Green Smoothie Cleanse Recipes – Low Glycemic
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on July 27, 2010 – -Our Summer 2010 Green Smoothie Cleanse is officially over, and we’re transitioning into the Post Cleanse Week. Chronic fatigue symptoms are abating, allergies are improving and the consensus is there is an overall increased sense of well-being the cleanse promotes. This week is as important as the cleanse week itself. This is wher new habits are formed and the imporvemetns made dueing the cleanse are either re-inforced or left behind. Continuing on a high raw food diet plan helps people sustain the benefits long term.
Here are a couple of delicious recipes shared by one of our Green Smoothie Cleanse Participants. They use in-season, fresh, raw and ripe produce and just the right amount of seasonings.
“Spring Garden Soup”
4 tomatoes
4 celery stalks
2 cups spring mix
2 cups romaine heart
2 limes juiced
1 garlic clove
“Spicy Garden Soup”
1 Tomato
1 English Cucumber
1/2 Zucchini
2 handfuls string beans
8 cups Spring Mix
1 garlic clove
1 ginger nub
1/4 cup lime juice
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups water
Blend and enjoy!
Love, Health and Joy to You,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, Dr. Ritamarie, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, green smoothie, green smoothie. detoxification programs, Living Foods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods classes, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Articles, Cleansing Programs, Detox Program, Fatigue Treatment, Gluten Free recipes, Raw and Living Foods | No Comments »
Adrenal Fatigue: Tips to Restoring Your Energy and Your Health
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on July 5, 2010 – -
Do you ever wake in in the morning, even after a long night of sleep, only to feel sluggish and wishing you had another few hours to rest?
This is one of many signs of adrenal fatigue.
Adrenal fatigue is a common condition in our fast paced, stressed out society.
Your adrenal glands are your body’s mechanism for responding to stressful situations. In the olden days, this meant getting chased by a tiger or dealing with severe cold without shelter or proper clothing.
Fortunately for us, tigers and lack of clothing are not problems we deal with on a regular basis.
Unfortunately we have our own modern day tigers, and they chase some of us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Modern Day Tigers that Stress Your Adrenals
- Deadlines at work?
- Juggling kids schedules with your own?
- Worry about the economy?
- A sick parent or child?
- An unreasonable boss?
Whatever it is, the response is similar to a real tiger chasing you. Your adrenal glands step into action and do what they do best…shift you into what is often called “fight/flight mode”, and in scientific terms, “sympathetic nervous system dominance”.
In hyper vigilant adrenal state, your heart rate increases, your respiration quickens and the blood supply to your brain and vital organs decreases and is sent to your extremities…so you can run away or fight.
In addition, your digestive track activity decreases and the sphincters– the valves between sections of the digestive tract– tighten. This is to protect you from needing to use the bathroom in the middle of running away from or fighting a tiger.
Translate this into modern life. If you find yourself stressed out and worried quite a bit of the time, you increase your risk of indigestion, constipation, gas and bloating as well as heart and circulation problems due to prolonged increased heart rate.
Oh, and I forgot to mention. In fight flight mode, your sex drive goes away, too.
Doesn’t help to be having lustful thoughts when you’re trying to get away from that tiger. On a biochemical level, the same chemical molecules that make the adrenal hormone cortisol, which gets elevated under stress, are also needed to make estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, all needed for libido and reproductive function.
Another problem with cortisol is that in excess it can cause damage to your mitochondria, the energy producing mechanisms in each of your cells. Cortisol also damages your hippocampus, the part of your brain that helps with short term memory. Ever walk into a room, only to forget what you went there for? That’s likely because your hippocampus has been impeded by the cortisol you produced when you were stressed out.
Yikes! SO if this is you, what can you do to fix things?
In my over two decades of clinical practice, I’ve seem many cases of adrenal burnout and the damages caused by chronic stress.
Fortunately there are actions you can take reverse the damage and repair your adrenal glands. But if you keep getting stressed out, you’ll be a lot like a hamster on a wheel….working hard but never getting anywhere. Repairing your adrenals and transforming your response to stress take some time and retraining, and the transformations you experience when you do can be miraculous.
3 Tips for Combating Adrenal Fatigue
1- Learn stress management and stress transformation techniques. One of my favorites is called Heart Math, and uses a combination of deep breathing, focusing on your heart and feeling appreciation. It completely changed my life. I did a 90 minute stress transformation teleseminar a couple of years ago that guided the participants through the process and the response was dramatic.
2- Nourish your adrenals. Did you know that 80% of the vitamin C used in your body is used by your adrenal glands? Excessive stress depletes your vitamin C stores and can lead to allergies, poor wound healing, easy bruising and increased susceptibility for colds, flu and other infectious disease? Your adrenals also use lots of B vitamins, especially pantothenic acid and B6. That’s why a lot of B complex formulas are called Stress formulas. Eating a whole foods, high raw, high green diet will ensure you have adequate intake of nutrients to maintain your adrenals when they are brought back to normal;however, when you’re in the mode of recovery, supplementation is often needed.
3- Support your body’s detoxification systems by periodic cleansing. Face it, eating on the run, making even occasional poor food choices and being stressed out impair your liver’s ability to do it’s job of cleansing. One of my favorite ways to cleanse my body is with green smoothies. Even though I eat really healthfully, exercise on a regular basis, and do my Heart Math exercises daily, I’m not perfect. I still get stressed out sometimes, I’m exposed to toxins and I eat on the run more often than I’d like.
