September 2014 - D'Adamo Newsletter

Re-Orientation

By Martha D'Adamo

September in the United States is back to school... back to schedule, homework, buses, projects, after school programs.

The lead up to back to school is back to school preparation. Getting the right notebooks, pencils, pens, books, book covers, locker gear... the list goes on. For 22 years, I have had a calendar schedule of back to school. It started with Claudia going off to pre-school; Claudia going to Montessori Elementary, and Emily going to the Toddler's program at the school. Through sixth grade, we were part of the wrap-around support and learning philosophy that Montessori offers, and it was there that I really learned about mothering and tending the spirits of our two young daughters. They were in school, but I learned so much, and to this day, the Montessori teaching environment and the early work of Maria Montessori have influenced all of our lives.

Then came middle school and high school. What a shocker. We witnessed our daughters' metamorphoses from these sweet little girls to (sweet) teenagers, struggling to define and redefine who they were. And then the grand passage to college, the bigger preparation for school each year of getting the dorm gear, getting the cars packed, moving into apartments, and college graduation (for Claudia). Emily is a junior this year, and she has been living and working all summer off campus, while taking classes, so there's no moving her in.

I have been feeling vaguely disoriented and anxious... the inner voice saying, "I know I am supposed to be doing something, but I don't know what it is..." I went through my checklist of things, and there wasn't anything I was overtly missing, and then in a quiet moment, it revealed itself. I have no one "going back to school." The shocking wistfulness of this was profound, as I thought about all of those first day of school pictures, of how much I loved picking them up from school, the adventure of watching our daughters become women. It continues, as both Peter and I take delight in hearing of their adventures... Claudia's first job, her new apartment, her first vacation to Europe; Emily's excelling in her chosen field of study; her first apartment; her first job!, her increasing independence.

I am challenged to re-orient myself, and find new expression as my mothering days have transformed from caretaker/chef/chauffer/guardian to witness to the unfolding expressions of our daughters, while being on call for support, guidance, and punctuated times of visits and get-togethers. More time available for myself, for Peter and me, and for heeding the inner call for quiet time, reflection, and deeper levels of self-care.

In the midst of all of this, is the continuing development of DPN, as we are in our 16th year! We have certainly grown over the course of time, and we have a superb offering of products, designed by our chief visionary/industry expert, formulator extraordinaire, Peter. We've been working on a new website, and exploring ways to bring more meaningful information to our customers while dealing with greater FDA restrictions on the supplement industry, and you'll see these changes throughout the fall. Our Personalized Living blog is getting quite a following, and if you haven't signed up for it, you should. It provides great support information, recipes, and support for personalized nutrition and following an individualized lifestyle.

Stay tuned and connected this fall. And whatever September is bringing in your life, I wish you a wonderful month, filled with renewal, invigoration, and the opportunity to re-orient yourself to whatever life holds for you.

Happy September,

Martha

Back To School Immune Boosting Tips

Earn straight A's in health with our back-to-school immune boosting tips!

Establish a sleep routine

A good night's sleep allows the immune system to regenerate itself and fight off disease. Especially in back-to-school season, a rigorous sleep schedule helps little energetic bodies wind down and busy minds rest. A sleep routine involves consistent bedtimes and wake times - choose a time and stick to it! It may help to incorporate consistent bath times and story times before lights-out so your child gets used to these steps prior to sleeping.

Find time for fun

Sitting behind a desk in a classroom all day and then doing homework after school not only causes little bodies to feel sluggish, a lack of exercise can result in a sluggish immune system as well. Make a point to get your children outside for at least 30 minutes every day - ride bikes, play ball, jump rope, anything to get them moving to stimulate their immune system.

Practice good nutrition

With so many fun summer activities that involve eating on the go, many families tend to slack on their Blood Type or other personalized nutrition programs. We know that all immunity begins in the gut, so take the time to re-commit to your family's good health and the Blood Type Diet! Focus on adding more beneficial foods from your family's Blood Type Diet lists to your weekly menu and to your children's lunch boxes in particular (see our healthy lunch box suggestions in the recipe section of this newsletter!).

Watch for signs of stress

Adults aren't the only ones who get stressed out! School and social pressures can take a toll on children - particularly middle and high school age tweens and teens. Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline can race through the body and weaken the immune system. Often, kids aren't emotionally developed to communicate how or why they are stressed, so parents should keep a watchful eye to determine daily patterns and talk about ways to handle occasional stress.

Boost with ARA6 and Proberry

D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition offers two outstanding and kid-friendly products that help to boost immunity and keep kids healthy. ARA6 and Proberry syrup are easily mixed with water, juice, or can be added to fruit smoothies. Young children benefit from the use of elderberry as a general preventive against flu and other viruses. A great-tasting product that is very effective is NAP's Proberry syrup. Larch arabinogalactan is a mild immune modulator, similar in action to echinacea, but usable by all blood groups and possessing additional beneficial effects on the intestines. DPN's ARA6 is the only arabinogalactan product available using pharmaceutical grade larch: all others use the cruder food grade.

Back to work... Without the pain in the neck!

