Does Going Vegan make You Thin?

Since becoming Vegan earlier this year, a lot of people have approached me and tentatively asked whether they can lose weight by going vegan? Does being vegan make you thin?

Well I'm afraid the short answer is NO. Vegan does not automatically mean Thin.

Don't get me wrong here, I love being vegan and I really enjoy my food. I cook all my meals from scratch as far as possible and use all kinds of exciting flavours, and I have a very healthy and nutritious diet. 

Yes, it is very easier to avoid saturated fats, and you tend to gravitate towards fresh fruit and vegetables which helps you to make smart choices, but it's not a quick fix for being overweight.

I find it incredibly sad that almost every woman I know is unhappy with her weight or appearance for some reason or other.

However gorgeous she is, most women think if only they could lose a few more pounds or have fuller lips or a smaller waist... Sound familiar?

The "beauty" industry seems to do everything it can to make women feel inadequate in order to make them buy their products.

Air brushed models grace page after glossy page of every magazine, pushing an unrealistic and narrowly defined image of female beauty. Sadly, women and girls are coerced from an early age into trying to achieve this unrealistic target by TV, magazines and the so called "celebrity" culture that is shoved down our throats. 

At the same time, we are surrounded by ever more restaurants and fast food outlets selling us unhealthy lifestyles as "cool" and "fun."  Are you lovin' it?

It's no wonder that the Diet Industry is so huge in the Western world & we're all so obsessed with size.

At the same time depression and obesity are at all time highs - a coincidence? I think not.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that I get asked this question so frequently, because I am vegan and pretty thin. Everybody's looking for an easy way to feel better about themselves, but going vegan probably isn't going to do that.

I became a vegan on ethical and moral grounds, because it felt right and authentic for me, not because I wanted to try yet another faddy diet and lose weight.

So I'm afraid that I have to announce that no, going vegan isn't a magic diet to make you thin, despite the hype.

It may help you to adopt a healthier lifestyle, but to be honest it's very easy to be an unhealthy junk-food vegan, and I know plenty of vegans who are overweight.

Being vegan will not make you skinny - only you can do that.

5 Good Reasons to Pee in the Shower

Come on, we've all done it at some point. Yes, even you over there shaking your head!

But why I ask do people recoil in horror at the thought of peeing in the shower? Obviously, you're not going to do it in a communal shower - that would be weird, but in the privacy of your own home, why not? You don't have to tell anybody!
 
Here are some pretty good reasons why you should pee in the shower...
 

1. Saves Water
Flushing a toilet uses between 3-6 litres of water. What a waste!


2. Saves money
If you have a water meter in your home, you're probably aware of the benefits of using as little water as possible. And toilet paper isn't free either!


3. Saves time
Multi-tasking by peeing and shower at the same time saves valuable minutes when getting ready for work!


4. Cleans your bathroom
Urine from a healthy person is a sterile substance and contains urea, an ingredient often found in household cleaning products. There's urea in the daily shower spray product I use,  so you're not making the bathroom dirty by peeing whilst showering - you may actually be helping to clean  it!


5. It's bad for you to hold it in
You can potentially get a urinary tract infection or cause yourself permanent damage if you hold it in for too long when you need to pee. If you need to go, you should go!

 And if you still don't fancy it, you could always save water by showering with a friend  instead ;)

Fail #1 - "Natural" Deodorant

Well the trial of using the Fresh Apricot scented natural deodorant made by Tom's of Maine didn't go as well as expected.

It smells nice, but certainly doesn't keep you fresh and odour free for 24 hours as the packaging boasts. I would say 6-8 at a push, and only if you don't get hot or do any exercise.

It was an expensive purchase at over £4 but I was impressed with the environmentally responsible claims made on the back about sustainability, recycling and how the product contained no artificial nasties, no aluminium and how they source all the products.

The big problem for me was that after using the product for a week, the skin under my arms started peeling. I was a little surprised, because that's never happened before. I didn't appear to have a rash as such, but the skin kept peeling off leaving the remaining skin red and raw.

I had a look on the internet trying to find out why this might be. Various sources suggested that it might just be my body "adapting" while others suggested an allergic reaction.  I spoke to a friend who is an experienced complimentary therapist. She looked horrified and simply said

"If something takes your skin off, that's not a good sign!"

