January 26th, 2012 Volume 2, Issue 23

Greetings from Texas, where we’ve been having an incredibly mild winter. On Sunday it reached 80 degrees. What a joy to go for a run in shorts and a T-shirt.

I love taking exercise breaks in the middle of the day. I always come back refreshed, clear headed, and ready for additional work that I love.

Things are certainly brewing around here.

We’re in the process of creating a brand new teleseminar and video series to address a very serious health problem in our modern day world. We’ll be opening registration next Tuesday and offering a special bonus to the first 500 people who sign up. Our last video series attracted over 2200 sign-ups, so mark your calendar and sign-up right away to snag a bonus package.

Did I mention the video series is complimentary?

The Spies Who Love Me

I’ve also been busy training a group of “Food Allergy Spies”, so they can become experts at detecting the food culprits that are robbing them of their good health.

The progress so far is amazing, and we’re just 7 days into the program! We’ve had weight reduction, brains clearing, and energy rising. My Food Allergy Spies are learning their trade and as a result, they are destined to regain their health, energy, and comfort. They will become unstoppable!

You can be unstoppable, too, Health-Seeker, if you get your health issues out of the way, so you can fully express who you really are.

You can accomplish anything.

Too often I see people keeping their true passion and joy out of arms reach because they don’t have the energy or focus to see how to get there.

Your health is your most precious gift.

It’s my joy to offer a variety of tools and resources to help you reach your unlimited potential.

From Russia With Love

We had a really great radio show today on the power of energy medicine from Russia to heal. There’s a recording of last week’s radio show all about healing leaky gut, and several more to come. Check out our upcoming shows below!

There’s also a brand new recipe in this newsletter to enjoy and a few surprises and things you can put into play right away in my feature article, Digestion and Diabetes: The Relationship That May Be Damaging Your Inner Miracle Worker.

I look forward to connecting soon.

With much love and appreciation,

Digestion and Diabetes: The Relationship That May be Damaging Your Inner Miracle Worker

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Have you ever wondered what really happens inside your body after you eat?

It’s a complicated process that involves muscles, organs, hormones, enzymes, acids and a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

I am really glad that my conscious mind doesn’t need to get involved to make it happen… it just happens.

Imagine if half way through digesting my food I got distracted by a phone call? The food would likely just sit there until my next meal as I’d be apt to forget I was digesting and move on to other more exciting tasks.

There’s an Inner Miracle Worker Inside You

Your body is a miracle, and it handles all those things behind the scenes so you don’t have to be involved on a conscious level. It’s like having the world’s best personal assistant doing everything you need before you even know you need it.

It all runs smoothly and like clockwork… if you take care of yourself.

When you feed yourself the right fuel, move, sail through the day with joy and ease, and sleep well at night your “personal assistant” inside keeps things running well, so you feel energetic, clear, focused and full of life.

Ideas pop up and you’re able to run with them and create the life of your dreams. You look great. Your tummy is flat, your muscles are toned and strong, and YOU are unstoppable. You are unlimited.

But What If Your Inner Miracle Worker is Run-Down and Ragged?

If what I just described is not your life, then listen up.

It’s not your fault.
It’s not that you’re lazy or unmotivated.

It’s because you learned habits early on that caused you to make choices that basically poison your “feel good” mechanisms.

You were fed processed foods from early in childhood, even just out of the womb in some cases. The processed foods cannot come close to providing the nutrition offered by their fresh counterparts. “Made by nature” is always better than “made by machine”.

The processed foods early on interfered with your body’s ability to choose the foods that nourish your cells rather than excite your taste buds and drain your energy.

By the time you were six, chances are good that you had been on multiple courses of antibiotics and maybe had even begun to put on some excess weight. Like me, you were most likely addicted to foods like M&Ms, Cheetos, cookies, and soft drinks.

If so, you no longer were accessing the inner wisdom that guides you to eat, drink, and move in ways that bring balance.

Fast forward to today.

Perhaps the extra weight is your biggest concern. Maybe it’s your fear of life altering illnesses like heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. Or it might be your lack of energy and your inability to really enjoy things the way you used to.

Whatever it is you are striving for in your life, without your health the path will be obscure.

Are You Eating Yourself Sick?

So getting back to digestion…

When you’re out of balance, missing key nutrients, have eaten foods or engaged in activities that disrupt normal intestinal and hormone function, it’s as if you’re in charge and get distracted by a phone call.

Digestive enzymes become deficient or ineffective, your gut lining gets damaged and can no longer absorb all the nutrients in your food. Worse, it also allows foreign proteins to penetrate the disrupted intestinal membrane.

And you start to feel unwell.
Your energy drops.
Your mind gets foggy.

All the sugar and processed starch causes a spike in insulin. Over time, your cells become resistant to the insulin, and almost all the food you eat gets stored as fat.

The high sugar levels make your blood cells more sticky. The high insulin levels thicken the walls of your blood vessel and make them stiffer.

You are now a prime candidate for a heart attack or stroke.

You are on your way towards diabetes.

You May Not Know If You Have Diabetes Until There’s Damage

Diabetes is on the rise and prediabetes is almost an epidemic. Normal blood sugar balance is one of the prime casualties of an out of balance lifestyle.

The sad part is, you won’t be warned by your medical doctor until much of the damage has been done.

The reason?

The methods used to assess blood sugar imbalances, prediabetes (often called “insulin resistance“), and diabetes are based on standards that are too lenient.

There’s an ideal range for you blood sugar and the conventional standards give too much leeway.


The Myths That Keep You From Feeling Miraculous

On January 31st, 2012, I’ll be opening up registration for an all new and very controversial webinar that will address the myths and surprising misconceptions around the metabolic and blood sugar issues that have people confused and chronically ill. The webinar will be part of my updated free video series called Bye-Bye Belly Fat, Brain Fog and Burnout!

We’ll be sharing fresh, newly recorded videos, so even if you participated in last year’s series, you’ll find something new!

I am soooo excited about this.

The truth is so many of my family members have suffered and even died because they were not given the information I am about to share with you. It’s not that I didn’t offer. It’s just that they were afraid to go against the status quo.

I know you’re really open to the latest and greatest health information or you wouldn’t be reading my newsletter.

Registration opens on January 31st at around noon, pacific time. I will send you an e-mail message when registration opens, but if you’d like to get your notice and access a little early, be sure to register for early notification:

http://www.ByeByeBloodSugarImbalance.com

Once the series begins on January 31st, the first video will come to you immediately. Then every day or two, another video will be released until right before my myth-busting teleseminar on Feb 9th, 2012.

I’ve been intently studying blood sugar imbalances and all the hormones and lifestyle factors involved in creating and preventing them so I can bring you the most cutting edge information.

In the videos and on the teleseminar, I’ll share 5 simple strategies you can start to incorporate right away.

An Easy Step To Help Heal Your Inner Miracle Worker

For now, I would like to close with a small piece of one of the strategies you can get started on right away.

It’s from my “Timing is Everything” strategy.

It’s going to sound really simple, and I know you’ve heard it before.

During the Bye-Bye B4 Video Series, I will share the details about how and why this strategy works. Its effectiveness has to do with hormone balance and your body’s detoxification mechanisms.

Stop eating at least 3 hours before you go to bed.

There should be 12 hours between dinner/supper and breakfast.

Go ahead and try it.

Once we open up registration, we’ll have a blog area where you can post your experiences. Start slowly if this is hard. Increase the time between dinner and bed time by 15 minutes each day until you’ve reached your goal.

Then when you come to the training call and watch the videos, you’ll learn how this affects your hormones, blood sugar, brain chemistry and detoxification. You’ll understand how proper meal timing protects you from life threatening diseases like diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

The registration page will be here:

http://www.ByeByeBloodSugarImbalance.com

The Recipes That Will Bring Your Inner Miracle Worker Back to Life

If you act quickly, you can take advantage of another helpful resource.

I’m going to make available a Bonus Recipe Sampler from my B4 Be Gone System for the first 500 people who register for the Bye-Bye B4 Video Series. If you’re among the first to sign up on January 31st for the free series, you can enjoy a taste of my delicious low-glycemic recipes designed to help heal your insulin receptors and restore your blood sugar balance.

You can ensure you receive your notice as soon as possible by registering for the early notification list here:

http://www.ByeByeBloodSugarImbalance.com

Once a month, you can join us LIVE in Austin, Texas for a local raw food potluck where you can:

• Meet like-minded people and make new friends.
• Learn new and exciting recipes.
• Gather valuable health and nutrition information.
• Feel supported on your health quest.

Click HERE to learn more about the event and find out all the details on what to bring and what to expect.

Upcoming Dates (4th Saturday of every month unless noted otherwise):

• Saturday, February 25th , 6:30 p.m. central
• Saturday, March 24th, 6:30 p.m. central
• Saturday, April 21st, 6:30 p.m. central
  

What our attendees have to say about recent potlucks:

• “Great meetup, great food, great folks!” — Joy Johnson
• “Great food and great people, and a warm welcoming experience (it was my first time and I felt at home!)” — Audrey

Click below to follow this Meeting Group on Facebook!

With Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and Chefs Karen Osborne and Pamela Weems

You never have to worry about missing a class! All of our delicious, health-boosting Raw Food University classes are recorded.

You can access videos and recipes in PDF format for any of our past classes including:

• Cheeses
• Pizza and Pasta
• Thai Food Goes Raw
• Eating for Hormone Balance
• One Dish Meals
• Party and Potluck Nibbles that Nourish

You’ll find a complete list of past classes available HERE.

Mark Your Calendar for These LIVE Raw Food University Classes:

• Discovering the Healing Benefits of Fresh, Whole Living Foods
  Friday, March 9th, 2012; 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Central
• Mastering the Art of Living Food: Practical Techniques for Healthy Meals in Everyday Life
  Saturday, April 14th, 2012; 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Central
• Comfort Foods That Truly Comfort: The Art of Delicious and Nutritious Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Living
  Date and Time: TBA
  

Dr. Ritamarie’s Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show: combining experience, education, and practical advice to make healthful eating fun again! Click here to learn more.

Future Show Schedule:

• Thursday, February 2nd – Eating Frequent, Small Meals May be Damaging to Your Health
  with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
  
• Thursday, February 9th – When Hormones are Out of Whack with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
• Thursday, February 16th – Get the Skinny on Fatty Acids with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
  

You’ll find a wealth of free natural health resources when you visit our radio shows archive! Look for the most recent shows in the sidebar of the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show homepage.

Here are the latest shows we’ve added:

• From Russia with Love: Heal Like Nothing Ever Happened with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and “Doc David” Gawain
  
• There’s Nothing Sexy About Digestive Problems with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
  
• The Pain of Undiagnosed Food Allergies with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

RAWpalooza!

From 2012 Raw Food World Summit

I am really excited to let you know about an incredible FREE online event that I am proud to be a part of.

Starting on Monday, January 23rd, you are invited to a FULL WEEK of incredible interviews with the leading minds in raw food and conscious living. Wait until you hear the amazing roster of thought leaders lending their inspiration and expertise for this event.

Have a look:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/RAWpalooza

I will be interviewed during this week-long event and would love your support to check it out. Like I mentioned, the event is free and jam-packed with incredible interviews throughout each day.

Interviews are being conducted by Steve Prussack, host of Raw Vegan Radio.

Look at the line-up here:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/RAWpalooza

Go ahead and register today.

