Community News

Jul 2, 2017

Swimmers take a break at Nellie Martins water aerobics class.

Nellie Martin, 84, has been an enthusiastic and valued volunteer water aerobics instructor at the Kihei community pool since the day it opened 18 years ago, according to her daughter, Shirley Martin and swimmers Maribeth and Jack Klobuchar.

She is a songsmith with a large repertoire of songs that she uses to keep the activities light and fun.

Martin encourages her swimmers to sing, harmonize and joke along with her as she leads them through a full circuit of exercises.

By the end of each class, participants have limbered up, worked their cardiovascular system and strengthened muscles. Elbows, elbows, back, back.

Martin teaches in the shallow pool area three days per week Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Adults of all ages are welcome. The group size varies from 25 to about 50 during the high season.

An artists representation of Martin, the singing water aerobics instructor.

Men are welcome too there are more than 15 who participate.

Sing or hum along with Nellie its all good, said swimmers Maribeth and Jack Klobuchar. She is a vibrant, zippy lady of 84 years who has boundless energy. Nellie is such a treasure to the Kihei community.

SEABURY HALL Middle School Fourth Quarter Headmasters List 3.7-Plus Grade-Point Average Grade 7 Alara ...

The Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Foundation presented its 2017 scholarships at the chambers annual Gintong ...

John Junk Sr. (from left), David Robinson, Larry Stubblefield and Shane Stubblefield were among the golfers who ...

Lillie Bell Spearman of Molokai turned 100 on May 16. Her family and friends celebrated her birthday on June 10 ...

Erik Svetin, a Molokai High School student, completed organizing and proctoring his final math competition for ...

The Napili Kai Foundation awarded its 2017 scholarship awards, totaling $21,000, on May 30, at the conclusion of a ...

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Songsmith makes water aerobics light and fun - Maui News

It is also the first Jay-Z album in a decade that doesnt pretend to be competing in the present moment. It is the sound of a 47-year-old aesthete working at his own pace, dismantling his facade and reminding himself of all the natural poignancy that the bluster has been obscuring.

I fall short of what I say Im all about, he says on the title track, his apology to his wife, Beyonc, for the indiscretions that led her to publicly shame him. The album begins with Kill Jay Z, an extended tsk-tsk to himself. You cant heal what you never reveal, he raps. You know you owe the truth/ To all the youth that fell in love with Jay-Z.

And so the confessions, or certainly what appear to be confessions, pour out.

Yes, he cheated on Beyonc (the title track, among others); yes, hes tried therapy (Smile); yes, he stabbed the executive Lance Rivera back in 1999 (Kill Jay Z); yes, his fathers side of the family was darkened by abuse (Legacy); yes, his mother is gay, and was in the closet for decades (Smile); yes, hes fed up with Kanye Wests scattershot antics (Kill Jay Z, among others).

That is, assuming everything here is true, and not just the second installment of a multi-album musicanovela in which he and his wife portray bitter lovers bound together by fate, fame and farce.

Jay-Z has been this candid before, but never quite this naked. These arent stories told to fortify a magisterial image but rather the exhale of a long-held breath.

In some plain narrative ways, 4:44 is a companion piece to Beyoncs Lemonade. On the title track, Jay-Z is vividly self-critical: Ive seen the innocence leave your eyes/ I still mourn this death, he tells his wife.

But the two albums also share an emphasis on black self-sufficiency on Lemonade, the argument was sociopolitical; here, its largely financial. On The Story of O. J., Jay-Z raps about cross-generational wealth passing his art collection down to his children with the same fervor and lyrical gambit he once used to rap about amassing personal wealth (on U Dont Know, in 2001). The kingpin is now just a vessel for tomorrows dreams.

The whole of 4:44 was produced by No I.D., who produced much of Commons essential work, and who prepared a sample-driven, skin-and-bones, slightly greasy palette for Jay-Z to rap over. Most of the album hovers between 80-90 beats per minute, but feels slower, thanks to the way No I.D. foregoes crispness in favor of beats that slur, drag and bleed. Theres also patina on the vocals. Nothing gleams not the beats, not the words, not the feelings.

