Heart Healthy Breakfast: Oats

OrganicREADY

A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirms that eating high fiber foods, such as oats, helps prevent heart disease.

Almost 10,000 American adults participated in this study and were followed for 19 years. People eating the most fiber, 21 grams per day, had 12% less coronary heart disease (CHD) and 11% less cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to those eating the least, 5 grams daily.

Those eating the most water-soluble dietary fiber fared even better with a 15% reduction in risk of CHD and a 10% risk reduction in CVD.

Ingredients:
Rolled oats, almond milk, ground up flaxseeds, and raw walnuts.

Resource:
Study

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What This Man Found In A Bag Of Mulch Will Blow Your Mind. What He Did With It Will Melt Your Heart.

N7QVC's Christian Blog

A Florida man opened a new bag of mulch and, to his surprise, he found a baby squirrel inside.  We found the man on Reddit, where he is known by the handle “Nadtacular,” but now the Internet is starting to know him because of his compassion.  The baby squirrel appeared to be only days old when he found it.  It was so young, he initially mistook it for a mouse or rat.  But he decided to take care of it, and lucky for us, document his its development.

When he cut open the bag, this little guy fell out…

To keep it alive, he had to force feed the little fellow…

But after 2 weeks, he was eating like a champ…

By week 3, this is how he’d look after a satisfying meal…

Somewhere between weeks 4 and 5 his eyes finally opened…

By the 5th week, he was fully…

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Avocado and Four Bean Pasta Salad

Michelle Neff

One of my Twitter followers sent me this recipe (originally posted on Taste.com.au) and I knew I just had to make it. Only 6 ingredients and the prep time is almost zero, how could I resist? Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 100g dried wholemeal spiral pasta
• 300g can four bean mix, drained, rinsed
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 medium avocado, chopped
• 20g baby spinach
• 1 tablespoon balsamic dressing

Directions:

1. Cook pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water, following packet directions, until just tender. Drain. Transfer to a large bowl. Set aside to cool.
2. Add bean mix, tomato, avocado, spinach and dressing to pasta. Toss to combine. Serve.

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Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips

Igor Purlantov

 

Tanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s a great occasion to have your family join you in the kitchen for a fun day of food prep. When the enticing aromas of food start wafting through your house, it’s likely that your pets will want to get in on the action. However, the hectic environment in the kitchen on this food-filled holiday poses some potential health risks for your pets. Remember these safety tips as you whip up the perfect batch of mashed potatoes and gravy:

http://tinyurl.com/nrblzd3

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What 11 Billion People Mean for Earth’s Animals

5 Ways You Can Help Save the Orangutans

Partial offsets in ocean acidification from changing coral reef biogeochemistry

Ocean Acidification

Concerns have been raised about how coral reefs will be affected by ocean acidification^{1, 2}, but projections of future seawater CO₂ chemistry have focused solely on changes in the pH and aragonite saturation state (Ω_a) of open-ocean surface seawater conditions surrounding coral reefs^{1, 2, 3, 4} rather than the reef systems themselves. The seawater CO₂ chemistry within heterogeneous reef systems can be significantly different from that of the open ocean depending on the residence time, community composition and the main biogeochemical processes occurring on the reef, that is, net ecosystem production (NEP = gross primary production − autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration) and net ecosystem calcification (NEC = gross calcification − gross CaCO₃ dissolution), which combined act to modify seawater chemistry^{5, 6, 7}. On the basis of observations…

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Researchers identify genomic variant associated with sun sensitivity, freckles…

Cat Summoned for Jury Duty in Boston

Igor Purlantov

Boston resident Sal Esposito has been called to jury duty, but there’s one thing standing in the way of his ability to serve: He’s a cat. Massachusetts couple Anna and Guy Esposito received a jury duty summons for their feline friend this month, who they had listed as a household resident on the 2010 Census.  “Sal is a member of the family so I listed him on the last Census form under pets but there has clearly been a mix-up,” Anna told local TV station WHDH. “I read the whole thing and I said, ‘Oh my God, how could he go, he’s a cat?'”

http://tinyurl.com/lhp2cqt

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7 Insane (But True) Things About Turkeys

Michelle Neff

“Turkeys know their names, come when you call, and are totally affectionate. They’re better than teenagers.” Elayne Boosler

45 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving (22 million are eaten each Christmas and 19 million are eaten each Easter as well), but how much do you really know about turkeys? Here are 6 interesting facts about turkeys and be sure to share with your friends and family!

