeptical Husband was happy that I was willing to compromise and eat a pescatarian diet (a seafood consuming vegetarian). To be honest, showing up to family dinner to find that there was nothing for me to eat but lettuce leaves was starting to wear on me.

I think everyone should explore veganism and the ideas behind it at some point during their lifetime. And the sooner the better! There are a number of great books and movies to educate and motivate you and I’ll let them do the convincing. So if you’re ready, I highly recommend the following:

The World Peace Diet by Will M. Tuttle
         * The Skeptical Husband is reading this now and will post his review in a few days.

Forks Over Knives  Starring T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr

The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn

The China Study by Thomas M. Campbell II

The Kind Life website: http://www.thekindlife.com

PETA: http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/free-vegetarian-starter-kit.aspx

NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS RESULTS

Well, after three weeks of taking natural weight loss supplements I didn't drop any weight.  I can't say I am shocked by the results, because I ate the same food and I worked out the same amount of time, as well. 


You can swallow as much kidney bean extract as you want, but if you don't change your diet and your exercise routine, I don't think you are going to lose any weight. 


Maybe that was the problem - maybe I didn't slim down because I never believed the natural weight loss supplements would work. You see, there was no placebo effect.


Placebo effect?   


There was a recent of episode of the CBS news program 60 Minutes, which highlighted a Harvard study that claimed that antidepressants worked on people only (emphasis added) because the patients believed they would work, and not because of the ingredients contained within the drug.


Here is the link if you want to watch the 60 Minutes story:http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7399362n


If the theory behind the Harvard study is correct, maybe natural remedies work for some people simply because they believe they'll work. And perhaps the natural weight loss supplements didn't work for me because I didn't believe they would work. Who knows? 


I do know this - I am sure that the Herbal Remedy Wife has another challenge waiting for me. What could it be?

First of all let me say that I don’t think The Skeptical Husband used the prescribed diet product as directed. The label states that you need to take a capsule before every meal. I noticed the husband doing this about every fifth meal or so. So there was big time “user error” involved in this experiment. However, it’s no secret that good ole diet and exercise is truly the best way to shed some pounds. I think eating right and counting calories is a fantastic way to lose weight.

When it comes to optimal health, diet and lifestyle choices are hugely important. Many people have the attitude that a medicine or remedy will do all the hard work for them or don’t always see the connections of how their poor diet and lifestyle choices are contributing to their health problems. One small example: I see many people looking for a magic pill for heartburn and acid reflux. While there are some supplements that will provide temporary relief for this problem, a better solution would be to eat smaller meals, not eat late at night, and to consume foods that are less acid forming. The most acid forming substances often found in the typical American diet include meat, eggs, dairy, white flour, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, soft drinks, prescription drugs, and chemical sweeteners.

So is heartburn the only bad side effect of a highly acidic diet? You wish! An acid forming diet can decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and nutrients, decrease energy production in the cells, decrease the body’s ability to repair damaged cells, and can make the body more susceptible to fatigue and illness. So think about it, if you feel like crap there’s a good chance it may be because of crap you’re consuming. Does this mean one should cut out all acid forming foods? Not necessarily, just make sure that the majority of your diet is not made up of the worst offenders. Just some food for thought.

Speaking of food, the next challenge for the Skeptical Husband is to read The World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle. The book details why Tuttle became a vegan. Look for his review soon.

NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR WEIGHT LOSS

There certainly are a lot choices when it comes to herbal weight loss supplements. In fact, there are so many options to choose from it can be overwhelming.  You’ve got protein powders, fiber blends and green tea, just to name a few.

Protein powders replace some carbohydrates with protein, which gives your metabolism a boost and curbs cravings. A top selling plant-based protein powder at my store is Vega by Sequel.

If you’ve watched Dr. Oz recently, you may have seen him promote PGX, a fiber blend that has proven in studies to control appetite and keep blood sugar stable.

