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Benefits of being a Vegan

akmaini — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:45:34 CST

Spiritual benefits of being Vegan

To eat whatever is served, to drink whatever is available and to act as per the wishes of mind are the signs of animalistic tendencies. Even animals do the same. If you act just like animals, then you won’t be able to claim the eternal inner joy, love and laughter that are only available to humans. For receiving the priceless gift of inner happiness, you are required to be the master of your mind, instead of being a slave. You can only become master of your mind when your intellect shines with the true wisdom and your acts are aligned with your consciousness.

Your intellect only makes decision based on the past impressions and the current knowledge. A true seeker of happiness should gain ample knowledge to illumine the intellect so that it can make right decisions that could bring you closer to inner joy. Such a seeker who illumines the intellect with the facts and who listens to the consciousness becomes vegetarian spontaneously, without forcing the mind. I can tell you this with my own experience. My parents were omnivorous and hence it was natural for me to eat meat. I used to relish it too. However, it was only when I came in contact with my spiritual master, listened to his talks and gathered ample information about the subject that I became more mindful of my eating and drinking habits. When I started listening to my conscious and started asking myself: what gives me right to take another life? Is it justified to take a life for the sake of satisfying my taste buds? How can I become more peaceful from inside if I eat meat? Instead of just blabbering about Go-Green, how can I contribute to the environment? Well, such contemplation helped me to become a vegetarian spontaneously, without any efforts.

If you continue to perform certain action for a long time, even if it is wrongful action, it becomes a habit. Your mind approves such actions without consideration. You need someone to shake you and wake you up to remind you of your unjust actions. Here is a humble attempt to present you with all the relevant information about the subject of vegetarianism and your eating lifestyle. Presented below are some of the benefits of being a vegetarian.

Vegetarian food helps you to regain your inner peace and happiness

If the slaughter houses have glass walls then everyone will become vegetarian. When the animal is about to be killed mercilessly, the helpless victim is filled with the ominous feelings of fear, anger, hate, disgust and despair. The same gloomy feelings are carried over to each of their body cell. Your mind gets affected by all that you eat and drink. When you eat the flesh of the dead animal carrying those ominous feelings, you mind becomes restless and filled with despair. That is the reason why those who strive to calm their mind with meditation are very careful about all that they eat and drink.

The law of Karma is very logical. As we sow, so shall we reap; for every action there is a reaction; do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Those who believe in the law of Karma would easily comprehend that the kind of Karma that is incurred by eating meat, after inflicting pain and premature death to animals, cannot bring you peace and happiness as reward.

Those who have realized the true meaning of life insist that to see God in each and every being is the true wisdom and the highest form of devotion to God. When you recognize the same consciousness in all beings, as is residing in your heart, then the Supreme consciousness is pleased. When your acts start pleasing the Supreme Consciousness that is also residing in your heart, then your thoughts are aligned with your consciousness. This makes your mind attain poise and your intellect starts shining with the wisdom of truth. In this manner, your righteous actions bring you wholesome peace, natural health and inner happiness.

Vegetarian food makes you less prone to diseases and healthier

There is no nutrient necessary for optimal human functioning which cannot be obtained from plant food. Vegetarian diet is safe, nourishing and wholesome in nature. It has been observed in various studies that vegetarians live on average about six years longer and healthier than their meat eating peers. Meat eaters are exposed to a wide variety of health risks as they enter into the food chain at much higher level. Animals don’t maintain hygiene like humans and hence, there are a host of bacteria and viruses in their flesh. When you eat meat, you are exposed to all of those micro-organisms.

Cattle and livestock feed is routinely blended with hormones and antibiotics to allow agribusiness the efficiency of massive flocks and profitability. These hormones and antibiotics make their way into those who eat flesh, causing hormonal imbalances and antibiotic resistance. It is also a known fact that animal-based diets are high in saturated fat, excessive protein and cholesterol. Such diets lead to heart disease and stroke, which results in nearly 50% of all deaths in the U.S.

The human digestive system is not designed for meat. A human's bowel is 12 times the length of the torso of the natural carnivores and is deeply twisted. The carnivore has much stronger digestive acids which human digestive system lacks. In the long convoluted human digestive tract, meat putrefies and becomes toxic to the body.

Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a key researcher involved with The China Study, says "In the next 10 to 15 years, one of the things you're bound to hear is that animal protein is one of the most toxic nutrients of all that can be considered." Meat-centred diets are linked to many kinds of cancer, such as cancer of the colon, breast, cervix, uterus, ovary, prostate, and lung. The National Cancer Research Institute found that women who eat meat daily are almost 4 times more likely to get breast cancer than those who eat little or no meat.

Another perception of expert dieticians is that the consumption of animal products causes the pH of the body to become acidic, leading to cellular degeneration and the onslaught of disease. An acidic pH in the body is the primary precursor to all disease. Vegetarian food helps you to restore PH balance in the body naturally, without much effort.

