Diet and Lifestyle Ed

Book: The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth

2011-03-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

“Raw living food is extraordinarily ordinary.”
~ Debbie Merrill

Vibrant and joyful … These are words that truly captured the energy of skating fitness expert Debbie Merrill, as I watched her mingle. The event was a recent book-signing/fundraiser at the 5th Street Whole Foods in Santa Monica. Years ago, I interviewed Debbie about her work in training celebrities to skate on screen (think Steve Martin gliding through MOCA in L.A. Story). Now I learned that Debbie was just releasing a revised edition of her August 2009 book on raw foods, The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth. I also discovered that she had hosted a TV show on the raw foods lifestyle for two years since we had last met, featuring guests in the forefront of raw living such as David Wolfe (The Sunfood Diet Success System), Gabriel Cousens, MD (Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine), and Juliano (of Juliana’s Raw Restaurant). Cousens wrote her Foreword, and the other two gave her endorsements. Other book blurbs come from Martin, Melanie Griffith, Patricia Bragg (apple cider vinegar proponent), and newswoman Jane Velez-Mitchell.

The petite, attractive blonde athlete has been “eating and living” the vegan way for 27 years, she told me, the last 17 years as 100% pure raw vegan. She described herself as a “person who transitioned to live foods and the fountain of youth one inch at a time.” Her 450+ page book offers Debbie’s knowledge and wisdom, along with the tools that work for her. In addition, as Cousens explains in the Foreword, we get Debbie’s life story which she “so elegantly shares as a narrative for her teachings.” Cousens also notes that Debbie encourages you to “live a full joyful, loving, healthy life with every bite,” but you don’t feel forced.

The book’s sections are cleverly laid out like a meal, starting with “Section 1. Appetizers: Awakening” and ending with “Section 5: Final Course” (the nuts and bolts of her program, including 40 “rawkin’ raw recipes” which Cousens calls “excellent”). Debbie has delivered 40 chapters, and here are some highlights:

Ch. 1, Create Your Own Treasure Map: Before embarking on an exploration of raw foods, Debbie asks you to become aware of what you want to get out of life. Her tools are a “Treasure Map” (similar to a vision board) and a “Treasure Box” (where you put your written goals). “What you can visualize, vocalize and physicalize, you can manifest in your life,” she tells us.

Ch. 3, Peeling the Onion: Here Debbie quotes Mae West: “Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.” She offers the insight that success comes from mastering one part of your goal, and then moving on. The author promotes moving forward one small step at a time toward our goals for a healthy lifestyle, and insists that bad habits will then become easier and easier to shed.

Ch. 5, Move It or Lose It: Of course, a professional figure skater who has performed around the globe will share her wisdom about exercise. “Health should be a verb,” Debbie writes. “… health is action.” The reader is asked to sign a contract with themselves to commit to get moving.

Ch. 8, The Road to Raw: Here Debbie admits that she went to raw foods because years ago she saw that she was “falling apart” and “eating more crap than vegetables” as a vegetarian. She reveals the changes she made and the benefits she gained. “This is not about deprivation,” she notes, “this is about moderation, rejuvenation, inspiration and innovation.”

Ch. 12, Paralysis of Perfectionism: Debbie jokes that perfectionism seems in some ways to be part of her DNA. This has helped her as an athlete, but also hurt when she saw an error as a personal defect. She’s learned along the way that sometimes it’s better to do something imperfectly than to wait til you can do it flawlessly.

Ch. 16, The Carrot and the Rabbit: Chapter 16 highlights the reasons for giving up being a meat eater. The author urges the reader to become informed with such films as Eating, Diet for a New America, and Super Size Me, and/or to even visit a slaughterhouse. (That visit did it for her, she said.) To Debbie, the most compelling reason came down to one word, compassion (for the animals).

Ch. 36, The Essential Raw Kitchen: Debbie learned to love cooking from her mother, who was a fabulous Italian cook. Here the author provides tips on the practical side to preparing to “raw-mble” in your own kitchen. She recommends a Vita-Mix blender, a food processor, a dehydrator, a juicer/wheatgrass juicer, and more. And, of course, a ready supply of fresh veggies and fruit.

Ch. 38, The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth Food-for-Life Plan: Here you’ll find Debbie’s food plan. She writes that you can do it in its entirety, or slowly move toward 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% raw foods. You’ll find lists of foods for fruit, veggies, protein, fats, and grains, along with recommended daily amounts. Her “Additional Suggestions” include this reminder: “What you don’t eat is as important as what you do.”