The relative sparseness acts as suction: There are barely any distractions. Its almost like an unplugged album, a kind of platonic raw course of rapper, producer, sample and beat. In places, it suggests a bare-bones counterpoint to one of Jay-Zs masterworks, The Blueprint, from 2001, which relied on the steroidal soul-informed production of Mr. West and Just Blaze to echo Jay-Z at his most conceited.

Ornamentation has long served Jay-Z well, so the lack of glamour here is striking. Part of the thrill of listening to him has been how lustrously he paints the unattainable. That underneath it all is a man full of regret is both obvious and, at times, a bit deflating. When he laments not investing in the now-redeveloped Brooklyn neighborhood Dumbo on The Story of O. J., its not clever, just a gripe. And one delivered without much flair.

The qualities that made Jay-Z one of raps true savants were his sly wit and the way he threaded himself into the production few rappers have found more creative ways to disperse their syllables, and sounded tougher and less fatigued while doing it. The Jay-Z of 4:44 isnt quite there. Hes evolved from dazzling taunts to ruminations that are sometimes snappy and sometimes lumpy. When snappy, though, theyre exhilarating, like the opening of Caught Their Eyes, which has the snarl Jay-Z arrived with fully formed on his 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt: I survived reading guys like you/ Im surprised yall think yall can disguise yall truths.

At this stage of his career, though, keeping up with the Migos would be a fools task. Hes a veteran, and it shows: On three songs, hes baffled about how the younger generation uses Instagram as a tool of exaggerated street theater. And while the Jay-Z of 10 years ago would have been improvising his way through Young Thug and Playboi Carti anti-flows both as an exercise in hubris and also competitive vim, theres none of that here.

Rather, he makes a strong case for artistically aging by drilling down to core principles. As albums of late-career reckoning go, 4:44 isnt quite Gaye or Sinatra or Cash, but its on the path. Uncomfortable truths unearthed, demons shouted down, process refined even when everything melts away, you can still be ice-cold.

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Jay-Z Revels in the Catharsis of Confession on '4:44' - New York Times

Written by Siddhartha S | Singapore | Published:July 2, 2017 8:41 pm You just need to find the form of meditation to which you can relate to the most. (Source: Thinkstock Images)

I am yet to meet a working professional who does not like to take a shower or brush teeth before coming to office. Yes, sometimes crazy working hours or sub-zero winter temperatures may occasionally make us miss these necessary daily rituals, but I am sure there is no need for me to establish the importance of personal hygiene.

However, it surprises me a lot that such little importance is given to what is happening inside the human body other than the sensations of hunger or pain. People now consider stress, anxiety, anger issues and panic attacks as normal happenings in life. I do not wish to use statistics as a crutch to establish the need for internal emotional cleansing. There are ample of studies by reputed medical institutes published in world famous journals which prove that meditation is even more powerful than medication for sound emotional health.

Five benefits in your work life if you meditate.

I will not prescribe you any particular kind of meditation because all of them are effective. Do not let your untrained mind give you excuses like lack of knowledge and proper technique is the reason why you cannot meditate. Buy a book on the subject of meditation or read a dozen of articles on the Internet and then you are all set to start. If your employer does not sponsor a meditation class for you, you can do it yourself. It is free, easy to do and a great habit that you must gift yourself.

You just need to find the form of meditation to which you can relate to the most. I follow a combination of mindfulness, thoughtlessness, gratitude-based meditation, deep diaphragm breathing and concentration exercises.

You can read books and watch videos online about each of these techniques and adopt the one which works best for you. I would only like to prescribe a minimum duration of 30 minutes per day to start with. You can meditate in a standing posture, seated position or in the most crowded places but make sure you do not compromise your physical safety. Allow me to share certain professional benefits that you can manifest in your life through the habit of meditation. I can vouch for these benefits because I have personally experienced them in one way or the other.

