Taking Care of YOU – Slow Down and Enjoy Each Moment to Protect Yourself from Cancer

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on February 7, 2010 – 12:31 pm -

It’s been a week to remember and all the messages I’ve received all week were “slow down” and “take care of yourself”.

A couple were obvious…others more subtle.

I don’t consider myself a tired person; quite the contrary.  My energy seems almost without limit.  I sleep very little, am constantly on the move and I get a lot accomplished.  Yet a nagging voice in the back of my mind has been wondering if I may be causing some hidden damage to myself by sleeping so little.

On Wednesday evening I ran into to technical challenges with the teleconference for Week 3 of my Balance My Body Blueprint course.  I had a slide presentation ready to go, and was all set to launch into new territory.  The technical challenges prevented participation on the web, where more than half my students participate.  So I decided to do a question and answer segment.  It was just the right thing to do.  I was able to answer lots of questions, and even helped a few people to determine the probable cause of long standing health challenges.  Wow.  Slow down.  Most people were not ready to jump into what I had planned.  They were perfectly fine with slowing down and getting their questions answered.

On Thursday, I was moving quickly through my kitchen, and caught my slipper on a door stop.  It sent me flying through the air and I landed hard on the tile floor. My left arm hit first, and it hurt so badly that I immediately thought it was broken.    While I had lots of plans for the rest of the day and the next, I spent most of the time in bed, icing my arm and resting.  Slow down.  It took an injury to get me to get a good night’s sleep.  It’s recovering nicely now, as evidenced by the fact that I can type today.  Yesterday I could barely hunt and peck with one hand.

I’m getting small messages, and I’m taking them to heart.  Better listen to the soft calls than to wait for a big one.

Earlier this week I received the sad news that a dear friend had died of cancer.  She was a young woman, in her forties, and she’s survived by her husband and four children.  The children are young.  Her oldest  is about the same age as my youngest.  And now they are without their Mommy, and the world will no longer experience the joy of Anna’s sweet, kind heart and loving and giving nature.

I’ve experienced the loss of a loved to cancer several times over the past 5 years.  And while the importance of diet and detoxification are high on my list of cancer prevention techniques, Anna’s death forces me to really look at the bigger picture.

Anna was a raw food enthusiast. I met her at an Alissa Cohen Teacher training.  She was the founder of Purely Delicious magazine.   She was excited about sharing what she learned about the health benefits of raw and living foods with the world.  Still, she got breast cancer.  Sure, her diet wasn’t perfect, and we can point fingers at her imperfections, and blame them for her cancer.  Yet others, many of my family members included, eat way less “perfectly”  than Anna did, and use toxic home and body care products and drink tap water, and they don’t have cancer…yet.

The sad truth is that almost 50% of us will get cancer. Perhaps not  all will die as a result, yet it’s an alarming statistic nonetheless.

While it may be easy for skeptics and critics of the living foods lifestyle to use Anna’s story as an excuse to just let it all go and eat whatever they want, it’s important to look beyond, and continue to hold the utmost respect for the value of high antioxidant, unrefined, whole fresh plants as a vital element in keeping you healthy.

I could quote from all sorts of research right about now, and try to convince you from an intellectual level of the importance of diet in protecting you from cancer, yet I’d rather speak to you from my heart. It’s easy to hear Anna’s story and become fearful, and doubt your choice to lead a healthy life and eat a healthy diet.  The truth is, there’s a big picture here.  And many of its parts are a somewhat mysterious.

Cancer is always caused by exceeding your body’s ability to detoxify and repair. Cancer starts almost daily in just about everyone, and is quickly thwarted by an intact immune system and a working detoxification system.

The choices you make daily effect your ability to detoxify and thwart cancer before it takes over. Those include the quality and quantity of the water you drink, how much sunshine you get on bare skin, your movement, your thoughts, your feelings – fear and judgment create a breeding ground for cancer–how much fun you have, how much deep restful sleep you get, the quality of the air you breathe and of course, your diet.

There are so many  elements that determine your cancer risk…and your ability to be healthy.  Some may appear to be beyond your control:

1. Genetics: some of us were born with genetic variations, called single neucleotide polymorphisms, aka SNPs (pronounced snips), that make it difficult to detoxify our environment without a little extra help.
2. Your Mom’s Emotional State when she was pregnant with you. You may have been born with worn out adrenals and low cellular energy as a result, making you prone to cancer and other illnesses.
3. Your Mom’s nutritional status and toxic exposures while she was pregnant with you. If she was depleted, you were born with nutritional imbalances.
4. Early feeding:Whether you were breast or bottle fed and what your early solid foods were determine the state of your digestive tract and immune system.  Leaky gut and immune system problems can increase your risk of cancer and other illnesses.

