Super Moist Vegan Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake: Healing Benefits of Raspberries

9 Comments October 28, 2014 DrD4Health

When things in life look really really bad… it’s time to get to work!

Did you know that when Ludwig van Beethoven discovered he was going deaf at age 26, he didn’t give up composing his music? Beethoven started working more diligently and told people he knew there was work he was born to complete…

When our newborn son was diagnosed with H-Pylori, a bacterial infection of the stomach, we were told there was nothing we could do but give him antibiotics and synthetic medications that would cause all sorts of horrible side effects and probably not cure his infection. So our choices were to give up or be inspired by Beethoven!

Helicobacter pylori or H pylori is a bacteria that causes peptic and duodenal ulcers and many other types of stomach inflammations that cause burning, pain, nausea, bloating and extreme distress. In some people, some strains of the bacteria do not cause any symptoms, while other strains develop life threatening conditions like stomach cancer.

Inspired by Beethoven, instead of believing there was nothing I could do, I went straight to work and was more determined to find some relief for our 8 month old infant. I started researching what people around the world were doing to naturally cure H-Pylori.

This mom on a mission discovered so much more about fruits which have strong antibacterial qualities and are potent in treating Helicobacter pylori and many diseases. Fruits heal because they are also rich in phytonutrients which are antibacterial, anti carcinogenic, and antiviral in nature.

In addition, I discovered there are many other natural powerhouses that can help slow down the growth and pain associated with the ulcers and bacteria, which gives the gut a chance to heal. Some of these natural remedies are: Tumeric, Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar, Fresh Wasabi, Baking Soda, Broccoli Sprouts, Mastic gum and of course, Raspberries. Luckily, Bodhi’s favorite remedy is Raspberry.

Raspberries are considered a Super-Fruit and really carry a lot of healing power in every little berry.

Tests conducted at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina have revealed that the human body benefits from raspberries in so many ways.

The Medical Benefits of Raspberries:

Raspberries have Ellagic acid, an anti-inflammatory, kills Cancer cells & kills H-Pylori Bacteria.
Raspberries do not have any fat, saturated fat, sodium or cholesterol.
They are high in Fiber, Vitamin C, potassium and folate.
Raspberries contain antioxidants such as Quercetin & Gallic acid.
Gallic acid fights against cancer, heart and circulatory disease and age.
They are also high in polyphenolic compounds which also fight cancer.
The Anthocyanins in raspberries are antioxidants that protect against heart disease & mental decline.
The oil from raspberry seeds is rich in Vitamin E & Omega-3 fatty acids.

Raspberries can be eaten any way you like: fresh, frozen, cooked or preserved, the ellagic acid remains intact even after cooking or preservation. Make sure that you have a continuous supply of ellagic acid in your diet to prevent the recurrence of the H-Pylori condition, which is very common.

When Beethoven lost the majority of his hearing and his greatest love… he composed Immortal Beloved, When life handed me tart raspberries… I made Sweet Raspberry Cake! 🙂

Today, I’m sharing a recipe for Raspberry Pumpkin Cake… a Yummy Yummy dessert that is so soft and moist, it’s filled with healing raspberries, and is just one big tasty holiday party in your mouth! This cake has all of your favorite holiday spices, but with a frosting that has a twist!

Yes, there is sugar, but it is super Moist, Vegan and Gluten Free! Shhh your guests and family will never ever know!

Vegan & Gluten Free Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake:

Cake Ingredients:

3/4 Cup homemade pumpkin puree
1/8 teaspoon of Fresh Ginger Shavings
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/3 Cup Coconut Oil, melted.
1/4 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk, room temp (or coconut, rice milk)
2 Tablespoons Coconut Nectar (or Molasses, Agave)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 teaspoon of All Spice
3/4 teaspoon of Ground Cloves
1/2 teaspoon of Ground Nutmeg
1 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Gluten-Free All-purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
pinch of Sea Salt (optional)

Instructions for Cake:

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 3 medium ramekins with cooking spray.
Wash your sugar pumpkin and clean it inside and out.
Dry pumpkin, cut a round cap, then cut pumpkin into slices & squares.
Remove pumpkin skin, then boil Pumpkin Meat squares until soft.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients, whisk to combine.
In a separate bowl, combine room temp milk & melted coconut oil.
Once Meat is boiled, place in a high speed blender with Ginger, blend.
Now add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
Evenly pour the batter into each prepared ramekin.
Bake about 28-30 minutes, until center is set & toothpick comes clean.
Allow cake to cool in ramekin, on top of a wire rack, for at least 30 minutes before placing on the rack to finish cooling completely. While cake cools, make the frosting.

