Small kindnesses can go a long way towards brightening someone’s day.
December ushers in shorter days and an increase in anxiety, as we begin
the 31-day count down until the New Year with a few holidays thrown in for
good measure! I am not sure if it is just me, but there’s also a certain sadness that accompanies December as well. This sadness is a fellow traveler to the excitement the month brings, and I think it symbolizes the endings and beginnings that I experience as the year comes to a close.
I also think this is due to the shorter days, as I find it distressing to be
heading out at 4:30 as it gets dark. Add to this the swirling energies of the
holidays and all the demands for partying and fun and holiday merriment. Most
people I’ve
spoken to go into the month groaning...here it comes...too much food, not enough
sleep, and unfulfilled expectations of the perfect holiday. Not the way we should
be experiencing this time, with Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, and the Solstice
occurring throughout the month.
As I was walking the dog (in the dark at 5:00 pm!!!), I was thinking about this and how I could possibly change my approach to the holidays and the end of the year so that it was enjoyable, nurturing and enriching. I decided that I am going to try a few things this year to see if I could shift this. From a food standpoint, I am going to endeavor to eat mostly beneficials when I am at home so that I have all that good nutritional support “in the bank.” When I go out to parties, I can afford to splurge a bit and try some of the holiday items offered. What I’ve noticed though is that over the years, people have generally become more health conscious, so I am finding more healthy choices, which is great.
The sleep thing is a biggie…but I am going to try to schedule one night a week
of eight hours of sleep, and see if this helps with the overall tiredness that
comes from being out late, having an increased work load due to year end planning,
and the extra holiday preparations. Add to this a ten-minute reflection in the
morning, with the focus being on “light.” Sunlight, lightness of being, lightheartedness...if
I cannot get my light from the sun, I will have to bring it in another way (and
supplement with Vitamin
D!).
And finally, every day, I will make an effort to do one thing for someone that is unexpected and quite possibly could go unnoticed except by me. This could be something simple as writing a note of acknowledgment, taking the time to hold a door, a kind word, letting someone get in front of me in line at the store. Small kindnesses can go a long way towards brightening someone’s day. Hopefully, they’ll “pay this forward” to someone else. If we all just took the time for these simple acts of kindness and it took hold, we could change the world – not just December.
I wish you all a happy and healthy month with light, laughter and joy.
Peace,
Martha
Amaranth
Peter J. D'Adamo, ND, MIFHI
Not only is amaranth higher in protein than most commonly used grains, that protein, containing high levels of lysine and methionine, is better balanced and more complete.
Amaranth is a broad-leafed plant which produces multi-headed flowerets
containing grain-like seed of extremely high nutritional value. The tiny
seeds are a creamy tan in color and are about 1/32" in diameter. Each
plant produces 40,000-60,000 seeds. The amaranth seeds are used in their
whole grain form, milled into flour or puffed into miniature kernels.
For centuries, the Aztecs and American Indians have known the benefits and diverse uses for amaranth.
Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs. Approximately 60 species are recognized.
Not only is amaranth higher in protein than most commonly used grains, that protein, containing high levels of lysine and methionine, is better balanced and more complete. Amaranth, with 13-19% protein, scores closer to a perfect 100 on a theoretical protein score chart than do other grains. For example, amaranth’s 75 is significantly higher than wheat at 56.9, corn at 44, soybeans at 68 or even cow’s milk at 72.5.
Amaranth possesses a potent lectin that has been shown to identify colon
cancer cells which are in the early stages of mutation.(1) As such a diet
high in amaranth may well be protective against this common cancer, which
is known to have a significantly higher incidence in blood group A.
*Please note: Amaranth is an AVOID for B Secretors.
Here’s a great recipe that uses amaranth flour to make a grain free bread:
Grain-Free Boston Brown Bread (Yield: 1 loaf)
Ingredients:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons amaranth flour
1/4 cup arrowroot
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup walnuts
3/4 cup boiling unsweetened fruit juice or water
1/4 cup honey or molasses
1 tablespoon lemon juice
How to make it:
Generously oil a 1 quart mold or 1 pound coffee can.
Fill a Dutch oven or stockpot with about 5 inches of water. Bring the water to a boil while you prepare the batter.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, arrowroot, baking soda and ginger. Stir in the currants.
