Peppermint Patties Go Raw: Gluten Free Raw Food Recipe for Superfood Candy Made with Hemp Seeds and Green Powder
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 19, 2009 – -My latest Yummy treat – I just made this as a variation of my Peppermint Patty Recipe from Healthy Halloween Treats , a complete guide to raw and living foods, gluten-free recipes for Halloween.
This 100% raw foods recipe is also gluten free and sugar free. Much better for you than the peppermint patties you may have eaten before. It’s high in omega 3 fats from the hemp seed, selenium from the brazil nuts, copper from the macadamia nuts, chlorophyll from the greens and antiviral lauric acid from the coocnut. They are very low glycemic, as they contain no sweeteners. If you prefer the filling a little bit sweeter, you can add 1/4 cup pitted dates.
Super Food Peppermint Patties
by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
Ingredients
Filling
- 1/2 cup hemp seeds
- 1/2 cup brazil nuts
- 1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts
- 1 1/2 cup dried coconut shreds
- 1/8 teaspoon green stevia
- 1 Tablespoon each chlorella and blue green algae powder (or your favorite green powder)
- 3 drops peppermint essential oil
Chocolate Coating
- 1/4 cup cacao paste, softened in the dehydrator for 15 minutes at 115 degrees or in a double boiler
- 1/8 cup cacao butter, melted as for the cacao paste.
- 1/8 teaspoon stevia
- 2 drops mint essential oil
Directions:
- Process the filling in food processor until almost smooth.
- Press the filling into silicone molds, disposable mini cupcake papers, or any other shapes desired. If you prefer, you can spread it on a piece of wax paper and score into desired sizes.
- Freeze the filling for at least half an hour.
- Stir all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl or blend in blender.
- Pop the filling from the molds or cut into desired sizes.
- Dip the filling pieces into the chocolate sauce (you may need to re-soften it unless you made it right before dipping.)
- Place carefully on a piece of wax paper to harden. Store in refrigerator or freezer.
Chocolate topping variation
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 1/8 cup melted cacao butter
- 2 drops mint essential oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
Other Variations
You can add a couple of drops of mint essential oil to your favorite chocolate sauce or any of the chocolate sauce recipes in my books Healthy Halloween Treats and Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations. Both of these books are filled with gluten free raw and living foods recipes for holiday treats using health promoting ingredients.
Enjoy this recipe.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, Halloween treats, Healthy Holiday, Holiday Recipes, Living Foods, livingfoods, Omega 3 Fats, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, raw foods recipes, selenium, whole foods
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Hanukkah in the Raw: Living Foods Version of Traditional Latkes
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 14, 2009 – -
When I first met my husband I had no idea what a latke was, nor did I know very much about Hanukkah. Having grown up Catholic the only thing I’d learned was that Hanukkah was like Christmas, only they got presents for 8 days instead of 1!
I’ve come a long way since then. Now I know quite a bit more about the holiday, and the meaning behind it. I’ve also taught myself to make healthier versions of the traditional foods. My favorite is latkes. Latles are potato pancakes and are traditionally served on the first and last nights of Hanukkah, at least in my husband’s family. Traditional latkes are made from potatoes, onions, flour and egg, and are deep fried in vegetable oil. They come out crispy and very greasy. Quite frankly, all that grease just never appealed to me.
So my first experiments were created by simply using non-gluten flour in place of the unbleached white, flax or psyllium seed in place of the egg and a bit of olive oil, brushed on before baking instead of frying. They were a bit hit with my family and friends.
Next I experimented with substituting some or all of the potatoes with shredded broccoli stems, daikon radish or zucchini. I got to the point where I could make them without any potatoes, and my kids still loved them. I was happy because they were eating lots of veggies!
Finally I took it to the next level and created a recipe that I could “low temperature bake” in the dehydrator. These are uncooked and maintain the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes of the raw ingredients. I served them side by side with the cooked potato version and most of my friends preferred the raw ones.
I put all of the variations of the recipe in my new e-book Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations.
I’m sharing the Living Latkes recipe here. The book has recipes for raw dairy free versions of applesauce and sour cream too.
Living Latkes
by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
Equipment Needed: Dehydrator and Blender
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds of a combination of shredded daikon radish and broccoli stems
- 1 medium onion
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) tahini
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup water
Directions
- Shred daikon and broccoli stems and place in a large bowl.
