[jkal]

Lucky1RN--I've noticed that sometimes beans bother me (gas) and sometimes they don't. Not sure why--maybe what I'm eating them in combination with, so I'll try to pay closer attention. I've never tried this, but would something like Beano (sp?) work?

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by mercyteapot

I have been moving towards flexitarianism for quite some time... I don't think I will ever totally give up eating meat, chicken and fish, but I've cut back drastically on red meat.

As for Bethin's question about spaghetti, I love unadorned marinara sauce, but if you miss the meaty texture, adding mushrooms to the sauce helps a lot. One of my favorite recipes is a dish that uses white beans and spinach atop spaghetti noodles. I don't how healthy it is, though, since it is topped with copious amounts of Parmesan. Of course, you can reduce or eliminate that ingredient if you wish.

Hi Mercy. Thanks for the advice and I hope you stick around and share other recipes and ideas. I love marinara. Adding mushrooms is a very good idea and I think white beans and red sauce go great together.

Originally Posted by lucky1RN

Yahoo for this thread!
I eat mostly vegan so I guess I am a flexitarian. I made this choice because a) I've done some research about the health/environmental effects of eating mass-produced animal . Has anyone read The China Study or Eat to Live?
and b) I am an animal lover to a fault. As pathetic as this sounds, I have been known to be reduced to tears when seeing a truck on the highway full of animals on the way to slaughter. I can't stand to see the lobsters in the tank at the grocery store. I once spent weeks trying to save a baby rabbit who's mother died in birth...I fed it with an eye dropper 6-8 times a day...even in the middle of the night. When it died, I burried it at sea (his name was Seymour).
When I chew on meat or poultry, all I can think of is what suffering the animal went through to end up on my plate. I think if I lived on a farm that was self-sustaining I would be an animal eater. It would be different if the animal lead a happy healthy life and was slaughtered humanely. I do try occasionally to eat meat (I too get that feeling that I need it) but I'm always grossed out after the first few bites. I'm pretty ok with fish.
Strangely, to date I haven't made any great effort to avoid animal products/cruelty in my cosmetics, clothing, etc.
Anyway, I have a question for those of you who are able to eat a lot of beans. Do you take anything to help with digestion? I try and try to add more beans to my diet but they wreak havoc on my intestines!

Hi! Welcome to the thread, I hope you stick around and share often. I've heard a lot about the China study but haven't read it. I presume it concludes that a plant based diet reduces all forms of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancers, etc.

I seem to be o.k. with beans, maybe because I have Texan blood in me (of course Texas chili doesn't have any beans in it. ) I've heard though that if you introduce beans in your diet slowly, consitentently increasing the amounts eventually your body adjusts and the flatulence (love that word. LOL) isn't as bad. Lentils are a good bean that tends to be easy on the stomach. Also drinking lots of water to help wtih the soluable fiber helps as well. Beans are extremely healthy and I couldn't live without them. I usually splurge and by organic canned beans trying to catch them on sale. Eden makes a good variety that is salt-free for those of us who have those concerns.

Speaking of books. Another good book that speaks to the three virtues of vegetarianism: health, environment and animal welfare is John Robbins book "the Food Revolution". I highly recommend it, if you haven't read it. He's since wrote another book in which he studies (his books are always backed with research and evidence) long-lived societies is "Healthy At 100".

[lucky1RN]

Thanks for the bean tips guys. I have tried Beano but you have to take so many of them...and remember to take them BEFORE you eat so I haven't been consistant. I really didn't notice much a difference with it anyway.

I'll definitely try adding the beans more slowly and increasing my water intake. I'm terrible about drinking water on the days I work. You all know how it is...it can be noon before I even realize I haven't had anything to drink since I woke up.

The China Study is "Referred to as the "Grand Prix of epidemiology" by The New York Times, this study examines more than 350 variables of health and nutrition with surveys from 6,500 adults in more than 2,500 counties across China and Taiwan, and conclusively demonstrates the link between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer." (from Amazon).
It's not a "page turner" but it's what really got me thinking about the health benefits of avoiding animal proteins.

I'll check out those book titles out Tweety. Thanks again!

[mercyteapot]

Pinto beans don't cause flatulence, I'm told. Also, I have a friend who swears by cooking her beans with a touch of baking soda in the water. That makes sense at least in theory, but I can't vouch for the method.

[VivaLasViejas]

I've tried every way there is to de-flatulate beans, and for me at least, there is none that works. In fact, I don't do well on ANY food that contains a lot of fiber, which makes me wonder sometimes if I don't have some sort of intolerance. I could set my watch by the timing of the reaction, which, um, 'erupts' within an hour of consumption.

