Vegan/Vegetarian Thread (discussion, recipes, laughs)

[kittygrrl]

oMg, I was just reading on their website the one i bought
is raw!

[Passionaria]

This is my favorite superfood powder. By a great herbalist that makes "quality" Products, Dragon Herbs. It costs a bit, but less than a cup of coffee per day Very balanced ingredients, although I wish they left the wheat grass out, being a person with wheat (not gluten) sensitivities.

http://www.dragonherbs.com/prodinfo.asp?number=686

I add herbs to my smoothies, and use it as a method of taking herbal powders and such. My favorite herb to add is Goji berries. Some say you should soak them first, I don't, I like the way they sort of crystallize in the smoothie

My herbal smoothies look like this:
Frozen fruit (blueberries lately)
Goji berries
Almond milk
a bit of yogurt with probiotics
Powdered almonds or black sesame seeds
Shatavari (herbal phyto-estrogen)
http://organicindiausa.com/_product_..._Powder_-_1_lb
Amalaki
http://organicindiausa.com/_product_..._Powder_-_1_lb
Ashwagandha
http://organicindiausa.com/_product_..._Powder_-_1_lb

along with my vitamin D

I love this herb company, because they have great ethics regarding farmers and the earth, they are organic and the have the BEST prices around. Green smoothies are on my list of things to try, I will look at you all's recipes to get a feel for it Thanks for that!

[Dominique]

I hate cow's milk...I never liked it as a baby (my poor parents) I like this video the best because they *hide* dates in the mixture, extra nutrition. Watch the clip before you form an opinion. It lasts a week!

[Dominique]

Health benefits of dates

• <LI type=square>Wonderfully delicious, dates are one of the most popular fruits with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, required for normal growth, development and overall well-being.
  <LI type=square>Fresh date is made of soft, easily digestible flesh with simple sugars like fructose and dextrose that when eaten replenishes energy and revitalizes the body instantly; thus, for these qualities, dates are being used to breakfast during Ramadan months.
  <LI type=square>The fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which prevents dietary LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut. It is also a good bulk laxative. The fiber content helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time and as well as binding to cancer causing chemicals in the colon.
  <LI type=square>They contain many health benefitting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to have anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic (prevent easy bleeding tendencies) properties.
  <LI type=square>They are a good source of Vitamin-A (contains 149 IU per 100 g), which is known to have antioxidant properties and is essential for vision. Vitamin A also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
  <LI type=square>The fruit is very rich in antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants have the ability to help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen free radicals and thereby found to be protective against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
  
  <LI type=square>Zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions; thus it offers protection against age related macular degeneration, especially in elderly populations.
  <LI type=square>Dates are an excellent source of iron, contains 0.90 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI). Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
  <LI type=square>In addition, They are good in potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart rate and blood pressure; thus offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
  <LI type=square>They are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth.
• Further, the fruit has adequate levels of B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K. It contains very good amounts of pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), niacin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin. These vitamins are acting as cofactors help body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Vitamin K is essential for many coagulant factors in the blood as well as in bone metabolism.