Why Go Veg?

In 2007, I chose to become a vegetarian. Many of you may know, since I have already written about it. If not, I invite you to follow the previous link.

Today, I would like to speak about the different reasons to choose vegetarianism in our lives:

Warding off disease. Vegetarian diets are healthier than the average American diet, particularly in preventing, treating or reversing heart disease and reducing the risk of cancer. A low-fat vegetarian diet is the single most effective way to stop the progression of coronary artery disease or prevent it entirely. Cardiovascular disease kills 1 million Americans annually and is the leading cause of death in the United States. 

However, the mortality rate for cardiovascular disease is lower in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians. A vegetarian diet is inherently healthy, because vegetarians consume less animal fat and cholesterol; vegans, indeed, consume no animal fat or cholesterol. Instead, we consume more fiber and more antioxidant-rich produce.

Keeping your weight down. The standard American diet—high in saturated fats and processed foods and low in plant-based foods and complex carbohydrates—is making us fat and killing us slowly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a division of the CDC, the National Center for Health Statistics, 64% of adults and 15% of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight; and are at risk of weight-related illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Overweight people who start following a low-fat, vegetarian diet will lose an average of 24 pounds in the first year and keep off that weight 5 years later. Therefore, one can actually lose weight without counting calories or carbohydrates, and without measuring portions or feeling hungry.

Living longer. If you switch from the standard American diet to a vegetarian diet, you can add about 13 healthy years to your life. People who consume saturated, four-legged fat have a shorter life span and more disability at the end of their lives. Animal products clog your arteries, zap your energy and slow down your immune system. Meat eaters also experience accelerated cognitive and sexual dysfunction at a younger age.

For instance, Residents of Okinawa, Japan, have the longest life expectancy of any Japanese; and likely the longest life expectancy of anyone in the world, according to a 30-year study of more than 600 Okinawan centenarians. Their secret: a low-calorie diet of unrefined complex carbohydrates, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and soy.

Einstürzende Neubauten

As I previously wrote, I am dedicating an entry to each artist I saw live at Primavera Sound 2015.

This one is about Einstürzende Neubauten, a band from Berlin (Germany) that has been active since 1980. The band's name can be translated as "collapsing new buildings". These "new buildings" refer to a style of architecture that started after World War II in Germany: large concrete box-style buildings.

Their trademark is the use of metal plates, electric drills, metal cutters, and circle saws; along with traditional musical instruments, they create a sound which is described as industrial.

They use a logo that consists of a human symbol with two arms, two legs (one much shorter than the other), a thin body, and a big round head with a circle in its middle.

It is an ancient Toltec petroglyph, whose meaning is undefined. It was discovered in a cave in central Mexico and is believed to be created between 700 and 1200 CE (Common -or Christian- Era).

I have always wanted to see Einstürzende Neubauten live since I had been told countless times that their live shows are great and unique. After attending their concert in Barcelona (Catalonia) on May 30th, 2015, I have to say that I was positively impressed.

Even though I had only listened to their early work (like the one featuring Lydia Lunch), I am discovering them little by little and liking them more. And I will be seeing them live again if I have the chance.

Blixa Bargeld, the band's leader, was a member of a band I know much more: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. There, he played guitar and did backing vocals from 1983 until 2003.

Addicted to Anxiety

Psychiatrist Judith Orloff MD has observed that many people are addicted to the adrenaline rush of anxiety, also known as "the fight or flight response", and do not know how to diffuse it.

On her webpage, she asks us to ask ourselves the following questions:

• Do I worry about many things every day?
• Is it difficult to stop watching anxiety-provoking news on TV or the internet, though I try?
• Do I experience separation anxiety when I can’t access my smartphone or computer?
• Do I make problems larger, not smaller?
• Do I worry about things that no one around me worries about?
• When one anxiety is solved, do I immediately focus on another?

If you answered “yes” to all 6 questions, worry plays a very large, addictive role in your life. 4-5 “yeses” indicates a large role. 2-3 “yeses” indicates a moderate role. 1 “yes” indicates a low level. Zero “yeses” suggests that you’re more warrior than worrier!  

She says that in order to quiet anxiety and turn off your fight-or-flight response, it is important to re-train your brain to send chemicals to counteract this powerful biological response. Otherwise, anxiety can become an addiction. In contrast, with calm biology, you can generate endorphins, the blissful natural painkillers in your body.