Eating for Hormone Health: New Hope for Hormone Imbalance
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on August 3, 2010 – -I’m excited to be doing a talk in New Jersey this week on Eating for Hormone Health.
Karen Ranzi, author of “Creating Healthy Children” is hosting me.
Here are the details.
If you live in the area, come on by.
Eating for Hormone Balance
The Secrets to Staying Young and Vibrant At Any Age
With Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, MS, DC, CCN, DACBN
How to Nourish Your Hormones and Keep Yourself Strong, Safe and Healthy Your Whole Life Through.
In this Inspirational talk, You’ll learn:
- Who all the members of your hormone family are and how you can keep them balanced and humming
- The role of your digestion,emotions and your environment in keeping your hormones balanced and safe.
- How balancing your hormone starting as early as in your 20’s leads to improved vitality and strength in your later decades — the untold secret to seeing more life ahead of you than behind you.
- The 5 foods you MUST eat and the 5 foods You MUST avoid for hormone health
- How stress effects your hormones —and techniques for protecting yourself from the dangers of being in fight-flight mode daily
- How nutrients effect hormone balance, and why synthetic nutrients can be dangerous
- The importance of sleep in protecting you from hormone-related cancers.
- How hormones are disrupted by the environment and essential secrets in protecting yourself.
In her fun and exuberant style, Dr. Ritamarie shares her passion for vibrant health and her secrets for creating for herself more strength and stamina in her 50’s than she experienced in her 20’s. There’ll be ample time for questions and answers.
For over 2 decades, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo has been a student and practitioner of natural health and whole fresh food diets as a path to wellness. Her success in recovering from chronic fatigue and lifestyle induced health challenges prompted
As a doctor of chiropractic certified in acupuncture, clinical nutrition and herbal medicine, Dr. Ritamarie empowers powerful transformation and vibrant health in busy people worldwide. Through her coaching programs, nutrition consultations and books, Dr. Ritamarie touches countless lives with her message of self-healing. Visit her website www.FreshnFunLiving.com for lots of resources, recipes and valuable information.
Thursday August 5, 2010 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Ramsey, New Jersey (201) 934-6778
Investment in your health: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
To register contact Karen at karen@superhealthychildren.com
Tags: biology, cell signaling, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, eat, eating, endocrinology, exuberant, Gluten Free Diet, health, hormone, hormone balance, Hormone Imbalance, hormones, karen ranzi, Living Foods, medicine, nature, new hope, nutrition, physiology, ritamarie loscalzo, secret, self care, signal transduction, vegan foods, vibrant, Vibrant Health, whole foods
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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 »
A Quick And Easy Raw Food Living Green Meal- A Great Boost for Adrenal Fatigue
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on July 4, 2010 – -I’m often asked, “How do I eat more greens? ” and told ” Raw foods recipes are so time consuming to prepare.” Take a look at my latest video and see just how easy it is to get a nutrient dense green raw living food recipe made in under 3 minutes…and with no cleanup!
What’s your favorite healthy fast food? comment below.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, chronic fatigue, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, fatigue, fatigue symptoms, Gluten Free Diet, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw food recipes, Raw Foods, Raw Foods classes, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, Vibrant Health, video, whole foods
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Gluten Free Diet, Raw and Living Foods | 5 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
Posted in Detox Program, Gluten Free Diet, Natural Hormone Support, Raw and Living Foods, Vegan Diet, Vibrant Health | No Comments »
Why 95% of all Health and Weight Loss Programs Fail and How You Can Succeed
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on June 25, 2010 – -It’s officially summer time. That means it’s time to have fun…swimming, picnics, vacations to exotic places, amusement parks…you get to choose. It’s not all that important WHAT you choose to do for fun, but THAT you choose to have fun.
No kidding. Fun is an important ingredient for hormone balance, good digestion, amazing energy and overall great health. It’s up there with broccoli and sprouts! And, it’s a lot more FUN! Besides, Fun is One of the key ingredients that all health and weight loss programs are missing.
Unfortunately, the first thing to fall by the wayside when you get busy is fun. “I don’t have time for that” you may tell yourself as you rush from one activity to the next, attempting to “get it all done”.