One of my personal favorites is green tea. That’s right, good old green tea. Almost every natural weight loss formula lists green tea as one of the ingredients.  Green tea contains epigallacatechin gallate (The compound known as EGCG), which helps the body burn fat. A study in Switzerland found drinking the equivalent of 2-3 cups of green tea daily caused the participants to burn 80 extra calories each day, without increasing their heart rates. Weight loss is just one of many of green tea’s benefits so if you consume caffeine, switching to green tea would be a fantastic choice for improving your health.

Another option is the homeopathic form of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which is known for causing rapid weight loss without hunger.

You may also consider natural weight loss formulas that include ingredients like African mango, tyrosine, l-gluamine, 5-HTP, and B vitamins.

So, what am I giving the Skeptical Husband?  Well, we’re going to see if LifeSeason’s Metabolism Weight Control supplement has any effect on him. It comes in capsule form, which he has to take with each meal. The ingredients in the supplement include:  kidney bean extract (a natural carbohydrate blocker), cocoa bean extract (an antioxidant), glucomannan (a soluble fiber that makes the body feel full), chromium (a nutrient that reduces sugar and carbohydrate cravings), and theobromine (a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant that has a diuretic effect). This formula will help manage his appetite and support his body’s ability to burn fat.

Just so we’ll know whether it’s truly working, The Skeptical Husband has been enjoying the same foods he loves (which sadly includes a few runs to Taco Bell) and he’ll continue his usual exercise routine. He’s agreed to do a weigh-in at the beginning and again at the end and will let us know if there has been any difference. We’ve got a three-week supply (retail price $35). He actually started taking the supplement two weeks ago, so he has almost finished and he'll have a full report soon!

The Skeptical Husband's 21-Day Meditation Review

As far as challenges from The Herbal Remedy Wife go, this one was a piece of cake. I didn’t get injected with anything. I didn’t have to eat anything nasty.  I didn’t have to drink any mysterious concoction.  For three weeks I just had to put on my headphones and listen to my iPad for a 15-minute mediation each day.

Most of the meditations followed the same basic format: a short introduction, a couple of minutes of talking and ten minutes of calming music. Each meditation had a different topic, a few even offered some thoughtful nuggets of information to ponder, and a couple went off the metaphysical rails a bit.

For instance, during one meditation I was told to think about a part of my body that had pain. That’s easy - I have plantar fasciitis and my heel friggin hurts like a gunshot wound. Then the meditation guide told me to breathe into that part of my body. What?  How in the hell am I suppose to breathe into my heel? That’s crazy talk!  And then there was the laughing meditation.  That’s right, 15 minutes of random people laughing, which was equal parts odd and annoying.

I didn’t really mind the more typical mediations, like the one where you had to repeat the same two-word mantra over and over for 15 minutes, but my throat got a bit parched after that one. I probably fell asleep during half of the mediations, an unexpected bonus, so I can’t say exactly what happened at the end. 

Overall, the meditations were very calming. Now, I’m not running off anytime soon to hug that Amma lady (Google her if you don’t know what I’m talking about), but on a stressful day if I had 15 minutes to spare I’d consider listening to a mediation to help me relax.  Luckily for me, they are all available for purchase: a perfect symbiosis of capitalism and Eastern Philosophy.

THE GREAT DEODORANT DEBATE

The husband and I had a very intense conversation about deodorant last night. I asked him if he will try a natural alternative to the Gillette deodorant that he has been using for years.  He responded emphatically, “Hell, no!”

The Skeptical Husband’s firm reluctance to natural products isn’t uncommon, and I think I know why.

There is a big misconception that natural products won’t be as effective as their conventional counterparts.  I’m not sure where that comes from, but this is big reason people shy away from natural products.

I understand that people can be very attached to their favorite body care products. I’ve even seen people on Pinterest who posted boards titled “This is Me,” and they have photos of their favorite shampoo.  Wow, they must really love their shampoo. 

But I truly believe that a lot of natural products are just as good as their more toxic alternatives.  And I really do mean more toxic.

Are there poisons in your products? Yep, there is a good chance there are – especially if you live in America. The European Union has banned 1,136 ingredients from body care products because they have been deemed unsafe. Check out this website for a complete list: EU banned list


In the U.S. the FDA has banned eight. That’s right, eight! See the FDA banned list. So Americans are exposed to 1,128 ingredients that are forbidden in Europe. If possible, I’d like to try to avoid those 1,128 ingredients. 