Many people embark on a health journey and address a single aspect.   I see many living foods diet followers who don’t exercise, or stay indoors all the time, or push themselves hard and don’t sleep enough (like me).  It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that the good food can compensate for shortcomings in the others, but very often it cannot.

It’s time to look at the big picture.  Sometimes just eating a healthy diet isn’t enough.

As a mother of 4 and editor  and chief cook and bottle washer for a quarterly publication, Anna had no time left for herself. Even after she found out she had breast cancer, she continued to put others first, until she had to slow down.  Unfortunately, it was too late for Anna.  She opted for chemotherapy and radiation out of fear and perhaps desperation.

Most likely one or more of the early factors were at play with Anna.   Yet, in spite of your genetics, early exposures and maternal environment,  you can do what it takes to give yourself the best possible healthy and happy life.  Once you identify the early factors that may be at play, through a combination of  family history and genetic testing, there are steps you can take to correct for the inborn and early deficits.

It’s important to take inventory of your life and self correct where you can.  If you’re not sleeping enough because you’re not going to bed at a reasonable hour (guilty as charged) then make a different choice.  If you’re not sleeping enough because you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, you might have a hormonal imbalance.  Adrenal imbalance and insulin dysfunction are the most likely culprits and they are both correctable.

If you have a lot of stress in your life (who doesn’t)  you owe it to yourself to master techniques for transforming the negative impact on your body to positive.

Enhance your body’s detoxification systems, harness the power of blended greens and drink your greens at least once a day.  Look for the positive and practice appreciation.  Get in touch with really matters to you, and make daily choices that are consistent with your highest good.

Take care of others, but not at the expense of yourself. It’s important to take time for fun and pleasure each day, even for just a few moments.

No one can predict the length of your life – that’s out of your control.  You can effect the quality of your life and decrease the likelihood of suffering as Anna did by making conscious and consistent choices to put your self first. Yes, you need to put yourself first.  It is only by taking care of your needs that you have the energy and ability to take care of others.  And if we all took better care of ourselves, there would be a lot less need to take care of others.

Love yourself. Slow down and have fun daily.   Choose happiness daily and allow good health to follow.

In memory of Anna Tipps, friend, Mom wife, daughter, teacher and kind hearted loving soul.  You will be missed.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, cancer, cleansing programs, detoxification programs, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, livingfoods, raw foods, raw foods recipes, whole foods
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Avoid Adrenal Fatigue by Taking Time For Self Care

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on February 2, 2010 – 4:06 pm -

So what does adrenal faigue have to do with self care?  Everything.  When you take care of yourself, your stress levels go down.  And when your stress levels decrease, that’s a good thing for you!

Do you have any idea what happens on a physiologic level when you gt stressed out, worry about the future or fret about he past?  Your body releases a cascade of chemicals designed to help you escape from tigers.  Your heart rate speeds up, your blood pressure elevated, your sex drive goes away and your digestion shuts down. Does that sound like the rpescription for a healthy, energetic and happy life?  Certainly not

The stress hormone cortisol gets secreted into your blood stream, and makes trouble throughout your body.  Sure,  it helps you to fight tigers, but that’s not going to help you much when you’re getting all stressed out about the state of the economy.  And it certainly doesn’t help you to think of creative ways you can deflect economic trends and prosper in spite of the world around you.  In fact, it does just the opposite.

One of the effects of cortisol is cortical inhibition. That means, it temporarily shuts off the higher-level thinking center of your brain.   This is important when you’re fleeing the real tiger, because solving economic problems would be counter productive when those big teeth are about to turn you into lunch.   Cortisol activates the primitive parts of yoru brain, the survival centers. It also causes damage to a part of your brain called the hippocampus, which is responsible for short term memory.  “Brain fog”, forgetfullness and lack of focus are sigs of adrenal fatugue.

Cortisol also inhibits your immune system and its ability to fight off invaders, to maintain balance, kill cancer cells, and keep you healthy.  Cortisol also makes you fat, especially around the middle.  Why does stress make you fat? Well, stress leads to increased production of cortisol, which  triggers a mechanism in the body to release more sugar into the blood, because you’re going to need it to escape the tiger.

