Melissa Ramos2013-05-22T06:03:40-04:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=melissa-ramosCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Melissa RamosGood old fashioned elbow grease.5 Common Health Myths Exposedtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.26007282013-02-18T08:05:09-05:002013-04-20T05:12:01-04:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-ramos/WARNING: the following content may make you smile, go into shock, feel upset, become wide-eyed, gasp or laugh so hard that you just might snort.
I truly believe in every single one of these points. Some of these I discuss with my patients when treating them. So **taking a deep breath in** here we go...
1) White rice isn't exactly bad for you.
Gasp! I know right? How could this be? All the heath gurus telling you to inject your tummy full of whole grain goodness and then I spring this on you? Blasphemous!
So here's the deal...
According to Chinese Medicine, people have used white rice therapeutically for years. Due to the hull that's been removed, it's easier to digest, so in the East, congees, which have a porridge-like consistency, were made. They injected them with a variety of ingredients to treat just about everything. In the past, after I underwent my emergency abdominal surgery, I had to regain my digestive system. Amongst my green smoothie regime, congees were made almost daily.
This isn't to say I believe that refined products should be a staple in your world, but therapeutically, a little white rice can go a long way.
2) Not everyone is meant to be vegan or vegetarian.
To say that everyone should be a vegetarian is to say that one diet fits all, and that's simply not the case. It's why you see a nutritionist and acupuncturist like myself who will look at your blood type, medical history, thermal temperature, tongue and pulse analysis and will evaluate what's right for you. I tried veganism years ago, properly combining my foods, reading up and being very careful of my iron and protein sources, and I never felt more sick and bloated in my life.
3) The winter is not a time to detox.
I've written about this and screamed it from the high heavens. According to Chinese Medicine we should be nourishing our kidney Qi (adrenals in Western philosophy) and rooting ourselves in the winter. Yes, you might have eaten or drunk everything under the sun, want to lose weight and get more energy, but it can be done without detoxing. Your body's natural instinct is to store your energy, so why on Earth would you expect it to push out anything?
4) You don't have to buy everything organic.
But what about the pesticides, the GMOs, etc.? I know and I get it, they're there with non-organic food.
But what if you're a single mom, just making ends meet? How about if you simply can't afford organic food? Do you:
a) Tell yourself you're a bad mother because you'll never be able to afford to feed your child healthy food.
b) Say, "To heck with it, this calls for a Happy Meal."
c) Stuff organic oranges in your bra and wink at the male cashier.
d) Concentrate and check out this list to save you money. The dirty dozen is a listing of all the foods you want to purchase organic and the clean fifteen are the ones you can get away with buying in non-organic form.
In addition, please note: Toxins store in fat tissue, so if you are going to buy meat, fats or dairy, please opt for organic varieties.
5) He doesn't always have to make the first move.
I know you may think this doesn't apply to health, but shit damn, it does. I believe that emotional wellness has every bit as much to do with your health as what you stick in your pie hole. So avoiding making the move is something you do because your thinking is manipulating you to feel fear. That fear will then create a reaction (emotional eating), which will then create a result (a third butt cheek).
So ask yourself: If you did approach this person of interest that you've magically put on a pedestal, what would be the drawbacks if you got him/her? And what would be the benefits if he/she rejected you? Once you answer these questions truthfully (list 10 for each), then you will dissolve the fear and go for it because you'll feel like you have nothing to lose or gain.
And just as a side note: I've been happily with my boyfriend, for almost a year now that I picked up.
Now I want to hear from YOU: What health misconception have you recently discovered?
]]>The Card You Can't Afford Not to Givetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.23402262012-12-21T00:46:45-05:002013-02-19T05:12:01-05:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-ramos/
I've always loved the concept of paying it forward. You read about those wonderful generous individuals in Tim Hortons' lines paying for the person behind them and it warms your heart. It makes you feel even better when you do it yourself. There's just something thrilling about leaving your mark anonymously on a stranger in a positive way. I've done it for others and had it done for me and I can personally attest to the fact that you feel a boost in energy and affection, whether you're the giver or receiver.
