Healthy Halloween Treats for Kids: How to Avoid the Frightening Health Costs of Candy

- by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Whenever the ghosts and goblins walk the streets On October 31st, carrying their special Halloween treat bags, what they carry in those bags is far more scary than they realize, for it has the potential to rob them of their most precious gift–their health.

Americans spend close to two billion dollars every year on Halloween candy!

That’s $2,000,000,000!

That’s how much it would cost to send 20,000 students to a decent college for 4 years, or to feed 303,030 kids in Ghana, Africa for a year.

How many hurricane or earthquake victims can be assisted with $2 billion?

The Frightening and Hidden Costs of Halloween

The dentist bills, doctor bills, lost productivity and distress that ensues as a result of gorging on candy every October 31st add up to millions.

The cost of Halloween on our health and the health of our kids is staggering. Since 1980, obesity rates in children have tripled. Today, 13 million children are obese . The amount of sugar consumed at Halloween and throughout the year contributes not only to obesity but to serious debilitating diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Annual obesity-related medical costs are estimated to be $168 billion.

The ingredients in typical Halloween confections are scarier than the costumes. In addition to sugar and health-damaging oils, they are filled with artificial colors and preservatives. And, according to Pure Fun Candy, producers of an organic line of cane juice sweetened candy colored with vegetable and fruit extracts, the FDA doesn’t monitor artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives or even require that they be tested.

Research published in the Lancet, one of the most respected medical journals, concludes that food additives affect brain chemistry in children, resulting in hyperactivity and ADHD-like behavior.

Lancet 2007, Nov 3:370 (9598) 1560-7 “Food Additives & Hyperactive Behavior in 3 Year Old and 8/9 Year Old Children in the Community: a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo Controlled Trial.” McCann D, Barrett A, Cooper A, Crumpler D, Dalen L, Grimshaw K, Kitchin E, Lok K, Porteous L, Prince E, Sonuga-Barke E, Warner JO, Stevenson J. School of Psychology, Dept. of Child Health, University of Southampton, UK. 300 Children Studied.

This research prompted Wal-Mart in the UK to ban these additives in children’s foods. Yet American kids continue to consume them in record amounts, especially at Halloween.

Safe Strategies for Happy and Healthy Kids at Halloween

Here are some suggestions, taken in part from Healthy Halloween Treats:

1. Pull your spending power away from the $2 billion spent on candy. Hand out trinkets like pencils and pads, party favor toys, boxes of raisins, or quarters. If you feel you MUST give candy, try some of the Pure Fun Candy organic products. There’s a 3 page list of healthy alternatives in the book Healthy Halloween Treats.
2. Make your own Healthy Halloween Treats, using fresh,whole, raw organic ingredients and natural sweeteners like date paste and dried fruit powders.
3. Swap the candy your kids collect for trinkets, money, or toys. The book Healthy Halloween Treats has pages of suggestions for new Halloween rituals that the kids find fun.
4. Teach your kids to Trick or Treat for Unicef, or another charity of your choice. It will teach them the magic of giving.

Shifting attention away from the candy, and into the true meaning of the holiday is a great way to get your kids involved. In my Healthy Halloween Treats book, I share some of the activities and stories my kids and I have shared.

They are now 13 and 17, and so they won’t be trick or treating this year. The gift I gave them by not participating in the candy madness and teaching them the value of good nutrition has resulted in two very strong, bright and healthy teenagers who’ll be spared the ravages of health destruction caused by sugar and processed food addiction.

As I observe the physiques of other kids their age, the belly fat and brain fog that results from over reliance on processed sugary foods is apparent.

Enjoy a Healthy Halloween, and keep your kids safe from the scariest part of Halloween – the candy!

Love, Health and Happy Halloween

Dr. Ritamarie

Halloween – The True Cost and Ways to Make it Healthy and Fun

The ghosts and goblins will be walking the streets today, carrying their special Halloween treat bags.  What they carry in those bags is far more scary than they, for it has the potential to rob them of their most precious gift…their health.

