What if....

....a vegan cardiologist was coming to your local vegetarian society to give a talk. What would you want to hear about?

I am revamping my talk that I've given in the past. I have some great ideas, but would love to hear yours.

Tune in March 18 at Grasshopper in Allston. I'll be speaking to the Boston Vegetarian Society.

Hamantashen from Grandma

My grandmother sent these to me for the Jewish holiday of Purim. They are called hamantashen, to commemorate Haman, the bad guy who wanted to kill the Jews, but who was hanged instead. The cookies are in the shape of his three-point hat. And yes, Grandma made them vegan.

Grandma is 92 years old and still bakes. She's the healthiest 92 year-old I know. In fact, she walks on a treadmill for half an hour a day. People where she lives are in awe of her, and every so often she has "pupils" who join her to exercise. I can only hope I'm that healthy when I get to be her age.

Fitness Rituals

My weekend mornings are about working out. When I was actively running, one of those mornings was always a long run. As I've been recovering from my IT band issues, I've created new rituals.

Saturday morning is one and a half to two hours at the gym. There are two spinning classes, 9 am and 10 am, and I go to one of those, whichever I wake up in time for. Then I do some weights and abs for 30-45 minutes.

Sunday morning is kickboxing! There's a great 10:30-11:30 class at my gym, and lots of punching and kicking. I almost skipped kickboxing this morning to do my taxes, but I'm so glad I went -- I feel so energized!

Once I start running again, these rituals will change. But for now, they keep me charged up for my weekends.

Eggplant Stir Fry

Eggplant and Lightlife Chik'n Strips stir fried in Soy Vay, on whole wheat couscous.

Don't Fear Tofurky, Fear the Slaughterhouse

My friend GarbanzoBean drew my attention to this with a post on her blog. Men's Health Magazine presents a list of the top 15 things that scare men. It's a funny list, but I'm a little peeved by #3: Tofurky.

What we should fear and abhor is the slaughterhouse, the process by which animals go from the farm to our table, neatly packaged and ready to be cooked, sliced and eaten. In our society of prepared foods, we're so insulated from the cruelty and gore that is inherent in factory farming.

Learn more: www.meat.org

I Love/Hate Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy is one of my favorite shows, not for the fact that it has anything to do with medicine, but that it's got funny and interesting plot lines. However, I hope that those of you who aren't in the medical field don't get the impression that Grey's Anatomy resembles any sort of medical reality.

Surgical interns don't scrub into surgeries. They spend their time on the "floors", taking care of pre- and post-surgical patients, doing the "scut" work. They don't date their supervising physicians, let alone socialize with them. Saying things like, "I'd like to get a chem panel, CBC, and CT of the head" doesn't make you look smart in the real world. And since when do orthopedic surgeons and obstetricians supervise surgical interns? They don't.

The most recent plot line pushes reality even further. The surgical interns are sent out to a mass casualty in Seattle. One intern finds a man crushed by a car, and without any tools, she's asked to save his life. Conveniently, she has the head of the department of surgery on speed dial on her cell phone, who talks her through the process of drilling holes into the man's skull in order to reduce the pressure in his brain. I would have preferred seeing her stand by as he dies. That's reality -- interns don't drill Burr holes in brains.

Another subplot is that intern Meredith Grey, the main character, falls into the river. She's eventually pulled out of the water by her boyfriend McDreamy. Having been under water for at least several minutes, if not longer, she is in cardiac arrest. CPR is performed for what seems like an inappropriately long period of time. She is pronounced dead. Then in previews for next week's episode, you see one of her co-interns insist that CPR is continued, that not everything has truly been done.

Let's just put it this way -- after prolonged CPR, the odds of coming back are exceedingly slim. This sends an awful message to the lay public, that you're not really dead, that you can't give up on CPR ever. A message that will take away from the dignity of dying patients everywhere.

Medical shows are fiction. But writers need to realize the impact of their scripts on how people perceive medicine.

!!!!!!!

I'm going to start running again this week!

After a couple minutes on a treadmill this morning, I was completely pain-free in my right hip.

My trainer at the gym and I had a joke, that when I was ready to start running again, I'd send him an e-mail with the subject line "!!!!!!!!", just from the excitement of being able to run again.

In the meantime, I think I've maintained my level of fitness well, with spinning classes, kickboxing, and the elliptical trainer.

The timing is good -- I can look forward to an early season triathlon, maybe???

Veggie-Bean Burritos with Creamy Avocado Cashew Sauce

I made the Chipotle Veggie-Bean Burritos with Creamy Avocado Cashew Sauce from Dreena Burton's Vive le Vegan! Other than chopping some green peppers, celery, and red onion, this was pretty easy to prepare. The burrito is topped with some Follow Your Heart cheddar cheese and the Creamy Avocado Cashew Sauce.

Debunking the Dairy Myth

There's a new magazine, from the publishers of Runner's World and Men's Health, called Women's Health. What a great idea for a magazine!

