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This and every issue of Personalized Nutrition Monthly can be found at the archive in a printer-freindly format.
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Send your questions or comments to Dina!
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Contact@DinaKhader.net
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The drop of rain maketh a hole in the stone, not by violence, but by oft falling.
- Hugh Latimer
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Dina Khader
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39 Smith Avenue
Mount Kisco, NY10549
(914) 242-0124
contact@dinakhader.net
www.DinaKhader.com
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Greetings!
Hello again! I hope you're getting ready for a happy, healthy summer! Summer is a great time of year to focus on good health. Because increased sunlight and warmer weather tend to put us in a calmer, more serene state of mind, it's a good time to introduce changes and improve our habits while putting as little strain on our bodies and minds as possible.
I'm excited about this, the first electronic version of Personalized Nutrition Monthly. I'm looking forward to staying in contact with you through this e-mail medium. I hope you look forward to it as well. Of course, if you'd prefer not to get these newsletters, please let us know by using the SafeUnsubscribe link at the bottom of this e-mail. We never want to send you something you don't want, but we hope you find these newsletters to be a valuable source of information. As always, thank you for sharing your time with me, and be well!  Dina Khader, MS, RD, CDN |
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Finding Your GenoType
In the last issue, we introduced
Dr. Peter D'Adamo's The GenoType Diet, and went over the basics of the
new program. One important aspect that
was briefly touched upon was the notion of abandoning The Blood Type Diet.
As the new GenoType program has been
introduced here in the office, we've discovered that this issue concerns many
of our clients, so we wanted to take the opportunity to more fully address it.
The question we have heard many
times is, "Does this mean I've been following the wrong diet all this
time?" The simplest answer is, "No, of
course not!" Switching from The Blood
Type Diet to The GenoType Diet does not represent abandoning all of
your efforts. If you think along those
lines, then everybody is following the wrong diet! Since we all have different genetic features
with unique dietary needs, the only way anyone could be on the "perfect" diet
would be to have a complete dietary plan developed based on each individual's
unique genetic code. That's simply not practical. A better way to think about it is as such:
while you can not know what the perfect diet for yourself is, you can take
advantage of state-of-the-art research and knowledge to attain the best
possible diet. Following The
Blood Type Diet was a major step toward that perfect diet, especially under
the guidance of a knowledgeable health care practitioner. Now, The GenoType Diet can bring you
even closer. It is likely that in the
future, new research and information will make available an even more
specialized plan that brings you even closer to that perfect diet. That is part of the excitement that comes
with being on the cutting edge of nutritional science.
The other concern many people have
is in regards to the difficulty involved in identifying one's GenoType. Obviously, this is a major difference from The
Blood Type Diet. Testing for blood
type is a relatively simple matter, and many people already know what their
blood type is. Conversely, a full third
of The Genotype Diet involves the process of discovering one's GenoType,
complete with charts and tables and a lot of other dense information that can
be pretty intimidating. Keep in mind,
however, that like blood type, you will only need to identify your GenoType
once; it will not change over the course of your lifetime. Since the process of determining GenoType can
be complicated and intimidating, we suggest that instead of working through it
yourself, you come to our office and let us discover your GenoType for
you. This will ensure that nothing is
overlooked and the final result is an accurate basis upon which to begin your
new dietary lifestyle.
Most importantly, it's critical
that you not be deterred by advancements in the field of nutritional health,
and that you embrace the opportunity to utilize the most up-to-date research
and information. If you've followed The
Blood Type Diet, you know what a difference dietary optimization can
make. We encourage everyone to take the
next step and work with The GenoType Diet. And remember, if you need a little guidance,
we're always here to help!
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Ask Dina
Vitamin D in the News
Dear Dina,
I've been reading a lot lately
about vitamin D. I don't use a Vitamin D
supplement, and now I'm worried that I might be putting myself at risk. It looks like there is lots of research
coming out that shows that not getting enough vitamin D can lead to
cancer. What should I be doing about
this?
D.B.
 This is an excellent question,
because vitamin D is very important to good health. Mainstream medicine seems to be waking up to
the vital role vitamin D plays, and though integrative nutritionists like
myself have known about this link for a long time, I'm glad that more people
are being made aware of it now.
The link between vitamin D and
age-related diseases has been recognized for a long time, but recent studies
have gone a long way toward reinforcing those links. One study carried out at the Mount Sinai Hospital
in Toronto
showed that adequate vitamin D correlated strongly to breast cancer
survival. Another study, done at Creighton University
in Omaha,
showed a marked decrease in cases of cancer among women taking a vitamin D
supplement. In other lab and animal
tests, vitamin D has been shown to stifle abnormal cell growth, curb formation
of blood vessels that feed tumors and exhibit many other anti-cancer effects. Vitamin D is also critical in helping calcium
build bone, and studies have shown correlation between low vitamin D levels and
osteoporosis. Insufficient vitamin D has also been linked to multiple sclerosis and depression.