I personally do a Green Cleanse at least quarterly by taking a week off eating and just drinking green smoothies or juices for 7 days. I am always amazed at how much more energy I have when I do this. That’s why every 3 months, I lead a group green smoothie cleanse. I have hundreds of success stories from people who feel they got their life back after a green cleanse. This time around I’ve added a new component – daily interactive journals. The details about the cleanse, go to my Green Smoothie Cleanse Website.
If you’ve already done a green cleanse or a short cleanse and are ready to take it to the next level, I suggest you do a deep tissue detox like my Six Week Deep Tissue Detox or something similar.
Bedtime and Wake-up Rituals for Adrenal Fatigue Support
One last tip for rebuilding your adrenals – create supportive bedtime and morning rituals that re-establishes
your circadian rhythm. Here’s a starting set that I recommend to my adrenal fatigue patients:
- Shut off all electronics within an hour of bedtime.
- Eat your last meal within 3 hours of bedtime.
- Fill a 16 ounce glass with pure water and the juice of 1 lemon and put it by your bedside.
- Find 3 things to appreciate before you fall asleep.
- Find 3 things to appreciate before you get out of bed.
- Drink the water as soon as you get up.
- As soon as you get up, go outside and get 5 – 15 minutes of sun, even if the sun is not out. Face in the direction of the sun and sip your water.
Get going on these habits, cleanse regularly and master the Heart Math techniques and you’ll soon be bouncing out of
bed in the morning with vim, vigor and enthusiasm for life.
I hope to meet you soon on a green smoothie cleanse.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, chronic fatigue, Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, green smoothie, green smoothie. detoxification programs, Living Foods, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, Vibrant Health
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Green Smoothies vs Green Juice, Fruit Friend or Foe, and Other Controversial Topics
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on July 1, 2010 – -
Green Smoothies have been my friend for close to 25 years now. My daily smoothie habit is a part of my life, just like brushing my teeth. When Dr. Brian Clement spoke here in Austin earlier this month, he brought up a very controversial issue…Green Smoothies vs Green Juices. He flat out said that green smoothies were “a step above soft drinks” because 90% or nutrients are lost through oxidation when the fruits and vegetables are blended.
I personally have a hard time with this. Nutrient destruction can occur as a result of damage by heat, light and air. The amount of damage is a function of severity and It is generally accepted that nutrients begin to be damages when heated above 118 degrees F. I have not found any studies that confirm this. In fact there is quite a bit of evidence that refutes this.
First of all we need to define what we mean by nutrients.
- Macronutrients: nutrients consumed in large amounts , ie protein, carbohydrates and fats.
- Micronutrients: nutrients consumed in small mounts , ie vitamins, minerals, enzymes
Not all are similarly sensitive to oxidation. Take minerals for example. You can leach them out with prolonged heat, but its hard to destroy calcium by blending. In fact, calcium becomes more available after blending because ti’s released form the cell walls, a feat ordinarily accomplished by stomach acid – which becomes deficient as we age and abuse our bodies.
The smoothie vs juice debate is a hot topic these days. Her’s an excerpt from an excellent article written by Kevin Gianni of Renegade Health. Kevin gave me permission to reprint it . Thanks Kevin. You saved me some precious time.
There are 5 important issues to address when discussing the Green Smoothie vs Green Juice debate, according to Kevin.
1. Oxidation
2. Fiber
3. Sugar Content
4. Available Nutrients
5. Ease of Making them.
Number 1: Oxidation
It’s said that high speed blenders can oxidize your nutrients so that when you drink a smoothie you won’t get the health benefit of it.
This is why you should drink juices instead.
This is false.
Victoria Boutenko did a study using potatoes in a blender and in a juicer and found that the potatoes in a blender oxidized much more SLOWLY than the potato juice.
- Fiber actually protects the smoothie from oxidizing quickly.
- Juices should be consumed right after you make them for the highest nutrient profile.
- Twin gear juicers like the Tribest are best for slowing the oxidizing process when you juice. (Sold in the Renegade Health store)
So the bottom line is this…
Smoothies oxidize slower, which means you will be able to preserve more nutrients for longer.
For oxidation, we like smoothies best.
Number 2: Fiber
Don’t we need fiber to prevent heart disease?
Why would we take the fiber out when we make a juice?
These are good questions.
First off, we do need fiber… but if we’re eating a high raw diet we’re getting plenty of fiber. Your body won’t miss the fiber from the juice.
Why take the fiber out of the juice?
For fast absorption (and maximum) of the nutrients.
A juice to me is like a power-packed supplement to your regular healthy diet.
For fiber, the smoothie has more, but the juice has a different purpose.
Number 3: Sugar Content
For sugar content, if you’re using fruits and sweet vegetables for your juices and smoothies you’re going to get sugar. Most people can deal with moderate amounts of sugar in their diet for an extended period of
time. (Higher sugar for shorter periods)
Because there is fiber in your smoothie, your body will absorb the sugar slower. This is good for your pancreas. When you juice fruit, you take away the fiber and this can cause your pancreas to struggle to regulate your blood sugar.
For this reason, I recommend smoothies with sweet fruits and veggies and juices with greens and low glycemic fruits like lemons and limes. This way you can enjoy your fruits without blood sugar spikes and enjoy a nice, clean green juice!
Just to recap, smoothies contain more fiber, don’t oxidize as fast, and allow for slower nutrient absorption.
Juices have less fiber, oxidize quicker and allow for quick absorption.
