Bell peppers are commonly thought of as vegetables, but they’re actually classified as fruits. Their vibrant colors are an indication of their health-promoting qualities. Bell peppers are high in A and C vitamins, two very powerful antioxidants. Try this colorfully nutritious Black Bean Salad… it’s a fun, easy dish requiring no cooking or kitchen skills.

Ingredients:

2 cups black beans
1 cup corn
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 red bell pepper
5 green onions
1/3 cup green stuffed olives
black olives (to taste)
fresh parsley (to taste)
salt & pepper (to taste)
lemon juice (to taste)
olive oil (to taste)

Directions:

1. If cooking the beans, have them previously ready; if using can, drain and rinse well; same procedure for corn.
2. Wash peppers well and dice into bite-sized pieces; chop green onions, parsley, and olives.
3. Mix all ingredients together and let the flavors meld in the fridge. Serve cold.

For this and other great veg recipes, visit LiveItUpVegan.blogspot.com!

Make your salads even more irresistible with Sunergia Soy Feta! Sunergia Soyfoods has a unique product line of firm tofu with a great texture: More Than Tofu. Each tofu flavor is enhanced with herbs, spices, and vegetables and marinated in a special sauce for impressive ready-to-eat meals. Enjoy the taste of Greek Cuisine without all the fat, in four different flavors: Lemon Oregano, Mediterranean Herb, Soy Bleu, and Tomato Garlic. Simply combine this ready-made tofu with any dish and you’ve got a tasty more nutritional meal in no time.

“Sunergia"—the Greek root for "synergy"—-reflects the company’s philosophy of environmental sustainability and healthy living through a plant-based diet. Sunergia Soyfoods strives to create innovative, delicious and nutritious soyfoods.

A supporter of good causes, Sunergia Soyfoods is generously donating to this summer’s Animal Rights 2008 National Conference.

For more information about their products, visit www.SunergiaSoyfoods.com!

A new study concludes that plant foods can help preserve muscle mass in older men and women. Recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research examined nearly 400 volunteers aged 65 or older who had completed a three-year osteoporosis intervention trial at Tufts University in Boston, MA.

The typical American diet is rich in protein, cereal grains and other acid-producing foods. In general, such diets generate tiny amounts of acid each day. With aging, a mild but slowly increasing metabolic "acidosis" develops, according to the researchers. This acidosis triggers a muscle-wasting response. Diets high in potassium from fruits and vegetables can help neutralize acidosis. According to the study, volunteers whose diets were rich in potassium could expect to have 3.6 more pounds of lean tissue mass than volunteers with half the higher potassium intake. That almost offsets the 4.4 pounds of lean tissue that is typically lost in a decade.

Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that are key to good health and necessary to maintaining strength and keeping in good shape!

To read the full article, click here!

Andy Mars works to improve the world by encouraging compassion and inspiring children to make a difference. As a vegan who cares deeply about people, animals, and the environment, he decided to get active by helping children reach out and make a difference in the world around them. Andy started a group called Students Taking Action & Responsibility Today, where he helps compassionate kids conduct hands-on community service projects on weekends.

Andy regularly educates students about the benefits of a vegan diet. Each March, in honor of the Great American Meatout, he speaks to hundreds high school students and provides them with tantalizing vegan food samples.

Read more about Andy, visit www.KidsMakeADifference.org

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