EarthSave Baltimore

Earthsave Baltimore E-News: Earth Friendly Food Choices

"If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."
~Eubie Blake~

Hi Earthsaver,

Here’s the latest news from Earthsave Baltimore. We are an all-volunteer nonprofit that helps people make healthier, earth friendly food choices. We have good news hear for you!

It was a pleasure to see many Baltimore Earthsavers at this year’s Veg Summerfest, which was held at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA. We are all still raving about the quality of the presentations and speakers, and the great opportunity to get to know so many friendly, like-minded people in the pleasant surroundings at the Pitt/Johnstown campus, which is atop a mountain in a wildlife sanctuary. (I saw a real live skunk one evening – first time ever! - from a safe distance of about 30 feet) Attendance, at more than 600, was outstanding, despite the economic downturn. And as always, we enjoyed an (over)abundance of tasty vegan vittles, and many of us found it difficult not to overeat. There is always room for a slice of that tasty veggie pizza with the nicely melted daiya soy cheese, isn’t there?

Earthsave Baltimore’s next Veg Dinner Series potluck will happen in Owings Mills on Saturday, July 31st, and will feature a real special presentation. We’ll have a live talk by medical doctor Michael Greger. Each year Dr. Greger studies all of the latest nutrition research journals and informs his audiences of the newest findings and gives his recommendations. We’re expecting a real nice turnout for this event at Your Prescription for Health. Dr. Greger’s 2009 presentation set an ES Baltimore potluck attendance record with 71 attendees.

Hope to see you there! Be well!

Peace, Don Robertson

EARTHSAVE VEG DINNER ED SERIES: Saturday, July 31st, 6-9 pm - Michael Greger, MD, a very popular, internationally known speaker, will update us with a live presentation on all the latest in human nutrition research. Michael’s presentations, in a lively quiz show format, are fascinating and lots of fun. Those who haven’t yet attended our dinner series may want to make a special effort to be there this month.

Dr. Greger serves as the Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at the Humane Society of the United States. He was invited to testify as an expert witness in defense of Oprah Winfrey and Howard Lyman (former president of Earthsave) when they were sued by a group of Texas cattlemen after an Oprah show aired in which former cattleman Lyman informed the public about unsafe practices in the beef cattle industry. Dr. Michael Greger also testified before Congress in the wake of the largest beef recall in this nation’s history. And he has written two books, including “Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching”. For more information, see Dr. Greger’s website at http://www.drgreger.org/.

DINNER GUESTS bring a dish made without animal products to serve 5-8 people, along with a donation of $5 (members $2). Guests may attend without bringing a dish for a $12 fee (members $10). To attend only the presentation, donation is $5. Please give 1 day notice if paying for dinner. Dinners held at the Learning Center of Your Prescription for Health, 10210 S. Dolfield Rd., in Owings Mills. Please RSVP and join us if you can!

SATURDAY, Aug. 28th, 6-9 pm: Dinner will feature a live presentation by animal protection advocate Bruce Friedrich on “Effective Advocacy: Living as a Vegetarian in a Non-Vegetarian World”. Bruce Friedrich spearheaded the PETA campaigns that resulted in landmark reforms in the animal treatment practices of several huge fast-food corporations, and was named by Details magazine as one of the most influential young men in this country. He recently co-authored “The animal Activist’s Handbook”.

SATURDAY, Sept. 25th, 6-9 pm: Dinner will feature a video screening of Registered Dietitian Jeffrey Novick’s talk, “Reading Food Labels”. Jeff’s talk is packed with useful information to help us separate truth from sales hype. Jeffrey Novick has the soul of a standup comic, and his presentation will have us laughing as we learn! Join us if you can!

MONTHLY VEG DISCUSSION GROUP MEETUPS are casual and are held in restaurants over great vegetarian food. Attendance is usually around 8-20 people, and discussions include a wide variety of topics that support people in making healthier choices in diet and lifestyle. There are two different groups, one vegan and one vegetarian. The vegetarian group currently meets on the first Sunday at noon at the Kathmandu Kitchen in Towson, and the vegan group meets on the third Wednesday, at 7 pm, at Mr. Chan in Pikesville. Both groups welcome all who are interested in learning about healthier eating. For details, or to register and let others know you plan to attend, go to http://vegetarian.meetup.com/9/, or to http://vegan.meetup.com/29/.

EARTHSAVE MEALS FOR HEALTH PROGRAM is an exciting new initiative which will provide healthy food and education for underprivileged families with health problems. Earthsave is teaming with Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services in its pilot program which will include up to 15 families. The dietary regimen and educational program is based upon existing highly successful clinical programs of educator and author John McDougall, MD. Learn more by watching the videos at http://earthsave.org/.