Now again, this doesn’t mean that juices are bad, they just have their place. We use them as we would a supplement. Drinking an organic vegetable juice is an opportunity to get great nutrients and minerals straight into your system.
4. Available Nutrients
When you juice a veggie, you strip away all the fiber. This makes the nutrients extremely available for your system to absorb. When you blend a veggie, you break down the fiber making the nutrients easier to absorb, but you still have a bunch of fiber that will slow absorption in your intestines.
For sugary foods this is ideal. For greens it’s good too, but not as good as a green juice. When it comes to readily available nutrients, juices take the lead.
5. Ease of Making Them
Smoothies hands down on this. Put your ingredients into a blender and turn it on. Cleaning with a blender is simple too. Rinse it out a bit, add some water and soap, then put it back on the base. Turn it on for a few seconds, then use a sponge to clean out what’s left.
Juicers are harder to clean because they have more moving parts.
To get the best of both worlds, you can use your blender to make juices.
Add your juice ingredients to the blender, add some water, and blend. When you’re done, strain everything through a nut milk bag and you have your juice ready to go.
http://www.renegadehealth.com/smoothieweek
Check out Kevin’s Smoothie Wee Specials…1/2 off Kevin’s “Smoothies for Optimal Health” book, and discounts on Kev’s Super Smoothie Powder.
For the second topic, Fruit friend or foe, we’ll continue tomorrow.
Bottom line: enjoy your smoothies and have juice too, for a powerful nutritional boost.
For a super powerful nutrition and energy boost, check out our Green Smoothie Cleanse as part of our “Drink Green Stay Lean” Coaching Program.
Love, Health and Joy to You,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, green smoothie, Living Foods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods diet, vegan foods, Vibrant Health
Posted in Cancer Nutrition, Detox Program, Green Smoothies, Holistic Nutrition, Vibrant Health | 6 Comments »
Kelp – Magic from the Sea to Combat Adrenal and Thyroid Fatigue and Create Vibrant Health
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on July 1, 2010 – -
Kelp is a great food for adrenal fatigue, thyroid balance and detoxification. Who’d of thought—back in the days when I was first learning to scuba dive in the thick kelp forests in northern California—that someday I’d be eating the slimy stuff?
Now that I know that kelp is one of the most nutritious foods around, I eat it on a regular basis. Only I don’t eat it in it’s slimy state. Usually it’s ground up as a powder or dried into long crunchy chip-like pieces.
My favorite kelp of all is called bullwhip kelp. It grows in the moving cold waters of the Pacific Northwest. When sun dried and carefully packed, it is crispy and light, salty and delicious. Kids love it.
Another form of kelp is called Laminaria Digitata. Say that 10 times fast! The claim to fame of Laminaria Digitata is its effect on thyroid function. 10% of the iodine in Laminaria digitata Kelp is T3 and T4, the nickname for your thyroid hormones. I’ve seen people reverse abnormal thyroid lab tests in 6-8 weeks by taking laminaria digitata.
Bullwhip kelp can be eaten and enjoyed as is, like chips. It can also be added to salads, soups, steamed vegetables, smoothies, soups and salad dressings. My favorite source of bullwhip kelp is Dr. Ryan Drum , noted herbalist and sea vegetable gatherer. His articles about kelp and other sea vegetables are as outstanding as his kelp.
I store my kelp in airtight containers because this kelp is very sensitive to moisture. If it does get left open and softens, I crisp it up in the dehydrator, set at 110 – 120 degrees for 30 – 60 minutes.
According to Ryan Drum. , “most kelp it made up of a body or thallus that are actually leaf-like structure called blades. Blades come from stipes which are long stem-like structures. The holdfast is a type of root that anchors the plant to the ocean floor. The American variety contains gas-filled bladders at the base of the blades that keep the leaves close to the surface.”
Kelp and the entire family of sea vegetables are incredibly nutritious, yet unfortunately are underutilized and under appreciated in our Western Culinary regime. For those who frequent Japanese restaurants, sushi and seaweed salad may be familiar menu items, but few, save for those on a macrobiotic diet, a raw foods diet or of Asian origin, serve these gems from the sea at home. They are simple to prepare and serve and can add fun and diversity to your daily culinary repertoire. Served as part of main meals and in salads, soups and wraps, sea vegetables offer an abundance of otherwise hard to get nutrients.
Nutrition Benefits of Kelp
Kelp is very rich in nutrients and phytochemicals. It’s loaded with chlorophyll, fiber, and minerals, including significant amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chromium, copper, lithium, manganese, selenium, vanadium, sulfur, and iodine calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, B-vitamins and many other trace minerals naturally found in the ocean. According to Dr. Drum,3-5 pounds of sea vegetables will fully mineralize an adult human for one year! That’s approximately 1-2 ounces per week. A 1/3 cup (1/4 oz.) serving of Kelp provides up to 30% of the RDA for iron, which is 4 times the amount of iron in a serving of spinach. Magnesium is twice as abundant in Kelp as in collard greens.
When purchasing kelp, care must be taken to be sure it was grown in unpolluted waters. Kelp can act like a sponge and will absorb toxins and contaminants from the water.
Just a Few of the Health Benefits of kelp
Anti Cancer Effects – The lignans in kelp can inhibit angiogenesis, the process by which cancer cells metastasize. The lignans also inhibit estrogen synthesis in fat cells and reduce the 4OH and 16OH metabolites that are considered a significant risk factor for breast cancer. Kelp is also rich in folate, a B vitamin that can significantly reduce risk of colon cancer.