I know that you will discover an incredible amount of knowledge during Rawpalooza.

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/RAWpalooza

With joy and appreciation,

Dr. Ritamarie

  Getting Over ED!

From Tera Warner

There are hundreds and thousands of women and men in our community who struggle with eating disorders.

When I say “eating disorders” it doesn’t mean you have to be diagnosed anorexic or bulimic to benefit from what we’ve put together.

• If you ever feel obsessed about what you eat…
• If you ever roller coaster with restrictive eating and bingeing…
• If you simply have so much attention on food and your body size that it’s dragging you down, then THIS IS FOR YOU:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/GetOverED

All this week I’ve been having some of the most amazing conversations with the world’s leading experts on health, nutrition and eating disorders.

You’ll be able to listen to them if you sign up for the free “Getting Over ED” telesummit.

The information in these calls has already saved the lives of thousands of people. Even if you’re not struggling, you may know someone who is and this vital information could save their lives.

Click this link, and sign up today:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/GetOverED

Love and freedom,

Tera Warner

Blueberries for Your Blood Sugar Blues!

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

If you’re looking for a fruit option that’s more likely to play nice with your blood sugar, blueberries may be a potential ally (though only testing will tell you for sure). This is a low-glycemic, blood-sugar friendly green smoothie recipe from my B4 Be Gone System Recipe Collection.

You can enjoy a sample of more low-glycemic, blood-sugar friendly raw food recipes if you’re among the first 500 people to register for my upcoming free Bye-Bye Belly Fat, Brain Fog, and Burnout Video Series (2012).

Coco Blue Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 4 cups spinach
• 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 tablespoon coconut butter
• 1/4 cup Chia Gel
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• enough water to blend
• stevia if desired to taste

Directions:

1. Blend and enjoy.

The B4 Be Gone Recipe Collection contains over 200 recipes designed to help those who are struggling with Diabetes, blood sugar imbalance, and insulin resistance. You can enjoy a B4 Be Gone Recipe Collection Sampler if you’re among the first 500 people to register for the upcoming live Bye-Bye B4 Video Series!

Click HERE to register for early notification!

http://www.ByeByeBloodSugarImbalance.com

Do you have a great raw food recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipe at: http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions/

“Would you like to learn more simple strategies to achieving vibrant energy, a strong lean body and an extraordinary life? Check out my web site, www.DrRitamarie.com, for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free report 7 Simple Steps to Energizing Your Life… in as little as 30 Days.

Internationally recognized speaker, author and mentor, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is the “Woman’s Fatigue Expert and Vibrant Health Mentor.”

  January 13th, 2011 Volume 2, Issue 22

Happy new year, Health-Seeker, and welcome to my very first official newsletter of 2012!

I’ve been busy cooking up new ways to serve you and offer affordable and effective ways to skyrocket your health and regain your zest and joy for life.

I know you’re interested in natural healing methods and food based ways to improve your energy and well-being. As the year unfolds, you’ll get to glimpse what I’ve been busy brewing behind the scenes.

How to Become a Nutrition Coach

If you’re a health practitioner or would like to become active in coaching others to health through food and lifestyle, I’ll (finally) be sending out information about an opportunity to work closely with me.

I have had so many requests for nutrition coach mentoring, and it’s taken me a long time to respond because my desire is to provide guidance that’s practical, effective, and fun to deliver.

Stay tuned.

If you’d like to be on the early notification list, please sign up HERE:

http://www.NutritionCoachResources.com

You’ll get access to a webinar I conducted last summer and some special bonuses.

Plus you”ll hear the details before anyone else.

B4 Be Gone!

In addition to the nutrition coaches programs, I’ll be announcing another opportunity to balance your blood sugar and get rid of belly fat, brain fog, and burnout.

The graduates of my first B4 Be Gone program have had tremendous results. One dropped 54 pounds, lowered her fasting glucose by 30 points, and is more energetic than she remembers being in many years.

You’ll also enjoy an enhanced members website, more recipes, and many more improvements thanks to the feedback from our first B4 Be Gone graduates.

Watch your inbox at the end of the month for details and dates.

VITAL Announcements!

Also on tap for this year is a weekend live event here in Austin, a new and improved green cleanse, and an exciting membership program! I’m creating a VITAL Community (Vibrant Ideas and Tools for Awesome Living) to provide support, recipes, and guidance to you in getting your hormones, digestion, and body systems in tip top shape.

Today, enjoy an article on inflammation, an invitation to access empowering training and support for food allergies, and a guest article about how to eat well on a budget.

I look forward to connecting with you soon.

With much love and appreciation,

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

I work with lots of people who suffer from the effects of inflammation in their body. When I work with clients, we work closely to identify and eliminate the causes so they can lead happy and fulfilled, pain-free lives.

Inflammation causes pain, stiffness, heart attacks, ulcers, and all diseases ending in “itis”.

The list of “itis” diseases is long. Here are just a few of the most common ones. You or someone you love just may be suffering from one of these:

• arthritis
• gastritis
• colitis
• thyroiditis
• dermatitis
• sinusitis
• and many more…

Other diseases whose names end in “algia” are also caused by inflammation. “Algia” means pain. Among the most common “algias” are fibromyalgia and neuralgia.

What most people don’t realize is that inflammation can be caused by what you eat.

Oh! Mega Trouble!

Some foods are inherently inflammatory. These include many fats in the omega-6 family.

There’s a particular omega-6 fat that’s especially inflammatory called “arachidonic acid“. It’s found in commercially raised meats, poultry, dairy products, eggs, peanuts, and many hydrogenated oils.

An imbalance in omega-6 to omega-3 fats creates inflammation. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is very imbalanced when it comes to omega-3 and omega-6 fats.

The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats ideally should be 3:1 or less. The average American has a ratio of 12:1 or higher. That’s a big part of why so many of us suffer from inflammatory diseases and why heart disease and cancer affect such a large percentage of the population.

What most people don’t realize is that even most people on a “healthier” diet, including vegans and raw fooders, have an imbalance of fats that sets the stage for inflammatory diseases. The imbalance of fats is due to their widespread use and consumption of vegetable oils, grains, and nuts.

Put a Fork in the Road of Inflammation!

Your fork can be a powerful weapon or a mighty healing tool. It all depends on what you put on the end of it.

In coming issues and blog posts, I’ll explore how to balance the fats in your diet to heal inflammation and protect yourself from inflammatory diseases.

In the meantime, you can’t go wrong by eating a fresh diet loaded with green vegetables, sea vegetables, and omega-3 rich chia, flax, and hemp seeds.

What many people don’t realize though is that even healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds can cause inflammation WHEN you develop an allergy to them.

Food Allergies: Potholes on the Path to Healing Inflammation

On the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio show “The Pain of Undiagnosed Food Allergies,” I reviewed one of the very important AND controllable causes of inflammation – Food Allergies!

If you’re suffering from chronic health symptoms in spite of all your attempts to control them naturally and/or using Western medical approaches, I suggest you listen to the replay for a wealth of information.

On the radio show, I explored the relationship between pain and food allergies and discussed ways you can identify and eliminate triggers AND heal the underlying causes so that “innocent” foods no longer hurt you. If you’ve been suffering from chronic pain; digestive upset; weight that just won’t go away; or other vague symptoms like depression, brain fog, or fatigue, you owe it to yourself to listen in.

http://www.drritamarie.com/radio/2012/01/the-pain-of-undiagnosed-food-allergies/

Not Sure if You Have Food Allergies?

I recently hosted a teleclass where I shared the details about an exciting new program I’m offering to guide you to identify and eliminate food allergies that may be causing inflammation in YOU. You’ll learn how to heal the underlying dysfunctions in your gut and immune system that caused you to become allergic to what you eat.

If you missed the teleclass you can register for the free recording here:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

If the teleclass message resonates, you just may consider joining me for my brand new, fully coached “Food Allergy Spy Training” program. I’ll guide you to identify all your trigger foods, heal the underlying immune and digestive issues that are likely at the core of your problems, and help you start to feel really good again.

The FAST Way to Heal Allergies and Inflammation

The Food Allergy Spy Training (FAST) program is one of a kind. Up until now, identification of food allergens was expensive, time consuming, and confusing. I’m eliminating a lot of the confusion and guiding you through the Gold Standard for identification of food allergens – the Food Elimination Provocation Process (FEPP).

The FAST program will guide you to become a super sleuth detective by training you to carefully observe changes in your body around food choices.

http://www.FoodAllergySpy.com


Food allergy tests are fraught with error and are very expensive. For a fraction of the cost of a comprehensive food allergy test, you can reliably determine what foods may be triggering you to feel unwell.

The FAST program starts next Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 and the dozens of people who’ve jumped onboard have already gotten a head start on the first two assignments designed to help you identify potential food triggers.

I would love the opportunity to get to know you and guide you to start the new year on a great path to new-found wellness of a magnitude you could only imagine before now. Because this is the first offering of the Food Allergy Spy Training program, it’s very affordable to participate in this live group program!

For a limited time only I’ve slashed the price by $100 to make it easy and affordable.

http://www.FoodAllergySpy.com

Imagine an “Itis” and “Algia” Free Life!

• Imagine how it would feel to know you’re handling the cause of your ill health rather than trying to treat the symptoms.
• Think about how it would feel to know that the food you eat will no longer mistakenly trigger and over-activate your immune system.
• Step into how it will feel to experience freedom from food allergy associated conditions like depression, headaches, poor digestion, fibromyalgia, or fatigue.

If you’d like to stop imagining how it would feel to be well again and make vitality a reality for yourself through a 30-day process, I hope you’ll join me.

Let’s balance your omega fats, identify your trigger foods, and turn your fork into a powerful tool for healing and health so that you can enjoy a life of vibrant living!

http://www.FoodAllergySpy.com

How To Spend Less On Groceries & Still Eat Healthfully

Guest Article by Raederle Phoenix from The Vegetarian Health Institute

Would you like to spend less on groceries, while still eating a healthy diet? If so, this blog post can save you a few hundred dollars over the course of the next year.

Some of my suggestions are only relevant for raw fooders and raw food recipes. But some apply to folks who eat cooked food too.

Recipe Substitutions

The following are recipe substitution suggestions that will work for almost any recipe. But of course, use your judgment and consider the impact the substitution will have on a recipe.

When a recipe calls for…

• Dried fruit: Use the cheapest unsweetened dried fruit, which is usually raisins. Raisins have a much stronger flavor than dates, so if the recipe calls for dates, make it half and half with dates and raisins.
  
  
• Frozen fruit: Substitute some of the frozen fruit with frozen bananas. To freeze bananas, peel them and break them into pieces and put them in your freezer in a bowl or on a plate.
  
  
• Fresh fruit: Use what is in season and can be bought at a low price at your local farmer’s market. If it is peach season but the recipe calls for mangoes, use peaches anyway.
  
  
• Frozen vegetables: Use the least expensive frozen vegetables. The kind of vegetables generally won’t matter much, unless it’s a particular vegetable you dislike. If you prefer organic, select the least expensive organic frozen vegetables.
  
  
• Nuts: Substitute part of the portion of nuts with coconut shreds. In some recipes, as much as three-quarters of the nuts can be replaced with coconut shreds without much change to flavor and consistency. Make sure you use some of the nuts that the recipe calls for, however. Different nuts may have very different effects. Almonds and Brazil nuts are both unique and offer very particular flavors. Walnuts and pecans are sometimes interchangeable. Macadamia nuts and cashews are often interchangeable.