Frosting

1/4 Cup softened Coconut Butter (or butter of choice)
2 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
3-4 Tablespoons of Coconut Milk (or milk of choice)
In a large mixing bowl, combine vegan butter, 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 3 tablespoons Vegan milk of choice, and beat with an electric mixer on medium high speed until smooth. If needed, drizzle in more milk until desired frosting consistency is reached. If frosting is too loose, add a bit more confectioners’ sugar or milk until you have desired consistency.

Raspberry Garnish

3 packages of Raspberries
Set 1/3 of the raspberries aside to garnish the cake.
Using a small knife, split the remaining raspberries down the middle so they can be opened flat.
Put one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with one third of the frosting and add one half of the split berries.
Add a second layer and repeat with another third of the frosting and the remaining split raspberries.
Top with the last layer of cake and remaining frosting, garnish top with the remaining raspberries.

Oh your house is going to be filled with the aroma of the holiday spirit! This will be an absolute hit with all your family and guests! Looking forward to hearing how much you loved this Yummy Yummy treat!

Stay healthy & happy ~ Dr. Dee

What is Detoxing? Why is it important? Detox Smoothie Recipe!

3 Comments October 20, 2014 DrD4Health

Do you think it is important to change the oil in your car’s engine?

Detoxing our body on a regular basis is as critical as changing the oil in our car regularly! Strive to be a finely tuned machine that is cleaned, lubed and given great fuel!

What is Detox?

According to Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary & Thesaurus, Detox is a process or period of time in which one stops taking unhealthy or harmful foods, drinks, and other substances into the body for a period of time, in order to improve health. Basically, detoxification means cleansing the blood by removing impurities from the blood in the liver. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, colon, gall bladder, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system and skin.

Why is Detoxification important?

A typical car needs to have the oil changed about every 3000 miles. The accumulation of miles on an engine results in more unburned fuel to be dumped into the crankcase, which causes the oil to degrade. Over time, this can bring about rapid and undue engine wear and all the problems that come with it, such as loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption.

Blood Detox is very important because our body is constantly being bombarded with toxins from every aspect of our lives. Un-natural chemicals in your drinks, in your food, in your vitamins, medication, the air you breathe, in the lotions, pesticides, and beauty products, all result in a blow by blow degradation that cause undue wear and tear and major over-load on your organs. Mucked up and dirty blood causes a loss of body performance and poor food fuel efficiency.

Changing your oil is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make sure that your engine and car stays in good shape. This is such simple maintenance, but people often let it go for thousands and thousands more miles than is safe.

This is also true for clearing out the dirty blood and toxins in our body. Cleansing our blood is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make sure that our system stays in good efficient shape. By detoxing your blood, you can improve the functioning of all your main organs, especially your liver, your kidneys, your pancreas and gall bladder.

5 Signs Your Body Needs a Detox:

1) Unpleasant Noises: Are you constantly full of gas, bloated, retaining fluid, have congested sinuses? Is your stomach constantly making weird knocking and pinging sounds? Do you get constant cravings? It’s time to examine the fuel you are putting in your body and consider a Detox!

2) Color: The color of your tongue should be a pretty pinkish color. If your tongue is White or yellow-coated, and/or you have bad breath, then consider a Detox!

3) Red Flags: Trouble with fertility? Have you had issues with your gallbladder or had it removed? Are you diagnosed with an auto-immune disease like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Lupus,Celiac? Do you have Acne, Rosacea, Itchy skin, mood swings?