Thyroid health – The high level of iodine, especially in the form of T3 and T4 as in laminaria digitata kelp, supports thyroid health and protects the thyroid from radiation exposure.
Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease – The folate in kelp helps breakdown homocysteine, a dangerous metabolic by-product. . Homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls, and high levels are associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Kelp is also a very good source of magnesium, which has also been shown to reduce high blood pressure and prevent heart attack.
Anti-Inflammatory Action – Kelp is a source of fucans, carbohydrates that can reduce inflammation.
Relief for Menopausal Symptoms – Kelp’s abundance of magnesium helps restore normal sleep patterns, especially in women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause.
Cashing in on the Health Benefits of Kelp
There are many ways to enjoy kelp. I put a teaspoon of the powder in my smoothies just about every day. I add it to salad dressings, soups and sauces. I’ve even added it to brownies.
Kelp noodles are one of my favorite dishes. Search the blog for several delicious kelp noodle recipes.
Here’s one of my favorite kelp recipes , taken from my e- book “Greens from the Sea”
Land and Sea Slaw
Directions : |
- Cut kelp into thin strips using a kitchen scissor.
- Soak kelp for at least 10 minutes in enough water to cover, until softened. Drain.
- Grate land vegetables
- Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl to make dressing.
- Combine land and sea ingredients into a large bowl and toss with dressing.
Adjust seasonings to taste.
Enjoy kelp and other sea vegetables on a regular basis, at least 1-2 ounces per week. It will go along way to protecting your health, improving your hormones and making you strong and lean.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, chronic fatigue, Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, fatigue symptoms, green smoothie, Living Foods
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Cancer Nutrition, Detox Program, Raw and Living Foods | 2 Comments »
Raw Foods Summer Recipes and Raw Vegan Wedding Food
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on June 28, 2010 – -This weekend was a raw foods eating extravaganza. It started on Saturday with a raw foods vegan wedding and ended with my monthly raw foods potluck on Sunday.
Have you ever attended a raw foods wedding? I hadn’t before yesterday. It was wonderful.
Not only was the ceremony a beautiful expression of love and commitment in a breath-taking setting overlooking the lake, the food was an amazing spread of delicious and beautiful delicacies.
We started with light appetizers before the ceremony. The center attraction was the “jalapeño poppers”, tiny jalapeno peppers stuffed with a cashed cream and “breading” of crushed nuts. Our beverage was delicious cucumber-lime water. They were delicious.
Along with the stuffed peppers was an array of veggies with delicious southwest dip.
The bouquets included lacinato kale and rosemary along with the flowers.
For dinner we enjoyed spring rolls, stuffed with romaine lettuce, carrots, jicama sprouts and a delicious sauce, along with stuffed pesto mushrooms and zucchini pasta.
The desserts were over the top. 2 multi layered chocolate cakes, with raspberry filling, fudge balls stuffed with cherries, key lime pie, chocolate covered strawberries and brownies. I decided to go for it and try a piece of each. I haven’t felt that stuffed in a long time.
The potluck this evening was a blend of swimming and relaxing, delicious light summer food and an inspiring and informational health talk.
Those that arrived early soaked and swam, or sat around the pool chatting.
The food was extraordinarily elaborate and delicious. We had a variety of cole-slaw like creations, sauerkraut, spring rolls, and all sorts of salads. Dessert was over the top. I made peach pie, and banana coconut cream pie. I can’t believe I forgot to take pictures of them.
The talented Karen Osborne, raw foods chef and instructor, who made the raw desserts for yesterday’s wedding brought one of the chocolate layer cakes minus one piece. Someone made brownies that were the talk of the evening and another made 2 beautifully decorated date nut torte. 3 OR 4 fruit bowls rounded out the dessert counter.
After dinner, we gathered in my living room and I lead a health talk. Our topics ranged from traveling, eating in restaurants, setting goals, and strategies for sticking to the diet and lifestyle habits that support health. We also talked about thyroid issues, gluten free diets, smoothies, fasting and detoxification.
We were honored to host a group of deaf raw food enthusiasts, who brought their own interpreter. The interpreter said she loves coming to out potlucks because she learns so much!
Here are my pie recipes.
Crust:
- 2 cups almonds, soaked for 6 hours or overnight
- 1 cup pecans soaked for 4 hours
- ½ cup pitted dates
- 1 cup dried coconut
Process all in food processor until it holds together.
Press crust mixture into glass pie dishes. This made one 7 inch and 1 9 inch pie.
Peach Mango Pie
- 6 large peaches
- 3 mangoes
- 4 dates
- 1 tablespoon psyllium powder (optional)
Directions
- Cut peaches into bite sized pieces and place in a bowl.
- Peel and pit mangoes and put flesh in blender with dates and psyllium. Blend well until creamy. Add a little water if needed.
- Add blended mango mixture to peaches and stir well.
- Pour mango mixture over peaches and stir well to combine.
- Place peach mango mixture in crust. Sprinkle top with finely ground dried coconut. And decorate with sliced peaches.
Banana Coconut Cream Pie
- 4 bananas
- ½ cup coconut butter (Artisana)
- ½ cup water
- 4 pitted dates
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
- Slice 3 bananas and place in a bowl.
- Put 1 banana, coconut butter, dates, water and vanilla in blender and blend until creamy smooth. Add extra water if needed.
- Pour mixture over bananas and stir well.
