Hi, Myriam! I'm doing OK ~ beautiful winter snowstorm for Christmas Day, and it's just gorgeous out there in the sunlight today. How's the summer going for you? :-) Pimiento pepper is a mild, dark red, heart-shaped pepper -- but it's difficult if not impossible to be sure you're getting pimiento unless you grow them yourself from seeds you ascertain as "pimiento." I know how much you As can miss your peppers! :-}

I am so sorry to hear about your type O friend's cancer. Let me clear up what I think has confused you: that passage in the Encyclopedia says: "Risk factors for colon cancer include a high meat diet and corresponding low intake of fresh fruits and vegetables." None of the ABO diets are high-meat diets and all of them are very high in fruits and vegetables -- look at type O: MEAT/POULTRY: maximum 6 ounces, 9 times per week for male secretors; VEGETABLES: unlimited beneficial veg per day, 2-5 servings per day of neutrals; FRUITS: 3-5 servings of fruit per day! He should certainly follow his type O diet, and use the protocols in the Encyclopedia. Feeling confident in the approach taken is an important element of healthy immune functioning, so let him read this and make up a regimen he feels comfortable with. If it would ease his mind, he can safely substitute beneficial fish for most or all of his flesh protein foods.

About evening primrose oil: the description lists it as a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. That is the basis for the original "avoid for Os" status. If your girls have no heavy bleeding or broken capillary problems, then I'd say EPO is fine for them as part of their "female balancing" protocol -- but let them be aware of those potential effects of EPO on Os.

If vitamin C gives your husband headaches, get a good acerola cherry or rosehip based ("food-derived") supplement. Those tend to be the best for Os in particular. Green tea and dark red & purple fruits (especially berries) are wonderful antioxidants, as well! Thank you for writing, dear, and please keep me up to date on how everyone's faring! :-D

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Cristine, you wrote some time ago ~ at that time, I wanted to wait to see if the O diet (including all the vegetables, fish, and fruits) would alleviate this problem for you. You had some big changes to make, from veg to O! Congratulations for taking the leap!! :-) Physicians often recommend giving blood for haemochromatosis patients, so from your message it appeared you were already on the right track. Could you drop me a quick note on how you're doing now? Thanks, and I look forward to hearing your report! :-D

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Hi, Anna ~ We have no listings for camellia or perilla. They have not been tested for ABO reactivity, so I can't say yea or nay to them. Please be careful when using concentrated "unknowns," OK? Monitor your reactions. Make sure the product is accomplishing what it claims without unwanted side-effects. Coix (Job's Tears) we do have a rating for: it's listed only for type Bs -- hmmm! -- so take a close look at all the other ingredients and compare them with the supplement list in the Encyclopedia ~ just to be on the safe side! :-)

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Cassie, type Os are strongly advised against the birth control pill because we, more than other types, are susceptible to heavy bleeding (much lower clotting factors!) and bleeding disorders of various kinds. The pill worsens this condition.

According to Willa Shaffer's book, "Birth Control Without Fear: Wild Yam," wild yam has proven extraordinarily effective for women of all types as a birth control agent. The book -- really more of a pamphlet -- is available on Amazon for about $4.00 and describes Ms. Shaffer's experience with this herb over many years' practice as a midwife. Worth a look, if only for a backup method.

You are right that the liver and every other organ will function better when you're following your ABO plan, but that is a GOOD thing in every sense. The alternative is to court illness!! You are much better off to continue on the O diet, no matter which birth control method you decide upon -- and you may find that you need far less of any drug to achieve the desired effect.

If your heart is set on using the Pill, have your gynecologist test you carefully for the appropriate estrogen/progesterone dosage and recheck it from time to time. Thanks for writing, Cassie -- and I hope you're well back on track for the New Year!

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Dear Pierre ~ Chlorella is great for type As. I'm not familiar with Green Germ -- is it a wheat (blé) germ and greens combination? Wheat germ is an avoid for As... if the Green Germ product contains wheat germ, I would not use it. I'm certainly glad to hear that your Doctor Renkin is providing these supplements in Belgium! Great news! Thank you for writing, and I hope you're feeling better now!

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Hi, Gary! Spirulina and blue-green algae, I can't in good conscience recommend for any type. Chlorella is perfectly fine for all types. Since you are already purchasing these substances in supplement form, may I suggest the Harmonia product available in this site's store? Two teaspoons pack a wallop of greens, fruit powders, herbs, seaweeds, flax... and it tastes good even on its own. I used to be a big consumer of Sun Chlorella, and I have switched over to Harmonia with better results. My type A guy is benefiting from it, as well. Give it a good look and see how it shapes up against what you're using now. :-)

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Hey there, rosie! I do want to suggest yoga for you, because of ALL the benefits -- including cortisol reduction, which greatly aids weight loss for As. Second, I'd like to encourage you to eat at least a small meal three or four times per day. That way, your metabolism will be supported throughout the day, and your body won't assume a starvation mode and hold on to that fat. Try a snack in the morning, your main meal as a late lunch, and a snack later on, if that's easier for you. Let me know how that works for you!

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Annie, I can't think of anything you're missing by avoiding whey supplements. They're just one of thousands of supps promoted very convincingly by people who sell them. If you look around your local supp shop, you'll see that all those products are marketed to everybody. That's true of 99% of the diet/health books as well. And that's what sets Peter's work apart from the others. I'm not familiar with the ingredients of "Greens+," so please read the label carefully and compare it with your type A food/supp list -- then you'll have solid information on whether to take it. For the most part, I urge people to make their own supplements by juicing/blending whole foods, but if you're more comfortable purchasing a greens supp, please consider Harmonia. It's a great product, and I can recommend it knowing it will do you no harm! thanks, dear!! :-)

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Hello, Laurie! Good question!! Generally, a deficiency will show itself as such when & if you add to your diet what you were missing. An allergy or intolerance will start bugging you when you add new foods that you're as yet unable to digest or to which your immune system has already been sensitized.

