Slow Poison

Poisons are not what they used to be.

Back in the day, people would use poison for immediate deaths. For example, infusions of poisonous flowers like aconite, arrows dipped in belladonna or smothered in poison dart frog secretions.. you get the idea.

Now, poisons are very slow, often invisible, inodorous, and tasteless. Which is actually the most dangerous thing about them:

YOU CAN'T FEEL OR NOTICE THEM

Examples include pesticides, herbicides, petroleum-derivatives (PAHs, PCBs) and metals.

But the fact that they're slow-acting makes it more problematic, at least in the social sense:

PEOPLE DON'T CARE IF THEY SURVIVE.

For example, cadmium poisoning. Cadmium is a heavy metal that ends up in groundwater, freshwater, or even seawater, usually from industrial waste water and ends up in the water we drink or the food we eat (through agricultural irrigation). So after long frequent exposure, it causes cancer. The same goes for pesticides, and other toxins that we get through animal fat, due to bio-magnification across the food chain.

But cancer creeps up on you.

It takes its time. And what do people do when they discover they have cancer? Chemo, if they can afford it, which does nothing but destroy the body even more. Or surgery to remove the tumour, so it's all about cut cut cut, stitch stitch stitch. Sure, some people have overcome cancer. They usually are the ones that change their lives completely, drink fruit/veg juices, take natural supplements, etc. Others were lucky to be resilient enough, but their success stories should not still encourage people to continue eating pesticide-ful foods, and consume animal products, or drink from plastic bottles (most contain BPA, a compound that mimics oestrogen in the body and causes hormone disruption thus cancer).

Another example is aluminium. It's in our kitchen foil paper, our medicine boxes, our cans, etc. It's also present in most cosmetics, particularly sunblock. And guess what? Causes Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other nervous diseases. You don't need those products. You only buy them because industries convince you that it's so convenient, but how convenient is it to extract metals from the ground so you can store food in them?!

The list goes on, what we have taken out of this Earth and transformed is most likely to kill us slowly.

We created poison and we created the semi-cure. We created the chemicals, and then we built hospitals.

[I dare one of you to tell me that hospitals are cheerful green spaces that serve yummy food]

Our society has become a sculpture made of poisons, barely pleasing to the human eye, yet convincing people that they will survive.

The question is, do you want to survive, or do you want to live?

Vegan Profile *4*

I met Marthe the first week I moved to London, and I was immediately impressed by how smart she is! I only discovered recently that she's been vegetarian/vegan for a long time, although I think the day I tried to make her an egyptian meal (and failed) she had probably told me!

How long have you been vegan for? I've been 13 years vegetarian, of which 6 years vegan. I became dissatisfied with my eating meat when I cycled to school at the age of 15 and saw a big truck with live pigs in, on their way to the abattoir. They were clearly distressed. The vegetarian friend who cycled next to me saw my shock and bluntly said: "they'll be on your plate tonight" and I realised she was right.

In one sentence, why did you go vegan? The decisive factor for me were animal welfare considerations, but the considerable benefits for the environment, world food distribution and health are also important to me.

What improved in your lifestyle when you turned vegan? I lost weight, felt fitter and less tired, my nose and taste buds worked better, I taste the full flavours of vegetables now, the weight of killing sentient beings is no longer on my consciousness, I have a smaller footprint and don't eat more than my fair share of food, based on current crop production and number of people on this planet.

What's your favorite meal?  Pfff. So many. I believe I make the best soy burgers on this planet. That, served with a salad of puy-lentils, roast squash and beetroot, hazelnut, rocket and pear.

Anything else you would like to tell the world? If you're considering veganism or vegetarianism, two things will make it easier. Firstly: learn to cook a wide range of dishes. A good cook can make something nice from a few simple ingredients. Secondly: people will often feel criticised by your lifestyle, and respond by throwing fallacious arguments at you. You'll hear them a lot ("it's human nature to eat meat", "you'll miss nutrients", "your eating food that's meant for the cows", "you can't guarantee that you won't kill a fly", "what if plants can feel pain" etc.). Explain friendly why that argument is invalid, but try not to get annoyed. You don't owe anyone a justification for what you're eating, and neither do they. You won't convert anyone by preaching.

Vegan Profile *3*

Ilze is Zane's sister, she is a RAW vegan and I must say she has one hell of a physique! She lives in Australia, whereas Zane is still in Latvia, where they originate from. I think it's great to connect with vegans all over the world, the next couple of profiles will also cover new countries :)

How long have you been vegan for? I have been a vegetarian for over 12 years, and for the last year and a half I have been a raw vegan.

In one sentence, why did you go vegan? I am vegan for my health, for the animals and for the environment.

What improved in your lifestyle when you turned vegan? More radiant glow, improved health, increased fitness levels, clearer mindset.

What's your favorite meal?  I eat mostly raw. Green Juice is my ultimate beauty health secret, it consists of spinach, cucumber, kale, green apple, ginger, lemon, parsley. It gives me a natural high, increased energy, radiant glow and is a natures medicine. Meal - I love to make vegan raw sushi, very delicious, fresh and healthy and I use organic nori algae that has a high nutrition content.