- Place banana coconut filling in 7 inch pie crust.
- Sprinkle top with coconut and vanilla, and decorate as desired.
Do you have a favorite summer recipe to share? Please post it below in the comments box.
Love, Health and Joy to You,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, Dr. Ritamarie, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, Living Foods, livingfoods, Raw Foods, raw foods desserts, raw foods diet, raw foods pies, raw foods potluck, raw foods recipes, raw foods wedding, vegan foods, whole foods
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Cancer, Heart Disease and Chronic Fatigue: It’s Not Worth The Risk
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on May 22, 2010 – -My 16 year old son just got his driver’s license about 2 weeks ago. It’s a right of passage I guess, and I cried, just as I did when I dropped him off at kindergarten for the first time.
Call me a sentimental fool, and I will proudly wear the title.
He and I went out for dinner the other night. It’s our best opportunity to spend time together. At home, it’s sometimes too busy for us to just sit down together and chat.
As he was driving home – and I was gripping the passenger side strap, working on my Heart Math breathing and appreciation – (I’m not the most relaxed passenger) he said words that are music to any parents ears. He said “It’s not worth the risk”.
Out of context that statement doesn’t mean very much. Yet in context, it set my mind at ease about the degree of “recklessness” I could expect from my newly on the road teenager.
The reason I loved hearing those words is because what he felt was not worth the risk was a road rule that my husband and I disagreed on and Eric was doing it the way I suggested was correct…because it wasn’t worth the risk of getting in trouble for getting into the turn lane too soon.
What that told me is that he is ultra aware of the rules of the road and does not want to break any lest he get in trouble with the police.
What excited me about his comment was that this is such a minor thing…one we experienced drivers don’t even think about. It helped me to feel confident that he was not going to risk the more dangerous driving behaviors that teen drivers often engage in.
Is it worth the risk ? is a great question to ask yourself when making lifestyle choices that affect your health.
What risks do you take on a regular basis?
Driving or being passenger without a seat belt? Riding a bicycle without a helmet? Going to bed without flossing your teeth?
Life is filled with risk / reward choices. Are you clear enough about your core values and goals that the choices are easy to make?
Here are 5 risks that most people take on a daily basis:
1.Eating heated oils. The threshold temperature is slightly different for each oil, yet the result is similar. Above the threshold, the heat causes oxidation of the fat , making it damaging to your immune system and antioxidant status. This puts you at risk for cancer, heart disease and a host of degenerative ailments. Poly-unsaturated oils like safflower, corn, sunflower and soybean are the most risky, and are generally oxidized in the bottle, before you even open them, due to exposure to light, heat and air.
2.Eating sugar. Sugar not only contributes to poor dental health, it also feeds cancer cells, and its consumption dramatically increases your cancer risk. Sugar also creates hormonal disruption, contributes to a condition called insulin resistance and its characteristic fat around the waist, and results in impaired energy metabolism and decreased immunity. As if that’s not enough, sugar contributes to focus and concentration, heart disease, and dozens of other health maladies.
3.Exposure to pesticides, herbicides and chemicals in the air and water. These tax your inborn detoxification systems, leading to toxic buildup, mental health issues and digestive disturbances.
4.Worrying. Getting yourself in a tizzy about things that may happen, could happen and would be horrible if did happen is a sure fire way of putting yourself at risk for heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic fatigue. It puts your body into ‘fight/flight’ mode, creating a cascade of chemical reactions that impairs digestion and absorption of nutrients and can contribute to cancer.
5.Eating processed and refined cooked foods. These are deficient in nutrients and usually contain harmful preservatives, additives and flavorings, which disrupt hormone pathways, drain your body of B-vitamins and other nutrients needed for energy metabolism and leave you exhausted, toxic and undernourished
Go through the list and determine how much you’re putting yourself at risk. Then ask yourself when confronted with a food or lifestyle choice, “Is this worth the risk? Is the momentary pleasure worth long-term disconnection from what really matters?
Making choices consistent with your higher good takes some effort on your part. You’ll need to educate yourself, learn to make different foods and risk being “different” .
As one of my potluck participants said when asked about his food choices and whether he felt deprived, “Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels.”
For more in-depth coverage of the food choice and health connection, particularly when it comes to cancer and other serious illnesses, join me and my very special guest speaker, Dr. Brian Clement, director of the world renowned Hippocrates Institute. He’ll be speaking in Austin and we’ll broadcast it over the internet.
www.drritamarie.com/cancertalk
Dr. Clement has been working with people with cancer and other serious illnesses for over 30 years, and he’s seen more than his share of miracles.
I hope you can join us. Every time I hear Dr. Clement speak, I learn something new. He’s charismatic, informative and very inspiring. And he walks his talk. He’s a living example of the power of food to heal.
We are very fortunate that he’s taking time out of his busy schedule to talk to us. He travels and speaks world-wide.
Those that show up live will receive a complementary copy of the Hippocrates Institute’s beautiful, full color glossy magazine “Healing Our World’.
Www.drritamarie.com/cancertalk
If you live in or near Austin, come on by to my house Saturday evening to share a meal and connect with some amazing health minded souls.
For information about the events, go to www.drritamarie.com/potluck and see for yourself by watching our video. To sign-up for the meet-up and get all the details you need to participate, go to www.drritamarie.com/meetup
Love, health and Joy to You!
Dr. Ritamarie
Creating Vibrant Health…One Bite at a Time.’