1. Turkeys are very playful animals. Tom Savage, poultry scientist and animal science professor at Oregon State University, observed that if you throw an apple to a group of turkeys, they will play with it together, almost as though it were a football.

2. Turkeys form strong social bonds with their family and flock mates. In the wild they sometimes travel in groups of 200 or more. When a turkey is removed from her group, she becomes distressed and calls to…

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Cupcake Surprise

veganvitals

Vegan baking isn’t as difficult as your would imagine. After you’ve discovered vegan replacements for eggs and dairy, everything else is pretty simple. Here’s an image that shows some great vegan replacements for baking. I found this on PETA’s website, which is a great resource if you’re considering becoming vegan or vegetarian. They also offer a free vegetarian starter kit that you can sign up for if you are interested.

 

Here’s one of my favorite vegan baking recipes. I made these for my friends, and they had no idea that they were vegan (success!).

Red Velvet Vegan Cupcakes:

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup oil
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1. Preheat…

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Beaver saves doe from certain death by stealing hunter’s gun

Exposing the Big Game

http://now.msn.com/beaver-steals-gun-from-nathan-baron-maine-teen#scpshrjwfbs

Nathan Baron was relaxing over the weekend, sitting in a chair in the woods and tracking a doe with his Remington rifle when, suddenly, nature called. The Maine high school student left the gun resting against the chair, ran back home to do his business, and arrived just in time to see something he didn’t expect to see: a beaver stealing the rifle. “There was a stream … about 100 feet away from me,” he told Bangor Daily News. “I look and there’s a beaver hauling that gun into the water. There was nothing I could do … the beaver went under. That was it.”

Some of the kids at school don’t believe Nathan’s story, but he insists it really happened. “I’m trying to get my gun back,” he said. “If there are beaver marks on it, I’m going to hang it on the wall of my garage.”

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Honokiol protects muscles from normal inflammation caused by intense exercise

Paper to Use

( Honokiol is a powerful polyphenol compound extracted from Magnolia ) officinalis bark. Extensive pre-clinical research shows that honokiol (pronounced ha-no-kee-ohl) supports cellular health and provides gentle relaxation, as well as being a potent antioxidant. In addition, a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology has found that the botanical extract protects muscles from the normal inflammation caused by intense exercise. This study broadens honokiol’s acknowledged benefits in supporting and maintaining overall health and wellness.

Faster Recovery from Exercise
Extended exercise can cause normal stress in skeletal muscles. Marathons, triathlons and other feats of strength and endurance typically generate inflammation in the muscles as a result of exertion. However, honokiol is shown to address this normal inflammation response, and support faster recovery from intense exercise.

( “Honokiol is an incredibly versatile botanical extract derived from magnolia bark, which has been used in traditional Asian herbalism for centuries,” )…

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The Elephant in the Living Room: An Inside Look at Exotic Pet Ownership in the United States

Animal Blawg

Kelly Kruszewski

In November of 2007, 911 dispatchers in Pike County, Ohio, received a call from an alarmed driver—there was a lion attacking cars on Route 23.  Apparently, the lion escaped from his enclosure and ran toward the local highway.  Terry Brumfield owned the lion whose name was Lambert.  In an article published in the Columbus Dispatch shortly after the incident, Brumfield says: “To me, he’s a big, old house cat. A big, old teddy bear.”

