WHAT!?!?! We aren't made to drink Cow Milk!?!?! Go Vegan.

Isn't it just the craziest ideas ever that we aren't made to drink COW milk? That a substance produced by another species, for their young isn't an essential part of our diet? Preposterous. Insanity I say!

I am going to go beyond the easiest arguments against it, like the fact that no other species drinks another's milk passed toddler-hood.

Did you know a calf that feeds on its mother milk will double in size in 47 days. A human baby on breast milk does this in 180 days. No wonder we are getting fatter and less and less healthy! The ratio of carb/fat/protein is also totally different, 30/49/21 for cow and 40/53/7 for human mothers, on average. The massive difference in protein content is the first to acknowledge. We as human beings have become so obsessed with getting enough of the wrong macro-nutrient. Babies, who go through massive growth spurts, only need 7% of their calories to come from protein. I think that speaks for itself. The higher carbohydrate content is explained by our needs for glucose to fuel our bodies and brains. The fat content is higher than what an adult needs simply because it is a more concentrated form of calories and children only develop the stomach size for carbohydrates as their main source of calories once they are weaned (which is supposed to be when they decide to, on average around 4 years old)

Let's add to this, shall we? Commercial milk contain high levels of pus, antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides and other bacteria. Basically it's the perfect food with which to feed disease, including cancer and diabetes. Even if you are buying organic, there are still high levels of natural growth hormones that are supposed to help a calf grow,would you like to be size of a full grown cow?

Now let's also put the calcium "issue" to rest! Cow's milk does contain calcium. But the problem is that the milk digests acid, and since our bodies want to remain in an alkaline state, our body does it's best to re-balance our pH levels by pulling more calcium from our bones and thus, rending the calcium it contained completely useless since our bodies pull more calcium that it provides. Green leafy veggies and citrus contain tons of calcium that our bodies can use, as do almonds.

Next! There's is a reason why so many people on this planet are lactose intolerant. So many actually don't even know they are and the uncomfort they live with everyday goes unexplained, I should know I was one of them. We lose the ability to digest lactose after we are weaned as babies/toddlers.

One more point as to why milk isn't made for human consumption, cow milk contains opiates called casomorphin. The purpose of this drug is to get the calf "hooked" on it's mother's milk so that it will feed frequently and survive/thrive. It has the same effect on humans as any other opiate would. An addiction is created and this explains clearly why many people say: "I couldn't live without cheese/milk/sour cream". It isn't because you need it, it's because you are addicted.

And to be honest with all the alternatives available now, there is absolutely no excuse to keep supporting an industry that takes away calves from their mothers as soon as they are born which has them crying for weeks, that keeps cows pregnant their whole lives and just dumps them(aka slaughter) when they stop producing enough for the standards put in place, that can only be achieved with drugs and genetic modification. There is no excuse to keep these animal in restrained spaces and have them suffer their whole lives for something that we never needed.

Do the right thing, for you, for the animals, for the planet.

Go Vegan.

Eating and Travelling: The Mysterious Ways to Get What you Want.

So I've been out of Canada for the past 2 months and want to share my experiences travelling as a vegan/fruitarian. Most people think that being veg is a disadvantage whilst exploring the globe and I really have to disagree, it certainly has its advantages and everyone will cater to your specific dietary needs as long as you have the right attitude about it.

Why most people worry about transitioning to a veg diet today is beyond me because I've never experienced a situation where there truly was nothing I could eat. Restaurants and other establishments will cater to anyone's  dietary needs because they want you as repeat customers, its really that simple. If you ask nicely and inform yourself properly you will get what you want.

1. Plane food: This is actually quite an advantage to the veg people. All you have to do now to eat a veg/vegan/fruit meal is choose is choose whichever you want when you are booking your ticket online or with your travel agent and yes most airlines have a fruit meal option, just bring extra (just not any more than you can eat because although its more than ok to bring fruit into the aiplane, customs at the other end wont let you go through with it) . Another bonus is that you usually get served first and the quality of the food is generally better than the omnivore stuff from my experience.
2. Restaurants: Here is where attitude is everything! Any restaurant will be more than happy to cater to you, besides they want you and your party to come back to eat there. Just be specific and above all polite about what it is exactly that you want and don't be afraid to ask questions! If your not sure about a menu item, ask whether there is this or that ingredient in it and if so, ask if they can accommodate you and make it without animal products or a salad with items of your choice. If you're travelling to a country that you arent fluent in their language write down a list of either things you don't ant in your meals or things that you do want while precising that you don't eat animal products. And a trick is if they seem to be giving you a hard time, just say you are allergic, their attitude with change quickly and adjustments will be made :)
3. Airport food: This one can sometimes be tricky, especially if your at an airport late at night waiting for a delayed flight. There are a few things you can do. One is to bring along some snacks just in case, which in the end will also save you money. If you forget this, then you can basically make due, they'll usually have  some sort of veggie or fruit plate and possibly a granola bar or something that while not ideal will get you feeling not so hungry until the on-board meal.
4. Hotel accommodations (B&B, all-inclusive…): The best thing for this one is to prepare in advance and do you research.  Most B&B's have no issues accommodating special diets and will do so with pleasure, but you may want to check into some of them that have experience in the matter and you have to be prepared to specifically explain to them what your diet entails, especially being a fruitarian and detailing what a ripe fruit is and how much you really eat. There are websites that detail which all inclusive resorts are best for veg food and fresh fruit, but I would say that the higher the rating, the better your chance of having great food. Again just give them a call in advance and before booking to ensure that you'll be comfortable on your vacation.
5. Vacationning over at friends and family: This a a great chance to showcase how great vegan food is. If your friends and family aren't familiar with veganism or fruitarianism offer to bring along a dish or to prepare one in their home before the meal. If they are familiar with it just double check with them that there will be food that you can eat there.If you are staying for an extended period of time consider just buying your own food, especially if you are eating mostly raw :)
6. Self-catering; One of the best options when travelling is booking a room with a fridge or a small kitchen. This enables you to have the majority of your meals your way and it's always fun (imo) to explore the markets and fruit shops in different countries to see whats available and to explore different ingredients and if you travel to an exotic destination, some great local fresh fruit!
All in all, the chances of having issues with veganism or fruitarianism and travelling lie with how prepared you are. If you make the right moves and take it all with a relaxed and friendly attitude people will serve you what you want and do their best to make it a great experience. The whole point of travelling is to explore new cultures and landscapes, so concentrate on your adventure and have fun! A positive outlook will attract to you what you need :)