Sexiest Aussie Vegetarian Celebrity

“Never feeling the sun on their backs or the grass beneath their feet, unable to spread a wing or stretch a leg … animals suffer on factory farms.”
Missy Higgins

MELBOURNE singer Missy Higgins has been crowned this year's sexiest Aussie vegetarian celebrity by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"I'm just a real lover of animals and I think when I was a kid that's why I became a vegetarian," Higgins once said.

"I went to boarding school and the meat that was served was disgusting mass-manufactured mystery meat and so it wasn't very hard to get motivated not to eat that."

A Life Time of Good Health

By Fauja Singh

People call me “the Turbaned Tornado” – I’m the oldest marathon runner in the world. Last month, just three weeks after my 101st birthday, I ran the London Marathon in seven hours and 49 minutes. I’ve completed eight other marathons in the past 12 years, including the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which I ran when I was 100 years old. How do I do it? Simple: firstly, I eat only vegetarian foods – I am told that vegetarians tend to live an average of six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters do. But I also walk or jog every day. Age may bring wisdom, but if you want stamina, endurance and a lifetime of good health, turn to nutritious vegetarian foods.

This National Vegetarian Week, I hope to inspire others to eat healthful, plant-based meals. I can’t dictate what others eat, but I want to share the benefits of vegetarian eating with everyone who is willing to listen. I’ve been predominantly vegetarian my whole life. In the Sikh religion, we eat to live, not live to eat. In Punjab, the green belt of India where I’m originally from, most people eat what they grow – I attribute my longevity to simple Punjabi vegetarian foods, such as chapati, dal, sabji and saag.

But eating vegetarian food is also part of my training regime. We all need a balanced and wholesome diet. It doesn’t matter how nice to look at or sweet food is – if your body can’t digest it, why eat it? In many parts of the world, people are dying because of starvation, whilst others are dying because of overeating. My solution is just to eat what my body needs. I don’t believe in waste or excessiveness, and I believe that it takes up to 16 pounds of grain just to produce 1 pound of meat, so eating vegetarian foods helps conserve land, water and energy.

I’m a member of the Sikhs in the City running club, and the average age of the elders’ running team is 86. The London Marathon was my last long race, but I don’t plan on hanging up my running shoes just yet – the day I stop running will be the day my body stops altogether. I’m still going to compete in short races of 5 or 10 kilometres.

One day, I hope to climb the stairs to the top of one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Taipei Tower, which is 101 stories high. One never knows what life will bring, but I am hopeful that my passion for an active lifestyle – and my healthy vegetarian diet – can help propel me to the top. And when I reach my destination, I will be able to say that no animals had to suffer because of my food choices along the way.

Source : The Independent

Living a Life as Vegetarian is a Wordless Prayer to the Almighty.

Raden Ayu Kartini, (21 April 1879 – 17 September 1904), or sometimes known as Raden Ajeng Kartini, was a prominent Javanese and an Indonesian national heroine. Kartini is known as a pioneer in the area of women's rights for native Indonesians.

Raden Ayu Kartini was born into an aristocratic Javanese family in a time when Java was still part of the Dutch colony, the Dutch East Indies.

After Raden Adjeng Kartini died, Mr J. H. Abendanon, the Minister for Culture, Religion and Industry in the East Indies, collected and published the letters that Kartini had sent to her friends in Europe. The book was titled Door Duisternis tot Licht (Out of Dark Comes Light) and was published in 1911.

The publication of R.A. Kartini's letters, written by a native Javanese woman, attracted great interest in the Netherlands and Kartini's ideas began to change the way the Dutch viewed native women in Java. Her ideas also provided inspiration for prominent figures in the fight for Independence.

In her letters, Raden Adjeng Kartini wrote about her views of the social conditions prevailing at that time, particularly the condition of native Indonesian women. The majority of her letters protest the tendency of Javanese Culture to impose obstacles for the development of women. She wanted women to have the freedom to learn and study. R.A. Kartini wrote of her ideas and ambitions

Vegetarian Lifestyle

It is known from her letters dated October 1902 to Abendanon and her husband that at the age of 23, Raden Adjeng Kartini had a mind to live a vegetarian life. "It has been for sometime that we are thinking to do it (to be a vegetarian), I have even eaten only vegetables for years now, but I still don't have enough moral courage to carry on. I am still too young." R.A. Kartini once wrote.