You've figured out you had a vitamin B deficiency, which is a big step. The patch on your face may improve with more water (mineral water as well) and beneficial oil in your diet. Also: monitor it for change an hour after each meal. If it shows a flare-up of redness, itchiness or size after a given meal, try eliminating all items in that meal from your diet for a period of one week. Then add one item at a time and see if you can nail down which item caused the trouble.

The dry patch could be the result of a hormone fluctuation, inadequate hydration, even a reaction to your shampoo, toothpaste or moisturizer. Do you use the Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail described in Eat Right? I'd try it, and see if that dry patch goes away in a few days.

Weight loss doesn't always happen in the same time frame on each try. The body tends toward homeostasis, and with successive attempts to lose weight, the results may be slower to appear. Don't be discouraged! Get plenty of dark greens and beneficial proteins & fruit in your diet, and consider pepping up your exercise routine. Let me suggest a little something that may appeal to you -- take a look at the Five Tibetan Rites ~~ it's a remarkable body-balancer, and confers benefits far out of proportion to

the few minutes it takes to perform. Keep at it, and let me know how you're doing!

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Greetings, Sarah ~ Go to the TYPEbase3 database and enter wheat as your search term. Remember to hit the search button - the "enter" key doesn't work on that page. You'll see the food status of all the wheat items there. Great wheatless recipes can be found in their thousands all over the Net. I'm not sure which dishes you're trying to make, so I suggest using the search engine www.alltheweb.com/advanced with the search terms "wheat-free" "wheatless" "celiac" and/or the food you want a recipe for, like "bread" or "cake" or "bagel." Bookmark the sites you like! You'll also find cookbooks listed from bookstores. Enjoy your research!! :-)

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Karin, you can write any time, and I will listen with all my heart! I'll also try to help you with your challenges. First, focus on the beneficial foods on your B diet, and do it as strictly as you can. Alone, it should provide some relief soon. Stick to the fresh and dried fish for now, rather than the smoked fishes. Chocolate is a neutral, as is cocoa powder, but watch out for corn sweeteners in your chocolate. Sugar-sweetened is better, and homemade hot chocolate from organic (biologic) bitter chocolate with vegetable glycerine or molasses added is better still! :-)

This diet certainly will help you get the upper hand with lupus -- and you wrote a while ago that you have the Encyclopedia as well, so you have the best tools right in your hands. How is it going with the protocols?

Did the German naturopathic doctor offer to refer you to a colleague? If not, call his office again and ask for a referral. How are your symptoms now?

From my reading http://www.healthanswers.com.au/drugdata/appco/00070432.asp on chloroquin (or "chlorquin" or "chloroquine"), I conclude that your doctor chose this drug as an anti-inflammatory. It has side effects -- please read that link to learn more about it. Most webpages on this drug are in German, so I assume it is more commonly given there than here in the U.S., and if you do a search for "chloroquin" and "lupus," you'll find a great number of German-language sites to read, too. There are many other powerful anti-inflammatory substances such as quercetin (available cheaply as a supplement) bromelain (from pineapple - often sold in combination with quercetin), which are safe to take at high dosages -- as well as the protocol supps which you're using now.

I wrote a column for a type A woman with lupus: it may be of help to you! Substitute turkey, goat, lamb or venison (on the bone) for the chicken in the recipe, and use it and the broth as mentioned in that column -- it's here, and don't forget the Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail: a tablespoon of flax oil, a tablespoon of lecithin granules, and eight ounces of the fruit juice of your choice (I suggest pineapple, black cherry, one or both, mixed with cranberry), shaken or blended.

QUESTION FOR READERS: Anyone have a good lupus support group to recommend to Karin, either in English or German? Please write in and let us know!! Karin, I'll pass on to you any suggestions received! Take good care, dear -- I'm thinking of you!

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Yes, if your previous diet was fairly avoid-laden, you may have an adjustment period in which you feel a bit sluggish and need more sleep. It will certainly pass ~ your entire physiology is cleaning out the old toxins and doing much-needed repair work throughout. Drinking a good quantity of pure water every day, and attending to your B-type exercises, will hasten the entire process and set you up for a spectacular New Year! As I noted to Laurie, above, the Five Tibetan Rites might appeal to you. The Encyclopedia also contains specific metabolic-enhancing protocols to speed the process. Marian, give it a little "tincture of time," and see how you progress over a month or two. You will see an upswing in energy soon, I'm sure! Keep in touch!! :-)

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Hi, Ed ~ Here's a column I wrote in which I discussed the coffee change for ABs ~ take a look, and write back if you still have questions! Thanks! :-D

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Hey there, Mike ~ There is a phenomenon people often experience when they attain a goal they have sought and hoped for over a long time. I don't know if this is the case with you, but after so many months or years of focusing on weight loss, once the problem is solved, it can leave an odd kind of emptiness in its wake. Like, OK, I did it! It's done! ... uh... now what?