Being vegetarian saves you from being inhuman

A few people argue that it is natural for human beings to eat meat. If you've ever watched a carnivore eat, you would know instantly that humans are not carnivores. Carnivores attack their prey usually biting through the neck and ripping the throat to shreds. After killing, they rip open the belly with their sharp teeth and devour the entrails. They lap up the blood and chew the bones. No human could eat like a carnivore eats.

The only way humans can eat animals is to disguise what they are really doing, that is to get someone else to kill the animal, then drain and dispose of its blood, slice the muscles into pieces, cook it, smother it with sauces and seasonings... all in an effort to make the mind think that it is not as brutal to eat meat as carnivores do. If you have ever had a pet, you know that animals have feelings, that they are intuitive, sensitive creatures. The production of animals for the consumption of their muscle and organ tissues is less than human.

Over 7 billion farm animals die or are slaughtered in the U.S. every year for the production of flesh, mostly in highly mechanized factory-like systems using unprecedented, largely unregulated methods of brutality and cruelty. The believers of non-violence cannot eat meat, because slaughter doesn't. Many believe that there can never be peace among men while men are declaring war on other intuitive life forms.

Being a vegetarian makes you environment friendly

If you really want to contribute in the efforts of saving mother earth, if you really want to participate in the Go-Green movement, then by becoming a vegetarian you can contribute a lot. Albert Einstein used to insist that ‘Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.’ After reading following statistical facts, you will also agree with Einstein.

The world's cattle alone (not including other livestock) consume food enough for 8.7 billion people. Over a hundred million of tons of grain go to animals while only 5 million tons of grain could adequately feed the 15 million children throughout the world who starve to death every year. It takes about 2,500 gallons of water to produce a single pound of meat. In contrast, it takes only 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat. By eating grain food directly, vegetarians make the food supply more efficient and contribute to the environment.

A meat-eating American needs 3-1/4 acres of cultivated farm land per year whereas a vegetarian only require 1/6 acre per year. Trees are being cut at an alarming rate to clear land for meat production. Tropical forests in Brazil and other parts of the world are destroyed daily, to create more acreage to raise livestock. If tomorrow people in the U.S. switched to vegetarian, over 200 million acres could be returned to forest.

The meat lovers have no convincing argument to support the continuation of their brutality on other intuitive beings, feeble animals and birds. The fact is that their mind is so much inhibited by their taste senses that they cannot give up the momentary pleasure of eating flesh, even at the cost of their health, inner peace and happiness.

After reading this article, I am sure that when you sit next time on the dining table with a slice of chicken or lamb on your plate, you will hear an inner voice that will try to stop you from eating desecrated food. At that time it will be up to you to listen to your conscious or to succumb to the temptations of your mind. If you value inner peace and joy more than the momentary pleasure, then it will be easy for you to make the righteous decision. Instead of fulfilling all the demands of mind, winning over the cravings of mind is true victory on the path of inner happiness.

By Anil Maini : Please visit my Happiness Blog

Columbus

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:18:33 CST

Betty's
Chipotle
Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace
Dragonfly neo-v
Mad Mex
On The Fly
Pattycake Vegan Bakery
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Tip Top

Tip Top

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:16:45 CST

Tip Top is a part of group of restaurants under the same ownership that includes Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace, Betty's and Surly Girl.

What's vegan
The menu is marked with a few entrees that can be made vegan, though there may be other vegan items on the menu that are not marked. Unfortunately, the menu does not mark all vegan items as some of the other restaurants in this family of restaurants. Vegan items include: Veggie Muffuletta, Veggie Wrap, Roast Beef and Onion Marmalade, Cheese Steak and Italian Beef. Soy beef can be subbed at no charge and soy cheese for 50 cents extra. The batter on the eggplant fries is vegan.

What to look out for
Fry oil. There is no guarantee that fried items will not be fried in the same oil as fish.

Type: Dine in, bar
Food: Vegan friendly omni
Address: 73 E. Gay St. Columbus Ohio 43215
Phone: 614.221.8300
Website: www.tiptopcolumbus.com

Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:16:08 CST

Dirty Frank's is a part of group of restaurants under the same ownership that includes Tip Top, Betty's and Surly Girl.

What's vegan
Any hot dog can be replaced with a tofurky dog, veggie beef brat or veggie polish sausage. Meaning that a lot of items can be made vegan. The menu is clearly marked with which items can be made vegan.

What to look out for
Non-vegan items besides the hot dogs do not have substitutes. So, be aware of what will and will not be coming on your dog when ordering it.