She also emphasized the relationship between this kind of lifestyle with religious thoughts. She also quoted, "Living a life as vegetarian is a wordless prayer to the Almighty."

Carrie Underwood Goes Vegan

Country music star Carrie Underwood has revamped her diet plan and become a vegan.

The singer adopted a vegetarian lifestyle several years ago after discovering the long-term health benefits of cutting out meat, and the former “American Idol” star reveals she’s now avoiding animal products all together in a bid to boost her overall well-being.

She tells Self magazine, “I’ve been a vegetarian for seven years, but after seeing a friend who looked amazing and had recently gone vegan, I thought, ‘What’s holding me back?’ Now I’m 95-percent vegan.”

However, Underwood insists she’d consider adding dairy back into her eating regime if she could run her own farm.

She adds, “My veganism is based on a concern about where my food is coming from. In my perfect world, I’d have webcams wherever food is processed so I’d know how clean it is.

“I’ll never eat meat again, because I look and feel better without it, but if I could raise my own cows and chickens and produce my own eggs and cheese, it would be awesome! The food would taste better, because the animals would be happy!”

70-Year-Old Looks 30 Years Younger - Thanks to Raw Food Diet

When Annette Larkins goes out with her husband of 54 years, people assume she is his daughter.

The image of health, vitality and youth with a petite size four frame and a line-free face, Mrs Larkins is in fact 70 years old.

The resident of Miami-Dade County, Florida, attributes her youthful looks to her raw vegan diet and grows almost everything she eats in the garden she refers to as her 'fountain of youth'.

During a visit to her home, ABC News reporters explored the back yard, every of inch of which is covered in plants and trees that grow the fruits and vegetables Mrs Larkins eats.

She told reporters: 'My diet consists of fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds. I do a lot of sprouting of seeds and as you can see from my garden and of course, these are the raw foods that I eat.'

The sprightly septuagenarian did not always eat this way. Husband of 54 years, Amos, owned a meat factory in the 1960's and it was around this time that his wife decided to go vegetarian.

27 years ago she went one step further by turning vegan and now everything she eats is raw. Nothing cooked or processed every passes her lips.

Mrs Larkins also juices her fruits and vegetables and collects rain water to drink and to water her garden.

For his part, Mr Larkins wishes he had followed his wife's example. Looking considerably older, he also takes prescription medicine for diabetes and high blood pressure while Mrs Larkins won't even take an aspirin.

When they walk down the street together, he admitted: 'They'll ask me what am I doing with this young girl.'

Recognizing how positively she could influence others, the formidable 70-year-old has already written two booklets titled: Journey to Health and produced a DVD about her nutritional regime.

'I am very vibrant, I have lots of energy, as I told you before, I am up no later than 5:30 in the morning as a rule, and I am ready to go' she told ABC.

Her husband agreed, gushing: 'She's an amazing person though. Oh man, I mean really. She does everything- build computers, make all her own clothes, grow her own food, speaks three languages. It's amazing.'

Five Famous Female Vegetarian and Vegan Athletes ‎

Many people mistakenly believe that athletes need to consume meat products in order to perform their best and get an adequate amount of protein in their diet. This belief, although common, simply isn't true.

In fact, there are many female sports celebrities who practice a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, and kept on top of the game.

Venus & Serena Williams

Venus Williams decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle after learning she suffered from an incurable auto-immune disorder. Her sister, Serena Williams, showed her support by pledging to take on the same dietary changes. The two world-renown tennis champions have decided that together they will adopt a vegetarian lifestyle in order to improve their health, and hopefully, reduce some of the symptoms Venus experiences due to her health condition.

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova, a tennis player who won 18 major international championships and placed as runner up in 14 others, chose to live a vegetarian lifestyle. Vegetarianism fits Navratilova well, as she is well known for acting as an animal rights activist.

Hannah Teter

Hannahaa Teter, a U.S. snowboarder, had found a passion other than the snow and ice: protecting and speaking out for baby seals being slaughtered for their fur in Canada. Teter posed for a PETA ad campaign to promote awareness for the seals. Teter is compassionate and concerned about the treatment of all animals, not just seals, and follows a vegetarian diet.

Ruth Heidrich

Ruth Heidrich, a triathlete and cancer survivor, has been living a vegan lifestyle for over 25 years. Holding a master's degree in psychology, as well as over 900 medals for her impressive running ability, Heidrich has proven to the world that an athlete doesn't need meat to perform his or her best.