[Pssst...remember my green juice recipe?]

Anything else you would like to tell the world? We've got an abundance of plant based foods that is a natural medicine, no longer we live in an ice age where we needed to eat animals to survive. The raw food diet especially has proven to cure cancers, whereas meat and dairy products, according to many scientific sources (eg. book China Study) contribute to illnesses. It's important to make more conscious choices for the health, animals and environment. It's a good feeling knowing that every day I choose to live consciously causing no harm to other living beings.

“Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. ” ― César Chávez

Vegan Profile *2*

Another vegan I had the pleasure of meeting recently is Mena. She is an animal lover that passionately volunteers for the Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt (SPARE). One truly inspiring girl, I hope she helps raise awareness in Egypt because with 85 million people, we're gonna need a lot!

How long have you been vegan for? I've been a vegetarian for most of my life. Vegan just a couple of months. 

In one sentence, why did you go vegan? When i visited dairy farms, egg farms and slaughter houses.. i decided, as an animal lover, i can not be a part of this monstrosity any longer. 

What improved in your lifestyle when you turned vegan? I am healthier and happier! I sleep with a clear conscience every night, knowing that there's no blood on my hands. 

What's your favorite meal? Pasta with red sauce and veggies. 

Anything else you would like to tell the world? I would like to tell the world that the holocaust never stopped, it just changed species. It's time we all wake up and fight this ignorance, this superiority complex in man and this speciesism.

Vegan Profile *1*

I thought it would be nice to have a little presentation on the vegans I know, for you to get inspired by these wonderful people and get to know a little bit about them!

I want to start with one of my oldest online friends, Zane. I have known this beautiful girl since I was 12 (back in 2005) and although we may have started talking because we were both into dark music and black clothes, we now talk about animal rights and health! :D

So here's Zane, and what she has to tell us about being a vegan.

How long have you been vegan for? Approximately for 6 years

In one sentence, why did you go vegan? For the animals and ethics/ morality.

What improved in your lifestyle when you turned vegan? My entire quality of life. Being a vegetarian or vegan isn't just about eating a certain way, it's a mindset which you inherit eventually. It affects how you perceive and react to external conditions. It makes you lead a better life and be a better person. You actually can make a change in the world.

What's your favorite meal? Veggie sushi, spring rolls, anything with olives.

Anything else you would like to tell the world? - 'You have to go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven' - Jimi Hendrix

She also has a blog! Check out this amazing recipe she came up with:

http://consciouscamel.blogspot.com/2013/03/summer-pineapple-salad-recipie.html

The "But Humans are Omnivores" Argument

I remember a few months ago, a friend posted this chart on Facebook, and I was all like "No that's stupid... it's invalid because humans cook meat". And then I realised that not only raw food is the way to go, but meat is the main cause for cardiovascular disease.. Anyway, we're the closest to herbivores in term of intestine length, facial bone and jaw structure, etc.. 

Here's the chart that says it all:

PS: Don't be ashamed to be a herbivore! The hippopotamus is the most dangerous of all herbivores in Africa; every year, hippos kill more people than lions, leopards and crocodiles. In fact, it is the mammal with the largest and mightiest jaws and longest canines, and can bite an adult crocodile in half. Other intimidating herbivores are elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, baboons..etc

Self defence! Love how the other hippos are just chillin' now that they caught the bad guy.

Lemon for Hygiene!

Another miracle fruit:

Only this time... I'm presenting a very unexpected use: 

 DEODORANT! 

Whenever I make a salad, and there's still some juice in the lemon halves and my salad is already saturated, I put some on my face as it clears spots and closes pores. But last night, as I was having dinner, I decided to put that extra lemon juice on my underarms, because I hadn't put any deodorant after  my shower - I use essential oils like Jasmine and Musc, but I wanted to try that out.
This morning I wake up and my underarms smell like...nothing. Just skin!

So I looked it up online and that's what I found:

"It's no mystery that lemon is acidic. That's where its powers in how to use lemon as a deodorant lay. Cut a lemon in half. When you get out of the shower, make sure you dry off completely.

Gently rub the lemon into your armpits. Don't just do this once. Using lemon as deodorant isn't just a quick fix. It's more of a way to "condition" your underarms to stop smelling bad.

When you use lemon as deodorant, you are saturating your underarm Apocrine Glands with the acidic juices. Your Apocrine glands are the ones responsible for creating the foul odor. Apocrine glands release secretions from inside the body. Bacteria is naturally attracted to these secretions before they leave your body.

When the bacteria release toxins and waste into these secretions, it gives the secretions a foul odor. By knowing how to use lemon as deodorant, you neutralize the bacteria in the secretions with the citris acid."

It is recommended to use it just one a day, and not go overboard!

Lemon is also a great way of regulating the pH down there for women, just add a squeeze of lemon during your intimate wash, or add half a lemon to 1 L of water and use that mixture.