It reminded me of something my dad told me when I was younger - just because something's natural, doesn't mean it's good for you. Remember, stinging nettles are natural and so is Deadly Nightshade!

I finally went on to the website www.tomsofmaine.com and read the reviews on the product. It seems I'm not alone, and this rather unpleasant side effect is a known problem.

I'm a little disappointed, and for now I've switched back to my regular anti-perspirant. It may not be perfect, but at least my skin will be intact!

Going "Natural"

I went on the WWF website today out of interest to see how much my carbon footprint has changed since I last filled out the questionnaire a couple of years ago. It's definitely lower because I'm now a vegan, and I haven't been on any flights in the past 12 months, but I was disappointed with my score of  1.8.

The score basically means that I'm living as if I had the resources of 1.8 planets instead of 1.

Ideally your carbon footprint should be 1 or less.

Easier said than done.

As part of my new project, trying to live in a more natural and eco-friendly way, I've started looking for smart ways I can reduce my carbon footprint and protect myself from dangerous chemicals, without losing any modern conveniences.

I've been a fan of the Ecover range of ecologically responsible household cleaning products & detergents for years, but I've never gone as far as to change my toiletries. 

I've started gradually replacing all my toiletries with more natural ones that are cruelty free, don't contain any animal products, biodegradable, free from parabens and SLEs, and that have the least impact on the environment possible.

I've even started to use completely natural products such as virgin coconut oil and essential oils in my beauty regime, and I have to say my hair and skin are looking pretty darned good!

Every hairdresser I have ever spoken to has said that if you want decent, affordable shampoo, you're best getting a nice herbal one at the health food shop.

The likes of Pantene, Elvive, Tresseme etc are full of silicone and other slimy goop to make your hair appear shiny and "healthy".  One hairdresser told me she wouldn't wash her floors with the stuff! It was herbal shampoo, or proper professional  shampoo all the way!

Herbal it is then!

A sticking point for me however is deodorant (or should that be a sticky point?)

All the natural deodorants are aluminium free which means they don't stop you sweating.

The aluminium salts are supposedly harmful but without them, well, you sweat!

All well and good, but despite the old adage that "ladies only glow" sadly, I sweat like a horse in the Grand National. I just have to think about exercise and I break a sweat!

How am I going to cope without the trusty aluminium salts to avoid embarrassing armpit stains?!

I've purchased a deodorant stick made by Tom's of Maine which promises that I'll feel "confidently fresh all day!" Hmm, well we'll sees about that.  I'm not brave enough to try it at the office just yet.

I'll let you know how I get on... 

Health Challenge #1 Natural Cold Remedies

I was going to wait until the weather got a bit colder to post this, but everybody around me seems to have succumbed to the common cold in the past week, and now I have too!

My throat started to feel dry and scratchy on Friday, and I'm now wheezy and seriously in danger of losing my voice!  Since I quit consuming dairy products in January this year, my colds have dramatically lessened in severity and nasal congestion is a thing of the past.  

Logically therefore, my first tip to beating a cold is...

1. Stop eating Dairy!

 

By dairy, I mean, milk, cheese, butter, cream, basically anything made from or with cow's, ewe's or goat's milk.

Milk and dairy products are considered by doctors to be mucus forming, and significantly worsen the catarrh associated with the common cold. Cutting them out while you have a cold is a smart move, and one recommended by the NHS as well as other online resources.

2. Eat yourself well

Lots of Fresh, Organic (where possible) fruits & vegetables, especially ones containing vitamin C and Zinc will help your body to fight the infection.

Onions and Garlic are often recommended for their strongly antiseptic, anti-viral, decongestant and expectorant properties.

This may not sound very exciting, but it's a nice, easy and cheap way to beat that cold.

3. Drink lots of water & fluids

We all know this one, but not everybody understands why it's so important. Yeah, yeah we say, I know I need to drink more water, but I don't feel like it!

Well the good news, is that you don't just have to drink cold water. Hot fruit infusions, ice lollies, coconut water, fruit juices, soups and broths are also on the menu.