That said, are you getting at least 100 grams of protein in a day's meals? I'd call that a minimum to maintain healthy neurotransmitter function (among many other things). Also, the servings you quoted apply to the whole meat/poultry list, not only to red meat. These are from Eat Right, correct? Ooooh, I think I've got some enlivening news for you: in Live Right 4 Your Type, the portion/frequency for this category in the AB diet has increased. And I note many items that are neutral or beneficial there for you: lamb... rabbit... turkey... ostrich... pheasant... for nonsecretors, quail and venison are neutral... That's only a smidgeon of the vast new information contained in it. Worth a look! Write back with your personal review! and I hope this helps perk up your mood! :-) By the way, CONGRATULATIONS on your great achievement!!! It may be a little old hat to you, but it's thrilling for me! EnJoy it!! :-D

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Yes! That column can be easily adapted to type AB, with great results. First, turkey instead of chicken; then go through it and adjust the fruits and herbs toward the beneficial for her. Walnut & olive instead of sesame oil. And be sure to tell her about my favorite exercise site, in the first paragraph of that column: the Royal Canadian Air Force's 5BX pages. I can't tell you how great it is for anyone, at any fitness level, as a mild and brief daily routine which will take you from wherever you are to where you never thought you'd get to. You gotta try it to appreciate it!!

What a good friend you are, Kirsten. :-} Let me know how she does. And take good care of YOU, too! :-D

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Wondering what it is?

(UK, Ozzie, Canuck & Kiwi folks may want to skip this part! ;-D)

December 26 is Boxing Day (St. Stephen's Day), a bank holiday for Great Britain (with the exception of Scotland), Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. If the day falls on a weekend, the holiday is observed on the following Monday.

When I first heard of Boxing Day, I envisioned a Dickensian England in which the day after Christmas was set aside for pugilist sporting events ~ sort of a get-together-with-the-family on the 25th then work-off-all-that-anxiety-and-aggression-with-a-punch-fest on the 26th sort of thing. ~:-D Wrong! Not that kind of "box." ;->

The traditional celebration was a charitable one ~ gifts were customarily proffered to charities, the poor, and service people like lamplighters and mailmen. The holiday is quite old, probably beginning in the early Middle Ages, and its origin seems to lie in the custom of the church to distribute the contents of alms boxes to the poor on the day after Christmas, and in the English nobility's 'gift boxes' to servants on that day.

In whatever way it is celebrated around the world today, I think it's a very sensible and highly civilized practice to have the day after Christmas as a holiday ~ wish the U.S. did the same! ;-)

So, in memory of happy times in London, I'm taking a tiny holiday of my own on this Boxing Day ~~ to greet some old acquaintances who have stopped in to say hello ~ and to drop a note or two on how to "stay in touch" with this column & each other!

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Good to hear you are back, Heidi. Boy, you sure had a strange farm! Different than any dairy farm I ever worked on. Just kidding around, glad to hear about the new column. Take no diet prisoners. Blaine

LOL! Strange when I describe it, eh? 'Zat what yer trying to tell me? ;-> s'alright... I'll bet the farm was quite normal, until I arrived. What a life it is, eh? Do you miss it? Incredibly hard work, but daily rewards straight from the earth and sky. It's like a dream of magic for me, a mythical time imagined in childhood ~ a haunting reminiscence throughout my life.

Oh, and thank you for yesterday's Christmas & New Year wishes! Please give my love to your family and I dearly hope you all are prospering! [p.s.: you've got a Q in the queue which I have not forgotten. Coming soon! ;-D]

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Hello Heidi: Your column is great. You and I have corresponded on the message board over the years - I am AN, the Armchair Nutritionist - also aka Content Police (way, way back). Anyhow, I have just come across a fascinating study published several years ago in Scientific American regarding "Corn Caused Disease Among Native Americans". An abstract of the article is available at the Dr. Mercola web site at http://www.mercola.com/2000/june/3/corn.htm. This may be old news, but I wanted to pass it on to you and Peter. Regards. Roy

Roy, great to hear from you! Thanks for the link to that article... quite an eye-opener. I'm posting it link here for anyone who hasn't read it -- well worth it, folks!

Lord, your message takes me back to the glory days of the old boards... Hey, what about "Spelling Police," "Grammar Police," et al.? We ran SUCH a clean shop, lol! Remember when sean did that perfect parody of my posts, and signed it Captain Kangaroo? I can still feel the bruise where I fell off my chair laughing. What a bunch. Everything from mages to mice ~ sheesh, we could have transfered the whole crowd direct to a medieval castle without missing a beat.

Wonder where the thaumaturges all flew off to? Write back with a map... :-D

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Hi Heidi, I sent you a Xmas email but it bounced back - I guess you are no longer using SouthLodge@operamail.com If you feel like emailling, it would be great to hear from you. Merry Xmas and all the best, Deb

:-) Hi, Deb! FYI, I'm at helpinghand@emsmail.net ~ Email on its way, and a very joyous holiday to you!!

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So good to hear from you again. Seems like a much more efficient use of your time. I guessed that you are a Renaissance Woman, but your bio confirmed it. You have always been so kind and helpful to me. I look forward to the new addition to the website. I have been trying to start my own website on breast cancer coping-- breastcancercoping.org, but don't know how to do it, tried myself with programs and couldn't do it, and the friends that were to help didn't come through. Getting to the point that I'll just have to pay someone to do it. All I wanted it for is to post some of my writings, some of the research from the listserve Amazon on alterntive treatments and breast cancer and links--Dr. D being a big one! Looking forward to hearing from you--Keep up the good work. Fondly Marilyn

Hi, Sweetie! Hang in there, I'm sure there's a way to do this. Hey, can anyone here help Marilyn with her website? She is a breast cancer survivor, devout warrior in the holistic cause, and a purely wonderful person ~ any web-savvy folks out there who could help get her coping pages up & running on the Net? Drop us a line, I'll pass it along!

Marilyn, take care and keep the light shining ~ love you!