The lead headline on the cover reads:

Your Most Stubborn BELLY FAT GONE! The Secret? Eat This Food To Lose 81 Percent More Belly Fat.

Really? I have some stubborn belly fat. Don't many of us? Do tell me more!

Women who added this food to their daily diet lost 61 percent more body fat and 81 percent more stomach fat than people who ignored it!! ... A University of Tennessee study found that people who ate three servings of yogurt a day lost astounding amounts of body fat when compared to those who didn't eat any.

I think the trial they're talking about is this:
Zemel MB. et al. Effects of calcium and dairy on body composition and weight loss in African-American adults. Obesity Research. 13(7):1218-25, 2005 Jul.

First off, this isn't new information -- it's from almost two years ago!! It was also, as you can see from the title, a study of African-Americans. Most importantly, no other researcher has published a study corroborating that consuming dairy leads to weight loss.

I wrote a letter to the editor:

To the Editor:

I am a physician and a subscriber to Runner's World. My interest was piqued by the glossy sample of your new magazine, Women's Health. However, I was very disappointed by the suggestion to your readers to consume three servings of yogurt daily to lose weight.

Three studies, all by one researcher, Dr. Michael Zemel, and including fewer than a combined total of seventy patients, show any link between dairy and weight loss. No other study has found a link between dairy and weight loss; in fact, no researcher has corroborated Dr. Zemel's findings. In fact, Dr. Zemel's research is funded by the dairy industry and he has patented the claim of consuming dairy to lose weight.

I provide you the following references that would contradict your statement that women should have three servings of yogurt per day:

Thompson WG. Rostad Holdman N. Janzow DJ. Slezak JM. Morris KL. Zemel MB. Effect of energy-reduced diets high in dairy products and fiber on weight loss in obese adults. Obesity Research. 13(8):1344-53, 2005 Aug.

Bowen J. Noakes M. Clifton PM. Effect of calcium and dairy foods in high protein, energy-restricted diets on weight loss and metabolic parameters in overweight adults. International Journal of Obesity. 29(8):957-65, 2005 Aug.

Harvey-Berino J. Gold BC. Lauber R. Starinski A. The impact of calcium and dairy product consumption on weight loss. Obesity Research. 13(10):1720-6, 2005 Oct.

Lanou AJ. Data do not support recommending dairy products for weight loss. Obesity Research. 13(1):191, 2005 Jan

I would also suggest you go to http://www.cspinet.org/nah/09_05/milking.pdf, from the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

This story reflects one of two possibilities: First, your writer may not have done his or her research on the topic beyond the claims of the dairy industry. Or, worse yet, the editorial influence of certain researchers or organizations such as the dairy industry are greatly biasing the content of your magazine. Either way, this is not the type of magazine that I would wish to read, nor would I recommend it to my patients.

Sincerely,

Very Easy Chili

This is incredibly easy to make and preserves well in the fridge.

Drain and rinse one can of chick peas and one can of kidney beans. Sautee in a small amount of canola oil. Add about one haf of a cup of frozen or canned corn. Then add Lightlife Smart Ground and a bottle of barbeque sauce -- I like Donna's Certified Organic BBQ Sauce.

It keeps well in the fridge, freezes well, and is quite filling for a quick healthy lunch.

Oh and get yourself a coupon for $1 off Lightlife products!

Getting Better. Slowly.

I'm making some progress, or so I'm told by the folks at physical therapy. I tried running yesterday on my treadmill, and my hip is better, but still uncomfortable enough that I know I shouldn't be doing it.

Emotionally it's hard to get over an injury. Right now I really don't feel like talking about my injury, or even about running.

I'm focusing on the things I CAN do -- like biking, swimming, elliptical, and weights.

More food posts coming soon.

Do Vegetarians Live Longer?

One reader asks: Where's the proof that vegetarians live longer? Where's the proof that vegans live longer?

The literature is mixed on this subject of longevity. Some studies say that vegetarians and vegans live longer, and others show no difference. While vegetarians and vegans will be more healthy and youthful in their younger years, the difference shrinks as people get into their eighth and ninth decades of life.

Keep in mind, though, that the standard American diet is a major cause of many illnesses, including but not limited to coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or cancer. It is known that vegetarians and vegans are much less likely to suffer from these diseases.

These illnesses, which can be avoided by diet, can be debilitating. Take the example of one man, with hypertension and diabetes. He has a heart attack at age 50. He has a stent put in. Then, as his diabetes progresses, his vision becomes worse. He develops disease in the arteries of his legs. He has bypass surgery on his legs, but this does not work and eventually he requires an amputation, confining him to a wheelchair. Then, his kidneys fail as a result of years of diabetes and hypertension, and he requires three hours of dialysis each day in order to survive. At age 70, he dies of another heart attack.