Type: Dine in, bar
Food: Vegan friendly omni
Address: 248 South 4th Street Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 824-4673
Website: www.dirtyfrankscolumbus.com

Betty's

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:15:08 CST

Betty's is a part of group of restaurants under the same ownership that includes Tip Top, Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace and Surly Girl. It is located in the arts district in the Short North.

What's vegan
A lot of things at Betty's can be made vegan. The menu items are marked as "can be made vegan" with a heart symbol. When looking online, view the PDFs in order to see these.

Type: Dine in, bar
Food: Vegan friendly omni
Address: 680 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614.228.6191
Website: www.bettyscolumbus.com

Pattycake Vegan Bakery

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:09:33 CST

Pattycake Vegan Bakery is all vegan bakery (as the name implies). They also make specialty items that are gluten-free, sugar-free or devoid of other allergens (sometimes only upon request). Pattycake goodies can be found at many Columbus businesses. See the Pattycake website for details. Pattycake has a serious commitment to being eco-conscious, too. They compost their waste, use reusable or biodegradable items in their production and distribution whenever possible and much more (see website for full details).

What's vegan
Everything! (This is the same answer to the question, "What's delicious at Pattycake?")

What to look at for
Nothing! The people at Pattycake have their stuff together.

Type: Take out, dine in (they have two tables)
Food: Vegan
Address: 3009 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43202
Phone: 614.784.2253
Website: www.pattycakeveganbakery.com

Mad Mex

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:49:01 CST

Mad Mex is a Midwestern chain of Mexican restaurants. The location in Columbus, Ohio is in the South Campus Gateway near The Ohio State University. Veggie or veggie possible dishes are denoted with a cactus on the menu, that's a good starting point. Mad Mex has many specials, details of these can be found on their website.

What's vegan
Too much to list here! Cheese in any dish can be replaced with vegan soy cheese and sour cream can be replaced with tofu sour cream. Most entrees can be made with grilled portabellas or tofu. To be sure, order your food, list the changes you want made to the dish, and then add "made vegan".

What to look out for
The Yucatan black bean dip has Parmesan cheese in it, this is also used in the black beanie quesadeenie.
Some entrees, definitely the burritos, come with the Mad Mex cactus logo drawn on them with a sauce. This sauce is not vegan. Specifying your dish as "made vegan" should be enough to ensure that your entree doesn't have this on it.
The menus - unfortunately the front cover of each menu is a big (and gross) piece of leather.

Type:Dine in, take out, bar
Food: Vegan friendly omni
Address: 1542 North High Street Columbus, Ohio
Phone: 614-586-4007
Website: www.madmex.com

Chipotle

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:21:54 CST

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a chain of fast food restaurants specializing in tacos and burritos that was founded in Denver in 1993.
Despite McDonalds once having a stake in Chipotle (which has since been sold off), Chipotle has long been a leader in adopting progressive business practices, such as opening LEED certified resturants, sourcing organic ingredients, and also sourcing "free-range" meat.

Vegan-Safe Menu Options

The "Garden Blend"
While Chipotle has always had some vegan options, such as their "vegetarian" burrito, they have now released "Garden Blend" protein, made to be a faux-chicken item.

Description:
A blend of protein, grains and veggies marinated in adobo sauce, then grilled.

Ingredients of Garden Blend Protein:
Ingredients: Water, Soy Protein, Canadian Wheat Protein (also called vital wheat gluten), Fresh Carrots,
Natural Flavors (from plant sources), Pea Protein, Carrot Fiber, Organic Beet Root Fiber, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Yeast Extract, and Sea Salt.

Note:
This has only been released to select locations at this point. If you'd like to see it near you, please make your voices heard:

Email Chipotle to ask for it at your location: http://www.chipotle.com/#flash/speak_comment
Comment on Chipotle's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/chipotle

Fajita Vegetables & Guacamole Burritos and Tacos
Not much out of the ordinary to mention here, but not bad at all.

Fajita Vegetables: Green Peppers, Red Onion, Fresh Oregano, Soybean Oil.
Cilantro Lime Rice: White Rice, Fresh Cilantro, Citrus Juice, Salt.
Black Beans: Black Beans, Cumin, Spices.
Guacamole: Haas Avacados, Fresh Cilantro, Red Onions, Jalapeño Peppers, Citrus Juice, Salt, Spices.

Notes:

Not Vegan-Safe Items:

Pinto Beans: Simmered with bacon.
Chipotle-honey vinaigrette dressing: contains honey

Vegan-Safe Items Not Mentioned Above:

All salsas
Lettuce

Vegetarian-Safe (But Not Vegan) Items:

Cheeses and Sour Cream are all made without animal rennet.

Dragonfly neo-v

JohnColvin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:20:38 CST

Dragonfly neo-v is an all vegan restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. It has been named to several top vegetarian restaurants lists in the US. Dragonfly has a restaurant attached to it that serves "street food", it is called On The Fly.