Avoiding Certain Recipes

Many recipes are out-and-out expensive no matter how you substitute. When selecting recipes, one can scan the ingredients and get a feel for how much it’s going to cost.

When selecting recipes to try out, avoid recipes that call for…

• A large amount of a specific brand-name ingredient.
• More than a quarter cup of nuts. (Unless using coconut shreds to cut the cost.)
• More than four cups of a non-dairy milk.
• More than two cups of a non-dairy yogurt.
• Large quantities of an exotic fruit that is imported from far away.
• More than two spices you don’t already own.

Avoiding Waste

Another way one can save is by avoiding waste. Sometimes when we don’t know how to preserve something we use trial and error and learn the hard way.

How to preserve extra fruit salad:

• Option 1: Add fresh squeezed lemon juice to the fruit salad. Use one lemon for every two cups of fruit salad remaining. Put in a dish with an air-tight lid and store in the fridge.
  
  
• Option 2: Put in the freezer to turn into pudding, smoothies or ice cream later in your food processor or blender. May also use a masticating juicer using the “blank” to create ice cream from frozen fruit.

What to do with pulp after making juice at home:

• Option 1: Add vegetable pulp to soups, breads, or salsa (add minimal amounts to salsa). Add fruit pulp to muffins, pies, breads, soups or salsa. (Be careful not to add to much. Pulp is almost pure fiber!)
  
  
• Option 2: Compost. Pulp breaks down fast and makes great fertilizer for your garden or for growing wheatgrass indoors.
  
  
• Option 3: Add seeds, nuts, oats, coconut shreds, spices and/or oils and blend in your food processor. Spread in your dehydrator at 110 degrees to make raw crackers, or put in your oven at a low temperature with the door slightly open to gently slow-cook crackers.

How to preserve extra cooked grains or grain-like dishes such as quinoa:

• Option 1: Store cooked grains in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two days.
  
  
• Option 2: Store cooked grains in a container in the freezer for up to a week.

To keep nuts, dried fruits and other “shelf-stable” foods fresh and away from bugs:

• Option 1: Store in ziplock bags within air-tight containers.
  
  
• Option 2: Store in the fridge in bags or containers.
  
  
• Option 3: Store in the freezer.

Leftovers & Wilting Produce

Another way to avoid waste is to “refurbish” your leftovers or wilting produce:

• With greens, such as chard, kale and spinach, you don’t want them wilted as a salad, but they are fine to throw in soup.
  
  
• Mushy over-ripe fruits are great in smoothies and desserts. Just cut away any spots that are really bad, and use the rest. Fruit can sometimes be bought “mushy” at a discounted price at farmer’s markets.
  
  
• Quinoa, rice, millet or other similar foods that have been cooked, stored, cooked again, and stored again can be turned into a new meal in a vegetable stir-fry.
  
  
• Over-ripe or drying-out citrus fruits may be juiced with an electronic juicer or a hand-juicer. The juice may be enjoyed plain, added to water for drinking, fruit salad for extra punch, or added to a dessert. If using an electronic juice, one may add cucumber, celery and/or carrots. (Carrots and oranges sometimes taste bad together.)
  
  
• Peppers and herbs that have been left out to dry, or dried in a dehydrator can be crushed and put into spice jars.

Free Teleseminar Recording Available!

Register now for the free teleseminar recording:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

Undiagnosed food allergies, even to highly nutritious foods like broccoli or blueberries, can induce immune responses that leave you ill.

Many instances of food allergies go undetected, manifesting as chronic symptoms that don’t respond to conventional approaches. Chronic over activity of your immune system can lead to a host of symptoms and conditions.

If you’re wondering if you have an undiagnosed food allergy, let Dr. Ritamarie help you identify the triggers, tests, and tasty solutions to free you from your immune system battles.

If you’re tired of being tired, unfocused, and uncomfortable, or if you’re sick of the weight that just won’t budge despite your best efforts, you owe it to yourself to explore whether food allergies are contributing to your ill health.

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

Once a month, you can join us LIVE in Austin, Texas for a local raw food potluck where you can:

• Meet like-minded people and make new friends.
• Learn new and exciting recipes.
• Gather valuable health and nutrition information.
• Feel supported on your health quest.

Click HERE to learn more about the event and find out all the details on what to bring and what to expect.

Upcoming Dates (4th Saturday of every month unless noted otherwise):

• Saturday, January 21st, 6:30 p.m. central
  (3rd Saturday!)
• Saturday, February 25th , 6:30 p.m. central
• Saturday, March 24th, 6:30 p.m. central

What our attendees have to say about recent potlucks:

• “Great meetup, great food, great folks!” — Joy Johnson
• “Great food and great people, and a warm welcoming experience (it was my first time and I felt at home!)” — Audrey

Click below to follow this Meeting Group on Facebook!

With Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and Chefs Karen Osborne and Pamela Weems

You never have to worry about missing a class! All of our delicious, health-boosting Raw Food University classes are recorded.

You can access videos and recipes in PDF format for any of our past classes including:

• Cheeses
• Pizza and Pasta
• Thai Food Goes Raw
• Eating for Hormone Balance
• One Dish Meals
• Party and Potluck Nibbles that Nourish

You’ll find a complete list of past classes available HERE.

Mark Your Calendar for This LIVE Raw Food University Class:

• Discovering the Healing Benefits of Fresh, Whole Living Foods:
  Friday, February 10th, 2012; 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Central
• Mastering the Art of Living Food: Practical Techniques for Healthy Meals in Everyday Life
  Saturday, March 3rd, 2012; 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Central
  

Dr. Ritamarie’s Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show: combining experience, education, and practical advice to make healthful eating fun again! Click here to learn more.

Future Show Schedule:

• Thursday, January 19th – There’s Nothing Sexy about Digestive Problems
  with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
  
• Thursday, January 26th – From Russia with Love: “Heal Like Nothing Ever Happened”
  with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and “Doc David” Gawain
  

You’ll find a wealth of free natural health resources when you visit our radio shows archive! Look for the most recent shows in the sidebar of the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show homepage.

Here are the latest shows we’ve added:

• The Pain of Undiagnosed Food Allergies with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo 
• Playtime – Living Life to the Fullest with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and Brenda Loube 
• Shaping Up for the Holidays with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

The Vegan Mastery Program

From The Vegetarian Health Institute

If you’d like to thrive on a high raw vegan diet, whip up delicious meals in 10-30 minutes, and stop being vulnerable to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, here’s great news…

Enrollment just opened for The Vegan Mastery Program. Created by The Vegetarian Health Institute, it’s a series of 50 lessons that’ll show you how to thrive on a high raw vegan diet.

Enrollment only opens three times per year. And even during these times, space is limited for Gold and Certificate students. (If you’re fortunate enough to claim one of these spots, you’ll get to ask unlimited questions for an entire year, and get answers from the Institute’s expert staff.)

But enrollment closes on January 18th, 2012 and space is limited. So if you’re interested and want to get in before the general public, click here now:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/VeganMasteryProgram

Raw Food for the Real World

From Nomi Shannon

Do you know that a LIFETIME of eating the toxic Standard American Diet (S.A.D) could take Y-E-A-R-S to be cleansed from your body? And that the first few months can even feel like an addict going through withdrawals?

In fact, some say making the emotional transition to a raw food diet is even harder than being a recovering alcoholic because…

Alcoholics can live without drinking, you still have to eat!

Are you Emotionally Ready to Eat Raw?

With Nomi Shannon’s new Raw Food For The Real World coaching program you’ll get access to all the raw food coping and psychological strategies she’s developed over the past 24 years…

So you can thrive on your raw food diet by developing the habits, mindset and ability to create tasty raw food meals and snacks quickly and easily.

Isn’t that the kind of support you’re really looking for?

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/RawFoodRealWorld

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Do you have a great raw food recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipe at: http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions/

“Would you like to learn more simple strategies to achieving vibrant energy, a strong lean body and an extraordinary life? Check out my web site, www.DrRitamarie.com, for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free report 7 Simple Steps to Energizing Your Life… in as little as 30 Days.

Internationally recognized speaker, author and mentor, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is the “Woman’s Fatigue Expert and Vibrant Health Mentor.”

December 15th, 2011 Volume 1, Issue 21

Can you believe there are just a few short weeks left to the year?

It seems like 2011 flew by.

My son has been reading about the fated 2012 for several years, sharing his apprehensions about the strange events that are supposed to take place. He has a backpack prepared with emergency rations and supplies…just in case.

So now the long talked about 2012 is almost here.

Will the world indeed come to an end as the Mayan calendar is supposed to predict? Or does the calendar end in 2012 simply because they got tired of scribing long, long distant dates and said enough’s enough?

We won’t know until we see for ourselves.

Every Moment Is a Choice

In the meantime, my attitude has been to live my life with joy, passion, and gratitude for every moment. Even though I am not taking the time to formally post my daily gratitudes to my blog, I still reflect on them.

I posted a journal for the first time in a week. You can read it here and post your own.

As 2012 unfolds, we’ll step into it and watch together to see whatever mystery unfolds.

I know for sure that I will remain dedicated to helping you to achieve your fittest, strongest, most balanced, joyful, and healthy body ever.

But, with the more immediate future in mind, here’s a quick overview of what’s to come:

• Turning Food Allergies Inside Out Free Teleseminar (January 3rd, 2012)
  
• Blood sugar and insulin resistance support version 2.0
• Cleansing and detoxification – updated programs
• Support for adrenal fatigue and thyroid imbalance
• Energy Recharge Community Support

You can also catch my most recent radio show where you can explore how to stay fit and healthy through the holidays and beyond.

With much love and appreciation,

The Dangers of Undiagnosed Food Allergies:
Breaking Down Instead of Breaking Out

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Food is intended to replenish your cells, nourish your organs, and give you the energy you need to do all the things in your life that bring you joy. Yet sometimes this process backfires and meal times leave you bloated, exhausted, and unmotivated.

So what goes wrong?

One of the often overlooked causes of feeling “bad” after eating is food allergies and food intolerances.

When your immune system mistakes good food for a foreign invader, it sets up a cascade of inflammatory reactions to “kill it”, leading to pain, inflammation, and dysfunction in your body.

Most people don’t even realize anything’s wrong… at first.

Even If You’re Not Breaking Out, You May Still Be Breaking Down

Conventional medicine discounts the importance of food allergies in solving chronic health challenges and persistent body fat issues, save for those outwardly manifesting allergies that cause an immediate skin reaction or inability to breathe.

For those types of food allergies, the solution is clear from a medical perspective: avoid the food and if you accidentally get exposed, take an anti-histamine medication or a shot of epinephrine.

But what about the other kinds of food allergies – the insidious ones that contribute to chronic symptoms and health challenges? The problem with detecting these types of food intolerances is that the reaction is often not immediate, so it takes a lot of detective work to determine what foods are causing the problem.

Food allergies are tested for and managed by many alternative practitioners, yet there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about what they are, what causes food allergies, and whether these allergies can be overcome.

So, What’s Your Poison?

It’s possible that many “healthy” foods are not so good for you. It is said that “one man’s food is another man’s poison,” and this is so true when it comes to food allergy reactions. Even highly nutritious foods like broccoli or blueberries can induce an immune response that leaves you ill.