A mind conditioned through meditation always responds to a situation calmly rather than reacting to it. The nasty client email or a rude email from a colleague will not blow your mind easily. You will now operate from a position of planned response rather than an unplanned execution. It is a powerful position to be in and very useful skill for business leaders. Your inner wisdom will navigate you to choose better projects and colleagues to work with.

There are various forms of meditation techniques that can unleash your creativity. One of them is the constant questioning method. I always calmly command myself what is the best, fastest and most effective way to complete my work. The fact that I communicate with my inner self through questions, it comes up with a lot of creative answers. As spooky as it may sound, but meditation grants you access to collective consciousness of the world. You will get strangely powerful ideas which you cannot attribute to your own knowledge seeking efforts. It is the universal consciousness sending you signals to improve your life. Be receptive and open to these creative sources.

People who meditate are very choosy about their professional battles. They know that some issues and people should be avoided rather than confronted. They have understood the futility of micromanagement in life and intervene only when the stakes are high and when action is the best plan. As a result, they are quiet beings who do not mess up their relationships or annoy people around them. Some people will always be annoyed with you even if you do not do anything. However, most of the bad relationships at work are a result of an ugly confrontation, a poorly worded email or phone call made with a rude tone. Meditation can help you direct and channellise your anger on issues rather than people. You will attack wrong behaviour rather than people and your relationships will get better in a significant manner.

When you practise mindfulness or thoughtlessness, you reach a state of now. You fall in love with action and do not get anxious about the results or outcome. This is the age old concept of work-therapy or living in a state of flow. When you learn to still your mind through certain breathing techniques, you take charge of your attention and the number of distractions in your professional life decrease too. You understand the difference between urgent and important and engage in high impact tasks. Your productivity zooms up and you get more accomplished in a day than most people do in that time frame.

Meditation releases energy of calmness and positivity that can be harnessed at your workplace. After every 1 hour at work, I take 10 deep breaths and exhale any negativity or stress which might have built up during the past one hour. Just takes a couple of minutes but it keeps me super productive for the hour. While coming back from work, I use certain breathing techniques to release any kind of stress and negativity that I might have unknowingly accumulated inside my mind. As surprising as it may sound, but I feel energetic and charged up at the end of the day too.

Meditation is one practice that I prescribe to all my readers and seminar participants because it has no side-effects. It clears your mind and oxygenates the body. Meditation is not just meant for the monks of the Himalayas. The truth is they need it less than us who live a professional life full of targets, deadlines and challenging situations.

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Working It Out: Why meditation is a new must for professionals? - The Indian Express

Plainclothes police visit a branch of the Sathya Sai Baba sect on Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province on Sunday as part of the investigation into the death of Belgian tourist Elise Dallemagne. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)

KOH PHANGAN, SURAT THANI - Police searched an ashram affiliated with a religious cult on Sunday as part of a wider investigation into the death of a Belgian tourist on neighbouring Koh Tao.

When police from Koh Phangan station arrived at the ashram, a branch of the Sathya Sai Baba cult, they found only two Indian members on the premises.

Koh Phangan police chief Pol Col Somchai Noppasri said the two Indians told the investigators that Raaman Andreas, a German who is the sect leader on Koh Phangan, left for Sri Lanka and India two months ago. They did not know when he will return, he added.

Police believe Elise Dallemagne was a devotee of the Indian sect but have not yet linked it with her death.

Pol Maj Gen Chalit Thinthanee, the deputy of the Provincial Police Region 8, on Sunday again asked Mr Andreas to help police clear up the mysterious circumstances of her death.

Dallemagne was found dead, reportedly hanging from a tree with a rope around her neck, in jungle terrain above Koh Tao's Tanote bay on April 27. Police ruled that the 30-year-old Belgian committed suicide, and the autopsies substantiated the ruling.