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Would it be possible to organise Dr D'Adamo's, your & Dr Bron's column in date order or be able to search by date. I log in to your site everyday at work but don't work weekends & it takes a while to locate the missing days. Just a thought!! Helen

Well, it's secretly organized that way already. There's a trick to it and here's the trick: When you log in on a Monday, go to the column page and choose "list all topics." The first two at the top will be Saturday's and Sunday's. You can check this by hovering your mouse pointer over each link -- look at the bottom left corner of your browser. There you'll see the name of the link -- and the last four digits are the month & day of that column entry. Ta-Da! :-D Hope this helps keep you caught up, Helen! Thanks for the note!!

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Hello Heidi! When will the message board archives be available for searching again? I finally got around to making fresh ginger juice last night and wanted to find all the posts about how much to take and when. Thanks! Dianne

:-} I haven't yet come up with a message board solution that doesn't cost hugely in bandwidth. Still trying... we'll revisit this problem in the new year and make a concerted effort to solve it. :-} Maybe I'm a bit late for that batch of ginger juice, but start with 1/2 teaspoon in the morning before breakfast. At first it seems fiery hot, but the "burn" won't hurt you. Work your way up slowly to a tablespoon if desired. Some folks fell so in love with GJ that they slurp a bit of it before each meal. Let me know how you do, and thanks for the MB reminder!! :-D

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Hi Heidi, Early on after the demise of the message board, I went to the website: http://www.er4yt.homestead.com/index.html In regard to the chat room there, I don't understand it. What are you supposed to do? Is there really a chat room there? Phil

We do still have a chat room there, but you'd want to schedule a chat with others in order to get together at the same time. See below for an option at the BTD-UK board! thanks, Phil!!

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Dear Heidi, Peter and Martha are so blessed to have you helping them out with your Q & A column, and so are we. Thank you so very much for all you do to encourage and help all who visit the site. God bless you! Mary

Oh, Mary, I'm the one blessed by doing it, in too many ways to tell. It is so wonderful to hear from you!! Don't be a stranger ~ A brilliant New Year to you, my friend! *:-D

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^Heidi^! Guess I have been gone from the program for too long. What happened to the message board? My husband and I fell off the diet and decided last night that we get back on track full force today! Needed some inspiration from everyone darn it. Janet

Whoops! Hey there, Janet ~~ I highly, highly recommend Tom Greenfield's BTD-UK board ~ it's for everyone including us Yanks, and I hope you find a new home there in a community of kind, talkative and brilliant people ~ HERE it is! Pop it into your Favorites, and here's the link to copy & paste if desired: http://groups.msn.com/er4ytUK/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-gb

Enjoy, dear ~ and keep in touch!!

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that goes for everyone, by the way! and... Happy Boxing Day!! :-D

What is the "most common" blood type? -- Darlene



The most common ABO type worldwide would be O, followed closely by A, then B, and AB. Taking several blood-type systems into account, it is most likely that type O+ secretor MN males are the most numerous group ~ and type A2B- nonsecretor NN females the least numerous. :-)



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Dear Heidi, For soaking beans is it ok to use unfiltered tap water or is it better to soak them in mineral water if you're serious about minimising toxins? Or do you think it's worth buying a good water filter for this purpose? I don't know whether water filters can filter out all the hormones and chemicals in tap water. Very confused. Olympia.

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Hello, and thanks for a great column. Do you have any info on home water filtration systems? We are considering the purchase of a catalytic/magnetic system to prevent calcium scale buildup, and a system using KDF material. Have heard that RO systems may not be safe, although they are ? the only ones that will remove fluouride. Andrew Weil uses a distilled system, but we once put distilled water in our fish tank, and we had to do CPR with tap water to revive the fish! Like your upbeat approach. Ann



Hi, Ladies ~ I'm no expert on water filtration systems. I'd think the first step would be to get your tap water tested by your local authority. You may find your water is quite good, and needs only a perfunctory filter. I would at least use a charcoal filter for water used in preparing food and a run-of-the-mill filter for shower or bath water, and consider more expensive means of purification if an assay proved it necessary. Distilled water would be fine for soaking beans, but not for one's regular drinking water. (Wow, Ann! Close brush with death for those fish!) Generally speaking: the livelier your water, the livelier you will be. Clean spring, well or mineral water are the best for drinking. Beyond that, I can offer only my best wishes to everyone in organizing your various home filtration needs!



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Hello Heidi, Can you please tell us the proper way to make ghee? Dr D gave a recipe in May of 2000, and he never said anything about having to strain it. Since then I have seen on ER sites that straining is necessary, so I wonder if I am doing it wrong. Please advise, and thank you. theresa



Well, I don't strain mine. The brown bits stick to the bottom of the pan almost without exception ~ if you wish to use cheesecloth to strain it, you can, but you sacrifice a bit of ghee to the cloth that way. There is no requirement that you strain it ~ just that it cook until the water is gone (use the paper strip method: dip the strip into the ghee and light it over the sink. If it sputters, keep cooking the ghee and test again until it does not). I skim the foam from the top while cooking. Other than that, it's a matter of trial and error. Don't be concerned about doing it wrong ~ just keep an eye on it so that it does not burn, and remove from the heat once it passes the strip test. :-)



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And a very merry Christmas Eve to all! :-)



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Hello Heidi! I don't know if you remember me from the message board, but I was the one who often commented on the home environment, and like you, I'm an O non secretor. First I want to tell you what a fabulous job you're doing with the column. I can't imagine how TIME consuming this must be for you, but it's obvious you put your heart and soul into it. We are all so fortunate to have your help and talents so easily accessible (and fun to read, too!). You're an amazing researcher. Here's my question: Like many O's, learning to cook meat has been a real experience. After years of learning how to cook and present gorgeous, tasty grain based meals, I still feel like I'm still in the middle of a huge learning curve with preparing meat. I'm not very good at it, and could use some help. I only buy grass fed organic beef (as an O non secretor trying to eat beneficials, I mostly eat beef, and once in awhile lamb or venison). Besides choosing grass-fed organic, what's the HEALTHIEST, EASIEST way to cook beef? I almost always resort to stove top pan grilling a rib eye steak in some ghee, but I've heard that it's healthier to cook meat slowly, in water. Do you agree? If so, how can one achieve medium or rare by cooking slowly? Got any really handy tips for the meat-cooking-impaired? I don't ever use non stick by the way, as it's plastic and does break down. Thanks for your suggestions. Best, Mary

