Vegan SoulFest is back in Baltimore, Maryland in a different format. This year it’s being promoted as a vegan food and music festival and you must purchase tickets to attend. The activities will take place in West Covington Park.

Details on this event can be found here:

https://www.vegansoulfest.com/

https://www.facebook.com/baltimorevegansoul

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

More than 10% of adults in the United States have type 2 diabetes, the most common kind of diabetes. About 1 in 5 people with type 2 diabetes are not aware that they have this condition. The yearly cost of type 2 diabetes in the United States is estimated to be $327 billion. This figure includes health care and treatment costs as well as costs associated with decreased productivity.

Achieving and sustaining remission while preventing complications is an important goal for people with type 2 diabetes and their health care providers. Remission is defined as the disappearance of signs and symptoms. A group of experts met and developed a set of recommendations for treating type 2 diabetes in adults with a goal of achieving remission. They defined remission as having a hemoglobin A1c ,6.5% for at least 3 months without surgery or medication to lower blood glucose.

Their recommendations included:

• Diet is the cornerstone for managing type 2 diabetes.
• A whole-food plant-based diet is more effective than a standard American diet for promoting

remission. This diet is composed mainly of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds and has little or no animal foods.

• This diet is a better choice than a low carbohydrate/high protein diet for long-term remission.
• Having a high fiber diet is essential. Fiber comes from plant foods including legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
• Higher calorie foods including nuts, seeds, grains, and starchy vegetables may need to be limited if weight loss is needed. Weight loss in those who are assessed as having overweight or obesity can promote remission of type 2 diabetes.
• Ideally dietary changes should be combined with other lifestyle changes such as increased activity.
• Diet appears to be most effective in terms of achieving remission in the first 4 years after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. At any time, diet can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. While remission may be less likely in those with long-term type 2 diabetes (more than 8 years), the recommended dietary changes are not harmful.

Many health care providers are not aware of the important role that a whole-food plant-based diet can play in helping those with type 2 diabetes achieve and sustain remission. The article that discusses these recommendations can be accessed by anyone and shared with their health care provider.

Reference

Rosenfeld RM, Kelly JH, Agarwal M, et al. Dietary interventions to treat type 2 diabetes in adults with a goal of remission: An expert consensus statement from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2022;16(3):342-362.

To read more about type 2 diabetes see:

Vegan Menu for People with Diabetes

A Vegan Diet May Reduce the Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes in Overweight Adults

Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes with Reduced Red Meat Consumption

Join the leading national conference in animal advocacy. Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) brings together Humane Society of the United States volunteers, advocates, and animal welfare organizations from across the country for one shared goal: to better the lives of animals and people alike.

TAFA 2022 is being held July 15-17, 2022 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel.

Animal welfare issues didn’t just go away while we were stuck at home the past two years—and as the world begins opening up again, it’s time to bring the fight for all animals back to the front lines! Be a part of this movement by coming to TAFA 2022 in Washington D.C., taking place July 15-17 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, with select live streamed sessions for a virtual audience. Registration is now open. Advance in-person registration is just $120 and virtual registration is only $20! Register Now at: https://s4.goeshow.com/hsus/TAFA2022/register.cfm?_ga=2.192412654.515246696.1653406920-731334938.1652129895

For more information on the conference, visit
https://www.humanesociety.org/takingactionforanimals

The Non GMO Project gives their opinion. See: https://www.nongmoproject.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-gmos-showing-up-in-our-food-supply/

Industry gives their opinion. See: https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2022/06/14/Startups-hit-back-at-Non-GMO-Project-attempt-to-discredit-emerging-animal-free-dairy-category?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14-Jun-2022&cid=DM1009017&bid=1965669029

The contents of this posting, our website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

I walked into Ben & Esther’s Vegan Jewish Deli in Portland, Oregon and thought, “Wait, is this place really vegan?” The glass-fronted deli case had labels for whitefish salad, lox, noodle kugel, and egg salad. Had I misread the sign out front? No, the sign was correct. Ben & Esther’s is 100% vegan despite serving deli classics like Reuben sandwiches and matzo ball soup. They also have desserts including black and white cookies, hamentashen, and babka. Additionally, they sell challah and a variety of bagels. My veggie bagel sandwich was stuffed with avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumbers, and vegan cream cheese. The “bacon” on my husband’s BLT was smoky and crisp and even looked like bacon. My only regret is that I didn’t get a few bagels for the road.

You can find Ben & Esther’s in two locations in Portland (6912 NE Sandy Blvd. and 1800 NE Alberta St.) and one in San Diego (6663 El Cajon Blvd.) with promises of the next location being Seattle.

Visit their website at https://www.benandesthers.com/

To find a list of veggie restaurants in the USA and Canada visit: https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

Feeding Your Vegan Child is written by Sandra Hood, RD, and published by Hammersmith Health Books. This thorough guide to nutritional needs for vegan children includes a wide range of helpful information. Nutrient needs are covered for different stages of life including preconception, pregnancy, early infancy, later infancy, childhood, and teenagers. The author has been vegan for over 40 years.

Read the complete book review here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue2/2022_issue2_book_reviews.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal, visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Each issue of Vegan Journal includes a column called Vegan Action. In the latest issue, Amy Burger interviews Michael Harren, a multimedia performer, musician, and composer. Michael combines art and vegan advocacy through music.

Read the column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue2/2022_issue2_vegan_action.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal, visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Sovany Sparkling waters get their flavor from real fruit. Four variations are offered including Brilliant Orange, Ingenious Apple, Original, and Remarkable Raspberry. Find info on these drinks here: www.sova­ny.com

Read the product review here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue2/2022_issue2_veggie_bits.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal, visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Recent topics brought up include:

– A review of Ripple Kids Milk done by a dietitian

– Info on the 5 high school winners from The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship Contest

– Helpful info for parents trying to deal with the baby formula shortage

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids is intended to be a group that offers support for families raising children on vegan diets and for vegan kids around the world. We envision it as a place to get advice about a wide-variety of topics: pregnancy, birthday parties, school lunches, Halloween, non-leather apparel, cruelty-free products, summer camps, and more. Please use it as a place to share your wisdom, seek advice, or just find a sympathetic ear. The goal is to offer support.

Consequently, any profane, defamatory, offensive, or violent language will be removed. Feel free to disagree, but do so respectfully. Hateful or discriminatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or political beliefs will not be tolerated. We expect that posts should relate to vegan diets and lifestyles. The Vegetarian Resource Group reserves the right to monitor all content and ban any user who posts in violation of the above rules, any law or regulation, SPAM, or anything otherwise off topic.

Please share this information with any veggie families that you know! Thanks.

Mango Stir Fry photo by Rissa Miller

Each issue of Vegan Journal includes a Vegan Cooking Tips column by Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD. In the latest issue Nancy offers tips on cooking with mangoes.

Read the column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue2/2022_issue2_cooking_tips.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal, visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php