Police on Koh Tao returned to Tanote bay to look for additional evidence and check CCTV footage at a shop nearby. The video showed Dallemagne visiting the shop on April 21 to buy plain rice and a ferry ticket for April 24.

The Belgian checked into Triple B Bungalows on April 19. She abruptly left the resort on the same night after a fire which, according to the owner, started in her hut before spreading to other bungalows.

The footage seen by police on Sunday confirmed that she went to Tanote bay after the fire.

After her story was run on the Samui Times, an online outlet, police reopened their investigation. They have questioned more than 15 people -- ranging from staff at the bungalow to ferry crew members -- in bid to end speculation about her death.

Crime Suppression Division police from Bangkok were sent to the resort island to assist local police.

Pol Col Wichorb Kerdkliang, the deputy police chief of Surat Thani, said about 10 more people remain to be questioned, and they hope to complete the questioning process on Monday.

Police will review the evidenceand study the autopsy reports before reaching a conclusion on the case.

"So far investigators and police from Koh Tao and Koh Phangan police stations have not found anything that suggests a murder motive or the involvement of anyone else in the death or Dallemagne," Pol Col Wichorb said.

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Police search ashram for clues on Koh Tao death - Bangkok Post

Lucknow: A push for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya is likely to gain momentum from Guru Poornima next week when saints gather at the Naradanand Ashram in Sitapur to chalk out a roadmap in this regard.

"Saints from different akhadas of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states will be assembling at the ashram to discuss and deliberate on the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya," Swami Vidya Chetanaiya Maharaj, who heads the Nardanand Ashram (in Sitapur), said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditiyanath. PTI

"Guru Poornima is on 9 July and it will mark the beginning of a campaign to gather support from not only the saints, but also from the common public for construction of the Ram temple," he told PTI.

Referring to his 27 June meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Chetanaiya Maharaj said, "We are confident that the commencement of construction of a grand Ram temple will begin well before 2019."

The 58-year-old saint also informed that after the Guru Poornima rituals are completed in Naradanand Ashram, he will embark on a special rath (chariot) and travel to different ashrams in the state, and also in the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand to elicit support for construction of the temple.

"After nearly one-and-a-half months, I will be returning to the ashram. And, then the final roadmap will take shape," he said.

President of the Rashtriya Kisan Manch, Shekhar Dixit, said until and unless the condition of 'rishi' (saints) and 'krishi' (agriculture) is improved, and problems addressed, "dawn of Ram Rajya in India will always remain a distant dream".

"Both rishi and krishi are an asset to the nation, and if their interests are not taken care of, then this will definitely not augur well for the country as a whole."

Dixit went on to say, "A large number of saints and farmers face threat from the land mafia, which tries to grab their land. If the Uttar Pradesh government intervenes, and sends the land mafia behind bars, then it will set a right precedent."

He added that on Guru Poornima, the volunteers of Rashtriya Kisan Manch will take a pledge to dedicate themselves to resolve these problems.

"We will work tirelessly, and continue to do so till the last farmer gets justice," he said. He was also of the view that time has come for construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

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Demand for Ram temple to get a major push as saints gather to mark Guru Poornima - Firstpost

On Monday, Shanghai police officers intervened before a planned mass brawl between mixed martial artists and tai chi practitioners could take place. The proposed fight is the latest in a string of incidents that have shaken up the Chinese martial arts scene. It comes on the heels of rumours that the government of China had taken action - via internet censorship - to squash the rivalry between MMA and traditional martial arts.

At the centre of this latest incident is Xu Xiaodong, head of of the Beijing MMA association. It was Xus streetfight with Wei Lei (a tai chi master) that caused the MMA vs tai chi/traditional martial arts rivalry to go viral last May. Xu won that fight in around 10 seconds, after a single flurry of punches. The conflict between Xu and Wei started with an argument online over the merits of various forms of martial arts.