I’ve found FUN to be such an important ingredient for good health that I even named my website to include it. Fresh and Fun! These are the ingredients to vibrant health. Start with fresh food, fresh water, fresh air. Add fresh thoughts, fresh feelings, and fresh relationships. Stir well and top with a big dollop of fun.
Fun is best incorporated into everything you do, including food preparation and eating. Start with small doses…at least 5 minutes a day. You’ll find it so addicting, you’ll soon add more.
Do you know that regular FUN is a part of my secret formula for getting off the diet roller-coaster. As much fun as roller-coasters are at amusement parks, they are down right annoying when it comes to your health plan.
You know what I mean. You get frustrated with your body. Maybe you’re more tired than you think you should be, or have annoying –or even downright painful—symptoms, or your tummy is softer than you’d like or your thighs are larger than you you’re comfortable with.
Whatever the trigger, the action plan results in your resolve to a healthy diet and exercise plan to get you feeling good again. And you do feel better…at least for a little while. How long do these programs usually last? A month or two? Three at most?
What follows is usually a ride down the slippery slope until you feel bad enough to start again. Then up the hill you go once more, putting in hard work and deprivation, until you hit another high point and head back down again.
The problem with this approach is, just like the roller-coaster ride, you usually get off at the bottom. What if this time, you could exit the roller coaster at the top, and stay there…and continue to feel the exhilaration of being at the top…long term.
Would you like to know the shocking truth and missing link in every health and diet plan you’ve ever been on—every book, article, program and course you’ve ever followed —-and why you may have failed.?
The real truth is that YOU didn’t fail. They failed you.
You can have amazing success for many years – never having to look back..when you understand and apply the secret strategies that no one has ever told you about…until now.
Once I discovered the missing link, I began to share it with my patients and clients. And low and behold, those who embraced it and put it into practice had amazing success.
The same process that I had unknowingly followed myself allowed those I counseled to get truly life changing results.
When I was Back in my teens, I tried diet after diet ever in search of the one that allowed me to indulge in my favorite foods and maintain my slim figure. That quest lead me to yo-yo dieting, obsession with food and binging to the point of illness. While I was never more than 5 pounds overweight at any one time, I gained and lost over 100 pounds while I was on the roller-coaster.
What I discovered is that most plans focus on the ACTIONS you need to take without addressing the MINDSET you need to consistently follow through on the Actions.
If you’ve been struggling with inconsistent follow-through on your health and fitness goals… having setbacks and recoveries over and over again… you owe it to yourself to learn this system.
It’s my secret for going from a wine-guzzling junk food junkie in my twenties to the vibrantly healthy athlete I am today…with joy and ease. It’s what allows me to consistently choose foods that nourish me without even being tempted by those that don’t.
97% of health and weight loss programs Fail because they don’t start with the following steps:
- Clarifying Your Core Values – getting in touch with what really matters is the important first step towards consistent follow through in creating the vibrant health you desire.
- Connecting to Your Visions - stepping into a clear, detailed picture of who you’d like to become is a vital part of creating lasting health.
- Clarifying What You Love – falling in love with your vision allows you to create the environment for consistent joyful follow-through, resulting in ease and energy in your life.
- Setting Your Goals – breaking your big vision into manageable, measurable pieces will take you step by step towards comfort, fitness, energy and vitality.
- Building Your Toolkit – inspire and uplift yourself into the actions that keep you pointed in the direction of your goals.
- Learning to Negotiate Obstacles – simple techniques to maneuver around barriers between you and the goals you hold near and dear.
To get started on this process and apply it to whatever health or weight loss plan you’d like to follow, check out the recording of my FREE teleseminar: 6 Ultra Simple Fool Proof Strategies For Finally Achieving Your Health Goals: A Crash-Course on How to Get in Touch with What Really Matters on a Deep, Core Level and Live the Vibrant, Joyful and Fulfilled Life You Deserve.
http://drritamarie.com/signup/vhm
All health and diet programs need to include an element of fun or they are doomed to failure. So start today by finding something fun to do and do it. Then express gratitude for your gifts. That’s another secret ingredient to health and weight loss success.
Love, Health and Joy to You,
Dr. Ritamarie
www.vibranthealthmindset.com
Tags: core values, diet, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, gluten free, Gluten Free Diet, health, mindset, Vibrant Health, weight loss
Posted in Natural Hormone Support, Vegan Diet, Vibrant Health | No Comments »
Gluten-Free, Raw Foods Comfort Foods Using Your Food Dehydrator!
