Raw Food Recipe: Hot Mama Green Drink

The more recipes you know for green smoothies, the more your tastebuds will learn to crave variation and variety.  Eating a variety of greens means you benefit from the unique mineral combinations in each type of green.  This particular green smoothie recipe contains a mix of greens you’ll find readily available in most large supermarkets in pre-packaged containers, making it easy for anyone with little time for shopping or seeking out a farmer’s market.

The recipe here is an adaptation of one in my Green Smoothie Cleanse.

 

Raw Food Recipe: Hot Mama Green Drink

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Recipe type: Beverage

Author: Dr. Ritamaire Loscalzo

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 1-2

The lemon and spices completely neutralize the bitterness of the arugula and other greens. The result is a delicious, high energy pick me up drink to enjoy anytime, except perhaps at bedtime!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound baby arugula
• 1/2 pound spinach and spring mix blend
• 3 – 4 cups water
• 1 large piece fresh ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/4 teaspoon kelp powder

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in blender.
2. Blend until smooth. Thin with water if desired and blend again.

Notes:

Adapted from a recipe in my Green Cleanse Recipe Guide available at http://www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com

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Personalizing Your Health and Nutrition: What You Need to Know About Biochemical Individuality

- by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

When it comes to health and nutrition, why are there so many conflicting recommendations?

The answer?  Biochemical individuality.

How well do you understand your unique body chemistry and the choices that make the most sense for you?

I recorded this video earlier in the year.  In the video I describe biochemical individuality and how we all need to discover for ourselves what works best for us.

Click HERE to learn more about the Assess Your Own Body Chemistry program!

Nutritional Supplements: Do You Need them, or Can Your Nutrient Needs be Completely Supplied By Food?

That’s one of the questions we get most frequently here at Fresh ‘n Fun Living headquarters.

In an ideal world, you’d able to meet all of your nutrient needs by simply eating a balanced diet. Stress, pre-existing imbalances and genetic variations can result in increased nutrient needs while depleted soils, modern agricultural techniques and food processing lead to foods with decreased nutrient density.

In this episode, we will talk about the most important nutrients your body needs, how to determine whether you’re getting enough or too much, and what foods best supply these nutrients. We’ll discuss how to determine if you need supplementation, and if so, what types of supplements best supply what’s missing.

Do you have questions about vitamins and supplements? Email them to Tracey@DrRitamarie.com before the
show and we will answer them live on the air.

DATE: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
TIME: 10:30am pdt, 11:30am MDT, 12:30pm CT, 1:30pm EDT

Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dr-ritamarie

From Fat Tired and Depressed to Vibrant Holistic Health Counselor: Allison’s Story

Last month, we did a call for success stories to publish.  We’re looking for real life stories about real people who recovered from real illnesses, overcame weight problems or just plain improved their lives by using whole foods and lifestyle changes.  Allison’s success story should be an inspiation to all.  While not dramatic like recovery from cancer or a life threatening illness, Allisons story is a real story that you can relate to on a personal level.  My intention is to inspire and motivate you to reach for your potential and to take charge of your health and vitality.  We’re still looking for inspiring stories to publish.  See the link at the bottom of the article. –Dr. Ritamarie

Never in a million years did I think I would ever have a weight problem. I was always the short, scrawny little girl that no one wanted to pick for their team at school. When I graduated from high school many moons ago in 1974, I weighed an impressive 88 pounds. I had to get a waiver for my weight to join the Army!

My weight stayed fairly level all through my 20’s and 30’s. I bounced right back after my daughter was born in 1982. All of this changed when I had my right thyroid removed due to a cyst in 1997. My weight suddenly ballooned and I gained about 40 pounds which was a lot on my small 4’ 11 ½” frame. I was addicted to McDonald’s quarter pounders with cheese and sodas. I ate Payday candy bars like they were going out of style. Even though I had always eaten a lot of junk food such as butterscotch krimpets, chips and cookies everyday for lunch (something everyone teased me about) suddenly everything I ate went to my waist and I was devastated! I was fat, tired and depressed.

The day I tried to bed over and tie my shoes and couldn’t reach them was the day I finally realized that something had to change.

This started a journey of learning about nutrition, exercise and being kinder to myself. I decided my focus would be on workout Videos and DVD’s, and I’ve amassed quite a collection over the years! This helps beat the boredom, I always have something new to choose from at home. I can roll out of bed at 5am and workout before going to work.

