What the Egg Industry Means

Yesterday, the egg industry ran a full page in several major national newspapers. It was simple: an egg and text on a white background, intended to mollify the American public over the recall of half a billion eggs due to Salmonella contamination.

Marion Nestle, professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, author if many books on food politics, and widely-respected spokeswoman for organic, sustainable, and safe food and food systems, has interpreted what the egg industry's words really mean. This is terrific. If you don't think the egg industry thinks you're an idiot, you will when you read what they really said in their expensive newspaper ads. Read Nestle's brief article in The Atlantic as she translates the egg industry's words into plain English, here.

KISS in Iraq

I confess to never having been a KISS fan -- or a Gene Simmons fan. But I like this video -- a KISS USO concert for U.S. troops in Iraq. What I love the most about it is the friendly competition and camaraderie between the four service branches as they belt out their particular songs and try to outsing their comrades. I don't know who wrote the four service hymns, but every one of them gives me goose bumps. I am a HUGE sucker for ceremony and protocol and love that part of military life. And the service hymns are a huge part of the esprit de corps. Regardless of how you feel about the military and its current involvements overseas, my hat's off to those who serve -- and to KISS for honoring them:

Chow Down Movie

The latest documentary extolling the virtues of a plant-based diet is Chow Down—the story of a man who followed Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's plant-based approach to reversing his heart disease (and shorter stories of two others). You can rent/stream ($2.99) the movie, or download a digital version ($9.99) or buy a hard copy -- all from Amazon. You can read an in-depth review of the movie and the medical story behind it here.

Here's the trailer -- it would have been nice if the two speakers were identified. The first is Dr. Esselstyn, the second is Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study.

Philly's Only Vegan Coffee House

David and friend Mike Barone opened the Grindcore House -- Philadelphia's only vegan coffee house -- last Saturday night from 7:00 -10:00 with a featured art exhibit. This was a "soft" grand opening with the formal grand opening coming soon. Dave said they had a huge turnout as the night wore on. (Sister Liz was there from Connecticut.) The Grindcore House FB page generated nearly 600 "likes" in a matter of days prior to the opening. (Dave was always good at drawing a crowd.)

If you're in south Philly, stop by for a cuppa and a cookie: 1515 S. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.

A few pics from the opening (thanks to Matt Grosse):

And thanks to Justin Miller for this one:

Vee-gan, Las Vegas!

Steve Wynn, Las Vegas resort mogul, has introduced vegan entrees to the menus at the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas resorts. With a half-billion eggs being recalled in the United States in the last two weeks, those entrees are probably looking pretty good right now. Read the whole story here.

Breakthrough! The Christian Gene

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3 Fats

Another killer post by the Happy, Healthy, Long-life Librarian -- this time summarizing everything she's learned in recent months about the Omega-6/Omega-3 contest.

Most diet-conscious folks know that we need more Omega-3 and less Omega-6 fats, which roughly translates to "eat a plant-based diet." The 6:3 ratio needs to be as close to 1:1 as possible, but most Americans eat a diet that is about 17:1, accounting for all manner of inflammation leading to disease.

But even within the plant-based diet there are caveats. All nuts are VERY high in Omega-6 (walnuts are the lowest), and garbanzo beans are WAY high in 6 along with tahini (3,100:55 !), which makes hummus not so great. But black beans have an almost-ideal ration of 6-to-3. Therefore, black bean hummus without the tahini brings hummus back into the healthy range. And all oils (with the exception of flaxseed oil), like nuts, are higher in Omega 6 than Omega 3.

She cites the Nutrition Data website as a good place to check on the nutritional content of most foods, including Omega 6 and 3 content. (Enter a food in the search box at the upper right, then scroll down through the various nutritional charts. Omega fats are near the bottom left.)

I strongly encourage folks to subscribe to the Happy Healthy Long Life feed to get her occasional updates.