I’m feeling especially happy today. It’s my birthday, and I’m taking the day off.

No appointments, no phone calls, and maybe even no e-mail.

The weather promises to be warm with temperatures in the mid-eighties. My plan is to run, hike, eat and play. If the water’s warm enough, I will even swim.

I’ve worked through many weekends and now it’s time to take a break!

While I’m away, I have lots of resources for you to help you live life with celebration and joy.


Gluten-Free Is NOT just a FAD.

This week’s article is about the effects of gluten on your brain.

On Thursday, we’ll have Part 4 of our gluten-free radio series. I have received so many wonderful comments about the first two shows in the series.

The first two shows featured back-to-back interviews with Dr. Tom O’Bryan who’s been researching the effects of gluten on health for over a decade. During the calls, he presents his findings in a very compelling and convincing manner. Click the links below to listen in to the recordings of those shows:

Part 1: Gluten-Free – Is it Just a Fad?
Part 2: The Gluten-Free Fad

The effects of gluten are real. It can cause problems in many areas of your body, not just your gut. Your brain is what we’ll focus on today.

Gluten intolerance has been linked to Parkinson’s, Autism, and many more neurological impairments as you’ll find out in the feature article below.

This week and next week on the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio Show, I will be interviewing Debbie Sipowicz, one of my clients who panicked at the thought of going gluten-free. Once we got the tests that confirmed she was sensitive, she made the change.

Was it easy? No way.

But she made it through and wants to share her story and the tips and tricks for dealing with both the lifestyle adjustments and the emotions.

It should be a great show. You’ll find the access details under “Radio Appearances” below.


Special Moments

Last night, just before my call with my B4 Be Gone Members, my husband Scott brought me a beautiful salad for dinner since he knew my schedule had been packed and I didn’t have a break between my last VIP coaching client and the call.

Then my son Kevin came in and affectionately squeezed my shoulder and mouthed good night while I was still on the call. It’s very special when almost-14-year-olds do things like that!  Then my almost-18-year-old shared a letter he wrote to apply for a scholarship, and it brought me to tears.

Moments like this are precious and few, and I so cherish and appreciate them.

Another very special time was spending the weekend with one of my VIP clients and launching her year of coaching with me. It was a joyful time, and I so look forward to watching her grow and flourish this year as she reaches her health goals. A lot can happen during a year of health coaching.

Enjoy the newsletter. I am off to play!

With much love and appreciation,

Your Brain on Gluten: It’s Not a Pretty Picture – Part 1

• cerebellar ataxia
• peripheral neuropathy
• epilepsy
• dementia
• schizophrenia
• depression
• migraine
• seizures
• encephalopathy
• chorea
• brain stem dysfunction
• Parkinson’s
• Alzheimer’s
• myelopathy
• mononeuritis multiplex
• Guillain-Barre-like syndrome
• Huntington’s disease

Gluten is also associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including:

• autism
• ADHD
• Aspersers and
• PPD

Wow. That’s some line up.

Changes to cells and blood supply in the central nervous system have also been associated with gluten intolerance.

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how gluten affects the neuromuscular systems. The mechanisms include autoimmune reaction and inflammation, malnutrition, and opioid excess.

Find Out More

On the interview with Dr. O’Bryan, we discussed many of these problems and how to determine if you are affected by gluten intolerance.

Part 1: Gluten-Free – Is it Just a Fad?
Part 2: The Gluten-Free Fad

I recommend that you listen to the recordings, come to the next show in the series to hear about the effects of gluten from a patient/health coach perspective and watch your inbox to learn more about the mechanisms by which gluten affects your brain.