I worked out consistently for about 5 years using a combination of weights, cardio and T-tapp and then hit a very frustrating 2 year plateau. It wasn’t until I read Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s, Eat to Live book and started eating a more nutrient dense diet that I finally started to lose again. Now instead of eating crappy fast food I eat a variety of plant based foods that include beans, nuts, seeds, leafy greens and fruits. Do I feel deprived? Not a chance! I’m enjoying what I eat now more than I ever had in the past. The butterscotch krimpets really don’t appeal to me now.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have a sweet tooth that I battle every day. But now I have the tools to fight the cravings I get. Sometimes the cravings win and sometimes they don’t and if they don’t I know not to beat myself up. I now know what to do to get back on track and feel happy and energetic!

I’ve read a lot of books on diet, nutrition and exercise and as a Dental Hygienist I love to share what I have learned with my patients. I felt uncomfortable just sharing what I considered anecdotal information with them and wanted some kind of certification to back up my recommendations. I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and graduated in July 2009. I am now proud to say that not only am I a Registered Dental Hygienist, but I’m a Certified Holistic Health Counselor with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners! I’m currently enrolled in IIN’s Immersion program.

My mom died of cancer when she was 55. She was obese for many of her adult years until the cancer treatments made her lose the weight. I am now 53, not many years off from her lifespan. That is very scary to me! I do not want to get older only die of some degenerative disease that could have been prevented. I am trying to do all I can to stay active and healthy and diet and exercise is a very big part of that plan and always will be.

I tell this story in hopes of inspiring others to get out there and do the same thing I have done. Also to point out that changes don’t happen overnight. I’ve been at this for 12 years and am still learning about nutrition and most importantly about myself. I don’t ever see myself changing this!

Have a story to share?  Inspire others with your health success story .  Go to

http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions

How Do YOU Protect Yourself From Cancer?

Cancer effects an alarming 42% of Americans, and that number is on the rise.  That’s a scary statistic, isn’t it?

Would you like to be another statistic, or would you rather  shift your odds in favor of cancer prevention rather than cancer promotion?

Diets high in red meat and low in green vegetables are associated with increased colon cancer risk. This according to the Journal of Carcinogenesis.

Green vegetables have been shown to have cancer protective effects when eaten regularly and in significant amounts.

In particular,  broccoli sprouts have been linked to protection from just about every kind of cancer known to modern science.  There are studies showing a protective effect in regards to stomach cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer.  Apparently they contain a compound called sulforaphane, which protects cells from injury.

Other greens in the brassica family are also cancer protective.  Cabbage has been shown to protect against breast cancer as a result of compounds called glucosinolates and an enzyme called myrosinase.

So what other benefits do greens have? Well, they are packed with nutrients, especially vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, zinc, folate, lutein, beta carotene, chlorophyll and protein.  Yes, protein.  Greens contain a large percentage of calories as protein.  For example, broccoli is over 50% protein.

Green vegetables are the food most missing from modern diets, even those considered among the healthiest.    The standard American diet is approximately 5% greens.  A healthy percentage is considered to be close to 50%, which is about what chimpanzees eat.

Green vegetables have many life giving properties.   In addition to cancer protection, greens strengthen the blood and immune systems, and fight depression naturally by supplying a plethora of nutrients needed to make neurotransmitters.

The fiber in raw greens help to keep the digestive tract moving, and many people report that greens are energy-giving foods, increasing mental clarity and sustaining energy.  Foods in the brassica family…broccoli, kale, mustard greens, cauliflower, and cabbage, have been shown to speed the liver’s ability to detoxify ingested toxins.

Do YOU eat enough greens?

Studies show that those who eat greens daily are overall healthier than those who don’t.

Would you like to learn creative and fun ways to include more greens in your daily diet?  I’ve teamed up with Chef Alicia Ojeda to bring you the most comprehensive class on greens available.

In this class we’ll teach you you many ways to include the greens in your diet, including salads, soups, dips, dressings, marinades, slaws, roll-ups, smoothies and desserts.  YES DESSERTS!  You CAN make delicious deserts that include greens!  We’ll give you he scoop on sea vegetables, the richest mineral source of all, and show you delicious and easy ways to prepare them.

http://www.drritamarie.com/GreenClass

(One of my favorite ways to eat greens is kale chips, which we’ll teach you in this class. ) The kale brownies are amazing, too!!!.

Here’s the details.

http://www.drritamarie.com/GreenClass

This class will be presented live and in person, with a hands on sprouting segment, and broadcast over the web as well.

I hope you can join us in person on June 14, but if you can’t, sign up for the webcast and recordings.

Special pricing applies until June 1, and you’ll get access to the recordings of the webcast if you attend the live class.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie