March 2015 - D'Adamo Newsletter

A Trusted Advisor

By Martha D'Adamo

Throughout the course of my life, whether it was in school, my early career days, the initial journey into motherhood, or launching D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition (DPN), I've always been so fortunate to have had advisors, those people who were more experienced than me and who shared their expertise as I started out in a new endeavor. I could go to them with a specific situation, problem or idea, and they would give me feedback and keep me on track – moving forward.

Although these people never met each other and were dramatically different in backgrounds and professional experience, they all shared three common traits: expertise, credibility and consistency, which I believe are the essential qualities of any advisor. They were successful in their professional lives or their expression, and I had absolute faith in their perspective and their value. And they were always there for me.

As we have built the company, we have relied on our advisors, and we became aware of the role and the responsibility we have in advising and guiding our customers in their pursuit of health and wellness. This is directly related to the role that Peter has played in the lives of our customers and his readers and patients. They believe in him; they trust him; they look to him for guidance as they navigate the wide-ranging information out there (some factual, some not) on nutritional supplements, natural health and incorporating a personalized program that addresses their specific health needs.

For the past few months, Peter and the advisory team at DPN have been immersed in developing a program that takes Peter's encyclopedic knowledge of supplements, his research into human biochemical individuality, and his keen ability to guide and assist individuals on the quest to optimal health and vitality, and they have programmed the D'Adamo Supplement Advisor, an online app, which designs a personalized, one-of-a-kind supplement recommendation that's right for you.

All you need to do is provide some basic information about yourself and your goals, and it provides recommendations as to which products are right for you. It combines the science and the guidance in an easy to read format, and it assists you in making the right supplement choices based on where you are in your life right now.

Pretty cool, huh? Details are discussed below.

Happy March, and to all of you who have been effected by the wacky weather, this too shall pass. The snow and ice will melt, the flowers will bloom, and spring will prevail.

Martha

Anti-Fragile

By Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo

At the Center of Excellence, I teach a series of classes in "Generative Medicine," a specialty that resulted from my work with computers and networks. In the class, our focus is primarily biochemical and genetic networks, but in fact, networks surround us. From our friends on social media, to our family support systems, most relationships, however direct they may appear, are in fact webs of connections, interdependent upon one another.

Networks experience, gauge, and react. A cellular network might control how a microbe responds to a change in its environment. Say a drop in its nutrient supply occurs. The microbe might; for example, alter its gene expression to make a new protein that allows it to change its movement pattern and perhaps explore a different location. Our brain's neural network processes inputs from our senses and converts the information into thought patterns that might put a grin on our face when a loved one comes into sight.

Networks can respond in ways that are robust or fragile. A robust network can handle disruption, whilst a fragile network might break down under the strain. For example, as I write this I am connected via my internet provider to the World Wide Web. If my connection to the web breaks down, perhaps due to some problem, I will simply be connected to another router somewhere else. It all happens so fast, chances are I would not even notice it. The web network is robust.

On the other hand, we have the electrical grid. Unfortunately, chances are that if a power station somewhere on the Saint Lawrence River goes out, not only I, but also a large chunk of the east coast will go dark. The electrical grid is fragile.

These thoughts make me marvel at our little BTD community, because we are a network too. We network on the www.dadamo.com; message boards, the blogs, and the myriad of Facebook groups, supporting each other, often in the face of apathy or hostility from friends, family and others. You don't have to search the internet long to find an article that is dismissive of this theory. I used to take this very personally, but I've grown to realize that it comes with the turf. When something gets big enough, it becomes a logical target for those who need a forum or set of ears and unfortunately, it seems that in the field of nutrition an awful lot of the time this is accomplished by criticizing different ways of doing things.

Perhaps it is because I rarely have a moment to spare, or maybe it's just my nature, but I've never been drawn to this type of writing, and I don't spend a lot of time trying to figure out what's wrong with other nutrition theories. My feeling is 'whatever works is great.' If it turns out that it's the BTD, that's terrific. If it's something else, I'm happy for you.