Until then, try to go a week without gluten and post your experience to the blog. Use this free resource kit to help you go gluten-free:

http://www.drritamaie.com/glutenfree

If you’d like to comment on this article, please visit the blog here:

http://drritamarie.com/blog/?p=4993

• 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 (last Saturday of every month unless noted otherwise):

• Saturday, April 28th, 6:30 p.m. central
• Saturday, May 26th, 6:30 p.m. central 
• Saturday, June 30th, 6:30 p.m. central
  

What our attendees have to say about recent potlucks:

• “I had a great time meeting new people and gained new knowledge and wisdom regarding blood sugars and the importance of a clean, whole food diet. The food tasted amazing and the display of all the dishes looked wonderful. Thank you to Dr. Ritamarie, her husband and all of the people who contributed to make this connection possible. What a great experience.”
  – Bridget
  
  
• “Incredible! The food was awesome. You won’t leave hungry. Lots of very interesting people. Ritamarie was a wonderful host. She shared some extremely helpful information on health restoration. I wish now I had brought three more people to hear this information. She was so gracious, answering questions and sharing her knowledge with wit and compassion.”
  – Yvetta Myers

Click HERE to join and follow this Meeting Group.

Recorded Show Replays for You to Enjoy

• Thursday, March 29th – Gluten and the Danger it Present for Our Children
  
• Thursday, March 22nd – Gluten-Free: Is it Just a Fad? Part 2 with guest Dr. Thomas O’Bryan
• Thursday, March 15th - Gluten-Free: Is it Just a Fad? Part 1 with guest Dr. Thomas O’Bryan
  
• Thursday, March 8th – Natural Approaches to Increasing Growth Hormone Without Shots
  
  

The Women’s International Summit for Health (WISH):
40 Days and 40 Nights Dedicated to the Most Pressing Issues Facing Women Today

The clock is ticking.

Spring will be here before we know it. We’ve already “sprung” our clocks ahead. Soon it will be June and my first son will graduate from high school.

How in the world did that happen?

I feels like it was just yesterday when he first learned to crawl and spent almost an hour trying to climb up a step we had between the kitchen and the living room. Scott and I sat and watched, mesmerized by the determination and relentlessness in this tiny being, barely seven months old.

He was so determined to succeed and succeed he did, in spite of fall after fall, over and over again. Of course we lavished him with praise and he beamed with pride and delight.

A few months later he was walking, then running. Now he’s flying the coop and going away to college in August.

Working Your Way Up

I liken Eric’s progression to what we as adults go through when we take on new lifestyle habits, begin a new business, or take up a new art form.

The crawling stage seems endless as we make small strides, slowly. The problem with adults and lifestyle habits is, too often, you’re not as relentless as Eric was. After a few falls, you are tempted to give up rather than continue on towards your goals.

The big difference between Eric and many people I counsel about health issues is most people don’t even have a clear goal like little Eric did. He was clear about his goal and he kept going until he reached it. If you don’t have a clear goal, it’s hard to be relentless in its pursuit.

It’s similar to my experience with the pottery class I began in January, attempting to “pick up where I left off” when I quit 7 years ago because I had a traveling husband, homeschooling kids, and a small health practice to run.

I am happy to be back, and find I’m back at the crawling stage because I didn’t keep up with the skill set.

If you’re just starting out with healthy eating habits, an exercise program, a meditation/stress management regime, or getting back into one of these after a hiatus, remember the stages. It’s impossible to run before you can walk!

Do You Have Someone Who Uplifts You?

The other thing that was reinforced with my pottery class was the fact that having a mentor is soooooo important.

Back in 2006, about a year and a half after I quit pottery classes because my husband started traveling again and I just couldn’t fit the classes into the schedule, my husband surprised me with a pottery wheel and kiln, a special gift for my 50th birthday.

I was all excited to get started.

By then, I’d forgotten some of the basic techniques, so I purchased a set of DVDs and sat down at the wheel to throw.

It was really hard and really frustrating, fumbling about with no one to turn to for guidance. I did it a couple of times, made a few awful pots, and never even fired them. The wheel and the kiln have been gathering dust since.

Once I started taking pottery classes in January, I realized how much I rely on asking for guidance, getting help with the same technique over and over, and being encouraged and supported.

It really is the same with health habits. SO many people I speak to have more than a few exercise videos still in the shrink wrap, or a food dehydrator they’ve used once, or all sorts of super foods still in their original bags, unopened because they are just not sure how to use them.

Whether You’re Struggling With Crawling or Flying, I Can Help!