Tags: Cancer, chronic fatigue, diet, Dr. Brian Clement, heart disease, Hippocrates Institute, hydrogenated oils, Living Foods, raw foods diet for cancer
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Detoxification and Health: Overcoming Chronic Disease by Unburdening your Body
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on May 15, 2010 – -What would the world be like if we all felt good… all the time?
Its a wonderful fantasy.
War…gone
theft…gone
poverty…gone
We’d be left with joy, generosity, love, caring, beauty…..
If everyone felt good, there would be no need to hurt others, feel less than or engage in activities that are self destructive, other destructive or planet destructive. Everyone would be too busy enjoying life to bother with hurtful activities.
When was the last time you felt really good? I mean REALLY good…as in jumping for joy, full of energy, bursting with love?
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the moment and lose track of whats really important.
The Cancer Toxicity Connection
A recent guest on my Blog Talk Radio Show was Dr. Brian Clement of Hippocrates Health Institute. We talked about cancer, and the primary cause of cancer, namely a breakdown of the immune system as a result of exposure to toxic elements in food, water, environment and emotions. If you missed the show, you can listen in here: http://www.drritamarie.com/go/ClementInterview
Less than half an hour later, I was interviewed by Tera Warner of the Raw Divas on the subject of detoxification. The calls tied in so well together.
All effective cancer management needs to include detoxification. According to oncologist Thomas Lodi in Arizona, the first step in cancer management needs to be “Stop Making Cancer” by stopping the activities, foods, exposures and thoughts that cause cancer to get out of control. The next step is “killing” the cancer cells.
Western medicine has a distorted approach. The therapies that are aimed at killing the cancer with no attention to building up your body’s natural defenses are doomed to failure. It’s like a race to see if they can destroy the cancer before the treatment destroys you.
Regular detoxification is a great way to cleanse and restore immune function and thus can help prevent cancer. In addition, regular cleansing programs lead to more energy and overall health improvement.
Most health complaints that I come across in clinical practice result from a body out of balance. Your inborn detoxification systems are designed to handle the “normal” toxic exposure – from your metabolic processes and a few environmental things that sneak in. Our modern world has become so overwhelmed with toxic exposure. The food supply is poisened with pesticides and fungicides and other toxins that are damaging to your immune and nervous systems. Drinking water is treated with chlorine. The air is filled with car exhaust, factory fumes, and outgassing from the myriad of plastics and chemicals used in paints, cleaning products and a long list of other “modern conveniences”
With all the exposures, your natural detoxification mecahnisms become overloaded, and the chemicals that should be neutralized and eliminated get caught in the backlog and are recycled and stored in your precious cells. The result? You don’t feel so good!
Symptoms of Toxicity
Symptoms of body toxicity include skin rashes, depression, difficulty focusing, digestive problems, sinus congestion, headaches, “brain fog”, hormone imbalances, autoimmune disease and persistant weight gain that doesn’t seem to respond to calorie restriction.
When I was in my 20′s I suffered from many of these symptoms. You can read my full story at www.sixweekdetox.com
After my first cleanse, I was on cloud nine. Symptoms I’d experienced for decades began to melt away and I became more clear headed and energetic than I’d ever dreamed possible.
To learn more about the benefits of detox, listen in on my interview with Tera Warner .
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If you’d like to experience the profound changes that detox can bring, join us for the next 6 week detox program. You’ll be guided step by step through the process of reduciing toxic exposure, restoringn and rebuilding digestive function, and enhancing your liver’s ability to neutralize and eliminate stored toxins. The result? You’ll feel lighter, more energetic and emotionally balanced than you ever thought possible. We’re startign the preparatory phase of our 6-Week Deep Tissue Detox on Monday!
http://www.sixweekdetox.com
As a special bonus for new members
4 audio recordings and e-book transcripts
1- Candida and Leaky Gut
2- Unlocking the Gut-Brain Connection Behind Brain Fog, ADHD, Autism, Depression and more
3- Hormones, Thyroid Imbalances, Weight Gain & Water Retention
4- Understanding Environmental Sensitivities & Allergies
The special bonuses we’re offering on this call are for new registrations only. After May 17th, they will no longer be offered again for fr.ee.
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Join the Six Week Detox Program: www.sixweekdetox.com
Love, health and Joy to you,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, Cancer, chronic fatigue, Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, Dr. Ritamarie, DrRitamarie, fatigue, Hormone Imbalance, immune system, thyroid problems
Posted in Cancer Nutrition, Detox Program, Vibrant Health | No Comments »
Diet and Detox Rollercoaster – Strategies for Enjoying the Ride
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on May 11, 2010 – -
Have you ever felt like you’re on a roller coaster when it comes to your diet and your never ending quest to cleanse and detoxify?
Fact of the matter is, the information on diets and cleansing programs is very confusing! And the more you read and study, the more confusing it becomes.
I for one am not a fan of wild claims and miracle cures. What I’ve discovered in my almost 2 decades of changing lives through diet and detoxification is a closely guarded secret in the nutrition field….
Are you ready for it?
There is no one plan that works for everyone!
…not raw foods, not fasting, not juicing, not medical food powders, not the cranberry juice flush, or liver flushes or macrobiotics or…..fill in the blank.
As much as I’d like it to be so, ’cause it would make my job a lot easier, I have yet to find any one thing that across the board works for everyone straight “out of he box” . It would be nice if we were all cookie cutter perfect, but the truth is we’re not.
Just as you look different than me on the outside, there are subtle differences between us on the inside. What that translates to is simply that even if we follow the same program to the letter, your results will most likely be different than mine.