Your immune system is a double edged sword. The same reactions that can protect you from dangerous microbes can inflame and damage your essential body tissues and lead to chronic health issues.

What Happens When You Ignore Food Allergies and Intolerances?

Chronic over activity of your immune system can lead to problems like:

• weight gain
• depression
• joint pain
• fatigue
• headaches
• indigestion
• asthma
• eczema
• fibromyalgia
• autoimmune conditions
• autism
• attention deficit disorder
• and many more

So what causes your immune system to get confused and attack good food?

We’ll cover a few here and invite you to learn the details at a brand new, hot off the press, FREE teleseminar on January 3rd, 2012 called Turning Food Allergies Inside Out: Revealing the Causes, Culprits, and Cures. You’ll find the details below.

The Causes of Food Allergies

There are many causes of food allergies and intolerances, but here is a list of the most common (References for further reading will be published with the article on the Fresh n’ Fun blog soon!).

1. Infancy Food Exposure: Exposure to foods other than breast milk during the first few months of life can contribute to food allergies. Your digestive tract was designed to be able to allow larger molecules through during early life so that your mom could nurse you, pass on the protective antibodies from her immune system, and protect you. Unfortunately, what also passes through her milk are her food antibodies too.
   
   In addition, if you are fed anything other than breast milk in those early months, those openings in your digestive tract work against you and allow proteins from cow’s milk or soy, the most common foods in infant formula, to pass into your blood stream and create an immune reaction. (1) (2)
   
   
2. Immunizations: If you were immunized, the goal was to create a protective immune response to the injected substances. Unfortunately, carrier substances injected with the immunizations include things like egg albumin, which can cause you to become allergic to eggs.(3)
   
   
3. Antibiotics: Within the first year of life, intake of antibiotics has been associated with increased risk of food allergy. (4)
   
   
4. Antacids: The use of antacids impair stomach acid production and leads to the poor digestion of proteins. These undigested proteins irritate the delicate lining of your intestine, eventually eroding it enough so that the larger molecules enter your blood stream and mount an immune system attack. (5) (6)
   
   
5. Gluten: Gluten-containing foods inflame and damage your intestinal mucous membrane and result in Leaky Gut Syndrome. As a result large, undigested protein molecules enter your blood stream and your immune system attacks them. (7)
   
   
6. Stress: Eating when stressed causes increased cortisol production, which shuts down your digestion and can lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome. (9)
   
   
7. Sugar: Eating sugar disrupts normal intestinal flora and disrupts digestion. (10)

How to Tell if You Have a Potential Food Allergies or Intolerance

How do you know if food allergies may be contributing to your health concerns? Take this short self assessment quiz and find out for yourself:

1. Do you feel tired after eating?
2. Do you frequently clear your throat after meals?
3. Do you feel like you need looser pants at the end of the day?
4. Do you crave certain foods (like bread, cheese, and other snack foods) and feel the urge to eat more even if you feel full?
5. Do you feel like your pulse and heart beat become rapid after eating certain foods?
6. Do you have inflammation and pain for which you haven’t found a cause?
7. Have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease?
8. Do you experience belching, bloating, gas, or pain after eating?
9. Do you have persistent extra weight in spite of a low calorie diet and exercise?
10. Do you have asthma?
11. Do you have difficulty focusing that comes and goes?
12. Have you lost your motivation for things you used to enjoy?
13. Do you need to urinate frequently?
14. Do you have an irritable bowel?
15. Do you have unexplained bouts of depression, anxiety, or irritability?
16. Do you have frequent skin rashes, eczema, or psoriasis?

If you answered yes even to ONE of these, you might have an undiagnosed food allergy. If you answered yes to 3 or more you most certainly do.

For the full scoop on food allergies and how they are affecting your health, your energy, and your life, join me on January 3rd, 2012 for a free teleseminar:

Turning Food Allergies Inside Out:
Revealing the Causes, Culprits, and Cures
Monday, January 3rd, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

This food allergy teleseminar will cover:

• What’s happening in your body that causes your immune system to start attacking your food
• The step-by-step sequence of events that occurs during a food allergy reaction
• The most common food triggers
• The role of your digestive tract in causing and clearing food allergies
• Elimination diets and how they work
• Lab testing for food allergies
• Retesting culprit foods
• Enjoying your food, loving your life

I’ll go into even more detail about the effects of food allergies, so be sure to join us:

Register HERE!

If you’re tired of being tired, unfocused, and uncomfortable, or if you are sick of the weight that just won’t budge despite your best efforts, you owe it to yourself to explore whether food allergies are contributing to your ill health.

Learn how to become energetic, happy, and productive once more.

Turning Food Allergies Inside Out:
Revealing the Causes, Culprits, and Cures

Free Teleseminar
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

• Are you struggling with low energy, difficulty focusing, aches and pains or digestive problems that won’t go away, in spite of eating a “healthy” diet?

• Does that extra 10 pounds or more persist in spite of hours at the gym and practically starving yourself?
  
  
• Are you plagued by cravings for bread, sweets and snack foods?

If so, you’re not alone. You may be among the countless people suffering from food allergies.

The Pain of Undiagnosed Food Allergies

Undiagnosed food allergies, even to highly nutritious foods like broccoli or blueberries, can induce immune responses that leave you ill.

Many instances of food allergies go undetected, manifesting as chronic symptoms that don’t respond to conventional approaches. Chronic over activity of your immune system can lead to a host of symptoms and conditions.

If you’re wondering if you have an undiagnosed food allergy, let Dr. Ritamarie help you identify the triggers, tests, and tasty solutions to free you from your immune system battles.

Register now for the free teleseminar:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

If you’re tired of being tired, unfocused, and uncomfortable, or if you’re sick of the weight that just won’t budge despite your best efforts, you owe it to yourself to explore whether food allergies are contributing to your ill health.

Even if you can’t attend the live teleseminar, you’ll get free access to the recording, just by registering for the call:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

Once a month, you can join us LIVE in Austin, Texas for a local raw food potluck where you can:

• Meet like-minded people and make new friends.
• Learn new and exciting recipes.
• Gather valuable health and nutrition information.
• Feel supported on your health quest.

Click HERE to learn more about the event and find out all the details on what to bring and what to expect.

Upcoming Dates:

• Friday, December 16th, 6:30 p.m. central (New Date!!)
  

What our attendees have to say about recent potlucks:

• “Great meetup, great food, great folks!” — Joy Johnson
• “Great food and great people, and a warm welcoming experience (it was my first time and I felt at home!)” — Audrey

Click below to follow this Meeting Group on Facebook!

You never have to worry about missing a class! All of our delicious, health-boosting Raw Food University classes are recorded.

You can access videos and recipes in PDF format for any of our past classes including:

• Party an Potluck Nibbles that Nourish
• Holiday Feasts
• Sweets for the Holidays
• Eating for Hormone Balance
• One Dish Meals

You’ll find a complete list of past classes available HERE.

Dr. Ritamarie’s Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show: combining experience, education, and practical advice to make healthful eating fun again! Click here to learn more.

Future Show Schedule (no shows scheduled until the new year):

• Thursday, January 5th – Playtime – Living Life to the Fullest
  

You’ll find a wealth of free natural health resources when you visit our radio shows archive! Look for the most recent shows in the sidebar of the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show homepage.

Here are the latest shows we’ve added:

• Shaping Up for the Holidays with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
• Ho Ho Hold the Sweatpants! Healthy Holiday Nibbles with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and Chef Karen Osborne
• Sleep Tight: Don’t Let Your Hormones Fight with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and Dr. Lindsey Berkson
  

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, MS, DC, CCN, DACBN, has been an integrative health care practitioner for over two decades, empowering her patients and students to overcome health challenges and lead a joyful and healthy life.

Bread With A Peeling Comfort!

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Do you have a great raw food recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipe at: http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions/

“Would you like to learn more simple strategies to achieving vibrant energy, a strong lean body and an extraordinary life? Check out my web site, www.DrRitamarie.com, for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free report 7 Simple Steps to Energizing Your Life… in as little as 30 Days.

Internationally recognized speaker, author and mentor, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is the “Woman’s Fatigue Expert and Vibrant Health Mentor.”

  December 7th, 2011 Volume 1, Issue 20

Over the weekend I did something I usually don’t do…cleaned. I’m good at cleaning my body both inside and out, but when it comes to house cleaning, I can usually find lots of other options.

My cleaning activity began as a desire to organize all my nutritional products, herbs, green powders, and superfoods so I could be more regular about using them.

One thing led to another, and I decided the kitchen cupboards that stored these things needed to be better organized to facilitate using them regularly.

Soon, all my bottles of vinegar, kelp powder, spices, coconut butter, etc. filled my counters, and I trashed things I found hidden in the back of the cupboard that were no longer recognizable. I cleaned the shelves, made a trip to the container store for a couple of Lazy Susans, and after a couple of hours, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Everything was neat, organized, and viewable.

Ahhhh…

The next morning, I was looking for a particular piece of paper I thought was in my bedroom. This led to another cleaning frenzy with a couple of trips to the recycling box in the garage.

Wow!

I actually got all the junk moved off my art table (which I haven’t used in a long time)!

The clean up made me realize how much I miss painting and pottery, and it led me to make a commitment to enjoy these hobbies regularly. While I’ve always understood clearly how internal cleansing can be the key to giving us the energy to do the things we love, I love how external cleansing can be equally boosting!

In fact, feeling inspired and motivated by my kitchen and bedroom cleansing, I *just* signed up for a pottery class starting in January!

Until late February, I’ll be enjoying one night a week rediscovering an activity that brings me joy. I’m really looking forward to using my wheel and kiln again!

After all, one of my recommendations for good health is daily fun.

A Daily Dose of Vitamin Play

It’s easy to get too wrapped up in all the musts of life that we forget about the fun stuff. It’s time I renewed my commitment to daily fun by starting to do art again.

My plan is to take some time off over the Christmas break, spend quality time with my family, and do some art…enough to make it a habit that I can bring into my day to day life.

Is there something you love to do that’s been sitting dormant for a while?

Playing an instrument?
Art? Crafts? Puzzles? Hiking?

Give it some thought. Make a list and then choose something fun to do on a regular basis. If daily fun doesn’t fit your schedule, then start with at least a couple of times a week.

Fun Features You’ll Appreciate

Speaking of fun, one of my radio show guests in January is going to teach you why play so important and will motivate you to get started. Her name is Brenda Loube and she’s the author of You Can Play! You can catch our interview together on January 5th, 2012.

This week’s show will be fun, too. My friend and co-teacher, Chef Karen Osborne will join me as we talk about fun ways to turn simple foods into beautiful party trays to serve guests or bring to an event. Some of the photos of Karen’s brilliant creations are featured here.

My appreciation journal on the blog is officially drawing to a close. It’s been so rewarding! Please go here to read the grand finale! Discover a very special tribute to some wonderful people, an announcement for a Gift of Gratitude Contest, and the opportunity to post your own appreciations.

Even if public posting of your appreciation is not where you’re at right now, I do so encourage you to play the appreciation game as you stroll through your day.

Make Gratitude a Game!

Every time you have a change of scenery, i.e. move to a different room or invite people into your space, find a few things to notice, acknowledge, and appreciate.

Today, I’m looking at my art in a whole new light when I enter the living room, and it feels great! I can’t wait until there is more pottery gleaming from my shelves

The word is out. Appreciation is the most powerful tool for shifting the stressful thoughts and feelings that knock you out of balance into soothing, calming ones that create a healing environment. You get to choose.

