3 Keys to a Vibrantly Healthy Valentine’s Day
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on February 14, 2010 – 5:36 pm -
Valentines Day is the LOVE holiday…the day when we express our love to the special people in our lives.
The tradition of Valentine’s Day is believed to have originated from the pagan customs of the Third or Fourth Century B.C., when the Festivals of Purification were celebrated in Ancient Rome. With the advent of Christianity, priests attempted to replace all ancient heathen practices, and in the fifth century A.D., they created its own holiday around the same date, and selected a saint who to honor for his devotion to love.
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is a day when health takes a backseat as most people embellish their loved ones with chocolates, little candy hearts with sayings on them and all sorts of sweet, heart shaped treats and lavishly rich dinners.
What would it be like to enjoy the magic of your Valentine’s Day love connections without compromising your health and your waistline?
Here are 3 key strategies that you can use to create new and memorable health promoting Valentine’s Day rituals.
1- Celebrate and thank the one person you can count on to be there every moment in your life, through thick and thin, good times and challenging ones and until you take your last breath…YOU. Do something special for yourself. Self love and care is health care. One of the best
ways to improve the quality of your health and increase your energy and longevity is to consistently make time to reward and acknowledge yourself.
Take a minute right now to stroke and massage your shoulders, arms and hands. Doesn’t that feel great? Plan a time for a candle-lit hot bath, or an evening in bed to read, write or meditate. What’s your favorite pass time? What do you love to do? Reward yourself by scheduling time to do it. Schedule it right NOW.
Jot me a note in the comments box and let me know how you plan to show self love.
2- Create special treats for your loved ones using whole, fresh, organic and living foods.
As a special Valentine’s Day gift from me to you, I created a recipe sampler you can use and enjoy.
http://www.drritamarie.com/candy.htm
3- Make aphrodisiac foods a part of the celebration, to spark some passion into your love life. These traditionally include:
- Almond – aroma is supposed to induce passion in a female.
- Arugula – has been documented as an aphrodisiac since the first century A.D.
- Avocado – The Aztecs called the tree the “testicle tree”.
- Basil – Is supposed to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility.
- Chocolate – contains PEA, a neurotransmitter that stimulates a feeling of love and connection.
- Fennel – a source of natural plant estrogen, fennel was used in the early Egyptian times as “libido enhancement”.
- Figs – An open fig is said to resemble the female sex organs and traditionally thought of as sexual stimulant.
- Garlic – is said to stir sexual desires.
- Mustard – is believed to stimulate the sex glands and increase desire.
- Pine Nuts – have been used to stimulate the libido as far back as Medieval times.
- Raspberries and Strawberries – are described in erotic literature as fruit nipples
- Vanilla – The scent and flavor is believed to increase lust.
Do you have any favorite aphrodisiac foods? Submit your recipes and a description of the aphrodisiac properties of the food here:
http://www.drritamarie.com/newsletter/contributions/
I’ll be choosing one to publish in this month’s newsletter, which will be sent on Thursday February 18.
Please comment below… what are your valentines day plans?
Happy Valentines Day!
Remember to download your Valentines Day Recipe Sampler HERE and have fun!
With Love, Roses and Raw Chocolate Kisses,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Add new tag, aphrodisiac, chocolate, gluten free holiday, holiday recipes, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods, Valentines day, whole foods
Posted in Articles, Gluten Free recipes, Raw and Living Foods Recipes | 9 Comments »
Holiday Health Gifts
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 24, 2009 – 7:09 am -
Christmas is just 2 days away and that’s the day I’m drawing the winners names for my big raffle. Will your name be amongst the winners?
Here’s the scoop. I’ll be giving away the following prizes:
1- An e-book of your choice (value up to $29.95)
2- Eat Your Way Out of Pain Home Study Course (Value $67)
3- Lifetime Membership in Dr. Ritamarie’s Green Cleanse Program (Value $97)
4- A 20 minute private consultation (Value $150)
5- A complimentary membership in my new “Balancing Nutrition Self Assessment Program” (Value $397)
As you can see, these are valuable prizes! And I’ll post the winners names(and website if you’d like) on the Monday after Christmas.
SO how do you enter the raffle?
There are 2 ways
1- Make any purchase between now and December 24th at midnight and you’ll be automatically entered into the raffle. Each separate purchase counts as a separate entry.
Use Coupon Code 15ebook and receive 15% off any item on this page:
http://drritamarie.com/EBookOrderForm.htm
2- Purchase a raffle ticket for only $7.
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/raffle
***I’ll donate 25% of all raffle ticket purchases to Safe Space, a local charity that protects battered women and children.
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/raffle
I wish you a peaceful, joyful and very healthy Holiday Season.
If you’re ready to create the best possible health in 2010, check this out
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/Health
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,Kwanzaa, Solstice, Yule or whatever you celebrate this time of year!
