Progress Report:



Things are going well on the Q Qleanup Quest. I'm only a week or so away from having all the type A and B questions spot up to date, and the two AB Qs still waiting will be answered in this page right 'ere today.



Now, you voluble Os are a different matter. (Notice I say "we Os" when it's something nice, and "you Os" when I'm about to complain. LOL! ;->) I was so pleased to have worked the O list down to 60 unanswered's ~ but this morning, when I harvested the entries from January 5 to today, y'all's bunch of outstanding Qs popped right up to over 175 again. Yee-Ouch! Looking at the history from May 2002 through Jan 2001, Os submit roughly double the number of all other blood type Qs combined ~ averaging around 5-6 Qs daily.



Don't get me wrong, I LOVE hearing from all of you! and please, don't anyone stop writing, or I'll stamp my foot and weep!! :-} I just want to warn you that it will take my full originally-projected time before the Os are well and truly answered, every one ~~ and I will probably be testing the limits of the page size here (and the limits of non-Os' patience) by taking quite a few days in each week for all-O Q&A marathons. ;-)



Announcement



It's like the old adage: Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach him to fish, and he eats for a lifetime. To make things a bit more user-friendly, I'm planning to put up a new entry page with directions for finding an answer before posting (or re-posting) and brief note on how things work here in general. Look for it on President's Day (or before)! :-)



Now, back to work! :-)

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dear sweet heidi URGENT i am going into hospital on 26th february. thankyou for your recent advice on protocols to do but i quite forgot to ask you what painkillers i should take,i am o nonny.would paracetamols be okay? also are there any healthy painkillers?ie natural ones? years & years ago i had duodenal ulcers so i am loathe to take aspirin any ideas boss? URGENT my dear i'm so sorry to bother you again but i don't know what else to do.i posted enquiries on other webs but no response & i couldn't find anything in your back lists.i am trying to find a source for 100o/o veg glycerine & nutritional yeast flakes.if i can my HFS would order it for me as they have had no luck either in searching for it.also although typebase said nutritional yeast flakes is beneficial for o nonnies would that include o nonnies with candida? thanks for all your time & good work debs from england.ps what exactly does nutritional yeast do too? thankyou for all your good work,especially pot-pourris, thanks debbie from england, xxx





Hi, debs ~ For the painkillers: Check your Live Right book on p. 128 - also, the bottom of page 170 where there are some surgery suggestions including supps, and aspirin once again is mentioned as a no-no. It's a process of elimination of the ones Os are advised against taking, from the list your doctor/surgeon may offer. Just arrange this with them before going into surgery and also make sure they're not going to IV you with anything deleterious (including dextrose).



Nutritional yeast is a powerhouse of B vitamins and protein. Several brands have been mentioned in this column both of vegetable glycerine and nutritional yeast - just pop to the bottom of this page, first search for "glycerine," and second for "yeast." There are many column pages that contain some of this info, so you'll need to just browse through the ones that come up in that search. Best of luck in hospital, dear, and let me know how things go for you! :-)

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Heidi: I have a question that is relevant for all blood types. I have been using lecithin granules in my morning smoothie and know it is one of the primary ingredients in the Fluidizer Membrane Cocktail which you recently mentioned is fine for all blood types, even though it is recommended especially for Bs. I was told recently by the health food specialist for my husband's and my grocery store (I'm pleased to say we carry many of the food items you recommend, including organic eggs, chickens, produce and grass-fed beef) that all soy lecithin is genetically modified and there is no non-GMO organic source available. Is this true? And, if so, how does this fact influence Dr. D'Adamo's recommendation for regular consumption of this product? Thanks for clarifying this. Nancy



