Dec 2015

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Blood Type – The Tip of the
Personalized Nutrition Iceberg

by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo

A genetic marker is a gene or DNA sequence that can be used to identify individuals. It needs to be something easy to identify, such as seed shape if you're studying plants. In plants, it is linked to other characteristics that are harder to identify, such as drought resistance; in humans, it is linked to a host of issues or susceptibilities like diabetes or obesity.

How can you know which seeds to plant in drought-prone areas, BEFORE the crop fails? Or in humans, how do you identify which individuals need to lower their sugar intake to prevent diabetes, in time to actually prevent disease progression? Is there a way to figure out which drugs will work best for a person, other than trial and error? This is where genetic markers provide critical clues to the uniqueness of the individual.

Many genetic characteristics tend to be inherited together because their genes are physically close together on the same chromosomes. This is called gene linkage. A genetic marker is an easily identified characteristic that's linked to a characteristic you want to know more about.

The gene for ABO blood type is located on the q leg of chromosome number 9, around band 34. So the address for your blood type gene is 9q34. Most studies that record differences in a disease, hormones, or neurotransmitters according to blood type, show a continuum, with Type A at one end and Type O at the other, with B and AB falling in the middle.

In 1984, researchers reporting in the journal Genetic Epidemiology presented evidence of a family pedigree in which a major gene for breast cancer susceptibility was located near band q34 on chromosome 9. There is a clear genetic connection between blood type and breast cancer. Blood Type A women have a generalized tendency to worse outcomes and a more rapid progression with this cancer. Blood Type Os have a slight degree of resistance against breast cancer, and even among patients, Blood Type Os showed a significantly lower risk of death.

It's known that blood type influences stomach acid levels. It's not the blood type antigen itself that's influencing stomach acid levels, but the gene for blood type that's linked to the gene for stomach acid. Blood Type Os tend to have the most stomach acid, while Blood Type As have the least. Hydrochloric acid aids in protein digestion as well as destroying germs in food. This means that Blood Type A individuals are more prone to chronic bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and upper intestine.

The gene for the enzyme dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH), which converts dopamine to noradrenaline, is literally sitting right on top of the gene for blood type. Blood Type Os are able to turn the levels of DBH up and down, rather than having more consistent levels. Too much dopamine can cause schizophrenia, while low dopamine is associated with hyperactivity, inability to focus, and a more emotional reaction to problems. Mania is associated with high levels of DBH, and depression with low levels. Since Blood Type Os experience more variation in DBH levels, they're also more prone to bipolar disorder.

Blood Type As have a higher base level of cortisol in their blood all the time, and produce more adrenaline in response to stress than other types. But they also possess the greatest ability to break down and eliminate the hormone. High cortisol is often a factor in physical diseases such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. It's also linked to mental disorders, senility, and Alzheimer's disease. Type As have a higher risk of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Blood Type Os tend to secrete higher levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline, but are much slower breaking it down. This is due to Blood Type Os having the lowest levels of monoamine oxidase, or MAO, an enzyme that breaks down those hormones. As a result, MAO inhibitors don't tend to work as well on Blood Type O individuals.

Your blood type profile includes about 300 sub-types. Rh factor, MN blood group, and secretor status can also affect your health risks. A1 and A2 sub-types apply to those with A and AB blood. These sub-types can also affect disease susceptibility, even though the genes for them are found far from the ABO blood type gene.

Blood type is the key to how we should eat as well as the key to how we should live. This is a provocative statement that has gained validity with the rapid progress of genetic research and the study of blood type's cellular influence in every area of human physiology. Your blood type has everything to do with how you digest food, your ability to respond to stress, your mental state, the efficiency of your metabolism, and the strength of your immune system. It is, indeed, the critical starting point in crafting a personalized nutrition and lifestyle program that is right for your individual needs.

Managing Holiday and Year End Stress

by Martha D'Adamo

It's already starting – December madness! More cars are out on the roads and pressure at work is ramping up as you try to bring projects to a close before the end of the year. Add to this the preparations for the holidays that take time, energy, thoughtful consideration, and planning. Top it off with the mixed bag of emotions that holidays bring, and it is not surprising that December has an increase in depression and fatigue levels.

However, there are a number of things you can do to make the month of December a great month and one in which you have time to enjoy yourself and the holiday festivities without falling prey to the physical and emotional tolls that accompany them.

After talking to a lot of customers, friends, and colleagues, we've come up with a list of 8 helpful tips to making December a fantastic month – one that celebrates the holidays and the ending of another year as well as setting the stage to welcome in the new year.

#1. Manage expectations – your own as well as others. So often, we buy into the hype that accompanies the holidays to the point where we think we are supposed to be living a month of Hallmark moments. Sad to say, that's not real life. Embracing your life and living authentically in it helps to reduce the disappointment that happens when things don't work out the way we want them to. Key: Lose your attachment to how something should be or what it should look like. Living with "shoulds" sets you up for unrealistic expectations.

#2. Plan your time and include down time. This may sound strange, but it is as important to schedule no activities as much as it is important to schedule meetings, appointments, and commitments. You wouldn't blow off a meeting with your boss or a doctor's appointment, so why would you do that to yourself? Take out the calendar, look at the week, and find three spots to claim for yourself. You don't even have to do anything during these times; just simply be with yourself. Take a mental inventory. How am I doing today? Any anxiety or upset feelings? Any aches and pains in my body? Anything I am not allowing myself to think about that I need to? Self-assessment is empowering and liberating. Do it.