Ch. 39, Rawsome Recipes: During our interview, Debbie told me that she has included simple raw recipes, as well as those that more die-hard raw foodists would enjoy. Ones that caught my eye include “Debbie’s Raw Pizza Pizzazz” (made with raw crackers, homemade tomato sauce, sundried tomatoes, black olives, nuts, plus), raw enchiladas, “Debbie’s Sprouted Lentil Salad” (gets raves at holiday pot luck parties, she said proudly), mango smoothie, “Nano Banana on a Stick” (named after her dad, and includes banana, nuts, carob powder, and more), and raw cracker recipes. “Mother Earth is the best chef in the Universe,” she notes.

“I’ve lived through every type of diet that there is,” Debbie writes in her book. “I’ve gone from red meat to chicken to fish, from vegetarian to macrobiotics to lacto-ovo to vegan to raw vegan, and it is certainly not for me to say where you should end up … [but] if there is the slightest twinge in your soul that you are not where you want to be, then I invite you to take this wonderful journey with me.”

The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth is available
online at www.debbiemerrillshow.com.

Debbie Merrill’s Instructor to the Stars website is www.skategreat.com.

What We're Learning about Dietary Fat & Heart Disease

2009-07-19T21:51:00.001-07:00

Hi folks,

Just have to share an article that I found. It does a great job of clarifying what we're learning about the link between dietary fat intake and heart disease.

Check it out at http://www.myhealthtoday.com/dietary-fat-heart-disease/.

Namaste!

Be well!

Robin Quinn, CNHP

Safety Steps When Building Sandcastles

2009-07-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

New article by Rodale Press says building sandcastles at the beach this summer may make you sick! Say it isn't so! Some of my favorite memories of my childhood family vacations involved hours spent building elaborative sandcastles in Wildwood, New Jersey, complete with seashell ornamentation. Actually the percentage who got sick was small in those studied. Still, it doesn't hurt to take the recommended step of washing your hands before you eat on a day of playing in the sand. To learn more about the precautions, go to: http://www.rodale.com/dirty-beach-sand-can-make-you-sick?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2009_07_13-_-Top5-_-NA

Safe Harbor to Present Info to LA County Mental Health Officials

2009-05-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

Safe Harbor is a unique organization that helps people facing mental health challenges. They have hard-to-find info on alternative approaches to gaining and maintaining mental well-being.

The group will be doing a presentation before the LA Department of Mental Health sometime in July. The focus will be on non-drug wellness programs.

To support this effort with donations, write to:

Safe Harbor
787 W. Woodbury Rd., #2
Altadena, CA 91001

More info on Safe Harbor at:
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/

Namaste,

Robin Quinn, CNHP

Foods that Fight Stress

2009-05-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

Learn about foods that help you cope with the stresses in your life.

Read this post from one of my Twitter buddies, Fred Krazeise:

http://empoweredandfit.ning.com/profiles/blogs/foods-that-fight-stress

Fred has been doing a whole series on stress on his blog -- check it out!

Namaste!

Robin Quinn, CNHP

Inspirational "Tweets" & More from Robin

2009-04-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

Tune in to inspirational quotes, along with short health notes and book biz news/tips. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RobinQuinninLA. It's quick and fun!

Fatigue RX: Exercise?

2009-03-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ever experience one of those afternoon slumps where your brain gets fuzzy? Maybe this is a regular experience for you? Beyond munching on an energizing snack like walnuts or an apple, an counterintuitive move can be stepping outside for a walk around the neighborhood. It might be just what you need to cut through your brain fog so you can work more efficiently and/or gain more enjoyment from your day. Exercise is a handy strategy for releasing stress and quieting unsettling mind chatter. Once you’re outside, create a Zen zone for yourself, and place your mind/body in the moment. Take in the wonders of nature, such as looking up at the wide open sky and noticing if there is an abundance or absence of clouds. You might repeat a supportive mantra, like “I have plenty of the time” or a single word like “Peace.” I like to walk for a least 30 minutes most days. Office workers may find their lunch hour to be a good slot for fitting in a walk, or the self-employed may agree with me that late afternoons are a perfect time for a stroll. Remember, you don’t have to get your 30 minutes 3-4 times a week of exercise all at once. You can break it up into two sessions in a day of 15 minutes, 3 of 10 minutes, etc., and still get the benefits of exercise. All you need is to give yourself that initial push to get into motion. Soon you may discover regular exercise has become an energizing habit!