U.N. REPORT RECOMMENDS GLOBAL SHIFT TOWARD VEGANISM: The International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) resource panel, has released a report stating that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital if we are to halt climate change and other environmental problems. The U.N. report also suggests curbing fossil fuel use, which can also be achieved by going vegan. See full article at http://tinyurl.com/27weqng.

CLEVELAND CLINIC PHYSICIAN CALDWELL ESSELSTYN, JR. was recently inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame. The North American Vegetarian Society conferred the honors on Dr. Esselstyn at the 2010 Vegetarian Summerfest in Johnstown, PA. Dr. Esselstyn has received numerous awards, including a Bronze Star for heroism as a U.S. Army surgeon in Vietnam, and an Olympic Gold Medal in a rowing competition. But he’s perhaps best known for initiating one of the most impressive and longest running clinical studies on heart disease and diet that we know of. He placed 17 patients with severe coronary artery disease on a vegan dietary plan. The referring cardiologists had run out of options for the patients in this group, whose members had previously experienced 49 cardiac events. In fact, five members of the group had been given less than a year to live. Twenty-three years later, all were still alive and free of heart disease symptoms. Dr. Esselstyn gives a full accounting of his amazing study in his recently published book “Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease”. The book will be available at Earthsave Baltimore’s bookstore table at upcoming events. More info is available on Dr. Esselstyn’s webpage at http://www.heartattackproof.com/.

DR. CAMPBELL CALLS FOR NIH INSTITUTE FOR NUTRITION: (Article in Huffington Post; by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, July 26, 2010)
Finally, a long overdue scientific correction is happening. The human genome project is failing to advance the cause of human health, as promised. There is a fundamental but frustratingly and long overlooked reason why this is happening.

Working out the details of the human genome was worth doing, on several accounts: monitoring environmental pollutants, evaluating evolutionary lineages, identifying criminal suspects. But initially promising great advances in human health was not and should not have been one of these promises. Hypothesizing that knowledge of the associations of specific genes with serious diseases like cancer, heart disease and related diseases would lead to great health advances (through drug development) was a superficial and costly oversimplification of disease causation.

Although genes and/or their mutated forms are fundamental to the initiation of all disease events, it is not their mere presence or absence that determines disease outcomes. Genes may start the job but they do not finish it.
Read full article at http://tinyurl.com/274fecc.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN MARK RIFKIN was recently featured in a Baltimore WBAL-TV 11 morning news segment about healthy snacks. See the video at http://www.wbaltv.com/video/24300650/index.html. Mark also wrote an article that provides historical perspective how our current health and dietary woes evolved. It’s called “The Modern American Diet, Public Policy and Health", and can be read at http://tinyurl.com/2cuo66z.

VIDEO ABOUT BOTTLED WATER: MOM's (My Organic Market) in Rockville not only stopped selling bottled water, but on the shelves where the bottled water used to be they set up a video monitor to show people this educational video about why they did it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0

PHOTOS FROM VEG SUMMERFEST 2010 are on the Earthsave Baltimore webpage at http://earthsavebaltimore.org/, and many more Summerfest photos with captions are available at http://www.facebook.com/earthsaverdon. (lower left at bottom of page) There is also a wonderful photo album called “Peaceable Kingdom” which features animals of various species showing their love and living peacefully together.

DID YOU KNOW… that about 80% of American farmland is used to grow grains, beans, and grasses to feed livestock. Our farms could provide for 7 times as many people who adhere to a purely plant-based diet. See more fascinating facts at http://earthsavebaltimore.org/node/78.

JOHN MCDOUGALL, MD, REVIEWS DIETARY GUIDELINES REPORT: Conflicting recommendations for plant-food vs. animal-food consumption dominate the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recent report, meaning that real solutions for obese and sick Americans will, unfortunately, not be forthcoming. Except for a few hopeful sentences, the committee presents a report filled with fear mongering, doubletalk, omissions of major topics, consistently biased views of the scientific literature, and inexcusable factual errors that favor the livestock industries.

I believe the members of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee know the truth about the role that animal products play in causing the vast majority of chronic diseases that afflict Americans today (heart disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and breast, colon, and prostate cancer, all of which are mentioned in their report). I believe they also know the solution to the health problems Americans face since they recommend taking steps to “Shift food intake pattern to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes vegetables, cooked dry beans and peas, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.” They should have stopped right there, but they didn’t.
See full article at http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2010other/guidelines.htm.