By Mark Moon

Back to work time means the holidays are over and our busy schedule starts again. It can also mean that we are stuck behind our desks for eight or more hours a day, which needless to say can end up being nothing but a complete pain in the neck!

Sitting at our desks can take up most of the working day for many people, and if we aren't sitting at our desks we are more than likely driving in the car. Worse still, we are sitting on the couch and with almost everything being connected by some form of wireless device you really don't need to get up for much at all. Either way people tend to do more sitting than moving these days, so the question is how we change it.

Get up, move and stretch! Make a point of getting up out of your seat to take a walk for just 2 minutes every hour. Do a lap of the corridor or take a walk up the stairs to the next floor and back. Standing up and moving will not only increase your fitness level, it will also release any pressure on the lower back to help relieve tension and get the blood circulating through your body again.
Below are six exercises that you can easily do at work to make life that little bit easier, so your boss will be the only nagging pain you need to deal with.

Hold each phase of the stretch for five seconds, repeating five sets on each side. Using a gentle stretch and release technique will encourage the muscle fibers to release rather than tighten up more which can sometimes happen. Breathing is another important aspect too. Be sure to exhale on the lengthening phase on the stretch.

Back Stretching
	Alternating upper back and chest stretch - roll forward tucking chin to chest stretching between the shoulder blades, then open chest reaching arms behind and lifting the chin to stretch the chest. (imagine a standing cat stretch)
	Lateral side back stretch - using a broomstick with arms extended over head at shoulder width apart lean to one side and push out through the arms at the same time, keeping both feet firmly on the floor at hip width apart.

Leg & Hip Stretching
	Kneeling hip flexor - in a split kneeling position with the knees at a 90° angle pushing your weight down and forward, with same arm reach over head and turn the palm to the ceiling while looking up at the back of the hand to get a good stretch in the Psoas muscle.
	Bent knee hamstring stretch - with one foot on the floor and the other resting on a raised platform, externally rotate the foot and reach forward toward to the toes, as you maintain a bend in the knee to stretch the outside of the leg.

Shoulder & Neck Stretching
	Up and over broomstick stretch - starting with the stick touching the front of the legs with the hands double the width of the shoulders apart, take the broom up over the head as far as possible till you feel a stretch across the front of the shoulders and chest. Return back to the front of the legs and repeat.
	Neck stretch with towel - holding a towel behind the back with one arm up into a triceps stretch and the other reaching behind until they meet just between the shoulder blades. Gently drop the head away from the top arm taking the ear towards the shoulder.

The best advice I can give to is to move as much as possible, the way Mother Nature intended. Keeping these stretches in mind and incorporating them into your day will make a big difference to the tension you hold in your upper back, neck, and shoulders.

Mark Moon Fitness
www.markmoonfitness.com

Veggie Fried Rice

Use up leftover brown rice for lunch by adding a handful of chopped beneficial veggies! Add a protein to the mix by scrambling an egg, chopping it into small bites, and tossing it in.

Spelt Noodle or Quinoa Pasta

Noodles are a no-brainer for school lunches! Kids love them and they can be dressed with numerous sauce options - sneak in extra greens with kale or spinach pesto!

Turkey or Beef Meatballs

Kids love mini-meatballs. Make a batch over the weekend, cook, and freeze. Defrost overnight and pack with carrot and celery sticks for a quick lunch option.

Chicken or Turkey Salad

Dice cooked (or grilled) chicken, scallion, green peas, and diced carrots with 1/3 cup of lemon juice, 5 tablespoons of olive oil,  your choice of herbs, and salt to taste.

White Bean "Hummus" & Veggies

This is so easy and kids (and adults) just love it! Blend one 15 oz can of white beans, 2 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of your favorite herb or herb mixture, 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, chopped. Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Serve as a dip with cut Right for Your Type veggies such as broccoli florets, pepper strips, carrot or celery sticks, or cucumber slices.

Vegetable Soup

Pack a thermos filled with nourishing vegetable soup and a few blood type friendly crackers or a simple salad. Cold soups are a fun option for warmer days! This carrot soup is a lunchbox favorite. Sauté 1 1/2 pounds trimmed and chopped carrots and 1 peeled and chopped onion in 2 tablespoons butter to soften, about 5 minutes. Add 5 cups stock or water; boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer until carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly, purée and refrigerate.

Risotto Cakes

One of my favorites! Prepare risotto according to product directions, let cool and refrigerate. The next day, form patties and lightly pan fry in a tablespoon of olive oil so they hold together.

Veggie Wraps

Place your favorite sandwich filling in a lettuce leaf (romaine and butter lettuce work best). Cucumbers also make fun, tiny sandwich bites - slice seedless cucumbers on an angle and add thinly sliced turkey breast!

Quinoa Salad

Protein packed quinoa is delicious and filling! Modify its flavor profile with your favorite mix-ins: diced veggies, right for your type cheese, beans, or nuts!

Peanut-free PB&J

Many schools have nut-free policies. If your child's school is among them, try a simple twist on PB&J by substituting fruit butter, such as apple butter or pumpkin butter, for peanut butter.