While I won’t be continuing with the daily appreciation blog posts, I am inspired to post my appreciations at least once or twice a week. I do so hope you join me.

With much love and appreciation,

The Five Most Useful Lab Tests
for Measuring Your Health

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

As a new year approaches, it’s good idea to assess your health status and make informed decisions about what you need to do next to get your body in the best health ever.

While I feel that oft times, practitioners over-rely on lab testing and use it instead of applying clinical detective tools, like a good interview and exam, still there are many lab tests that I believe are super important to guide you to making informed decisions about what to eat, how to move, and what supplements might be needed.

The basic lab tests performed as part of the “annual physical” contain a tremendous amount of information about your nutritional status and your health…far more than most conventionally trained practitioners know to look for.

The Basic Lab Test: Understanding what “Normal” Means

The ranges used by most doctors are those calculated by the lab. Sadly, for most tests the way they decide if a value is normal or abnormal is based on the average values of all the lab tests done by that lab. So when you’re told you are “normal” what It really means is that you’re average.

I, for one, fail to feel encouraged to be told I’m average in a land where close to 50% of the people get cancer, autoimmune disease is epidemic, hormone imbalance is rampant, and heart disease and diabetes kill millions each year.

As a functional medicine practitioner, I look at optimal ranges calculated from studying healthy populations.

The List of Five Lab Tests that are Helpful Guides to Optimal Health

The following list is not meant to be comprehensive. Check with your doctor to determine the best tests for you. If you don’t have a primary care doctor or do but don’t have insurance coverage for lab tests, I suggest you check out one of the direct access labs that allow you to order your own blood tests.

The one I use is called Direct Labs – http://www.directlabs.com.

These panels are unfortunately only available in the continental U.S. excluding New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island due to state laws in these localities. If you live outside the U.S. or in one of these states, speak to your local health practitioner or seek a functional medicine doctor in your area to get help with ordering tests.

1. Comprehensive Wellness Profile (CWP)

I like to start with a comprehensive blood chemistry panel and Complete Blood Count (CBC). Direct Labs calls this the Comprehensive Wellness Profile, aka CWP. It’s a panel of over 50 tests that assesses your thyroid, kidneys, liver, cholesterol and other blood lipids (fats), minerals, fluids and electrolytes, and blood sugar.

The CWP also includes the aforementioned Complete Blood Count test, which assesses your immune system and determines if you have anemia and what kind of anemia if so.

Direct Labs usually runs a sale on this test in December. Until the end of the month, you can order this complete panel for only $59.

Click HERE for details.

Even if you’re outside the region that can Direct Labs to run the test for you, you can see what’s covered and be better informed when you speak to ypour local practitioner about orderint the equalalent for you.

2. Vitamin D

Next, I add Vitamin D. This is a very important test to run, as Vitamin D deficiency is very widespread due to the fear of the sun propagated by the media. Vitamin D is made by your body upon exposure to UV sunlight. Deficiency of Vitamin D can lead to widespread problems, including altered immune system function, including autoimmune disease, leaky gut, depression, hormone imbalance and much more.

3. Thyroid

If you’re tired, overweight, have dry skin, depression or constipation, your thyroid might be off. While the CWP tests thyroid, it’s not always enough. The most common cause of low thyroid function is an autoimmune condition. For this, I suggest you add to the mix 2 tests for thyroid antibodies: Thyroid Peroxidase and Antithyroglobulin.

4. Blood Sugar

If you have a history of blood sugar imbalance, hard to get rid of belly fat, fatigue, or a family history of diabetes, I also recommend additional tests to assess your blood sugar status and determine if you have a tendency towards insulin resistance or diabetes. The CWP includes fasting blood glucose, but often this is not enough to give the true blood sugar balance picture.

I recommend also running fasting insulin and hemoglobin a1C. In addition, you can purchase an inexpensive blood sugar meter at your local pharmacy or online and really get the complete picture.

5. Heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Sadly, for about 50% of people with heart disease the first symptom is dropping dead of a heart attack. This happened to BOTH my parents. Wouldn’t you like to know if you are at risk BEFORE a fatal event so you can take the steps to reduce your risk?

If you have a family history of cardiovascular disease, or find that your cholesterol tends to be higher than ideal, there are a couple of really useful tests. C-Reeactive Protein (CRP-hs) is a marker of inflammation in your blood vessels and homocysteine is an amino acid that plays a role in destroying the lining of your artery walls, promoting the formation of blood clots, and also accelerates the buildup of scar tissue. High levels may increase the chance of heart disease and stroke, especially if you have other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, or family history.

I suggest you run CRP-hs and homocysteine tests if you feel you are at risk. There are also much more detailed and sophisticated cardiac risk tests, including one called VAP, that I order when appropriate.

Extra Tests

Extra tests I often run when indicted by symptoms and health history are the adrenal stress index and a fatty acid test to determine the balance between the oh-so-important omega 3 and 6 fats and risk for inflammatory disease.

How to Determine Which Tests You Need

When I’m working with someone one on one, I do a complete history and determine which tests would be helpful.

My Assess Your Own Body Chemistry class was designed to empower you to take charge of your own health. The program teaches you how to read your own lab work, as well as physical signs and symptoms.

We’ll be releasing the self-study version of the course in early 2012. It’s an excellent way to learn how to read your own body.

Finally, if you are overweight, crave sugar or carbs, and feel like you need to eat frequently to maintain your energy, you most likely have a blood sugar imbalance. In this case, I recommend you get yourself a glucose meter and start to track your response to foods.

The participants in my recent B4 Be Gone System learned how use a glucose meter to track their blood sugar in response to their foods and realized the tremendous value in knowing just how each food affected them. Knowing YOUR response to particular foods guides you in designing a diet that keeps your belly flat, your mind sharp and focused, and your energy high. The B4 Be Gone System will be available again for a live group setting in February 2012.

Before you get yourself tested, make a commitment to take good care of yourself. Get the white stuff out and the green stuff in.

If you’ve been feeling off or overweight in spite of a good diet, it’s time to do some testing and see what’s out of balance.

Measuring your health is the best way I know to really determine how your habits are serving you.

Watch here for more information and resources for lab testing over the next couple of months.

Download Dr. Ritamarie’s “Hush Hush” List of Hormones and Strategies for Busting Your Holiday Bulge

Gift Teleseminar and Bonus Hormone Checklist!

Recently, I hosted a free teleseminar on a topic that struck a chord with a lot of people. After only a couple of announcements, relatively last minute at that, we had well over 700 people register and the number is still growing.

On the call, I talked about 3 mysterious hormones that can change your shape, improve your outlook, energize your body, and protect your health!

You’ll have to listen to the recording to find out all the juicy details, Health-Seeker!

Register now and listen to the recording to learn the details while you take notes on the the BONUS checklist of strategies for getting these hormones working for you rather than against you!

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/HushHushHormones

The checklist link is on the audio page you’ll receive access to when you register, but not for long. This is a limited time only bonus and will be taken down on the morning of Friday, December 9th.

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/HushHushHormones

P.S. When you register, you can also find out about a special invitation and offer I’ve extended for my Energy Recharge Green Cleanse starting next week!

  Dr. Ritamarie’s Energy Recharge Green Cleanse
December 12th, 2011

Register Before December 8th for This Special Offer:

For seven days, you can revitalize yourself with the power of parsley, charge yourself with Swiss chard, and get your kick for life back with kale! You’ll learn all about the miraculous ability of green smoothies and blended greens to restore and heal your body. That great inside feeling is going to shine through you with a beautiful glow that will be brighter than any wrapped gift you put under the tree this year.

A live group Green Cleanse experience is one that deserves to be shared, so in the spirit of the holidays, for a limited time, you can invite a friend for free to participate.

Freshen the Life of a Friend

On December 12th, 2011 we’ll be kicking off a 7-day Energy Recharge Green Cleanse designed to ward off those gingerbread and candy cane pounds that will soon come knocking at your waist. While others will be running their bodies ragged with processed foods and the extra stress of the holidays, we’ll be staying lean, green, and SERENE!

http://www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com

For a limited time, until 5 p.m. Thursday, December 8th, you can join the Energy Recharge Green Cleanse AND invite a friend or loved one as a gift.

Plus you’ll also get to participate in another cleanse in 2012 – a new and improved version that will take cleaning to the next level. And you’ll get monthly support and information calls between cleanses. All this for one VERY low investment.

http://www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com

There are already a lot of bonuses offered with the Energy Recharge Green Cleanse – all geared towards guiding you to making healthy habits fun and lasting. There are recipe guides, videos, and audios on topics such as emotional eating, gut health, food allergies and eating in the wild.

This time around, we have new bonuses – a 43 page e-book of low-glycemic juices, smoothies and soups, new menu plans and an awesome transition back week to help you make the healthiest choices during the winter holiday season.

An Extra Unannounced Bonus!

If you register and invest in full by 5 p.m. on Thursday, you can enjoy a free seat in the upcoming Party and Potuck Nibbles that Nourish online class, and if you are already registered for that one, you can choose any Raw Food University Class instead.

Check out the Energy Recharge Green Cleanse at:

http://www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com

You can cleanse using green smoothies, juices, soups or whole green foods. Let me show you how!

Join the hundreds of others who’ve shed unwanted pounds and inches, increased their energy and opened their minds and hearts to the joy that vibrant health inspires.

Once a month, you can join us LIVE in Austin, Texas for a local raw food potluck where you can:

• Meet like-minded people and make new friends.
• Learn new and exciting recipes.
• Gather valuable health and nutrition information.
• Feel supported on your health quest.

Click HERE to learn more about the event and find out all the details on what to bring and what to expect.

Upcoming Dates:

• Friday, December 16th, 6:30 p.m. central (New Date!!)
  

What our attendees have to say about recent potlucks:

• “Great meetup, great food, great folks!” — Joy Johnson
• “Great food and great people, and a warm welcoming experience (it was my first time and I felt at home!)” — Audrey

Click below to follow this Meeting Group on Facebook!

There are three great options for attending our Raw Food University Classes:

• Join us in person and get to sample the delicious raw food recipes or learn to make these dishes from the comfort of your own home.
• Join us live via the web and watch the video of the class as it unfolds.
• Enjoy a recorded video from any of our past classes.
  

All class participants receive a recipe guide e-book and fully indexed online video class you can watch over and over.

• December 11th, 2011 – Party and Potluck Nibbles that Nourish

Check here for upcoming details on our future classes and schedule!

Presented by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, Karen Osborne, and Pamela Weems

Whether you’re entertaining for the holidays or looking for that perfect dish to take to a party or potluck, you’ll find a recipe in this class that will raise eyebrows and delight taste buds!

Not only will these dishes meet all your expectations when it comes to elegance and taste, they also come with a fat-pant-busting guarantee that you won’t pack on the extra holiday pounds when you stick to these dairy-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free whole food options.

Register for this class and learn how to make nourishing and nutritious holiday dishes that will make your next party platter a hit including:

• Can’t Be Beeten Ravioli
• Tantalizing “Tuna” Paté
• Satin “Salmon” Mousse
• Tasty Trimming Nut “Cheese”
• Crowned Cucumber Canapés
  (3 varieties)
• Shiitake Basil Bites
• Tomato-Wee Wonder Boats
  (2 varieties)
• Stuffed Zucchitti Bitties
• Cheesy Apri-chios
• Ambrosial Amaretto Truffles
• Ravishing Rose Cream Squares
• and more!
  