4) Sluggish Body: Do you have early morning Insomnia? Are you always feeling fatigued, even after sleeping a long time? Is your body really sluggish about losing weight even though you exercise and diet regularly? Do you get overheated and sweaty really easily?

5) Chemical sensitivity: Is your body sensitive when drinking alcohol? Are you easily affected during and after having alcohol, medicine, vitamins? Does the smell of fragrances and chemicals leave you feeling really sick and/or anxious?

According to Harvard-educated physician, Sara Gottfried, M.D., author of The Hormone Cure (Simon & Schuster, 2013), there are many signs that tell us that it is time to Detoxify our body. She goes on to say that if you have 4 or more of these signs listed within the examples, you may have a Congested Liver that needs Detoxing.

There are so many types of Detoxing programs out there for you to choose from. It is imperative that you do your research and figure out what works for you! It is best to have a mentor help support you with your detox. Consider seeing a Functional Medicine MD, Homeopath, Holistic Nutritionist or someone who is considered a true expert in Detox and Nutrition.

It is important to clearly understand there is not a one size fits all! Some people use Juicing, Eating Cruciferous vegetables, Extracts, Teas or Herbs… Research!

It is important that you go very very slowly at first so that you can learn what is best for your genetics and sensitivities. For example, if you are sensitive to sulfur, sulfites, sulfates… then high levels of cruciferous vegetables are something to be very careful with. Cruciferous vegetables are high in sulfur and may lead to greater pain and inflammation. What are your genetic food sensitivities?

According to Mark Hyman, M.D., regardless of the Detox program you choose, do the following while Detoxing:

– Drink at least 6 -8 glasses of filtered water daily
– Are you having regular bowel movements? (Consider Magnesium?)
– Allow more time for sleep while Detoxing. (Consider Magnesium)
– Exercise Daily! (Min of 30 minutes)
– Help an upset stomach with Ginger or Peppermint Tea. (4 cups a day)

As a Holistic Nutritionist, I can tell you that juice cleanses are an absolutely wonderful way to thoroughly cleanse your entire body. Juicing helps you skip chewing and breaking down food, so your digestive system is given a big break and time to repair and heal. Juicing your food will fill your body with live enzymes and an abundance of antioxidants that help not only neutralize free radicals but also strengthen and support your immune system, lower blood pressure, and improve your sleep and memory. An added bonus is these antioxidants have anti-aging properties! Juice cleansing is an excellent way to inundate your system with antioxidants and enzymes. We use the Nutribullet daily!

Again, start very slowly and please remember to consult a trained health care professional before you begin!

Here are a couple of Yummy Yummy recipe ideas to discuss with your Detox mentor:

Nice-Cream Cilantro-Lime Detox Margarita:

2-3 Frozen Bananas, 1/4 Cup Cilantro, 2 Tablespoons of Mint, 2 Cups Cold Dairy Free Milk

Detox Margarita Instructions:

Chop Bananas in chunks, Mix all ingredients in a Food Processor or High Speed Blender, Enjoy!

Green Machine Smoothie

1 handful each of Spinach, Mint, Parsley; Juice of half one Lemon; 1/2 a Cucumber, peeled; 1 large Celery stick; 1 inch piece of Fresh Ginger, peeled

Green Machine Instructions:

Blend all ingredients together in a juicer or blender until smooth. Serve over ice & enjoy!

Ask your Detox mentor how often you should detox, which depends on how toxic you are and what you are trying to achieve.

Remember to keep your car’s oil clean and your body’s blood clean and Oh the places you will go!

Stay Healthy & Happy ~ Dr. D.

Edible Dragon Fruit finger paint! Healthy Snack turns into homemade fun! Vegan, GMO & Gluten free.

Link 1 Comment October 16, 2014 DrD4Health

Dragon Fruit Finger-Paint: Healthy & Loads of Homemade Fun!

So I’m working on a snack for my lil one – I turn around for one second and this is how Dragon Fruit Finger-Paint was born!

Finger painting is a great activity to do with your toddlers- but we all know lil ones love putting things in their mouth, so its tough on kids who are gmo-free, gluten free and vegan!

