Denver’s Nutritionist – Julie Hammerstein

Are you ready to imagine?

Play make believe for just a moment in this compelling scenario as stated by friend and colleague Jeff Olson:

Imagine you, your Governor, your Mayor, involved parents and your community’s leading medical, health, fitness and wellness officials/professionals, all coming together for a press conference to announce a major public health success story. All the major press is there.

You step up to the podium and say, “Thank you all for being here. Today, we’d like to announce one of the most important public health success stories in recent times. In 2004, then U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona testified before Congress and said the following, ‘Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents’.

In 2004, we took the Surgeon General’s testimony as both a wake up call and more importantly a call to action. As of December 2009, we’ve collected data on over 450,000 people and have three-year data on over 100,000 people. Participants (both parents and children) in this Children’s Health Field Study were given a daily, dietary food-intervention and asked to answer questions four times over a period of one year. Here is a partial list of the study’s ground breaking results:

The only thing make believe about this data are you and the actors above. These results are real. These results come from the 501c3 Research Foundation that has partnered with a $3 billion dollar health, fitness and human performance company.

America’s pediatrician, Dr. William Sears, helped establish this research foundation. Beyond this not-for-profit field study, this company has benefited from fifteen published clinical trials (ten of which are randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled) that deliver efficacy claims for their solution. This human performance data is without peer in the scientific literature.

Commerce, cause and credibility with real world results. Public health needs more public/private partnerships to sustain healthy lifestyle with both citizens and consumers. I’ve always maintained, people choose healthy lifestyle with their wallets. It’s the only sustainable path. You too can realize the following:

- Kids participate for FREE

- Parents pay for their daily, dietary food-intervention

- You are compensated

Ready to stop imagining? Ready to be an active part in a solution that’s already in place?  BE the campaign that makes YOU, your family and your community the winners.  Let me know what you think…

ROSEMARY has quite a romantic history.

In Old England, rosemary was considered a sign of fidelity and was incorporated into costumes, gifts, and decorations for weddings. In ancient Greece it was considered a memory-aid, and was put in students’ hair before exams (a far cry from today’s Red Bull!)

Rosemary has also been recognized for its medicinal attributes by the Chinese and other ancient cultures, which makes this versatile and aromatic herbs one of my faves.

What’s So Great about Rosemary?

• Helps protect against cancer and accelerated skin aging due to its high antioxidant profile that fight free radicals.
• Wards off breast cancer by lowering levels of estrogen when taken in concentrated rosemary extract.
• Contains compounds that may help in the prevention of cognitive dysfunction such as Alzheimers.
• Reduces painful symptoms of early onset arthritis.
• Encourages the production of detoxifying enzymes that help to flush toxins from the liver.
• Helps to prevent food spoilage as efficiently as harmful chemical artificial preservatives.
• Increases energy with it’s mild stimulant properties.
• Eliminates bloating and swollen joints by promoting healthy liver function.
• Helps tummy aches and improves digestion by loosening smooth muscle.
• Reduces congestion from colds and has been known to soothe asthma attacks

How Can I Use Rosemary?

• Add dried rosemary to your favorite dishes such as meats, potatoes, pasta sauces, garlic bread, soups and even scrambled eggs!
• Use rosemary beauty products such as shampoos, body lotions and face masks to reap the benefits that rosemary has on your skin.
• Try brewing a cup of rosemary tea in the morning as an alternative to coffee.
• Consider taking rosemary in supplement form.
• Use rosemary extract as a soothing perfume or as a natural cold remedy.

Check out my yummy holiday Rosemary recipes at www.maxlifetherapies.com

What better ingredient to highlight the spirit of autumn than the good ol’ pumpkin?

For Americans, the most popular way to eat a pumpkin is in the golden, rich holiday pie. Did you know that the first recorded recipe for a pumpkin pie dates back to the 1700s?

Yet there are many other uses for this tasty veggie.  In fact, pumpkins were introduced to Europeans by the Native Americans who used this magical vegetable for medicinal purposes. The seeds, oil, meat, and even certain pumpkin flesh can be used to enhance your health, in addition to and tantalizing your taste buds.

What’s So Great about Pumpkin?

Pumpkin Meat

• Pumpkins are a great source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and potassium.
• The beta-carotene in pumpkins has been shown to prevent night blindness, eye problems and skin disorders. In addition, the beta-carotene is an antioxidant that slows the aging process.
• Pumpkins are a great immune booster, they protect against toxins, cancer formations, colds, flus, and infections!
• Pumpkins help in the protection against strokes and heart attacks by preventing hardening of the arteries.
• The fiber in pumpkins helps to satisfy cravings and curb your appetite.

Pumpkin Seeds

• Contain L-tryptophan which is effective in curbing mild depression.
• Pumpkin seeds are incredibly high in magnesium, which helps with muscle relaxation.
• High rates of zinc make pumpkin seeds a protector against osteoporosis and a great immune booster!
• Pumpkin seeds are a natural inflammatory.
• Pumpkin seeds lower the “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.

How Can I Use Pumpkin?

• Sprinkle fresh pumpkin seeds with your favorite seasoning and bake them at 350 degrees until they are golden brown!
• Make a pie, but consider using alternative sweeteners to sugar such as honey or Stevia to keep it health-friendly.
• Create a pumpkin soup by cooking pumpkin in vegetable stock. Add in your favorite vegetables such as onion, leek, and potato and spice it up with garlic and pepper or nutmeg and cinnamon.
• Make pumpkin pancakes by replacing the milk called for in the pancake recipe with pureed pumpkin!