Nancy, I did a websearch and came up with 10,000 or more hits for the words 'lecithin organic.' Five sites came up in the first page alone, offering organic lecithin. Just do a quick search, you’ll see what I mean. Takes fifteen seconds. As I often mention in my columns, I go first to www.alltheweb.com/advanced. To give you a start, how about http://www.organicingredients.com? Also, please do speak to your HF specialist about doing research of this kind, it is a job necessity in this internet age! and mention, in case s/he is does not already know this, that in the U.S. ALL food labelled "certified organic" by a state-authorized board must be non-GMO food. You're in a wonderful business, and I wish you all prosperity!! :-)

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I am AB- Can you tell me isWheat grass and Whey protein is highly benefical, neutral or should be avoided. Thank you-Margie



Hi, Margie! Well, let's go right over to TYPEbase 3 and look for Whey. That one's neutral for you. According to Peter's Ask Dr. D'Adamo column entitled Wheatgrass and Blood Group A, he considers "wheat grass to be an excellent addition to the diet for all blood types." I'd say that means beneficial, eh? And thank you for the reminder, as I should put that item in TYPEbase 3 without delay!



thanks for writing, Margie! :-)

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Hedi, thanks so much for all your help in the past. Now I would like, if you have any, some advice over my mum who is AB. I am not going to nag her about BTD, her health is her own responsibility, but if there is any simple advice I could pass on, at least she has the chance to follow it if she wants.



She had breast cancer about 8 years ago but it was found very early & successfully eliminated. She has always had trouble keeping the weight off & for the last few years since retirement has rather piled it on. This week she was diagnosed with high blood pressure & slightly high cholesterol. She also has a bad hip &, in my opinion is just beginning to show the very earliest alert signs of possible future dementia (my sisters disagree but then they have no experience of this & I have). There is no way she is going to adopt the AB diet wholesale. She has to cook a special diet for my diabetic, high blood pressure & high cholesterol, arthritic-kneed Dad (an O who also does not follow the BTD), and would never be bothered to cook two separate diets. Their diet is extemely low in fat & dietary cholesterol, fairly high in grains especially wheat & rice, fairly high in meat & fish, and, they allege, high in veg, though when I go to stay this seems to consist of one veg plus potatoes or pasta. Mum does a lot of gardening & goes for a good walk (she says) every day. The food she cooks is low in sugar but I suspect she eats more cake & ice cream than she's letting on.



Could you let me have any diet adaptations that would give her a few quick wins? What are the few most important avoids for AB? What HB foods could she easily incorporate to improve her health, that would not be even more harmful to my Dad? btw, dad would never eat rabbit in a million years although mum likes it. Once she made a pie, which he ate all unknowing, but when she told him what it was, back it all came!! BTW I have already suggested to my Dad that he cut out wheat & dairy & eat more veg. I have already told my mum that the majority of blood cholesterol is manufactured in the liver & does not come from food cholesterol. Thanks in anticipation of your help. Sarah





I do hope it will be help, Sarah! in any case, here goes:



A serving of oatmeal daily for both of them. Apparently works right beautifully against high blood pressure and high cholesterol in all types. This will probably shove aside their morning serving of wheat, thereby doing even more good.



The worst avoids for ABs are corn, buckwheat, chicken, lima and kidney beans, and MOST of the avoid fishes in the AB diet. They're all equally horrible for her. The second worst avoids, and it's a close second, are all the avoid meats she is eating (which are packing on the pounds, raising her cholesterol and stressing her colon, by the way). There will be little you can do about this. Some doctor has told her "lo-sugar, and/or lo-fat" so "lo-fat/sugar" she will go, dutifully draining the fats off pork and beef, eating whole wheat, and never suspecting she may have paid for truly hazardous advice.



ABs, just like the rest of us, have a vast list of Beneficial dark green leaf vegetables ~ collards, kale, beetroot greens (AND beets), mustard (not for your Dad), then there are all the salad greens, the garlic, broccoli, and all the starchy veg like sweet potatoes and parsnips... this aside from all the neutrals at her command. I mean, the WORLD of veg opens its arms to both of them! For instance: take a look at her ONLY avoids in the 88-item veg list: aloe, artichoke, capers, chilis, abalone & shiitake mushrooms, black olives, peppers, pickles, radishes and rhubarb. Eye-opening, ain't it?