Knowing that it’s human nature to need help with change, that’s exactly why I create my programs the way I do. While some people have the budget to get my assistance one on one when they’re ready to finally get their health in order, many don’t.

SO I’ve developed group coaching programs, my most popular being the Energy Recharge Green Cleanse and the B4 Be Gone System for balancing blood sugar and getting rid of belly fat, brain fog and burnout.

With the right support, the “shrink wrap” finally gets removed and people get into action. And I’m there to answer questions and provide encouragement and support.

It’s so rewarding when I hear how much these programs have changed lives. Many have: shed upwards of 60 pounds of unwanted fat, dropped 8 clothing sizes, let go of 9 inches round the waist, eliminated or reduced the need for medication, been freed of joint pain, finally got their brain back to focus, and so much more.

Because I have lost so many loved ones and watched them suffer, I have made it my mission to offer the education and support that people around the world need to avoid this fate.

The Moment That Inspired Me to Change and to Act

Last fall I was at a seminar and the host decided to raise money for a charity that supported children who’d lost a parent to cancer. I was deeply moved to action. My thought was how about instead we focus on educating people on how to avoid cancer in the first place?

Do you believe there are associations raising money for cancer by selling candy?

I am on a mission to raise consciousness and every person who goes though one of my programs can help me on that mission. By embracing a healthy diet and lifestyle and getting yourself strong and healthy, you too can spread the message of health and be an instrument of healing.

Are You Ready to Fly?

My next group program is starting on Tuesday.

It’s called the B4 Be Gone System for balancing blood sugar and getting rid of belly fat, brain fog and burnout. B4 Be Gone is so much more than a weight reduction program, although those that have extra weight gladly shed it.

It’s about making the changes on the inside that reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

It’s about seeing results on the outside that give you the confidence and mental clarity to be effective in your life’s chosen endeavor, be it Mom or CEO.

For details about B4 Be Gone, go to:

http://www.B4BeGoneSystem.com

Insulin Resistance Solution
Practitioner Training

If you happen to be a nutrition or health coach, holistic practitioner or functional medicine doctor and you’d like to get the behind the scenes on how to run a successful program to reverse insulin resistance and balance blood sugar, one on one or in small groups, check out my new Insulin Resistance Solution Practitioner Training. It includes registration in B4 Be Gone and parallels it with “Rounds with Dr Ritamarie calls”, a community forum,worksheets and assessments and a grand finale powerful all day Saturday virtual retreat.

For details go to http://www.drritamarie.com/programs/irspt/

My feature article today is about one of my favorite topics: the hormones that run the show on a daily basis. These are the hormones that run your every day function, from appetite to sleep to energy to mood.

There’s also a brand new ultra-easy, super satisfying and amazingly balancing recipe in this issue.

I look forward to connecting soon.

With much love and appreciation,

The Hormones that Run the Show and Keep you Fit, Focused, and Full of Energy

1. One is that it’s interlaced with so many other hormones that when insulin is overactive, it can cause malfunctioning of several other hormones, most notably cortisol, adrenalin, thyroid, growth hormone and leptin.
2. The second reason for starting with insulin is that out of balance insulin can lead to excess fat around your middle, a foggy and unfocused brain, fatigue, and depression. It can also contribute to inflammation and lead to heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.   (more on the insulin/inflammation connection in an article planned for publication later in the week)
   

So, as you can see insulin is an important hormone to fix.

I have a program beginning on Tuesday, March 13th, called B4 Be Gone that focuses on bringing insulin levels into balance.

B4 Be Gone takes you through a 30-day process to restore healthy insulin response. It guides you through the healthy diet and lifestyle changes and suggests the herbs, supplements and superfoods that balance insulin.

http://www.B4BeGoneSystem.com

We’ve already had 120 people graduate from B4 Be Gone and their results were quite profound. Weight reduction of up to 60 pounds has been reported, girth loss of up to 30 inches, increases in energy, decreases in medication needs, changes in blood pressure, cholesterol and other blood parameters and overall improved well-being.

You can get started HERE or read more below.

http://www.B4BeGoneSystem.com

B4 Be Gone Offers a Fully Balanced Approach to Health and Hormones

In B4 Be Gone we have two modules dedicated to hormones and their balance.