After Xu knocked out Wei, he told a crowded gym that he believed tai chi - and disciplines like it - were a sham. This lead to a number of tai chi masters circling Xu and offering to fight him. Xu escaped that situation unscathed and then took to Chinese social media platform Weibo to continue his diatribe against traditional martial arts. Xus rants culminated in him issuing a challenge to traditional martial artists to fight him for a cash prize.

Like the fight with Wei, Xus challenge went viral and a number of Chinese martial artists took him up on his offer. Later, Xus Weibo account was taken offline (along with a number of posts mentioning his challenge). An article in The Economist suggested that this was another incident of the Chinese government censoring Weibo, possibly motivated by a vested interest in upholding the popularity of traditional Chinese martial arts; which they view as an important tool for diplomacy and tourism. After his Weibo account was disabled, Xu told the BBC that he was going to study traditional martial arts himself, as well as keep quiet on the internet.

However, it seems Xus belief that MMA is superior to tai chi and kung fu has not died down. Nor has his eagerness to prove it. The South China Morning Post reports that Xu was set to lead a team of four mixed martial artists into battle versus four tai chi experts, led by Ma Baoguo (a master of Chen style tai chi). Reportedly, the group brawl was arranged online.

Moments before the group fight was set to begin Shanghai police raided the venue. Videos posted to YouTube show the moment officers confront Xu. With a large crowd circling around them Xu is heard (per South China Morning Post) telling the officers that, I will certainly cooperate, but dont push me. You wont be able to push me! A separate video then shows Xu being escorted from the venue.

Despite Xus social media presence dwindling (because either he or someone else closed his accounts) there remains some support for the MMA advocate online. South China Morning Post reports that internet users had dubbed the cancelled group brawl as Xus resurrection after weeks of online silence. Users also alleged that messages about Xu and the group brawl were being censored.

One user is reported to have written, Blocked again! This is regional politics! [Xu] can defeat all of the fakeness across the lakes and rivers, but he cannot defeat the government.

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Video: Shanghai police shut down MMA vs. Tai Chi mass brawl ... - Bloody Elbow

The Register-Guard

Morning tai chi The Register-Guard Karen Meats joins others for tai chi at East Eighth Avenue and Oak Street in downtown Eugene on Tuesday morning. Meats has been practicing tai chi for about 31/2 years. Tai chi classes are held at 8:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday through the summer ...

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Morning tai chi - The Register-Guard

Vegan nutrition refers to the nutritional aspects of vegan diets diets which include no animal products.

While a well-planned, balanced vegan diet is suitable to meet all recommendations for nutrients in every stage of life, improperly-planned vegan diets may be deficient in vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, riboflavin (vitamin B2), long-chain fatty acids EPA and DHA, and omega-3 fatty acids.[1]

Doctors Dean Ornish, T. Colin Campbell, John A. McDougall, Michael Klaper, Caldwell Esselstyn, Michael Greger, Joel Fuhrman, and Neal D. Barnard claim that high animal fat and protein diets, such as the standard American diet, are detrimental to health.[2][3][4] They also state that a lifestyle change incorporating a vegan whole foods diet could not only prevent various degenerative diseases, such as coronary artery disease, but reverse them.[5][6][7][8][9] A number of documentary films, such as Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, Planeat and Forks over Knives, focus on the purported health benefits of plant-based diets. Although there is general consensus amongst doctors advocating plant-based diets, Joel Fuhrman and Michael Greger have disagreed with Campbell and Esselstyn on the use of nuts and seeds.[10]

Some athletes, such as Brendan Brazier, follow a vegan diet, including raw veganism.[11] Other examples of endurance and strength include ultramarathon runner Scott Jurek, who has set several records, and has won two dozen ultramarathons on a vegan diet, and strongman competitor Patrik Baboumian, who has set 4 strongman world records while vegan.