No worries – here are our some easy breezy instructions to make your own Edible, Safe, Homemade version of finger-paint with some ingredients you may already have at home!

The added bonus is that while you are having your healthy snack, you can explain that this is how paint was made a long long time ago… Fruits, flowers, herbs – all Nature!

Dragon Fruit Paint Ingredients:

– Ripe Red Dragon Fruit

– Glutenfree Flour

– GMO free Sugar

– GMO free Salt

– Spring Water

– BPA Free Cups

Dragon Fruit Paint Instructions:

– Add 2 Tbsp of Sugar into a sauce pan.
– Add 1 tsp of Salt into it.
– Next add 1/3 cup of flour to the pan.

– Mix with 2 cups of spring water and whisk well until it is very smooth. Turn on low heat and stir continually until the mixture thickens.

– Carefully pour mixture into the plastic cups equally.

– You will need one cup for every color of paint you’d like to make…

* Hot Pink – Red Dragon Fruit
* Purple – Blueberries (heated)
* Gold – Tumeric or Cumin

*My toddler had a great time using only one color, but have at it!

– Mix in about 17-26 drops of Ripe Dragon Fuit juice and stir until completely dissolved!

– Allow the paint to cool completely before allowing your little toddler to stick their fingers in and get really Hot Pink & Silly!

So why Dragon Fruit?
It’s filled with Vitamin C and Vitamin Bs all while improving your immune system and lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure! Dragon Fruit, also known as “Pitahaya” or “Pitaya” is also low in fat and full of fiber – so it’s healthy & beautiful!
Dragon Fruit is also a good natural source of anti-oxidants which help to prevent the dangers of free radicals in our body! The number, quantity, and variety of antioxidants in real food like this is unmatched – so go for it!

Send me some pictures… I’m looking forward to seeing the yummy yummy baby magic you create with the lil one in your life!
Wishing you health & happiness
~ Dr. Dee

How’s your Phytonutrient Health? Raw Tomatillo Tacos!

2 Comments October 14, 2014 DrD4Health

The various colors of Fruits and Vegetables can be thought of as complementary forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which our body can achieve vital nutrients.

Fruits, Vegetables and other plants provide essential Phytonutrients as well as essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that each color group has to offer.

Phytonutrient Examples:

Phytochemicals, also known as phytonutrients, are a large group of plant-derived compounds believed to be responsible for much of the disease protection derived from diets high in fruits, vegetables, beans, cereals, and plant-based beverages such as tea and wine.

Of these phytochemicals, flavonoids are the most diverse group of phytochemicals. Research suggests that flavonoids, in particular, may be an important phytochemical group that contributes to the reduced mortality rates observed in people consuming high levels of plant-based foods.

How many Fruits & Veggies do you actually need?

• Children 2 to 6 years old should get three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit, for a total of five.

• Children older than 6, teenage girls, active women and most men should get at least four servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit, for a total of seven!

• Teenage boys and active men should get five servings of vegetables and four servings of fruits, for a total of nine!

According to the CDC, more really does matter and it truly depends on your particular body and your particular genetics and life-style. Are you sensitive or intolerant to certain fruits & veggies, have you had your DNA tested for MTHR Polymorphisms? Consider really getting to know your food genes!

Research reveals that if you create a variety and balance of Fruit & Veggie Phytonutrients in your daily life, the result will greatly contribute to:

• Strengthening your immune system
• Lowering your risk for certain cancers
• Warding off Type 2 Diabetes
• Reducing High Blood Pressure
• Preventing some Eye Diseases
• Maintaining Urinary Tract health
• Maintaining Heart Health
• Improving Memory
• Helping build Strong Bones & Teeth

Start eating a Rainbow of Colors everyday and you raise your chances of having Optimal Health & Phytonutrient Power!

Here is a Yummy Yummy recipe for Tomatillo Tacos. This Deelicious recipe has so many colors of nature’s rainbow, you will be well on your way to receiving some of your daily requirements.