Of course I remember you, Mary! it's most kind of you to pile such compliments on me, but really I'm still just the receptionist/librarian around here, as always! ;-)

There are a multitude of healthy ways to cook meat, but only a few unhealthy ways, so I'll start by talking about how not to do it: don't char it. "No" to blackened, burned bits on the outside of the meat and attached fat (if any). Light brown marks from grilling are fine, but deep brown/black burn marks aren't. This applies as well to pan-frying as it does to grilling: lower the heat and cook a bit longer if you'd like the meat cooked through.

Second, don't cook meat in oil or butter/ghee that is smoking and browning.

Some of the recommendations we've offered over the years are: eliminate surface bacteria by setting the steak into a pot of just enough boiling water to cover, turning off the heat and leaving it there for 10 minutes before proceeding to cook it in whatever way you'd like. For ground meat, mix in a tablespoon or two of black cherry juice per pound of meat as an "instant antioxidant." These are excellent safety measures. That said, I don't generally use them because I get my meat from a highly reputable and very fastidious butcher who cuts and/or grinds it right before my eyes.... and maybe I like to live dangerously! ;-)

Now, Mary, no matter what you say, I know you're not "cooking impaired." :-) But, I'll mention the basic parameters on a couple of easy, healthy ways to do it: quickly sear chunks or slices of meat in a bit of oil or ghee, spice as you wish, then add broth, some red wine, and fill up with chopped vegetables and herbs to make a stew. Slow cook all day (a crock pot helps!). For ground meat, saute the onions with any other hard veg (like broccoli, kale, etc.), add the meat and some liquid - broth or tomato sauce or wine - and simmer till it's at the consistency you like.

That's about it for my cooking tips, since (*blush*) Bryan has taken over virtually all the cooking in the house! He LOVES to cook, and I am MOST pleased to have him do it! Gee, maybe I should have him write a column on cooking for an O and A nonsecretor household? :-)

Anyway, as space allows, I hope this is helpful, Mary ~ stay strong, dear, and keep smiling!! :-D

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Congratulations on your informative and caring column! I am an O non secretor. My question is on foods that are usually avoids, but which could possibly be OK if sprouted. For example, I know wheat sprouts and wheatgrass work for Os. But what about soy sprouts? Barley sprouts? Sunflower sprouts? I know some sprouts are definitely avoids, because of alfalfa. I'd like to know as much as possible about what avoids become OK when sprouted, and which (BOO!) stay avoids. Is there a general principle, or does it vary from one food to another? genie

Hello, genie, and thanks! I am TOTALLY in tune with your love of sprouts, and I wish I had more ratings to give you. Basically, I can say that any sprouted grain is going to be fine and possibly beneficial for all types. Sprouted corn is an "unknown," but I suspect it may be OK for most people (probably not us O-nons, sorry to say). Almonds and other OK nuts can be sprouted a bit, of course, although they don't yield much in the way of greens! but beans are really a mixed bag, as you've observed, and seeds appear to share that ambiguity. You know what? I wonder if we'd be safe eating ONLY the sprout part of the sprouted "avoid" bean or seed, after removing all the bean/seed bits -- *sigh.* Probably not. :-} Fact is, we're probably a lot better off without them. :-( I'm detecting in you what I still have a touch of: that A-itis ~ you know, those cravings for living on grass, nuts, seeds & twigs? :-) Seriously, sprouting is a great pursuit and produces wonderful food, but until a specific bean/seed sprout is tested, I'll have to say, "pass" on those. I do hope this fills in some blanks for you, genie ~ thanks for the Q! :-)

(more tomorrow! :-))

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Hi, We live in the Southwest and love mexican food. Hubby is A and I am O. Was looking for tomatillos on the Typebase and couldn't find them. Can you tell me if they are legal for us to eat? Thanks much. Lori



Hi, Lori! Here's what I wrote on October 8 to a question from a type A woman: "We have no rating for tomatillos. It is a member of the nightshade family, like tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant... so I suspect tomatillos would be fine for types O and AB, but avoid for type A and B secretors (and neutral for A and B nonsecretors). That's my best recommendation based on the patterns of food types in the lists." For a type O, again based on the reasoning above (specifically its similarity to tomatoes), I would not hesitate to use it as a neutral food if you have no autoimmune conditions, joint problems, or skin disorders ~ unless you have a specific sensitivity to tomatoes and/or peppers. :-}

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Hi! In Dr. Adamo's Blood type AB Food, Beverage and supplement lists (Berkley, Jan.2002) paperback ed. page 32 lists loganberry as highly beneficial, whereas pg. 33 has it among that which should be avoided. Pg.43 says aloe is an immune system booster, but pg.45 lists it to be avoided. Pg.60 cayenne to be used for nausea, yet pepper (all type* is to be avoided (Pg. 37), because it is acidic. Can you please address. THANKS Gloria



Hello, Gloria! Here are the correct listings from TYPEbase 3 for AB: aloe - avoid; loganberry - beneficial; cayenne - avoid. That said, a little cayenne in tea is indeed effective against nausea ~ but not to be used regularly as a spice, nor during pregnancy as a daily nausea remedy. :-)



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There are some food stuffs in the book which appear to be contradictory and which puzzle me such as:-



1. Cabbage - under Vegetables etc - avoid. under Juices - neutral.

2. Broad beans - under Vegetabkles etc. - avoid. - under Beans and Pulses - neutral.

3. Durum Wheat Bread - under Breads etc - avoid Durum Wheat Flour - under grains etc - neutral.



I would much appreciate your explanations. Ralph



Hi, Ralph! Well, I skimmed through several, but I can't be sure which book you're referring to. It could be any one of the eight... could you pop me a note back and direct me to the book you found these items in -- and which blood type's food list? Thanks so much!