Vegan diets tend to be higher in dietary fibre, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and phytochemicals, and lower in calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12.[12] Because uncontaminated plant foods do not provide vitamin B12 (which is produced by microorganisms such as bacteria), researchers agree that vegans should eat foods fortified with B12 or take a daily supplement.[13]

The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada state that well-planned vegan diets can meet all nutrient requirements and are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.[14] The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly known as the American Dietetic Association), adds that well-planned vegan diets are also appropriate for older adults and athletes, and that vegan diets can reduce the risk of certain health conditions, including ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, obesity, and chronic disease.[15][16] Special attention may be necessary to ensure that an all-plant (vegan) diet will provide adequate amounts of vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, and iodine. These nutrients are available in plant foods, with the exception of vitamin B12, which can to be obtained from B12 fortified vegan foods or supplements. Iodine may also require supplements (iodized salt).[17]

Vitamin B12 deficiency is potentially extremely serious, leading to megaloblastic anemia, nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage.[18]

Evidence shows that vegans who are not taking vitamin B12 supplements do not consume sufficient servings of B12 and often have abnormally low blood concentrations of vitamin B12.[19] This is because, unless fortified, plant foods do not contain reliable amounts of active vitamin B12. Vegans are recommended to do one of the following dietary options:[20]

The US National Institutes of Health recommends B12 intake in a range from 0.4 micrograms a day for infants, to 2.4 micrograms for adults, and up to 2.8 micrograms for nursing mothers. [21] The European Food Safety Authority set the Adequate Intake at 1.5 micrograms for infants, 4 micrograms for children and adults, and 4.5 and 5 micrograms during pregnancy and nursing. [22]

These amounts can be obtained by eating B12 fortified foods, which include some common breakfast cereals, soy milks, and meat analogues, as well as from common multivitamins such as One-A-Day and Flintstones. Some of the fortified foods require only a single serving to provide the recommended B12 amounts. [23] Other B12 fortified foods include: some almond milks, coconut milks, other plant milks, nutritional yeast, vegan mayonnaise, tofu, and various types and brands of vegan deli slices, burgers, and other veggie meats.

Proteins are composed of amino acids and essential amino acids cannot be synthesised by the human body. A 1994 study found a varied intake of such sources can be adequate.[24] Protein levels of vegan diets typically meet or exceed the recommended levels, as long as sufficient calories are consumed. Eating soy and legume products regularly, will help ensure adequate protein levels.[25]

Vegan diets can be low in omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA). Major vegan sources of O3FA include algae, hempseeds and hempseed oil, walnuts, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, olive oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, avocado and chia seeds. However, diets lacking generous amounts of sea vegetables (seaweed) generally lack a direct source of long-chain O3FA such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).[citation needed] Vegan diets, like the standard American diet, may also have a high ratio of O6FA to O3FA, which inhibits the conversion of short-chain fatty acids such as alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA), found in most vegan O3FA sources, to EPA and DHA.[1] Short-term supplemental ALA has been shown to increase EPA levels but not DHA levels, suggesting poor conversion of the intermediary EPA to DHA.[26] DHA supplements derived from DHA-rich microalgae are available,[1] and the human body can also convert DHA to EPA.[27]

There is only weak evidence that omega-3 benefits cardiovascular health,[28] and although omega-3 has previously been thought useful for helping alleviate dementia, as of 2016[update] there is no good evidence of effectiveness.[29]

While there is little evidence of adverse health or cognitive effects due to DHA deficiency in adult vegetarians or vegans, fetal and breast milk levels remain a concern.[26] EPA and DHA supplementation has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation in vegetarians, but a direct link to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, which is already lower for vegetarians, has yet to be determined.[30]

The most concentrated sources of these fatty acids are seeds, such as flax, chia, camelina, canola, and hemp, as well as walnuts, and their oils. Supplements are also available.[31]

It is recommended that vegans eat three servings per day of a high-calcium food, such as fortified soy milk, other plant based milks, almonds, hazelnuts, kale, collard greens, Chinese greens, etc., and take a calcium supplement or other calcium-fortified foods as necessary.[1]