- Shred or thinly slice the onion and add to bowl with the daikon and broccoli.
- Blend the tahini, pepper and salt and add to bowl with vegetables. Mix well with your hands.
- Brush with a thin film of olive oil, if desired.
- Form into patties and place on the mesh tray of your dehydrator. Dehydrate overnight, up to 12 hours.
Serve with apple sauce or nut sour “cream”
Shared with love from Dr. Ritamarie’s Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations.
Enjoy, and have a happy healthy holiday.
Love, Health and Joy
Dr. Ritamarie
P.S. Even if you’re not Jewish, the latkes are worth making. Everyone loves them.
http://www.DrRitamarie.com/WinterHolidays
Tags: Christmas, Christmas recipes, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, gluten free christmas, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, gluten free latkes, gluten-free vegan latkes, hanukkah, Hanukkah recipes, Healthy Holiday, heathy hanukkah recipes, holiday diet, Holiday Recipes, holiday survival, latkes, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, raw latkes
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Healthy for the Holidays: Nourishing Foods for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years Celebrations
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 9, 2009 – -By
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
I can’t believe that it’s almost Christmas? I’m really not ready at all! I haven’t started shopping, writing cards or even finished putting up my tree. My family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, bringing together the best of my husband’s family traditions and mine. And Hanukkah is just a few days away.
I used to bake a lot for the holidays, but since I no longer eat sugar, flour, butter and all the ingredients of my old favorite recipes, and I prefer to eat raw and living foods, I had to develop new recipes. My favorites were for cookies, especially gingerbread, cranberry bread and pecan pie. My new recipes taste as good or even BETTER than my old favorites.
The foods that used to fill my holiday plate did nothing to enhance my health and did everything to clog my arteries, raise my blood sugar, expand my waistline and left me feeling sluggish, bloated, and foggy headed.
When I eat the foods I make using my new recipes, I feel great! I no longer feel bloated or exhausted after eating my favorite Christmas cookies and pies.
Even if you’ve been dedicated to vibrant health for a long time, staying strong and true to your health commitment is a challenge when you’re surrounded by the smells and tastes that remind you of past holidays and connect you with family and friends. You may have even learned to equate these foods with love.
The pressure from friends and family to eat the old favorites can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve only recently adopted healthy eating habits. Add to that the magnitude of the long holiday to-do list (shopping for, wrapping, and exchanging gifts; sending cards; decorating; and making food) and it’s only natural for you to become overly stressed or anxious.
You may have grown up using food to comfort and soothe you.
Certain aromas may remind you of the comfort of grandma’s house on a special holiday, or a special person or feeling that you became connected to early on in your life.
Rather than giving in to temptation, or depriving yourself of tasty foods and feeling angry and resentful about it, you can learn to recreate your favorite holiday meals in ways that are delicious, nutritious and fun and easy to make.
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
Since I’ve been married to Scott, I’ve learned to make Hanukkah foods, too, like latkes with homemade applesauce and dairy free sour cream.
I’ve been working on putting all of these recipes together and finally have them ready in the form of a book. By the time I finished putting in all the recipes and tips for creating low stress holiday celebrations, the book ended up being over 160 pages! And the recipes are all gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free, and made with whole, fresh, plant-based, raw and living foods.
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
I’ve put together a couple of very special packages that include my new book, “Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations”and I’m ready to share them with you!
So go on over to
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
and reserve your copy. The book is in e-book format, so you can download it instantly. I’m working on getting a printed version available too, and those who purchase the e-book during the next couple of weeks will be offered the print book at for a nominal upgrade fee.
I’m so excited about this.
I’ve added some juicy new bonuses, for a limited time only, and a very special “Deluxe Holiday Toolkit”. When you order the e-book, one of the bonuses you’ll receive is access to an online video of me making some of the recipes.
Here’s a comment from someone who watched the Holiday Video when I offered it with the Thanksgiving Feast book:
I just watched the Holiday recipe video…OMG, it was WONDERFUL!!!! And so helpful! I bought the e-book, but it makes such a difference to actually see you putting the elements together!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CREATING THIS VIDEO!!!!
I look forward to hearing from you. The message I’d like to hear is how you stayed healthy throughout the holidays, had lots of energy and enjoyed the connection with your loved ones while eating delicious foods and having a blast.