I recently read about a fellow Canadian blogger, Taslim Jaffer, who is doing her own "pay it forward" in a uniquely creative way with her Make-A-Wave Cards. Essentially, you can purchase a 12-pack of these tidbits of inspiration (small one-liners) for a measly $9.99 and give them to your friends, colleagues, family and yes, even strangers.
Many of her motivational cards say such as "Don't be afraid to be fabulous. You can't help it. You were born that way" or "Don't just march to the beat of your own drum; shake your butt and dance like nobody's business." Can you imagine having a cup of coffee or eating a meal at your favorite restaurant and then just before you get up to leave, you drop one of these cards for the waiter, or even the next customer? How do you think they'd react?
Everyone has a bad day, and these uplifting quotes may just be the thing that will perk them up and definitely something that they will remember for a very long time.
I don't presume purchasing these cards and sharing them with others will change the world, but it will change a person. And that's a start.
In a world where we are terrorized by hunger, poverty, homelessness, abuse and violence on children (among other tragedies), why not do our part and fill the world with a little bit of hope. And just in time for the holidays.
So go through a Tim Horton's drive-thru and pay for the stranger behind you, leave a Make-A-Wave card for another at your local coffee shop, or just compliment a stranger on the street. But do something. What have you got to lose?
To check out Taslim Jaffer's blog and to purchase her unique Make-A-Wave cards, visit her site here. ]]>Want to Look Good Naked? Here's Howtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.22592602012-12-12T00:15:14-05:002013-02-10T05:12:02-05:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-ramos/
[Record scratches]
There they were, dimples that made my ass look like an offspring of Shirley Temple. But then he flipped me over and there in my reflection in the mirror was my butt again. No, I didn't have a butt smile like most bounce-a-quarter-off-it-type butts would boast, but a butt frown. The sexually induced body mortification continued: my triceps fanned my body as I held onto him. I felt my partner clutch onto my back wings and I lost my navel in a war against my abdomen.
This poignant moment in the past is something I'm reminded of when I hear the heart-felt stories from my patients because I could once relate. Which begs the question, how does one get a sex-approved body transformation?
Let's think about the possible causes first:
Cellulite theories
There is one theory that purports that people with cellulite have chronically inflamed white blood cells and inflamed cells shrink causing the skin to lose its strength. However what is more widely accepted is the notion that connective tissue in women appear in paralleled bars causing fat to push through easier than men (men have a criss-cross pattern). Not to mention the years are not on our side as age decreases the elasticity in the skin causing cellulite to appear more noticeable.
Fat deposition
Depending on where you store your fat, it all has different meanings. For example, fat accumulation on the triceps could signify excessive insulin in the system whereas abdominal fat may signify excess cortisol production. Understanding where you gain weight is a sure fire way of understanding how you lose it.
So what can be done?
Focus on digestive health and immunity
The concept is simple. Clogged pipes and we reabsorb the toxins stored in our poop and we become ill. Not to mention over 70 per cent of our immunity is located in our digestive tract creating an immune response like inflammation (in many cases, we see a link between inflammation and weight gain). If you feel that going to the bathroom every other day is not constipation, then think again. In fact many experts will have you believe that once a day is still considered slow bowel transit time.
Dry skin brushing
Getting a loofa sponge will one of the cheapest and best investments you'll make. Dry skin brushing moves your lymphatic system and helps to remove up to 1lb of waste excreted by our skin daily, reducing the look of cellulite. Simply start with small circular movements towards the heart and getting every inch of your body before you shower daily.
Understanding hormones and their triggers
As women especially our bodies are a hormonal fun house: fun one moment and complete mind and body distortion the next. Lowering excess estrogen may decrease the appearance of excess weight on the thighs and butt. Another example is possibly increasing the levels of glucagon that is a hormone that help to encourage fat burning.