Your Dad would surely eat lamb, turkey, pheasant? or cod, grouper, monkfish, herring, mackerel, perch, red snapper, salmon, swordfish, tilefish... there is a host of fishes quite wonderful for AB and O alike! I've listed only the very commonly available ones. Since he balked at the "idea" of rabbit I shan't try to start him on goat, but goat is often inexpensive and it's very good for both of them - as well as absolutely delicious when roasted.



I've had some small experience communicating these things to an AB. I have learned from my successes as well as my failures!! You might mention to her that the diet of wheat, potatoes and pasta will kill her husband and quite scientifically, too. If she does not mind doing so, nor mind taking care of him whilst he sickens and dies, then the current plan is pretty good for accomplishing her goals and needs no change. You wouldn't think anyone'd respond well to statements of this kind, yet surprisingly some do (notably the ABs of my acquaintance, after a public whinging session and a private good think about it) ~ so I offer it to you for your consideration! ;-)



Sarah, I feel for you -- as I feel for ALL of you out there trying to improve your loved ones' unspeakable diets -- and I must say that giving all information likely to be received cogently, then saying, "Well, now you know what I know and my conscience is clear" is perhaps the best procedure of all for all parties. I know you said you won't pursue the issue with her, and that's the difficult but best path to take. You will be relieved of the tempting pressure to correct their choices in future, and they will be relieved of the fear of your criticism. And, it is surprising indeed what happens when one refuses to comment or argue. Sometimes the resistance to new ideas is fueled by household controversy ~ take away one's own willingness to row over it, and the resistance disappears as well. A month or two down the road, and hey presto! you find out THEY are telling their friends about discovering this wonderful new diet. ;-) Best of luck to you, my dear!! Let me know what transpires, eh? :-)

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Hello Mr. D`adamo! I come from Germany and I am a performance sportsman. Now I would like to make gladly the Secretor test and also the urine for indikan test. Are the statements of these tests also translated into German or only in English? Additionally it interests me wheather Diaet is recommended the groups of blood aslo for performance sportsman? I am group of blood of 0 and I am carbohydrates to avoid. In my sport (soccer) these are however normaly very important. Wheat products I stopped to take. I try to keep your diaet and so far I good experience thereby made. Only for me the given portions of a meal are too small. For example meat up to 180 gram. Is it posible to eat 350 gram beef on the day. I hope I get from you very fast a response. In advance thank you for your efforts.I read two books from you and also possess the Example book. Sorry for my bad english. Faithfully Stephan





Dear Stephan! Your English far surpasses my German! and you write perfectly clearly, so let me try to answer your questions.



The O diet is great for performance sportsmen, and will serve you far better than all the carbs your soccer teammates are eating.



To plan your meals for the day: two eggs if desired, one or two servings of meat, one of fowl or fish, four of vegetables (including both greens and starchy veg), four of fruit, one serving of oil (olive, flax or walnut), one of nuts. Have some whole rice or other neutral grain (or beneficial "essene" or Ezekiel bread) three or four times per week maximum. You should eat a variety of the items in the meat, vegetable, fruit groups etc. as much as possible. You can have 225-250 grams of meat or fish or fowl per serving, but all other food quantities should be increased 25-30% as well. This is a "sportsman's variation" of the O diet in Live Right 4 Your Type. Many new foods have been added to the lists since Eat Right 4 Your Type was published in 1996, so it is a good idea to purchase the (newer) Live Right book.



For information on obtaining the secretor test and other testing, please go to www.stacktheme.com and choose the German page if you like ~ there are many helpful people there!