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY: Ginny Robertson, publisher of ON PURPOSE WOMAN magazine has generously offered to support Earthsave by donating 25% of all advertising fees from new accounts of those who mention our group. On Purpose Woman is a free bi-monthly publication which features great articles and interesting ads on personal growth, health, community service, and entrepreneurship. It’s available in nearly all Baltimore metro area public libraries and other locations, and has a circulation of 17,000. The Aug./ Sept. issue of OPW will be out in the 2nd week of August. All ad copy is due by Friday, August 6th. For ad rates go to www.GinnyRobertson.com and click on OPW Magazine and then on Standard Rates. Contact Ginny Robertson at ginnyrobertson@comcast.net, or call 410-252-2703.

THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES have supported Earthsave’s Baltimore chapter for years. We hope that you will consider supporting them:

YOUR PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH TALK RADIO (10 am until Noon on Sunday mornings) offers lots of good information and tips on health, nutrition, and fitness. Holistic pharmacist Dr. Brian Sanderoff, does a great job hosting and interviewing his guests. You can listen live on WCBM, 680 AM, or anywhere in the world on the inter-net by going to http://www.wcbm.com/. And there is a tremendous archived library of previous programs that you can listen to. For more info about the show, go to http://www.illnessisoptional.com/aboutus/default.htm.

GINNY ROBERTSON PRESENTS NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN: Ginny Robertson, publisher of ON PURPOSE WOMAN magazine has done a lot over the years to help women find their “big girl voices.” She offers 9 opportunities a month for women to connect, network and support each other in being their best selves, both personally and professionally. Ginny provides a unique business model that assists women in using their natural gifts and abilities to show up and play big. There are morning meetings in Arlington VA and Bel Air, Columbia, Derwood & White Marsh MD, as well as evening meetings in Arlington VA and Annapolis, Columbia and Ruxton, MD. For more info go to www.GinnyRobertson.com and click on Upcoming Events.

HEALTH QUEST magazine features articles and ads on holistic health. It’s a free publication that’s available in most public libraries as well as in health food stores and at the locations of many alternative and complementary medical facilities. You may also pick up a copy at the Earthsave dinners in Owings Mills. Health Quest Publisher Mike Ruby organizes several health fairs as well as a psychic fair each year. To inquire about fairs, advertising, or magazine locations contact Mike Ruby at 410-494-1882.

EARTHSAVE MEMBERSHIP is a great way for you to contribute to our important educational mission. All members may receive a free 12-issue subscription to Vegetarian Times magazine and Earthsave’s national bi-monthly newsletter. Folks who attend meetings may check out books from our well stocked EarthSave Library, they may place literature on our networking tables, may make a brief announcement to the group, and receive discounted attendance fees and EarthSave bookstore prices. You may join our group online at http://www.earthsave.org/, or you can send a tax-deductible check for $35, or $50 for family membership, or $25 for student or senior, to EarthSave at 517 Talbott Ave. Lutherville MD, 21093. Thanks for your kind support!

PLEASE REMEMBER to be the peace that you wish to manifest. Be well!

EarthSave … May all be fed, may all be healed, and may all be loved.

Baltimore Chapter events http://earthsavebaltimore.org/ Call us at 410-252-3043, or email us at Baltimore@earthsave.org

BALTIMORE VEG DINNER SERIES will host a vegetarian potluck dinner featuring a presentation by MICHAEL GREGER, MD, a general practitioner specializing in clinical nutrition. He will be talking about the latest news in human nutrition. Currently, Dr. Greger serves as Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture with the Humane Society of the U.S.

Dr. Greger always makes his presentations entertaining, but we promise you this one will be especially so. Michael will quiz our group on all the latest findings in nutritional research and will have some prizes for the winners. So start studying, and let us know ASAP that you plan to be there.

DINNER GUESTS are asked to bring a dish that’s made without animal products to serve 6-8 people, along with a donation of $5 ($2 for members). Guest may attend without bringing a dish for a $12 fee ($10 for members). Please give 1 day notice if paying for dinner. The fee to atttend the presentation only is $5.

Monthly Dinner Ed Series events are held on the last Saturday at the Learning Center/Yoga Studio of Your Prescription for Health, 10210 S. Dolfield Rd. in Owings Mills. RSVPs to 410-252-3043 will be much appreciated!

DIRECTIONS From Beltway 695: take exit 19 onto I-795 (Northwest Expressway). Get off at Exit 4 (Owings Mills Blvd). Bear right when exit splits. Take right at first traffic light (South Dolfield Road). Travel approximately l/2 mile. Flying Avocado Café and "Your Prescription for Health" pharmacy is on the right after Gold’s Gym (which is on left). The Learning Center/Yoga Studio entrance is at the opposite end of the building.

DIRECTIONS From Reisterstown Road: Travel West on Painters Mill Road. Turn right at 2nd traffic light onto S. Dolfield Road. Go left at the second driveway into the parking lot of Your Prescription for Health.