But I do marvel at the resilience of our little community. Perhaps it is just the disconnect that comes from personally having a positive result with diet, and being forced to read an article trying very hard to convince you that it's useless and can't possibly work, but I am routinely heartened by the rise that these types of articles engender. I'm not much for debating people on blogs and do not as a rule comment on negative articles, but I am so proud of how the members of our network who do engage and post, somehow manage to comport themselves with such dignity and equanimity.

The economist Nassim Taleb has identified what he believes is a third type of network response. He terms it "anti-fragility." Unlike robustness which characterizes a network when it can handle disruption, and fragility when it can't, anti-fragile networks actuality get stronger from the disruption. For example, this occurs when we exercise. It also seems to me to be a characteristic of the BTD network.

I once was meeting with a patient, and as I usually do, I asked him how he had heard of me. He answered by citing a newspaper article which I knew in fact was extraordinarily negative about the BTD. When I asked him what he thought about the article, he answered that his sister had had such wonderful results with the program, but he had never gotten the name of the book from her! The article has simply served to give him a way to find me. He was grateful for that.

And so was I.

Introducing the NEW
D'Adamo Supplement Advisor

A free online assessment tool offering personalized vitamin and supplement recommendations just for you!

It seems that every day there are new reports touting the latest supplement craze or broadcasting another one-size-fits-all vitamin recommendation. Unless you're an expert in botanical medicine, it can be very confusing, and it is difficult to know who or where to turn for guidance.

Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo takes the guesswork out of choosing vitamins and nutritional supplements with the new D'Adamo Supplement Advisor, a free online app designed to personalize the process of determining which products you need to meet your health goals.

Dr. D'Adamo and his team created the D'Adamo Supplement Advisor to select nutritional supplements based on your individualized needs. After providing your basic information including age, gender, and blood type (and secretor status and GenoType if you know them), you select your health goals from a menu that includes weight loss, energy enhancement, anti-aging, and many more. Then, the Supplement Advisor performs a number of calculations and recommends supplements just for you. It is science-based, simple to use, and mobile-friendly.

"I programmed the D'Adamo Supplement Advisor to reflect how I use these products in my practice and as a consumer. Sometimes when I run it, I am amazed at the accuracy of the results, as it produces a recommendation that is what I would have done in my office. It was an exciting project for me to undertake, and it provides added value to all the visitors of the D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition site."

Wondering which vitamins and supplements are right for you? Start your free Supplement Advisor assessment now.

Success Story: Christina James

Christina (on right) with her mom.

We love to share success stories!

Christina James is world-renowned blues singer who performs under the name of CeeCee James. She's been eating right for her type since 2002 and has lost a total of 56 pounds. She admits that it's not always easy – when life throws its inevitable curve balls, she says she tends to over eat, but by resuming her SWAMI diet, she believes she is on the right track and finding balance again.

Blood Type: O
GenoType: Hunter

How did you learn about the Blood Type Diet?

I was in a coffee shop in San Diego, CA in 2002 reading a newspaper and I found a little blurb about the Blood Type Diet (BTD) and went right home and ordered the book. It made such sense to me!

Why did you decide to follow your SWAMI diet?

I LOVE the fact that Dr. D'Adamo took the BTD science further into GenoType research and so when that happened I purchased the Genotype Diet book which also talked about doing testing to personalize the science even further with the SWAMI report. I'm a person who wants to follow the latest, greatest and deepest science about my body and food and so getting on board with my personal SWAMI made all the sense in the world.

How did your SWAMI differ from your Blood Type Diet?

The BTD is a generalized program based on blood type alone. Swami provides very personalized food lists based on very specific physical measurements of one's body; information from fingerprints, any disease processes one has or has had, along with the disease processes of the family members, and other important detectors that are also factored in. From those measurements and factors, one receives a personalized list of foods. These are broken down into 'Beneficial' foods that are extremely beneficial to one's health i.e. 'healing foods'; foods that are ok to eat in a category entitled 'Neutral' which are foods that are neither extremely healing but not bad for you either; and the Avoid category which can be very damaging to one's health depending on how much 'gut' damage has been caused over the years from bad eating or just being unaware of the damage certain foods are doing. For example, I used to indulge in lots of dairy, corn and bread products, and vinegar was the staple of all my salads. All of these are horrific for my O blood type and for me as a GenoType Hunter as well. They are NO NO's and AVOIDS on my SWAMI lists.