    More can be said of Terry Brumfield and his lions in a documentary by Michael Webber known as The Elephant in the Living Room, which uncovers the subculture of exotic animal ownership in the United States.  The documentary follows Tim Harrison, a Dayton, Ohio, public safety officer with years of experience in dealing with exotic animals and even his own past-ownership of them, of which he refers to as the “dark side.” …

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Top 5 Health Benefits of Ginseng

Paper to Use

A nutritious herb, Ginseng is a slow-growing perennial plant with fleshy roots that typically grows in Northern China, Korea, and eastern Siberia. While it also is believed to be a powerful natural aphrodisiac and tonic, here are the plant’s top health benefits:

1) Aiding in type 2 diabetes: Studies on American Ginseng have found that the intake of ginseng may improve blood sugar control by creating sugar-lowering effects in fasting and after-meal blood sugar levels. The effect was noticed even in average blood sugar levels over a three-month period.

2) For weight control: An extract from the ginseng berry is believed to be effective against obesity and helpful with weight control. Ginseng tea works as a natural appetite suppressant.

3) Physical/mental health stimulant: Ginseng is believed to be a good tonic that benefits one’s stamina and helps boost energy levels. It helps athletes use oxygen more effectively, and it is…

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Karl Lagerfeld: Have Compassion for All Animals

Our Compass

Please click here to send a message to Karl Lagerfeld asking him to expand his love for his cat to all fur-bearing animals.

Designer Karl Lagerfeld just released his new holiday accessory line, inspired by his beloved cat, Choupette. Choupette Lagerfeld is probably the most famous cat in the fashion industry. She has her own Twitter account, two maids, and a driver.

Although we praise Lagerfeld’s deep affection for his feline companion, we vehemently oppose his continued use of fur. Over two million cats and dogs each year are victims of the fur trade. Lagerfeld used faux fur in his 2010 Chanel collection, yet he continues to be very pro-fur. Earlier this year, he issued a statement about his Fendi show in Milan: “Fendi is fur! Fur is Fendi!”

Please click here to send a message to Karl Lagerfeld asking him to expand his love for his cat to…

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That Angora Sweater Is Made With Horrifying Pain, Just For YOU.

One Person, One World.

 

Christmas is coming up and people flock to the stores for gifts to loved ones and maybe yourself. Or maybe you are out to find a warm hat, scarf or a new pair of gloves for the cold weather?

Maybe you are, (just like I was) unaware of what these Angora rabbits go through in their short life? Maybe you didn’t either know the cruelty involved? I found out and will share what I now know.

Ninety percent of angora fur comes from China, where there are no penalties for the abuse of animals on farms and no standards to regulate the treatment of the animals. When you buy a sweater, hat, or other product that contains angora, the angora fur most likely originated in China, even if the finished product was assembled elsewhere. Rabbits are extremely clean by nature and in these farms they are kept in tiny, filthy…

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Blind Dog Hugs Brother, Melts Our Hearts

Igor Purlantov

Can’t you just feel the love?   There’s no denying that, as this picture illustrates, canine brothers Jeffrey and Jermaine are inseparable – and not just because they adore each other.   Jeffrey is blind and his brother, Jermaine, is his loyal guide dog. The 8-month-old pups were found on the streets of Philadelphia in October, according to Operation Ava, the animal rescue that is trying to find them a permanent home together.  “The unconditional love and devotion these two dogs show is positively inspirational,” reads a post from the Chester County SPCA, which shared the photo on Facebook Nov. 15. (The photo subsequently received more than 34,000 likes – and counting!) 

http://tinyurl.com/msumh76

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Living With Insect Repellents

Living With Insects Blog

The EPA is launching new labeling for insect repellents. The goal is to provide consumers with easy to understand information about what pests are repelled and how long the repellent remains effective. This idea is the result of discussions with manufacturers and the public. EPA would like manufacturers to replace vague statements about efficacy such as “Long lasting”. Instead manufacturers would provide data to show how long a repellent works and receive approval for a label. For example, a mosquito repellent proven effective for 3 hours would have permission for a “repels mosquitoes 3 HRS.” statement. The labels would be similar to labels used for sunscreen. The idea is to give consumers the information they need to make informed decisions and improve correct use of these products. Manufacturers could voluntarily participate or opt out of the program. Products with excellent efficacy will probably want to sign up to promote their…

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Remember Oliver The Broken Bear?