Love, Health and Gratitude,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: cleansing programs, detoxification programs, gluten free holiday, green smoothie, living foods, livingfoods
Posted in Articles, Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, Raw and Living Foods Recipes, living foods, raw foods | No Comments »
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 – 12:45 pm -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 – 12:12 pm -
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
Posted in Gluten Free recipes, Raw and Living Foods Recipes, healthy holiday | 1 Comment »
Healthy for the Holidays: Nourishing Foods for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years Celebrations
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 9, 2009 – 4:02 am -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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Gluten-Free Snack Recipe: Sour Cream and Onion Daikon Curls
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 20, 2009 – 12:34 pm -On Sunday I hosted a living foods potluck dinner. It was so much fun. I thought I’d share a recipe that was so good, it was gone before dinner even started. This recipe works well with macadamia nuts substituted for the cashews. I tried a variation with sweet potatoes and carrots when I ran out of daikon and it was delicious.
Daikon is a great choice this time of year because it’s such a powerful immune booster and mucous dissolver.
Sour Cream and Onion Daikon Curls
contributed by Gretchen Burk, Austin Texas
Equipment Needed: Dehydrator, Spiralizer or Vegetable Peeler and Blender
Ingredients
- 2-3 large daikon radishes
- 1 small or 1/2 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley
- 7-8 cloves garlic
- 1 whole green onions 4 inches of the greens from another green onion
- 3/4 cup cashews, soaked overnight and rinsed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Ume Plum Vinegar (Oshawa brand, available at most natural grocers)
- 3 1/2 tablesooons lemon juice
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon real salt or pink salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup water
Directions
- Put all ingredients except daikon and the extra green onion tops in blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Add extra water if needed.
- Pulse the extra green onion tops in to just break them up.
- Use the spiralizer on the ribbon setting to create long curls from the daikon.
- Add the onion sour “cream” mixture to the daikon to just coat. If you have extra, use it as a dip.
- Place the coated daikon on the mesh dehydrator trays and dehydrate for 12-24 hours to desired texture. They stay chewy.
Variation: use macadamia nuts instead of cashews. Substitute sweet potatoes or carrots for the daikon.
Gretchen Burk is a gifted healer and a whiz in the kitchen. I’ve personally sampled her body work sessions and her food, and I’m hooked. Gretchen’s practice as a healing arts professional includes Swedish, Sports and Deep Massage, Structural Bodywork, Shiatsu and energy healing, including Reiki and Jin Shin Jyutsu. Gretchen’s advanced body awareness and knowledge of anatomy & physiology significantly enhance her ability to help restore her clients’ health. I always feel great after a session with Gretchen. She can be reached at 512-971-4543
Tags: Gluten Free Diet, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods
Posted in Autoimmune, Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, Immune System Support, Raw and Living Foods Recipes, cleansing programs, raw foods | No Comments »
Protecting Yourself From the Flu: 5 Tips for a Strong and Healthy Immune System
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on October 20, 2009 – 2:00 pm -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
Posted in Healthy Smoothies, Raw and Living Foods Recipes, green smoothies, healthy holiday | No Comments »
Fats as Friends, Fats as Foe: The balancing act at the heart of overcoming chronic fatigue and adrenal exhaustion
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on September 22, 2009 – 1:05 pm -They’re in the news all the time. They are much maligned in many circles. Yet without then, life ceases to exist. We’re all caught up in the low fat craze. So what’s the truth about fats? Are they really the enemy or are they friends, so long as they stay in balance.
Tune in as I discuss this important matter.
FAts are also very important for hormone balance and mental health. Without then, you’re at risk for thyroid and adrenal fatigue, hormone deficiencies and depression.
Be sure to eat a good source of omega 3 fats daily, along with a wide variety of antioxidant rich fresh foods.
For delicious recipes using the omega 3 seeds, check out my new book, Power Breakfast Ideas and Dehydration Bliss, an online video course thta teaches how to make delicious breads, crackers and other treats using seeds, nuts and vegetables.
What’s your favorite way to get your daily omega 3’s? respond in the comment box below.
Love, health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
http://www.freshnfunliving.com
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, antiinflammatory diet, fatigue symptoms, Gluten Free Diet, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, whole foods
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Articles, Autoimmune, Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, Natural Hormone Support, Raw and Living Foods Recipes, fatigue treatment, omega 3 fats | 1 Comment »
Airport Fitness: A simple solution to Exercise on the Road
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on August 26, 2009 – 4:05 am -This is my blog post from August 20 which didn’t actually get posted at the time because the internet connection failed!
*******************************************************************************************************
I’m enroute from Austin to Fort Bragg California where I’ll be attending the Living Light Healthy Living Expo. We have an hour layover in LA. I bought a bottle of water to keep me hydrated , and since healthy food is hard to find at the LA airport, I decided to save my appetite for a delicious living foods experience at Cafe Gratitude when we arrive in San Francisco.