What have been the health/weight loss benefits of SWAMI/Blood Type Diet?

I started the BTD back in 2002, and kind of spent many years dipping my toe in and out of the diet. Then in 2010, I moved on to GenoType and SWAMI. I had some weight loss and mental clarity during that year but then life took some major stressful turns and all my concentration on following SWAMI began to roller coaster. I never completely pulled away from SWAMI but it was an up and down ride, in and out of my Avoids and battling an eating addiction that was brutal. In April 2014, I got extremely serious, joined a 12-step program for my emotional/spiritual issues and buckled down on following SWAMI as best as I could. To date I have lost 54 lbs with this two-step approach. It could have been a faster weight loss but I have been on many 'diets' and extreme weight loss regimes that went fast and I had never been able to stay steady. Just to pull back, eat healthy, address deep personal issues, and not worry so much about the scale proved to be the ticket to 'long term' success.

How has your life improved?

Mental clarity is beautiful. A balanced physical and emotional state is glorious. A solid spiritual walk brings deep peace. The foods recommended on my SWAMI provide me with the basic tools to keep my body and mind in a balanced state, and the spiritual work that I do helps me to deal with the emotional issues that always arise, as life is never just a peaceful river. Without the food and the spiritual aspects working together, I, as a sugar/junk compulsive over-eater, would still be completely lost in my disease slowing killing my body with bad foods. When I was just working the 12-step program alone I could never seem to get balanced and always had 'horrific' cravings. With the addition of SWAMI and consuming only the foods SWAMI recommends, I don't have cravings.

What would you like others to know about SWAMI?

That Swami is not a 'diet' program that you go on and then go off. It's a scientifically researched 'personalized' program that works for 'you' from the inside out and one you want to follow for life. Life is precious and as one Spiritual Teacher says; "Old age, sickness and death are coming, are you ready?" That alone, if one really 'gets it' should be enough for one to not want to waste any more time on processed, GMO, chemical laden, plastic junk foods. I KNOW what those types of foods did to me and I know that they are pure poison and if I was to continue it would be a death sentence. I want to be as healthy as I can as I progress into my 60's, 70's, 80's and beyond, (Lord willing and the creek don't rise - ha ha), and I know that Swami and Dr. D's continued developments in the field of blood type, GenoType, and food testing will help me continue to do that. I'm very grateful to Dr. D and his father for their lifelong research and I'm stoked that I found that little blurb in the newspaper way back when in that coffee shop in San Diego.

D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition
Quality You Can Trust

A recent investigation into nutritional supplements sold at retail stores such as Target and Walgreens found that select products did not contain the active ingredients listed on the label. This has raised concerns about the supplement industry overall and called into question the practices followed by manufacturers. At D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition, we can assure you that the authenticity, potency, and purity of our products are consistent with our labeling.

There are two factors that contribute to the overall quality standards that govern the quality of dietary supplements – the formula itself and the quality standards that govern the manufacturing process. Our products are carefully formulated by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, a globally recognized expert in botanical medicine, and clinically tested by Dr. D'Adamo and his staff to ensure their efficacy. All D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition products are carefully crafted to the highest quality standards and produced by GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturers certified through the Natural Products Association, with an "A" compliance rating. 

Our manufacturing facility only sources raw materials from suppliers who can provide a "Certificate of Authenticity" that identifies the substance. To obtain this certificate, the substance must be tested in an independent laboratory and its purity validated. Additionally, this process also confirms that the substance is free from biological or chemical contaminants, fillers, or additives. Further, our bottles are dioxin free and have been tested for estrogen-like activity and found to be as safe as glass bottles. While the process is time consuming and more expensive, we believe that comprehensive quality testing is worth the cost to meet our high standards for quality and the consumer's peace of mind.