Americans spend close to two billion dollars every year on Halloween candy!   That’s $2,000,000,000!!!  That’s how much it would cost to send 20,000 students to a decent college for 4 years, or to feed 303,030 kids in Ghana, Africa for a year.  How many hurricane or earthquake victims can be assisted with $2 billion?   What about the hidden costs of Halloween?  The dentist bills, doctor bills, lost productivity and distress that ensues as a result of gorging on candy every October 31st  add up to millions.

The cost of Halloween on our health and the health of our kids is staggering. Since 1980, obesity rates in children have tripled. Today, 13 million children are obese .  The amount of sugar consumed at halloween and throughout the year contributes not only to obesity but to serious debilitating disease, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Annual obesity-related medical costs are estimated to be $168 billion.

The ingredients in typical Halloween confections are scarier that the costumes.  In addition to sugar and health damaging oils, they are filled with artificial colors and preservatives.  And, according to Pure Fun Candy,  producers of an organic line of cane juice sweetened candy colored with vegetable and fruit extracts, the FDA doesn’t monitor artificial colors, flavors and preservatives or even require that they be tested. Yet  research published in the Lancet, one of the most respected medical journals,  concludes that food additives affect  brain chemistry in children, resulting in hyperactivity and ADHD like behavior. Lancet 2007, Nov 3:370(9598)1560-7 “Food Additives & Hyperactive Behavior in 3 Year Old and 8/9 Year Old Children in the Community: a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo Controlled Trial.” McCann D, Barrett A, Cooper A, Crumpler D, Dalen L, Grimshaw K, Kitchin E, Lok K, Porteous L, Prince E, Sonuga-Barke E, Warner JO, Stevenson J. School of Psychology, Dept. of Child Health, University of Southampton, UK.  300 Children Studied.

This research prompted Wal-Mart in the UK to ban these additives in children’s foods. Yet American kids continue to consume them in record amounts, especially at Halloween.

So what’s your plan for keeping yourself and your family safe this Halloween?  Here are some suggestions, taken in part from Healthy Halloween Treats

1- Pull your spending power away from the $2 billion spent on candy.  Hand out trinkets like pencils and pads, party favor toys, boxes of raisins or quarters.  If you feel you MUST give candy, try some of the  Pure Fun Candy organic products.  There’s a 3 page list of healthy alternatives in the book  Healthy Halloween Treats.

2- Make your own Healthy Halloween Treats, using fresh,whole, raw organic ingredients and natural sweeteners like date paste and dried fruit powders.

3- Swap the candy your kids collect for trinkets, money or toys.  The book Healthy Halloween Treats has pages of suggestions for new Halloween rituals that the kids find fun.

4- Teach your kids to Trick or Treat for Unicef, or another charity of your choice.  It will teach them the magic of giving.

I’m off to make some caramel coated apples and chocolate covered strawberries for my kids.

Enjoy a  Healthy Halloween safe from the scariest part of Halloween – the candy!

Love, Health and Happy Halloween

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Post below  in the comments area one thing you plan to do to make Halloween safer and healthier for you and your family.

Peppermint Patties Go Raw: Gluten Free Raw Food Recipe for Superfood Candy Made with Hemp Seeds and Green Powder

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:

1. Process the filling in food processor until almost smooth.
2. 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.
3. Freeze the filling for at least half an hour.
4. Stir all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl or blend in blender.
5. Pop the filling from the molds or cut into desired sizes.
6. Dip the filling pieces into the chocolate sauce (you may need to re-soften it unless you made it right before dipping.)
7. 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

http://www.drritamarie.com

http://www.GreenFoodMagic.com

Halloween Hazards and Healthy Halloween Treats

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

Protecting Yourself From the Flu: 5 Tips for a Strong and Healthy Immune System

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