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.

By now you’ve probably heard about and likely even watched my Bye-Bye B4 video series and listened in on my teleseminar, 5 Cutting Edge Strategies to Balance Your Blood Sugar, Melt Your Midline, Sharpen Your Focus, and Recharge Your Energy.

Over 3300 people have signed up for that free educational series, and the number is growing as more people share and appreciate the free strategies I’ve provided. If you haven’t seen it, you can still access the series here:

http:///www.ByeByeB4.com

In addition to the free series, we already have over 100 new people and 75 returning members participating in the B4 Be Gone program.

Why?

Because it works.

People are coming back for the continued support they need to make healthy life changes. It’s hard to implement lasting change on your own. When you have an outlined step-by-step strategy for what to do next, and a community of people taking steps with you, it takes away the obstacles of confusion and isolation. And when the results show up quickly, as they do for those who are committed and dive in, it’s rewarding and self-motivating.

As Mary Wolfe, one of our graduates says, “If you’re prepared to change your life… it’s the BEST thing to do!”

An Easy Step To Help Balance Your Hormones

This tip is related to balancing “growth hormone,” the subject of one my recent radio shows. You can listen in there for more info, but here’s a quick and easy suggestion for getting growth hormone in balance, and this step relate to another hormone called “ghrellen.”

Tip: Make friends with hunger.

When you get hungry, it’s because your your stomach is secreting ghrellin.

Ghrellin is a potent stimulator of growth hormone. SO if you can hold off eating for about 30 minutes or up to an hour after you first feel hungry, you’ll be powerfully stimulating fat burning and lean muscle building. SO when you start to feel hungry, instead of immediately reaching for a snack or meal, drink water and sit with it for 30 – 60 minutes, knowing you’re revving up your fat burning furnace!

Find Out More With B4!

For lots more guidance and support in getting all these hormones in balance, join us for B4 Be Gone.

If you act soon, we’ve just introduced a special 5-payment option that allows you to get started for $57.

http://www.B4BeGoneSystem.com

Can’t wait to connect!

• 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 (last Saturday of every month unless noted otherwise):

• Saturday, March 31st, 6:30 p.m. central
• Saturday, April 28th, 6:30 p.m. central
• Saturday, May 26th, 6:30 p.m. central
  

What our attendees have to say about recent potlucks:

• “I had a great time meeting new people and gained new knowledge and wisdom regarding blood sugars and the importance of a clean, whole food diet. The food tasted amazing and the display of all the dishes looked wonderful. Thank you to Dr. Ritamarie, her husband and all of the people who contributed to make this connection possible. What a great experience.”
  – Bridget
  
  
• “Incredible! The food was awesome. You won’t leave hungry. Lots of very interesting people. Ritamarie was a wonderful host. She shared some extremely helpful information on health restoration. I wish now I had brought three more people to hear this information. She was so gracious, answering questions and sharing her knowledge with wit and compassion.”
  – Yvetta Myers

Click HERE to join and follow this Meeting Group.

• Thursday, March 15th - Gluten-Free: Is it Just a Fad? Part 1 with guest Dr. Thomas O’Bryan
  
• Thursday, March 22nd – Gluten-Free: Is it Just a Fad? Part 2 with guest Dr. Thomas O’Bryan
  

Recorded Show Replays for You to Enjoy

• Thursday, March 8th – Natural Approaches to Increasing Growth Hormone Without Shots
• Thursday, March1st - Adrenal Fatigue: Causes, Dangers, and Cures
• Thursday, February 23rd - Kiss that Belly Fat Goodbye
• Thursday, February 16th – Get the Skinny on Fatty Acids
• Thursday, February 9th – When Hormones are Out of Whack
• Thursday, February 2nd – Eating Frequent, Small Meals May be Damaging to Your Health
  
  

The Women’s International Summit for Health (WISH):
40 Days and 40 Nights Dedicated to the Most Pressing Issues Facing Women Today

Satiating Soup!