So, why not exercise? Here’s my new exercise routine, called backpack lunges. It’s a great leg workout and an awesome way to spend a layover!!!
Why waste time when you can be doing quick and easy health promoting activities. Stay tuned for how to eat healthy food while traveling by car!
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
www.FreshnFunLiving.com
Tags: exercise, fitness, livingfoods, lunges, raw foods, raw foods diet
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The Top 3 Mistakes Busy People Make When Doing Cleanses
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on August 20, 2009 – 1:50 pm -Periodic deep cleansing is a desirable thing. You probably do it to your home, your car, even your pets. But chances are, you don’t even think about doing a periodic cleansing of your internal organs.
Throughout the ages, various forms of cleansing have been used to rest, heal and restore mental clarity. Water and juice fasting are among the most rigorous methods. A variety of potions and powders have been developed to cleanse the colon and the liver. The Master Cleanse is one of the more popular cleansing programs of our modern time. Many of these cleansing methods work well. All have advantages and disadvantages. None works perfectly for everyone.
Benefits of cleansing:
- Give your digestive track a rest.
- Decrease the burden on your liver and gallbladder.
- Improve detoxification.
- Release extra weight, if necessary.
- Increase your energy, as less energy is spent on digestion.
- Reduce your cravings.
- Get you in control of your eating habits.
- Increase the nutrients that are readily available to your body.
- Get you back on track with eating habits if they have gotten out of control.
There are so many cleansing programs to choose from, that it can be overwhelming to even get started. Once you get started, it can be even harder to complete.
Here are the 3 most common mistakes that prevent even the most well-intentioned cleanser from completing the program.
Mistake #1: Doing the cleanse all alone.
If your friends are all drinking beer and eating pizza, it’s hard to be the odd one out who’s drinking weird potions and talking about their bowel movements.
It’s easy to feel discouraged and frustrated when no one else really understands what you’re doing or why you’re doing it.
All too often when you set out to do a cleanse on your own, you get overwhelmed part of the way through and just don’t finish. Or you’re invited to dinner or a birthday party, and you postpone it for a “more convenient time”.
The ideal way to do a cleanse is to get out of your own environment and go away to a spa or cleansing retreat, and just dedicate yourself to nothing but self care for a set period of time. But that’s not always practical or affordable.
SOLUTION: Find a mentor or join a cleansing support group, and do the cleanse with others who understand you and can support you through the process.
Mistake #2: Making it too complex
There are lots of different cleansing programs available. Just do a Google search and you’ll see just how many there are. The problem is, most of them are just too complicated and time consuming to do when you lead a busy life.
There are all sorts of unusual powders, potions and supplements to take at all different times of the day. Then there are the enemas, mud packs, and all the extra procedures you need to do too.
Don’t get me wrong, these procedures are highly effective, and the cleanses that include them do give great results. It’s just that your life is already too busy and complicated.
And when the process is too complex, you’re more likely to give up part of the way through, before you’ve fully reaped the benefits.
SOLUTION: Choose a cleansing program that’s quick and easy to do –one that saves you time rather that requiring more of it and that fits your schedule rather than you having to totally adjust yours.
Mistake #3: Feeling like you have to starve yourself to really be cleansing
It’s hard to focus at work when you’re blood sugar is low and you have no energy. Some cleanses are so restrictive, that you feel hungry all the time.
Water fasting is a great way to cleanse, but it’s hard to lead a busy life and focus on complicated work tasks when you haven’t eaten in days. Water fasting is best left for the “go away and cleanse” programs we talked about earlier, and really should be supervised because it can lead to electrolyte imbalances.
Juice cleanses can also leave you feeling hungry and light headed
all the time, and are hard for most people to do for more than a few days. Besides, the quantity of juice required takes a lot of time to make and clean up after.
It’s easy to give up when the cleansing process leaves you exhausted and hungry.
SOLUTION: If you need to work and maintain your busy life while cleansing, it’s important that you do a program that’s loaded with nutritionally dense, easy to digest, whole fresh foods, so that you feel energetic rather than hungry all the time.
The end of summer is a great time to do a cleanse. You’ve probably been indulging more than is best for you, especially during vacation and at all the picnics and parties you’ve been enjoying.
As a result of over 20 years of experimentation and trying just about every type of cleanse out there, from water fasting to potions, powders and enemas, I’ve made my choice about my favorite cleanse. It’s short (7 days), simple (requires only ingredients you can get at the grocery store), effective, and provides community support. But don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself at www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com I do it every couple f months and I so look forward to it.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
www.FreshnFunLiving.com
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, cleansing programs, detoxification programs, fatigue symptoms, gluten free, Gluten Free Diet, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods, raw foods recipes
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