An "Egg-Cellent" Option

For centuries, eggs have been touted as the “perfect little food package.” They are said to be an important source of protein, essential vitamins and minerals and can make a significant contribution to a healthy diet. Although there are many excellent food alternatives that supply the same nutritional value, eggs continue to be a popular food source.

When most people think of “farm-fresh” eggs, the picture that comes to mind is one of hens roaming freely, scratching, eating, and contentedly laying eggs.

However, in today’s society where egg production is in full force, this peaceful image is a far cry from reality. According to Factoryfarming.com “There are more than 325 million egg laying hens in the U.S. confined in battery cages — small wire cages stacked in tiers and lined up in rows inside huge warehouses without access to natural sunlight.” The egg-laying hens contained within these cages have space approximately the size of an 8” X 11” piece of paper, where they are jam packed against each other. This leads them to rub up against the sides of the cages causing cuts, abrasions and feather loss. The birds are also unable to scratch and peck at the ground without their feet getting caught in the wires because they are living in such an unnatural environment.

Under a natural, free-range farm setting, hens can establish a "pecking order" and none of the hens are in jeopardy so long as they can easily move to a different area. Under a high-stress, high-density environment, a natural pecking order cannot be established and the sharp beaks of hens can result in injury (and death) to large numbers of birds. These conditions cause them to peck excessively at each other due to frustration and monotony.

Consequently, to keep the hens “safe” from each other, they go through the process of “debeaking” when they are young chicks. This is an awfully painful process where the beaks are seared off with a hot torch or chopped off with a machine leaving only the short stub of a beak. The hens are then forced to live the rest of their lives without a complete beak intact and many are also subjected to painful toe removal, as reported by the FDA.

Another common practice used by major egg producers is “forced molting” which is basically a condition when hens are “starved for profit.” According to United Poultry Concerns Website “In nature, birds replace all their feathers in the course of a year to maintain good plumage at all times. A natural molt often happens at the onset of winter, when nature discourages the hatching of chicks. The hen stops laying eggs and concentrates her energies on staying warm and growing new feathers.”
Sadly, the egg industry exploits this natural process by forcing an entire group to molt simultaneously. This is done to obtain several hundred additional eggs from the overly exhausted hens, because it is thought to be cheaper to "reuse them to death” rather than have the hens lay eggs in connection with their natural cycles.

To trigger the physiological shock of the forced molt, food is withheld for no less than five days and as long as fourteen days. Many hens die during the starvation process, but survivors may be force-molted two or three times, based on economics. “At any given time, over 6 million hens in the U.S. are being systematically starved in their cages,” reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These inhumane practices are all in the name of mass egg production and greed, and the heavily strained hens are unable to produce eggs in this manner for very long and are soon put to death.

According to Factoryfarming.com, “After one year in egg production, the birds are classified as 'spent hens' and are sent off to slaughter. Their brittle, calcium-depleted bones often shatter during handling or at the slaughterhouse. They usually end up in soups, pot pies, or similar low-grade chicken meat products in which their bodies can be shredded to hide the bruises from consumers.”

What’s more, is that for every egg-laying hen cramped in a battery cage, there is a male chick killed at the hatchery. And because genetic selection plays a part in chickens being bred for maximum egg production, these breeds do not grow fast enough to be raised profitably for meat. Therefore, “male chicks of egg-laying breeds are of no economic value, and they are literally discarded on the day they hatch — usually by the cheapest, most convenient means available. Thrown into trash cans by the thousands, male chicks suffocate or are crushed under the weight of others or being ground up alive,” states factoryfarming.com.

In today’s society, a visit to any supermarket will provide consumers with an overwhelming array of egg choices--such as white, brown, organic, cage-free, free-range, Omega 3’s, traditional, etc. Yet, is paying top dollar for a dozen eggs the answer to a “guilt-free” purchase? The unfortunate answer is, No.

After researching a variety of egg brands--many of which state that their "happy hens roam freely in barns" and eat an "all-vegetarian diet", it appears these companies are using these terms loosely. For example, Rock Island and Judy’s Family Farm Organic Eggs (both produced by the same company), Trader Joes Organic and Free-Range options, and Safeway’s Organics, all utilize debeaking practices on their hens, and even when they make claims of “cage free/free-range,” the birds still have little room to move around and have limited or no easy access to the outdoors.

