A Quick And Easy Raw Food Living Green Meal- A Great Boost for Adrenal Fatigue

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

Raw Foods Summer Recipes and Raw Vegan Wedding Food

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

Gluten-Free, Raw Foods Comfort Foods Using Your Food Dehydrator!

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

Raw Foods Diet for Raising Healthy Children

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

The Miracle of Aloe Vera for Digestion, Wound Healing,Your Immune System and So Much More

Aloe has always been one of my favorite plants. We keep them in the kitchen and the bathroom, ever ready for action – on burns, cuts and all sorts of wounds.  It can be used topically or inside your body.  It even combines well into raw and living foods recipes and can be used as part of a cleansing program.  One of my readers contributed this very informative article about aloe, that provides us with an understanding of how Aloe works it’s magic and all the ways we can be helped by this powerful plant!  Did you know that aloe can even help destroy tumors?

The Ancient Aloe Vera

by Melissa Giesbrecht

The ancient Aloe vera (A. barbadensis) plant with its spear-like, succulent leaves has made its way from native Africa, to your favorite health food store, and even your own home. There are more than 300 types of aloe, but it is Aloe vera that is used most commonly. The Liliaceae family in which Aloe belongs is also home to garlic, asparagus, and onion. What a powerful Family! Aloe has been traditionally used to help treat burns and other wounds, and as a purgative (constipation aid). Yet, over the years, more and more uses for aloe have been discovered. With more active research taking place, the list of incredible healing powers of this herb is sure to lengthen.

Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents who all work synergistically. These include anthraquinones, saccharides, vitamins, non-essential amino acids, essential amino acids, inorganic compounds, and enzymes. It is this powerful combination of molecules that allows the plant to repair itself if the skin becomes damaged. This is visible when you break off a piece of the leaf to use, the next day there is a seal and the plant is protected again.

The anthraquinones are part of the aloe latex, the bundle of sheath cells from its skin. These cells stimulate the walls of the digestive system to contract, essentially aiding in the relief of constipation. This practice should be guided by a health practitioner as it may cause severe cramping. Other plants (cascara and senna) from the same family as aloe are considered to be gentler laxatives. Some of the enzymes found in Aloe vera include carboxypeptidase and bradykininase. These enzymes, along with the amino acids tryptophane and phenylalanine, are involved in relief of pain and reduction of inflammation and swelling. The mineral zinc in the aloe gel also aids in the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant. The polysaccharides, especially glucomannan, in the gel are thought to greatly increase the health of the skin.

Aloe vera has been proclaimed as a strong preventative agent for ulcers and other digestive problems. A research article on the International Aloe Science Council’s website noted an interesting study whereby an individual was given aloe gel before an ulcer-inducing stressor. This group resulted in a 80% reduction in the number of ulcers compared to a control group that was given saline. If the aloe was given after the ulcer had formed, the participant healed three times faster than the control group.

The health benefits of Aloe extend to heart related diseases as well. A study on Albino rats that were fed a high cholesterol diet along with aloe polysaccharides had decreased total cholesterol levels, decreased phospholipids levels, and increased HDL (the “good”cholesterol) compared to the control group. According to a Natural News article, aloe can reverse blood that is clumpy and sludge-like in appearance. This would allow the blood to carry greater amounts of oxygen, reducing the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Cancer is a terrible disease that will affect 40% or more of us in our lifetime. There are many herbs and plants that contain anti-cancer compounds, including Aloe vera. Aloe’s effects are twofold; it builds up the immune system and destroys tumors. An experiment using mice with Sarcoma-180 tumors that were fed aloe exhibited reduced tumor growth. Another study using a molecule from aloe called Aloctin-A showed anti-tumor capabilities via increased immunity.

Burns, cuts, and wounds are commonly treated with aloe. Its antifungal and antibacterial capabilities make it Mother Nature’s band aid. The gel actually creates a physical barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the wound while simultaneously drawing blood to the needed area. This allows for faster healing.

These are just a few examples of the amazing capabilities of Aloe vera. New research is exploring aloe’s immune boosting abilities and how it can be used to treat HIV/AIDS, its anti-cancer molecules, and its ability to save soldiers who have lost extreme amounts of blood. I hope that you go pick up an aloe plant (or two) and start using it right away! Your body will thank you.

I add aloe to my smoothies, use it to keep my summer tan, and apply the gel directly to my face for firm, smooth skin. It really is an awesome herb to have available in your home. If you can’t find a plant, then head to your local health food store as they have 100% aloe vera gel to purchase.

About the Author:

Melissa Giesbrecht is a health fanatic from Vancouver, BC. She loves all aspects of health and tries to implement them into her life. She wants to take her knowledge to the next step and become an ND. She is a vegetarian who incorporates as much raw food into her diet as possible. She really wants to spread the word that being healthy can be fun, affordable, and truly rewarding. She writes about all these topics on her blog http://contagioushealth.blogspot.com.

References

Foster, Steven & Johnson, Rebecca L .(2006). Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine. Washington,D.C. : The National Geographic Society.

Hutchens, Alma R.(1973). Indian Herbology of North America. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications , Inc.

Duke, James A, ph.D. (1997). The Green Pharmacy. Emmaus, PA:Rodale Press