Many studies have examined possible correlation between veganism, calcium intake, and bone health. The EPIC-Oxford study suggested that vegans who consumed 525mg or less of calcium per day have an increased risk of bone fractures over meat eaters and vegetarians, but that vegans consuming more than 525mg/day had a risk of fractures similar to other groups. Overall, the entire group of vegans had a higher risk of fractures.[32] A 2009 study of bone density found the bone density of vegans was 94 percent that of omnivores, but deemed the difference clinically insignificant.[33] Another study in 2009 by the same researchers examined over 100 vegan post-menopausal women, and found that their diet had no adverse effect on bone mineral density (BMD) and no alteration in body composition.[34] Biochemist T. Colin Campbell suggested in The China Study (2005) that osteoporosis is linked to the consumption of animal protein because, unlike plant protein, animal protein increases the acidity of blood and tissues, which is then neutralized by calcium pulled from the bones resulting in hypercalciuria. Campbell wrote that his China-Oxford-Cornell study of nutrition in the 1970s and 1980s found that, in rural China, "where the animal to plant ratio [for protein] was about 10 percent, the fracture rate is only one-fifth that of the U.S."[35]

Calcium is one component of the most common type of human kidney stones, calcium oxalate. Some studies suggest that people who take supplemental calcium have a higher risk of developing kidney stones, and these findings have been used as the basis for setting the recommended daily intake (RDI) for calcium in adults.[36][37][38]

One study reported a "potential danger of iodine deficiency disorders due to strict forms of vegetarian nutrition, especially when fruits and vegetables grown in soils with low [iodine] levels are ingested."[39] Vegan diets typically require special attention for iodine, as it is generally only available from sea vegetables and iodized salt and supplements. The iodine content of sea vegetables varies widely and may provide more than the recommended upper limit of iodine intake.[40]

It is recommended for vegans to eat iron-rich foods and vitamin C daily.[41] In several studies, vegans were not found to suffer from iron-deficiency any more than non-vegans.[42][43][44][45] However, due to the low absorption rate on non-heme iron it is recommended to eat dark leafy greens (and other sources of iron) together with sources of Vitamin C.[46]

It is recommended for vegans to eat food rich in choline, as plant based sources of choline are limited.[47] Soy lecithin, cauliflower, spinach, wheat germ, firm tofu, kidney beans, quinoa and amaranth are vegan sources of choline. The Adequate Intake (AI) of choline is 425mg (milligrams) per day for adult women; higher for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The AI for adult men is 550mg/day.[48] Choline deficiency can lead to health problems such as liver damage, a result of liver cells initiating programmed cell death (apoptosis), as well as an increase in neural tube defects in pregnant women.[49] In a study, 77% of men, 44% of premenopausal women, and 80% of postmenopausal women developed fatty liver or muscle damage due to choline deficiency, showing that subject characteristics regulate the dietary requirement.[50] Choline deficiency has also been associated with hypertension in rats.[51] There is also some evidence that choline is an anti-inflammatory as well, but further studies are needed to confirm/refute findings.[52] In order to avoid these problems, it's important to meet the adequate intake, especially since many multivitamins do not contain enough choline.[53] Although many animal products, like liver and egg, contain high amounts of choline (355mg/3 oz and 126mg/large egg, respectively), wheat germ (172mg/cup), brussel sprouts (63mg/cup), and broccoli (62mg/cup) are good sources of choline as well.[49]

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Vegan nutrition - Wikipedia

Yep, its true! Haagen-Dazs, has launched four flavors of creamy, vegan ice cream into Target!

The flavors include:chocolate salted fudge truffle,mocha chocolate cookie, peanut butter chocolate fudge,andcoconut caramel!

coconut caramel vegan haagen dazs

The new vegan ice cream is posted on the Haagen-Dazs website, along with all of the ingredients.

Although its available at my local Target, I called another Target store nearby and they didnt have it in stock yet, so be sure to call first. Also, you can search on the Haagen-Dazs website for stores that carry it, but I noticed it wasnt fully updated.

So if you dont see a store listed near you, still call just to be sure! You might just be in luck.