Here I bring you my expertise in Nutrition & Chinese Medicine, plus bring on a fitness expert and emotional specialist. Doors have officially opened for purchase on December 11, 2012 and will close January 5, 2013. Yep, we're hitting it out of the ballpark to give you the sex-approved body this New Year you deserve so that you can gain back a little confidence back in between the sheets.
]]>It's Time for a Little Shit Talktag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.22115472012-12-01T08:29:49-05:002013-01-31T05:12:02-05:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-ramos/ Maybe I should run the faucet so he won't hear me. But wait, if I do, he might wake up at the sound.
And there it was, the pre-poop morning toots that you pray come out as a whisper but you know might very well come out as a BAHOOGA. You pray that your morning present doesn't KAPLUNK in the toilet and that the smell isn't atrocious. God forbid he finds out you shit and you're human.
And it isn't just the morning that you grapple with. It's the fact that lately you've been bloated and have been squeezing your butt cheeks so hard together because you might let out a fart that could kill a small village. You don't understand. It happens no matter what you eat, but you feel gross and tired. It's time for a little shit talk.
In the past I struggled with digestive issues. I've gone for days without dumping a good one, struggled for 15 minutes to let out a disappointing kibble drop and I've had the urgent calls for action. My skin was a mess, I was exhausted and my joints started to ache. I struggled for years to drop weight and realized that once my digestive system healed, suddenly the weight melted off.
And a large part about digestion is reducing the allergenic load that creates an inflammatory response. When we eat foods that don't agree with our system we have a hard time controlling our bowel response and our emotions. Suddenly we're short-fused and the toilet seat being left up is enough to have an all out war as we slam it back down with thunder. Or we're left with moments of depression and not sure why. We need reassurance and discuss the complicated matters to friends, the rolling eyes of our partners and write cryptic messages on Facebook. Have we become crazy?
No. Look no further because the answer is in your poop.
The digestive system is one of the most under-rated parts we have. It's related to everything and I urge you to consider adding it to your body transformation list for the New Year. In fact, I urge you to start with it. It is the corner stone of our health where Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic philosophers had believed that all diseases began from poor gut health.
People ask me:
"How is your hair so shiny?"
"You're 34? Wow I would have pegged you for 28." (Bless their sweet heart and face)
"How is your complexion so clear?"
My one answer, I take care of my digestive pipes and I'm careful what I put in it. The secret to feeling sexy from the inside out begins with proper digestive health which is why that's where I start ALL of my patients.
And now you can RSVP to The Enlighten Movement that will help you transform your body with the individualized attention YOU deserve. So whether you want to lose weight, tend to your digestive pipes or clear up that skin, I've got you covered. Plus receive motivation knowing that every time you transform your body, you'll be helping someone else out effortlessly (stay tuned for those details).
RSVP now and receive a FREE copy of my Ultimate Grocery & Kitchen Guide when you do. Doors open on December 11, 2012 and you won't want to miss this because we're going to be transforming bodies and helping to transform the world at the same time.
For more on Melissa visit: http://www.sexyfoodtherapy.com
]]>Are You Settling?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.10195342011-10-24T14:13:11-04:002011-12-24T05:12:01-05:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-ramos/The Atlantic which read, What, me marry? It was a bit of a relief when back in 2008, Atlantic had published the polar opposite when writer Lori Gottlieb suggested that we should settle even if the suitor is slightly hideous. So you'll understand my relief when I saw the opposite in print. Now this isn't to say that we shouldn't marry, but rather there is a growing amount of women who are becoming more empowered than ever.
However where I still see women falling short is in the kitchen where many of my patients have expressed their struggles with cooking for one. Which begs the question, how do we have a growing group of strong-minded, confident women who are happy to be single but struggle and settle in the kitchen?