• 6 cups choice of vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, zucchini, kale, etc.
• 2 cups tender leafy greens like spinach or arugula
• 2 stalks celery, finely minced
• 1/4 cup coconut butter (Artisana) OR 1/4 cup shredded coconut OR 1/2 fresh coconut (meat)
  
• 1 teaspoon curry powder OR 1 teaspoon Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste
• 1/2 teaspoon kelp powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1 pinch cayenne if desired
• 1-inch piece ginger
• 1 small piece turmeric, fresh (if available)
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 lime, juice of (optional)

Directions:

1. Steam vegetables (retain the steam water).
2. Put baby greens in a large bowl with minced celery.
3. When vegetables are lightly steamed, take half and put in a blender with 2 cups steam water.
4. Blend with remaining ingredients.
5. (Optional) Add additional steam water and spices or salt to taste.
6. Put whole steamed vegetables in bowl with the raw greens and celery (optionally, all veggies can be finely chopped and kept raw, and you can use warm water instead of the broth.)
7. Pour creamy blender contents over vegetables and serve warm.

The B4 Be Gone Recipe Collection contains over 200 more recipes designed to help those who are struggling with Diabetes, blood sugar imbalance, and insulin resistance.

Get access to low-glycemic, blood-sugar friendly, whole, mostly living food recipes as part of the B4 Be Gone System. The B4 System comes with a 30-day menu planner using the recipes, a “grab and go” section, snack attack strategies, and so much more.

Learn more here!

Your body is designed to be able to go long periods of time without external sources of food. Elaborate mechanisms are in place to keep your blood sugar steady, involving your brain, your hormones, your stomach and your liver.

If you find yourself cranky and irritable if you miss a meal and have been told to eat more frequent, smaller meals to avoid this, you may have been steered in the wrong direction.

Getting cranky and irritable between meals is a sign that something’s out of balance.

Simply eating more frequently takes care of the symptoms, but not the underlying imbalance.

You never retrain your body to do what it’s supposed to do when you simply avoid the behavior that highlights the imbalance.

Eating Frequent, Small Meals May be Damaging to Your Health

The idea that eating every couple of hours keeps your blood sugar levels steady without the dips (and severe hunger that accompanies those dips) has become popular. 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.

Join Dr. Ritamarie and find out how eating small meals could actually be causing insulin resistance…and leading you to more belly fat.

Click here to listen in on Thursday February 2 at 10AM Central .

The Myths That Keep You From Feeling Miraculous

Registration for my hot new very controversial teleseminar, and video series was unfortunately delayed due to technology gremlins, The videos have been recorded but woefully need to be re-edited so we’ve delayed the launch until February 9, 2012. This series will address the myths and surprising misconceptions around the metabolic and blood sugar issues that have people confused and chronically ill. Even if you participated in last year’s series, you’ll find something new!

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.

Once the series begins on February 9, 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.

http://www.ByeByeBloodSugarImbalance.com

Another Easy Instant Action Step To Bring You into Balance

How did you do with the action step I sent you last week?

Remember, the one from my “Timing is Everything” strategy?

It was about having your last meal no later than three hours before bedtime.

If you found it hard, join the club. It’s difficult for everyone, yet yields phenomenal results when combined with the other strategies.

My new teleseminar and one of the videos will explain why this is so effective.

So this week, try another super effective step for balancing blood sugar. Sprinkle cinnamon liberally on your food. You heard me right. This common, every day spice is incredibly effective at restoring sensitivity of your cells to insulin, so you no longer have rapidly fluctuating blood sugars and the between meal irritability says bye-bye.

The registration page will be here:

http://www.ByeByeBloodSugarImbalance.com

The first 500 to register on February 9 can take advantage of another helpful resource.

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

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 for the free series on February 9th 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

Have an awesome week.

I look forward to connecting on the teleseminar.

Love, Health and Joy to you!

• 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!

• 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
  

• 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
  

• 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

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

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

• 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!

• 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
  

• 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
  

• 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!

  Getting Over ED!

• 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!

Coco Blue Green Smoothie

• 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

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,

• 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

• 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.

• 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!

• 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
  

• 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
  

• 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

Raw Food for the Real World

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

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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!

• 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.

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

• 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