While this person lived a relatively normal life span, his quality of life was clearly impacted by his burden of disease. It is very plausible that he could have lived a much healthier life had his diet been different. He could have had better control of his diabetes. In fact, Dr. Neal Barnard's most recent work shows that a vegan diet has a powerful impact in reversing diabetes (Diabetes Care. 29(8):1777-83, 2006 Aug).

There is some evidence that people who follow a plant-based diet live longer. But, the bottom line is that a plant-based diet reduces the risk of many illnesses, and leads to a far better quality of health throughout most of life.

Why Vegan?

A reader asks:

Please explain, how is it natural to be vegan? I don't see how being vegan promotes a healthier lifestyle than if one were have a healthy diet that consisted of meat. If everyone were vegan, I wonder how things would work in the large scheme of things. Would love your insight...

Vegetarian diets are lower in saturated fat and are free of cholesterol, with more fruits, vegetables, and fiber. And, some studies suggest that vegetarians live longer than non-vegetarians. A longer, more detailed explanation is offered here.

If everyone were vegan, the impact on the planet would be very positive. At present, factory farming pollutes our environment while consuming huge amounts of water, grain, petroleum, pesticides and drugs. Vegan Outreach provides an excellent explanation.

Entertaining

I love to entertain! This evening, I hosted a Happy Hour at my apartment for some of the people I work with. I made a few appetizers. The first one is called Texas Caviar. It's a mixture of black beans, pinto beans, red and orange peppers, jalapeno, cumin, cilantro, corn, onion, diced tomatoes, and edamame. Next is a spinach dip, which is a favorite that I've made for parties before. Since then, I use less Vegenaise and Tofutti vegan sour cream. With the leftovers, I add another pound of frozen spinach, and it's a lower in fat version that I can eat for lunch!

I'm Out

I am disappointed beyond words.

The hip isn't appreciably better.

I haven't run in over 3 weeks. Just trotting a few steps is painful.

There's no way I can run the Boston Marathon.

I need a new goal: a spring olympic distance triathlon?

My Boston Marathon Dream May Be Over

I can't tell you how badly I wanted to run the Boston Marathon.

But my right hip is injured. I've done two weeks of physical therapy. My diagnosis is a combination of iliotibial band syndrome and muscle imbalance, with my hamstrings being too strong compared to my quads.

I have not run in three weeks. I have maintained my level of fitness as best possible by running in the pool, swimming, spinning, and using the elliptical trainer.

My registration is due this Wednesday. There are twelve weeks and two days until the Boston Marathon. If I started running again in the next week, I can do it. It wouldn't be the greatest performance ever, but I'd finish. Any later than that, then I think it will be a lost cause.

So, I'm coming to terms with the reality of the situation. To be positive about it, I can say that I've started training for triathlon season, which is in the spring. Were I not injured, I wouldn't be swimming or biking.

Salad with Faux Rost Turkey

Salad with shredded Lightlife Roast Turkey Style slices, craisins, and dressing. Very filling.

Professionalism

I still remember the first day of medical school orientation, almost twelve years ago. Henry Pohl MD, the dean of Albany Medical College, walked out to greet us wearing a rock band t-shirt and a condom hat.

His point? No matter what you do, you'll always be viewed as The Doctor.

I don't always see myself that way. I'm just the girl who goes running in the morning before work, wears blue jeans and a sweatshirt to the grocery store, and watches American Idol. I see myself as an ordinary person.

But, I am a physician, which gives me credibility on topics of diet and heart health. Through this blog, as The Doctor, I have power to help people change what they eat and how they treat their bodies.

Hence, the name change. Welcome to VeganHeartDoc.blogspot.com!

Tofu Scramble

I love a good tofu scramble. You can make it on a griddle, after making pancakes, or in a frying pan. I saw a similar version made in the cooking demonstration after Dr. Barnard's talk, but I prefer mine with veggies.

Take one pound of extra firm tofu and remove as much water as possible. A new trick I learned is to squeeze the tofu between two plates. Heat some onion and garlic in a little oil or margarine (or even water if you want to go really low fat). Then add the crumbled tofu, along with some paprika, tumeric, salt, pepper, and Bragg's liquid amino acids or soy sauce.

You can add any veggies you want. Because I had kale sitting in the fridge from the soup that I made yesterday, I used that. I also added some Whole Foods frozen organic mushrooms and roma tomato. In the past, I've used spinach, broccoli, edamame, or sweet potato too.

I liked how it came out, flavorful with a bit of bite from the onion, garlic, and spices.

Black-Eyed Pea and Sweet Potato Soup

Neal Barnard, the president of Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine, came to Boston and presented a talk about his new book, Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes. I had the chance to meet him and have him autograph a copy of his book.

After the talk, there was a cooking demonstration, including this soup. I made it for lunch for my parents, who are visiting. It was a good use for Gimme Lean Sausage from Lightlife. Look at the post below on how you can get coupons!!!!