Feb 2017

Welcoming February

by Martha D'Adamo

February is upon us, bringing with it a burst of cold air that hopefully won’t hamper your warm, healthy hearts! During this chilly month we turn our focus to the human cardiovascular system to keep that heart beating as emphatically as ever!

In this issue, you’ll find a great article from Dr. Peter D’Adamo about keeping your heart healthy as well as some helpful tools and resources to make taking care of your heart easier. Three keys to a healthy heart – eating right, exercising right, and living fully are all paramount to success.

Confucius, the respected Chinese philosopher once said:
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

So often, we do things because we are supposed to, not because we want to. We intellectualize our choices rather than feeling our way through them. A balanced life is all about bringing these two qualities together in harmony. By putting our hearts into our lives, we bring passion, joy, energy and love to all that we do and everyone we meet.

This month, let’s commit to taking care of our hearts by eating and exercising right and by tuning it to what makes us feel happy, grateful and fully alive. This is the magical mix for a life well lived.

Heartfelt wishes,

Martha

Your blood type can influence your cardiovascular system in a variety of ways. There's a strong correlation between blood type and the ability to metabolize fats and oils. Blood type affects the thickness of the blood and reactivity of blood vessel walls. It also affects the body's chemical response to stress. Since stress is a big factor in causing heart disease, these blood type-specific variations can be a vital to your cardiac health.

Heart disease is more common among blood types A and AB although it remains a threat across the board. The main difference is that A’s and AB’s tend to have more noticeable problems with high cholesterol while O’s and B’s tend to have higher triglycerides; usually from the overconsumption of carbohydrates. The higher rate of heart disease in A and AB blood type patients can skew the results of dietary studies, which becomes problematic for the patients with other blood types. If 75% of cardiac patients in a study improve with a low fat diet, most researchers don't worry about the other 25%. They simply recommend the low fat diet for all heart disease patients, catering to the majority but not truly benefiting everyone equally. That's why the conventional wisdom about what constitutes a heart healthy diet differs so much from what I recommend for Blood Types O and B.

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (AIP) is an enzyme produced in the small intestine that breaks down dietary cholesterol and fats. It is released in response to ingesting proteins and all kinds of fats, especially saturated ones. People with blood types O and B release far higher quantities of AIP than those with blood types A and AB. This means that meals high in animal products are more fully digested in O’s and B’s, and rarely spike blood cholesterol levels.

But a low fat, high carb diet often leads to Metabolic Syndrome for O’s and B’s. Metabolic Syndrome is a clustering of conditions that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems. These factors include an increase in abdominal fat, high triglycerides, low good cholesterol (HDL), high blood pressure and high blood sugar.

The ability of blood to clot is important so we don't bleed to death after an injury. Blood is fluid but contains platelets and inactive clotting factors. The clotting factors are activated when there's an injury, so they can make platelets stick together to form clots. These clots are good when there's a wound that needs mending but can be harmful when there are only slight damages to blood vessels. The clots themselves can build up and inhibit proper blood flow, like a layer of scabs inside the blood vessel. Sometimes a clot can break off and get lodged elsewhere in the body, blocking blood flow there. This can lead to heart attacks or strokes if the clots cause blockages near the heart or brain.

Blood type influences a clotting factor known as Factor VIII. This factor is higher in blood types A and AB, and lower in blood types B and O. Types A and AB are more likely to get arterial inflammation, which damages artery walls. Irritated skin inside the vessels makes more areas prone to blood clots.

Type B’s and AB’s have trouble regulating nitric oxide, a compound that allows blood vessels to relax and open up. The foods for these types are chosen to be high in arginine to promote nitric acid production. B-specific lectins, such as those found in chicken, interfere with fat metabolism and can directly thicken blood. Avoiding foods that induce this negative internal reaction promotes healthy blood vessels.

The heart is a muscle, and like every other muscle it can be kept strong and efficient through regular exercise. Exercise also helps to maintain a healthy weight and can lower stress levels.

Type A’s have naturally high levels of cortisol and difficulty lowering it. Gentle exercise such as walking, tai chi and yoga can help lower stress levels and promote fitness in A’s. Over training or heavy aerobic exercises can cause additional stress to the A body, causing more harm than good.

For Blood Types B and AB, stress regulation and overall fitness are achieved with a balance of moderate aerobic activity and mentally soothing, stress-relieving exercises. Activities such as hiking, martial arts, swimming, cycling, tai chi, yoga, Pilates and brisk walking are good choices.

Exercising is key to cardiovascular health, and this is especially true for blood type O. Strength training builds up muscle mass, which aids in metabolic efficiency. Type O requires regular, high intensity exercise to maintain optimal physical health and emotional balance. If you’re not currently healthy enough for intense workouts, do your best to get moving any way you can. The journey to overall health is a marathon, not a sprint.

