Friday, February 15, 2012

Good morning,

The scandal about horsemeat showing up in school meals, restaurant dishes, hospital food and even supermarkets around Europe has really highlighted our dependence on meat as a dietary staple.

I admit that I love a good steak every now and then, but it is true that meat production has the worst environmental record. It requires 13 pounds of grain and a staggering 2,500 gallons of water (estimated, of course) to produce a 1-pound steak.

Then there is the land usage, the waste produced, not to mention health issues like the use of bovine growth hormones.

The good news is that cutting down on your consumption of meat is not only better for the environment, it is better for you! There are volumes of scientific evidence pointing to the health benefits of a heavily vegetarian diet. In fact, there is a whole category called 'super foods' which are known for their high nutritional value, antioxidant, anti-cancer and even anti-aging properties, and wonder of wonders they are almost all vegetarian.

I won't be hypocritical and suggest that you become a vegetarian, but if you substitute even some of your meals including meat for meals prepared with some of the super foods I have listed for you here, you will not only reduce the demand (and therefore production) of meat, but you will be doing something great for your body.

Just imagine the culinary delights you could create with some of the ingredients below!

Thanks for reading,

Your Living Green editor

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Super Foods


Spinach, kale, watercress, parsley, and broccoli sprouts

Fresh raw green leafy vegetables like these contain high doses of chlorophyll, easily digestible proteins, enzymes and a wide range of vitamins and minerals. These vegetables act as mini-transfusions for the blood, a health tonic for the brain and immune system and a cleanser of the kidneys.


Walnuts

Just 14 walnut halves provide more than twice your daily dose of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fat that's been shown to improve memory and coordination.


Avocados

Their healthy fat keeps you satisfied and helps you absorb other nutrients. For a new twist, brush a halved avocado (pit removed) with olive oil and grill 1 minute. Serve with red onion, sliced grapefruit and balsamic vinegar.


Salmon

You'll get all the heart-smart omega-3s you need in a day from just 3 oz.


Beans and Lentils

A great source of meat-free protein, and they're loaded with folate and flavonoids.


Sweet potatoes

Half of a large baked sweet potato delivers more than 450 percent of your daily dose of vitamin A, which protects your vision and your immune system.


Flaxseed

Not only is flaxseed loaded with plant omega-3s, it also has more lignans (compounds that may prevent endometrial and ovarian cancer) than any other food. Store ground flaxseed in your refrigerator and sprinkle on yogurt, cold cereal or oatmeal.


Coconut

Young coconuts are one of the highest sources of electrolytes in nature. Electrolytes are ionized salts in our cells, that transport energy throughout the body. Coconut water is a much better alternative to commercial sports drinks laden with artificial sugars and colors. The molecular structure of coconut water is identical to human blood plasma, which means that it is immediately recognized by the body and put to good use. Drinking the juice from a young coconut is like giving your body an instant blood transfusion.


Bee pollen

Bee pollen is collected by bees from flowering plants and formed into granules. Bee pollen is the most complete food found in nature and has five to seven times more protein than beef. Research shows that pollen counteracts the signs of aging and increases both mental and physical capability.