Thank you, Stephan, and good fortune to you in your career!! :-)

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Hi Heidi - thanks for such a great column! All your hardwork is not going unnoticed - many of us read and learn so much from your column, everyday! I am a type o planning to start a family next year. When is Dr D's book on eating right for your child due out? In preparation for falling pregnant, what does Dr D generally recommend apart from obviously eliminating avoids? Are multivitamins important and which ones? How much folic acid and calcuim should be taken and how long before conception? Anything else us mums to be need consider? I have searched the site for more information on collodial silver which I know you don't recommend. Unfortunately, we can't buy 'Heallix' here in New Zealand. Do you have any other suggestions? What exactly is wrong with collodial silver - is it the process that is used to derive the product? My final question (!) is about energy slumps in the mid afternoon. I also have terrible trouble getting out of bed in the morning - really no energy (unless I sleep around 12 hrs!) even if I have been eating mainly beneficials/no grains etc. I do have low blood pressure and I wonder if that would explain the morning slump? What do you suggest as a good 'energy' supplement for 'o' and what could be causing my 'sleepy head' situation? Thanks Heidi - keep up the good work! Ru





thanks, Ru, you're very kind! :-} The Baby Book is due out at the end of March, since I see Peter will embark on a wackified travel schedule for the book tour at the end of that month. I'm sorry to say I have no pregnancy preparation advice direct from the Doc ~ my best suggestion would be to follow your diet/exercise plan as if you were training for an athletic competition. :-) and get accustomed to the idea of having only very basic supplements, as I've gleaned that many of the herbs & supps which do the average woman good are not recommended during pregnancy. If you could tell me what you are hoping to use the colloidal silver for, perhaps I can suggest an alternative that would be available in NZ? The cost of colloidal is disproportionate to its usefulness for the most part, and the silver does tend to collect in the tissues.



For the morning slumps, start eating your last meal of the day three and a half hours before you go to bed ~ no earlier, no later. Have a very tiny snack an hour later. It's possible you're eating too late or too early -- or, too much or too little -- which can leave you dragging at various times of the day. Are you eating enough protein, and getting a full schedule of exercise? Strenuous activity has a marvelous energy-balancing effect. Too much sleep can be more stressful on the body than slightly too little... Active B12 (methylcobalamin) taken first thing in the morning along with a good shot of sunlight in your eyes (or a dawn-light to wake up by) can help, as well... but there could be so many factors involved that I can't really pin this down without more info from you. Send away! :-)

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I'm a Type O, and have been following BTD for almost two years, with very good results. The only problem is that in the last six to eight months, I have had dramatic thinning of my hair. I am of Indian origin, and have always had very thick, dark hair, but lately my hair has started to turn brown, and each individual strand appears thinner than before. I have never chemically treated my hair. Is there anything you recommend, other than the usual Type O diet rules, Vitamin B and folic acid? Farah





Yes: silica (horsetail grass is a good source), oils like flax... walnut... olive, sulfur (plenty of eggs, and supplement with MSM if desired ~ www.msm-msm.com has an excellent product at decent prices), and be aware that pre-/peri-/menopause and/or emotional stresses can precipitate hair changes. If you've been going a little heavy on the grain or a little light on the red meat, reverse it and see if this is useful. Please let me know your response, and thanks for writing! :-)

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Dear Heide, today I need some good advice from your kitchen. As a 0 type (and my husband is an A)from Germany I realize that I and mostly we should not eat any milk products, which includes whole cream (whipped cream). However, very often, some whole cream is just what makes this soup and some other dishes tasting delicious rather than only good ;-). In the case of sour cream the ratings concern low and no fat varities. What about normal, rather fat varieties? And what about creme fraiche? In case I/we should avoid all this, what kind of substitute do you advise? Then: Parmesan: there is a variety not made from cow milk but from goat (I believe). Would that be ok? And then, there are some cheeses made from goat or sheep but also treated with some fungus (blue cheese varities, like for ex. Roquefore). Why are these avoids when other goat/sheep cheeses are rated as neutral? Is it the fungus which is considered bad? Many compliments to you personally, and also to the great services and databanks your side gives. Did you ever consider to make those ratings available for a Palms or other kinds of handhelds? Many greetings, Eva