Please comment below and let me know what your favorite holiday foods are. If health enhancing versions of them are not already in the book, rest assured they’ll be in version 2. And if you contribute a recipe or idea that makes it into the second edition next year, I’ll be sure to send you a free copy.
Go ahead and let me know what foods you really love and have a healthy and happy holiday season.
Love, Health and Gratitude,
Dr. Ritamarie
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
Tags: Christmas recipes, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, fatigue symptoms, gluten free, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, Hanukkah recipes, Healthy Holiday, holiday diet, Holiday Recipes, holiday survival, Living Foods, livingfoods, New Years Recipes, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, vegan foods, whole foods
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Heart Felt Gratitude For all My Gifts
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 25, 2009 – -by
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
Thanksgiving is a special day for me. While I intend daily to express gratitude for all my gifts and to those who make my life so fulfilling and joyful, I sometimes fall short of my goal.
Thanksgiving day gives me the opportunity to reflect on all that I am grateful for. To me, the holiday is more about the connections than the food. My life has been rich and full, and the tough times as well as the wonderful times have contributed to making it so. For both I am grateful.
Here’s a partial list of what I’m grateful for:
* Waking up each day in a warm bed with a roof over my head. Many people don’t have the same experience.
* My daily green smoothie, which energizes and nourishes me more than anything I’ve ever done.
* That my 11 year old son, Kevin, still likes to cuddle with his Mommy.
* That my 15 year old son, Eric, is dedicated to justice and fairness and is willing to risk his own comfort to help his friends when he feels that they’ve been wronged.
* My husband Scott, who makes me my green smoothie most mornings and cleans the kitchen after me when I make his.
* The illness I experienced during my 20′s that spurred me to learn more about my health and become more healthy and energetic today than ever before. That experience has allowed me to impact the health of thousands of people over the years.
* The miscarriages that caused me to decide to adopt children and the women who birthed my beautiful boys. Had the outcome been different for me, Kevin and Eric would be experiencing lives much more difficult than anything they’ve ever experienced.
* Sunshine and warmth and the joy I get from both of them.
* Green foods, and the vibrant health they create in me.
* Learning about the powers of Heart Math, becoming certified and using it to transform my life and the lives of those who’ve learned it from me.
* My “team” that supports me in my life’s work: Jimmy for taking over the web support from me(he’s so much better than I), Tracey who keeps up with my email, sets up my new radio show “Creating a Vibrant Life”, keeps me up to date on facebook and twitter and countless other tasks, Scott who handles all things accounting, my newest helper, Aran who will be handling my blog and video posting, and all those who volunteer in exchange for learning.
* My sister Cathy, who’s death last summer from Lymphoma strengthened my commitment to spreading the message of health through nutrition and self care.
* My surviving 3 brothers and 4 sisters, who all thought I’d lost my mind 25 years ago when I rejected all the foods of my past and adopted the healthy lifestyle I now own. Several of them are now open to my message.
* My father who taught me when I was very young that I could do ANYTHING I set my mind to and was determined to do. I just wish he was still around to hug and thank in person.
* My mom, whose stubbornness and strong will I didn’t much appreciate until I realized how much like her I turned out to be. I’m sure she’s turning over in her grave and having a good laugh about that now.
* My Italian paternal grandmother who taught me to love to feed people.
* My Irish maternal grandmother who taught me about kindness and unconditional love.
* My maternal grandfather who taught me about gentleness and acceptance and whose influence caused me to marry a kind and gentle man
* My English teacher in 11th grade who encouraged me to express myself on paper.
* My cousin Marybeth who taught me how to be playful and have fun.
* My friends near and far who’ve supported me through many an idea that seemed far fetched and unreasonable.
* My vitamix blender.
* My affiliate team who’ve promoted my books and programs and helped me to spread the message of healthy lifestyle.
* My stubborn determination, unwillingness to take no for an answer and dedication to doing what’s right.
* You, for listening to my words and taking action towards a better life.
Thanks again. Have an amazing Thanksgiving.