That said, how can you possibly know how to best cleanse and detoxify, drop the extra pounds of cellulite and hormone rich belly fat, build lean muscle mass and feel great?
That’s what I’ll be sharing with you on a very special call I’m doing this coming Wednesday with Tera Warner. Tera is a master at getting inside your head and asking the questions that press heaviest on your mind, then asking me in a way that simplifies even the most complex topics.
If you have been circulating in diet and detox corners, and you’re not sure what to think about it all or who to believe, you’ll definitely want to tune in and get your questions answered on this call!
Get Off the Diet & Detox Rollercoaster!
A Crash-Course on How to Safely & Effectively Cleanse & Detoxify Your Body
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
3pm EST
(2pm Central, 1pm Mountain, Noon Pacific)
Sign up for this crash-course on the fundamentals of detox while the season is ripe for renewal and cleansing!
You’ll Discover the Answers to these Questions and More:
- Do you need to fast or starve yourself in order to detox?
- What are the dangers of gallbladder and liver “flushes”?
- Is detoxification dangerous?
- Isn’t eating raw food enough to detox?
- How Safe and Effective is the “Master Cleanse” and why?
- Does fruit cause Candida?
With the answers to these questions under your belt, you can:
- Give your digestive tract a long-awaited rest.
- Decrease the toxic burden on your liver and gallbladder.
- Improve your body’s built-in detoxification mechanisms.
- Release extra fat and fluid weight.
- Reduce your cravings.
- Increase your energy and productivity.
- Get in control of your eating habits.
- Improve your digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
Sign up to get access to this exclusive teleseminar and bust the myths that have been holding you back from health!
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/DetoxCall
I look forward to talking with you on Wednesday .
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: cleansing, detoxicication programs, DrRitamarie, eneergy, raw foods diet, six week detox, tera warner, weight loss
Posted in Detox Program, Holistic Nutrition, Vibrant Health | 4 Comments »
Detox Strategies
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on April 8, 2010 – -
Remember the days when cleansing referred to clothes and dishes and detoxification was for drug addicts and alcoholics?
We live in a more sophisticated world now, and colon cleanse products are now sold at Walmart!
But do you really understand these processes? Or are you confused by the myriad of options, powders, potions, teas and procedures that are touted to be the “best detox ever” or to “cleanse your body in only 3 days.”
Cleansing and Detoxification are often used interchangeably in regards to programs designed to rid your body of impurities and restore that youthful glow. Are they over-rated? Is detoxification just something that your body does naturally and you need just to let it alone?
It helps to understand what parts of your body are involved in detoxification and how the process works.
There’s so much information about detoxification out there. It’s all over the internet. If you were to type the word “detoxification,” you would get hooked up to all kinds of websites that would try to sell you this potion, this powder, and this magic cure, saying, “take this for seven days and you’re going to be completely clean and pure.”
The fact of the matter is that toxins happen. Toxins are a byproduct of life. There are the toxins that you breathe in the air, put there industrial waste, pesticides, and cleaning products we use. There are toxins in your water. One thing you may not be aware of is that there are lots of toxins generated inside of your body, from the movement of your muscles, the foods you eat and the feelings of stress you experience.
While you have many inborn mechanisms for detoxification, your chief detox organ is your liver.
If you lived in a pristine and serine world, your liver would have no problems keeping up with the removal of toxins. In the real world, though, your liver tends to become overburdened by the constant barrage of chemicals it’s expected to remove. And sometimes, your liver gets so tired, that it falls asleep on the job. When this happens, toxic overload occurs and you experience symptoms of what we have come to call disease.
Did you know that most disease is the result of toxicity? I’ve seen and experienced miraculous recovery from chronic illness as a result of a properly conducted detoxification program.
Today I’ll share 3 Strategies for Detoxification Success. On my teleseminar 10 Tips for Choosing a Cleansing Strategy That’s Just Right for You, I go into all the details.
3 Strategies for Detox Success
- 1- Begin with the End in Mind. What is it that you’re looking to achieve by doing a detox program? Are you looking to shed a few pounds? Clear your skin? Clean up your digestion? Rest? Your goals will help you figure out the best strategy to take and keep you focused if the going gets rough.
- 2- Create a Support System. If you attempt to do it alone, as soon as it gets a little bit challenging, you’ll be tempted to through in the towel. If you have a buddy to call, or you’re doing a group cleanse with phone support, you’ll likely stick with it better than if you’re doing it alone.
- 3- Be realistic. If you choose a program that takes 3 hours a day to implement and requires a lot of expensive products, you need to clear the space and budget the money for or it. If you are a single mom with 3 kids, you probably need a program that’s easy and inexpensive.
When I work with people on choosing the best strategy for them, I keep these 3 things in mind and we work from there. I have a checklist for choosing the best strategy, based on your lifestyle, dietary preferences, activity level and finances.
I share it on my teleseminar 10 Tips for Choosing a Cleansing Strategy That’s Just Right for You.
Cleansing and detoxification programs are deeply personal and have the potential to profoundly change your life.
If you’ve never done one, you owe it to yourself to find out more, and schedule time to cleanse and rejuvenate.
I created 10 Tips for Choosing a Cleansing Strategy That’s Just Right for You, to demystify the cleansing and detoxification process and empower you to chose the process that’s just right for you.
Learn all you can and then engage fully. Your liver will love you for it.