Maybe it's time. Somehow we have less of it, juggling more and a million more ways for people to contact us and a career to climb. By the time we get to the kitchen, it's either a nuke in the microwave or takeout. Settling in the kitchen with processed foods is no different than succumbing to a bad boyfriend: plenty of claims with little follow through. What many fail to realize is food has a major role in our energy to stay on top in our physical lives and provide us with emotional stability and it begins with something called, Qi.
According to Chinese Medicine there are several types of Qi (a.k.a vital energy). Whole foods allow us to manufacture a type of Qi known as Gu Qi (pronounced: goo-chi). When we consume fried foods, it impairs the transportation, process and creation of other types of Qi in the body (e.g. Zong Qi manufactured by the lungs allows for the energy needed for proper respiration). When this impairment happens, I believe it can give way to emotional factors such as anger, worry and obsession. Suddenly our Qi stagnates giving rise to sudden cravings throwing us back into a vicious cycle. This may sound foreign but this is where I build my case for the kitchen and why if you dare to settle in the kitchen, you settling on you.
How do we change this? Begin in steps and avoid complete deprivation because we all like to cheat every now and then. Where I always start to get my Qi going is in the morning when digestion is most active with a basic green smoothie. It repairs nutritional deficiencies giving us the energy to tackle our booming careers and feel level-headed. Not to mention, they take under five minutes to make.
So with a growing comfort of being single (for now) and not settling for Mr. Wrong, let's avoid settling in the kitchen because our relationship with food is a direct reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves. Which is when we can confidently say we refuse to settle for any bad apples in our lives and that life is about to get a little sweeter.
For more on Melissa Ramos, please visit: Sexy Food Therapy.
]]>Get Your Mojo Going With Chinese Medicinetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.9605852011-10-15T13:19:45-04:002011-12-15T05:12:01-05:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-ramos/
(Record scratches)
And there it was... cellulite.
Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a new phenomenon, I've always had a little here and there, but suddenly, I was overwhelmed by body image concerns which instantly killed my mojo and apparently, this isn't uncommon. A new study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior details that women are more plagued by appearance anxiety versus men, who are more concerned about performance. Now given that I'm a nutritionist and Chinese medical practitioner, I had to question, is there a way to feel sexy and more secure behind closed doors and can we do it with a little help from food?
According to Chinese medicine, our sexual health and vitality originates from our kidneys, which store what is known as our pre-birth Jing and our Ming Men Fire. Our Jing is a combination of DNA and fundamental metabolic energy. It functions like a bank account that's passed down from good ol' mom and pops and unfortunately we're only born with so much of it. By spending it with stressors like alcohol, processed foods and late nights, we deplete it. Ming Men Fire on the other hand is where our sexual yang active energy originates producing sexual arousal and allows men to pitch a tent, so to speak.
As we get older, these two components begin to decline, potentially resulting in some of those feelings of performance anxiety felt by men possibly due to a lack of energy and issues with erectile dysfunction. With women on the other hand, our bodies change: our hips expand and fat deposition changes that potentially create body image issues that are amplified between the sheets. Add on a frequent romp with processed foods and you have a recipe for disaster.
Now maybe I went to too many patios this past summer and ate out too many times, which became a contributing factor to my new found cottage cheese thigh discoveries and my sudden mojo death that night. Because from what I've personally seen in practice is that from an emotional perspective, processed foods can create lethargy and an array of emotions from anxiety to fear (which I believe originate in our kidneys, when out they are of balance). Without the proper nourishment we run the risk thigh dimples and living in an emotional tailspin, which is why a little food therapy is in order.
I think that foods that are deep blue, purple, green and black help to support the kidney energy like small dark beans, seaweeds, winter greens and my favourite, a blue-green algae also known as aphanizomenon flos-aquae. In practice I've seen its positive effects when used as a supportive for weight loss, depression and bringing back a little mojo and energy. According to Paul Pitchford, in his book, Healing with Whole Foods, foods like blue-green algae has the potential of providing "renewal, longevity, reproductive capacity and protection from premature aging." This isn't to say that used alone it's a miracle, because I think it should be used in conjunction with a whole food diet rich in greens with minimal meat and dairy consumption that may contribute to weight gain and fatigue.