When your immune system is fighting an infection or illness, your white blood cells have a lot of work on their hands. They capture and neutralise the bugs and send them into the urinary system to be expelled when you next have a wee. Now the problem is, in order for them to flush these nasties away down the tubes, they need extra water to do it. 

Consuming plenty of fluids with also help to stop any mucus secretions from thickening (Ewww! Yes, I know!), making it harder to breathe.

4. Ease your Airways

Take a hot bath to relax muscles & release taut airways, just make sure you don't get cold afterwards.

Keep your environmental air moist & humidified, take gentle outdoor exercise & get fresh air.  Remember to wrap up warm.

Personally, I like to use a simple tea-light oil burner in my home. I fill the dish with water and add a few drops of Eucalyptus essential oil which is an excellent decongestant.

 

Other essential oils that you may find helpful to add to your oil burner include:

Peppermint - Another great decongestant

Pine Needle  - A strong germ killer, excellent for viral infections

Clary Sage -  Mildly antiseptic, uplifting and relaxing

Thyme - Useful for headaches, coughs and colds

This is actually  one of my own oil burners!

5. Hot Mustard Footbath

I have tried this and it's actually quite pleasant. Not just an old wives tale, this does actually work! 

A mustard foot bath can unblock a head cold, help to reduce a fever and soothe a headache. It draws blood to the feet which helps to disperse congestion, increases circulation and eases pressure on the blood vessels in your head.

If you've got an old tin of mustard powder knocking about at the back of the kitchen cupboard, this could be well worth a go. Just be careful not to stain anything with the bright yellow water!

The proportions to use are 2tsp mustard powder to 1/2 pt hot (not boiling) water in a suitable bowl.  Pop your feet in, sit back and relax.

Remember to test the water temperature first - don't burn yourself!

6. Bee Propolis

Made in the beehive and used by bees as a natural defence against infection, I've had much success in the past treating all kinds of viral and bacterial ailments with propolis. 

Make sure you check the label on the jar and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

7. Holistic Therapies

Reiki is wonderful for any illness, and Hopi Ear Candles can be helpful to reduce painful congestion of the ears and nose, but unfortunately no holistic therapist is going to be very impressed if you turn up full of cold and pass your germs on to them, so please stay away!

Distance Reiki Healing is ideal for this, or if you're lucky enough to have somebody living in your household who is trained in Reiki, Hopi Ear candling or another holistic therapy that can help, then great. 

Otherwise this is a no-no!

~

Easy Remedies from the Kitchen

Sage leaf tea for sore throats (suitable for vegans)

You can buy sage leaf teabags at your local health food store for convenience, or fresh sage leaves can also be bought at your local supermarket. You may be lucky enough to have fresh sage growing in your garden.

Make up a large mug of tea using either a Sage teabag or 2-3 Sage leaves and boiling water. Leave to infuse for 3-5 minutes.

You may like to sip this throughout the day, but personally I'm not a fan of a hot drink that tastes like turkey stuffing, so I usually allow the mixture to cool, and use it to gargle with 3-4 times a day.

A Spoonful of Honey

Either taken by the spoonful, or added to hot drinks throughout the day,

Honey is a natural expectorant & antiseptic so it's great for colds, coughs and sore throats. If you take the time to read the ingredients on the side of any cough mixture bottle, you will usually find honey in there!

Acacia honey or Manuka honey are particularly helpful.

Lemon & Ginger Tea (suitable for vegans)

This is a personal favourite, and I'm not talking about the flavoured tea bags from the supermarket!

Ginger is an expectorant, a warming anti spasmodic, excellent for curing chills and it boosts the immune system.

Lemon contains a number of minerals & vitamins including potassium, and vitamins A, B & C and bioflavonoids.

To make up 2 pints, you will need, 1 large piece of ginger root (about 2 inches long), 1 whole unwaxed lemon & 2 pints of boiling water.

Peel the ginger & grate into the bottom of a large teapot or suitable large heat-proof jug. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze out all the juice using a citrus juicer, and add to the jug. Next cut the lemon skins into smaller pieces and add to the teapot or jug. Top up with boiling water, cover and leave to infuse for 3-5 minutes.

Add Honey or Agave syrup to taste.