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on June 25, 2010 – -
By learning the ancient art of dehydration, which is, in essence, “low temperature baking”, you’ll be able to eat guilt-free breads, loaded with veggie goodness, and have them taste similar to your old favorites. Gluten free raw foods like pizza, enchiladas and tacos will become your favorite staple foods once you discover how easily you can make them at home.
Dr. Ritamarie and Chef Alicia have teamed up to bring you some great tips and tricks on using your dehydrator to create yummy breads, cracker and more!
About Chef Alicia:
Chef Alicia Ojeda is an amazing classically trained professional chef, who is passionate about gourmet vegan raw and living food cuisine.
Her culinary background includes both cooked and raw cuisine.
Listen to the replay: www.blogtalkradio.com/dr-ritamarie
Tags: comfort foods, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, gluten, gluten free, Gluten Free Diet, living foods recipes, livingfoods, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, whole foods
Posted in Gluten Free Diet | No Comments »
Raw Food Recipe: Gluten Free Diet Sandwich for Healthy Travel Meal
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on June 18, 2010 – -How do you travel and stick to a healthy diet high in raw and living foods, gluten free, without sugar and processed foods? Nomi Shannon, author of The Raw Gourmet and Dr. Ritamarie share secrets in this video.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite travel food?
Love, health and Joy to you,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, Gluten Free Diet, green smoothie, healthy travel, Living Foods, raw and living foods, Raw Foods, raw foods travel, travel foods, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Gluten Free Diet, Raw and Living Foods | No Comments »
Raw Foods Diet for Raising Healthy Children
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on June 17, 2010 – -Karen Ranzi, author of the groundbreaking new book, Raising Healthy Children through Attachment Parenting and Living Foods, will be joining us on A teleclass Raising Healthy Children to share insights and answer your questions about raising Healthy Children.
Watch Karen on Paul Nison’s Health Show.
Join us on for raising Healthy Children, a FREE teleclass.
www.drritamarie.com/signup/karenranzi
Tags: children's health, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, karen ranzi, livingfoods, nutrition education, raising healthy children, raw and living foods, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Raw and Living Foods, Vegan Diet | No Comments »
Healing Cancer with Diet, Determination and Exercise
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on May 31, 2010 – -
In 1982, at the age of 47, Ruth Heidrich got the shock of her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she considered herself healthy and fit. After all, she ran marathons and ate what was considered a healthy diet. After a modified radical mastectomy to remove the tumor, she was told by not 1 but 5 different doctors that her tumor was life threatening and there was nothing they knew to do to strengthen her immune system. As she would later discover, the cancer had spread to her bones and one lung.
Fortunately for Heidrich, she was an avid reader and researcher, and found that Dr. John McDougall was doing a study on the effects of diet on breast cancer. She paid him a visit, and was told “If you want to save your life, change your diet.” On the spot, she decided she’d rather change her diet than undergo chemotherapy and radiation, joined Dr. McDougall’s study and adopted a vegan, low-fat diet.
She states “In two hours I went directly from the Standard American Diet (SAD) to a low-fat, whole food vegan diet.”
In an interview with Vegetarians in Paradise, Heidrich said, “I’m convinced that a vegan diet saved my life. By the time the breast cancer was diagnosed, it had become advanced and spread to my bones and left lung. I’d had the surgery to remove the primary tumor, so I was depending on my immune system to handle the remaining cancer. My diet of 100% whole plant foods allowed my immune system to function more efficiently.
Fortunately for her, Heidrich didn’t believe her oncologist and all the other doctors she consulted when they told her that diet had nothing to do with cancer. Shortly after starting on the vegan diet, Heidrich began training for the Ironman Triathlon, determined to be the first cancer patient to complete it.
After 18 years as a cooked vegan, Heidrich decided to see if there were additional benefits to being a raw vegan. She’d heard lectures that cooking food denatured protein and destroyed vitamins, so she gave it a 30-day trial, but forgot and didn’t notice when the 30 days were up. She told Vegetarians in Paradise that she has never been tempted to go back to cooking.
Her current diet is all raw except for condiments such as salsa and mustard, popcorn for the “munchies,” and an occasional non raw meal as a special occasion when she’s invited over to a friend’s home or a restaurant.
