Protein
I don’t eat meat; flesh, chickens, pork, beef, cows, poultry, turkeys, lambs, or whatever else it is commonly referred to as. More simply put I don’t eat anything with a face. In general I do not like labels but the label of vegetarian, veggie, herbivore or vegan I’ll take. Why? (DISCALIMER: you are NOT about to be subject to a rant or discussion on why I think you should stop eating meat so don’t be alarmed and read on) I am unlike many vegetarians, I did not ‘give up’ meat for ethical or environmental reasons, never liked it. I barley ate it as a kid. I cut it up, pushed it to the side, or traded it to my brother for potatoes. Meat and I were never friends.
I’ve been eating a vegetarian diet for almost 16 years; you’d think I’d be able to deal with the commentary by now? The mocking and the questioning don’t really bother me. I’ve got an answer for everything…. Almost everything. Protein, where do you get your protein? If I hear where do you get your protein from once more I am going to FLIP out. REALLY? I mean SERIOSULY? People in general don’t understand that protein is in a lot more than beef? Over the years I’ve thought of many possible responses to the protein question and I’ve given many responses.
There are all these crazy myths and questions surrounding protein. How much you need? What kind is better? Don’t vegetarians die from protein deprivation?
Most Americans get more then enough protein, nearly 50% more then the daily recommended amounts. Now for the daily recommended amounts… If you ask 4 ‘experts’ how much you need, you’ll get 4 different answers. Different yet similar and within the same range.
Active Men should consume 1 gram of protein per 2.2 pounds of body weight. So a 180-pound man should get about 82 grams of protein daily. Others say that men need anywhere from 45-98 grams per day based on height, weight and activity level. I am not a doctor, dietitian, nutritionist or food scientist (I’m a graphic designer) yet based on common sense and years of reading about different diets I would say a safe bet is to go somewhere in between all these numbers and see how you feel. If you are an active man go for the higher end. If you sit at a desk all day and the couch all night you’ll need less.
For women it gets even more confusing, I checked 7 different calculations they gave me numbers from 27 grams per day all the way up to 86. 27 is a little low and 86 is a little high.
My favorite way and the way that seems to make the post sense is to look at protein as a percentage of your calories. If you are running marathons you need more protein for muscle recovery and you will consume more calories thus get a higher percentage of protein. Of course this is subjective and can be debated on the ‘right’ percentage or the most beneficial percentage. Anywhere from 10-25% (15% is the go to %) of your calories should come from protein. For a woman eating a 1500 calorie a day diet that would equal about 60 grams. For a man eating 2000 calorie a day diet that would equal 75 grams.
You can use http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ to find you BMR (essentially your daily calorie needs based on gender, age, height, activity) then divide your BMR (1800 will be our example) by 15%. 15 percent of 1800 is 270. 270of your daily calories should come from protein. Protein contains 4 calories per gram so 270/4 = 67.5 grams of protein per day.
Not that this seems to be a problem but please don’t eat too little protein, unlike fat and glucose; our body has little capacity to store protein. If we were to stop eating protein, our body would start to break down muscle for its needs within a day or so.
Air Quality Alert
The past few days were hot, by hot I mean high 90’s with high humidity (right now its a cool 61 - over 30 degrees cooler than 36 hrs ago - crazy huh?) Two days ago NY state environmental officials even issued an air quality advisory recommending that people with respiratory problems (i.e me and my asthma) young children and those who exercise outdoors limit outdoor activity. I didn’t really think anything of this, just another useless alert right? whats the big deal?
The big deal? well for me the big deal included waves of dizziness, vertigo, nausea, fatigue and of course trouble breathing. Recent studies have shown that poor air quality can cause a wide range of illnesses including respiratory and heart disease, restrict fetal growth and even cause premature death.
What can you do to help? or protect yourself?
- Stay indoors when possible (if an air quality alert has been issued)
- Combine errands into a single trip, rather than separate trips whenever posible.
- Use public transportation if possible.
- Eliminate Car Idling.