Try This Pumpkin Dinner Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 3 1/4 cups peeled, cubed pumpkin
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh garlic
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup baby spinach leaves
• 6 ounces feta cheese, cubed
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups Arborio rice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Brush a baking dish with olive oil.
2. Place pumpkin in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water, and cover. Cook until tender but still firm. Transfer pumpkin to baking dish, and brush with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown.
3. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a saucepan. Cook onion and garlic until tender. Stir in rice, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly add vegetable broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently and allowing all the liquid to be absorbed before adding more broth. Continue cooking until the rice is tender to the tooth, and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. When the pumpkin is almost done, place feta on a baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven until the cheese is hot, and is beginning to melt along the edges.
5. Mash 1/2 of the pumpkin, and stir into the risotto with the spinach. Ladle risotto into bowls, and top with remaining pumpkin cubes and heated feta.

For more Health-Happy Recipes, visit our website at www.maxlifetherapies.com

The chilly season is here, which brings the undesirable effects of cracked, dry, and blemished skin.

Expensive moisturizing products seem to be the answer, only to find that your dry skin is often replaced with blemishes and clogged pores.

In reality, topical products don’t provide the full solution. You need to “treat” your skin from the inside, providing essential nutrients for healthy tissues and the body’s ability to rid itself of toxins.

“You are what you eat” and your skin is no exception.

With the help of these healthy foods, you can say goodbye to the skin saga and embrace a healthy glow all year long.

Better yet, these foods can be easily integrated into your daily diet…by spreading them on a warm piece of whole-grain toast. Now, that’s a cold weather treat!

1. Avocados:  Packed with essential oils as well as B vitamins, this yummy fruit helps nourish your skin both inside and out. This is particularly good to eat if you are experiencing blotchy or irritated skin. Spread 1/4 of an avocado on a piece of whole-grain toast, or add it to an omelet or a bowl of brown rice and beans.

2. Wheat Germ:  This is a great cure for itchy or scaly skin as it is high in the B-vitamin biotin, which is essential for healthy skin. Mix 1 t. with low-fat cream cheese and spread on whole-grain toast.  Or sprinkle on oatmeal, or add to a yogurt smoothie.

3. Almonds:  These are a powerhouse food, and an extremely high source of vitamin E. The rich oils in vitamin E help to moisturize dry skin while the antioxidants help to ward off premature aging.  Spread 1 T. of almond butter on whole-grain toast, snack on 12 almonds between meals, or add slivered almonds to a spinach salad.

4. Berries: Black, Red, Blue, it doesn’t matter! The berry family is known for it’s high levels of antioxidants which will help protect your skin from free radical damage and premature aging. Spread 2 t. of naturally sweetened berry jam on whole-grain toast, mix frozen berries into a smoothie, or relax into Warming Muesli with Blackberries.

6. Salmon:  Infused with high levels of fatty acids, salmon is a yummy way to protect cell membranes. Strong membranes  maintain more water which leads to softer, more moisturized skin. If you are not a fish fan, reach for flax seed oil or walnuts, both of which are high in Omega 3 fats. Layer lox on a piece of whole-grain toast, or layer toast with Udo’s 3-6-9 oil blend and a sliced cucumber.

7. Green Tea: The anti-inflammatory properties of green tea will help keep your skin from getting puffy and red. In addition, green tea helps protect cell membranes which maintains moisture and reduces the risk of skin cancer.  Okay, you can’t spread green tea on toast, but you can enjoy a warm piece of whole-grain toast with a warm cup of tea for a pleasant morning or afternoon snack.

Make sure to add these skin-healthy foods to your grocery list every week and you’ll see big impact results right away. Enjoy!

Welcome to my newest Blog feature: “Health Happy Ingredient of the Week”.

Each week I’ll feature a new spice, food, extract or oil. I’ll share various uses and health benefits of each health happy ingredient and how to EASILY incorporate it into your daily diet!

This Week’s Health Happy Ingredient:

Cinnamon

This magical spice has a long history as an extremely valuable commodity. Around the first century AD, cinnamon was considered 15 times more valuable than silver! This exotic spice was considered so desirable that wars were fought to obtain it. The ancient Egyptians used cinnamon for their embalming process while medieval doctors used cinnamon to treat coughing hoarseness and sour throats. Dating back to 2800 BC, cinnamon has been a cherished and sacred spice for 1,000s of years-and for good reason. Not only is this spice incredibly delicious but it’s been known to have a multitude of health benefits!

What’s So Great about Cinnamon?

The many health benefits include:

• Half a teaspoon a day can lower LDL cholesterol
• Regulates blood sugar levels, making it a great dietary addition for any person suffering from type 2 diabetes
• Natural antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties, cinnamon helps rid the body of medication-resistant yeast infections and stomach ulcers
• Great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium
• Anti-inflammatory properties help counteract the effects of inflammation caused by fatty, fried or processed food
• Smelling cinnamon has been shown to boost cognitive function and memory

How do I get more cinnamon in my diet?

Just sprinkle a little onto the following foods and enjoy:

• plain yogurt
• ice cream – yummy on peach, chocolate, vanilla or coconut
• chopped apples and oatmeal
• pancake batter
• tomatillo salsa or pico de gallo
• peanut butter or almond butter sandwich
• sliced apple topped with low-fat cream cheese
• sliced Jicama
• roasted butternut or acorn squash
• risotto, pasta, orzo, quinoa or brown rice – add a little olive oil to toss

The possibilities are endless!

Click on the link for my Creamy Cinnamon Banana Smoothie