Day 14 of the 30 Day Fun and Sleep Challenge: Exercise, Vitamin D and Antidotes for Chronic Fatigue

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on March 15, 2010 – 10:05 am -

What do chronic fatigue, belly fat, depression and hormone imbalance have in common?

Exercise, sleep, fresh air, sunshine (vitamin D) and fresh foods.  A deficiency of any or all of these can create imbalances in hormones and  blood sugar irregularities that lead to persistent belly fat, fatigue and depression.  So what do these have to do with the 30 day fun and sleep challenges?  Plenty!  Most people I talk with feel fatigued much of the time and would like more energy.

Lack of sleep is only part of the equation, but it can make you fat.  Researchers have found that lack of sleep can cause decreased leptin levels.  Leptin is a hormone that regulates your appetite. As a result of not getting enough sleep, you’ll find yourself more hungry and you’ll find it challenging to control the amount you eat.  This leads to blood sugar imbalances, insulin resistance and increased belly fat.  Insulin resistance results in fatigue after eating, rather than  increased energy, which means you’re less likely to exercise.  It’s quite the vicious circle.

While I have not been as good as I had planned at writing these blog posts daily, I am pleased to admit that the reason why I haven’t had the time to write the blog posts daily is that I have been fulfilling my commitment to get to bed as close to midnight as possible.  Thus, I am sleeping more.  As a result of sleeping more, I’ve also been exercising more.  A double win!  There have only been a couple of later than midnight bedtimes, and that was because I chose to sit in the sauna before bed.

If my lack of posting has in any way effected your commitment to the 30 Day Fun and Sleep Challenge, my apologies.  I am committed to resuming writing daily, and have it scheduled in my calendar.

Our weather in Austin has finally become warm and sunny!  I’m very happy about that.  The mornings have still been cool…40’s, but the afternoons are in the 70’s and 80’s.  So I have been out for a run in the sun most days this week.  It feels great.

I am usually very consistent with exercise…as consistent as I am with food.  When the weather got so cold and cloudy for so long, I got out of the habit of running first thing in the morning, and some days, time and obligations got away from me and I found my exercise dwindling.

In addition to getting your daily dose of vitamin D on sunny days, exercising in the fresh air offers so many benefits. Exercise is super important for hormone balance, weight management, increasing your energy and overcoming fatigue.  It’s also good for your heart, your mood and your immune system.  Fresh air and exercise are a dynamic duo, so get outside and move as much as you can.

My blog post back in the fall about exercise and burst training is a good one to review for some tips.

My report card for the last few days:

1- getting to sleep at or around midnight:  Excellent

2- exercise:  excellent

3- writing my blog posts:  fair

4- Having fun – good.  I’ve spent a lot of time with family and have had some friend fun too.

My commitments for Monday:

1- bed by midnight.

2- finish writing a few projects that are close to completion

3- fun time with kids, who are off school for spring break

4- running in the sun

Commitment for at least one day this week:  Get to bed by 10 PM and see if it is really as good as it’s cracked up to be!

What about you?  What are you committed to?

Post below in the comments section.

This week we’re having a contest.  I’m offering a prize to whoever posts the most this week…genuine commitments and report cards.  I’ll post the prize on Tuesday.

Wishing you lots of Love, Health and Joy (and sleep, too)

Dr. Ritamarie

Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, chronic fatigue, depression, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, exercise, exhaustion, fatigue, fatigue symptoms, living foods, livingfoods, raw foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, sunshine, vitamin D
Posted in Articles, fatigue treatment, fitness, vitamin D | No Comments »

The Sweet Side of the Agave Controversy

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on February 24, 2010 – 5:59 am -

My article The Bitter truth about Sweeteners explores the topic of sweeteners, their safety, danger and a users guide to selecting them.  I reprinted an article slamming Agave nectar in a previous post.  Here’s the other end of the debate: This is excerpted from an article on the Altered Plates Blog, in response to an article that appeared on Natural Health News . It is reproduced here as part of an expose on agave. Read and think about it.  The decision is yours.