Be well!

Robin Quinn

Safe Summer "Fun in the Sun"

2008-07-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

Well, summer is in full swing... but how do you have confidence about having fun in the sun safely, especially after the news this week of increased skin cancer in young women?

Check out the scoop about safe sunscreens at Mercola.com. He reports on a new investigation of sunscreens by The Environmental Working Group, as well as sharing insights of his own. This includes his conclusion that natural sunscreens are your safest bet after a moderate amount of non-sunscreen sun time. He also tells you which ingredients to avoid in sunscreens.

For more info, go to: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/01/four-out-of-five-sunscreens-may-be-hazardous-to-your-health.aspx?source=nl

By the way, I try to get about 10-20 minutes of sun a day, for the vitamin D! It's a great excuse to take a break from your desk and enjoy the great outdoors.

To your health!

Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer and educator

Having "Breakfast" with Bubba - Oh the Magic of Music Therapy!

2008-05-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

I was heading down the Santa Monica Freeway during the morning rush-hour. Business was busy, but I had no choice about being on the road at traffic's slowest time. I needed a distraction. That's when I punched in 88.1 - our publically supported jazz station in Los Angeles - and to my delight discovered the show "Breakfast with Bubba."

Wow! - piece after piece of most spirit-lifting music started coming through my dash. It was like therapy in motion. Amazing... healing... in a word, wonderful!!!

When you need a change in mood, want to release some difficult emotions, or feel like a quick burst of dancing, tune in to music that suits your purpose. Sometimes, we want t0 purge our pain, so maybe we'd listen to some moving somber classical music to let out some tears. Or maybe like my other morning, you want to access your joy and just need a little help getting there.

My mood was completely changed for the good by the time I got to my appointment. And yes, I couldn't help by do a little dancing in my seat along the way.

88.1 is currently in their fundraising drive period - if you're a jazz lover or tune into "Breakfast with Bubba" and love it as much as I did, why not contribute?

More info at:
http://www.jazzandblues.org/

"Breakfast with Bubba Jackson" - 6 to 9 am Pacific Coast Time
At 88.1 in Los Angeles, but also available through your mobile phone via the web.

Namaste,

Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer and educator

See you at the Los Angeles Times Book Fair this Sunday?

2008-04-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend in Los Angeles will be all about books, as the LA Times sponsors its 13th annual Festival of Books at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).

I will be appearing there at the Book Publicists of Southern California booth from 11 am til noon on Sunday. The booth number is 106, right near the cooking stage.

Come by to say "hello!" or to ask any questions you might have about nutrition or the editing or writing of your books.

Looking forward to meeting some of you!

To your health,

Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer, editor and educator

P.S. To learn about the editorial side of my life, visit my other website www.writingandediting.biz.

Self-Help for Seasonal Allergies

2008-04-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

It’s allergy season already… bringing sneezing, a runny nose, scratchy sore throat and watery eyes to millions of Americans. In fact, an estimated one in every six people in the U.S. is affected. If you’re one of them, you probably already know that the season is upon us because of such symptoms.

The overall state of your health, including the condition of your immune system, plays an important role in allergies, and this is actually good news. That means that with diligent self-care and other proactive measures, you can help to reduce or possibly even eliminate your symptoms. I’ve found that self-care is always so important with health issues, and seasonal allergies are no exception.

Here are some steps that can be beneficial.

o Reduce your exposure to toxins in general. When our bodies are overloaded with toxins from our food and environment, it has a hard time coping. Patricia Fitzgerald’s book, The Detox Solution, offers ideas for eliminating toxic ingredients from your diet, beauty products, office environment and home. You’ll find it on Amazon.com.

o Support your body with helpful supplements. Vitamin C and Echinacea/Goldenseal tinctures are known immunity boosters. In addition, cod liver oil or flax seed oil can provide further support. Probiotics are important for strong digestive health, and make you less vulnerable to food allergies which can also weaken your system.

o Be proactive about your exposure to pollen. Dry clothes in the dryer rather than the clothing line. Vacuum the house often. Exercise indoors or later in the day when the pollen count tends to be lower. Keep windows closed when driving. Keep track of the pollen counts for your city through the National Allergy Bureau stats provided on the website http://www.aaaai.org/nab/index.cfm or by finding another service by googling the web for your “city name” + “pollen count.” Weather sites often give pollen counts. I just discovered, for instance, that the pollen counts for Los Angeles today are through the roof!

o Stay well-hydrated. Drink plenty of water. This will help your body to stay in top shape and keep your mucus membranes moist, reducing allergic reactions.