The other reason I could never be a vegetarian is, I simply don't like enough veggies to be able to exist on them. I've tried, but have never warmed up to broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, or other strongly-flavored items. I certainly respect and admire those of you who have the self-discipline to eat a vegetarian diet, though.

[ODUMS_54]

Just wanted to poke my head in to say 'hello' and great thread! It will be one year next month since I became a pescatarian (i LOVE that word!). I have been trying to give it all up, but it has been harder to give up fish and some cheeses.

Has anyone read anything by Michael Pollan? He has a really interesting perspective on food consumption...if you have time, check it out!
www.michaelpollan.com

Also...I'm interested in the perspectives of any veggies who have experienced pregnancy. I know it may sound silly, but I've been told I will 'crave' meat. I didn't give it up because of the taste so it makes me wonder, but currently I don't miss anything. If anyone indulged, did you get sick? Just curious...

Thank you, thank you for this forum (i am most def gonna check out The China Study and some of the recipes) and look forward to reading more!

[herring_RN]

I know all of us are unique. It seems the more legumes and cruciferous foods I eat the less they affect me.
But then sometimes I'll be eating the same amount of my staples, beans and corn, but have a day or two of flatulence.
It is embarrasing but not uncomfortable.

Also when flying east to west it happens. So I learned to get an aisle seat near the back of the plane.
It could be because I'm returning from visiting family and eating different from usual.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by VivaLasViejas

I've tried every way there is to de-flatulate beans, and for me at least, there is none that works. In fact, I don't do well on ANY food that contains a lot of fiber, which makes me wonder sometimes if I don't have some sort of intolerance. I could set my watch by the timing of the reaction, which, um, 'erupts' within an hour of consumption.

The other reason I could never be a vegetarian is, I simply don't like enough veggies to be able to exist on them. I've tried, but have never warmed up to broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, or other strongly-flavored items. I certainly respect and admire those of you who have the self-discipline to eat a vegetarian diet, though.

Hey Marla. It does indeed help to like vegetables, but it's also about fruit, whole grains, legumes, soy products, and nuts.....lots of good plant-based foods (eggs and cheese for some of us as well). If you incorporate some of the foods, I'm sure you'll be the better for it, even if you don't/can't become vegetarians. Another good book that speaks to good nutrition is Superfoods.......http://www.amazon.com/SuperFoods-Rx-...1364022&sr=8-1 of which broccoli is one of them, but he offers good advice as to what else to eat if you don't like broccoli.

Originally Posted by mercyteapot

Pinto beans don't cause flatulence, I'm told. Also, I have a friend who swears by cooking her beans with a touch of baking soda in the water. That makes sense at least in theory, but I can't vouch for the method.

I'm not sure my dad would agree about the pinto bean presumption....LOL.....but Mexicans eat a lot of them without problem, but is it because they are accustomed to it, or because it doesn't cas gas?

Originally Posted by ODUMS_54

Just wanted to poke my head in to say 'hello' and great thread! It will be one year next month since I became a pescatarian (i LOVE that word!). I have been trying to give it all up, but it has been harder to give up fish and some cheeses.

Has anyone read anything by Michael Pollan? He has a really interesting perspective on food consumption...if you have time, check it out!
www.michaelpollan.com

Also...I'm interested in the perspectives of any veggies who have experienced pregnancy. I know it may sound silly, but I've been told I will 'crave' meat. I didn't give it up because of the taste so it makes me wonder, but currently I don't miss anything. If anyone indulged, did you get sick? Just curious...

Thank you, thank you for this forum (i am most def gonna check out The China Study and some of the recipes) and look forward to reading more!

Welcome to the thread. I'll check out that book. I'm always interested in learning more and reading other perspectives. Every body is different. I read an article by a woman that was turned off by mean and animal products during pregnancy and actually craved kidney beans. She had a very successful vegan pregnancy and stayed vegan for life after that.

[Silverdragon102]

Marla.... Let me tell you DH has been veggie for many years but doesn't like a lot of veg and beans and lentils you would think I was poisoning him. Trying to cook for him can sometimes be a nightmare

[Jessy_RN]

Morning everyone.

Yesterday a co-worker and I went to eat supper @ Subway. She's from India and a strict veggie. The guy making the subs, was asked to please change his gloves before making her sub because he has been handling the past 10 or so subs' meat/cheese. Not to mention the lady in front of us has a roast beef sub on the rare side.

The worker straight up laughed in our faces, and although did change his gloves it really felt uncomfortable. I encouraged her to make a formal complaint but she just refused.

Has anyone else encountered similar situations? I am really bothered by this.