Unfortunately, with the food industry's big business practices, egg producers are able to advertise that hens are "cage-free" or "free-range" if they simply provide a small opening or window in the wall of the warehouse giving "access to the outdoors." However, when millions of hens are packed into the area, they still cannot move around “freely,” even when there are no cages present. Additionally, the use of terms such as "cage-free" and "free-range" are neither adequately defined nor strictly enforced by the FDA, so these labeling lies can mislead consumers into paying more for a product based upon false claims.

With all of this information to take into account, what is a conscientious consumer to do? Of course, choosing options other than consuming eggs is best. Plus, research on vegetarian and vegan diets shows that eggs are not a required food source, and there are a wide variety of healthy alternatives. And although it may seem an easier solution to skip a morning meal of scrambled eggs, most people are not familiar with how to substitute eggs when cooking or baking. Yet, there are just as many products that work just as well, if not better--and all are more healthy than eggs.

According to Mayoclinic.com, “In baked goods, try commercial egg replacers — such as Ener-G egg replacer; or you can use the following to replace one egg: 1/4 cup whipped silken tofu or 1 tablespoon milled flax seed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Also, unsweetened applesauce and ripe bananas make excellent choices. Plus, for an egg-free omelet you can use tofu instead of eggs.”

Yet, if one still insists on having their eggs and eating them too, the best option is to purchase fresh eggs from a local farmer’s market where it is possible to get to know the farmers on an intimate level and learn about ethical choices being made. In so doing, consumers will support small, local farms instead of large, inhumane factory farms. Plus, every time a dollar is spent on sustainable, earth-friendly food products, in turn, one less dollar is spent on conventional, inhumane, manufactured goods--and this is an "egg-cellent" option for all.

**Egg buyers can also visit Sustainable Table’s Website, enter a zip code and find local, sustainable, organic food in their area using the Eat Well Guide.

**For more information on egg substitutes in baking visit About.com

Does Milk Really Do a Body Good?

Milk, which is defined as an opaque white liquid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals, has been the subject of deliberation among both conventional doctors and holistic healers alike. Mother’s milk serves the purpose of providing proper nutrients to newborns. However, throughout all mammalian species, once the young reach a certain level of development, mother’s milk is no longer needed. Nonetheless, humans cease drinking the milk of our own mothers and turn to the milk of other living creatures--all in the name of obtaining the daily recommended allowance of protein and calcium.

According to Harvard School of Public Health, “Calcium is important. But milk isn’t the only, or even best, source.” Calcium and protein are easily obtained from many plant sources. For example; eating a cup of broccoli provides approximately the same amount of calcium as drinking a glass of milk. The experts at Harvard School of Public Health also report that, “Dairy products can be high in saturated fat as well as retinol (vitamin A), which at high levels can paradoxically weaken bones.”

It’s no wonder that there are so many questions around drinking a glass of milk. For one, there is the ever growing debate over the use of genetically engineered Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Additionally, our good old public broadcasting system has been threatened to suppress pertinent information surrounding the negative findings on the use of growth hormones. This is a well known practice used among big businesses that are out to make money off of keeping the public uninformed.

What’s more is that the happy, healthy cows pictured on most dairy products are actually false advertisement. Most dairy cows are subject to horribly inhumane treatments. Not only are they packed into cramped, unsanitary quarters, but the baby calves are ripped from the mothers at a young age, so the milk can go to humans and not to the intended recipient--their own calves. Additionally, mama cows, which hardly see the natural light of day, are hooked up to massive machines that pump milk in a vigorous and rough manner, unlike the caring hands of most farmers. Often times, the combination of rBGH and over-pumping of milk leads to the formation of painful ulcers and sores full of puss, which form on the udders of the cows.

According to www.milksucks.com, “One culprit causing the hundreds of millions of pus cells in every liter of milk may be “bovine growth hormone,” the Monsanto chemical company’s growth hormone marketed as Posilac. Because cows are not built to produce vast amounts of milk, they are prone to a painful udder infection called mastitis. When they are milked, pus and bacteria from the infection flow right along with the milk. Researchers estimate that an ordinary glass of milk contains between one and seven drops of pus. This isn’t just disgusting—it can also be dangerous. Pus can contain paratuberculosis bacteria, which are believed to cause Crohn’s disease in human beings.” These ill conditions are treated with large does of antibiotics, which are proven to be found in the very milk intended for human consumption.

