THE BODY DELI

Food / Nutrition - Luscious Lorraines Fresh Food Bar, Palm Desert California.

I would like to introduce you to Lorraine Ornelas the owner and head chef of Luscious Lorraines in Palm Desert. I have been wanting to feature Lorraine on our blog for a long time. For the simple fact that if it was not for Lorraine all of us at Body Deli would probably starve. Luscious Lorraines is right next door to Body Deli. It is super convieneint. Lorraine’s food is flavorful and super clean. From her fabulous soups, salads, wraps and smoothies we keep our bodies fueled with the best nutrition so we can make the best nutrition for your skin.
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Here is an article that Lorriane wrote about her story. Next time you are in the Palm Springs area, visiting Lorraine’s for lunch it is a must after shopping at the Body Deli boutique. One of our favorite soups is her raw mango gazpacho it is to die for below is the recipe!
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“Luscious Lorraine’s Organic Juice & Foods”  by Lorraine Ornelas   
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How it Happened  
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There is no mystery to healthy eating. My answer is organic, whole foods in their       natural form, as close to nature as possible. I came to that realization, like many people do, because at the age of 24, I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness, breast cancer.
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Taking Action
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What I changed about my eating was everything from the M.A.D. / S.A.D. diet I was raised on (Mexican-American-Diet/Standard-American-Diet), supplemented with heavily processed “junk” foods common in modern American diets. I began educating myself on organic, whole foods. The importance of an organic whole foods diet became evident to me, it became my way of life.
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Back to Basics
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Organic, whole foods, what are they? 
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Organic foods are produced according to regulated standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, sewage sludge or human waste, and no GMO (genetically modified organisms, organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered). Livestock are reared without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones, fed organically grown grains and in many cases raised free-range, free to roam and graze on open range grasslands. (We use organic free-range meats at Luscious Lorraine’s.)       
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 Why are they important?     
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Organic foods rate higher in vitamins, minerals, and other nutritive plant compounds than conventional foods, because they are grown in rich, nutritious soil. A vegetable or fruit is only as good as the soil it grows in. “I yam what yam”.          
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Some studies have shown that tomatoes, beans, peppers and beets grown on organic farms can contain ten times more mineral content. The biggest study ever of organic food was completed in 2007 and found that organic fruits and vegetables contain up to 40% more antioxidants. The 4-year study was funded by the European Union and was the largest of its kind ever undertaken. Another study reported that organic crops contain more phytonutrients, plant compounds such as enzymes, antioxidants and bioflavonoids which strengthen the immune system and protect the body from disease. Is preparation of food important? 
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Yes! Food is energy fuel, loaded with nutrients for our bodies, so proper preparation is important. Here are a few simple tips we use at Luscious Lorraine’s: ~ Soak grains, rice, nuts, beans, seeds; helps release any natural protective coatings making nutrients more available and digestion easier.
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~ Use purified or alkaline-charged water; better for you and makes tastier vegetables.
~ Use stainless steel pots and pans; no leaching of toxic elements. (at Luscious Lorraine’s our stainless steel pots and pans we use for vegetables, are never used with animal products out of respect for our vegan and vegetarian customers).                
~ Use pink sea salt only, iodized table salt is a toxin to the body.                                     
~ Prepare your food with gratitude and happiness, have fun, emotions transfer energy.  
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Building Community through Food  
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I have always had this awareness that I was suppose to use my time on this Planet to help…and my passion for cooking and my love for bringing people together was my perfect recipe…”how do I get healthy, organic, nutritious food to everybody?” and that is how it all began. The evolution of this awareness is currently manifested in  Luscious Lorraine’s Organic Juice & Food Bar. Now we’re taking it to The Next Level.
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Thanks to our community for their support and to my great staff! And a special thanks to Laura Laffranchini (owner of Harvest Health Foods) for her like-mindedness and for saying yes when I asked her if I could put a deli in her store.
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Luscious Lorraine’s Mango Gazpacho
                                                                          
Ingredients:       
        