By Craig Gerbore, President of Madhava

Mr. Nagel’s article is based on the view of a sole individual, Russ Bianchi. I suppose we should thank Mr. Bianchi for pointing out some issues that may have contributed to Iidea’s (the initial manufacturer of blue agave nectar) demise from the market, however I want to be clear, this is not about Madhava or our agave nectar. Once a dominant supplier, as of this past summer Iidea is no longer a major supplier in the agave syrup business. The distributors using them as a supplier have quietly switched to newly formed blue agave companies for their supply.

Madhava has always worked exclusively with Nekutli, the producer of agave nectar from the agave salmiana, a very different species of the agave. However, there is no mention of our agave nectar from salmiana in the article, nor of the differences in the plant, the collection and production of our product. So, the author has blurred the line with his all encompassing attack on blue agave nectar, by his failure to present complete information on the subject of agave nectars. For what purpose was this article written? If it were to educate the public, I think it would include all the information available.

With the errors and misstatements and half-truths, I don’t think this article is about education, it is an all out shotgun attack. I believe Mr. Bianchi, presented as the sole authority on agave nectar, was initially introduced to Iidea’s blue agave syrup product on their entry to the market in the late 90’s. At that time, Iidea was promoting a 90% fructose agave syrup. This is what I believe Mr. Bianchi is referring to. Unfortunately, he ignores the fact that this is not the agave sold on the market today, nor is it representative of Madhava’s product. In fact Mr. Bianchi has never even acknowledged the existence of our agave nectar from the salmiana variety. So, all his comments are apparently based on his experience with Iidea’s product, but I find ourselves caught in the blast. In their zestful attack against the blue agave syrup he was introduced to initially, Mr.’s Bianchi and Nagel have also made inaccurate comments which reflect on agave nectar generally.

As such, I take issue with several of their statements and claims and want to clarify some things as regards Madhava’s Agave Nectar from agave salmiana. Their discussion of the processing of agave nectar is in no way reflective of how Madhava’s agave nectar is produced. There are three ways to convert complex sugars into a simple sugar sweetener such as agave syrup. It can be done thermally, chemically, or enzymatically as ours is.

There are no chemicals whatsoever involved in the production of Madhava’s agave nectar from agave salmiana, nor is it cooked. Our agave is subject only to low temperatures during the evaporation of excess water from the juice. The author states “The principal constituent of the agave is starch, such as what is found in corn or rice.” This statement, which is the foundation of much of their argument comparing agave nectar to corn syrup, has no basis in scientific fact, THERE IS NO STARCH IN THE AGAVE.

How can the author and his source be so mistaken on this statement on which he bases his attack? All plants store energy in one of two ways, as starches or fructans. All agave plants create fructans as their energy storing means. So, agave plants have fructans, not starch. From Wikipedia: Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants. They belong to a class of fibers know as fructans. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and it typically found in roots or rhizomes. Most plants which synthesize and store inulin do not store other materials such as starch.

There is no starch in either species of agave, and agave nectar is not from starch as the author and Mr. Bianchi claim. They have tried very hard to propagandize the public with a false fact, either by design, or ignorance, for which there would be no excuse. Such an error of fact certainly casts doubt on the validity of the rest of Nagel’s article, as the lack of depth of his research has to be apparent to all. Really, he is just regurgitating the singular views of Mr. Bianchi. I personally spoke with the author during his “research”, as did at least one other in the industry.

He chose not to include one word of the information given to him by us, which I will repeat below, and failed to make any distinction between Madhava’s Nekutli agave nectar from salmiana and that from the blue agave plant. He only mentions blue agave. The plants differ, the locations differ, the methods and production differ greatly. The information we gave him did not fit his purpose and so was omitted in favor of a generalized attack. Madhava’s source is exclusively agave salmiana. If you haven’t already reviewed our site at www.madhavasagave.com , you will find background information there. Briefly though, the native people supplying the juice collect it from the live plant, by hand, twice daily. There is no heat involved in the removal. The juice is immediately brought to the facility to remove the excess water as it will ferment rapidly if left standing.