After her surgery, Heidrich entered every race she could find. Her fitness improved dramatically on the new diet. She was winning gold medals. Since her cancer diagnosis, Heidrich has completed 6 iron man triathlons, 67 marathons and won close to 1,000 first place medals. Her record so far is 62 races in one year.
Here’s a typical day in the life of Ruth Heinrich: “ A typical day starts with an hour on the bike, an hour’s run, and alternating between either a mile swim or a weight training session. Then breakfast consists of a large bowl filled with greens, a carrot, celery, a banana, a mango, nutritional yeast with B-12, and a little blackstrap molasses. Midday snacks consist of carrots, apples, and other fruit in season. Supper is more greens, carrot, tomato, bell pepper, cabbage, other vegetables in season, and salsa/mustard/ground flaxseed dressing. Dessert consists of blueberries, strawberries, and walnuts for my omega 3 fatty acids.”
Had Ruth Heidrich followed conventional medical approaches to her cancer when she was diagnosed almost 30 years ago, she would most likely no longer be with us. Instead, she decided to look for alternatives, change her diet and increase her fitness level. Her outcome is that 28 years late, she’s fitter and healthier than ever, and cancer free. At 75 years old her latest endeavor is a run around the world trip. A video of her stops is at http://lanternbooks.com/blog/entry.php?id=869
Tags: Cancer, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, Fitness, Gluten Free Diet, immune system, Living Foods, raw and living foods, Raw Foods, Ruth Heidrich, Success Stories, vegan
Posted in Cancer Nutrition, Raw and Living Foods, Vegan Diet, Vibrant Health | 1 Comment »
Gluten-Free Diet for Immune and Hormone Health
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on April 22, 2010 – -
Overcoming Adrenal fatigue, thyroid and Autoimmune challenges can be challenging. It’s becoming an increasingly well-known fact that these common health issues are related to one particular food. There are more and more products popping up on the grocery shelves with a new label: Gluten-free!
What does it mean for you?
Let’s start with a short history on what gluten is.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt and kamut, and it’s questionable about oats. It’s in grains, but not all grains. There are non-gluten grains.
It’s a very gluey substance, which I guess is where the name “gluten” came from. When you eat things that contain gluten, it causes kind of a glue-like mass to form in your intestinal tract. That’s one of the many good reasons to stop eating it.
When you eat the gluten in these grains, it can cause health problems. Digestive disorders, depression, migraines, ADHD, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, balance problems, epilepsy, inability to concentrate, autoimmune thyroid disease, and dermatitis are amongst the many disorders that have now been linked to gluten intolerance.
It’s kind of scary that one small protein can wreak so much havoc. Gluten works its mischief in several ways.
One is by triggering autoimmune responses, another is by causing malabsorption of nutrients, and the third is through activation of opioid receptors in the brain.
Opiates in Gluten
You know that “once I start I can’t stop” feeling that many people have about bread and other baked goods? That feeling is actually similar to cocaine addiction. And it’s caused by gluten. Some of the peptides that result from the digestion of gluten are powerful opiate-like compounds, known as gluteomorphines.
One of the complaints I hear when people embark upon a gluten free diet is that the cravings are so intense.
This can be explained by the reaction of the opioid receptors to sudden withdrawal of the opioids. Now left unbound they are starving for more, similar to the mechanism found in drug, alcohol and nicotine withdrawal, and cravings result.
Gluten Effects on Your Immune System
Gluten is a problem if you have sensitivity to it in that it causes an immune system reaction.Immune system reactions to gluten are very widespread, and much more common than you may think.
Your immune system is your body’s protective force. It’s an army that protects you from invaders. It perceives gluten as an invader and mounts an incredible attack, so it can take the protein that’s in the gluten and demolish it as if it were a bacteria or microbe that’s going to harm you. In the process of doing that, it creates inflammation. The inflammation is what causes the immune system reaction that gluten is known for. Gluten causes wide-spread inflammation throughout your body.
A little bit of knowledge about how the immune system works really helps in understanding how this gluten problem affects you.
Bacteria are made of proteins. Foods have protein in them. The proteins have little amino acids that run throughout them. What the immune system does is create antibodies that attack the protein on either end.