In a blender, grind the walnuts to a fine powder. Add the juice or water,
and blend 20 seconds. If the ingredients in the blender don’t
reach the 1 cup mark, add a little more liquid. With the blender running on
low, add the honey or molasses and lemon juice.
Pour the liquid mixture into the flour bowl. Stir quickly to blend; do not overmix.
Transfer to the prepared mold orcan. Cover with a square of foil or wax paper; tie the wax paper securely with a piece of string.
Place the mold in the boiling water. (It should come halfway up the sides.) Cover the pot tightly, and steam for 2 hours over medium-low heat. Do not remove the cover during that time.
Remove the mold from the pot. Cool the bread in the mold for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. For the best results, cut with a serated knife with a gentle sawing motion.
Variations: Replace the honey or molasses with 1/3 cup maple syrup. Instead
of the currants, use dried unsweetened pineapple, apples, prunes or other dried
fruit; use the corresponding juice as the liquid.
(1)Boland CR, Chen YF, Rinderle SJ, Resau JH, Luk GD, Lynch HT. Use of the lectin from Amaranthus caudatus as a histochemical probe of proliferating colonic epithelial cells. Cancer Res. 1991 Jan 15;51(2):657-65.
Audio Clip: Dr. D’Adamo Lectures at University of Bridgeport
Peter D'Adamo, ND
Dr. D’Adamo spoke to a group of nutritionists and other health professionals
at the University of Bridgeport in October. Here is an audio clip of his
lecture.
(2011 interview; 16:31)
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (Non-Secretors & B's omit cinnamon)
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (O Secretors omit nutmeg)
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 large egg
½ cup molasses
½ cup butter, softened (A & AB Secretosr and A & AB Non-Secretors
substitute ghee)
How to Make it:
To start, mix flaxseed with hot water and set aside for 10-12 minutes. The flax and water will mix and become slightly gelatinous; this will help the texture of the dough later on.
Next, whisk brown rice flour, millet flour, arrowroot flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a large bowl until well combined.
In a separate, medium bowl, whisk the egg, molasses and softened butter. Add the flax mixture and stir to incorporate. Pour the wet molasses mixture into the flour bowl and stir until combined and free of lumps. At this point, the dough will be very thick and slightly sticky, but it should form a ball easily.
Roll dough out onto a large sheet of parchment paper and wrap the paper entirely around the dough so that no dough is exposed. Place the wrapped dough in the refrigerator to set for 1 hour. The cold will make the butter harden and thus create a firmer dough.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Once the hour is up, take half of the dough and roll it out about ¼" thick
onto a floured surface. Leave the remaining dough in the refrigerator. Pat
the top of the dough with a small amount of flour and rub a touch of flour
on the rolling pin to prevent sticking. Use a gingerbread, star, or any shaped
cookie cutter you like to cut shapes into the dough and line on baking sheets.
Leave 2" between
cookies on the baking sheet because they do expand while baking.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are firm to the touch and if tested with a cake tester, would come out clean.
Cool on a cooling rack and serve immediately or keep in a cool dry place for 1-2 days. Cookies can be stored in a sealable glass container in the freezer for up to a month.
Decorating suggestions: If you can have sugar, mix confectioners sugar with (almond, soy, rice or cow’s) milk until desired consistency (should be relatively thick) and top with a variation of dried fruit: blueberries, pineapple, cherries or cranberries and mini allergy free chocolate chips!
Rosemary Nut Mix
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon red chili powder (A's substitute sweet paprika)
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon maple syrup (NS substitute agave)
2 teaspoons ghee
1 cup quartered black or English walnuts
½ cup roughly chopped pecans
½ cup crushed almonds
How to Make it
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
Toss all ingredients in a bowl and spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Nuts will be aromatic and lightly browned when done. Let cool and spoon into a bowl to serve.
Store in a cool, dry place for up a week.
12 Health and Safety Tips for the
Holidays
Ann Quasarano
Do something for someone else - volunteer some time to help others or donate to a food pantry. Across America families are struggling financially and the need for food and small gifts for children is staggering.
The holidays are a joyful time for most people, but the pressures of the season often bring stress, anxiety and a few unwanted pounds. Here are a few tips for staying safe and sane this holiday season.
Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable. Manage stress by setting realistic goals and being honest about what you can and cannot do – don’t over commit yourself and you will prevent a lot of seasonal anxiety and pressure. Organize your time by making a list and prioritizing the important activities and spread out (time-wise) commitments to lessen stress and increase enjoyment.