It is during the removal of the moisture that the only heat is applied. The juice is evaporated and moisture removed in a vacuum evaporator. The vacuum enables the moisture to be withdrawn at low temperatures. The temp is closely controlled. Subsequently, our agave is handled and packaged at room temperatures. No other heat is applied. And, rather than convert the complex sugars of the juice thermally, we use gentle enzymatic action. Just as a bee introduces an enzyme to flower nectar to make honey, we introduce an natural organic vegan enzyme for the same purpose.

The technical term for the conversion of complex sugars into their simple sugar components is hydrolysis. Inulin is a fructan which is hydrolyzed into the simple sugars composing agave nectar, fructose and glucose. Honey is composed of the same simple sugars.

The blue agave plant is harvested and the blue agave nectar is produced by a completely different method. I will have to leave it to the blue agave nectar sellers to comment on the production themselves. While I know of it, I have not witnessed it as I have Nekutli’s. Unlike the author, I won’t comment publicly on something I cannot verify.

To clarify further on another claim, “Agave Nectar as a final product is mostly chemically refined fructose”. As regards Madhava’s agave nectar, there are no chemicals involved in our production whatsoever. The sugars in our agave nectar come from the breakdown of the inulin molecule through the introduction of the enzyme to break apart that molecule. It is in no way chemically refined, there are no chemicals involved in any part of the production or packaging process.

Our agave nectar is refined only in as much as the excess moisture is removed from the juice of the plant.

“HFCS is made with GM enzymes”. Bianchi’s states “they (agave and corn syrup) are indeed made the same way” This is another false assertion as regards Madhava’s agave nectar at least. Our agave nectar is certainly and clearly not made the same way as corn syrup. There is no starch in our agave. There are no chemicals, no refinement beyond the evaporation of water. And, there are no GMO’s whatsoever. The agave salmiana has never been subject to this and the enzyme is a natural, non GM organic, vegan enzyme.

Other points regarding fructose apply to sugars in general and are a consumption, or overconsumption issue. Certainly consuming large amounts of sweeteners of any kind will be detrimental to one’s health. Suggesting fructose could cause health issues when concentrated amounts are eaten is a statement which should really apply to the overconsumption issue. The information the author links to agave nectar is the result of megadose testing of pure clinical fructose. Not the same thing as normal daily use of agave nectar in the course of our meals. The antisweetener advocates just have to admit that it is the overconsumption of sugars that is the problem. Used in moderation, sugars serve a purpose, to make other foods and beverages more palatable. Imagine a world without sweeteners if you can. Affinity for sweet taste is a human trait that most want to satisfy.

For those who use sweeteners, there are limited choices available and many choose agave for its particular attributes. It is a good choice. Madhava Agave’s neutral flavor suits the purpose. It is in fact low glycemic, organically certified and non allergenic. Many with diabetes and other special diets find it suitable for their use where other sweeteners are not. It’s easy to use and you can use less. And, we guarantee the purity of our product.

Tags: Agave, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, fructose, living foods, livingfoods, madhava, raw foods, raw foods diet
Posted in Articles, raw foods | 1 Comment »

Leaky Gut and Candida: Get Your Tract Back on Track!

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on January 13, 2010 – 8:49 pm -

Abdominal pain, bloating,constipation, eczema, allergies…all these and more are symptoms of leaky gut and candida. It sounds kind of scary, doesn’t it?  Can I leave the house with a leaky gut?  Is it messy?  What’s actually leaking and where does it leak to?

Leaky gut is a very common condition of the small intestine. A leaky gut has been damaged and thus allows larger food molecules and toxins to readily enter the blood stream.

Rest assured, while leaky gut can have some very serious health complications, it’s generally not life threatening….at least not in the short term.  And nothing is leaking out of you, so no one can tell that you have it unless you tell them.  What’s leaking is the some of the contents of the small intestine, and where it’s leaking into is the blood stream.