~

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but should hopefully provide some easy and practical suggestions for next time you're feeling under the weather.

~ 

Further Reading

Sources used for this article:

Hedley, C & Shaw, W.: Herbal Remedies (2002).

Shreeve, Dr C.: Complete Wellbeing (2003).

Rich, P.: Practical Aromatherapy (2002)

www.nhs.org

www.livestrong.com

www.rdasia.com

Disclaimer

The information and all remedies mention in this article are not intended to be used or construed as a substitute for the professional medical care and advice provided by a physician.

People who take the information and make decisions regarding their health or medical care, which they believe are based on ideas contained in this article, do so at their own risk.

 The author is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions or information contained in the article, but offer this material as information which the public has the right to hear and utilise at their own discretion. 

Adventures in Vegetarianism

Those of you who have been following me for a while will be aware than I started on a new journey at the beginning of this year.

I finally decided that it was time for me to stop eating meat.

I've always enjoyed vegetarian food, but I've resisted being a vegetarian my whole life for various reasons, most of them centring around the incredibly annoying, holier than thou vegetarian "omnivore bashers" that I encountered as a teenager. I'm sure you've come across them. They are the ones who try to "convert" others, stick their nose in your business, tut loudly and tell you how wrong you are for eating a hamburger, that you're really stupid/evil/bad for eating meat, and come around the school canteen with nasty posters of dead animals as you're trying to eat your chicken salad in peace. (A twisted part of me would still want to eat a nice rare steak in front of them just to prove a point about personal choice!)

I've been through periods of my life where I was focussing very much on my spiritual work, and I ate less meat and animal products, but I'd never made the transition to actually call myself "vegetarian." I just wasn't comfortable with it, and vegan? Well, that just seemed too extreme.

Last October, I was lucky enough to meet a group of new friends at the pagan Wheel of the Year celebrations organised by the wonderful Darci Swift. We were each asked to send out love and blessings to whomever we wanted during the ritual, and one lady, Lindsay, said some poignant and heartfelt words, sending blessings to animals that were to be eaten.

Her words were very beautiful and peaceful, and I could tell that she was coming from a place of love and compassion for life rather than judgement or condemnation towards those who chose to eat meat.

The words resonated with me to such a degree that I finally felt ready to take make the transition to become vegetarian at the beginning of this year.

I spent many hours researching the subject online in order to get to grips with my new lifestyle, and came across a good number of articles about the health risks of dairy produce.  Upon researching in more detail, it became apparent that several chronic conditions I suffer with may all have their roots in an allergy to dairy produce, so I made a decision to drop that from my diet too.

In a nutshell (if you'll pardon the pun), I found myself practically vegan, much to my surprise, and actually loving it! It opened my eyes to all kinds of yummy foods I'd never considered and the dietary adjustment was relatively easy. I've always preferred cooking my meals from scratch, and I don't miss meat at all, nor do I feel the need to rely on "meat replacement" products.

Having removed dairy from my diet, and introduced soya which agrees with me very well indeed, my health and wellness have improved dramatically, and happily my carbon footprint is significantly reduced.

And as an added bonus, I've lost 7 pounds! Woohoo!

The last items on my list were honey and eggs. I've made my peace with giving up honey (once I finish the last jar in my cupboard; waste not want not!) and I've phased eggs out, replacing them instead with flaxseed when baking.

I've never been a hypocrite, and I certainly don't condemn anyone in their choices to eat meat, dairy produce or animal products, nor would I impose my beliefs on others. After all, my cat Evey is a carnivore and she can't survive without meat. Not to mention that in the past I have eaten a large variety of foods ranging from foie gras and lobster to kangaroo steak and crocodile jerky, and I may still squish the odd spider if it startles me in the shower!

But right now, I'm done with meat, fish, dairy and animal products.

Bring on the vegetables! :D

Feeling Hot Hot Hot! Challenge 1 - Bikram Yoga

As part of my healthy & natural living theme, I was convinced to try Bikram Yoga by a couple of friends who recently started going themselves.

Bikram Yoga is a kind of Hot Yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury in the 70s, which seems to be spreading fast. It's made up of 26 postures or Asanas done in a room at 40°C (104°F).