The release of sugar into the blood causes the release of insulin because insulin is what is needed to remove the sugar from your blood and get  it into your cells, where it’s needed. That’s great when you have a real tiger chasing you.  And it doesn’t present a problem when the stress response is infrequent and short lived.  The problem is, in our modern lifestyle we get stressed often and we stay stressed for long periods of time.

And as if it’s not enough to be more prone to illness and cancer, stress kills your sex drive!  And it stresses your mitochondria so they can’t produce enough energy, so you get tired.

If being a stressed out sick and overweight individual with no sex drive and no memory does not sound like fun to you, then you need to learn how to take care of your needs and transform the stressful responses to recharging ones.

In my Transforming Stress teleseminars I describe some of my favorite techniques for turning the stressful times into positive physiologic responses, using the power of appreciation.

I recorded a video on how to make the time for self care, in spite of your busy schedule.  Consistently taking time for self care allows your adrenals to restore, and can even reverse adrenal fatigue.

What do you do to take care of yoruself everyday?

Write it down below for me.

Thanks,

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, exhaustion, fatigue, fatigue symptoms, Gluten Free Diet, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods recipes
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Peppermint Patties Go Raw: Gluten Free Raw Food Recipe for Superfood Candy Made with Hemp Seeds and Green Powder

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 19, 2009 – 12:45 pm -

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

Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, Halloween treats, healthy holiday, holiday recipes, living foods, livingfoods, omega 3 fats, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods, raw foods recipes, selenium, whole foods
Posted in Articles, Gluten Free recipes, Raw and Living Foods Recipes, healthy holiday | 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 »

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 »

Heart Felt Gratitude For all My Gifts

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 25, 2009 – 5:04 pm -

by

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Thanksgiving is a special day for me. While I intend daily to express gratitude for all my gifts and to those who make my life so fulfilling and joyful, I sometimes fall short of my goal.

Thanksgiving day gives me the opportunity to reflect on all that I am grateful for. To me, the holiday is more about the connections than the food.   My life has been rich and full, and the tough times as well as the wonderful times have contributed to making it so.  For both I am grateful.

Here’s a partial list of what I’m grateful for:

* Waking up each day in a warm bed with a roof over my head. Many people don’t have the same experience.

* My daily green smoothie, which energizes and nourishes me more than anything I’ve ever done.

* That my 11 year old son, Kevin, still likes to cuddle with his Mommy.

* That my 15 year old son, Eric,  is dedicated to justice and fairness and is willing to risk his own comfort to help his friends when he feels that they’ve been wronged.

* My husband Scott, who makes me my green smoothie most mornings and cleans the kitchen after me when I make his.

* The illness I experienced during my 20’s that spurred me to learn more about my health and become more healthy and energetic today than ever before.  That experience has allowed me to impact the health of thousands of people over the years.

* The miscarriages that caused me to decide to adopt children and the women who birthed my beautiful boys.  Had the outcome been different for me, Kevin and Eric would be experiencing lives much more difficult than anything they’ve ever experienced.

* Sunshine and warmth and the joy I get from both of them.

* Green foods, and the vibrant health they create in me.

* Learning about the powers of Heart Math, becoming certified and using it to transform my life and the lives of those who’ve learned it from me.

* My “team” that supports me in my life’s work: Jimmy for taking over the web support from me(he’s so much better than I), Tracey who keeps up with my email, sets up my new radio show “Creating a Vibrant Life”, keeps me up to date on facebook and twitter and countless other tasks, Scott who handles all things accounting, my newest helper, Aran who will be handling my blog and video posting, and all those who volunteer in exchange for learning.

* My sister Cathy, who’s death last summer from Lymphoma strengthened my commitment to spreading the message of health through nutrition and self care.

* My surviving 3 brothers and 4 sisters, who all thought I’d lost my mind 25 years ago when I rejected all the foods of my past and adopted the healthy lifestyle I now own. Several of them are now open to my message.

* My father who taught me when I was very young that I could do ANYTHING I set my mind to and was determined to do. I just wish he was still around to hug and thank in person.

* My mom, whose stubbornness and strong will I didn’t much appreciate until I realized how much like her I turned out to be. I’m sure she’s turning over in her grave and having a good laugh about that now.