These symptoms are, not surprisingly, very similar to the symptoms of candida overgrowth.  And, the symptoms are not confined to the gut!

Treatment for leaky gut and candida are very similar since both are caused by an overload of toxins that your body just doesn’t have the resources to get rid of.

Tune in today, Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 12:30pm CST to my radio show, Creating a Vibrant Life as I discuss leaky gut and candida. There will be a Q&A session so come prepared with questions!

www.blogtalkradio.com/dr-ritamarie

Tags: cleansing programs, detoxification programs, Gluten Free Diet, green smoothie, immune system, Leaky Gut, living foods, livingfoods, raw foods, raw foods detox, raw foods diet
Posted in Leaky Gut | No Comments »

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

1. Shred daikon and broccoli stems and place in a large bowl.
2. Shred or thinly slice the onion and add to bowl with the daikon and broccoli.
3. Blend the tahini, pepper and salt and add to bowl with vegetables. Mix well with your hands.
4. Brush with a thin film of olive oil, if desired.
5. 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 »

Cancer and Children, the SAD Connection: Are Raw and Living Foods Part of the Solution?

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 11, 2009 – 3:07 pm -

It’s always sad to hear about a child who’s suffering and dying from cancer.  It’s heartbreaking, actually.  Such a waste of a life, to be stricken down so young.  And what a painful experience for a parent…to lose a child is the worst nightmare of every parent.

Yet it happens every day, and it is frustrating to no end to observe the scenario.  As you may recall, I lost my sister to cancer just over a year ago, and I watched in horror as they tore her immune system to shreds with the drugs, foods and treatments, in the hope that they could kill the cancer.  She, like most cancer patients, died from the treatment, not the disease.

How can you expect a body to heal from cancer when it’s fed hospital food…white bread, milk, sugar, canned vegetables and bottled fruit juice.  None of the food has life, and as such it has no ability to create life, or save life.  It has only the power to destroy life.

This post was prompted by the story of a young boy named Dominic.  I met his mom, Elaina Love, for the first time earlier this year, and again just a few weeks ago when she came to Austin to teach a class on how to make holiday meals that are life giving, in place of  the holiday typical menu, containing foods that are life depleting.

I cried as I read this story and I’m tearing up again as I recount it.  I have a son who’s around the same age, and the thought of losing him is unbearable.   As I read Dominic and Elaina’s story, I couldn’t help but put myself into her shoes, and feel the intensity of the pain she is experiencing.

Dominic, age 14,  became ill with leukemia earlier this year, and much to Elaina’s anguish, Dominic and his dad decided to put their trust in mainstream medicine — chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant.  All the while, he continued to eat the food served in the hospital,and the foods he and his dad chose, rather than follow Elaina’s recommendations of green foods, wheat grass juice and no sugar.

They thought it was successful until November 25, 2009 when the doctors  told them the leukemia was back and more aggressive than ever.  There was nothing more that mainstream medicine could offer Dominic, except to keep him comfortable as they waited for him to die.  Their estimate was that he had between 1 week and 1 month to remain on the planet.

Finally, Dominic and his dad agreed to follow Elaina’s advice and take him to the  Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida,  where they are famous for helping people to heal from cancer and where people go when they have no other choice.  There Dominic will eat a completely green raw diet consisting of juices and greens, get daily wheatgrass implants , oxygen therapy and other non conventional therapies that the institute has to offer.  It is their last hope.

Before leaving for Hippocrates, Elaina took Dominic off everything that feeds cancer-    sugar, fruit,bread, dairy, pastries, salt, caffeine, meat,and everything that is served on he hospital cafeteria trays sent to his room three times a day.   He started consuming liquid blue green algae, wheat grass , green juice ,  cucumbers, avocado, lettuce, red bell peppers and only raw, vegan foods that contain no sugar.  They stopped the IV, which contained sugar water.