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I'm confused about potatoes for type Os. In LR4YT potatoes are listed as one of the worst red flag avoid foods. However, in the vegetable food list potatoes are listed as a tier two avoid. I don't understand how an item can be both a red flag avoid and a tier two avoid. Please explain. I searched the LR4YT errata page and didn't find any clarification on this issue. Thanks! Don



Hey there, Don! The potato lectin is a red flag ~ for all Os except secretors who have no inflammatory problems, no joint trouble, no extra weight, no other health difficulties at all related to diet. For those healthy folks, we say "it may be considered neutral" because that is the most practical way in which to communicate this seeming anomaly to the small percentage of Os who digest it without trouble ~ always secretors, and never those with the conditions listed above. This is a case in which the subtypes fully come into play in regard to reactivity -- further, even a good percentage of secretors cannot eat this food, and it is difficult to pin down the exact differences between them that makes this so. Potato lectin has a profoundly different effect for Os who do not fall into that group, thus its continuing "red flag" status. :-)



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In some of your receipes you call for spelt flour, but there are different types of spelt flours? In one of your receipes you call for using goats cheese for part of the icing, but what kind? Sandra



Ah! Well, I'd use whole spelt for recipes in which whole wheat would make an acceptable texture. For all else, I'd go with white spelt flour. The best goat cheese for the icing would be a soft, very mild variety with no herbs or other additions. :-D



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Your mention of organic eggs made me think of another question I have had on my mind for some time now. What is the difference between free roaming and organically produced eggs? Are free roaming produced eggs better for your health then regular eggs? If so, are the free roaming produced eggs adequate for good health or are organically produced eggs an important additional quality? Thanks! Don



Free roaming hens pick & choose what they eat from their environment. Bugs, seeds, dirt, etc. ~ including whatever feed is scattered for them, organically-produced or full of pesticides and potentially GMO. They are unlikely to need antibiotics, since they are not kept crowded together in disease-breeding pens. Organically-fed hens are not exposed to pesticides through their food or water, but lots of questions as to their living conditions are unanswered by the term "organically-fed." So, it's important to the quality of the eggs that both of these conditions be met in order to ensure a healthy & happy chicken ~ and that no hormones or antibiotics are used to raise her. Finally, the fresher the egg, the better; if you can obtain yours from a local farmer, you both will reap the rewards.



On a personal note, I can report that my digestive system discriminates loudly between the happy chicken's egg and the alternative, so it is not at all an esoteric matter for me! An enteric matter instead, you might say... as well as a philosophic one, as I abominate factory farming, fully support local farm commerce, and care tremendously about the quality of life provided to food animals. As more of us adopt a similar attitude, the benefits will multiply in ways seen and unseen. Don, thanks for writing! :-D



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I wonder if you can tell me if the South American herb stevia is okay for any or all blood types? I tend to use this in place of sugar, to cut down on my sugar intake naturally, and would like to know if it's okay. Carol



Greetings, Carol! To check the status of a food, just go to http://www.dadamo.com/typebase/typebase.cgi ~~ and remember to hit the “search” button. . . the keyboard “enter” key does not work on this particular form. Also, consider the use of vegetable glycerine. There are a number of columns in which it is discussed, so scroll down to the bottom of this page, enter "glycerine" and have a good read! :-D



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Hi, I am a little confused as I find some discrepancies between the book eat4your type and the food, beverage and supplement lists that "supposedly" comes from the book, e.g. fruits highly beneficial book mentions figs, plums and prunes, the list mentions banana, guava and mango among the others, herbal teas book mentions highly beneficial 13 teas, lists mentions in this same section green tea as highly beneficial but not in the book, so which one should I follow the book or the list, please do clarify me this doubt. thanks, paola



Buon giorno, paola! Here’s a paragraph from the “On the Diet” column on August 12, 2002:



FOUND CONTRADICTIONS between the various books' food lists? The latest ones (in Live Right 4 Your Type, the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia and the Food, Beverage & Supplement Lists (these "Little Books" are secretor non-specific)) should be used. ALSO check the official change log at www.dadamo.com/lr4yter.html for the most recent updates -- at a later date, an update area for all the recent books will be created.



You can read that column at

http://www.dadamo.com/columns/begin/ask2.pl?20020812.txt ~



The TYPEbase 3 database at http://www.dadamo.com/typebase/typebase.cgi contains ALL latest updated food values for secretors & nonsecretors.



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again, a warm thank-you to all!!

Do products using texturized soy protein--the fake "meats"--get categorized with other soy products? Joe



Hey there, Joe! Those faux meat products are highly processed foods, and have fairly numerous ingredients (often including wheat), so can't be put under any one category. Read the labels carefully, and evaluate each component against your food list. :-) thanks for your note!