What's vegan
All of the food is vegan. The menu is seasonal and can be found at their website, http://www.dragonflyneov.com

What to watch out for
Some of the beer and wine may not be considered vegan. It's probably best to ask.

Type: Dine in restaurant
Food: Vegan
Address: 247 King Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43201
Phone: 614.298.9986
Website: http://www.dragonflyneov.com/

On The Fly

JohnColvin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:56:51 CST

On The Fly is an all vegan restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. It is attached to another all vegan restaurant called Dragonfly. Similar food is served at Dragonfly and On The Fly. The food at the On The Fly is called "street food" and is less expensive than the food served at Dragonfly.

What's vegan
All of the food is vegan. The menu can be found here.

What to watch out for
Some of the beer and wine may not be considered vegan. It's probably best to ask.

Type: Dine in or take out restaurant
Food: Vegan
Address: 247 King Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43201
Phone: 614.298.9986
Website: http://www.dragonflyneov.com/

Ohio

JohnColvin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:28:59 CST

Columbus

Dining Out

JohnColvin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:26:40 CST

National Chains

Local and regional restaurants, by state:

California
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New York
Oregon

Ohio
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia

Red Lentil

lackita — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:14:54 CST

Red Lentil - Watertown
Globally inspired vegetarian and veganfoods (including vegan desserts)

Hours:

Sunday

Monday-Thursday	11:00-9:30
Friday-Saturday	11:00-10:00
Sunday	9:00-9:30

Massachusetts

lackita — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:49:38 CST

National Chains

VegansLoveHouseMusic — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:34:02 CST

Applebee's
Burger King
Chipotle
Denny's
Panera
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Red Robin
Taco Bell

Online Resources

cwings — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:22:15 CDT

All Recipes - Who needs a cookbook? A variety of delicious vegan main dishes and desserts.
Friends of Animals - Founded in 1957, this nonprofit group advocates ending all animal-use and exploitation and for the right of animals to live free according to their terms.
Humane Myth - Providing the latest information and useful downloadable resources to combat the meat industry's propaganda about "compassionate-meat-comes-from-happy-animals."
Public Vegan Blog - Great reviews of Chicago area vegan fare! The Vegan Society - Founded in 1944, the Vegan Society provides advice on a way of living free of animal products.
Tribe of Heart - Discover award-winning documentaries and the myth-busting truth the meat industry doesn't want consumers to know about factory farming hell--the slick PR lies behind "humane or compassionate meat."
Tupalo - Social word of mouth recommendations network for independent / veggie culture.

Veg Starter Kit - A free kit to help newbies make a smooth transition to vegan life.
Vegan Blog Tracker - Track vegan blogs and podcasts from around the web
Vegan City Guide - A comprehensive list of locally run city guides.
Vegan Grub - For newbie vegans and animal liberation warriors. Travel strong on your quest to live true with earth.
Vegan Health Guide - Information on oil, salt, soy, vitamins, and more.
Vegan Podcasts and Internet Radio on pluggd
Vegan Products Guide - Alternatives to dairy, eggs, meat, pet food, supplements, and more.
Vegcooking.com - Recipes, restaurant reviews, chef interviews, cooking advice and more!

Wikipedia on Veganism - See what the contributors to Wikipedia have to say about veganism.

Connecticut

mshea413 — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:21:00 CST

Claire's Corner Copia

(203) 562-3888

1000 Chapel Street

New Haven, CT

www.clairescornercopia.com

Allvegetarian, many vegan options with some vegan deserts.

It's Only Natural Restaurant

(860)346-9210

Middletown CT

www.ionrestaurant.com

Almost everything on the menu is vegan except the cheese witch can be substituted with a vegan cheese. Great vegan deserts!

Online Shopping

PrometheusUK — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:09:54 CST

Vegan Essentials
Vegan In Black (dark music related shirts, buttons)
Good Goth (non-leather boots!)
Humanitaire - All Vegan Clothing, Footwear, etc.
Food Fight (vegan grocery store in Portland, OR)
Moo Shoes (vegan shoestore in NYC)
Vegan Unlimited (Great Stuff!)
Pangea Shop
PETAmall.com (everything from food to clothes, and flowers to sports gear)
Secret Society Of Vegans (super cool vegan clothing, now has a U.S store)
Alternative Outfitters Vegan Boutique (non-leather shoes, handbags, and other animal friendly accessories)
Vegan Vitamins (Green Valley Online supply vegan vitamins, supplements and other natural healthcare products for vegans)
Vegan Health and Beauty (supply cruelty-free cosmetics, make-up and other vegan bodycare products)

Meat Alternatives

VeganFuture — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:04:25 CST

Gardein

MeatAlternatives.org

Oregon

andihummel — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:26:17 CDT

vita cafe portland, or
paradox cafe
blossoming lotus
nuttshell