John Salley is starring in a PSA sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine that’s advising parents and children to eat more vegetarian and vegan meals to combat diabetes.

The “Up Your Defenses!” poster features the NBA champion who’s played with the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, and Chicago Bulls.

The PCRM’s president, Dr. Neal Barnard, has researched the effects of a plant-based diet and diabetes with his colleagues and found positive results.

One particular study involved two groups of individuals with diabetes that were placed on either a vegan diet or one that followed the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association, which allows meat and dairy.

Diabetics who followed the vegan diet experienced a greater reduction in A1c (a measure of blood sugar levels), weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and LDL or “bad” cholesterol.

According to the PCRM, for every serving of red meat consumed, there is a 26 percent increased risk of diabetes. For processed meats, that risk increases to 38 to 73 percent with every serving.

For more information on how a veg diet can help fight diabetes, visit BlockDiabetes.org.

Photo: PR Photos

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BET, also known as Black Entertainment Television, is a Viacom-owned cable network targeting issues related to African-Americans and has aired popular shows like The Wendy Williams Show, Keyshia Cole’s reality TV series and The Michael Vick Project.

The network’s online component celebrates Meatless Mondays and has included delicious recipes like Sesame Tofu with Eggplant, Spring Green Salad and today’s Meatless Monday recipe, Lentil Tacos.

These tacos pack a decent 12 grams of vegan protein but carry only 265 calories and absolutely no animal products. Although the recipe doesn’t call for it, these lentil tacos can be made even more exciting by adding your favorite soy, rice or nut cheese and topping them with vegan sour cream.

Good to see BET taking the Meatless Monday plunge. There’s no doubt many of its 90 million viewers already have or are planning to adopt the lifestyle many African-American celebrities like John Salley and Forest Whitaker have done.

Grab the recipe for Lentil Tacos at BET.

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Talk about the wow factor!

Farm Sanctuary is hosting a celebration for its 25th anniversary and has invited some incredible star power to kick-off the occasion.

To celebrate the launch of the two star-studded, black-tie galas in New York City on May 14, and in Los Angeles on September 24, several stars will host a party this Saturday, April 23rd at the private residence of James Costa in Hollywood Hills in California.

Biggest Loser coach Bob Harper, Moby, John Salley and American Pie‘s Jennifer Coolidge will attend the event where interested parties may pre-register for the galas that will occur in May and September. The party will feature cocktails and hors’ d oeurves. It will be held from from 7:00-10:00 p.m. and the cost is $100.

All these celebrities are supporters of Farm Sanctuary’s mission to protect farm animals. Last year, Harper participated in Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals and Salley served as Grand Marshal of the 2010 New York City Walk.

For more information on this launch party and to purchase tickets, visit FarmSantuary.org.

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John Salley is offering his nutritional guidance to the Detroit Pistons in hopes they’ll offer him a job in exchange.

Salley has gone so far as to create the perfect job title describing how he’ll get them on the right track–Player Development, Strength and Conditioning Assistant.

When Salley and Shaquille O’Neal played together with the Los Angeles Lakers, O’Neal nicknamed Salley “the witch doctor” for his ability to diagnose and treat ailments and get players feeling better again. O’Neal has at least cut red meat from his diet.

Will Salley use his magical spells to transform the diets of the Pistons?

In 2009, Salley gave his opinion on the professional athletes who suffered from “excessive meat consumption.”

“Most athletes have no idea how to eat. Most athletes have no idea that they’re suffering — proven fact. When you look at guys with bodies like Charles Barkley, Rich Mahorn, Patrick Ewing — you see how big Patrick Ewing’s gotten? They think when you get older you get fat. That’s not true. Not true.”

According to Detroit News, the Piston players and coaches may both need some Salley medicine, as they’ve suffered both physical and mental hardships during the season.

As long-time vegan who cured his cholesterol problems through diet, an advocate for more plant-based meals in schools and the star of a Reveres Diabetes PSA, Salley may have just what the veggie witch doctor ordered.

Photo: PR Photos

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John Salley is scheduled to make an appearance at Michigan’s VegFest taking place this Saturday on March 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

He stopped by the studio at WJBK to discuss his career in the NBA and the changes that led him to a vegan lifestyle.

Salley was asked if he missed “the porter steak” every once in awhile.

“I don’t miss a dead animal ever,” Salley said. “I don’t think an animal has to die for me to live”

Salley then went into the details of his family history with diabetes and his own problems with cholesterol that were solved when he stopped eating animal products.

“That porterhouse–you keep eating that dead animal–it’s going to kill you,” said Salley.

VegFest Michigan takes place this Saturday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. For more information visit the VegMichigan.org.

John Salley in Town for Pistons, VegMichigan: MyFoxDETROIT.com

Photo: PR Photos

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“Food is an emotional thing. People are attached to it like it’s a girlfriend or boyfriend. They’ll say, “I’m not giving up my fried chicken!” I say, “She’s cheating on you. She’s hurting your heart.”

–John Salley, during an exclusive interview with Vegetarian Times in the March 2011 issue. Know anyone who’s in love with the bad boy or girl like steak, chicken or dairy? It’s time for relationship therapy!

Photo: PR Photos

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John Salley is starring in a brand new PSA produced by the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine that encourages a plant-based, vegan diet to prevent and treat diabetes, “Block Diabetes.”

According to Salley in the PSA, 1 out of 3 children will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime.

The PCRM conducted a study, along with George Washington University and the University of Toronto with funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation, which found patients with Type 2 Diabetes had better improved blood sugar levels, lost more weight, and improved cholesterol levels more when they followed a vegan diet than when they followed one suggested by the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) guidelines, which allows meat and dairy in certain amounts.

All these were accomplished without modifying medications.

From PCRM:

“Specifically, excluding the participants who changed or reduced their medication, A1c fell 1.23 points in the vegan group, compared with 0.38 points in the ADA group. Those in the vegan group dropped an average of 6.5 kg (14.3 pounds) each, while those on the ADA diet lost about 3.1 kg (6.8 pounds). Among those who did not change lipid-lowering medications, LDL cholesterol dropped 21.2 percent in the group following the vegan diet, and 10.7 percent in the ADA group.”

“The diet appears remarkably effective, and all the side effects are good ones—especially weight loss and lower cholesterol,” said Neal D. Barnard, M.D., PCRM president, lead researcher and adjunct associate professor of medicine at George Washington University. “I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs.”

Conversely, studies have also found that for every serving of red meat consumed, there is a 26 percent increased risk of diabetes.

More information on a vegan diet and diabetes can be found at blockdiabetes.org.

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John “spider legs” Salley hosted the event, which took place in over 75 U.S cities and even included a “virtual” walk while Biggest Loser coach Bob Harper served as the celebrity spokesperson.

Guess it comes down to whether you want to gulp down Salley’s homemade root beer or munch on Harper’s Roasted Cauliflower as a side dish with your veggie burger.

Between the two celebrity Farm Sanctuary representatives, who would you rather…

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