Venus Williams Switch to Raw Vegan Diets for Health in 2012

Celebrity athlete Venus Williams is putting the spotlight on the benefits of eating a raw food diet to help improve her health as part of a New Year's resolution. Her sister Serena Williams is joining her. Both tennis players are role models for women and say they plan to fully embrace vegetarian diets in 2012. Other famous faces and sexy star celebs like Natalie Portman, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Wilde, Pamela Anderson, and Chelsea Clinton are also vegetarians, and the news the Williams sisters have joined the list of Hollywood women who don't eat meat is helping draw more attention to the growing health food movement.

According to The Daily Mail, the professional tennis player first revealed that reason for her drop out of the U.S. Open during the summer of 2011 was due to her discovery she suffers from an incurable disease of the immune system called Sjogren's Syndrome.

The painful and debilitating symptoms caused her to cancel her second U.S. Open match, after winning the first.

Ecorazzi reports, "She says, though, that the diagnosis was a relief after years of going to doctors without results. 'I would go to the doctor and start crying. I couldn't help it. I just want a chance to play on the same field as other people, I want to feel normal, but as frightening as the diagnosis was, it was also a relief.'"

Her sister has pledged to join her on the raw foods diet in 2012, and the two women have already started.

Making preserving and improving health and fitness levels a New Year's resolution is a noble goal for both men and women. However, if the William sisters use their collective star celebs power wisely as fit and trim celebrity athletes in the new year, they stand to help not only the African-American community who looks up to them as fashion icons and role models but also to help promote the heath of all women.

Cheers for going vegetarian, eating a raw foods diet, and promoting all celebrities who care about their heath think about going vegan, Venus Williams! Bravo for your sister Serena Williams taking on the New Year's resolution challenge to make the diet work for both you and her in the 2012 year as well, as her move to support a lifestyle change (as a family member) makes her a hero as well.

May both of you enjoy good health and continued success playing tennis again for many years. Are you a vegan or vegetarian who has seen your health improve after eliminating meat or animal products from your diet? If so, leave a comment below to tell other readers how your life and health have improved.

Strongest Man Eats Green

He can raise a car clear off the ground, toss huge logs through the air and lift monster dumbbells – and he hates cruelty to animals. Patrik Baboumian, holder of the "Strongest Man of Germany" title, is a plant-eater!

Patrik Baboumian (born 1 July 1979 in Abadan, Iran) is an Armenian-German strongman competitor and former bodybuilder.

Since 2009 Baboumian holds the log lift World Record (-105 kg division). He lifted 162,5 kg in his second attempt in the German log lift nationals 2009. 2010 Baboumian also set a new German heavyweight loglifting record with 180 kg. 2011 Baboumian competed at the loglifting world championship and placed 4th with a new German overall-record of 185 kg. On 21 May 2011 he lifted 190 kg in Turku, Finland winning the local competition.

Patrik Baboumian is known as one of the strongest vegetarians of the world.

Patrik recognizes that a healthy, plant-based diet gives him the protein and nutrients he needs to build muscle and strengthen his immune system, without clogging his arteries with saturated fat. He also knows that only cowards hurt animals and that one of the most macho things a guy can do is to stop eating foods that cause animals immense suffering.

Sexiest Vegetarian

Mimi Kirk is PETA's Sexiest vegetarian over 50. She's just not over 50....she's 73!

Mimi Kirk was voted Sexiest Vegetarian over 50 a couple of years ago... She's looking great, and she credits her vegan lifestyle. She says she doesn't feel her age at all. She's in perfect health and has what seems like a charmed life.

Q&A With a Female Vegan Bodybuilder

The following article was written by Ashley Palmer.

One of the most frequently asked questions that many vegans receive is the always annoying "Where do you get your protein?!" By now, I'm sure you know that you'd have to be calorie-deficient to be protein-deficient. For people who are looking to build muscle, lose fat, and gain confidence, a vegan diet may be just the trick!