Elaina and Dominic have been at Hippocrates for about 10 days now, and Elaina reports that he seems to be getting stronger.  Only time will tell.  You can follow Dominic’s progress on Elaina’s blog, at http://elainalove.wordpress.com/

The therapy and airfare combined are going to be close to $20,000 for the first 3 weeks.   Drs Brian and Ann Marie Clement are offering a partial scholarship and there is a donation fund being set up.

You can help in a several ways:

1- Keep Dominic and Elaina in your thoughts and prayers.  Send healing energy in their direction.

2- Donate, even $5!

http://www.purejoyplanet.com/store/index.php?cPath=26

Any help you can send their way would be  so great.

3- Shop at Elaina’s website. Christmas and Hanukkah are coming up.  Buy a gift for yourself or your loved ones. Buy Elaina’s books, DVDs, e-books, or a nut milk bag or Irish Moss.

http://purejoyplanet.com/store/

I bought her cultured foods DVD, that includes how to make kefir, saurkraut sour dough crackers, yogurt and more, her Irish moss e-book, Flavors of China e-book, and  vanilla, cherry and hazelnut essential oils. Plus I donated $25!  Everything helps.

Elaina Love is a professional Chef and Instructor, Lifestyle Counselor and Owner/Director of the raw food store and Pure Joy Planet. She authored the raw, vegan, living food recipe book Elaina’s Pure Joy Kitchen.  She is the creator of the Amazing Nut Milk Bag.

Elaina has been teaching raw food courses worldwide since 1998. She is a Chef/Instructor at the renowned Living Light Culinary Arts Institute where she has been on staff since 2000.

Here’s what Elaina has to say:

“It is my life purpose to help people be as healthy, feel full of life force and joy that they can be, and I have helped soooo many people through my teachings, recipes, personal example and website. My family, however, from my son to my ex to my parents, have never wanted to embrace raw foods, and in fact shun it at all costs.

I got over it a long time ago and didn’t give it much thought anymore. But when Dom got cancer in Jan of 2009, my world turned upside down. I wanted so badly to help him with raw foods, but he and his dad just wouldn’t bite (literally and figuratively). So even though I begged, cried and pleaded, they opted for the traditional medical route.

And after awhile my initial rage filled resistance was  kept under wraps to protect my son, and spirit told me to surrender and go along with what they had chosen, so I did and embrace it I did, with every fiber of my being hoping with all my heart that it would work.

I have been told by higher power that it’s going to be one of those miracle stories, where instead of the boy getting the girl, he gets the rest of his life…healthy, happy, cancer free and no drugs (the girl comes later)!”

Donations have been pouring in to help Dominic, and Elaina  to pay for the expensive treatment at Hippocrates, for which insurance will not pay even a penny.  Overwhelmed by the generosity.  Se says”The gratitude I feel for you as I write this, even though I don’t know who you are yet, is so huge I want to cry”.

Let this story serve as a wake up call.  Your children, our children, the children of the planet, NEED to be fed whole fresh foods, not the packaged, refined, cancer-causing fare served in schools, restaurants and most people’s homes.

We need to wake up, as a culture, to the fact that nature has its “laws“.  Just as you can’t defy gravity, you can’t defy your body’s nutritional needs, feed yourself and your family toxic foods,and expect to be healthy.

Over 40% of the US population will get cancer. A large percentage of those WILL die from it.  And these numbers are going up.  The only way to put yourself and your loved ones on the “safe” side of the fence is to throw all the cancer causing foods and chemicals over the fence, and as far away from you as possible.

It’s painful to lose someone you love.  It’s even more painful when you lose them to a preventable illness, as I lost my parents then my younger sister.  Make a commitment today to, as Gandhi said, to  ” be the change you want to see in the world”.  Create vibrant health for you AND your loved ones, one bite at a time.  Whatever the temporary pleasure attained from eating SAD food, it’s tainted by the long term suffering of cancer.