"It's really great," enthused Michelle, "you'll love it, it's hard but you'll feel amazing afterwards!"

Bikram Yoga is reputedly excellent for detoxifying the body, strengthening muscle tone & improving flexibility and general health, with the added bonus that the heat helps minimise the risk of injury and allows you to go deeper into the postures.  

As with all Yoga practise it also has a spiritual side. More than just a set of stretching exercises, Yoga is a spiritual practise which brings spiritual insight, inner peace and tranquility to the practitioner or Yogi.

Having practised Hatha Yoga for the past year and a half, I was interested, but admittedly a bit scared at the prospect of doing Yoga in a 40 degree room. At the same time, as someone who tends to suffer from cramp in my toes at the slightest hint of cold, the idea of a nice warm room was also rather appealing.

Getting cramp in your feet during Yoga is very frustrating, not to mention painful, and you have to sit out until it passes.

I have to admit that I was more than a little concerned at how hot the room would be, whether I'd be able to breathe and whether I'd cope.

I'm not a fan of saunas or steam rooms, so the idea of a hot room was a little unnerving. The first and last time I went in a sauna, I had a panic attack, started hyperventilating and raced out the door back to the pool within about 30 seconds of the door being closed.

I decided it would be prudent to research Bikram Yoga thoroughly on the Internet to reassure and prepare myself for my first class.

Reassuring it was not - the more testimonials I read, the more nervous I got. Apparently I was going to feel faint, dizzy, sick and probably throw up at some point. I should also drink a couple of litres of water before and afterwards to make sure I didn't dehydrate.

What was I letting myself in for?

I arrived at the Bikram Yoga Bournemouth, mat, towel and water in hand, filled out my forms and sat waiting for the teacher to arrive.  I couldn't help noticing the other students were scantily clad to say in the least - tiny shorts and cropped tops appeared to be the order of the day, and I began to feel a little overdressed in my regular Yoga leggings and top.

While waiting for the beginning of class, I popped into the room and laid down my mat and towel to secure my place - right at the back with the beginners.  Flanked by second-timers Michelle & Sam, I was starting to feel a little better.  The room wasn't as hot as I was expecting, which was a relief. It reminded me of the sensation of stepping off the plan in the Dominican Republic, the heat wraps itself around you and you can't escape. It's strangely soothing.

The class finally started, and the newcomers were warmly welcomed by the teacher and owner of Bikram Yoga Bournemouth, Amber Fidler.

She explained to us that as it was our first time, the challenge was simply to stay in the room for the whole 90 minutes, and that we shouldn't worry whether we could do the postures or not.

I started OK, the first section went pretty well. During the harder middle section, I started to feel sick,  and found myself fighting the unexpected urge to run screaming out of the room.

I paused, sat down and sipped some water. Once I felt ready again I stood up and joined in again.

I lost count of the number of times I had to sit down and wait for feelings of faintness and nausea to subside, but I quickly learned that they were only temporary, and would pass each time I sat, breathed and sipped some more water.

The class around me were pouring with sweat - literally. I've never seen anything like it!

It became clear very quickly why it's compulsory to have a large towel covering your Yoga mat during class.

I was expecting to hate the sweaty part, but it was OK. You sweat so much that it just runs off, and the high tech fabric of my sports gear was doing an excellent job of wicking the moisture away from my skin. I concluded that the long leggings were a good idea after all.

It's an unusual sensation being soaked with sweat all over, but it's not unpleasant.

I was able to join in again properly for the final section of floor work, which I actually enjoyed.

I'm not sure if it was the relief at the class was finally over, and that I'd made it through the class alive, or simply some deep emotions coming up, stimulated by the Yoga, but at the end as we lay in Savasana, the dead body pose looking up at the ceiling, I felt a rush of emotion and tears starting to pour down the sides of my face. I've experienced this kind of emotional release during Yoga before, so I just let the tears flow, landing on my soggy, sweat-soaked  towel.

It was all over - the class slowly made their way out of the room, and most sat looking dazed and bedraggled in the corridor outside, resting and rehydrating with water and coconut water sold at the reception desk. There was a real feeling of achievement and camaraderie, and my fellow yogis appeared happy although clearly exhausted.