So with the fall around the corner, here's a thought: maybe a fresh start is in order. Letting go of bad summer practices, exercising and revamping our grocery list to include nourishing whole foods just might allow us to overcome our cottage cheese discoveries and our feelings of sexual insecurity. Maybe then we'll be able to tap into our inner pretzel and get right back down to business.
To find out more on Melissa and feeling sexy from the inside out, please visit: Sexy Food Therapy.
]]>Food Addiction: What Are We Searching For?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.9102392011-08-09T14:49:29-04:002011-10-09T05:12:01-04:00Melissa Ramoshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-ramos/
Granted the difference between drugs and alcohol to food is significant, however is there a common thread that weaves addictions together and are we all just searching for the same thing?
The Start of an Epidemic
From what I've seen in practice, the majority of us (myself included) turn to food emotionally and for years I have helped others form a positive connection with their food so that they're able to feel sexy from the inside out. From heartbreak to frustrations, many of us run to food to fill a void or feed our anger so much so that North America is facing an obesity epidemic -- an addiction to food in its own right.
These foods are quick grab-and-go bags of chips and greased brown paper bags filled with burgers and fries. We do it because even though we know that in the long term we're bound to acquire cottage cheese thighs or clogged arteries, it satisfies an immediate need as we go "back to black" as Winehouse once described it in an effort to satiate a deep craving.
The Food Addiction
And these days it's easy when the North American diet is filled with chemical compounds that stimulate the brain's secretion of opiate-like, "feel-good chemicals" like dopamine which continually fuel and drive our cravings. In my opinion, we become addicted to these foods and are so vulnerable to the effects of this dopamine hyper-stimulation that we get caught up in an addictive cycle... much like drugs, alcohol and dysfunctional partnerships with others.
Taking Positive Steps for Change
If the common thread that binds addictions together is love, comfort and the need to escape, then maybe we can take the first step to achieving that positively with whole foods. Forget the micro-management of calories and fat because by eating foods that live outside the box we're able to tap into the part of us that's lacking and nourish it. And with me, it always begins with food that continually gives back.
Killer Kale Salad
½ bunch kale
½ beet shredded
1 carrot shredded
1 bulb roasted garlic roughly chopped Handful (or more) mixed nuts: pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds - pan roasted for 5mins on low
2 tbsp hemp hearts
Cranberries for topping
1 tbsp olive oil
Pretty In Pink Dressing
1 heaping tbsp tahini paste
½ lemon squeezed
1 tbsp umeboshi vinegar
1 tbsp honey (or more to taste)
Begin by bunching up the kale and slicing it as thinly as possible. Add this to a pan with heated oil on medium heat. With tongs, rotate the kale until leaves become bright green and they're just about cooked -- about five minutes. Remove from heat and spoon into bowls and top with shredded beet, carrot and cabbage. Add roasted garlic, mixed nuts and hemp hearts. Set aside. (If you're really hungry, you can add this veggie medley on wild rice.)
Combine all ingredients for dressing and stir until well combined. Top on salad and
serve.
Serves two.
What I love this recipe is that it's not only quick to make but it's delicious. I've fed the biggest processed eating individual I know (not naming any names here) who quickly became a kale-convert following this recipe. Mission accomplished.
It was easy because while packaged foods that contain low-cost ingredients that will jolt the body into a quick high followed by a crash, whole foods sustain and nourish the body to optimum health. These foods, according to Chinese medicine, tap into an energetic part of us that nourish organs and the emotions associated with them when imbalanced leaving our taste buds and souls dancing. By turning to real food we're able to re-establish a connection with ourselves that's lost through various addictions from unhealthy processed foods to drug and alcohol.
Maybe if the millions out there like Amy who seek comfort in their desperation could take a moment to form a delicious connection they just might realize that it's the first step to the type of soul-igniting rehab that they've been looking for.