Please post a comment below and share at least one thing you’re grateful for.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
P.S. On Thanksgiving, I’ll be making the cranberry orange relish, apricot pecan yams, mushroom gravy and pumpkin pie from my Thanksgiving Feast e-book. Post a comment below and let me know what you’re making
Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, gluten free holiday, gratitude, healthy thanksgiving recipes, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods recipes, raw Thanksgiving recipes
Posted in Articles, Healthy Holiday, Raw Foods | 19 Comments »
Halloween Hazards and Healthy Halloween Treats
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on October 30, 2009 – -
Halloween is a fun holiday, especially for kids. My teenage son, Eric has been to several haunted houses with his friends and spent hours at a costume store, picking out just the right mask.
My preteen son, Kevin, loves trick or treating and eagerly anticipates what’s going to be in his goodie bag…the one I’ll trade him for the candy he collects.
Even though we don’t eat candy, and we end up throwing away all the candy collected at Hal loween, the kids still have a blast!
We have our own rituals and festivities after the trick or treating is over. Trick or treating is a social event. They used to just collect money for UNICEF, but after a while they got tired of telling the well-meaning adults “No thanks” on the candy and started coming home with bags full. At first they thought they could just give it to their friends. Then they realized that they liked their friends too much to add to the already too large a strain on their immune systems and decided it best to throw it away. Wasteful??? Not hardly. Every piece we throw away is one less that some one eats and that saves them hours of a depressed immune system.
You see, sugar depresses the immune system. It’s been measured to decrease the activity of the T-cells, the “protector cells” by as much as 50% for 4 hours after just 2 teaspoons of sugar. Your typical soft drink contains 8 teaspoons.
With all the fear of the flu going around these days, isn’t it nice to know that there is an easy way to support your immune system and protect yourself and your kids from the flu? Supporting their immune system naturally is far more effective than any flu vaccine….and much safer. I held a special “emergency” immune system support and flu prevention teleclass at the beginning of the month. The recordings are available at http://drritamarie.com/FluProtection-TeleClass-SignUp.php
A Nobel prize winning researcher named Otto Warberger showed the connection between sugar and cancer back in the 1930′s! Sugar’s adverse effects can be seen throughout your body. Here’s a passage abut sugar from my new book, Healthy Halloween Treats
“Sugar can also impair the structure of DNA, cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children, weaken eyesight, contribute to eczema, interfere with the absorption of protein, decrease the activity of your T cells, which contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection, contribute to Candida (yeast) infections and contribute to osteoporosis. “
There are more little known facts about sugar in Healthy Halloween Treats, as well as healthier alternatives to the candy and cupcakes and other harmful foods that are usually associated with Halloween.
Junk food doesn’t just promote tooth decay and hyperactivity. It is life-threatening!! Here are some statistics from Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a “radical” medical doctor who treats his patients with broccoli and other fresh fruits and vegetables.
“The CDC estimates that 1/3 of children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime, and that children born in 2000
may not outlive their parents. Overweight/obesity rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents in the past 20 years. Obesity in children increases their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, joint problems, sleep apnea, early puberty, and several cancers. Signs of atherosclerosis can be seen in early childhood. Most adult cancers are linked to poor childhood nutrition. Sugar contributes to violence. 69% of the 10 year olds who were violent at the age of 34 had eaten sweets and chocolate nearly every day during childhood, compared to 42% who were non-violent.”
As a parent or an adult responsible for the nutrition of a child, you have the responsibility to educate yourself. Allowing your children to indulge in junk food sets them up for childhood illnesses, cancers, and poor quality life. As parents, you must take control of your children’s health! You must set a good example and protect them from the dangers of indulging in the Halloween sweets and treats that are harming them.
For more information on the health risks the modern western diet imposes on kids, read Dr. Fuhrman’s book Disease Proof Your Child
It’s sad how much misinformation abounds. The American Academy of Family Physicians is clueless about counseling parents about healthy diet for kids. They just announced a corporate sponsorship with Coca-Cola to develop their consumer education content on to beverages and sweeteners for their health and wellness web site, FamilyDoctor.org. Coca-Cola is certainly not going to include the information about how dangerous soft drinks are, will they? How can you trust your family physician if their association is getting its nutrition education from CocaCola? According to Dr. Fuhrman, on his blog , Disease Proof, the American Dietetic Association also accepts money from Coca-Cola, as well as from PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Mars and the National Dairy Council.