Sustainabletable.org states that, “Cows forced to produce unnaturally high quantities of milk can become malnourished because they lose more nutrients through their milk than they ingest in their feed¹⁵, and are therefore more susceptible to disease. In addition to artificial hormones, factory farms also use such methods as selective breeding, feeding dairy cows large amounts of grain (instead of grass), and exposing cows to longer periods of artificial light to make them produce more milk. Cows put under large amounts of stress do not live as long as cows that are not stressed.”

Furthermore, one of the largest producers of organic milk, Horizon Organic, was found by the USDA to be perpetrating fraud and violating organic standards. “This giant agribusiness enterprise, with majority ownership by Charlesbank, the investment arm of the Harvard endowment fund, was found to have illegally confined their cattle to feedlots, depriving them of fresh air and healthy grazing conditions as required by law,” said Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for the Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute. In addition Kastel stated, “Aurora was also found to have brought in conventional cattle to their operation instead of milking cows that had been managed organically for their entire lives. This corporation was out and out cheating.” This is not to say that all farms practice horrific treatment of their livestock, so it is important to become an educated consumer by locating sources for buying locally and getting to know where your food products come from.

On another note, many vegetarians are unaware of the ingredient, rennet, which is used in the process of making cheese. Although there are now three types (animal, microbial, and vegetable) most rennet is still derived from animals. The process of creating rennet involves killing young calves, which usually end up as veal, and emptying the 4^th stomach of its contents. This is done prior to drying and then mixing the stomach with water and whey. The resulting blend helps in the coagulation of milk to make cheese. What's more is that the "loose" guidelines of the FDA do not require the disclosure of which type of rennet is used in food products. Therefore, rennet is often disguised under the description of “enzymes” on cheese and dairy package labels, so most vegetarians are not informed of what they are eating.

There is continuing debate around the value of milk and dairy products. However, the benefits of eliminating these items from my own diet led me to experience increased feelings of well being and happiness, and brought an end to my frequent incidence of stomach ailments and the overproduction of mucous in my throat. Plus, I also benefit from the awareness that I no longer partake in practices known to cause unnecessary suffering to animals or that create ill effects in humans. Therefore, living dairy-free has become the perfect choice for my body and my soul.

I Am: Therefore, I Destroy!!

Recently, I was jogging along the creekside trail near my house, when all of a sudden there appeared a round, turquoise colored balloon floating across the path up ahead of me. As I approached the balloon, I couldn't help but wonder where it came from.

Shortly thereafter, I found a young couple and their dog playing with several balloons, so I assumed that they were the rightful owners of this lost one. As I tried to return it, the two doggie masters were not really interested in getting the balloon back. As a matter of fact, they seemed not to care where the remnants might even end up---laying like a piece of discarded litter on nature's path, or possibly, in the stomach of one of the ducks feeding there in the creek, or any number of unplanned destinations that non-biodegradable rubber just might find its way to.

It was in this moment I was reminded that we never truly know what the actual consequences of our daily choices are. It also occurred to me, that no matter how well meaning we think we are and how hard we try to walk lightly upon this planet, we are prone to causing death and suffering without essentially intending to.

I will list just a few examples of what I am trying to convey right here:

• Shopping at Best Buy, Wal-Mart and even Trader Joes for the cheapest deal on an item which was created by the sweatshop labor and suffering of a human being in some other part of the world View Article

• Driving in a vehicle or flying in an airplane and sucking down gallons of gasoline which are obtained by a costly and murderous war View Article
And Another Article

• Sipping on a cup of hot java, where the beans used to create it are picked by farm workers who earn .04 cents for every $4.00 cup we drink View Article

• Eating conventionally grown, non-organic food items which are sprayed with chemicals and insecticides that kill millions of birds annually and cause cancer or other harmful side effects in humans View Article
And Another Article

• Buying and wearing an expensive piece of jewelry that was obtained by raping and ruining many parts of this precious earth while also causing the miners to work and live in substandard conditions View Article

• Taking a vacation to exotic locations where human impacts, pollutants, and waste runoff generate mass destruction of pristine areas View Article

• Indulging ourselves on meals such as Sushi which leads to the overfishing of populations such as the Blue Fin Tunas, which are caught by using non-sustainable methods and killing more sealife than is necessary
View Article

• Using disposable chopsticks at every visit to an Asian restaurant causing massive deforestation View Article

• Ordering from a fast food restaurant where a burger is created using meat which comes from mega farms and slaughterhouses contributing colossal amounts of pollution to the environment View Article

This list is just a mere drop in the bucket of mankind’s potential for destruction. We are, therefore, we destroy!