Get support if you need it.  Surround yourself by like minded people who care about their health.  Get a mentor and make a commitment to your health, your family’s health and the health of the planet.  Dare to make unpopular decisions, and you’ll live to tell about it.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

Tags: cleansing programs, detoxification programs, Elaina Love, green juice, Hippocrates Health Institute, leukemia, living foods, livingfoods, raw foods, raw foods diet, sprouts, wheat grass juice, whole foods
Posted in Articles, cancer, cleansing programs, raw foods | No Comments »

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
Posted in Articles, Gluten Free recipes, Raw and Living Foods Recipes, healthy holiday, living foods, raw foods | No Comments »

Gluten-Free, Holiday Treats – Organic, raw and whole Fresh foods

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 7, 2009 – 11:48 am -

Tis the Season to Be Jolly

Holidays are about connection and love, not fretting about food and worrying about feeling deprived while everyone else is stuffing themselves with sugar and fat.   If you are dedicated to staying healthy and vibrant throughout the holiday season, yet still have a desire to fit in, and enjoy the holiday cheer, there are lots of resources for you.  Here are a couple:

1- If you live in or near Austin, you’re in for a treat.  There’s no reason to feel deprived this holiday season.   You can enjoy delicious Holiday Cookies – Raw, Vegan, naturally sweetened and gluten Free- festively boxed and ready
to give as a gift or as a treat for yourself.  Karen Osborne, my dear friend and the Fresh’n Fun Living Co-op Manager, talented chef and recent graduate of Living Light Culinary Institute in California has created these beautiful and delicious gift boxes for you.

The boxes include a dozen holiday cookies, and will be ready for pick-up in the
Austin area beginning in mid December.  The boxes contain 2 each of the
following:

German Chocolate Brownies, Pecan Pie Squares, Not Oatmeal Raisin Cookies,
Lemon Cookies, Rocky Road Brownies and Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies.

Carob can be substituted for Chocolate in these cookies…please specify
your preference when you check out.

Supplies are limited so order early.  Orders will be processed on a first
come, first served basis.

Schedule:
2 dozen boxes will be ready for delivery on Dec. 13 or any day of that week
2 dozen boxes will be  ready for delivery on Dec. 20.

Each box is $30.   Please specify Chocolate or Carob when you order.

To place an order, click on a link below and specify the number of boxes you
desire in our secure shopping cart.

An e-mail will be sent out when the boxes are ready with dates and locations for pick-up in the Austin area.

1 Cookie Box for the week of Dec. 13  $30.00

1 Cookie Box for the week of Dec. 20  $30.00

2) You can learn to make cookies and close to 100 other delicious holiday foods.  It’s easy to do when you ahve the right recipes.

My new book, “Healthy Holiday Traditions:  Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations” will be announced very soon.  We’re putting the last minute tweaks on the bonus and graphics pages on the web page.    We’re even offering it as a part of a Deluxe Holiday Toolkit.  Those who ordered the toolkit have already received the book.

If you already know you want it, you can get it right away by going to www.IndulgeWithoutBulge.com There are over $100 in bonus gifts being offered.  When you get the deluxe toolkit, one of the bonuses is an instantly accessible online video of demonstrations of 9 of the recipes.

There are also some blog posts from last year and this, and some tips in my newsletter, www.drritamarie.com/newsletter

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, healthy holiday, holiday diet, holiday survival, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Gluten Free Diet, living foods, raw foods | 1 Comment »

Quick and Easy Healthy Lunch Suggestions: Raw Food on the Run

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 10, 2009 – 1:22 pm -

It’s tough to get quick meals on the run when your goal is to eat healthfully.. in ways that improve your energy and keep your brain clear. If you live in or around Austin Texas, you’re in for a treat. On Friday, November 13, 2009, I’ll be hosting a class called “Lunch & Learn” . Join Dr. Ritamarie Losclazo and visiting certified raw foods chef and instructor Tonya Cole Lightfoot for a fun and delicious lunchtime.

We’ll teach you to make a delicious gourmet lunch using only fresh organic, gluten free, dairy free un-cooked plant foods. Then we’ll serve you the full course meal.

