July 2014 - D'Adamo Newsletter

The Courage of Your Convictions

By Martha D'Adamo

When July rolls around each year, I find myself musing on independence and what it means in my life. Security, expression, not feeling reliant or bound to something or someone else. The grown up version of the refrain of toddlers, "I can do it myself."

Underneath independence is courage, and I think that courage is the foundational base for everything we do in life...those first steps, going off to school, asking someone out, saying yes or no, loving, choosing the right job, self expression, the list goes on...every decision we make involves courage to a certain degree. Have I made the right decision? Will everything be ok? Can I trust this person? Is this the right path for my life?

In having the courage to move forward in whatever it is, we build our independence muscle, one step at a time. This is strengthened by other choices we make, whether they are big or small, and it can also be weakened by not making choices or by abdicating our right to make a choice and have a voice in our lives.

I watched some of the FCC hearings recently during which the senators took Dr. Mehmet Oz to task for making claims about natural products and providing false hopes to his viewers. A few things here that you should know. I really like Dr. Oz. He has been a supporter of Peter's work for years, and I genuinely value him and the work that he is doing. As a clinician, he is brilliant, and he has more so than any other person, given hope to millions of people with regards to their health. And the products that he talks about are not his products. He talks about the natural compound within a product, and it's been supplement marketers who jump on his words and turn them into an endorsement.

It took a lot of courage for Dr. Oz in those meetings to stand up for what he believes in. And I think those meetings are a set up for stronger regulation of the natural products market. What scares me is if the drive to regulate generates from the pharmaceutical market, then we could potentially lose the value and the rightful place that supplements hold in healthcare. You can't regulate an herb the way you do a pharmaceutical drug. You can't use an herb the way you use a pharmaceutical drug.

So the courage here is to individually and collectively make sure that we don't lose our rights to supplement. And to continue to find ways to have accountability in the supplement industry. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) protocols have been in place for years. Rigorous testing of raw ingredients to make sure that they meet the requirements for inclusion in a product are in place. Quality control guidelines exist to insure the efficacy of the products.

This is quite a complex situation, and I've just touched on it superficially, but I felt that the timing of this was quite interesting. And I also wanted to use it as "teachable moment." In any industry, there can be hyperbole..."the world's greatest car/doughnut/pharmaceutical/vitamin..." We've shied away from making any of those statements about our products, as we have always felt uncomfortable "over-selling" them. Our products are high quality, formulated by one of the leading clinicians in the natural products industry. We follow all GMP practices, have a rigorous quality control system in place, use the highest grade raw materials that are meticulously reviewed and assayed prior to manufacturing. Our feelings are that the products are so good, they should speak for themselves. (This would be totally frowned upon in Business School, but we have to do it in a way that is right for us!)

Perhaps if our natural reticence wasn't there, we might be a bigger company, but we know that we have maintained the integrity of the company, which is a deeply personal commitment for both Peter and me. Our philosophy is that the more we educate our customers and the general public about the importance of individuality and personalized nutrition, the better we serve them. And if our nutritional supplements play a role in that, wonderful; and if they don't, that's OK too.

This 4th of July in the US, as we celebrate the independence of our nation, I will also be celebrating self-independence and the courage that it demands every single day.

Happy July,

Martha

Probiotics: A One-Size Approach Does Not Fit All

By Ann Quasarano

Bug Off! Protect Yourself from Mosquito Borne Viruses

It may sound like the latest dance craze, but chikungunya (sounds like chicken-gun-ya) is a mosquito-borne illness that scientists fear may take hold in the United States. Found primarily in Africa, East Asia and the Caribbean islands, chikungunya is new to the US. After a major outbreak in the Caribbean this year (more than 100,000 cases), travelers have brought this disease back to the US and several cases have been documented in southern states as far north as North Carolina. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been watching the spread of the virus for fear that it could spread in the US much like West Nile did more than a decade ago.

The virus, which is not life-threatening, causes joint pain and arthritis-like symptoms that can last for weeks. Those with weak immune systems, such as the elderly, are more likely to suffer from the virus' side effects than those who are healthier.

The other concern is the type of mosquito that carries the illness. Unlike most mosquitoes that breed and prosper outside from dusk to dawn, the chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that bite mostly during the daytime. The disease is transmitted from mosquito to human, human to mosquito and so forth. A female mosquito of this type lives three to four weeks and can bite someone every three to four days.

Health experts recommend people remember the mosquito-control basics:

• Use bug spray if you are going out, especially in tropical or wooded areas near water.
• Get rid of standing water, empty plastic pools, flower pots and pet dishes, so mosquitoes don't breed.
• Dress appropriately, with long sleeves and pants.

Natural Insect Repellents

Mix about 6 drops each of the essential oils of catnip, citronella, lavender, neem, and black pepper into a half cup of organic soy oil and store in a jar. Rub into skin before going outdoors. Always do a 24-hour skin test to be sure you don't have sensitivities to any of the oils.

The Warning Signs of Cell Phone Addiction

By Ann Quasarano

Quick! Where's your cell phone? If it's right next to you at all times (even when you're sleeping), you may be on your way to developing an addiction to your cell phone.

Rest assured you're not the only one struggling with this very modern compulsion. According to a 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center, 91% of all American adults now own a cell phone and surveys say that 6 in 10 use their cell phone to access the internet and 81% use the texting feature on their phones.

Check their smart phone within an hour of getting up	Check their phone within an hour of going to sleep	Check over the weekend, including on Friday & Saturday nights	Check continuously during vacation	Would experience "a great deal of anxiety" if they lost their phone & couldn't replace it for a week

Could you be addicted to your cell phone? Here are the warning signs:

1. Experience anxiety when phone is misplaced. 2. Feel uncomfortable if more than two hours pass without checking phone for messages. 3. Experience extreme emotions when a cell phone connection is lost. 4. Answer calls and text messages while driving. 5. Initiate calls and texting while driving. 6. The first thing upon waking is check phone for messages. 7. Sleep next to phone that is on and wake up to return late night texts. 8. Are your relationships suffering because you're checking social media or texting?

Do these sound familiar? If so, consider taking a technology break for a week and see how you feel. You may need to have the phone close, especially if you care for a child or elderly parent, but making more conscious (and safe) decisions about cell phone use can prevent potentially dangerous situations.

Before the Chia Pet was marketed as an easy-to-grow houseplant, chia seeds were a staple food for the ancient Aztec and Myan civilizations. Among the richest plant sources of Omega-3's, these tiny seeds have incredible health-enhancing properties; they're popular for weight loss because they can reduce food cravings, they absorb ten times their weight in water and make you feel full faster, there's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure, and because they slow down the conversion of carbs into simple sugars, studies indicate they can help to balance blood sugar.

Easily digestible, the seeds can be sprinkled on salads, added to cereals or Right for Your Type protein shakes, or used as a thickener in soups or gravies. Nutritious chia seed pudding is one of our favorite ways to reap the benefits of chia seeds - and it's so easy to make! A light, no-cook summer dessert that's actually good for you.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Right for Your Type milk (soy, almond, hemp, rice, etc.)
• ½ cup of chia seeds
• 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of allowable sweetener (honey, agave, maple syrup, etc.)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Spoon into individual dishes or one bowl and place in refrigerator.
3. Ingredients will thicken and "gel" in about 15 minutes.

There are endless flavor variations for this recipe! Omit the cocoa powder and add a cup of fresh berries for a berry version or add other spices and fruits to create your own super-beneficial chia pudding flavor!

This recipe was adapted from the Eat Right for Your Type Personalized Cookbooks series,
where you can find delicious, healthy recipes that are right for your blood type.