2 cups 1/4 inch diced fresh mangoes
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2 cups fresh orange juice
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2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
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1 cucumber, seeded and cut into 1/4 inch dice
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1 small red pepper, seeded and cut into 1/4 inch dice
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2 medium garlic cloves, minced
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1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
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3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, basil & cilantro

Pink salt and freshly ground fresh pepper to taste
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Directions:
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Process mangoes, orange juice and oil in a blender or food processor until pureed. Transfer to a medium bowl, with the remaining ingredients. Season with pink salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Can be made several hours before.)
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Lorraine Ornelas is the chef/owner of Luscious Lorraine’s Organic Juice & Food Bar, located inside Harvest Health Foods in Palm Desert, with a second location opening    in Fall 2008 inside of The Next Level Fitness Gym in Palm Desert.                    Lorraine can be reached for consultation at (760) 862-1911.
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THEBODYDELI.COM
 

What is a carotenoid?

What is a carotenoid?
Carotenoids are fat-soluble, antioxidant phyto-chemicals that are responsible for giving plants their deep rich colors; purple, red and yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in carotenoid complexes. Studies have shown that caratenoids are partly responsible for protecting the plant from the harmful spectrum of UV light through the process of photosynthesis.

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What are the different types of carotenoids? Where are they found?
The term carotenoid is a broad term to describe a family of about 600 different plant pigments that function as antioxidants. Plants generally produce carotenoilds to protect their stems and leaves from the energy of the sun. In paticular ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths that generate molecules called free radicals that can damage living cells. The most popular carotenoids for human consumption are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and astaxanthin. As one of the most common carotenoids, beta-carotene is the most well-known and well-studied carotenoid. It is found in carrots, pumpkins, peaches, blueberries and sweet potatoes. Lycopene is a popular carotenoid in the American diet, because its main source is found in tomato products.

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What benefits, if any, do carotenoids provide?
Carotenoids are some of the best sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to neutralize these harmful free radicals. Tens of thousands of free radicals are created in the body every second. When a free radical captures an electron from another molecule, a new free radical is created as the second molecule has a lone, unpaired electron. This new free radical seeks to capture another electron and become normal again. This continual process of forming free radicals becomes a chain reaction. Unless neutralized, these free radicals can damage DNA, fats, and proteins.

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Are there any complications/benefits when formulating with carotenoids? What are they? How do manufacturers overcome any formulation obstacles?
Formulating with caroteinoids requires a delicate process. Carotenoids are susceptible to being destroyed by heat, and oxidation. An example is if you over cook your vegetables the vibrant color is lost resulting in destroying most of the carotenoid compounds. The Body Deli, uses multiple plants, and fruit sources in our manufacturing process. This is why we adhere to a “raw” food or living food approach to our formulating process. It is essential to process raw materials that contain carotenoild compounds with minimal heat and if possible refrigeration to extend the potency and bio-availability of the beneficial phyto-chemiclas.

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What is the shelf life of a product that contains carotenoids? How should it be stored?
Products containing carotenoids are fragile. Products generally loose their potency after 12 months. Many carotenoids degrade much more quickly especially if they are in their most beneficial raw state. Preservatives are mostly deployed to reduce oxidative breakdown, in natural products it is best to look for a mild food grade preservative system such as potassium sorbate, and the ultimate is to purchase products that require refrigeration. Such as fresh refrigerated juices have much more bio-available carotenoid complexes than their canned alternatives.

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What are the different types of delivery systems available for carotenoid products?
Mixed carotenoid supplements are available, with different formulations. For example, one typical formula contains mostly beta-carotene, with smaller amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin. Another type contains less beta-carotene but a higher percentage of alpha-carotene. Mixed carotenes may also be included in some multi-vitamin and multi-oxidant supplements. Labels of supplements should be read carefully to determine the types of carotenoids present and their dosages. The Body Deli has pioneered using fresh fruit purees that contain the highest percentages of carotenoids available. Such as fresh blueberry puree in our Blueberry Fusion Scrub, Papaya Puree in our Fruit Enzyme Mask, and Vital-C contains carotenoids from CoQ10 and zeaxanthin.

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