I know it’s hard to say no to your favorite holiday goodies. Yet you owe it to yourself and your family to learn the cold hard facts and act on them. In Healthy Halloween Treats I give you all you need to maintain the joy and playfulness of the holiday and keep it nutritious and safe at the same time. Try some banana ghosts, chocolate covered apples, chocolate spiders or swampsicles. Your kids will love it and they’ll thank you when they realize later how much pain and suffering you saved them by making healthy choices for them.
Happy Halloween.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: dr fuhrman, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Halloween junk food, Halloween treats, raw and living foods holiday recipes, whole foods, whole foods halloween
Posted in Cancer, Gluten Free recipes, Healthy Holiday | 1 Comment »
Protecting Yourself From the Flu: 5 Tips for a Strong and Healthy Immune System
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on October 20, 2009 – -It’s that time of year again. As the autumn ushers out the warm and balmy sun filled days and the days grow shorter and shorter, we enter into the season that many associate with colds and flu. This year we’re particularly aware of the flu season as reports fill the airways of the dangers of the swine flu and the miracle of the new vaccine.
Before you jump in and get in line with your sleeves rolled up, ready to have the flu shot, I suggest you do some research and make an informed decision. The main ingredient in any vaccine is either killed viruses or live ones that have been weakened and made less harmful.
A hidden danger of flu vaccines is the chemicals they may contain, such as ethylene glycol (antifreeze), formaldehyde, phenol and thimerasol(mercury containing preservative) . There has been legislation passed to remove thimerasol from all vaccines because it has been correlated with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. That ban was lifted so as to get the swine flu vaccine to market faster.
While there is a lot of reliable information on the web about the swine flu vaccine, there is also a lot of garbage. I have quotes below form what I believe are reliable sources.
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny one of the country’s most knowledgeable and outspoken physicians regarding the impact of vaccines on health, has a lot of good information about the swine flu vaccine as well as other vaccines. I suggest studying her information before making a decision. .
I found her article The Truth About the Flu Shot to be particularly enlightening.
An article was published in Natural Health News last Monday called Vaccine Revolt.
In it, Mike Adams explores the hype and the dangers of the vaccine. Here are a few highlights, interspersed with my comments:
1- more than fifty percent of moms are refusing to expose their children to the swine flu vaccine, and nurses and health practitioners across the US and UK are going vocal with their opposition to the vaccine.
2- Swine flu is actually no more deadly than a normal seasonal flu
3- While there is evidence showing that the vaccine produces antibodies, the mere existence of vaccine-induced antibodies doesn’t directly translate into functional, real-world immunity!
4- The vaccine has not been properly safety tested by the FDA or the drug companies. They were approved by the FDA with a waiver, bypassing the normal process of long-term safety testing that the public expects the FDA to enforce.
Dr. Mercola published several good articles on the swine flu vaccine. One called Squalene-The-Swine-Flu-Vaccines-Dirty-Little-Secret-Exposed discusses the dangers of the adjuvants put in vaccines, and this one in particular, squalene, that’s in the swine flu vaccine.
Here are a few highlights from Dr. Mercola’s article:
“The purpose of an adjuvant added to a vaccine is to enhance your immune response to the vaccination. Adjuvants cause your immune system to overreact to the introduction of the organism you’re being vaccinated against.
A study published in the American Journal of Pathology demonstrated that a single injection of squalene into rats triggered “chronic, immune-mediated joint-specific inflammation,” also known as rheumatoid arthritis.
Your immune system recognizes squalene as an oil molecule native to your body. It is found throughout your nervous system and brain. In fact, you can consume squalene in olive oil and not only will your immune system recognize it, you will also reap the benefits of its antioxidant properties.
The difference between “good” and “bad” squalene is the route by which it enters your body. Injection is an abnormal route of entry which incites your immune system to attack all the squalene in your body, not just the vaccine adjuvant.
Your immune system will attempt to destroy the molecule wherever it finds it, including in places where it occurs naturally, and where it is vital to the health of your nervous system. ”
I highly recommend that you read and research before deciding about immunizations for flu. There are lots of possible adverse effects.
You may be wondering how to protect yourself from the flu without the risks of the vaccine? The secret is to build a strong immune system.