Hi, Eva ~ :-) Wish the copyrights permitted us to make the food lists downloadable ~ I know it would be a great convenience! but I'm sorry to say that at least at this time we can't offer that service. :-}



Well, crème fraîche is a mixture of heavy cream and sour cream. Both no-nos. :-} All the blood type diets can be seen as either a list of things we can have or a list of things we can't. :-) Peppers and tomatoes for A secretors, for instance. Chicken and peanuts for Bs. ABs are hurting over the duck-egg prohibition, I hear... (OK, just kidding!! ;-)) and of course we O nonsecretors can't eat anything that isn't raw meat and river grass. LOL! I've found that the best way to approach things is to find new dishes I *can* eat rather than staying hooked to the old. I wept bitter tears over the gorgeous sherried mushroom cream soup I used to make, I reflected ruefully on the years it took to perfect fine pastry, I had dreams about that aged blue farmhouse cheddar I ate in Cashel, Ireland... then I "drove on." (Not that I don't moan a little now & again over some B's vichyssoise or my A-non man chowing down on a pile of fresh, succulent New Zealand mussels.) But, FOLKS! There's a world of wonderful foods and new recipes for them, just waiting to make your acquaintance and nuzzle a place in your heart and in your family's daily and festive meals.



END of SERMON! :-) Now to actually answer your question... Frankly, I know of no truly undetectable substitute for cream or sour cream. I suggest you experiment with some very soft, fresh goat cheese softened and thinned with water or a bit of soy milk ~ but I haven't tried it. As to the cheese issues, mold is a concern ~ both the visible varieties and that which covers and imbues aged cheeses, along with the milk from which the cheese is made. Some O secretors can't touch cheese at all without either a sneezing fit, a mucus attack, a few days' constipation or all of the above. Others do well on all sorts of goat or sheep's milk products, as long as they eat the Live Right recommended allowance only (which ain't big). So, with your experience on this plan under your belt, I trust you to plot your own course through the cheese jungle! :-) hope these rather subjective answers give you the "flavor" of the issue as I see it... thanks for your questions as always, dear! :-D

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My family and I, all O’s, have decided to start on the blood type diet but I’m a little confused. In the Danish translation of BTD, some of the foods have totally different status than those on www.dadamo.com TYPEbase. These are the discrepancies I’ve found. Food item TYPEbase Danish translation Cucumber Avoid Neutral Beer Avoid Neutral White wine Avoid Neutral Apple/juice Neutral(Avoid) Avoid Garlic Neutral(Benef) Beneficial Banana Neutral (Benef)Beneficial Vanilla Neutral Avoid Oatmeal Neutral (Avoid)Avoid Even though it is A it is recommended as a part of the breakfast in the recipe part of the book Cabbage Neutral (Avoid)Avoid These differences are only those I noticed because these food types especially have my interest. Also a new book with a lot of BT recipes, just published, has a leek soup for type O. If leeks are to be avoided for O's then I find it wrong that these kind of errors are escalated because every new book in Denmark are base on the same translated book, but I'll not start to make a lot of fuss if I'm wrong. Further more I’ve a few questions: I don’t see the parsley root mentioned, neither in the Danish translation nor on www.dadamo.com, this is a root I often use and therefore miss the status of. It is said that Goat cheese is Neutral (non-secr: Avoid) but what kind of goat cheese? In Denmark you can have Goat cheese in various kind, Brie cheese, blue cheese, cheddar cheese etc. Further more is it said that feta cheese is Neutral, what kind of feta cheese? In Denmark the feta cheese is normally made from cow milk. Only the low/non-fat variation of the Sour Cream is mentioned, what about fat Sour Cream and Cream (both 38% in DK) are they too to be avoided? Asian Pear, what is that? I haven’t been able to look it up in any dictionary neither at my printed ones at home nor on the net (e.g. Websters).. Is it just another kind of pear or is it a whole other species? When do I know a pear is an Asian Pear? Another question I have is, is it generally that smoked food is not good for O’s? Salmon/smoked salmon. I’ve just bought a Charcoal Smoker to smoke fish and meat. Is it a waste of money or can it be used? Many of the smoked products you can buy today has been chemically smoked. Is there a difference in the way the smoking has taken place and what we can tolerate? The – Essenerbrød, as I see the recipes, it seems to be of no matter which kind of grain is used for this bread. Since wheat is not good for O’s should the bread be made of other grain than wheat or does the process the bread is going through make it better for O’s. I know this is a lot of questions but I like to do this right for both my family and I. Kind regards Annette