Remember, all recipes are made with 100% gluten free, dairy free whole fresh foods – no sugar, no processed oils, no grains, and no cooking!

Includes 2 1/2 hours of recipe demonstrations and all the recipes in a PDF e-Book!

You never have to worry about missing a class! All of our delicious, health-boosting Raw Food University classes are recorded. You can access videos and recipes in PDF format for any of our past classes including:

• Holiday Feasts
• Sweets for the Holidays
• Eating for Hormone Balance
• One Dish Meals

You’ll find a complete list of past classes available HERE.

Dr. Ritamarie’s Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show: combining experience, education, and practical advice to make healthful eating fun again! Click here to learn more.

Future Show Schedule:

• Thursday, December 8th – Ho Ho Hold the Sweatpants! Healthy Holiday Nibbles
• Thursday, December 15th – Shaping Up for the Holidays
• Thursday, December 22nd – Decorating Your Holiday Stress
• Thursday, December 29th – Create an Inspired Health Vision for 2012
• Thursday, January 5th – Playtime – Living Life to the Fullest
  

You’ll find a wealth of free natural health resources when you visit our radio shows archive! Look for the most recent shows in the sidebar of the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show homepage.

Here are the latest shows we’ve added:

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, MS, DC, CCN, DACBN, has been an integrative health care practitioner for over two decades, empowering her patients and students to overcome health challenges and lead a joyful and healthy life.

The Taste of a Cleansing Christmas

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Apples and cinnamon are always a favorite holiday taste. This recipe, one of my Energy Recharge Green Cleanse smoothie recipes, is guaranteed to have you feeling fresh and festive!

Apple Cinnamon Green

Ingredients:

• 1 head Bok choy
• 1 apple
• 1 pear
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pinch of cardamom

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Add water or juice to desired consistency.

The Energy Recharge Green Cleanse Recipe Guide includes over 80 green-packed recipes!

You’ll also receive two BONUS green recipe e-books with the program: a collection of 50 tried and true recipes from our Green Cleanse participants and a new Low-Glycemic e-book where over 50 of Dr. Ritamarie’s non-fruit juices, smoothies, and soups are gathered for those who are watching their blood sugar.

Click here for all the details:

http://www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com

Do you have a great raw food recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipe at: http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions/

“Would you like to learn more simple strategies to achieving vibrant energy, a strong lean body and an extraordinary life? Check out my web site, www.DrRitamarie.com, for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free report 7 Simple Steps to Energizing Your Life… in as little as 30 Days.

Internationally recognized speaker, author and mentor, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is the “Woman’s Fatigue Expert and Vibrant Health Mentor.”

November 30th, 2011 Volume 1, Issue 19

Excitement is in the air here as we put up Christmas lights and begin preparing our home for the holidays.

We celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah to honor the upbringings of both my husband and I. It’s great for the kids as it often results in many days of celebration!

In fact, another winter holiday we’ve come to celebrate in recent years is the winter solstice, which signifies moving from the dark into the light. We burn candles and reflect on the habits and attitudes we’re ready to let go of and those we welcome in. Often we have a party and invite friends. It’s quite the festivity lighting the Christmas tree, Hannukah candles, AND the solstice candles.

The time will fly by and soon we’ll be moving into a brand new year.

Are You Festive or Frazzled?

It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of getting just the right gifts, the cost of it all, and the seemingly constant food temptations that surround us at this time of year.

One of the best strategies for getting through the holidays is to keep your stress level to a minimum.

Stress triggers emotional eating and, as I will share on my upcoming FREE teleseminar, there’s a chemical trigger (not just feelings and habits) that determines emotional eating behavior.

Take a minute or two a few times a day to breathe and find things to appreciate to keep your cortisol and adrenaline under control and you’ll notice a huge difference in how you feel!

Resources to Keep You Bright, Beautiful, and Blissful

To help you cope with all the temptations and challenges to your health at this time of year, I’m excited to have some very special resources so you can keep your energy high and your body feeling great.

• This week we have a super exciting show on sleep. It’s even more important at this time of year to nourish yourself with zzzzz’s. I am excited to welcome my dear friend, anti-aging and hormone expert, Dr. Lindsey Berkson. She’ll be sharing her “beauty sleep” secrets for how sleep helps turn back the hands of time.
  
  

• The following week, we’ll have guest Chef Karen Osborne sharing some of her secrets for creating the most amazing party foods that will not only keep your waistline trim, but also delight the palates of young and old alike.
  
  

• I also have a very special teleseminar coming up on Dec 5th all about some very little known hormones that when brought into balance through simple meal strategies can profoundly affect your holiday and everyday experience. This week’s feature article will give you a bit of a sneak preview, but you skip ahead and register here.
  
  Please let your friends know about the call…it will be chock full of value.
  
  

• I’m continuing the appreciation log for at least another week, and I would so love your contribution. Click here to find my latest entry.
  
  

• And please remember the Party and Potluck Nibbles that Nourish class on Dec 11th. Karen’s told me she’s putting the finishing touches on the final menu and it’s really special. We’ll be giving you a peak at the dishes and sharing photos on the blog soon.
  
  Sign up for the class by TODAY and we’ll also send you my Healthy Holidays Online Video recording, valued at $17, for free!

Talk to you VERY soon….hopefully Thursday morning on the radio!

With much love and appreciation,

Why Eating Frequent, Small Meals
May be Damaging to Your Health

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

A common recommendation for people suffering with blood sugar imbalances and attempting to reduce weight is to eat frequent, small meals throughout the day.

The idea is that eating every couple of hours keeps your blood sugar levels steady without the dips (and severe hunger that accompanies those dips). In theory, you’ll eat less if you never let yourself get hungry enough to overeat.

Recent hormone research tells us that this is actually the worst way to eat for blood sugar balance and weight loss and can actually be damaging to your health.

Understanding Why Frequent Eating is Faulty Advice

Hunger, satiation, and blood sugar balance are all under hormonal control. And we’re not talking about reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone. We’re talking about what I refer to as “the survival hormones.”

Eating between means alters powerful hormonal signals, interferes with the mechanism that burns fat as fuel, clogs liver metabolism, and sends calories right to fat stores.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by your pancreas in response to eating. It doesn’t much matter what you eat; insulin will be secreted. The composition of your meal determines just how much insulin is secreted. The more carbohydrates in the meal, the more insulin that’s required to keep your blood sugar regulated.

The most basic concept that you need to understand is that whenever insulin levels rise, fat burning stops.


The Hormone Relationship Between Insulin and Fat Burning

In order to understand why an increase in insulin levels affects your fat burning ability, let’s start by understanding what should happen with hormones in a perfectly balanced body.

1. You eat, insulin levels rise, and glucose is moved into your cells to be burned for energy.
   
   
2. Insulin triggers leptin levels to rise (leptin is the hormone your fat cells secrete after a meal) which signals the brain to turn off your appetite and tells your pancreas to stop making insulin.
   
   
3. Glucose levels return to normal, insulin decreases, and leptin triggers fat burning.
   
   
4. If your blood sugar begins to drop too much, glucagon is secreted to mobilize stored calories and all is well, until your next meal.
   

Typically, insulin levels peak at around 30 minutes after you eat and return to normal at about 3 hours. Then leptin gets to go to work and triggers fat burning.

In the ideal situation, insulin sends 60% of the fuel in a meal to the liver for “quick access” storage as glycogen and triggers the uptake of the remaining 40% of the glucose and amino acids into muscle cells and cells of your vital organs, which use the glucose for fuel and the amino acids for growth and repair.

However, if you’re eating every 2 – 3 hours, as some experts advise, your insulin levels never go back to normal and you never go into fat burning mode.

Understanding the Process of Becoming Insulin Resistant

When you eat frequent, small meals throughout the day, insulin levels stay elevated all day, triggering fat storage and leading to insulin resistance. What this means is that your cells no longer hear the cry of insulin to allow fuel in for energy. As result, more fat storage occurs and you feel tired all the time.

If everything is functioning properly, then after a meal there is no need to eat again for 5 or 6 hours.

The hormone glucagon is in charge of keeping your blood sugar steady between meals. Glucagon signals the liver to turn the stored glycogen back into glucose as your sugar levels begin to drop between meals. It also triggers a process called “gluconeogenesis” which triggers the creation of glucose from stored protein and fat.

In a healthy person, insulin and glucagon are good siblings and take turns.

There’s enough carbohydrates stored in the liver in the form of glycogen to last 24 hours, unless you are engaging in extreme exercise like marathons or triathlons, so when things are functioning well, there are no blood sugar dips between meals.

Snacking between meals causes insulin to rise again, even before it’s returned to normal, suppresses glucagon, and raises leptin levels unnaturally, leading to a condition called leptin resistance wherein the brain and pancreas no longer hear the signal from leptin to turn off appetite and reduce insulin secretion.

Constantly elevated levels of insulin, either from snacking between meals, deliberately planning meals close together, or eating foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates, causes hyperinsulinemia, a condition of too much insulin in your blood. This condition leads to insulin resistance as the cells can no longer take in so much sugar and “close their ears” to the insulin signal.

Insulin resistance leads to weight gain, especially around the middle, stiffening of your arteries, elevated blood pressure, systemic inflammation, and eventually to cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke.

The Dangers of Insulin Resistance

Once you understand how the hormones are supposed to work together, you can understand why eating frequent small meals is not just a bad idea for weight loss, it’s outright dangerous.

In addition, eating too frequently can cause your liver to get congested. Remember, ideally, the liver takes 60% of the fuel from each meal and stores it as readily available fuel. When the liver becomes insulin resistant, those calories eaten head directly for fat storage as your liver can no longer accept them without the aid of insulin. Further, eating too often clogs your liver’s fuel storage system, resulting in fatigue and impaired detoxification mechanisms.

Eating too often also triggers your liver to produce excess VLDL, the most dangerous form of cholesterol. As a result, snacking between meals causes cholesterol to rise even more than eating cholesterol rich foods.

A Chain of Collapse

This whole process, a guaranteed “chain that makes you gain,” becomes a vicious, vitality-sabotaging cycle:

1. When your liver gets clogged and develops insulin resistance, it’s hard to go 5-6 hours between meals or to sleep through the night because your liver can no longer produce a steady stream of glucose – it needs to comes from outside.
   
   
2. When there is insulin resistance in your liver, your liver turns calories into fat at an increased rate, leading to excess weight.
   
   
3. The constant high levels of insulin due to eating too frequently result in excess leptin and eventually leptin resistance, which further confuses your liver and turns down the production of glucagon, the hormone that keeps your blood sugar steady between meals by stimulating the release of stored fuel.
   
   
4. To make matters even worse, the lining of your blood vessels and your nerve cells do not become insulin resistant and are subject to the stiffening effect of excess blood sugar and insulin.
   
   
5. The net result is stiffening of your arteries and hardening of your nerves, leading to cardiovascular disease and mental decline.

Breaking the “Gain Chain”: Solutions to Restore Your Hormones

So, now that you understand the dangers of eating frequent, small meals and how they affect your hormone balance, what’s the solution?

Timing your meals to optimize hormones is key.