Tomatillo Taco Ingredients:

1 Head of Radicchio
1/2 cup of Cilantro Leaves (de-stemmed)
3 Medium to Large Ripe Avocados (peeled, pitted, diced)
2 Cloves of Garlic (peeled)
1/2 Red Onion (chopped)
1 teaspoon of ground Cumin
3 Tomatillos, (husked, chopped)
2 Medium Tomatoes (diced)
2 Limes (juiced)
1/2 Lemon (juiced)
Sea Salt & Pepper to taste
2 Cups Cucumber (diced)
1/4 Chopped Basil (optional)

Tomatillo Taco Instructions:

1) Combine the Tomatillos, Cilantro, Avocado, Red onion, Garlic, Lime juice, Lemon juice, Cumin, salt and pepper in a food processor or blender and pulse until combined.

2) Separate Radicchio Leaves

3) Dice Cucumber

4) Coarsely Chop Tomatoes

To serve Tomatillo Tacos:

1) Place the Radicchio leaves on a platter.

2) Gently place a heaping Tablespoon of diced Cucumber on each leaf.

3) Place a generous tablespoon of Tomatillo mixture over Cucumber.

4) Sprinkle some diced tomato over Tomatillo mixture.

5) Slice Basil strips on top of tomatoes.

6) Sprinkle Sea Salt on top.

*mixture makes about 30 tacos

Mmmm… I can’t wait to eat these Deeelicious tacos!

I look forward to hearing what you think of these tasty treats! Ohhh, they are so Yummy Yummy Baby!

Stay Healthy & Happy ~ Dr. D.

Protein from Vegetables vs. Meat… What’s the big deal?

4 Comments October 7, 2014 DrD4Health

What you eat impacts everything from your skin to your bones to your cognitive abilities… It even contributes to how animals are treated in this world!

Ounce for ounce and Calorie for calorie… Broccoli and Kale provide more protein than Porterhouse steak!!!

Cooked Kale and Broccoli also provide more Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C and Folate than Beef Short Loin and Porterhouse Steak.

Protein is a macro nutrient necessary for the proper growth and function of the human body. Although there are vegetables that have proteins, Harvard School of Public Health found that it critical to eat a variety of protein choices so you can get all of your Amino Acids! Growing evidence reveals high-protein food choices do play a role in health—but eating healthy protein sources like avocados, beans, or nuts in place of red meat can lower the risk of several diseases while lowering cruelty towards animals🌝.

A study from May 2012 by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that saturated fats found in red meat and full-fat dairy products causes the brain to age more quickly than other kinds of fat. The good news is that you can slow brain aging by consuming healthy oils like Avocado, Coconut Oil and other monounsaturated fats.

This Protein Juice blend includes:

1/2 an Avocado
1 Cup of Cashews
3/4 Cup of Raspberries
3/4 Cup Mango
2 Cups of Mixed Greens (Spinach, Kale, Moringa )
1/4 Cup Cucumber
1 Cup of Coconut Water
1/2 Lemon

There is considerable debate over the amount of protein a person needs to consume per day, but the current recommended daily intake is listed below:

BENEFITS OF EATING PROTEIN FROM VEGETABLES & FRUITS:

Various studies show that eating even small amounts of red meat, especially processed red meat, on a regular basis is linked to increased Free Radicals, increased risk of Heart Disease and Stroke.

People who are Gluten Sensitive or have GI issues also tend to have low digestive enzymes and need to be extremely careful about eating meat, paying particular attention to added dyes, antibiotics and of course, gluten.

Meat is very high in fat, cholesterol and if non-organic, it has synthetic hormones. Many meat proteins in food are found to be responsible for food allergies and mucus in the gut?

Meat causes your body, mind and organs to age, where Organic Vegetables promote Anti-aging, they are high in Vitamins & Antioxidants, have good Fiber, low-fat Protein, and they are great for your Heart and Brain.

Try replacing red meat with healthy proteins such as this Protein Juice Blend above – you may greatly lower your risk of disease, you will be having cruelty free meals and discover that life can be Yummy Yummy Baby with out meat!