Hi, Annette! Well. Hmm... Let's see how briefly and clearly I can answer all your questions. First, BTD is the oldest book we have, the cookbook Cook Right 4 Your Type is second-oldest ~ and the values on TYPEbase supercede the old values. Parsley root is a wonderful thing! No, we have no rating for it, but it is very likely neutral. "Goat cheese" refers to soft, fresh goat cheese ~ not the aged or moldy varieties. Feta cheese is the classic variety, white and crumbly. Sour cream of all kinds has the same status as the listing. Asian pear looks quite similar to a rough-skinned green apple ~ Here is a site with a nice picture of the tree and its fruit. Os are at the least risk from smoked food, and if you are using pesticide-free wood in your smoker, with no petrochemicals or other additives when burning, I think even two servings per week is safe for you. Finally, essene bread is 100% sprouted ~ and yes, that is the process that makes even wheat OK for type Os. Enjoy, and I hope you and your family prosper! :-D

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How does a Type O, Hepatitis-C challenged individual adhere to the O Diet without raising blood iron levels? If one avoids organ meats and dark leafy greens, it doesn't leave too much left to graze on, does it? Mo





Aw, you've got plenty left, Mo! I count a bunch of fowl, plus rabbit, and a host of fish to choose from, and all kinds of beneficial veg. Do me a favor: get hold of the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia and follow the specific Hepatitis protocols for a few weeks. If you're concerned about potential haemochromatosis, see if your doctor can do a blood draw once every month or two? Please write back, I'd like to hear from you!! :-)

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Hello Heidi. What is the current thinking on soy in the diet? I find that as time goes on, I'm consuming more soy as a replacement for dairy products: soy protein powder in my morning smoothie, soy milk/yogurt/kefir/cheese, etc. I've heard there is controversy about regular consumption of soy. What do you and Peter say? I'm Type O. Thanks. Nancy





Hey, Nancy! Peter's current thinking on soy is best expressed in the many columns he wrote in Ask Dr. D'Adamo, so stroll on over there and browse. Real eye-openers, some of them!



Soy became famous for its abilities to replace all kinds of dairy foods, meats, even grain in products like bread and crackers, and its market has boomed with the fashion for vegetarianism along with solid evidence of its usefulness against cancer. However, if you look at these claims through the BTD lenses, the lion's share of the benefits go to type As, especially secretors. Os are neither at particular risk for a-like cancers, nor do they need to avoid meats.



The trouble Os run into is trying to replace all the dairy they used to eat with soy. The maximum frequency for the whole bean category is only three servings per week. Try a boiled egg in the smoothie, some farmer, feta or goat cheese now & again, just to allow everything to take its proper place in your diet. There are no miracle foods, and there are hundreds of miracle foods when eaten in the right quantities and proportions for the individual. End of sermon #2! :-D thanks for your Qs, dear! :-D

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I have lots of questions, Heidi. Hope you will be able to answer some of them! I have learned of a quality powdered greens product - a mix of 80% barley leaves and 20% alfalfa leaves - that I would like to take. I know that alfalfa sprouts are an avoid for Type O. I have also been told that the mature leaves of alfalfa don't contain the toxins found in the sprouts and seeds. Would it be all right for a Type 0 to use this product? I understand that many people are finding it beneficial. Thank you. Nancy