#3. Take 10 minutes every day to center yourself. What? I don't have 10 minutes. I have to get the kids to school, get to the office, and run my errands. We get it, life is full. But if you squeeze yourself out of your life, it is a lot less satisfying than inhabiting your life and yourself. So take 10. Turn off the external chatter, close your eyes, and listen to the internal chatter. And then let it slip away. Follow your breath. Deep breath in, deep breath out. We guarantee you'll feel refreshed. Don't you want to feel that every day?

#4. Set limits. Healthy limits and boundaries can be very expansive, which sounds counterintuitive, but it's true. Become aware of where you feel encroached on and make adjustments, whether it is saying no to yet another thing you don't want to do; or safe-guarding your exercise time rather than letting that slip away because you are stuck at work. Become aware of the people or places that drain you, and limit your time there. Imagine there's a big protective light around you that keeps the good energy in and the bad energy out.

#5. Express gratitude. Gratitude is one of the most positive emotions we can experience in life, and research shows that people who practice gratitude are happier, healthier, more accessible and open, and get this – sleep better. Doesn't that sound good? Be grateful to be alive, for that cup of tea in the am, for the simple pleasures in life, and for the challenges you face that make you stronger. Treat the journey of life as a gift, and it will be.

#6. Be light. This isn't about physical lightness; this is about being light of heart. Being light means not letting anything get you so mired down that you cannot remember to laugh. Remember a time when you were young, when the world was a magical place. Or a time when you tripped and you laughed? That's lightness. Don't take yourself so seriously that you cannot laugh or smile or be moved by something, big or small.

#7. Don't overspend. This is a good one! All the shoulds come out when we think about holiday gift giving, and so many times we hear of people feeling inordinate amounts of pressure with gift giving, with entertaining. It's wonderful to give a gift and open your home to people, but make sure you do it in a way that doesn't compromise your emotional or financial well-being. Remember: you are the gift.

#8. Be kind and generous with yourself. This is so important to remember! More times than not, we put ourselves at the bottom of the proverbial list, get worn out, and then maladaptively try to make ourselves feel better by over spending, overeating, over doing it. Treat yourself like you would a precious child who was in your care – with sensitivity, with gentleness, with attention. You are precious and no one can give you what you need more than yourself. Receive the gift of yourself this year.

These tips are not hard to do nor do they demand a lot of time or money. All they need is YOU. And the world needs you as the unique person that you are.

Have a great month, and here's to… you.

Success Stories - Blood Type Diet

"Within a week of changing to the Type O diet, I noticed a significant improvement in my health. All intestinal pain was eliminated. My high blood pressure and low thyroid activity were finally able to be regulated. I lost some weight, but the big change was in my general well being and energy levels. I am a believer in eating right for your type and the evidence in my own life of its benefits cannot be questioned." - Karen T. Type O

Check back for more...Next month we will be posting more success stories to help inspire you in the new year. Check out our Personalized Living blog for more!

Holiday Essentials Checklist

Here come the energy zapping days of holiday parties, family gatherings, and stress inducing trips to the mall. Stay on top of your game with our must-have products for getting through the season without losing your mind or blowing your diet!

1. Deflect - Aunt Mimi is famous for her triple fudge brownies. Keep Deflect on hand for those moments when you just can't say no.
2. Cortiguard & Catechol - Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo's herbal formula instantly calms and relaxes when you feel under pressure. Cortiguard is best used in type A & B, and Catechol is blood type specific for types O and AB.
3. Hepatiguard - Don't be a Scrooge, enjoy a glass of wine while protecting your liver from holiday spirits. Choose Hepatiguard.
4. Gastro-D Complex - Tummy upset? Gastro-D Complex is formulated with natural stomach soothers.
5. Sip Right 4 Your Type Tea's - These are the only teas specifically crafted to harmonize with your Blood Type and support your individual. O | A | B | AB
6. Proberry - All that running around can tax your immune system! Elderberry, the active ingredient in our Proberry Liquidand Proberry Caps formulations provides the wellness support your whole family needs.
7. Methyl 12 Plus - Feel like you can't go – go – go anymore? Maintain your natural energy levels with our best-selling B12 formula.

Blood Type Diet in the News

Here's a roundup of articles about the blood type that have appeared in recent news reports. These reinforce the value of personalized nutrition and the BTD in health and wellness, and in developing health strategies for specific diseases. Science is catching up to Dr. Peter D'Adamo!

Holiday Sweets - Right 4 All Types

Gluten free, wheat free, sugar free...yet, amazingly delicious treats to share at the holidays.

Healthier Rice Crispy Treats

A healthier version of your old standby!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of puffed rice cereal
• ⅓ cup of cocoa powder
• 6 tablespoons of pure maple syrup
• 5 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of almond or peanut butter
• Small cupcake papers

How to make it:

In a saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup and nut butter and melt until the mix is smooth. Place puffed rice in a mixing bowl and pour in melted ingredients. Mix until all the puffed rice has been covered in chocolate. Scoop into cupcake papers and freeze for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Almond Spice Cookies

A delicately flavored holiday favorite.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup rice flour
• 1 ½ cups almond meal
• ½ cup agave syrup
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 300°F. Prepare cookie sheets by greasing them or covering with parchment paper. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool. Store in an airtight container or zip lock bag.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Don't like oatmeal cookies? Just wait until you try these!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of oats
• 2 cups of black beans (rinsed drained)
• ½ cup of pure maple syrup
• 2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons of butter

How to make it:

Heat oven to 350°F. Place beans, syrup, cocoa powder and butter in a food processor and blend until smooth. Grease cookie sheet with butter. Scoop cookie mix by the tablespoon and place on cookie sheet, pushing down to form thin circles. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool before serving.

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).