SHARAN

Testimonial of Kanupriya Wadhwa

I had just graduated from catering college and Reyna aunty encouraged me to put up a food stall at the Juhu Organic Farmers market, where everything was dairy-free! I took it as a challenge and started making dairy-free chocolates. Week after week as I started going to the market and meeting like-minded people, I got inspired to give veganism a try. This made me connect more with animals and after that whenever I would see a dog, a cat or a chicken, I would see them in a different light. That’s when I realised how I was also inflicting pain on animals. I also joined the Cooking for Health class, which is held on the 1st of every month at SHARAN. That’s when I went oil-free, organic and sugar-free too. The time I spent at the market every week made it also easier to stick to the diet, as everything you get there is healthy!

I turned plant based only 8 months ago but I see tremendous changes. I have lost 10 kgs already and aim to get fitter. Also I have gone from XXL to L! I can see a big difference in my energy levels, which percolates into my work! I now take part not only in the Juhu Organic market, but even at the Goregaon and Powai ones organised by SHARAN. I feel so much more lively and am grateful to my family for supporting me. Even though they have not made all the changes, they are going to get there as they can see the changes in me.

The motivation to go on this journey is Reyna aunty and have learnt a lot from her and keep learning. She introduced me to the farmer’s market that influenced me to change my course as a professional chef to being a vegan chef. I started my journey by making only chocolate. Just two months ago I started my own brand of vegan ice creams called Vegan Heart. I love making ice creams vegan and coming up with new flavours! I am now vegan for life.

Granola Bars

With holidays and travel plans in place, get your healthy snacks in order too by trying out these easy to make and yummy granola bars. Not only are they nutritious but filling too! Plus they have a fair enough shelf life to cover your travel days.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

• 1/2 cup raw almonds, walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped

• 1 cup dates pitted, tightly packed

• 2 tbsp chia seeds

• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds (roasted or raw)

• 2 tbsp flax seeds (ground or whole)

• 2 tbsp hemp seeds

• 2 tbsp coconut butter

• 1/4 cup date paste

• 1/4 cup creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter

Method

Toast oats and almonds in the oven at 350 degree F for 13-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown.

Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a “dough” like consistency.

Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl. Add seeds and set aside.

Warm date paste, coconut butter and peanut or almond butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oats mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout. Use a spoon or your hands to thoroughly mix.

Transfer to an 8×8 dish or any other small pan lined with parchment paper so that they can be taken out easily.

Cover with parchment paper and press down firmly with something flat, such as a book, to get them really packed tight. This will help them from being crumbly. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes to harden.

Remove the slab from the dish and cut neatly into 10 even bars. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days.

Food for the Mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

If you love Facebook, then join us to be supported on your plant based journey. We offer 3 possibilities from 1st Jan 2016.

1. SHARAN India This is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group This is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

3. SHARAN’s Plant Powered Health This is the new group only for the past attendees of SHARAN’s events: seminars, cooking classes, retreats or longer programs.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

Microwave Magic?

Yes, it sure seems magical that in seconds we can heat something! So much time and effort saved, simply by the click of a button! Well, let’s uncover the magic. A microwave works by sending electromagnetic waves through the food. This in turn causes the water molecules in the food to vibrate, resulting in friction, which causes the heat. It sounds simple, but this act actually strips food of it’s nutrition. This is just one reason why we should avoid ‘fast’ food….

We are creatures of habit, and if a microwave is part of your daily routine, it may be tough to avoid it. The best bet would be just to remove it from your kitchen. Another solution could be to cut off the wire, and you have an extra cabinet to store your stuff! It takes no more than a day to re-adjust back to how we cooked or heated our food all the years before the microwave! Use a steamer to reheat rice. Invest in a conventional oven or an electric kettle to heat the water.

Read on to find out why you must bid good-bye to the microwave…

1) Microwaves destroy Vitamin B-12 There is so much stress on supplementing vitamin B12 especially since lack of the same can be quite detrimental. All forms of microwaves including the mobile phone destroy vitamin B12. That’s why there is such a high rate of deficiency these days.

2) Microwaves create carcinogens in food When one heats food wrapped or placed in plastic in the microwave, one can create carcinogens in the food. Carcinogens cause cancer, which is becoming increasingly common these days.

3) Microwaves can change blood makeup and heart rate Researchers have found that food eaten vide a microwave results in reduction of red blood cells with the white cell levels increasing along with cholesterol levels. Also the high radiation emitted by microwave ovens, cause immediate and dramatic changes in the heart rate.

4) It is proven that heating breastmilk in a microwave destroys the antibodies in it.

5) Radiation leakage Long-used microwaves, where the door doesn’t seal well result in radiation leakage in the kitchen which can be harmful. Also standing too close to the microwave can have an effect.

6) Yes, there is something called Microwave Sickness Prolonged exposure to microwave radiation results in symptoms like visual disturbances, weakening of the immune system and more.

7) The food just doesn’t taste the same Isn’t it? Since the heating is uneven, the food tends to have hot and cold spots and some items become sticky or rubbery. Food cooked normally surely tastes better.