One Person, One World.

Well to be honest can anyone who have seen him forget about his old crocked body? His deep brown eyes,his long body and short legs. He is such a beauty!  For those of you who haven’t heard of him, he is a bear who spent 30years in bile farms in China. Going through painful bile extractions every day, having a tight metal frame cutting into his flesh all while living in a cage so small that affected his whole poor body. I wrote about him here the first time, please visit and read his story: Oliver The Broken Bear Free After 30 Years In Bear Bile Farm In China  

Oliver is still going strong. Animal Asia foundation have cared for him for 3 years so far and he spends the days plodding along in his enclosure free from the daily torture he endured. Animal Asia released a new…

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Captivity & Death: This is Taiji #tweet4taiji

Voice For The Blue

After being held for over 21 hours in the killing cove, a family of 33 Bottlenose dolphins were torn apart with 12 being dolphins taken captive and the rest of the pod brutally slaughtered.

Once all the killers, including trainers, were in the cove, the pod was herded to the killing shore for an inspection of each individual member. Throughout this captive selection the thrashing of the pod can be heard high above the cove which is followed by the blood seeping into the water, leaving us with broken hearts that these dolphins were once again the victims of the profit and greed of the Taiji fishermen.

Those not taken for captivity, were needlessly and inhumanely slaughtered for human consumption.

Reminder to all of those who are contemplating a visit to Sea World, Marineland Canada, Discovery Cove or any other similar captive marine mammal facility or swim with dolphin program …. your ticket to such…

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What the FDA Ban on Trans Fats Means for Palm Oil, Orangutans and Other Critically Endangered Species

gettingonmysoapbox

(These are orphaned orangutans rescued from palm oil plantations (partially funded by donations to Orangutan Outreach at redapes.org) who are now being nursed back to health, trained and rehabilitated for a return to safely protected forests.)

_______________________________

The law of unintended consequences strikes again (a la Dr. Oz).  The FDA, in a move designed to curtail heart disease (in humans), has proposed a rulemaking that will ban trans fats in foods — at the expense of other species.  Although it gets a bit technical, trans fats come from hydrogenated vegetable oils, which means these liquid vegetable oils are converted into a solid that helps extend the efficacy and shelf life of processed food, like frozen pizzas, etc.

What’s a good substitute, though?  “Palm kernel oil, which is solid at room temperature and has become a popular substitute for trans fats, might work in some cases but some products might have to be dropped,”…

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Intro to Dog Fighting

The Veiled Life: Animals of Unseen Crimes

Dog fighting is considered one of the most serious forms of animal abuse. It is a contest in which dogs are placed in pit and forced to fight until they can’t continue because of the pain and injury inflicted. This is a contest used for the spectator’s entertainment and gambling. Most spectators have gambling problems and can make huge profit.

 

Many injuries occur during fights, which are both severe and fatal. By the end of a fight, the dogs usually have massive bleeding, ruptured lungs, broken bones, and other life threatening injuries. The instinct to fight is bred into these dogs. (In my research I read a convicted dogfighter’s description of a fight and he said that the dog spent most of the fight on her back and broke her front leg high up in the shoulder, as well as one of her back legs, in the knee joint…

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Researchers slam palm oil initiative as industry meets

HumanSinShadow.wordpress.com

by Staff Writers Paris (AFP) Nov 07, 2013 Forests are still disappearing and local communities disregarded by palm oil development despite a plan to put the sector on a sustainable footing, researchers warned as an industry gathering kicked off Thursday.

After conducting 16 case studies in Africa and Southeast Asia, the hubs of the palm oil industry, researchers said in a new book they were disappointed with a joint industry-NGO initiative to reduce the sector’s impact.

The criticism came as the group behind the initiative, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), began its annual meeting in Indonesia.

“Since its founding 8 years ago, the RSPO has adopted good standards, but too many member companies are not delivering on these paper promises,” said Marcus Colchester, one of the authors of  the book “Conflict or Consent? The oil palm sector at a crossroads”.