It’s important to remember that fat burning is impossible when insulin levels are elevated. It takes about 3 hours after a meal for insulin levels to return to baseline, even if you just eat a small snack.
Until then, fat burning is impossible.

If you have weight to drop, are fatigued, concerned about family history of heart disease, cancer or diabetes, make use of that critical fat burning time.

At 3 hours after a meal, do some exercise, drink some water with lemon juice and do whatever it takes to hold off the next meal for as long as you comfortably can.

It may only be 3 hours and 15 minutes to start, then 3 hours and 30 minutes, and then eventually, in 15 – 30 minute increments, you’ll be able to gradually move your meal spacing to at least 5 – 6 hours.

As you stretch the time between meals and change the foods you eat to foods that require less insulin, you’ll see the pounds melt away, your energy rise and your mental clarity improve. And maybe, even more importantly, you’ll protect yourself from the top 3 killer diseases in our modern world.

To find out more, register now for the free teleseminar, Dr. Ritamarie’s “Hush Hush” List of Hormones and Strategies for Busting Your Holiday Bulge.

Dr. Ritamarie’s “Hush Hush” List of Hormones and Strategies for Busting Your Holiday Bulge

Free Teleseminar!

Monday, December 5th, 7:30 p.m. Central

It’s that time of year… the time for shopping, decorating, and practicing your thank-you smile when someone gives you one of those “I was a doorstop in a previous life” fruitcakes as a gift. While the good intention is there, the sad truth is that the food gifts we often give tend to make us feel more fat than festive.

For what’s intended to be a joyful season, most of the food choices we make ultimately result in guilt, shame, and regret.

You’re smart enough to know that indulging in those rich, holiday processed foods means decking your waistline with future pounds and the inevitable donning of your elasticized sweatpants.

Just Say Ho Ho Hold the Sweatpants!

This year, I’m sending you an early holiday gift and letting you in on my pound-sizzling secrets for boosting your internal fat burning furnace.

It all has to do with some secret, often overlooked hormones I’ll tell you all about in my upcoming, free teleseminar:

Click HERE to register!

Stuff yourself with strategies for getting through the holiday without the extra belly bulge and make this year a truly fun and fruitcake-free delight!

Even if you can’t attend the live teleseminar, you’ll get free access to the recording, just by registering for the call:

Ho Ho Hold the Fruitcake and Register me Now!

Once a month, you can join us LIVE in Austin, Texas for a local raw food potluck where you can:

• Meet like-minded people and make new friends.
• Learn new and exciting recipes.
• Gather valuable health and nutrition information.
• Feel supported on your health quest.

Click HERE to learn more about the event and find out all the details on what to bring and what to expect.

Upcoming Dates:

• Saturday, December 17th, 6:30 p.m. central
  

What our attendees have to say about recent potlucks:

• “Great meetup, great food, great folks!” — Joy Johnson
• “Great food and great people, and a warm welcoming experience (it was my first time and I felt at home!)” — Audrey

Click below to follow this Meeting Group on Facebook!

You can attend our Raw Food University Classes live and in person and get to sample the delicious raw food recipes or learn to make these dishes from the comfort of your own home.

Either way, you get a recipe guide e-book and fully indexed online video class you can watch over and over.

• December 10th, 2011 – Party and Potluck Nibbles that Nourish

Check back here soon for more details to be announced!

Presented by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, Karen Osborne, and Pamela Weems

Whether you’re entertaining for the holidays or looking for that perfect dish to take to a party or potluck, you’ll find a recipe in this class that will raise eyebrows and delight taste buds!

Not only will these dishes meet all your expectations when it comes to elegance and taste, they also come with a fat-pant-busting guarantee that you won’t pack on the extra holiday pounds when you stick to these dairy-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free whole food options.

Register for this class and learn how to make nourishing and nutritious holiday dishes that will make your next party platter a hit including:

• healthy hor d’oeuvres
• fresh finger foods
• appetite-friendly appetizers
• to-die-for desserts that boost longevity

Remember, all recipes are made with 100% gluten free, dairy free whole fresh foods – no sugar, no processed oils, no grains, and no cooking!

Includes 2 1/2 hours of recipe demonstrations and all the recipes in a PDF e-Book!

You never have to worry about missing a class! All of our delicious, health-boosting Raw Food University classes are recorded. You can access videos and recipes in PDF format for any of our past classes including:

• Holiday Feasts
• Sweets for the Holidays
• Eating for Hormone Balance
• One Dish Meals

You’ll find a complete list of past classes available HERE.

Dr. Ritamarie’s Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show: combining experience, education, and practical advice to make healthful eating fun again! Click here to learn more.

Future Show Schedule:

• Thursday, December 1st – Sleep Tight: Don’t Let Your Hormones Fight
• Thursday, December 8th – Ho Ho Hold the Sweatpants! Healthy Holiday Nibbles
• Thursday, December 15th – Shaping Up for the Holidays
• Thursday, December 22nd – Decorating Your Holiday Stress
• Thursday, December 29th – Create an Inspired Health Vision for 2012
  

You’ll find a wealth of free natural health resources when you visit our radio shows archive!  Look for the most recent shows in the sidebar of the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show homepage.

Here are the latest shows we’ve added:

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, MS, DC, CCN, DACBN, has been an integrative health care practitioner for over two decades, empowering her patients and students to overcome health challenges and lead a joyful and healthy life.

By Ritamarie Loscalzo

As the holidays approach, you may find your sweet tooth getting a little more merry than you’d like. Here’s a sweet dessert that you can enjoy without spiking your blood sugar!

Coconut Carob Mint Low-Glycemic “Candies”

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut butter
• 1/4 cup carob powder
• 1/4 cup water
• 10 drops peppermint oil
• Optional: 8 drops chocolate stevia
• Optional: 3 drops hazelnut flavor extract

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined, adding just enough water to make a smooth paste or blend until smooth.
2. (Optional) Add a tablespoon of chopped nuts for a crunchy candy.
3. Spoon into candy molds (http://www.drritamarie.com/go/FWSiliconeMolds) or ice cube trays or spread into a baking dish lined with wax paper.
4. Freeze until solid, about half an hour.

Looking for more Sweet Treat ideas?

Find more in our Sweets for the Holidays class video!

Do you have a great raw food recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipe at: http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions/

“Would you like to learn more simple strategies to achieving vibrant energy, a strong lean body and an extraordinary life? Check out my web site, www.DrRitamarie.com, for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free report 7 Simple Steps to Energizing Your Life… in as little as 30 Days.

Internationally recognized speaker, author and mentor, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is the “Woman’s Fatigue Expert and Vibrant Health Mentor.”

November 18th, 2011 Volume 1, Issue 18

Hello Health-Seeker,

I am so excited to connect with you this week as there’s so much to share.

You can read about my healing and learning experience this week HERE. Takes a face to face encounter sometimes to really have the message sink in.

Since next Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the U.S., I am excited to continue my gratitude journal. It’s been a profoundly healing experience to publicly declare my appreciations each day. No messing around or slacking off allowed! And I have been very moved by the gratitude of others.

If you haven’t gotten started, there’s still time. No need to participate from the start or even every day for you to benefit. Today I am especially grateful to have such a strong, fit son as my 17-year old, fueled by 100% whole food, high green plant power since birth. Read about his amazing accomplishment yesterday, and then comment below with your own points of gratitude.

Go ahead and try the gratitude on. It’s contagious. I’d like to go for a record gratitude day and flood the airwaves with messages of hope and optimism to counter all the regular news airwaves.

As you prepare for the upcoming holidays, it’s so important to keep thankfulness at the front and foremost of consciousness. I spoke a lot about that on yesterday’s Vibrant Health Solutions show, and I also gave you ideas for whole-food, nutritious alternatives to all the traditional Thanksgiving meal items.

Finally… I saved what might be the biggest points of gratitude for last.

I am Your 2011 Veghealth “Best Nutrition Guru / Trainer” Winner!

I am honored to have been chosen as the 2011 Vegetarian Health Institute “Best Nutrition Guru / Trainer,” especially since I shared this category with esteemed colleagues like Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. John McDougall, and David Wolfe. This recognition further fuels my passion for providing you with the latest, scientifically accurate natural health information available AND ways for you to implement it into your life.

Thank you for all votes, support, and positive thinking!

I am Now a Best-Selling Author!

I contributed a chapter called “Adrenal Recharge Strategies for High Achievers” to the book Trendsetters, and the book made the Amazon best-sellers list in early November. I just got a shipment of books, and I will let you know next week how you can get a copy.

So go now, have a wonderful day.

Find things to appreciate wherever you go. If you live in the U.S. and celebrate Thanksgiving, enjoy and love yourself enough to choose the foods that you know nurture, not injure, your inner workings and energize rather than tire your brain and body.

And be sure to put our upcoming blog talk radio show on your calendar. It’s the first in a series on a very important topic…SLEEP!

With much love and appreciation, and wishes for health and joy.

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

As a result of my own healing experience this past week, I am once again in awe of the nature’s incredible healing wisdom.

The healing ability of your body is nothing short of miraculous and at this time of year, when our attention here in the U.S. is turning towards our Thanksgiving holiday, one of the top things of your “things to be thankful for” list is your body’s innate healing capabilities.

I truly believe that your body can overcome almost any health challenge when you remove the obstacles from its path and provide the things its missing. And I don’t mean symptom removal. Every symptom is a message from your body saying “something is out of balance.” Yet, we so want to turn off the symptoms and return to comfort that we sometimes forget to ask what the message is.

Sometimes the thing that’s out of balance is not tangible. You don’t need to remove a toxin, or take an herb or homeopathic remedy, or try a new therapy when what your body is asking for is a shift in an attitude or a belief.

No matter how good your diet is or how impeccable your exercise program is, if you’re angry, judgmental, or fearful; not taking periodic de-stress breaks; and not sleeping enough; your body’s innate healing capabilities cannot perform at peak potential.

And guess what?

You’ll experience uncomfortable or downright painful symptoms, your excess weight will stay locked in place, your brain will operate at less than par, and you, my friend, will find yourself living a life devoid of passion, purpose, and prosperity.

Click here to read the rest of my personal lesson about the importance of balance…

How to Indulge Without the Bulge:
Thriving Through the Holiday Season
With Your Waistline Intact

By Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

I’ve been consulting with patients on achieving vibrant health and boundless energy for over two decades now, and I’m still amazed at how many people who’ve been experiencing dramatic improvements in their health allow themselves to get off track around the holidays and backtrack on the progress they’ve made.

It breaks my heart to watch folks backslide after they’ve been steadily improving their health, approaching their ideal body weight, and finally experiencing the energy to begin to really live their lives.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way.

I know it’s really easy to get caught up in the frenzy of holiday shopping, parties, and family activities. In just a matter of a few guilty choices, you watch all your healthy habits you’ve spent months or years trying to establish fall by the wayside, at best with the somewhat committed self-promise of “starting again” after the holidays.

The problem is, starting again after the holidays is really hard to do when your waistline is bulging, your strength has diminished, and you barely have the energy to get out of bed in the morning.

But what if you could wake up on New Year’s Day feeling slim, strong and energetic, and ready to work on your life’s true purpose?

Fit, Fabulous, and Festive!

Take a moment to really appreciate how great that would feel. Spend some time indulging yourself in the pleasure of waking up on New Year’s Day with less weight than you have now (or your ideal weight if reducing your weight is not or no longer an issue). Notice how good it feels for your belly to feel flat and comfortable, your clothes to fit comfortably, and your body to look and feel fit and trim.