If anyone out there still isnt convinced that theres a huge paradigm shift to all things vegan, the explosion of plant-based ice cream, made without ANY animal products, should convince you otherwise.

Were not just talking about small mom and pop start-ups here; were talking Target, carrying a vegan ice cream made by Nestle, on the heels of Unilevers launch of lots of vegan Ben & Jerrys ice cream and an assortment of vegan Breyers Ice Cream, too.

vegan peanut butter chocolate fudge haagen dazs

Even So Delicious, maker of my favorite vegan ice cream: Cashew Milk Salted Caramel Cluster (YUM!) was snatched up by Danone, a french company which generates over 22 billion dollars a year in sales.

And get this: Just last month Danoneannounced theyre launching a multi-million dollar campaign to promote So Delicious vegan ice cream!

Yes, its always bittersweet when small companies get gobbled up by the big ones, snatching their smart ideas and products, but this is how the shift occurs, folks. Id rather small companies get gobbled up than have the animals get gobbled up, wouldnt you?

According to Nielsen, in the 52 weeks ending April 29, U.S. non-dairy ice cream sales in the grocery and supercenter sectors surged 46%!

So even if you dont like ice cream (are there such people?), after all a bowl of fresh fruit is much healthier (tis true!), theres something to be happy about here, folks!

The world is going vegan in a very delicious way. Enjoy!

Jackie Day, Author of the new bookThe Vegan Way: 21 Days to a Happier, Healthier Plant-Based Lifestyle That Will Transform Your Home, Your Diet, and You(St. Martins Press / Macmillan)

Follow this link:

Haagen-Dazs Launches Vegan Ice Cream at Target Nationwide! - My Vegan Journal

Produce processors and retailers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure sufficient supplies of organic produce as domestic demand continues to rise at a pace that exceeds production, according to a new report from CoBank.

The dollar value of U.S organic produce sales doubled from 2011 to 2015 and annual sales now amount to $5.5 billion. Currently, 15 percent of all U.S produce sales are organic. While organic acres have nearly doubled over the last decade, that pace of supply-side growth has been sluggish relative to demand.

Sales of organic fruit, vegetables and nuts have increased dramatically in recent years and this growth trend will continue, said Christine Lensing, CoBank senior economist in specialty crops. More than half of U.S. households are now purchasing some organic produce. But for a variety of reasons, production has not been keeping pace with demand and the supply gap is widening.

More domestic growers would need to transition to organic to bridge the supply gap, Lensing said. But given current consumption trends and the length of the required transition period, she added, organic produce supplies will likely remain under pressure over the next three to five years.

Food companies and large retailers have increased imports to meet demand and secure supplies throughout the year. The volume of U.S. imports of selected organic specialty crop items soared by almost 800 percent from 2011 to 2013 before leveling off.

Its quite clear the market for organic produce will continue to grow, which creates opportunities for growers, Lensing said. However, transitioning to organic comes at a cost and is not without risk. Steady domestic supply growth will be dependent on consistent, wide premiums that reward growers for accepting the elevated risks associated with organic production.

Despite premiums of 30 to 50 percent, the perceived risks associated with transitioning to organic are often a significant deterrent for conventional growers. Key among those risks is the absence of an established market that offers transitioning growers a premium price during the lengthy three-year transition period, Lensing said. Concerns about market and price sustainability, the additional labor required for organic farming, and the absence of support systems such as subsidies or grants compound grower reluctance.

According to Lensing, the organic industry recognizes these challenges and is taking steps to help alleviate some of the pressures on transitioning growers.

A new partnership between the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and the USDA has been established to provide guidance to growers transitioning to organic production and is laying the foundation for a transitional organic market.

Initiatives such as the transitional organic certification program and the formation of additional strategic partnerships should serve to encourage more domestic organic production and help address the marketing challenges created by supply shortfalls, Lensing said.

Grand Island Independent (NE)

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Surging demand for organic produce widens US supply gap - Scottsbluff Star Herald