Have you ever thought that your preference to eat meat or not may be genetic? Well a new study that’s linked a person’s genes to how appetizing meat smells, suggests that it is.

Researchers entered the study knowing that the way our bodies detect scents is through tiny chemical receptors that are perched on nerve cells inside the nose. It’s estimated that in total, humans have about 400 unique smell receptors that help sense around 10,000 different odors.

Some receptors detect androstenone – a steroid found in high concentration in male pigs. And previous research shows that 70% of the broader population has two copies of a specific gene that helps sense the steroid. Such people typically have a mixed reaction to pork, with many finding it disgusting and likening it to sweat or urine. But people with only one copy of the gene aren’t as bothered by the smell of androstenone.
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Being vegan doesn’t mean you’re limited to eating just soy milk and broccoli. In fact, there are a number of food companies that produce items such as cookies, syrups, and chips that are completely vegan – oftentimes on accident. If you aren’t familiar with what qualifies a food as vegan, it shouldn’t contain any meat, dairy or animal products, including such items as eggs, honey (bees), or gelatin (horse).

Vegans typically subsist on a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. And while there are an abundance of foods that don’t qualify as vegan-friendly, take a peek in your super market aisles on your next visit to find these – and other – surprisingly vegan products. Just be careful to check the label first to ensure there aren’t any suspicious products in the way of you and a safe vegan indulgence.
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A new children’s book is taking some heat for its controversial message aimed at kids, which says that eating vegan is the loving thing to do.

The book is called “Vegan is Love: Having Heart and Taking Action,” and its author and illustrator, Ruby Roth – a young, enthusiastic vegan activist – hopes to teach young readers not only about veganism as a diet choice, but also as a moral choice.

Roth explains that Vegan is Love expands upon the message of her popular first book “That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals,” in which she describes how our daily diet choices affect not just our local communities, but our world as a whole.

In a video promoting the book, Roth says that “If we want to move toward an era of solutions, where the planet is healing, people are fed and healthy, there is good in the way we do business, and a reverence for the well being of all living things, then all we have to do is live that life ourselves.” The life she is referring to is about putting our love to action with ‘the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the money we spend, and the entertainment choices we make.’

Roth explains that although Vegan is Love is a children’s book that’s easy to understand, at its core, it’s about ‘democracy, supply and demand and engaging ourselves in the public realm.’
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Author Kathy Freston has created the 7-Day Lean Challenge to coincide with the release of her new book titled The Lean: A Revolutionary (and Simple!) 30-Day Plan for Healthy. Although the book involves a full 30 day program, Kathy’s 7-Day Lean Challenge allows you to test the program before fully committing to it. This program is all about making small changes each day and replacing the animal products in your diet with plant based foods.

Kathy’s challenge is targeted at those that want to stop dieting and start losing weight permanently. The 7-Day Lean Challenge is Freston’s way of easing you into change, and will give you healthier options to the food you are already eating. Freston is upfront with the fact that you will be moving into a vegan diet and away from animal products, but everything is done gradually. You get to continue eating the foods you love, just healthier versions of them. One thing that Freston focuses on is that you will still get to eat foods like pizza, burgers, apple cobbler and other foods that you have always loved.

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Arctic Zero Frozen Desserts are a different kind of ice cream. Their taste, texture and consistency all resemble our favorite ice creams, but their healthier ingredients allow us to indulge without the guilt.

The company recently sent us a sampling of their newest products, which are all lactose-intolerant friendly, gluten free, fat free, and reminiscent of rich, satisfying ice cream. They’re also high in protein, have a low glycemic count and contain zero artificial sweeteners.

Nutrition wise, it doesn’t get any better. Each container is one full pint and comes in at around 150 calories total, with absolutely no fat, only 5g of sugar and close to 13g of protein!

Of the eight flavors we received, our favorites were the chocolate peanut butter, strawberry and cookies and cream. And we thought the vanilla maple would be perfect stuffed between cookies to make an ice cream sandwich that serves as the perfect post-workout fuel.
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