Our nutritional supplements have been consistently trusted and recommended by thousands of health care practitioners and millions of consumers for more than 16 years and can be relied upon to meet the highest industry standards for quality, purity, and potency.

Questions regarding our products or practices may be directed to Ann Quasarano, marketing and public relations manager at ann@dadamo.com or 203-761-0042.

What's Better For You: Encapsulated or Liquid Oils?

In Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo's search for the most effective oils, he discovered that working with liquid oils provides the ability to deliver a carefully blended mix of healthy fats, also known as essential fatty acids (EFA's), which provide immeasurable health benefits.  Although he recognized that the capsules were a convenient way to supplement, Dr. D'Adamo did not want to sacrifice the ability to enhance our oil line and deliver a better and more effective product to our customers.  Our new Oil Blends line features three superior Oil Blends products:  Fish Oil, Flaxseed, and CLA.  Moving to a liquid-based formula allows us to bottle in very small batches, ensuring that the precious elements in the oils are not lost due to oxidation. These blends contain the highest quality oils that have been cold pressed to preserve the integrity of the oils.  They are packaged in light-resistant bottles to ensure freshness and stability.   They taste great, and can be taken on a spoon, mixed into a drink or a protein shake, or simply drizzled on a salad or vegetables .  Note:  these oils should not be used in high temperature cooking. 

Chinese Take-out Recipes

We love the convenience of calling in an order at our local take out restaurant, but even if we're ordering something simple, we know it probably contains some sneaky ingredients that are better off avoided. We've developed a few recipes that allow you to enjoy the taste of Asian-inspired dinners made right for your type.

Type O & B

Type A

Type AB

Stir Fried Beef and Broccoli
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound organic, grass fed beef fillet sliced into thin strips
• ½ teaspoon each of these spices (ground): cloves, fennel, anise, ginger
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1 large onion sliced
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 2 tablespoons of sesame oil or cooking oil acceptable for your type

Directions:

• Mix the spices together and toss with sliced beef to season.
• Heat your pan or wok over high heat.
• When hot, add oil, onion and broccoli cook for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and continue cooking for 30 seconds.
• Add beef and continue cooking to preference.
• Garnish with red chili flakes, if desired.

Sesame Tofu with Bok Choy and Crunchy Vegetables
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 8oz of extra firm tofu sliced into ½ inch strips
• 2 cups of bok choy chopped into large pieces
• 1 cup of mixed vegetables sliced: (carrot, celery, broccoli florets)
• ½ cup of bamboo shoots sliced and drained
• 3 tablespoons of toasted sesame seed oil
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds
• 1 lime

Directions:

• Heat pan/wok and add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil.
• Fry tofu for two minutes, turn and fry another two minutes until golden.
• Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add another tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan/wok with the bok choy, vegetables, and bamboo shoots and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
• In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon sesame oil with soy sauce and a squeeze of lime.
• Stir into wok/pan with tofu, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

Chinese Rice Noodles with Mixed Mushrooms
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup of vegetable stock
• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons of rice wine
• 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
• 2 cloves of garlic, sliced
• 2 tablespoons of peanut oil
• 2 cups of mixed mushrooms (oyster, enoki, maitake, Portobello)
• 10oz of spaghetti style rice or spelt noodles
• ½ cup of green onion (scallion) sliced

Directions:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
• Combine vegetable stock, rice wine, and soy sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
• Heat wok or large frying pan over high heat, add peanut oil, then add sliced garlic and grated ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
• Add the mushrooms and stir-fry until slightly browned, about one minute.
• Add stock mixture and cook for one minute.
• Add noodles and toss with mushrooms/sauce.
• Sprinkle with green onion and serve.

Find more delicious, simple to prepare recipes in the Eat Right for Your Type Personalized Cookbooks
(great budget-friendly gifts at only $10.80 each).