Please feel free to contact me with any additions to the list, relevant comments, or opposing viewpoints. I feel that the more cognizant we can become; the better it will be for the plane and all of its inhabitants as a whole.

In your freetime, you can also read just for fun (really, for FUN!) about the TOP 10 WAYS TO DESTROY THE EARTH on LiveScience.com

Meet Your Meat!

Meet Your Meat!! (Watch Video Here)

Sometimes I come into contact with people who question my reasons for not eating meat. Or, for thinking I'm not getting enough protein, or whatever else they have been lead to believe. But in instances such as this, I defer to educational videos, which are essential teaching tools in expressing the true realities of a majority of animals that are devoured by the very people questioning me.

There is a saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words." This is true, however, in this instance, moving pictures with added dialogue and commentary will even better assist you to visually experience and become a part of what is really going on behind the "meat scene."

The Food Issue!

Thank goodness for Michael Pollan and his recent letter to the President-Elect. Please take the time to read about this extremely important issue. Michael Pollan is very well-versed on the subject of food issues, as he has written several books based upon the topic--one of which I write about in a previous blog. You can read his letter here.

Freedom At Last

Several weeks ago, I lost my new cell phone. What's ironic about this is that after having the same phone for years, I finally decided to upgrade to a newer version of my very simple Nokia. I kept my old phone for so many years because I never liked all the fancy new phone features with the flipping flaps, tiny keyboards and bazillion ring tones, but after researching the dangerous effects of cell phone usage, I decided to see what was out there.

Although I was able to find a phone with a much smaller amount of radiation emissions than most, I was still very aware that my constant cell phone usage could be harmful to my health and needed to be curtailed. I guess the "powers that be" thought so too, and decided to take my new phone right away from me.

After trying for a week to recover my lost prized possession, I finally gave up. However, during this time I began to realize a freedom that I had not experienced in years. Sadly enough, it was apparent that I had really become dependent on my phone. Admittedly, I even used to feel "lost" when I would actually leave the house without it.

Another ridiculous realization I had during these past few weeks, is that I used to think that I was so efficient in making all of my pressing phone calls while driving--because I simply could not find the time for them while I was at home. How absurd is that? Now I realize that I am much more focused while driving. Plus, I am enjoying quality time on the phone with family and friends from the comfort of my very own home.

Even though a major concern of not having my cell phone with me at all times was how my family would contact me if there was an emergency--we figured out the solution to that problem rather quickly. We reverted to the "old-fashioned" way of doing things. My son and I reviewed who to call and what to do while he is at home alone, and not to just rely on the cell phone during emergencies.

Well, it has been several weeks now since my phone and I parted ways, and the best part about not having it around (besides the health benefits) is that I feel so mysterious. As odd as this sounds, I am truly enjoying the fact that nobody really knows where I am--I am independent and free! And the best part is that now you can reach me when I am really available--at home, relaxed, and able to give you my full and undivided attention.

Bad Sugar.........The Monsanto Kind........

Consumers in Brazil can now eat Hershey’s Kisses(TM) without fear of GM ingredients. Unfortunately, that is not the case for US consumers. Several weeks ago, Hershey’s in Brazil announced that it will not use GM ingredients, including GM beet sugar, in the products it makes in Brazil, but it remains silent about its plans in the US.

US farmers planted GM sugar beet crops for the first time this year. These Roundup Ready® GM sugar beets are genetically altered to resist Monsanto’s toxic weed killer, Roundup, and its active ingredient, glyphosate. But here’s the scary part:

When the USDA first approved the planting of GM sugar beets, the EPA also increased the maximum allowable residues of glyphosate on the beet roots (from which sugar is extracted) by a staggering 5,000%! This EPA policy change was made at the request of Monsanto, producer of GM sugar beet seeds.

What this means for consumers is that the more GM ingredients permitted in our foods, the greater the likelihood that we are ingesting more toxic chemicals. What’s worse is that there will be no way to know if we’re eating GM beet sugar once it hits the market, which could happen as early as next year, because GM ingredients are NOT labeled.

In 2001, Hershey’s announced that it would not use GM beet sugar, but the company has been noticeably silent on the issue ever since. A double standard is not likely to prevail in the US, where members like you have sent more than a hundred thousand letters to food companies asking them to publicly refuse to use GM sugar in their products.

Tell Hershey’s to Kiss GM Sugar Goodbye! Write a letter to Hershey’s urging the company to publicly reject the use of GM sugar in its chocolates and other sweets.

(This Message is taken directly From the True Food Network)