Personalized Nutrition Monthly from Dina Khader

Hello! I hope you had a healthy and relaxing summer, and that recent economic tribulations have not affected you too deeply. I think we're all starting to feel the pinch, but it's important not to let the negativity of the situation take over. It is certainly a strong reminder that the best investment is in yourself. Plans may fall through and situations may not turn out as planned, but it is always safe and worthwhile to invest your time and energy into yourself and your health.

As we start to move into the autumn season, it's important to maintain good health habits. Diminishing sunlight and cooler weather can lead to lower energy and a weakened immune system if we're not vigilant. Keeping up our vitamin intake and eating right are the best ways to counteract these tendencies.

Remember, you're in control! And who would want to miss out on the beautiful show of colors and mild, pleasant weather nature provides this time of year? Keeping a positive outlook and healthy habits mean you get to spend more time enjoying the scenery and less time inside feeling tired or sick. To help you in this endeavor, I'm dedicating this issue of Personalized Nutrition Monthly to the topic of immunity, and how you can keep your immune system functioning at its peak.

If you want to keep close tabs on your body's ability to stay healthy, one important tool at your disposal is the BIA, or Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. It's a simple test that offers very useful insight into your body's vitality and toxicity. A quick 15 minute BIA test can show you where you are and what you need to do to feel better. You can have a BIA test done here in the office during regular hours without an appointment, and you can get basic feedback without needing a full consultation. It's a great way to tune up your health for the winter!

As always, thank you for sharing your time with me.

Dina Khader, MS, RD, CDN

Answering The Questions Of Immunity

I get so many questions about boosting the immune system and staying healthy, especially this time of year. It's pretty clear that our environment continues to become more toxic and damaging, and people really feel the health effects. I'd like to present some of the most common questions and their answers. Remember, everyone is different, and you should consult with your health care practitioner before making any major changes. But this is a good starting point, to get you thinking and talking about immunity.

Healthy Hormones

Do hormones play a role in immunity?

Absolutely! You should make sure that your estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and DHEA levels are balanced. If you have more estrogen than progesterone, for example, it could be causing an overactive immune system, which can be just as debilitating as an underactive one. Men need to have a healthy amount of testosterone to prevent diabetes, heart disease and accelerated aging.

Stress Management

It seems like I get sick whenever I'm feeling stressed. Is this normal?

Stress can frequently lead to a suppressed immune system. The main reason this happens is that stress, whether physical or emotional, can deplete your adrenals. Those adrenals are vital to helping your immune system fight off infection. Chronic stress can also cause a long term problem; it can deplete our vitamin and mineral levels over time, and this often leads to muscle breakdown as the body tries to make up the energy loss by burning muscle tissue.

The Role of Vitamin D

I keep hearing about the importance of Vitamin D. What does it do?

Vitamin D maintains a balanced immune system. It keeps the immune system from breaking down, and it also prevents the immune system from going into overdrive. Vitamin D is the main nutrient responsible for maintaining hormone balance in our bodies. Since hormone balance is so critical to healthy immunity, the role of Vitamin D is a critical one.

Healthy Water

I don't like paying for expensive bottled water. What's wrong with tap water?

Since 70% of our body is made up of water, the importance of clean, pure water to our health can't be overstated. Most city tap water is toxic, containing over two thousand contaminates like harmful chemicals, bacteria and parasites. Chlorine can't eliminate all of the biological microorganisms, and does nothing to protect you from the chemicals. Not all bottled water is created equal, either. Not only should you consider purity, but pH level as well. I recommend Mountain Valley Spring Water, Penta, Fiji and Panna. If you prefer to filter your own tap water, reverse osmosis systems provide the best purification.

Restful Sleep

How important is sleep? Does how you sleep matter?