Appreciate the attitude of loving yourself and feeling proud of your accomplishments instead of scolding yourself and feeling “less than” because you succumbed once again to the very temporary pleasure of the holiday foods.

The winter holiday season is supposed to be one of joy and sharing. Yet all too often, you find yourself getting overly stressed by the magnitude of the tasks at hand. Cards, shopping for and wrapping gifts, decorating, and making food are all a part of the sometimes overwhelmingly long task list.

This stress, along with the food, will contribute to extra fat around your middle. Unfortunately, the traditional holiday fare is not consistent with achieving the level of health you desire and deserve. And the pressure from well-meaning friends and family to indulge in the old favorites can be overwhelming.

How would it feel if you could indulge in delicious foods and still stay healthy and fit?
Sound impossible?

Those who’ve watched my Indulge without the Bulge DVD know otherwise because they’ve learned amazing recipes and the 7 secret strategies for thriving through the holiday season.

A Sneak Peak at My 7 Secrets:

This is just a summary. The DVD and the accompanying workbook and recipe guide provide tools to help implement them:

1. Set clear goals about how you want to look and feel on January 1st. Write them down and read them every day, especially when you’re tempted to stray from your healthy diet and exercise plan.
2. Keep well hydrated. Often when you’re thirsty, you perceive it as hunger. Start your day with at least a pint of filtered water. Drink a tall glass of water about 15 minutes before each meal to take the edge off your appetite.
3. Start your day with a smoothie made from fresh whole fruit and leafy greens for extra vitamins, minerals, and phyto-nutrients. Enjoy the green smoothie recipes in my Blended Greens for Health and Longevity e-book, available as my gift at www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com.
4. Bring food with you whenever you go to parties, dinners and on shopping excursions and eat a healthy snack before you go to parties or out to dinner. Learn a few quick, easy and delicious living food recipes that are similar to traditional holiday favorites and easy enough to whip up in minutes. Check the blog talk radio show, Feast Your Way to Health for lots of detailed suggestions.
5. Breathe deeply several times a day to decrease your stress, get the oxygen flowing, clear your busy mind, and calm your nervous system. Your digestive tract is most efficient in the calm state.
6. Simplify gift giving. The holiday season is supposed to be a time when we express love and appreciation to those we care about, so avoid stressing out about buying the right gift. You can donate to a favorite charity or give health-related gifts like CD’s, DVD’s, equipment, and healthy food. Or give gift certificates for a service you can do for a loved one or a place you can take them.
7. Give yourself some wiggle room. Don’t be so hard on yourself if you can’t be 100% all the time. It could trigger a defeatist attitude and cause you to stray even further. Instead, strive to stay on track most of the time and be kind to yourself if there are a few indulgences. You might even make a list in advance of the places where it would be most hurtful for your health if you stray (i.e. foods where you know you can’t eat just one, foods you are allergic to, or those that trigger serious negative reactions)

These are just some ideas to get you started. Don’t forget that exercise is vital to keeping you healthy at this time of year. Be sure to move your body, even if you only have time for 10 minutes a day. Even several short intense bursts of 30 seconds spread throughout the day are very helpful and promote fat burning.

And, above all, treat yourself with dignity and respect. Connect with those you love and show appreciation and love to them and to yourself.

Recognize the gift you are to the world and celebrate your greatness.

Once a month, you can join us LIVE in Austin, Texas for a local raw food potluck where you can:

• Meet like-minded people and make new friends.
• Learn new and exciting recipes.
• Gather valuable health and nutrition information.
• Feel supported on your health quest.

Click HERE to learn more about the event and find out all the details on what to bring and what to expect.

You can attend our Raw Food University Classes live and in person and get to sample the delicious raw food recipes or learn to make these dishes from the comfort of your own home.

Either way, you get a recipe guide e-book and fully indexed online video class you can watch over and over.

• December 10th, 2011 – Party and Potluck Nibbles that Nourish

Check back here soon for more details to be announced!

Presented by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, Karen Osborne, and Pamela Weems

Whether you’re entertaining for the holidays or looking for that perfect dish to take to a party or potluck, you’ll find a recipe in this class that will raise eyebrows and delight taste buds!

Not only will these dishes meet all your expectations when it comes to elegance and taste, they also come with a fat-pant-busting guarantee that you won’t pack on the extra holiday pounds when you stick to these dairy-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free whole food options.

Register for this class and learn how to make nourishing and nutritious holiday dishes that will make your next party platter a hit including:

• healthy hor d’oeuvres
• fresh finger foods
• appetite-friendly appetizers
• to-die-for desserts that boost longevity

Remember, all recipes are made with 100% gluten free, dairy free whole fresh foods – no sugar, no processed oils, no grains, and no cooking!

You never have to worry about missing a class! All of our delicious, health-boosting Raw Food University classes are recorded. You can access videos and recipes in PDF format for any of our past classes including:

• Holiday Feasts
• Sweets for the Holidays
• Eating for Hormone Balance
• One Dish Meals

You’ll find a complete list of past classes available HERE.

Dr. Ritamarie’s Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show: combining experience, education, and practical advice to make healthful eating fun again! Click here to learn more.

Future Show Schedule:

• Thursday, November 24th – (No show due to American Thanksgiving)
• Thursday, December 1st – Sleep Tight: Don’t Let Your Hormones Fight
  

You’ll find a wealth of free natural health resources when you visit our radio shows archive!  Look for the most recent shows in the sidebar of the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show homepage.

Here are the latest shows we’ve added:

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, MS, DC, CCN, DACBN, has been an integrative health care practitioner for over two decades, empowering her patients and students to overcome health challenges and lead a joyful and healthy life.

Raw Food Riches
Using Your Passion for Health for Prosperity

by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

I think the happiest people are the ones who figure out how to live doing what they love.

I also believe people can enjoy greater success on any chosen path when health isn’t an obstacle, so I’ve become very passionate about helping others to reach their full, vibrant potential.

If you’re here, chances are you’re passionate about health too. If you’ve ever thought about helping others to live happier and more vibrant lives, maybe by teaching raw food classes, coaching people privately, or selling recipe books, then THIS is for you:

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/RawFoodRichesProgram

I’m really excited about this groundbreaking new program I’m a part of; it’s called “Raw Food Riches”. For the first time ever, top chefs, educators, and coaches spill the beans on how they got started, how they became popular, and how you can follow in their footsteps.

In the first half, you learn to attract the students who will benefit from your knowledge. In the second half, you learn how to attend to your own prosperity by coaching people, broadcasting your classes over the Internet, and selling books, tele-classes, videos, and more.

Between now and Tuesday, November 22nd, the first 100 customers will receive a super bonus package worth $133.94. What’s more, during this special promotion, there’s a one penny 15-day trial.

If you’re unsure, you can review everything without risk for 15 days.

There’s no greater feeling than being rewarded for doing work you love that genuinely helps others. If you’ve thought about healthy living as a means to a joyful, prosperous livelihood, click the link below:

Raw Food Riches Program

I urge you to do it right now and take advantage of the bonuses.

You will never regret doing work you love if you know how to do so prosperously, Health-Seeker.

By Ritamarie Loscalzo

There’s always room for dessert, especially when the dessert is made with delicious whole foods! Pie lovers will be pleased when you offer them a choice of living food pumpkin or apple pie. There’s even vanilla ice cream to go on top of that decadent dish! This gourmet Coconut Pie Crust will get you started and can be used as a base for even more holiday treats!

It’s just one of the delicious recipes you’ll find in my Thanksgiving Feast recipe collection. In addition to my pies, my collection has all the ideas you need to create a healthy alternative Thanksgiving dinner with recipes like:

• Apricot Pecan Yams
• Herbed Mashed “Potatoes” with Mushroom Gravy
• Spicy Cranberry Relish
  
• Pumpkin Pie
• and many more!

Coconut Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened, raw dried coconut
• 3/4 cup macadamias
• 3/4 cup hazelnuts or walnuts
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup dates, pitted and unsoaked
  

Directions:

1. Place coconut, macadamias, walnuts and salt in food processor and process until coarsely ground.
2. Add dates and process until it begins to stick together.
3. Remove from processor and work with hands to achieve a mass that holds together.
4. Press into pie plate.
5. Fill with Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie, recipes you’ll find in Thanksgiving Feast and savor!
   

Do you have a great raw food recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipe at: http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions/

“Would you like to learn more simple strategies to achieving vibrant energy, a strong lean body and an extraordinary life? Check out my web site, www.DrRitamarie.com, for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free report 7 Simple Steps to Energizing Your Life… in as little as 30 Days.

Internationally recognized speaker, author and mentor, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is the “Woman’s Fatigue Expert and Vibrant Health Mentor.”

November 11th, 2011 Volume 1, Issue 17

Today’s a special day…11/11/11.

Each year on 11/11 we honor the soldiers who have both risked and lost their lives defending our freedom. We pay particular attention to the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month as it signaled an end to the first world war.

With it’s unique date, I’m not sure exactly what today means, but it must mean something very special. It’s the only time in your life that all the numbers in all the date fields are the same. Last year we had 10/10/10 but somehow that’s not quite as intriguing as 111111.

So while the tradition of today is to remember an ending, perhaps today we all need to do something for the first time in celebration of the day of ones.


A Celebration of Beginnings

Maybe this can be the first day of your new exercise program or healthy diet. Perhaps it’s the first day of your commitment to be fully present and there for your significant relationships, or your first kiss.

Think of all the babies born today. They will carry 11/11/11 throughout their lives.

As for me, I think I’ll make it the first day of my commitment to getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.

Last week I started a gratitude journal because I feel strongly about the importance of an attitude of gratitude.

I decided to make November Thanksgiving month instead of just having one Thanksgiving Day. It’s amazing how powerful it is to publicly declare your appreciations every day. Perhaps that’s why today, being a day of remembrance, has such impact when we publicly join together to express our gratitude to our soldiers and veterans.

The gratitude connection has allowed me to still be joyful at the end of a week that included a rib injury that hurts when I breathe deeply (getting better), a 4 hour outage on my web server and having to pull an all-nighter to get it working again, an IRS audit, and an almost all-nighter searching for missing receipts and documentation.

It’s interesting. Those are big stresses; yet, as I wrote and tried to recall them, I found it hard to focus on the negative when there are so many more positive things happening around me.

That’s the power of expressing daily gratitude. It’s energizing, improves your digestion, normalizes blood pressure, improves insulin control of blood sugar, calms your adrenals, and even has the ability to decrease pain and inflammation.

Share Your Appreciation

Go ahead and give it a try.

Post your appreciations on the blog. Share your thoughts and any positive benefits you notice from putting them out into the world.

And along the same lines, be sure to check out the recording of this week’s blog talk radio show. I interviewed my dear friend and colleague, D.r Linda Berry and she shared a couple of practices she uses to transform stress. Dr. Linda has had so many stresses in her life, including physical traumas, becoming paralyzed in the height of her dance career 30 years ago, and struggling to get back on her feet in spite of being told she’d never walk again.

She shared a couple of her special techniques that have helped her cope with physical and emotional pain and come out a stronger person for it.

Find Your Way Back to Good Health: click HERE.

Enjoy 11/11/11

It’s the only day in your lifetime that all the numerals in the date will be the same.

Love, health, joy and much appreciation,