Register early and receive $10 off the already discounted tuition. Pay only $37 for a full course meal, a recipe guide, instruction and demonstration, and lots of tips and tricks for making meals in a hurry.

Register by Wednesday November 11 and you’ll also receive a free copy of Dr. Ritamarie’s e-book “Quick and easy Lunch and Dinner ideas for Healthy Meals on the Run”

I sure hope you cna join us for “Lunch & Learn”.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

http://www.DrRitamarie.com

Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, health, healthy holiday, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Raw Foods classes, living foods, raw foods | No Comments »

Conquering Food Cravings: Stop Sugar Cravings and Overcome Adrenal Exhaustion

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 3, 2009 – 12:18 pm -

What causes food cravings…you don’t really need the sugar and bread, do you? The cravings for food you you can’t seem to control are a cry from your body for help. What really causes food cravings is a deficiency of one of your basic needs. When nutrients are out of balance, your body craves food to rebuild its stores. When you respond to the cravings with sugar, starches and nutritionally depleted and harmful foods, you add stress to your body, which burdens your adrenal glands. So giving in to food cravings can contribute to adrenal exhaustion.

Learn why and and how breaking free from emotional eating and providing the nutrition you really need will stop cravings in their tracks. By supplying your body with the building blocks of a healthy mind and body, you allow your adrenals to rebuild, your fatigue and exhaustion improve and the cravings lessen.

Question of the Day:  What do you crave and how do you handle it when the craving gets really strong?  Post your answer in the comments box below.

Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, emotional eating, fatigue symptoms, food cravings, green smoothie, living foods, raw foods diet, stop cravings, sugar, sugar cravings
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Articles, green smoothies | 4 Comments »

Quick and Easy Heathy Meals: Raw and Living Foods, Gluten Free Daiy Free Power Breakfast Ideas

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on September 16, 2009 – 5:39 am -

One of the bigget myths I encounter related to eating healthfully is that it takes a lot of time.  In reality, it’s actually pretty quick to put together a satisfying and delicious meal made of fresh, whole living food .  You can do it in a matter of minutes.

If you’re looking for quick and easy breakfast ideas, my new book “Power Breakfast Ideas:  Start Your Day with the Energizing Magic of Fresh, Whole Living Foods” is loaded with ideas.  From Green beginnings to quick and energizing chia pudding the recipes are all gluten free, dairy free, sugar free and filled with whole raw living food goodness.  And the photos are gorgeous.  It feels good to eat foods that not only taste great, but look beautiful as well.

Here’s a video of my friends Kevin and Ann Marie Gianni of Renegadehealth.com making my favorite recipe of all, Apple Ginger Medley:

Apple Ginger Medley from Dr. Ritamarie’s Power Breakfast Ideas Book

Here’s the recipe

Apple Ginger Breakfast Medley

This recipe is very satiating. I feel full for many hours after eating it.

Ingredients

• 1 – 2 apples, finely diced
• ¼ cup almonds, soaked and chopped
• ¼ inch piece of ginger, minced
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Toppings: (Your choice) cacao nibs, goji berries, coconut flakes, raisins, hemp seeds, etc.

Optional Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon coconut cream
• ½ tablespoon flax oil
• 1-2 pitted medjool dates, soaked for a few minutes in 1/4 cup water to soften
• 1 teaspoon raw cacao powder (optional – for chocolate sauce)

Directions:

• Make the topping by blending coconut cream concentrate, flax oil, dates and chocolate (if desired) until smooth and creamy. Add a small amount of date soaking water if needed to make it pourable.
• Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.

Preparation tips

Apples, ginger and almonds can be chopped in a food processor or using a food chopper tool. I use one from Pampered Chef.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

http://www.PowerBreakfastIdeas.com

Tags: gluten free, Gluten Free Diet, green smoothie, Kevin Gianni, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, whole foods
Posted in Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, Raw Foods classes, living foods, raw foods | 2 Comments »