Don't drink and drive or let others drink and drive. If you must drink, do so conservatively, limit yourself to one or two drinks interspersed with non-alcoholic beverages and food over a period of time.
Practice fire safety. Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so be careful to never leave fireplaces, space heaters, stoves, or candles unattended. Make sure fire and carbon monoxide alarms have fresh batteries and are in working order.
Holiday trees are grown as a sustainable crop; in fact, 1 acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people, and provides habitats for birds and wildlife. Buying an artificial tree isn't a better choice, since most faux foliage is made from earth-toxic PVC. The very best thing you can do is buy a live tree with a root ball. Live trees can be found at most nurseries and some tree lots. When you're done with it, plant the tree in your garden. This requires some forethought, particularly in colder climates where you'll need to break up the ground for planting before it freezes; you'll also need to keep a live tree moist, and indoors for no longer than a week. If that's not possible, purchase your cut tree from a tree farm that shuns pesticides and chemicals.
Prepare food safely. Remember these simple steps: wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures, and refrigerate promptly.
Eat healthy and get moving. Eat plenty of right for your type fruits and vegetables. Limit your portion sizes and avoid foods high in fat and sugar. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week and help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.
Some typical holiday plants can be toxic to people and animals when ingested. Keep pets and young children away from poinsettia, mistletoe and holly berries.
Leave "yesteryear" in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes. Each season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don’t set yourself up by comparing today with the "good ol’ days."
Do something for someone else - volunteer some time to help others or donate
to a food pantry. Across America, families are struggling financially and the
need for food and small gifts for children is staggering.
Prevent money problems—don't create them. Give gifts of time and yourself, or pull names for gift exchanges. Enjoy activities that are free, such as driving around to look at holiday decorations; going window shopping without buying; making a snowperson with children.
Don't Forget the Elderly! Younger family members should try to involve their elders in holiday preparations and make them feel an important part of the family during the holiday season.
MOST IMPORTANTLY…
Give Thanks. Take a moment to appreciate all that you have. Reflect on your favorite people or the pleasures of the day. Celebrate the moment.
Introducing Our New Products
Trehalose may protect nerves from the destructive
forces of aging and environmental toxicity.
Give your skin a luxurious treat with
our three new D'Adamo Genoma Skin Care products.
New Item! Trehalose Complex
Neuroprotective Memory-Enhancing Formula
It’s common knowledge that as we age, the neurons in our brains may not function as well, or as quickly as they did in our youth. Why? Quite simply, the neurons that we started out with as babies are the same neurons that we are still using at 40, 50, 60 and beyond! Although the neurons continue to function, many of their component parts, such as lipids and cellular proteins, are replaced as needed to prevent the accumulation of damage. Adults only - not recommended for children.
To maximize the functional capacity of existing nerves, Dr. D’Adamo formulated Trehalose Complex - a blend of Trehalose, a natural sugar, that clinical trials suggest may have a positive effect in promoting brain health, D-Ribose, an essential compound in energy metabolism and the structural backbone of DNA and RNA, and modified citrus pectin, a short chain pectin that improves the connections and conductivity between nerves.
Trehalose Complex acts on multiple levels:
May protect nerves from the destructive forces of aging and environmental toxicity.
Stimulates the activity of your own neural stem cells.
Energizes your existing nerves to maximize their functional capacity.
May improve the activity of the brain and nervous system.
Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s colleague at the Center
For Personalized Nutrition, Dr. Ginger Nash, has
started a blog chronicling her experiences as a naturopathic physician
along with information about natural health and healing.
Study Finds People With AB Blood Type at Higher Risk for Stroke
A recent study presented at an American Heart Association meeting, finds that people who are blood type AB are at a higher risk for ischemic stroke. The study was done by a team of researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.
IfHI Master Andrea Cayea invites you to join a Blood Type/GenoType
Support Group in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition
Center.
The next meeting is on Sunday, December 11, from 2:00-3:30 pm.
Come meet other people who are following the blood type diet lifestyle. Join me as I discuss root vegetables found in your supermarket and ways to prepare them for the winter season. Bring your ideas to share with others as well. We will also discuss strategies for dealing with the holidays. Everyone welcome whether you are following this lifestyle for weight loss or just curious!
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