It’s like a lock and a key. You may have a whole set of keys, but you can only get one key to open a particular door. You can try them but if they don’t look exactly alike, they won’t go in that keyhole. The immune system creates these little antibodies that are very specific for specific proteins. Unfortunately, they’re not as specific as our keys.
If there is a similarity between the gluten protein that the antibody is attacking and some of the proteins in your thyroid gland, the antibody created to attack the gluten then attacks your thyroid gland. That causes the thyroid to become swollen and inflamed. It can’t produce thyroid hormones, which in turn affects your metabolism. That causes all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
That’s what’s happening in your body when you’re eating gluten and you’re sensitive to it. It creates an army in your immune system that attacks and gets rid of the gluten.
The process of attacking and getting rid of the gluten creates inflammation. It can create problems in your digestion. Then it can create inflammation in various parts of your body that cause malfunction.
Gluten Effects on Your Digestive System
Gluten can cause inflammation in your digestive tract. This resuts in a condition known as celiac disease. Celiac disease is a well-known medical condition that you’ll find in all the medical pathology books. It’s a sensitivity to gluten that results in damage to the cilia in the small intestine.
The cilia are little, finger-like projections in the small intestine that facilitate our absorption. When they get damaged, it causes a flattening. Imagine your small intestine as a tube with finger-like projections. The projections are almost like the little, protective hairs in your nose. They allow the foods that are fully digested to pass between them.
What happens in celiac disease is the cilia get completely flattened. Imagine a steamroller that goes down the road and flattens things out. Imagine it going through your intestine and flattening out all the cilia.
It wreaks havoc in your intestinal tract. It prevents you from absorbing the nutrients in the foods you eat, leading to symptoms of nutrient deficiencies. It causes symptoms like gas, bloating and diarrhea. It can give you that “I just
ate and now I have to go to the bathroom!” feeling. A fair number of people experience that.
If you have a gluten intolerance,in addition to creating damage to the cilia in the small intestine, it’s also likely creating inflammation that can damage in other parts of your body, too.
Getting Off the Gluten Wagon With Living Foods
Because of the addictive nature of gluten, it can be uncomfortable to withdraw form gluten. The cravings can become intense, but the physical intensity of the withdrawal symptoms rarely lasts more than a few days. The negative effects of gluten on your health last much longer and are much worse.
What’s the best way to start in removing gluten? It’s tough to go off gluten hard-core. So I recommend baby steps. Start with breakfast. Because so many start their day with toast, cereal, muffins, etc. it’s a great place to begin. My Power Breakfast Ideas book contains some delicious ways to start your day. Strive for no gluten before noon.
Learn to dehydrate crackers and breads. Or, you can purchase delicious dehydrated breads and crackers online and at some health food stores. Another option is to buy baked gluten-free breads and crackers; however, it’s important to read the labels. They tend to have a high glycemic index, meaning that they cause a rapid spike in blood sugars, usually followed by a rapid decline. They also frequently contain undesirable ingredients like sugar, eggs, dairy and processed oils. You can also make sandwiches with lettuce wraps or jicama slices instead of bread.
Replace pastas with gluten-free pasta or kelp noodles. I have some great recipes on the blog for using kelp noodles. You can also get a Saladacco Spiral Slicer and make your own pasta noodles out of zucchini. Even a simple potato peeler makes long thin slices. I found a potato peeler that’s dual sides. One side is traditional and the other shreds, and makes wonderful spaghetti-like zucchini or cucumber strands.
There are many wonderful raw and living foods options for replacing gluten in your diet. They taste better…and you’ll feel better.
Learn as much as you can about gluten. Listen to my blog talk radio show on Gluten Intolerance. Read gluten-free articles and gluten free recipe books. Get your FREE gluten-free diet survival kit at http://www.drritamarie.com/glutenfree/ containing gluten-free recipes, resource lists, and audios.
Your health is in your hands. Overcoming chronic fatigue, adrenal exhaustion, immune system disorders, digestive problems all start with going gluten-free. Start today. You have so many gluten free diet resources available to you.
Tags: autoimmune disease, celiac, celiac disease, Celiac's Disease, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, gluten, gluten free, Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, kelp noodles, Living Foods, Raw Foods, raw foods recipes, wheat, wheat grass juice
Posted in Gluten Free Diet, Holistic Nutrition, Raw and Living Foods | 1 Comment »