Take, for example, vegan bodybuilder Amanda Riester, who is in the hot seat in today's Q&A:

When and why did you first decide to go vegan?
I have always been a huge animal lover. I became a vegetarian in kindergarten after my 11-year-old cousin teasingly told me where meat came from. Although she wasn't a vegetarian, she was just trying to make me cry—it worked! I was horrified at the idea of eating an animal friend and never touched a piece of meat again. I remember being 5 years old asking at restaurants if things were made of meat before I ordered! Although I have always lived a vegan lifestyle (never wore leather or fur), two years ago I finally got the motivation to cut out all dairy. I read Skinny Bitch and The Ethics of What We Eat, and that sealed the deal for me!

What was the biggest change that you experienced when you switched to a plant-based diet?
My energy level skyrocketed. The bit of belly fat I had melted away within weeks. I always say I lost my "cheese fat" because if you actually look at fat, especially on the back of thighs, it really resembles melted mozzarella!

What is your favorite vegan meal?
I absolutely love homemade seitan! I eat it four meals a day. I find it to be the perfect protein source for me. It has approximately 150 calories, fat free, sodium free, 9 grams of carbs and 27 grams of protein! And you can season it any way at all. I usually add chili powder, fresh lime juice, cilantro, and some diced tomatoes, onion, and green peppers. Yum! If I want a healthy apple cobbler, I add sliced apples, dried cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and a bit of brown sugar. Then I add some cooked and sweetened quinoa on top and bake it. It's a great base to do anything with! The possibilities are endless.

How frequently do you work out, and what do these workouts usually entail?
I am a complete gym addict! I train six days a week, twice a day. I do morning cardio before breakfast for about 45 minutes. I prefer to jog outside with one of my dogs, but if they aren't up for it, I head to the gym and enjoy hitting the heavy bag or walking on an incline on the treadmill. In the evening I head back to the gym and hit the weight room for about 90 minutes of intense weight training. I lift heavy on legs and light on upper body since my upper body is way more developed then my lower from years of boxing. My favorite body part to train is legs. I can lift 720 pounds on the leg extension 10 times! I always have a crowd around me watching when I do leg workouts!! I love showing up the guys and telling everyone I have "vegan superpowers"! ;)

What advice do you have for other people who want to lead an active and healthy lifestyle?
When you start out, begin with an activity that you will really enjoy so you have the motivation to be consistent. Take it one day at a time and work at your own pace! Start out with whatever you can do ... if it's five minutes on the treadmill, tomorrow do five minutes and 30 seconds. Every day try to improve just a little bit. It will add up in no time!

*****

Amanda's activism for animals doesn't end when she leaves the gym. In addition to being the proud mom to three rescued dogs, she works full time as a professional animal communicator and pet-loss grief counselor.

While I may not be headed to a bodybuilding competition anytime soon, Amanda's advice is spot on, and I admire her for her hard work and dedication. Are you inspired by Amanda's words?

Source : PETA

World’s Oldest Marathon Runner

Fauja Singh, born April 1, 1911, is the world’s oldest marathon runner. This 100-year old marathon runner from India completed classical 42195 km distance on Sunday (10/16/2011) at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. He finished his route after more than eight hours of fight with himself. Fauja Singh result was better as he expected, his plan was about 9 hours. Most people do not understand what it is 8 hours on marathon route. You have to run a marathon to understand it. Fauja Singh speaks only Panjabi, is vegetarian and lives in Great Britain.

This may be the best inspiration ever to get us off the couch and into some running shoes and is also living proof of why it's never too late to incorporate healthy, plant-based foods into your diet.

Even if you don't plan to break any world records, a plant-based diet is a veritable fountain of youth: Vegetarians and vegans live an average of six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters do.

Singh has replaced  David Beckham as Adidas’s new poster boy and his picture is spread across London on bill boards.

Steve Jobs, Innovator and Vegetarian

Vegans, like vegetarians, do not eat meat. However, vegans are more strict and will not even eat animal by-products such as dairy foods. Jobs first became a vegan after an enlightening trip to India in 1974.

Steve Jobs may be remembered most for his innovations in technology, but all Vegetarians/Vegans and all green groups in the world will also remember the Apple co-founder for his kindness to animals and efforts to help the environment.

PETA praised Jobs for his vegetarianism and his support of animals through the "Pixar film studio [that] created heartwarming and thought-provoking movies about unlikely animal heroes."

They said of Jobs, "If his movies or his lifestyle inspired even one person to become a vegetarian, he no doubt saved hundreds of animals' lives, and for that we thank him."

Honoring the greener moments in Jobs' career with Apple, TreeHugger praised him for withdrawing Apple from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of the organization's climate change denial.