The National Institutes of Health
officially recognizes a vitamin D blood serum level of 15 ng/mL or lower to be
inadequate, and 20 ng/mL to be nutritionally deficient. Taking into account the most recent research,
even some conservative mainstream practitioners have begun to recommend blood
serum levels of 40 to 50 ng/mL. I do not
believe even this goes far enough, and recommend maintaining a blood serum
level between 70 and 100 ng/mL for optimal health.
Remember, the best way to get your
vitamin D is by soaking up some sun! UV
radiation in sunlight triggers vitamin D production in the body, converting 7-dehydrocholesterol
in the skin to vitamin D. This process
is responsible for most of the vitamin D in a healthy body. You should try to get at least 20 minutes of
sunlight daily, with exposed skin, no eye cover, and no sunscreen. This will ensure your body gets the sunlight
it needs to create vitamin D.
Of course, sunlight isn't always
available. The NIH has stated that at
latitudes higher than 42° north (only
one degree higher than New York City),
UV energy is completely insufficient for vitamin D production between November
and February. If you're concerned about
not getting enough sunlight, supplementation can play a vital role in vitamin D
intake. However, there are factors to
consider when supplementing vitamin D.
Low quality products are generally unhelpful for vitamin D
supplementation, for two important reasons.
The first is simply concentration.
A study released in March of 2007 showed that a daily intake of 400 IUs
of vitamin D changed blood serum concentration by only 2.8-4.8 ng/mL. To raise blood serum concentration from 20 to
32 ng/mL, 1,700 IUs were needed daily. Supplements
with minimal vitamin D content will not make a substantial difference in
vitamin D levels. The second
consideration is the form of vitamin D.
Many supplements offer vitamin D2, which is synthesized by plants. The human body synthesizes vitamin D3. For this reason, vitamin D3 supplements are
recommended to best approximate natural vitamin D production.
If you are concerned about your vitamin D level, a
blood serum concentration test is available at most testing labs for around $25
to $45. The results can then be
discussed with a trusted health care provider to determine the best course of
action to optimize your vitamin D levels.
It's important to know that new research on Vitamin D is coming out all the time. As new information becomes available, we'll be sure to keep you up to date on the latest developments.
Important Links:
CNN.com: Vitamin D helps breast cancer survival
MSNBC.com: Vitamin D shown to cut cancer risk in women
National Institutes for Health: Vitamin D
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Ask Dina
The Truth About Genomic Testing
Dear Dina,
In the
newsletter I got from you, you recommend genetic testing. There is no way I would do that! I don't want other people getting hold of my genetic
information, and I don't know what good it would do anyway. If I have bad genes that will cause a disease,
I don't want to know since there's nothing you can do about your genes anyway.
Since
genetic testing isn't an option for me, what would you recommend instead?
G.S.
Dear G.S.,
The truth
is, there is no other option. If you
want specific information regarding your genetic make-up, the only option is to
have your genomic profile done. But
while I can't give you an alternative, maybe I can address some of your
concerns.
I
understand your reluctance to let your genomic information fall into the wrong
hands. But there are a few things you
should know. First of all, a reputable
company will always do this testing anonymously. In our office, all genetic profiling is sent
to the lab with only a code number. The
lab knows nothing about the identity of the person getting tested, and no identifying
information is included with the specimen or the results in transit. That means that from the moment your specimen
leaves our office until the moment it returns, it doesn't belong to you. It belongs only to an untraceable number. Second, the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was signed into law on May 22 of this year. This act makes it illegal for anyone to
discriminate against you based on your genetic information. This is an important protection that empowers
all Americans to discover their genomic profile without fear of reprisal.
Your second
concern, about not wanting to know, is something we hear all the time, but it
is based on a misconception. Your 'bad
genes' don't cause disease. You simply
may have genes that make you more susceptible to certain diseases. That's a big difference! If knowing your genomic profile wouldn't help
you prevent disease, I'd completely agree with you. But the truth is, there are many things you
can do to prevent such diseases. Knowing
which ones you are most susceptible to allows you to better target your
prevention strategies. Your genomic
profile doesn't doom you; it empowers you to make better choices to ensure a
long, healthy life.
I encourage
you to give genomic testing a chance. This
is an emergent field that will likely see wide-spread use within the next
decade. But it's available now, and I
highly recommend it for anyone looking to optimize their health and nutrition.
Important Links:
Medical News Today: President Bush Signs Landmark Genetic Nondiscrimination Information Act Into Law
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To Your Health!
Viral Video Gets Healthy
Looking for a fun new way to get healthy tips and information? Then To Your Health! is just for you! To Your Health! is Dina Khader's new internet video program, available for free on YouTube as well as DinaKhader.com. Each episode of To Your Health! covers an important topic related to nutrition or general health, with relevant information and helpful tips, all rolled into an entertaining video less than 10 minutes long. It's quick, it's fun, and it's a great resource! The best thing about To Your Health! is that it's interactive. You can have your questions answered by Dina by sending them to contact@dinakhader.net. Many favorite To Your Health! episodes have come from questions submitted by viewers. Recent topics include Preventing Osteoporosis, Finding Your Healthy Body Weight, and Getting the Most From Your Wii Fit.
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