- Refuel after dark. This prevents certain pollutants from being emitted into the air that react with sunlight and heat to create ground-level ozone.
check out http://cleanairny.org/ for more info
3 ways to avoid BPA aka Bisphenol A
1. Switch to a stainless steel/glass beverage container (water bottle/coffee mug)
Whats with…
so called ‘Natural’ products and brands having toxic chemicals in their ‘natural’ products?
i.e. LUSH cosmetics & Tom’s of Manie ‘Natural’ Toothpaste containing SLS ???
This is incredibely frustrating, LUSH brands themselves as ‘Fresh Handmade’ right on their website it states: ”We believe in making effective products from fresh, organic* fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics”
WHAT IS safe about SLS (Sodium laureth sulphate) ?
and TOMS? one company I thought was actually ok to use then I look closer at my toothpaste and *pow* SLS.
100 million exposed?
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) More than 100 million Americans live in urban areas where the air is officially classified by the EPA as unsafe to breathe. Uh, how is this possible? how it is allowed? permitted? accepted? One of the main reasons is becuase this is not common knowldge, my guess is that most if not all of these 100 million americans who are being exposed to toxic chemicals have no idea, live in poor urban areas and have no access
SLS Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
SLS, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl sulfates or whatever else people are calling them are EVIL! Pure evil horrible awful chemicals and they are found in so many products that we all use on a daily basis. Products like toothpaste, soap, shower gels, shampoo, cosmetics, and other detergents. SLS is a foaming agent, it creates the later.
Ok, so? whats the harm in having later? if its in so many products it must be safe right? Did I mention that SLS is also found in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps? Yup! the same stuff that’s in your toothpaste is also in you floor cleaner. Really? Seriously? YES I am 100% serious, as crazy as it sounds (i think its crazy) its true. It took a few minutes for information this to sink into my head and for me to realize exactly just how crazy this is. I ran to my bathroom and started looking at everything, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste and even my ‘green’ ‘eco-friendly’ toothpaste had SLS in it (a whole other issue and post, lots of ‘green’ products aren’t very green at all) i’ve since switched to SLS free brands.
Whats the big deal thought? so its a chemical that’s in A LOT of products and? Well… for starters the SLS family is a carcinogen, its been linked kidney and liver damage, nervous system disruption, it causes damage to eyes leading to cataracts, can keep children’s (under 6 years old) eyes from developing properly, causes eczema and dermatitis, is known to inflame skin layers and causes hair loss.
It’s also helpful to know that both Europe and Central America have banned the use of SLS, humm…. maybe the US should hop on board with that.
The Dirty Dozen/Clean Dozen
80,000 chemicals
There are more than 80,000 chemicals permitted for use in the United States that have never been fully assessed (or assessed at all) for toxic impacts. I’m talking about bad horrible awful impacts, detrimental impacts on human health and the environment. Toxic chemicals that are known and proven to cause cancer, learning disabilities, infertility, birth defects and general sickness. These awful horrible no good dirty rotten chemicals, toxic chemicals are found in everything and everywhere including in children’s products, cleaning products, building materials, fabrics, toys, furniture, electronics, food and beverage containers, makeup and more.
This INFURIATES me, makes my blood boil, my head spin, causes penetrating pain to my gut and reaches to the top of my things that disturb me list. Nothing is being done, millions of people have no idea that their personal belongings are slowly killing them, harming their children and destroying life. I exaggerate, a little. Something is being done, something is starting to happen. In April of 2010 Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, its May 2011 and we are kind of still at the same place we have to do something, something soon before it really is too late, before more people get sick and more life is lost. (check out http://www.saferchemicals.org/ for more information and to get involved.)
What can you do? How can you help? Protect yourself and your family?
Start with purchasing greener and more environmentally friendly products, clean with natural products (like vinegar/baking soda) instead of harsh chemicals, eat locally grown organic unprocessed foods, a good rule is if you can’t pronounce the ingredients you shouldn’t be eating them, do not wear your shoes around you house and drink out of/ store foods in glass containers instead of plastics.