I’ve shared 5 ways below. For more you can sign up to receive the recording of a teleclass I held a couple of weeks ago on this Immune Boosting, Flu Protection Strategies
1- Give you immune system the nutrients it needs to fight infection. These include Vitamin C, beta carotene, bioflavinoids, magnesium, zinc, B-vitamins and omega 3 fats. And how do you get these nutrients? My favorite sources are fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, root vegetables and raw seeds like flax, hemp, chia and pumpkin. The best way to insure that what you eat has the highest nutrient content is to eat these foods in their fresh, raw, organic and natural state. Fresh pressed green juices are extremely nutrient dense, as are green smoothies.
2- Get lots of fresh air and sunshine. Vitamin D is one of the key nutrients in immune health. Studies show that you can knock out the flu within a few days by taking very high doses of oral vitamin D. The best source of Vitamin D is the one made by your body when you’re exposed to natural sunlight during the peak UV times of the day, approximately 11AM -4PM. If you’re unable to do this then you need a Vitamin D supplement
3- Cleansing your body from the inside out. Giving your system a rest from heavy foods, stress and constant activity allows it to get rid of the waste products that accumulate as a result of your busy lifestyle and exposure to toxins in food, air and water. The simplest way I’ve found to cleanse is using Green Smoothies. I conduct a guided green smoothie cleanse about 5 times a year and I never cease to be amazed at the results people get. What better way to prepare yourself for the flu season that to do a Green Smoothie Cleanse. For details, refer to http://www.GreenSMoothieCleanse.com
4- Get plenty of rest and sleep. Studies show that the less sleep you get the more likely you are to get sick. Your body repairs and cleanses from the day while you sleep. If you sleep less than 4 hours a day, this ability is severely impaired, leaving you susceptible to illness. Don’t chance it. Get at least 6 hours of sleep each night, and 8 is closer to ideal.
5- Avoid sugar and processed food like the plague…because it is like the plague! At this time of year it’s particularly pervasive. Sugar abounds. Halloween is coming in a couple of weeks, and with it the onslaught of candy and processed junk food. Did you know that there is a 50% decrease in the effectiveness of your white blood cells to fight infection for up to 4 hours after eating just 2 teaspoon of sugar? Imagine your poor immune system after Halloween, if you continue to eat the traditional treats. There is an alternative. My book Healthy Halloween Treats is filled with delicious recipes and information to keep you healthy this year. It’s available at http://www.drritamarie.com/Halloween
And speaking of Green Smoothies, we are proud and excited to be hosting a presentation on Friday October 23, featuring Victoria Boutenko, author of Green for Life and many other books, and her son, Sergei, author of Fresh and founder of Harmony Hikes, which specializes in leading wild edible walks and multi day adventures.
The seats are going fast, and we’re almost sold out. If you’re interested in attending, you can register if you hurry over to http://www.drritamarie.com/boutenko
The talk is in Austin Texas, but will be broadcast live over the internet to all over the world. Replays are also available. To signup, go to
http://www.drritamarie.com/boutenko.
I wish for you the joy and freedom that a strong and healthy immune system brings.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Add new tag, children's health, Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, flu protection, gluten free, green smoothie, Halloween, Halloween treats, holiday diet, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, swine flu protection, swine flu vaccine
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Spring Cleaning Your Body From the Inside Out: An Effective Strategy for Chronic Fatigue, Adrenal Exhaustion and Feeling Too Tired to Really Enjoy Your Life
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on March 6, 2009 – -Spring Cleaning is a common practice, not only in our modern world, but in primitive times as well. Why not? Spring is a time of renewal. If you’re suffering from chronic fatigue, adrenal exhaustion or are just too tired to really enjoy your life, I have great news for you.
Cleansing your body from the inside out, of impurities in food, water and air, as well as thoughts and people around you who are energy drains, is one of the most effective ways to revitalize your energy, reduce body fat and increase lean muscle and restore balance to your organs and glands.
What if you could do a spring cleaning of your internal organs, your digestive track and your mind? How would it feel to experience a state of renewal and a spike in energy in time for the warmer seasons— to be able to move about in comfort and with the energy to enjoy your kids, hobbies, vacations and social time?
Every 2 months or so I like to do a cleaning from the inside out. My favorite way to cleanse is with Green Smoothies.The program I usually do is a 1 week jump start and revitalize. It’s one of the easiest short cleanses you can do.
I’m developing a longer, deeper program for those who want to take it to the next level. I’ll be leading it later this spring with Tera of the Raw Divas. But more on that later.
