…other than the obivous:  it’s a drain on our environment!…

Click on Mr. Cow to find out!

I know I’ve mentioned it before, the dairy industry is a huge drain on the environment and it’s really not good for our bodies.  If you don’t believe me and would prefer the opinion of a medical professional, check out this video…

thanks to Kind Boutique for tweeting this – bringing it to my attention!

As of late there has been much talk about soy not being good for us.  Well, too much of anything is never really good for anyone.  In my final detox class at Karyn’s (Chicago), Karyn said that in order to have issues with soy we’d have to ingest more of it than we’d comfortably be able to do.  Point being, it’s ok in moderation and it’s a great transitional food.  There are plenty of other milks out there – almond, hemp, coconut, and rice – use those when possible, otherwise soy is perfectly safe and healthy.

This post was recently found on Vegetarian Star…

Dr. Steve “Weird Medicine” On Male Breasts From Soy

Written by Vegetarian Star on April 14th, 2010 in Food & Drink, Nutrition and Health.

Sirius XM Radio “Weird Medicine” with Dr. Steve

The debate over soy giving little and big boys girl parts will probably never end, due to the amount of prejudice against the real men who choose to eschew steak and opt for tempeh instead. 

Dr. Steve, host of the Sirius XM radio program “Weird Medicine,” has taken a moment in Men’s Fitness to clear up the confusion as to whether a cup of soy milk a day keeps the testosterone away. 

First, Dr. Steve wants you know that all men have breasts, just not big enough to look good in a Victoria’s Secret ad. 

Because soy is rich in isoflavones, a chemical with estrogen like effects, some think it could stimulate breast growth in men. 

After researching the keywords “soy and gynecomastia” in the National Institute of Health database, only a few articles of legitimate research actually show up, and the only serious case was that of a 60 year old man who drank 3/4 of a gallon of soy milk a day to get his hooters. 

That’s 12 cups a day. 

Once the doctors told him to knock that crazy shit off, he could no longer show off his bossom to his friends as it shrank tremendously. 

“A 2004 Italian study of kids raised on soy protein formulas showed no gynecomastia, no early puberty, no changes in their bones and no other signs of screwed up hormones,” writes Dr. Steve. 

In addition, some male children are raised on soy milk their entire lives and still have to get girlfriends to enjoy breasts. 

So drink up and rest assured you’ll do not only your health, but the cows’ health a favor as well.

This was on www.thediscerningbrute.com and is just too sweet of a story not to share…

Remember when I asked for help in reforming the organic meat and dairy industry?  The efforts were successful!

From the ASPCA…

Good news—the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed regulations for the care of “organic” dairy cows, which we asked you take action on two weeks ago, have been approved! The new rules, effective June 17, stipulate that organic milk and meat must come from livestock grazing on pasture for at least four months of the year; 30 percent of the cows’ feed must come from grazing; and ranchers must have a plan to protect soil and water quality.

“We are delighted to learn that so many cows will now have access to pasture and an opportunity to graze,” says Robert Baker, ASPCA Senior Manager of Farm Animal Welfare. “We hope this will be the first of many steps the USDA will take to align organic standards with humane standards. Consumers need to be given an opportunity to make a ‘humane’ choice as well as a healthy choice when they choose organic products. We welcome these initial measures toward this goal.”

We would like to give a big thanks to News Alert readers and members of the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade who took the time to email the White House from ASPCA.org. Over the span of 15 days, more than 33,000 emails were sent!

“Clear and enforceable standards are essential to the health and success of the market for organic agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a USDA press release issued last Friday. “The final rule published today will give consumers confidence that organic milk or cheese comes from cows raised on pasture, and organic family farmers the assurance that there is one, consistent pasture standard that applies to dairy products.”

For more information on the new rules for organic milk, visit the website of the National Organic Program.

From ASPCA…send the email – I did!

U.S. demand for organic milk has increased as much as 30% in the last few years. However, contrary to popular belief, the lives of “organic” dairy cows are often no different from those of their non-organic counterparts. Instead of the lush green pastures depicted in commercials and on milk cartons, an estimated 30-40% of the nation’s organic milk supply comes from large factory farms. Many of the largest organic dairies in the country confine their cows in barns and/or dry lots, which are simply dirt pens. These cows never see a blade of grass in their lives.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) already requires that organic dairy cows be allowed to graze in pastures, but the loophole in this regulation is so large that enforcement has proved hopeless. However, there is good news on the horizon: the USDA has proposed rules to better enforce existing requirements and ensure that organic dairy farms graze their cows rather than confine them.

The proposed regulations are awaiting the approval of the President’s Office of Management and Budget, which is apolitical and not influenced by public pressure. The best way to make your voice heard is to contact President Obama himself and urge him to champion the USDA’s new regulations to his budget office. A decision could be made any day, so please visit aspca.org/USA to send an email to the White House asking the President to take this small step to address the public’s concerns about where “organic” milk comes from. You may also call the White House Comment Line at (202) 456-1111.