Feb 2015

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To Thine Own Self Be True

By Martha D'Adamo

When I graduated from high school, my sister, Marge, wrote this quote from William Shakespeare in a card, which I still have.  At the time, I took this as a call to action – to do all the things that I felt called to do.  As I have gotten older, I also recognize the deeper message of this, which includes deeply knowing who I am so that I can authentically express "me" in my life and in the world(s) that I inhabit.

My appreciation of this and the importance of "knowing yourself," have become more profound as I learned about the Blood Type Diet and about the importance of biochemical individuality.  It's not enough to just do the things we want to do in the world; it is essential that we value and express who we uniquely are, and I feel so privileged that I have shared this journey of discovery with Peter.

As he has grown as a clinician, academic, researcher and scientist, his awareness of just how profoundly our individuality is expressed physically and the impact that this has on us emotionally.  It has opened new doors for me as I have extracted the "what's me" from the "not me," which was very challenging given that I grew up in a large family, and we were all part of the collective group, defined by our similarities rather than our differences.

Over the years, as Peter has added more levels of individualized diets, I have been the lucky beneficiary of them.  I am an O+, secretor, a Hunter, and now with SWAMI, I am Martha.  I have a program that is just for me, and I've tweaked it over the past few years as I have gotten older, embraced menopause, and dealt with the recovery from foot surgery that has been demanding and challenging and more than I bargained for.

My SWAMI has been such an essential part of my growth process, as I adjust foods to meet the new demands on my life.  It's been such an interesting process to see the simplicity and elegance of the Blood Type Diet enhanced by the calculations used to run my SWAMI report.  I have been and will always be a blood type O+ individual, and this provides one of the foundations through which all the epigenetic influences that include my ancestors, my environment, stress, and illness are expressed biochemically.  What I found most exciting is that nutrition and lifestyle can play a vital role in modifying epigenetic changes and disease prevention. 

Your individuality is the passkey to a world of enhanced vitality, optimal health, emotional balance, and authentic self expression.  There's only one "you" in this world, and I invite you to explore all the ways you can be your best self.

Happy February,

Martha

A New Level of Personalization

An Interview with Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo

When Dr. Peter D'Adamo wrote Eat Right for Your Type in 1996, he pioneered the concept of personalized nutrition - but his work didn't end there. His quest to further individualize dietary recommendations continued; first, determining the GenoTypes in the GenoType Diet, then, using the latest technology to develop one-of-a-kind diet protocols with his revolutionary SWAMI XP software program. After further refinements, Dr. D'Adamo has released the latest version of the software, SWAMI XP2!

We asked Dr. D'Adamo about his cutting-edge work and what SWAMI XP2 can do for you!

SWAMI XP2 is the second generation of a software program that I first wrote in 2007. I was at an impasse at my clinic - we had the Blood Type Diet and the GenoType Diet, but we were dealing with a lot of new variables; fingerprints, blood type, secretor status, leg length, and writing this software program allowed me to create one-of-a-kind diets based upon an individual's unique needs. Simply input the information, press a button, and out comes the perfect diet for you.

We've made several enhancements that make it more convenient for the consumer, for example, we've created SWAMI Mobile which allows you to carry your food list with you on your smart phone. It also allows you to link more than one SWAMI under a single login and cross reference diets with those individuals - it makes meal planning so much easier when you can see all the common foods in one place. We also redesigned the meal planner with an improved, intuitive interface. We've added images of various fingerprint types to make identification easier, and finally, added a nutrient filter that adds an optional extra level of nutrient emphasis.

SWAMI XP2 takes components of both the Blood Type and GenoType Diets including; blood type, secretor status, biometric information and adds another, more sophisticated, level of personalization.

In the last decade, there has been an enormous amount of research on the effects our food choices can exert on gene expression. Although we cannot change our genes (any more than we can change our blood type or eye color) nutrition does control the expression of many genes that are involved in day to day functions, including cell repair, detoxification, and how we adapt to changing environmental conditions. These functions are known as 'epigenetic' and involve regulatory elements that act as a 'lock' on the ability of the gene to be 'heard.' Many foods exert different epigenetic effects in different people. SWAMI allows us to pinpoint which processes are best optimized in that particular individual.

There's a tremendous amount of scientific data to back up the associations between biometric data and gene function. We tend to typically think that genetic function can only be determined by genetic testing. However much genetic testing is based on associations between the gene and a particular trait or problem. These associations are statistical; so there is always only a probability that the result will apply to that particular person. Using phenotypic (physical) measurements have two advantages: they are unique to the person being measured, and they are incredibly inexpensive to perform. Most of the time you need only a ruler and a tape measure. In SWAMI, it is not any single measurement that matters: it is the relationship of one measurement to another, for example, the length of the upper leg to the lower. It's these ratios that tell us about the developmental influences the person has experienced throughout their lives, and it is these developmental influences that tell us about the epigenetic influences.