The RSPO was created in 2004 by members…

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Please only purchase cruelty-free items

Our Compass

The ethically focused, German vegan advertising agency and printing company “voice-design” (www.voice-design.com) produced the above campaign video which opposes production of shampoos and conditioners containing mink oil.

Please make certain your toiletry items are vegan and without cruelty.  Order a free kit HERE.


Order a FREE vegan kit:http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/free-vegetarian-starter-kit.aspx

Take PETA’s Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide along with you next time you head to the store! The handy guide will help you find humane products at a glance. Order a FREE copyHERE

Want to do more than go vegan? Help others to do so! Click on the below for nominal, or no, fees to vegan literature that you can use to convince others that veganism is the only compassionate route to being an animal friend.

PETA: http://www.petacatalog.com/catalog/Literature-39-1.html

Action for Animals has a very low price : http://store.afa-online.org/home.php?cat=284

Have questions? ClickHERE

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GMO Wheat Could Cause Major Health Threats For Consumers

Love in true form with these Animals : Many humans miss it!

PROPEL STEPS

Swans symbolize purity and love. They also mate for life. When one partner dies, the other does not find another swan to mate with. They remain alone for as long as they live. They constantly show their love by bobbing their heads and bringing them together, making the space between them look like a heart.

The Kirk’s Dik-Dik doe-eyed antelope roam in groups and rarely stray. Researchers have found that the male species might stick around to cover his mate’s scent so that other male antelopes cannot track it. The female too, shows no interest in mating with males other than her partner.

For these Penguins, communication is the key to their love life. They are always seen with their partners and are only separated when they have to hunt or are faced with extreme winters. They spend time with other penguin couples and even take trips with their extended…

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John Vucetich at the California Wolf Center

Wolves and Writing

Once again, good friend and fellow wolf advocate, Rhonda Lanier of Wolves of the Rockies, brings us another insightful wolf report. This time she visited the California Wolf Center in Julian, CA.  On Saturday, the Center featured wolf biologist John Vucetich.  John is an Associate Professor at Michigan Tech and co-director, along with Rolf Peterson, of the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Study. Rhonda attended the event at the Wolf Center and wrote this account of her trip (appeared on Wolves of the Rockies website 11/1/13):

California Wolf Center Celebrates Wolf Awareness week with John Vucetich, October 26, 2013 – Rhonda Lanier

November 1, 2013 at 6:22pm

It is always a pleasure visiting the California Wolf Center just about five miles outside the charming little mountain town of Julian, California, which is in Southern California; they are working very, very hard to make sure that education and tolerance is in place…

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Appreciate Talent : Chitra Thiyagarajan : Convert Plastic Waste to a Fuel

PROPEL STEPS

Is necessity the mother of invention? Well, not always. Determined to find a cheap and sustainable fuel, engineer Chitra Thiyagarajan developed a unit that converts plastic waste into a fuel similar to diesel. After a series of tests in a sustained three-year effort, Thiyagarajan finally perfected the device and applied for a patent.

Note : Video in Language: Tamil

C S M Sundaram, Thiyagarajan’s guide, said the device was the result of backbreaking work, persistence and dogged tenacity. “It involved research, fieldwork and frequent upgrading of design,” he said. “I may have helped her occasionally but the credit is all hers,” said Sundaram, 80, a retired professor of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
She applied for a patent for the device in June 2013. “The patent authorities checked the machine for two months and verified that it could be patented. They accepted my application in August,” Thiyagarajan said.

Explaining how her

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Video: Lion Forms Amazing Bond with Conservationists

Igor Purlantov

Valentin Gruener and Mikkel Legarth play with Sirga as if she were a family pet. But while she is not a pet, Sirga is considered part of the family, as much as a lion can be part of a human family.  It is a touching bond that stretches back to when the two men rescued Sirga as a cub deep in the African bush and became the animal’s surrogate parents.

 

http://tinyurl.com/lw2zvvt

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