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Hello Heidi, the column is looking very good. >I'd ask the nurse at your medico's office what diagnostic lab they use. Then, phone the lab. Get the procedure, costs and request forms for the tests you want, then take that information to your doc or clinic.< I saw your advice above to my compatriot. It caused me a moment of wry amusement. You may know we have a publicly funded national health service here: we pay for the whole thing through taxes & never have to pay a single penny up front for treatment, nor take out insurance. This is really excellent if you have some serious illness. The down side is, treatment is rationed, we have very little choice over what doctor we see, and no way would a general practitioner (family physician) order blood tests unless he or she thought them necessary. ie, we cannot order up tests ourselves in the manner you suggest. The only way to get such a test would be to arrange it privately outside the National Health service, but I suspect one might not need to go via a doctor at all. I am posting a link to that column on Tom's site, Tom will be able to give advice (and probably does the tests himself). Sarah



LOL! Sarah, I'm glad you still think the column looks good! ~:-D Yes, I assumed Olympia would have to step outside the National Health system, but I'm fascinated to learn from you if it is possible to order a test such as the serotype panel she sought without getting it via a doctor. Any walk-in laboratories in the UK? Thanks for your note ~ it took me back many years to my first summer in London, and the astonishing sight of groups of women in full purdah and jewelled metal masks, sweeping along the pavements. A friend told me it was quite common for people to take a summer holiday there, stay long enough to satisfy the requirements of the National Health, get their medical needs seen to, then return home. I've lived in New York for many years, and never seen a thing to rival it. *sigh.* Lovely place you have there! :-}



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Hi Heidi, My Blood Type is O and I would like to know how many times per day I may eat meat and/or fish and the amounts. Thank you. Jane



That's difficult to answer without knowing your height & weight, activity level... secretor status would help, too! And it's not just any old meat or fish, although I think you're probably aware of that. At least one 2-5 ounce serving per day for women is a VERY general guideline ~ hope this helps! :-)



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For whom is rooibos tea ok? Nice site, but I couldn't find the tea info. Thanks. Marie



Hello, Marie ~ Follow this link to a column I wrote in June of 2002 ~ and scroll down near the end to follow the links contained therein! :-D



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As recommended by my family physician, I tried the blood type diet (I am Type O). I always thought my diet was alright, calorie wise, but could not loose weight (I only need to loose 10-15 pounds). My diet did consist of mostly proteins, but also a modest amount of dairy and wheat. Well, I did the diet for three days and had diarrhea for three days! When I added the dairy and wheat back, the diarrhea stopped. It seems that every Type O meal I eat, it is followed by diarrhea. What am I doing wrong, or is there a supplement that I am missing? I would really like to make this diet work! Thank you! Deborah



Hmmm... Questions for you: Which book are you using? What did you eat on the three days? Which foods did you not eat that you're accustomed to? Diarrhea can be a very good sign that your new diet is allowing the bowels to get rid of a lot of old impacted matter ~ it can also be an indication of food allergy or other reactions too numerous to mention here. Deborah, could you write back and tell me more about all this? Many thanks, and I look forward to a bit more info so I can get a better idea of the trouble. :-)



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And: A note for Clark, on his search for 100% buckwheat soba noodles: EDEN makes them, so check your local HFS or largish supermarket ~ thanks go to Lily and Maddy, for the tip! ~:-D



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Seed of sun in the womb of winter: red berry bright on snow-bent bough. In blackest sorrow, hope's fierce fire.



A brilliant Winter Solstice to all!

Hi! Thanks for your column. I'm trying to do 2 things at one time: live right 4 my type and reverse diabetes (pursuant to Dr Julian Whitaker's book, _Reversing Diabetes_. The RD program prefers fish oil to flaxseed oil as a supplemental source of omega-3 fatty acids, because "ALA [alpha-linolenic acid] has already been converted to the more useful EPA [eicosapentaenoic acid] and DHA [docosahexaenoic acid]". However, LR4YT lists flaxseed oil as beneficial for Os (that would be "moi") and fish oil as neutral. Does the alleged conversion advantage justify my taking fish oil instead of flaxseed oil? At the moment, trying to keep a "foot in both camps", I'm alternating both! Thanks for your insight. Shay

Good idea, Shay! Taking both is fine, and that goes for any other neutral food which you want to use for specific purposes. It's only the avoids I'd stay away from! :-)

Hi, Heidi! Suppose an O-type person wanted to eat 8 ounces of protein a day, 4 ounces for lunch and 4 ounces for supper. What would be the relative value of eating beef (beneficial) at both meals versus eating beef at one meal and rotating among poultry, fish, and an equivalent amount of soy-based nutrition bars and/or drinks, all neutral but with a variety of nutrients different from beef and with less cholesterol? Thanks for your column. Shay

Well, rotating foods is certainly the way to go. However, there are only so many meals in a day or week, so I'd be inclined to choose beneficial protein sources (and vegetables, etc., naturally) over neutrals -- especially when resolving a health issue -- and in the case of type O, flesh proteins rather than plant proteins. Remember that high serum cholesterol is not caused by eating foods containing cholesterol -- 90% that cholesterol is produced in the liver, and hypercholesterolemia is a result of eating the wrong foods, which impacts all the organs of the body. The concern over beef's cholesterol level is one of those food pyramid boondoggles we BTD'ers can discard with assurance!

I do support your desire to vary your protein meals and ensure an optimal variety of nutrients... but the beneficials will certainly cover all needs in that department. I suggest a melange of meats and fish, with eggs, nuts, seeds and nutritional yeast for good measure. Shay, let me know how it's going with defeating that diabetes, and many thanks for your messages!!

