Vegan News for April 2020
Leilani Farm Sanctuary, Haiku, Maui
Vegan diets and COVID-19: Currently, no vaccine or cure is available for the COVID-19 virus. However, a whole food, vegan diet can strengthen our immune system and potentially mitigate some of the damage caused by the virus. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: “As coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted communities around the world, many people have wondered whether there are steps they can take to stay healthy. Everyday preventive measures—such as handwashing, avoiding contact with sick individuals, and good hygiene—can go a long way in reducing your risk for viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.
“In addition, however, there is evidence that nutrition and other lifestyle measures influence immune strength and susceptibility to infectious diseases. Whether these measures do or do not influence susceptibility to COVID-19 or its clinical course is not yet known. However, there is every reason to put what we do know about foods and immune defenses to use. Here is what we know now: Eating a low-fat, plant-based diet may help give the immune system a boost.” Information about foods that boost the immune system is here.
Speaking of plant-based diets, Michael Greger, MD, and his team do an incredible job summarizing ongoing research on the impact of food on health. If you missed his recent visit to Maui, here’s our report.
EVENTS
Wednesday, April 8, Webinar, How Not to Die in a Pandemic, 2 PM ET. Last day to register is April 3. A minimum donation of $15 is suggested to support NutritionFacts.org. Dr. Michael Greger will offer tips for optimal respiratory and hand hygiene, proper mask usage, how to make his DIY sanitizer solution, and how to prep for sheltering-in-place in case that becomes necessary. Dr. Greger will also discuss the source of the virus and how we can treat the cause and prevent future animal-to-human disease outbreaks. Everyone registered will receive a recording of the webinar along with a paper Dr. Greger published on the subject: The Human/Animal Interface: Emergence and Resurgence of Zoonotic Infectious Diseases along with an editorial, The Chickens Come Home to Roost by Dr. David Benatar, PhD. Details and registration here.
Saturday, April 11 and Sunday April 12. Mercy For Animals (MFA) will host “Voices of Compassion,” a two-day concert it will stream on its Facebook page, and posted to Twitter and Instagram, beginning at 5 pm EST. The concert will feature more than 30 musicians who are all animal-rights activists, including Grammy Award winner Joss Stone; Latin Grammy winner Sie7e; Broadway’s Frozen star Ryan McCartan; Fuller House star Juan Pablo Di Pace; American Idol star Catie Turner; singer-songwriter Rain Phoenix. (Source: VegNews.com)
Thursday, April 23. Registration is open for “How to Survive a Pandemic: Overcoming COVID-19 and Preventing the Next Deadly Outbreak.” Dr. Michael Greger will conduct another live pandemic-focused webinar at the end of May. It will include the same content covered in his previous webinar and any additional updates based on new research. Registration and more information will be available April 23rd. Subscribe to the nutritionfacts.org newsletter for updates: http://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe/
Friday, April 24. Online Seminar Series: 21st Century Research: Moving Beyond Animals. Presented by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 2:30 - 5:30 PM ET. More information. Register here.
April 25 - May 3: Food Revolution Summit. Details.
Sunday, April 26: Virtual Maui Earth Day. 12 noon - 7 pm. Details.
NEWS AND TRENDS
Plant-based diet could be 'helpful' to vulnerable during pandemic, say researchers
Animal Agriculture Boosts Pandemics
UK Urged to Ban Factory Farming to Prevent “the Next Coronavirus”
New Study Shows Veganism is up by 300% in US With 9.7 Million Americans Now Plant-Based
Plant-Based Food Sales Reach $5 Billion
Global Food and Media Collective Pledges $200 Million to Bring Veganism to The Masses
Plant-based plastic biodegrades in the ocean
HEALTH
A plant-based diet helps to prevent and manage asthma, according to new review
Two new studies show that plant-based foods confer long-term health benefits
Study Finds Plant-Based Protein is Good for Heart Health
Plant-based diets may be beneficial, but only if you avoid certain foods … To reap heart benefits of a plant-based diet, avoid junk food
Five Surprising Benefits of Plant-Based Diets
SPORTS AND FITNESS
Five Reasons Why Sport Is Going Vegan
RESOURCES
Top 10 Vegan and Vegetarian Statistics
5 Vegan Documentaries and Films to Stream on Netflix While You're Sheltering at Home
CONNECTIONS
If you live on Maui or visit regularly, you might want to visit three Facebook pages, Vegan on Maui, Maui Vegans and the Facebook companion page to this website, Maui Vegan Life.
THIS MONTH IN VEGAN HISTORY
April 1842 – The first confirmed use of the word “vegetarian” appears in the Alcott House journal, used to mean what today is called “vegan.”
April 1846 – The Metropolitan Magazine (London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin) quotes Dr. Reece’s Medical Guide: “A vegetable diet affords the same support as animal food, with the important advantage of preventing plethora.”
April 2, 1850 – William Horsell, editor-publisher of The Vegetarian Advocate, presents a “Vegetarian entertainment” in which carrot pudding, barley sago and apple without animal products were served.’
April 1944 -- The Vegetarian Messenger and Health Review (Manchester) publishes part 2 of Donald Watson’s article, “Should Vegetarians Eats Dairy Produce?” On April 22 a motion to aim to eliminate dairy produce from one’s diet was debated at Croydon Vegetarian Society. It passed overwhelmingly.
April 8, 1945 – The Leicester-based Non-Dairy Produce Group, also known as Non-Dairy Vegetarians, renames itself the Vegan Society and adopts a formal definition of “veganism.”
April 16, 1996 – Oprah Winfrey broadcasts a debate about mad cow disease, sparking declining prices for beef and a lawsuit.