You can read all about my one week Green Smoothie Cleanse and hear what those who’ve experienced the incredible renewal of a Green Smoothie Cleanse have to say about it by going to http://www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com
On a green smoothie cleanse the goal is to replace all or most of your meals with delicious green smoothies. Don’t take my word for it, check it out. The results are nothing short of amazing.
I’m offering a special opportunity for everyone who is officially registered for the cleanse by midnight Saturday March 7.
Usually the cleanse is a single week, with no preparation or follow-up. For some, the transition is a bit challenging. For others, maintaining the healthy habits established during the cleanse is a difficult without support. Well, guess what?
I’m going to make it all very easy for you by turning the green cleanse into a full 4 week program.
*Week 1* will be the week to slowly transition off the energy zappers — caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods– while beginning to make green smoothies a regular part of each day.
*Week 2* will be geared towards transitioning to a diet high in fresh, whole, antioxidant and mineral rich raw and living foods.
*Week 3* will be our cleanse week. You’ll choose Plan A and drink nothing but green smoothies all week, or one of Options B or C and choose to replace some of your meals with green smoothies. You can also pick and choose the plan you follow on a day to day basis. The closer you get to following plan A the more profound the results.
*Week 4* will be the week to slowly transition back to *eating* your meals,instead of drinking them, with the focus on eating as much fresh, whole, living food as possible
The pace you go at is up to you. Since there are several cleanse options, you can choose the pace that’s right for you.
Until Saturday March 7, you’ll get to join in on the full 4 week cleanse for the same low price as the 7 day cleanse.
Here’s your chance to join hundreds of others on a program that has literally changed lives and get supported for a full 4 weeks.
Won’t you join me?
http://www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
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How to Indulge Without the Bulge: Thriving Through the Holiday Season With Your Waistline in Tact
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 11, 2008 – -In all the years I’ve been consulting with patients on achieving vibrant health and boundless energy, I’ve always been amazed at how many people who’ve been experiencing dramatic improvements in their health allow themselves to get off track around the holidays and backtrack on the progress they’ve made.
It breaks my heart to watch folks backslide after they’ve been steadily improving their health, approaching their ideal body weight, and finally experiencing the energy to begin to really live their lives. Well, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way.
I know it’s really easy to get so caught up in the frenzy of holiday shopping, parties and family activities that all the healthy habits you’ve spent months or years to establish fall by the wayside, with the promise of starting again after the holidays.
The problem is, starting again after the holidays is really hard to do when your waistline is bulging, your strength has diminished and you barely have the energy to get out of bed in the morning.
But what if you could wake up on New Year’s Day feeling slim, strong and energetic, ready to work on your life’s true purpose? Take a moment to really appreciate how great that would feel.
The winter holiday season is supposed to be one of joy and sharing. Yet all too often, you find yourself getting overly stressed by the magnitude of the tasks at hand. Cards, shopping for and wrapping gifts, decorating and making food are all a part of the sometimes overwhelmingly long task list.
And then there’s the food. Unfortunately, the traditional holiday fare is not consistent with achieving the level of health you want and deserve. And the pressure from well-meaning friends and family to indulge in the old favorites can be overwhelming.
How would it feel if you could indulge in delicious foods and still stay healthy and fit? Sound impossible? Those who’ve taken my Indulge without the Bulge Class know otherwise because they’ve learned amazing recipes and the 7 secret strategies for thriving through the holiday season and indulge without the bulge. Here are the secrets:
- Set clear goals about how you want to look and feel on January 1. Write them down and read them every day, especially when you’re tempted to stray from your healthy diet and exercise plan. I did a teleseminar about Goal Setting a few months ago.
- Keep Well Hydrated. Often when you’re thirsty, you perceive it as hunger. Start your day with at least a pint of filtered water. Drink a tall glass of water about 15 minutes before each meal to take the edge off your appetite.
- Start your day with a smoothie made from fresh whole fruit and add some leafy greens for extra vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. There are several green smoothie recipes in my blog post at Green Smoothie Recipes.
- Bring food with you whenever you go to parties, dinners and on shopping excursions and eat a healthy snack before you go to parties or out to dinner. Learn a few quick, easy and delicious living food recipes that are similar to traditional holiday favorite and easy enough to whip up in minutes.
- Breathe deeply several times a day to decrease your stress get the oxygen flowing, clear your busy mind and calm your nervous system. Your digestive tract is most efficient in the calm state.