~:-D

Liver is a food that enocourages weitht loss on Type O diets. Does it matter where the liver comes from? Beef? Pork? Chicken? Is one better than the other? Are prepared liverwurst products such as Underwood Lieverwurst Spread acceptable? Delores

Hi, Delores ~ Liver from animals whose meat is beneficial is a bit better than liver from the 'neutral animals.' If the meat is an avoid, the liver is an avoid (pork, for instance). About prepared products: compare the ingredients on the label with your food list... although fresh is usually much better than a mixed canned product. Thanks for your message! :-)

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Should I take something to replace no spleen? I am O positive, age 73 female in good health except I am never without sinus drainage. Allegra affected my eyesight. I got some relief from the Sinus Health Protocal for the four weeks. How often can one repeat the Protocals? I have been on the O diet about 90% of the time for almost two years and friends and relatives have bought the books. -- Louvena

Hello, Louvena! You can certainly repeat a protocol a couple of weeks after finishing one. Have you tried eliminating grain and dairy completely for a week or two, in order to see if the sinus drainage might be triggered by a reaction to one or more of those foods? Try it: it might take some of the burden off your immune system.

The functions of the spleen are to clear old red blood cells and platelets from the blood, and to produce antibodies to fight bacterial infections, especially those caused by pneumococcus or other similar types of bacteria. The best advice I can give is to use the Immune-Enhancing protocol in the Encyclopedia, take the Deflect-O supplement regularly, and consider getting the Pneumovax vaccine if your doctor offers it. Please write back and let me know how you're doing!

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Help! I'm type O and BTD really suits me. Two queries: Can I eat soya yogurt AND Is it OK to carry out coffee enemas? Many thanks for your help. Sarah

Hey there, Sarah ~ Soy yogurt with OK ingredients is fine for type O secretors. If you have any health concerns (such as constipation), I would tend to stay away from soy until you discover the cause of the problem. We don't encourage regular use of enemas, simply because the diet is more effective (and less costly and/or time consuming) at ensuring good digestion & elimination. Try two tablespoons of flax soaked for 10 or 15 minutes in a little water, taken an hour or two before bedtime ~ and get your exercise! it's key for the robust functioning of ALL the organs! Hope this helps!! :-D

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Hi Heidi. Approximately 4 years ago I started the O type diet and lost 60 lbs quite effortlessly. {A side bar. I'm 5'3" and when I started weighted 225 pounds. The weight loss took me to 165 which is still about 30 pounds over what I wanted to weigh, but not matter what I did I couldn't seem to lose any more by eating O type.} I kept the weight off for 3 years, and was quite sure I'd never gain it back, however last Christmas, I let down my O type guard, and ate whatever I wanted for a month and a half. Consequently I put on 20 -25 pounds very quickly. Yikes!!I have since been faithfully eating O type again but have not been able to lose the weight . This time, I have been taking all the supplements on the web site for O. The basic pack plus catechol, fucus plus and licorice. This additional 25 pounds puts me about 50 pounds overweight. It's quite depressing. Any suggestions on how to get things jump started?

Another equally challenging thing has been the arrival of hot flashes for the last year. They are so uncomfortable! I've been taking the black cohosh and maca root that is recommended for seniors in Live Right for Your Type. (I'm 49). It hasn't helped. For about 8 months I used progesterone cream but it's effectiveness wore off. Do you have any idea what might help. I've thought I might order the aromastate on the site. Have you heard if it is helpful for hot flashes? Thanks for your time. - Debra

Hello, Debra ~~ Hmmm... How's the exercise going? The last ten pounds or so may take a bit longer to get rid of, but exercise makes all the difference in the changes in your appearance -- the scales may be a bit sluggish to move, but your measurements will continue to reduce more easily with exercise than without. It also is very helpful in controlling appetite, a vital concern around this dangerous time of year! :-D

Aromastat may be of use to you, and it is worth a try. Look into Rhodiola rosea as well -- it can be highly effective for resolving hot flashes, according to several Os who've mentioned it to me. I think a two-pronged approach involving the Female Balancing protocol from the Encyclopedia and exercise (the extra weight can be a secret but major culprit in hormonal distresses) would be best to get the job(s) done. Keep in touch! ~:-D

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And ~ a word from an experienced woman on feeding Verna's grandson!

Re: Verna's Grandson I am always happy for babies who are breastfed, especially long-term breastfeeding. I breastfed all four of my children each for 3-plus years and I had some experience with LaLeche League. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding , "the definitive guide" to breastfeeding by La Leche League , recommends that the addition of solids should be delayed for at least 6 months or longer for these reasons. ( page 232, 6th revised edition)First, you want to maintain your milk supply. The more solids the baby ingests, the less milk he will take at the breast. A growing baby needs more of the perfect food, not less!! Also the decrease in breast milk means a decrease in protective antibodies the baby receives. Another reason to delay solid foods is that the younger the baby, the more likely the food will cause allergy. The baby may be be on the large size, but that doesn't necessarily mean that his digestive system is mature enough for solids. A good indication of whether he is ready for solids is the development of teeth. (not just the erruption of that first little front bottom tooth at around 5-6 months--you can't chew much with that) Along with the development of teeth, the mouth muscles develop the cooridination necessary to move food around and the tongue gains the ability to move food to the back and swallow. A baby who has to be propped up and spooned mushed food, repeatedly, as the stuff keeps oozing out of the mouth does not have that coordination and readiness of his mouth. Watch your baby for readiness to feed solids, not the scale or the calendar. In addition to teeth and mouth coordination, grabbing for food, enjoying the food he manages to get into his mouth, his appetite will grow , demanding to be nursed more frequently. If this appetite increase lasts for more than four or five days, he is greater that 6 months old, and has developed teeth, then he is ready. I encourage the mother of Verna's grandson to keep on breastfeeding as long as possible, while adding solid foods , as the baby will go through ups and downs in his eating patterns. Teething, colds, flus, emotional upsets, and many other things effect how a baby eats, and maintaing breastfeeding throughout the first 3 years of life insures your baby of a good foundation for his diet. Suzanna

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Whoo! Thank you so much, Suzanna!

~;-D