I’ve read that the skin absorbs 60% of skin care products, and there is concern that a significant amount of cosmetic ingredients, including carcinogenic substances, penetrate the skin and end up in the blood stream and slowly poison the body through repeated use.

One thing I am really concerned with in particular is aluminum chlorohydrate, an active ingredient conventional antiperspirants and deodorants. This is why I pressed The Skeptical Husband to try a natural alternative. 

Proponents of natural products believe that there is a connection between antiperspirants, underarm shaving and cancer. I also do not like antiperspirants because they interfere with the body’s ability to cleanse itself of toxins, and many people believe there could be a connection between aluminum in deodorants and Alzheimer’s. 

For those considering a switch to a natural deodorant, my favorite brands for cleanliness and scent are Aubrey and Weleda. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out this super informative website by the Environmental Working Group to get recommendations and ratings for the safety of hundreds of personal care products. They even have a wallet guide with ingredients to avoid that you can take with you next time you shop for personal care products.

The Skeptical Husband says…

First, show me the study that shows there is a direct link between cancer and/or Alzheimer's and deodorant. 


And second, I’m not trying a natural deodorant. I'm just not doing it!  


There is nothing "natural" about natural deodorant. What is natural is the fact that people have body odor. It is unnatural to try to cover up this odor.  But I'm good with that.


I am sure the people who share a tiny office space with me appreciate my firm position on this issue. Listen, I’ve been to enough Grateful Dead concerts to know that natural deodorants don’t work. So I am not doing it. 

I’d be willing to try natural shampoo, shaving cream moisturizer, etc., but not deodorant.  I am a smelly guy. I accept this. Without my Gillette Cool Wave Antiperspirant I’d smell really bad.  Maybe I’m ingesting toxins – but hey, I’m willing to take one for the team on this one.

Okay, deal.  After you're done with the 21-day mediation challenge, I'll have a list of natural body care products for you to try, with the exception of deodorant. Oh, and how is the meditation going? 

It's going great. I'm about halfway done.  I'll have my review ready in about 10 days. I'm becoming real familiar with some guy named David G., who is very mellow. He reminds me a lot of the Tim Robbins character in the movie High Fidelity, the guy who  Jack Black and John Cusack give a good beat down.  

IT’S TIME FOR SOME MEDITATION

When I first attempted meditation I tried the “expert” version, where you sit in lotus position and repeat a mantra over and over. This was just too much for my lower back and my brain to handle. My mind would constantly bounce from thought to thought and I couldn’t stay focused.

So I switched from the “expert” version of meditation to simply listening to guided meditations. Basically, I just lay down on my bed and listen to a calming spoken-word CD, which really helps me focus and relax. Yes, occasionally I fall asleep, which I have no problem with because I’m usually in need of a good nap.

I know that some people may view this as a very novice version of meditation, but it really works for me. Since meditating daily for the past year I have found that I worry less, don’t get as bent out of shape when things go wrong, and get fewer migraine headaches.

I’m not the only one who thinks mediation is good for you. Studies show that the practice of meditation:

·       Increases blood flow

·       Leads to a deep level of relaxation

·       Reduces anxiety attacks and emotional stress

·       Decreases muscle tension (including tension headaches)

·       Can have a positive effect on digestion, blood pressure, and heart disease

·       Can boost the immune system

So what’s in store for The Skeptical Husband? You guessed right, he’s going to participate in the Chopra Center’s 21-Day Meditation Challenge which starts on February 20th. The beautiful part is that he can listen to the daily guided mediations at home, work, or during his train commute.  Check back in 21 days when he’ll report on the results of this enlightening experience. I really love this meditation challenge. I’ve participated several times and have found it to be one of the best gifts I receive each year. If you are interested, you can do the challenge with him. All of the mediations are guided, you just need to find a quiet spot and listen.  And the best part is that’s free. Yep, you heard me FREE! To get started you simply need to register online at www.chopracentermeditation.com/bestsellers/MEDITATION_WINTER_2012/register.asp. Good luck Skeptical Husband!