- Simplify gift giving. The holiday season is supposed to be a time when we express love and appreciation to those we care about, so avoid stressing out about buying the right gift. You can donate to a favorite charity, and give health related gifts like CDs, DVDs, equipment and healthy food. Or give gift certificates for a service you can do for a loved one, or a place you can take them.
- Give yourself some wiggle room. If you strive for 100% and you fall short, it could trigger a defeatist attitude and cause you to stray even further. Instead, strive to stay on track 90% of the time and be kind to yourself if there are a few indulgences.
And don’t forget that exercise is vital to keeping you healthy at this time of year. Be sure to move your body, even if you only have time for 10 minutes a day.And treat yourself with dignity and respect. Connect with those you love and show appreciation and love to them and to you. Recognize the gift you are to the world and celebrate your greatness.
Love and Health,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: fatigue symptoms, gluten free holiday, raw and living foods holiday recipes
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Enjoying Healthy Holiday Celebrations and Avoiding Post Holiday Fatigue Symptoms
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 10, 2008 – -I’m sure you know by now that New Year’s Resolutions rarely work. Just knowing that you can make them gives you the perfect excuse for making unhealthy choices through the holiday season. But really, how fun will it be to wake up next year with an expanded mid-section, too tired to get out of bed much less exercise, and an assortment of aches and pains that you may be tempted to blame on old age?
The image of Santa Claus with his big belly stuffing himself with cookies and milk may somehow seem to make it ok to have just one more slice of pie. But really, is it worth it?
The time to start making 2009 your healthiest year ever is NOW. But if you indulge in all the holiday cheer this month, by January 1, you’ll have a lot of catching up to do.
There is another choice. You can decide that this year it’s going to be different, can’t you?
I’d love to help you arm yourself with the perfect tools so you can indulge without the bulge. Enjoy delicious treats, celebrate joyfully at parties and family gatherings, and experience the energy and stamina to connect meaningfully with those you love.
Here are a few Fatigue Busting Resources for this Holiday Season:
1- Eating for Energy: Quick and Healthy Meal Preparation to Powerfully Fuel Your Body Is a free teleseminar, being offered this Thursday evening, December 11. This teleclass will help you to avoid fatigue symptoms this holiday season.
http://www.drritamarie.com/energycall.htm
2- *Magic in the Kitchen* is a live class on Sunday, December 14 in Austin, Texas. In this class, I’ll be morking my magic on fresh whole, living foods and creating delicious, energy enhancing meals, on the fly. It’s easy enough that you can do it, too.
3- In addition to offering this class for half off my usual tuition, friends attend too at half of half price and I’m donating ten dollars for each full tuition and five dollars for each half tuition to a family in need this holiday season. The class will be filmed, so even if you can’t come watch me work my magic and turn simple whole, fresh foods into decadently delicious meals, the DVD will be available later. There will be door prizes, a raffle and all kinds of fun activities to help you become more energetic, vibrant and healthy through the holidays and into the New Year.
http://www.DrRitamarie.com/HolidayClass2008.htm
4: Indulge Without the Bulge- Seven Secret Strategies for Thriving through the Holiday Season: DVD, booklet with recipes, and laminated reminder checklist: http://www.IndulgeWithoutBulge.com
I look forward to connecting soon.
Love and Health
Dr. Ritamarie
P.S. No time to read the whole email? Here’s the cliff notes version:
Eating for Energy Teleconference Call: Thursday Dec 11 8:30 PM Central Time
Magic in the Kitchen: Sunday Dec 14: 2:00 PM Central
Discounts on e-books and programs: http://www.drritamarie.com/holidayspecials.htm
Indulge Without the Bulge DVD: http://www.IndulgeWithoutBulge.com
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
Phone: 512 3499677
Austin, Texas 78730
In Summary:
http://www.drritamarie.com/energycall.htm
http://www.DrRitamarie.com/HolidayClass2008.htm
http://www.drritamarie.com/holidayspecials.htm
http://www.IndulgeWithoutBulge.com
Tags: Add new tag, fatigue, fatigue symptoms, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, Healthy Holiday, holiday survival, living foods recipes, livingfoods, Raw Foods
Posted in Articles, Cleansing Programs, Exhaustion, Healthy Holiday, Raw and Living Foods | No Comments »