How you sleep is as important as how much sleep you're getting. We need eight hours of sleep or more every day, but it's not just a matter of clocking in the time. You body needs, at minimum, five hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep to begin the process of cell regeneration. If you take lots of naps but don't get a full night's sleep, you're depriving your body of critical cell building and immunity strengthening. If your body can't regenerate the cells that fight bacteria and viruses, you're setting yourself up for illness.

Emotional Impact

How do our thoughts and emotions impact our immune system?

Research has shown that negative emotions lower white blood cell count, increasing cortisol and thereby weakening our resistance to illness. Our thought patterns, when overly negative, obsessive or stressful, can also be an energy drain on our bodies. It is important to be positive in our thinking and to control negativity, acknowledging our emotions without dwelling in them.

The Problem With Sugar

Why do I need to limit sugar, alcohol, and carbonated beverages if I eat healthy otherwise?

It's not enough to just eat right to take in all the nutrients you need. You also have to make sure your body is getting those nutrients. White sugar, the kind used in most foods and beverages, is a devitalized food that drains the body of minerals and B vitamins when consumed regularly. That weakens the immune system, making one more susceptible to illness. Alcohol is converted into sugar in the body, presenting similar problems. Carbonated beverages may be the worst of all; not only do they contain incredible amounts of sugar, but they are also full of dangerous chemicals like phosphoric acid, aspartame, natural flavors (MSG), THC (a toxic brown coloring), and many more.

If you do use sugar, be sure to use unrefined cane sugar, or turbinado sugar. This sugar is not chemically refined and, most importantly, is not bleached. Bleaching sugar adds many harmful chemicals that can negatively impact your immunity.

Body pH

I've been told that I need to raise my pH level. Why is this important?

Almost all chronic illness occurs in a body that, over time, has become acidic due to gradual depletion of mineral reserves. Most diseases are more likely to occur in a body with low pH. Clinically, we know that urinary pH is an accurate reflection of the whole body's tissue pH. If your urinary pH is below 6.4, this indicates that the body is in physiological dysregulation and distress caused by the lack of minerals, leading to breakdowns in thousands of cellular processes. You can measure and track your own urinary pH using commonly available pH paper. Ideal urinary pH is between 6.4 and 7.0. The ideal time to measure your pH is between 5 and 7 am, but you can also get accurate readings between 5 and 6 pm.

Electromagnetic Radiation

I spend a lot of time watching television, using a computer and talking on a cell phone. Is this unhealthy?

Besides the obvious advantages of more physically active activities, we need to be concerned with our exposure to harmful electromagnetic pollution from TVs, phones, cell phones, computer monitors, pagers, watchers, ear phones, car engines, and most other electronic devices. This electromagnetic pollution is a form of radiation. Such radiation can lead to a breakdown of our cellular DNA and make the job of the immune system nearly impossible. It is important to limit our exposure to these devices, and to use EMF protection whenever possible.

People Connections

Sometimes it seems like people with lots of good friends and happy marriages are doubly-blessed with good immune systems. Is there any truth to this?

Absolutely. Having pleasant relationships with our partners and friends is critical to our immunity. Stable friendships and fulfilling partnerships help us cut back on stress and keep us thinking positively, which is very supportive of a healthy immune system. The opposite is true as well, however. Toxic relationships and unhappy partnerships are very draining on the body, and can make us much more susceptible to infection. It is more healthy to be single and happy than to be in an unhappy marriage or relationship.

Body Temperature

Once winter sets in, I have a hard time staying warm. Is this affecting my immunity?

It certainly may be. Cold weather can be very stressful on the immune system. Our body self-regulates temeperature, which is a demanding process that depletes Vitamin C, Vitamin D, essential fatty acids and minerals. Bearing this in mind, it's important to give your body all the help you can in maintaining temperature in cold weather. Keep your extremities warm at all times, since these are the most demanding parts of your body to self regulate. Don't stay where it's cold when you can help it, and wear proper attire when going outside.

Animal Companionship

I have heard that having a pet is beneficial for immunity. Is this true?