For more information, including details about diet and exercise recommendations, you can refer to my book Cardiovascular Disease: Fight It With the Blood Type Diet. A complete listing of the foods for the Blood Type Diet can also be found on the Type Base.

Top Heart Healthy Foods for Each Blood Type

These checklists were excerpted from the
Cardiovascular Disease: Fight it with the Blood Type Diet book,
where you can find other healthy tips and recipes that are right for your blood type.

Dr. D'Adamo's Favorites for Cardiovascular Support

Genoma Cardia

Genoma Cardia capsules are formulated to: support heart function, assist in the maintenance of healthy blood pressure already in the normal range and promote strength of the circulatory system. Dr. Peter D'Adamo, author of Eat Right 4 Your Type, developed Genoma Cardia with a unique blend of herbs, botanicals, amino acids and nutraceuticals including:

• Hawthorne berry extract - to promote the health of the circulatory system
• L-Taurine - an amino acid to encourage heart health and assists in maintaining cell membrane stability
• Co Enzyme Q10 - a vitamin-like compound produced by the human body to support cell membrane stability, which may decrease with age.

Learn More

Hytrax

Hytrax is a blend of synergistic herbs used to support proper water balance within the body and promote kidney, bladder and urinary tract health. It may also function as a mild diuretic and help to detoxify and cleanse the urinary tract system.

The central ingredient of Hytrax is organic dandelion leaf. Research has shown this herb may help to maintain normal digestive health and support healthy kidney function.

Hytrax formulation is further enhanced by the addition of three synergistic factors:

• Buchu Leaf Extract - This South African extract has traditionally been used to support healthy bladder function.
• Uva Ursi - To promote urinary tract health.
• Potassium - To support healthy minerals levels in the urine.

Learn More

Nitricycle

Help support healthy nitric oxide function with Nitricycle caps.

Recent Nobel Prize winning research has led to a deeper understanding of the important role played by the simple molecule Nitric Oxide, known to influence many of our most basic health processes, including the cognitive learning and healthy blood vessel tone. In our bodies Nitric Oxide functions as a signaling molecule which may:

• Influence cognitive function,
• Help maintain blood pressure levels that are already normal.
• Promote healthy immune and nervous system response.

Dr. Peter D'Adamo, author of Eat Right 4 Your Type formulated Nitricycle by blending together botanicals with the amino acid L-Arginine which is an essential precursor of nitric oxide. This unique blend helps to maintain healthy blood vessel tone thus making it popular for athletes and exercise enthusiasts. There is some evidence blood types B and AB may benefit more from Nitricycle although it is good for all types.

Learn More

Fish Oil Blend Liquid

Our new Fish Oil Blend is a powerhouse combination of cod liver oil and fish oils, derived from wild-caught cod, sardines and anchovies from the pristine waters off the coast of Peru. It provides the highest quality and the perfect combination of the Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and it delivers close to three times the level of DHA and EPA that we had in our capsules. Fish oil is well known for its overall health benefits, particularly the maintenance and support of:

• Heart and cardiovascular health 
• Enhancing normal brain function 
• Healthy joint function 
• Visual health 
• Healthy hair and skin 

Learn More

Flaxseed Oil Formula Liquid

Flaxseed oil has been used for over 3,000 years, and it was cultivated in ancient Egypt. It was spun into cloth, and the seeds were ground and pressed to extract the oil. Modern flax oil is well known for its nutrient value. Flaxseed oil is a great source of omega-3s: just one teaspoon provides about twice the amount of omega-3s most people get through their diets. 

Our Flaxseed Oil Blend delivers a carefully balanced ratio of 7,000 mg of Omega-3 to 1,800 mg of Omega-6 to 2,700 mg of Omega-9. This 3-6-9 combo provides a superior source of EFA’s derived from flaxseed, which is the optimal ratio. In addition to the omega fatty acids, flaxseed has a high level of dietary fiber and lignans, which contain plant estrogens and antioxidants. Although not as well known to the public as the omega-3s, the omega-9 fatty acids offer many health benefits. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates omega-9 fatty acids may play a role in increasing metabolism and improving mood. 

Learn More

Cardiovascular Disease: Fight It with the Blood Type Diet

Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, the author of the Eat Right 4 (for) Your Blood Type, has now created a targeted plan for fighting arthritis and cardiovascular disease in his book: Cardiovascular Disease: Fight it With The Blood Type Diet

Those with congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease can now read how a blood type specific plan of food choices, exercise and lifestyle changes can be a positive influence on lessening the pain and treatment of these debilitating diseases.

In Cardiovascular Disease: Fight it With The Blood Type Diet, Dr. D'Adamo outlines a comprehensive four-week plan that includes blood-type specific foods, vitamins, supplements, herbs and exercise to help you feel your best.