* My Italian paternal grandmother who taught me to love to feed people.

* My Irish maternal grandmother who taught me about kindness and unconditional love.

* My maternal grandfather who taught me about gentleness and acceptance and whose influence caused me to marry a kind and gentle man

* My English teacher in 11th grade who encouraged me to express myself on paper.

* My cousin Marybeth who taught me how to be playful and have fun.

* My friends near and far who’ve supported me through many an idea that seemed far fetched and unreasonable.

* My vitamix blender.

* My affiliate team who’ve promoted my books and programs and helped me to spread the message of healthy lifestyle.

* My stubborn determination, unwillingness to take no for an answer and dedication to doing what’s right.

* You, for listening to my words and taking action towards a better life.

Thanks again. Have an amazing Thanksgiving.

Please post a comment below and share at least one thing you’re grateful for.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

P.S. On Thanksgiving,  I’ll be making the cranberry orange relish, apricot pecan yams, mushroom gravy and pumpkin pie  from my Thanksgiving Feast  e-book.  Post a comment below and let me know what you’re making

Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, gluten free holiday, gratitude, healthy thanksgiving recipes, living foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods recipes, raw Thanksgiving recipes
Posted in Articles, healthy holiday, raw foods | 19 Comments »

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 »

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 »

3 Simple Tips for Enhancing Thyroid Function and Increasing Your Energy Fast!

Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on September 11, 2009 – 11:32 am -

Low thyroid function, also known as hypothyroidism, is a common, yet often overlooked, cause of chronic fatigue. Back in the 1950’s it was considered to be a condition rarely encountered in clinical practice. Today, it’s practically an epidemic. It’s estimated that 25% of people show measurable signs of hypothyroidism on blood analysis. The good news is that there are a lot of actions you can take to protect your thyroid gland. I’ll explore 3 of them that you can easily put in place right away and start protecting your thyroid and increasing your energy.

1- Avoid gluten. Gluten is a protein found in the common grains that most people eat several times a day—wheat, rye, barley and oats, as well as the heirloom varieties of wheat, spelt and kamut. A huge segment of the population is intolerant to gluten meaning that their bodies produce antibodies that attack the gluten AND healthy tissue. There is a very strong link between autoimmune hypothyroid and gluten intolerance. I’ve had patients bring their abnormally high thyroid stimulating hormone levels to normal within as little as six weeks.  Gluten Free Diets are becoming more and more available.   There are many gluten-free alternatives to your staple gluten containing foods.  My favorite are kelp noodles.

2- Hydrate with pure water. This is actually 2 recommendations in one. Chronic dehydration can lead to inflammatory disease, so it’s important to consume at least ½ your body weight in fluid ounces every day. An even bigger concern is the quality of the water. Chlorine and fluoride added to municipal water supplies disrupt the binding of iodine to form thyroid hormones. Further, chlorinated water in the shower is even worse because the vapors enter the body via the lungs, in much higher concentrations that found in drinking water. Keeping well hydrated with pure spring, reverse osmosis or distilled water will protect you from the dangerous additives in our current water supply.

3- Include sea vegetables daily. Greens from the sea contain a wide variety of minerals and vitamins that support thyroid function. The most important of these is iodine. Since most of our soil is deficient in iodine, there are very few vegetables that contain significant amounts of iodine. Iodine is critical for thyroid function. In fact, a certain species of kelp, laminaria digitata, has been found to contain measurable amounts of the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. Eating 1-2 ounces of sea vegetation each week is a good starting point.

If you have a diagnosed or suspect thyroid dysfunction, talk to your doctor before beginning a new program. Ask your doctor to order thyroid antibody tests, especially if you currently have any type of autoimmune disease.

Being healthy is your birthright. Take good care of your thyroid gland and you’ll be energetic and clear headed well into your twilight years.

I’ve created a gluten survival pack, available for free on my website.  It contains e-books, mp3 recordings, and special lists of hidden sources of gluten. To order yours now, go to http://drritamarie.com/GlutenFree.htm Included in the gluten package are recipes for sea vegetables and a powerpoint presentation on thyroid health.

Have an energized day.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

www.freshnfunliving.com

Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, autimmune thyroid, autoimmune disease, fatigue symptoms, Gluten Free Diet, hypothyroid, raw foods recipes, thyroid
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Articles, Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, exhaustion, fatigue treatment | 2 Comments »