Whole Foods is running a weekly podcast this month on seasonal allergies. The next installment will be posted on Monday. To learn about additional natural approaches to seasonal allergies, listen to their podcasts at: http://wholefoodsmarket.com/socialmedia/wholebody/ .

And if you want help with clearing toxins out of your diet, send me an email at dietlifestyleed@aol.com.

Are You Getting Your Share of Fresh Produce? 5 Tips for Eating More Raw Fruits & Veggies

2008-02-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

Current anti-cancer recommendations tell us to eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. I recommend making as much as of this raw as possible for added benefits.

So how can we make this happen? Here are 5 strategies I use on a regular basis:

Tip #1. Stay stocked with fresh produce. I like to shop at the many farmers’ markets we have in Southern California for right-from-the-field produce. When I can’t get there, I might go to a neighborhood produce store, like Farmer Boy which carries only fresh California produce. Or I just stock up during my weekly shopping trip to the supermarket.

Tip #2. Aim for two pieces of fresh fruit a day. You could have half a grapefruit with breakfast, a chopped banana in your cereal, a pear or bunch of grapes for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, or munch on a sliced apple (experiment with the many varieties!) for an evening treat a couple hours after dinner.

Tip #3. When dining out, substitute a salad for French Fries, rice or potato. Realize that it’s not only OK, but beneficial to have both a fresh raw salad AND cooked vegetables at a meal.

Tip #4. Have a salad as your main course for one of your meals most days. Use different combinations of vegetables, greens and other ingredients for your salads so you tantalize your taste buds and don’t get bored. During colder temperatures, go for nutritious and hearty soups or stews (even though the veggies are cooked) as your body will crave warm foods, and have a salad or other raw food item on the side.

Tip #5. Experiment with new recipes using raw ingredients. Yesterday I made an amazing Asian cucumber salad, using rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and fresh grated ginger. Author David Wolfe has many interesting raw recipes (such as Avocado Burritos) in his live-foods diet book, The Sunfood Diet Success System. There are many other raw books on the market that can give you additional ideas.

Here are some basic serving sizes to help you judge your produce consumption:

1 serving

1 cup of raw leafy salad greens
1/2 cup of raw chopped vegetables or fruit
One piece of medium-size fruit

Buy organic whenever you can!

Have fun and enjoy!

To your health!

Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health and Nutrition Educator

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes in Midlife

2008-01-29T21:20:00.000-08:00

Went to a book group yesterday where Jane Jelenko was the visiting author. She’s a co-writer of the just released “Midlife Renewal” book, Changing Lanes.

It’s tough on both the body and the soul when your heart is not in your work or your current life doesn’t feel satisfying. So I think this book is worth mentioning here.

If you’re considering a midlife transition, check out Jelenko’s Changing Lanes. Both she and her co-author Susan Marshall are former “suits” who made career changes in their 50s. But their book tells more than these two women’s stories. It’s filled with rich insights and helpful advice, and the authors also interviewed 55 other “change artists” whose stories and wisdom are included.

“Sometimes making a change seems interminable,” said Jelenko to the book group. “At those points, it can help to be in that place of not knowing and decide to be OK with it.”

Being inspired by other successful “change artists” may be just what “the doctor” needs to order.

Warm regards,

Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health and Nutrition Educator

What's for Dinner? According to the FDA, Cloned Meat!

2008-01-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

For me, the disgusted look on the news anchor's face yesterday told the whole story as he introduced the cloned food segment on the evening news. Is meat and milk from cloned animals safe for human consumption? Yes, announced the FDA after years of review. "These products are no different than foods from traditionally bred animals," commented Bruce I. Knight, an Under Secretary at the US Department of Agriculture.

My questions are the following... just because we have a technology does that mean we have to use it? What's wrong with the meat and dairy products that we already have available? Is there really a way to know that this food is no different, or will we simply become the guinea pigs and learn the dangers later?