Sign up for my FREE teleseminar 10 Tips for Choosing a Cleansing Strategy That’s Just Right for You,and get access to the recording so you can play it back whenever you need a booster.
Sign up now, right HERE.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: cleansing, colon cleansing, colonics, detox, detoxification, Dr. Ritamarie, liver, toxicity
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Detox Program, Green Smoothies, Vibrant Health | No Comments »
The Miracle of Aloe Vera for Digestion, Wound Healing,Your Immune System and So Much More
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on March 26, 2010 – -Aloe has always been one of my favorite plants. We keep them in the kitchen and the bathroom, ever ready for action – on burns, cuts and all sorts of wounds. It can be used topically or inside your body. It even combines well into raw and living foods recipes and can be used as part of a cleansing program. One of my readers contributed this very informative article about aloe, that provides us with an understanding of how Aloe works it’s magic and all the ways we can be helped by this powerful plant! Did you know that aloe can even help destroy tumors?
The Ancient Aloe Vera
The ancient Aloe vera (A. barbadensis) plant with its spear-like, succulent leaves has made its way from native Africa, to your favorite health food store, and even your own home. There are more than 300 types of aloe, but it is Aloe vera that is used most commonly. The Liliaceae family in which Aloe belongs is also home to garlic, asparagus, and onion. What a powerful Family! Aloe has been traditionally used to help treat burns and other wounds, and as a purgative (constipation aid). Yet, over the years, more and more uses for aloe have been discovered. With more active research taking place, the list of incredible healing powers of this herb is sure to lengthen.
Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents who all work synergistically. These include anthraquinones, saccharides, vitamins, non-essential amino acids, essential amino acids, inorganic compounds, and enzymes. It is this powerful combination of molecules that allows the plant to repair itself if the skin becomes damaged. This is visible when you break off a piece of the leaf to use, the next day there is a seal and the plant is protected again.
The anthraquinones are part of the aloe latex, the bundle of sheath cells from its skin. These cells stimulate the walls of the digestive system to contract, essentially aiding in the relief of constipation. This practice should be guided by a health practitioner as it may cause severe cramping. Other plants (cascara and senna) from the same family as aloe are considered to be gentler laxatives. Some of the enzymes found in Aloe vera include carboxypeptidase and bradykininase. These enzymes, along with the amino acids tryptophane and phenylalanine, are involved in relief of pain and reduction of inflammation and swelling. The mineral zinc in the aloe gel also aids in the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant. The polysaccharides, especially glucomannan, in the gel are thought to greatly increase the health of the skin.
Aloe vera has been proclaimed as a strong preventative agent for ulcers and other digestive problems. A research article on the International Aloe Science Council’s website noted an interesting study whereby an individual was given aloe gel before an ulcer-inducing stressor. This group resulted in a 80% reduction in the number of ulcers compared to a control group that was given saline. If the aloe was given after the ulcer had formed, the participant healed three times faster than the control group.
The health benefits of Aloe extend to heart related diseases as well. A study on Albino rats that were fed a high cholesterol diet along with aloe polysaccharides had decreased total cholesterol levels, decreased phospholipids levels, and increased HDL (the “good”cholesterol) compared to the control group. According to a Natural News article, aloe can reverse blood that is clumpy and sludge-like in appearance. This would allow the blood to carry greater amounts of oxygen, reducing the chances of a heart attack or stroke.
Cancer is a terrible disease that will affect 40% or more of us in our lifetime. There are many herbs and plants that contain anti-cancer compounds, including Aloe vera. Aloe’s effects are twofold; it builds up the immune system and destroys tumors. An experiment using mice with Sarcoma-180 tumors that were fed aloe exhibited reduced tumor growth. Another study using a molecule from aloe called Aloctin-A showed anti-tumor capabilities via increased immunity.
Burns, cuts, and wounds are commonly treated with aloe. Its antifungal and antibacterial capabilities make it Mother Nature’s band aid. The gel actually creates a physical barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the wound while simultaneously drawing blood to the needed area. This allows for faster healing.
These are just a few examples of the amazing capabilities of Aloe vera. New research is exploring aloe’s immune boosting abilities and how it can be used to treat HIV/AIDS, its anti-cancer molecules, and its ability to save soldiers who have lost extreme amounts of blood. I hope that you go pick up an aloe plant (or two) and start using it right away! Your body will thank you.
I add aloe to my smoothies, use it to keep my summer tan, and apply the gel directly to my face for firm, smooth skin. It really is an awesome herb to have available in your home. If you can’t find a plant, then head to your local health food store as they have 100% aloe vera gel to purchase.
About the Author:
Melissa Giesbrecht is a health fanatic from Vancouver, BC. She loves all aspects of health and tries to implement them into her life. She wants to take her knowledge to the next step and become an ND. She is a vegetarian who incorporates as much raw food into her diet as possible. She really wants to spread the word that being healthy can be fun, affordable, and truly rewarding. She writes about all these topics on her blog http://contagioushealth.blogspot.com.
References
Foster, Steven & Johnson, Rebecca L .(2006). Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine. Washington,D.C. : The National Geographic Society.
Hutchens, Alma R.(1973). Indian Herbology of North America. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications , Inc.
Duke, James A, ph.D. (1997). The Green Pharmacy. Emmaus, PA:Rodale Press
Tags: aloe vera, cholesterol, cleansing, Cleansing Programs, digestion, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, immune system, Living Foods, livingfoods, Raw Foods, tumors
Posted in Cancer Nutrition, Detox Program | No Comments »
