Issue 138

5111 Kali Era, Virodhi Year, Jyesta month
2066 Vikramarka Era, Virodhi Year, Jyesta month
1930 Salivahana Era, Virodhi Year, Jyesta month
2009 AD, June

Contents

Home

Management
AJIN

TSJ

MS

Vegetarian Links

Disclaimer

Soliciataion

Contact

VPC

More Links

Vedah

Diet and Exercise

Fish : Mad Cow Disease from Fish
Green Tea

Miscellaneous

Skin Cancer in Summer
Air Pollution Raises Cancer Risk
Stomach Stapling for Obese
Marijuana Causes Cancer

Recipes

Vegan Biscuits
Sesame Ginger Baked Tofu
Lemon Baked Tofu Recipe
Vegetarian Tofu Sticks

Diet and Exercise

Fish : Mad Cow Disease from Fish
U.S. scientists are concerne about the potential of people contracting Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, the human form of "mad cow disease" from eating farmed fish, in the latest issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Mad cow disease, also called bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a fatal brain disease in cattle, which scientists believe can cause Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in humans who eat infected cow parts.
Eating the beneficial omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has beneficial effects on the heart and brain. However, omega-3 acids can be obtained from vegetable products such as flax oil, purselane, urad dal, walnuts, almonds etc.
Purslane comes from India, where it was a food crop centuries ago. It was Gandhi's favorite food. Now it also grows across America, and around the world. See for more on purslane http://www.vepachedu.com/tsjNovember2004.html. http://www.homeschoolexcursions.org/programs/Homeschool_Herald_August06.pdf

Green Tea
Green tea is the second most popular drink in the world, and some epidemiological studies have shown health benefits with green tea, including a reduced incidence of prostate cancer. The few trials conducted to date have evaluated the clinical efficacy of green tea consumption and few studies have evaluated the change in biomarkers, which might predict disease progression.

According to results of a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a significant reduction in serum markers predictive of prostate cancer progression.

Results of a recent year-long clinical trial conduced by researchers in Italy demonstrated that consumption of green tea polyphenols reduced the risk of developing prostate cancer in men with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN).

Miscellaneous

Skin Cancer in Summer
As the hottest months of summer approach, dermatologists say people need to take extra precautions when working and having fun in the sun. There are three basic types of skin cancer. Two of them, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are the most common and least dangerous. But melanoma, which makes up just 3 percent of skin cancer cases, is responsible for more than 75 percent of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. It's also the most common form of skin cancer among young adults and the second-most common among adolescents -- though like most skin cancers, it is highly treatable if detected early.

Up to 90 percent of skin cancer is caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 65,000 people worldwide die from too much sun each year, mostly from malignant skin cancer. To combat that, cover yourself instead of bearing it in the sun, and liberal use of sunscreen is recommended for exposed skin. But some sunscreens are more effective than others.

Air Pollution Raises Cancer Risk
About 2.2 million Americans live in places where chemicals in the air increase their risk of cancer, officials said in June. Parts of New York, Oregon and California had the highest risk. The worst spot was between two freeways near Los Angeles. The estimated cancer risk there is 34 times the national average. The report came from the Environmental Protection Agency. It was based on data from 2002.

Stomach Stapling for Obese
Scientists have long thought obese people have a higher cancer risk, possibly because fat cells produce hormones that might lead to the disease. But doctors haven't been able to prove that losing weight in other ways, including dieting, reduces that risk.
Women who have their stomachs stapled not only lose weight, they also may reduce their cancer risk by up to 40 percent, new research says. In a study of more than 2,000 obese people who had surgery to reduce the size of their stomachs, Swedish researchers found women who had the procedure were less likely to get cancer than those who did not. But for some reason, the surgery didn't have the same effect in men; there was virtually no difference in the cancer rates in men who had the surgery and those who did not. The research was published online in the medical journal, Lancet Oncology. A previous study has shown that stomach stapling surgery can prolong the lives of men and women by up to 10 years compared to those who don't have it. Two other studies have suggested women in particular benefit from a lower cancer risk after getting the weight-loss operation.

The American Medical Association has taken action to support doctors' ability to discuss obesity with their overweight patients. Under a new policy adopted, the AMA formally opposes efforts by advocacy groups to define obesity as a disability. Doctors fear using that definition makes them vulnerable under disability laws to lawsuits from obese patients who don't want their doctors to discuss their weight. Doctors took the action at their annual meeting in Chicago.

Marijuana Causes Cancer
Marijuana smoke has joined tobacco smoke and hundreds of other chemicals on a list of substances California regulators say cause cancer. The ruling Friday by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment likely will force pot shops with 10 or more employees to post warnings. Final guidelines are expected by the time warning requirements take effect in a year. The listing only applies to marijuana smoke, not the plant itself.

Recipes

Vegan Biscuits
Ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 4 tbsp margarine, 3/4 cup soy milk
Preparation: Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees. Put all the dry ingredients into a bowl. Using a fork, blend the margarine into the dry ingredients until the mixture breaks down into fine particles. Add the soy milk and stir until the particles cling together. Turn out onto a floured bread board or countertop and knead for 1 to 2 minutes or until the dough is smooth. Add more flour as needed if the dough is sticky. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into rounds (a drinking glass works well), place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Sesame Ginger Baked Tofu
Ingredients: 2 containers firm or extra firm tofu, pressed; 1/3 cup soy sauce; 3/4 cup water; 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil; 2 tbsp sesame seeds (optional).
Preparation: Slice each block of tofu into 4 or 5 slices. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, ginger, garlic and sesame oil. Pour mixture over each piece of tofu in a shallow bowl or pan, and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet. Carefully place each slice on the baking sheet and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 30 minutes, then rotate the sheet, if needed and drizzle with more marinade. Bake for another 15 minutes, or until liquid is almost dry. http://vegetarian.about.com/od/tofurecipes/r/sesametofu.htm?nl=1

Lemon Baked Tofu Recipe
Ingredients: 2 blocks firm or extra-firm tofu, well pressed; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1 tsp sugar ; 1 tsp basil; 1 tsp thyme; salt and pepper to taste.
Preparation: Slice your pressed tofu into 1/2 inch thick strips. Whisk together all ingredients except for tofu. Transfer to a shallow pan or zip-lock bag and add tofu, coating well. Allow tofu to marinate for at least 1 hour (the longer the better!), turning to coat well with marinade. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Transfer tofu and marinade to baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through and pouring extra marinade over the tofu as needed. http://vegetarian .about.com/od/tofurecipes/r/lemonbakedtofu.htm?nl=1

Vegetarian Tofu Sticks
Ingredients: 2 blocks firm or extra firm tofu, pressed; 1/4 cup soy milk; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1 cup bread crumbs; 2 tbsp crumbled nori seaweed; 1 tsp lemon pepper.

Preparation: Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Slice tofu into strips and coat well with flour. In a pie plate or shallow bowl, whisk together the soy milk, soy sauce and lemon juice. In a separate bowl or pie plate, combine bread crumbs, nori and lemon pepper. Carefully dip floured tofu in soy milk mixture, then coat well in bread crumbs. Bake for 40-45 minutes, turning over once, until crispy and golden brown. Or, pan fry on both sides in a bit of oil. Serve with a vegan tartar sauce. http://vegetarian.about.com/od/tofurecipes/r/fishsticks.htm?nl=1

Health and Nutrition

Issue 138