The enormous nutrient databases in SWAMI XP2 combine the best of the government tables and clinical tables and performs elaborate queries and more than 11 million calculations on over 400 different foods to determine the optimal diet for you.

Weight loss, improved health, vitality, and you will get the maximum effect from the current, cutting edge frontier of personalized medicine. When you use SWAMI XP2, you'll find that there's nothing more specific to the individual than when you use clinically-based and evidence-based nutritional advice that's highly specific to you. In fact, the chances that it would be reproduced in another individual is in the millions.

Yes, SWAMI XP2 is a dynamic program that allows you to re-run your profile as often as your like. SWAMI XP 2 has additional resources that allow you to filter nutrients according to your health goals, for example, to better manage blood sugar or boost your immune system.

Order your personalized diet software today!

Dining Out On The Blood Type Diet

By Ann Quasarano

Everyone loves to enjoy a relaxing meal at their favorite restaurant - and it's even more delicious when you know you're doing something good for yourself - like eating right for your type! The trick is knowing which foods are beneficial and which to avoid! If you have a smart phone, our Blood Type Diet App provides tons of info at the swipe of a finger and for technophobes; our handy wallet cards are an easy way to keep track of foods that are right for your type!

When you're eating out, start by selecting a restaurant that allows you to customize your meal with protein, veggies, and starches that are appropriate for your blood type. Ask your server if the chef will substitute beneficials for the avoid items in the recipe - most restaurants will be flexible if you tell them that you're on a "special diet" - which, of course, you are!

Below are a few common restaurant items by blood type that can act as a starting point for customizing your meal...and if you can't customize, remember to take along a bottle of right for your type Deflect supplement to counteract the harmful lectins in any avoid foods that you eat!

6 Supplements for Healthy Aging

By Ann Quasarano

We know the importance of following Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo's personalized dietary guidelines, but as we age, we may need to supplement our diet with vitamins, minerals, and key nutrients to stay healthy and vital. 

Below are seven essentials for healthy aging.

Calcium
Every woman knows that she needs to take calcium to protect her bones and prevent osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become brittle and prone to breaks. It's not only women who need calcium, men need it too! In addition to supporting bone health, calcium is a factor in normal blood clotting, heart health, and supports the nervous system. D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition's unique Phytocal was formulated to be right for your type - Dr. D'Adamo blended essential co-factors into each Phytocal formula to enhance the effectiveness and absorption of calcium.

Multi-Vitamin
It's best to get your vitamins from the food you eat, but it can be a challenge to get all the vital nutrients you need from food alone.  Your blood-type specific Polyvite formula is the only multi-vitamin that provides the specific nutrients that your body needs to thrive in one product.

Vitamin B12
Don't believe the myth that just because you're getting older, you're destined to feel tired and lethargic! All you need to do is fortify your B vitamins. Methyl 12 Plus is different from other B vitamins because it contains two biologically active forms of B12 with added folate for maximum bioavailability.

Trehalose
Supporting healthy cognitive function is a key component of healthy aging.  Did you know that a simple sugar can help to support brain health?  Trehalose Complex acts on multiple levels and may protect nerves from the destructive forces of aging and environmental toxicity and support optimal nerve function as well as activity of the brain and nervous system.

Membrosia Complex and Membrosia Fluidizer
Keeping the body's trillions of cells happy is no easy task. As we age our cells lose the ability to absorb nutrients and maintain proper water balance, speeding the aging process.  Keeping the cell membrane pliable and balanced allows it to remain healthy and dynamic. Dr. D'Adamo brings cutting-edge anti-aging science into everyday living with his Membrosia Complex and Membrosia Fluidizer.  This two-step system contains precise amounts of key aspects to balance cellular water and promotes cellular regeneration.

Homemade Chocolate Truffles

A Right for All Type Treat Everyone Will Appreciate!

*Photo by Kristin O'Connor

Wait until your friends and family taste these decadent, right for all blood types treats - they're going to be positively begging for the recipe! These rich, chocolate-y bites are incredibly easy to make at home and serve as a delightful gift or after dinner indulgence!

Ingredients:

• 8 oz 100% dark chocolate
• ½  cup agave nectar
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons almond milk
• 4 tablespoons ghee
• ⅛ teaspoon large grain sea salt
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Shave chocolate and place in a medium bowl. Warm agave nectar, milk and salt in a saucepan. Once warm, pour milk over chocolate, whisking continuously until mixture becomes smooth.
2. Let the mixture come to room temperature, then cover tightly and refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 2-3 hours.
3. Use a tablespoon or melon baller and scoop out truffles, roll into balls, slightly smaller than a golf ball, and gently roll around in cocoa powder. Refrigerate until serving.
4. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Find more delicious, simple to prepare recipes in the Eat Right for Your Type Personalized Cookbooks
(great budget-friendly gifts at only $19.95 each).