It could be more than two to three years before such foods reach our grocery stores. Meanwhile the cloned animals will be used more for breeding what is believed to be superior stock. The FDA plans no labeling of these products because they have concluded they pose no safety issues.

If you object to cloned food products, write to:

FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach MD
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Organizations that have been working on this issue include:

The Center for Food Safety, http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
The Center for Environmental Health, http://www.cehca.org/

Amazed at our wacky world,

Robin Quinn
Health and Nutrition Educator

Losing Weight in 2008! A Startling Incentive

2008-01-04T06:31:00.002-08:00

Is becoming healthier, eating better, or losing weight among your goals for the New Year? To support you, I thought I’d pass along a wonderful resource for learning how to achieve all of these goals – the "Nutrition Action" newsletter, which is published by the consumer advocacy group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (www.cspinet.org/). CSPI is a very important group. They have been around since 1971, working hard for you as an advocate and lobbyist for honest food labeling, healthy food ingredients, and consumer nutrition education. A yearly subscription to the newsletter is only $10 in the United States.

For many people, reaching an optimum weight is one of their New Year's resolutions. The cover article of the last issue of "Nutrition Action" gives you a powerful incentive – discovering that being overweight is an important factor in developing cancer. According to the Newsletter and a new report from the American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund, maintaining your goal weight is the single most important factor in preventing cancer beyond quitting smoking!! Even a 5 to 10 percent loss in weight can make a difference.

If you need help and information for losing weight, consider signing up for my weight loss support program. To learn more, write to me at DietLifestyleEd@aol.com.

To your health, joy and prosperity in 2008!

Warmly,

Robin Quinn
Health and Nutrition Educator

2007-12-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to DietandLifestyleEd.com!

Hi, let me introduce myself. My name is Robin Quinn. I’ve been a writer and editor in the fields of health, diet and self-help for over 15 years. During this time, I’ve learned an amazing amount about smart nutrition and lifestyle choices.

After seeing improvements in my own health, I decided to get training to educate other people about the changes they could make. In August 2007, I was certified as a Health Professional after a year of training, and I took additional coursework in nutrition.

What better way to share info with you than this blog at DietandLifestyleEd.com! In addition, I do one-on-one diet and lifestyle education on request (see my services page).

Your health is your wealth!

Choose to be well!

With loving intentions to support you in discovering your best self,

Robin

*****

Experience the Holidays with Less Stress and More Joy!
Posted 12-21-07

This year, more than ever, I am hearing people comment about how stressful the holidays can be. As you’ll hear from me time and time again, we have the power to make choices that will change what we experience.

Here are some ideas to help you decrease your stress and experience more joy this holiday season…

1. Be selective about the holiday commitments you make. There are people you definitely will want to spend time with over the holidays… but which get-togethers could wait til the new year?

Example: I decided to skip a holiday party for colleagues who I will see at an event in mid-January. This gave me some breathing space, as I went to two other celebrations that week.

2. When it comes to holiday eating, think portion size and balance. We’re all bound to eat some items that are off our regular menu over the holiday season. The key is to just have a limited amount, and balance it with healthier choices in the proper amounts (fresh raw salad, low-fat protein choices, whole grains, spring water).

Example: I had a wonderful holiday dinner with my good friend Susan at a historic hotel in downtown Los Angeles, and of course the restaurant portions were huge. Half of the meal went home with me to be enjoyed for lunch the next day. Salad was definitely part of my order. And we split dessert!

2. Build some activity into your family gatherings. Being with loved ones doesn’t have to be all about eating. Why not take a walk around the neighborhood, stroll a local scenic area decked in holiday splendor, or during your downtime share some of your favorite fitness activities – such as a workout DVD or how you use your free weights to build muscle?

Example: Over a holiday trip, I plan to join my sister in walks down to the Chesapeake Bay from her country home.

3. Give yourself a break. Taking breathers here and there can help to make the holidays feel less overwhelming. Do some meditation, engage in breath work, or take a nap when you find yourself with a pocket of free time. Even 10 or 15 minutes helps!

Example: Occasionally during this holiday season, I’ve found myself with a free evening with no commitments or plans. I indulged in an early bedtime, and woke up the next day feeling much refreshed!

Best wishes for your holidays!

Back again soon!

To your good health!

Robin
In windy Los Angeles (perfect day for the gym… off I go!)