Rehydration is absolutely vital after Bikram Yoga. Staying on the natural theme, I bought myself a carton of coconut water which is a natural isotonic  - drinking chemical-laden Lucosade just wouldn't have felt right under the circumstances!

It was a very strange feeling coming out of the hot room back to normality. Physically, I felt exhausted and weak, but mentally I felt excited, pumped and a little crazy!

After resting and rehydrating, I drove home and parked up outside my house. I sat in my car and burst out laughing. It all felt so  surreal!

Today, day one after my first ever Bikram Yoga class, I'm really feeling the benefits. The more I move, the more muscles I find that have worked out and are aching as a result.  At the end of class Amber told us we'd worked every muscle group - she wasn't exaggerating!

Apparently, to achieve the best results, it's best to go back to Bikram Yoga within 48 hours so I've agreed to go back tomorrow for my second go.

It's very hard to describe how Bikram Yoga makes you feel, but I think I'm starting to understand why people get so hooked. It was difficult, challenging and awful, feeling sick and faint wasn't pleasant, but it was an amazing experience at the same time, my body had a great workout and I felt incredible afterwards, really positive and uplifted.

All I can say is try it - it's definitely worth a go!

If you'd like more information about the class I attended, please visit www.bikramyogabournemouth.com

How hard can it be? My Story so far...

I've always been fascinated by herbal remedies, and natural alternatives to medicines, cosmetics, cleaners and other chemical products, but for most of my life, I rarely or never found any that worked very well.

Is it just me, I asked myself? Have I been looking in the wrong places, or are there just not any good, viable alternatives to chemical cleaners, skin and beauty products?

I loved the idea of "going natural", but the chemical products just seemed to win every time.

I remember giving up after my first attempt of  making a "simple moisturiser" with lemon juice, honey and oil. I found the instructions in a book I'd bought on natural home remedies. I found myself with a pot of disappointing, sticky, un-useable mess, that went straight in the bin after the first try. I washed it off, and decided that natural home-made products just weren't any good. If they were, surely we'd all be using them?

Being raised as an eco-conscious woman in a modern era, trying to avoid pollution, waste, reducing my carbon footprint etc, I've carried a lot of guilt during my life about my own conflicting personal views on the subject.

I recently decided to make it my mission to answer that question, and look at how natural diet,  alternative and traditional remedies, natural and plant based skin care and cleaning products could enhance, rather than inhibit, our sophisticated modern lifestyle.

My life has seen more than it's fair share of changes already this year, so as change seems to be the theme for 2012, I thought, why not?

In January I felt it was the right time for me to stop eating meat, and switched my diet to vegetarian. Shortly afterwards,  upon researching vegetarian and vegan website, I stumbled upon some information that indicated that I have likely had an allergy to dairy products my entire life.

This came as a huge shock, as I've always loved milk, cream and cheeses, and an adjustment to my diet to exclude them entirely seemed rather daunting. I was horrified at the thought of eating soya instead - the word soya just sounds nasty doesn't it?

It did however, explain the various "childhood" ailments that  have plagued my entire life & that I never seemed to grow out of, despite doctors saying I would.

I've suffered with two notable conditions for as long as I can remember. The  well known, but often misunderstood skin condition Eczema, and the lesser known problem of Otitis Media with Effusion, more commonly called Glue Ear.

These two rather unpleasant conditions have made my life awkward and at times extremely uncomfortable.

I'll go into more detail about these ailments and the link to consuming dairy products, and the health benefits I have enjoyed as a result of eating soya in coming articles, but for now, suffice to say, I'm in much better shape.

Being a person of a spiritual persuasion, I will also be exploring complimentary therapies, and alternative lifestyles to look at their merits and how easy it would be to implement them into what most of us think of as "real" life!

So please join me on this journey of discovery of how to live in a more natural way, in a technological age. I'll be sharing my own personal experience, experimenting, making and testing remedies and products on myself, in the interests of furthering my own knowledge of what works and what doesn't, and hopefully sharing some useful insights and tips that you can try.

I am your guinea pig, so please feel free to contact me with ideas you'd like me to try, or challenges for me to solve.

Here goes - wish me luck!