Learn More

Blood Type Diet in the News

Jaimie Alexander Eats Right for Her Blood Type

Jaimie Alexander plays a butt-kicking recovering amnesia victim in the NBC thriller Blindspot, but off-camera she's well aware of who she is—at least, when it comes to her diet. In a new interview with Us Weekly, Alexander says she's on a personalized diet due to her blood type. "I like to eat for my blood type as much as possible, which means I exclude very specific foods from my diet," she says.

Read Full Article

We Put 2017's Best Diet Cookbooks to the Test

It's clean-eating season, which means more diet manuals than you can stomach. Phoebe Luckhurst tries them for size.
Eat Right 4 Your Type: A re-issued and updated version of the influential diet plan which theorises that certain blood types respond better to certain foods. Therefore, instead of banning foods, you simply need to eat the right ones, which sounds conveniently — and misleadingly — like you are circumventing a diet. A considerable section is consumed by a reported physiological history of the blood type, which is hungry work. 

Read Full Article

WTNH News - January 4, 2017

Vegetarian Borscht

Right 4 All Blood Types

Borscht is an Eastern European soup, celebrated for its nourishing qualities. A winter staple, it is made with root vegetables, abundant at that time of year, and is inexpensive to put together. The flavor of Borscht is comforting and tangy and is best served warm with a dollop of sour cream.

BLOOD TYPE O

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beets (beetroot), peeled and grated
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 2 large carrots, peeled and grated
• 10oz white radish, grated
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• Salt to taste
• Finely chopped parsley to garnish

Directions:

1. Wash and peel the vegetables as required.
2. Cut the onions in half, finely slice and set aside.
3. Shred the carrots, radishes and the raw beets separately and set aside.
4. Pick the leaves off the parsley sprigs and reserve.
5. In a large pot, bring the vegetable stock to the boil.
6. In a separate pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion until translucent. Add the carrots and beets and stir over a medium fire, adding a little salt to taste in the process. Stir for about 5 to 8 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.
7. When the vegetables are soft, stir through the shredded radishes and ladle in the hot stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
8. Season to taste with some salt, a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

BLOOD TYPE A

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beets (beetroot), peeled and grated
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 2 large carrots, peeled and grated
• 10oz white radish, grated
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• Salt to taste
• Sour cream (optional: avoid for type A non-secretor)
• Finely chopped parsley to garnish

Directions:

1. Wash and peel the vegetables as required.
2. Cut the onions in half, finely slice and set aside.
3. Shred the carrots, radishes and the raw beets separately and set aside.
4. Pick the leaves off the parsley sprigs and reserve.
5. In a large pot, bring the vegetable stock to the boil.
6. In a separate pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion until translucent. Add the carrots and beets and stir over a medium fire, adding a little salt to taste in the process. Stir for about 5 to 8 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.
7. When the vegetables are soft, stir through the shredded radishes and ladle in the hot stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
8. Season to taste with some salt, a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of chopped parsley and a dollop of sour cream.

BLOOD TYPE B

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beets (beetroot), peeled and grated
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 2 large carrots, peeled and grated
• 3/4 pound white cabbage finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• Salt to taste
• Sour cream (optional)
• Finely chopped parsley to garnish

Directions:

1. Wash and peel the vegetables as required.
2. Cut the onions in half, finely slice and set aside.
3. Shred the carrots and the raw beets, set aside.
4. Thinly slice the cabbage and set aside.
5. Pick the leaves off the parsley sprigs and reserve.
6. In a large pot, bring the vegetable stock to the boil.
7. In a separate pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion until translucent. Add the carrots and beets and stir over a medium fire, adding a little salt to taste in the process. Stir for about 5 to 8 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.
8. When the vegetables are soft, stir through the sliced cabbage and ladle in the hot stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
9. Season to taste with some salt, a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of chopped parsley and a dollop of sour cream.

BLOOD TYPE AB

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beets (beetroot), peeled and grated
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 2 large carrots, peeled and grated
• 3/4 pound white cabbage finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• Salt to taste
• Sour cream (optional)
• Finely chopped parsley to garnish

Directions:

1. Wash and peel the vegetables as required.
2. Cut the onions in half, finely slice and set aside.
3. Shred the carrots and the raw beets, set aside.
4. Thinly slice the cabbage and set aside.
5. Pick the leaves off the parsley sprigs and reserve.
6. In a large pot, bring the vegetable stock to the boil.
7. In a separate pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion until translucent. Add the carrots and beets and stir over a medium fire, adding a little salt to taste in the process. Stir for about 5 to 8 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.
8. When the vegetables are soft, stir through the sliced cabbage and ladle in the hot stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
9. Season to taste with some salt, a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of chopped parsley and a dollop of sour cream.