Vegetarian Times articles from March 1996

Vegetarian Times archives from March 1996

Help wanted. (federal nutritional guidelines mention positive aspects of a vegetarian diet)(Editorial)
March 1, 1996... EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services released their new dietary guidelines, my phone rang off the hook because the guidelines had, for the first time, used the "V-word"...

BGH linked to cancer in humans. (bovine growth hormone used in milk)
March 1, 1996... THE FIRST STUDY to suggest that milk treated with synthetic bovine growth hormone (BGH, also known as BST) can promote cancer in humans may intensify anti-BGH sentiment, but scientists say it probably won't have much effect on federal policy....

The $60 billion premium: vegetarians are healthier and cost the insurance industry less. So why are we charged the same for coverage?
March 1, 1996... MEAT CONSUMPTION costs Americans more than $60 billion, racked up annually in treatment for heart disease, obesity, cancer and food poisoning (making meat consumption more costly than the $50 million attributed to smoking). In light of this...

Homeopathy on trial in California: should drug chains be forced to limit claims regarding natural remedies?
March 1, 1996... THIS SUMMER, the case against pharmacies that sell homeopathic remedies will go to trial in California. The outcome could determine consumers' access to alternative medicine in conventional retail outlets. The suit, filed on behalf of the...

Organic: a four-letter word? (government policy towards the use of agricultural pesticides)
March 1, 1996... THE WORD ORGANIC seems to embarrass some government officials. Throats are cleared. Collars are loosened. And the conversation turns defensive, as in "We have nothing against organic farmers, but. .." That's the problem with a new federal...

The eating o' the green: you can be Irish and vegetarian on St. Patrick's Day. (includes recipes)(Recipe Redux)
March 1, 1996... HOLIDAYS CAN BE TOUGH for vegetarians. Ever since they crawled out of the primordial ooze, most humans have celebrated special occasions with meat. But vegetarians gladly trade in old comfort foods for new and unusual sensations; too bad our...

Salmonella comes out of its shell. (response to a reader's question about contracting salmonella from turtles)(Answering Machine)
March 1, 1996... THE NOTION THAT PEOPLE can pick up salmonella from touching turtle shells is a myth that derives from a more complicated--and more dangerous--truth. Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, oxygen-dependent bacteria that inhabits the intestinal...

Soybean superlatives. (response to a reader's question about soy cheese and other soy byproducts)(Answering Machine)
March 1, 1996... THERE'S NO CONTEST for the title of Superbean--it goes to the soybean, which may be the most versatile crop on earth. Soybeans can be used to fuel buses, to make ink, and to make both tofu and soy cheese. The soybean's versatility lies in its...

Moroccan magic: simple couscous can make a tantalizing meal.(includes recipes)(Low Fat and Fast)
March 1, 1996... COUSCOUS IS ONE of my favorite foods because of its speed of preparation. It can be made in 15 minutes, thanks to the tiny, grain-like pieces that require only a short steaming to cook and fluff into a nutritious, flavorful meal. The national...

The lighter side of whole grains.(includes recipes and a guide to different types of grains and flour)(Cover Story)
March 1, 1996... DO THE WORDS "heavy" and "brown" ring a bell? They will if you remember the baked goods of the 70s'. It was a decade when vegetarianism got its foothold in mainstream America, and health food stores, vegetarian restaurants and cookbooks took an...

Party of one: dining alone can be something to celebrate.(includes recipes)
March 1, 1996... DINING ALONE can be a heady party for one or a lonesome chore. Whether you want to create an elegant extravaganza or a light, luscious meal, there are many suggestions to help you set the stage for a perfectly wonderful solo supper. First,...

Chicago's Soul Vegetarian. (restaurant specializing in African American cuisine)(includes recipes)
March 1, 1996... WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME you heard the expression soul food? Back in the '60s sometime? The term is of rather recent vintage, having first appeared in print in 1964, according to The Dictionary of American Food and Drink (Hearst Books, 1994)....

Eating well through the decades: enjoy optimal nutrition at every age.(includes related article on essential ingredients of a good diet)
March 1, 1996... A LOT OF NUTRITIONAL advice takes a "one-diet-fits-all" approach. Watch your cholesterol. Eat more calcium. Boost your fiber intake. Such broad generalizations, though, don't address your day-to-day eating habits--exactly what foods should you...

What? Me relax? (tips on how to reduce stress)(includes list of resources and alternative therapies)
March 1, 1996... SIX MONTHS INTO my first pregnancy, my husband and I started attending a 10-week childbirth-preparation course. It was a hefty time commitment in our already hectic schedules, but I thought I was dedicated to doing everything possible to make...

Shopping blind: how do you choose healthfully when there's no nutritional information?
March 1, 1996... WHO HASN'T NOTICED fellow shoppers in the checkout line and silently evaluated what they are buying? Perhaps you've spotted an interesting new product in someone's cart and thought, "I always wondered who bought that." But what I also notice...

Cheese Louise: the truth about a favorite snack might curdle your appetite. (cheese and cheese substitutes; includes recipes)(Getting Started)
March 1, 1996... IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE LOOK at the cheese section in your local natural food store, food co-op or supermarket, you'll surely find low-fat selections among the cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella and other standard cheeses. If you take an even closer look,...

Boost your brain power: herbs to improve your memory and mental acuity.(The Herbalist)
March 1, 1996... I SPEND MUCH of my time writing, which demands a lot of concentration. Often, while straining to recall some elusive fact, I reach over to pinch a leaf of the rosemary plant that sits next to my computer; I find that just a sniff usually is...

Kick the habit - naturally: quit drinking or smoking with herbs, acupuncture and the right diet.(Healthy by Choice)
March 1, 1996... TUPA HAUGE was tired of smoking. Tired of the expense, the smell and all the times she had to sneak away from her receptionist's desk to satisfy her craving. Most of all, Hauge was tired of avoiding her feelings by reaching for a cigarette...

Arise and eat: we found bed and breakfast inns where the first meal of the day truly is the best. (bed and breakfast inns that serve vegetarian food)(Traveling Fare)
March 1, 1996... BREAKFAST MAY BE the most important meal of the day, but it isn't necessarily the healthiest or most satisfying when you're away from home. Because the American restaurant standard is still greasy eggs and hash browns, vegetarians and other...

Native Foods. (Palm Springs, California)
March 1, 1996... A GOOD VEGETARIAN restaurant is about as rare as the fabled Jackelope in Palm Springs, a desert community that evokes scenes of tanned retirees sipping martinis and teeing off before settling in for massive meat-based meals. Not fair, says...

Teaching tolerance. (to children)(Last Morsel)(Column)
March 1, 1996... TOLERANCE IS NOT an easy virtue to teach a child. So many things in our society--from moralistic children's tales to well-meaning relatives--conspire to teach values in black-and-white terms. It's good to share, it's bad to hit, it's good to...