Children who grow up with pets have higher levels of immunoglobin A, strengthening their immune systems. Also, pets can offer many of the same benefits that human companionship can; they can lower stress, ward off depression, lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Pets keep us happy, amused and healthy. Of course, it is important to choose a pet that does not trigger an allergic reaction to anyone in the household. Allergies are a function of an overactive immune system and can lead to other health issues.

Detoxification

What are the benefits of detoxification? Why is it necessary?

There is a very serious problem with toxicity in our environment, and it seems to always be getting worse. It is nearly impossible to avoid contact with significant levels of toxins, and as a result, our bodies themselves become toxic. Some symptoms of toxicity include allergies, headache, fatigue, Parkinson's Disease, auto-immune conditions, frequent illness, and cancer. To properly detoxify the body, you need a comprehensive program, not just juice fasting or similar oversimplified plans. The liver, kidneys and intestine, which are the organs responsible for most of the detoxification of your body, require zinc, B vitamins, Vitamin A, beta-carotene, probiotics (i.e. acidophilus, bifidus, etc.), Vitamin E, folate, amino acids (i.e. L-cysteine, L-glutamine and taurine), NAC, sodium sulfate, L-glutathione, green tea catechins, and a low-allergy protein source to do their job at the maximum efficiency. I recommend a minimum of 21 days of detoxing once per year.

New Product Spotlight

We're always looking for top-quality products that offer the most benefit and meet my rigorous quality and purity standards. These are some of the newest additions to our stock.

Intramax: A full-spectrum liquid vitamin, mineral and whole-food complex. It is my choice for those who cannot swallow pills. Dosage is 1 tbsp twice a day, half an hour before lunch or dinner.

Oncaplex: This product replaces Canstat. It is one of the best products for healthy DNA expression and detoxification. I highly recommend it for hormone-related cancer prevention and post-cancer conditions.

Slentiva: This is a chewable product that effectively helps in managing feelings of hunger. I recommend it as a safe appetite suppressant for those with abnormal hunger levels. One chew, twice a day, half-hour before largest meals.

Nusera: A chewable that promotes calm and relaxation. This is a great anti-stress chew, and is quite tasty as well. I recommend it for those under medium to heavy stress loads. Use twice per day during times of stress.

Pro Omega LDL: This is perfect for those who want to combine omega-3 fatty acids with red yeast rice. I recommend it for cardiovascular health, as it promotes healthy blood vessel function and offers antioxidant protection. Take 3 per day - one with every meal.

Magnesium Glycinate: This is my preferred form of magnesium. Glycinate has been well-researched and shows superior absorption. Take 2 to 3 per day with or without food.

Ultrameal Rice Bars: A wonderful meal replacement bar for those who would rather chew than drink a shake.

UltraClear Plus Chai Tea Bar: A detox bar that can be used to replace a detox shake. I recommend it for those with a busy lifestyle. One bar is the equivalent of two scoops of detox powder.

Love Force Raw Bars: A great-tasting high-energy raw snack bar meal replacement for those not on weight-loss programs. Available in Chocolate Vanilla, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Orange, Mango Pecan and Fig Ginger.

Ineeka Teas: Premium, hand-harvested biodynamic and organic whole-leaf teas that come in innovative pour-through sachets. Their green tea chai is the best I've ever had.

Wild Alaskan Salmon: We have it available in vacuum-sealed pouches, a much better packing method than canning. Available in pink salmon and sockeye.

10% Off
Dina Khader's Organic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Through November, Dina Khader's delicious, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil is on sale for 10% off. Take this opportunity to find out what a difference the best olive oil can make. This oil comes from olives hand-picked from some of the oldest olive trees in the world. The result is an oil with a rich yet delicate flavor, and we've never tasted its equal. Be sure to stock up as this makes a wonderful gift for friends and family.

25.4 fl. oz. bottle

Regular Price: $25.00
Sale Price Thru 10/31: $22.50
Promotion Code: 1001