Ah! While you're over there reading through the soy columns Peter wrote, take a peek under "alfalfa," as well. A question for you: why not use barley and wheatgrass instead? with a dollop of chlorella, if the mood strikes? There are many other greens which can fill the bill without dipping into the avoid foods. Hope this helps!! :-)

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For a type O who is a vegetarian (but eats fish), is substituting fish OK for meat. I won't eat meat for ethical reasons so I can't include it in my diet. Please let me know as soon as possible as I'm not sure if its worth continuing on the plan if its necessary to eat some meat. I look forward to hearing from you. ann



Hello, Ann! Using the diet in any way you see fit is perfectly OK. It is a set of guidelines that we know works, and it will work incrementally to the extent you use it. Ethical pesca-vegetarians will certainly do well on it, and may I extend a cordial welcome? :-D

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We are a family of O's, convenient but challenging. Came across ERFYT when searching for answers for my daughter(non-secretor) who has had chronic hip, back and knee pain since Jr. HS. Pain had gotten so severe and disabling in High School. This began a search through series of DR's and therapies (including painful Prolotherapy) which helped some but not totally. Most pain now in hips, what I don't understand is that it is most severe when she in having her menstral period. I had always known something was different about her food metabolism as she was very active in sports but had continuous weight problems now believe it is non-secretor status. She now follows O diet with some resistance/resentment and an occasional "Fat weekend". She is 19 yr old college student now. Questions: Why pain during periods? What kind of minimal interventions can she do at that time or as continuous maintanence for good health? (She is resistant to taking too many pills.) Are these symptoms of something bigger going on with her. She had been told some scary stuff by some Dr.s during our earlier search. O Diet has provided more relief than anything else we did but she is not totally pain-free. Many thanks!



Q #2: 17 year old son (O-secretor) is into body building for baseball performance. Has had a history of being slightly heavy then period that bordered on food disorder and loss tremendous amount of weight. Now trying to gain weight and muscle power. He has always been athletic. Also has had tendancy to depression (which we now use Rhodiola for and works well). We disagree on types protein that he uses (whey). Any suggestions for helping him reach his goals as far as supplements or protein powder go. Also, how long can he use Rhodiola? Also can you tell me how to get information that was once on web site for body builder and his nutritional plan. I wanted him to see that and it was gone before I showed it to him. HE follows diet some but not totally...he's a teenager!



Q #3: I am O-secretor age 48. Doing pretty well and try to stick to diet but...not perfectly. Lots of family responsibilities, work etc. Slow metabolism and hard time getting my weight down (desire to lose 15 lbs)and some issues with stable emotions...feel menopausal at times. Recommended supplements for maintenance? Exercise could be better but run all day long just caring for everyone. Would like to know more about guggul and what would be better guggul or bladderwrack to speed up metabolism and for how long?



Q #4: Is secretor status hereditary and could my (Italian)husband be non-secretor since my daughter is? He is resistant to my ideas but generally follows high protein diet for weight control. She inherited his Italian skin/hair color etc. Has cough he believes in allergies he can't get rid of...suggestions?!! Many thanks for all your assistance! This site has been great resource! Virginia





Whoo! This is my day for complex Qs! :-)



OK: #1: When I was a teenager (and before), I had many of the same problems as your daughter's. The first thing I want to say LOUDLY is LET HER KNOW that when a doctor tells her SCARY THINGS he is working AGAINST HER HEALTH. {rant meter approaching critical here.} A physician's words are often taken very deep inside and believed entirely, which DOES have an adverse impact on the immune system and the psychology as a whole. Saying scary things to a young girl is a breach of the Hippocratic Oath, in my opinion. Healing things should be spoken by anyone in this regard, and certainly by the authoritative voice of a doctor. "Ya got nothing to say that will help? Doan say nuthin!!!!" :-} *phew.* thanks for letting me share.



Now to the practical advice: In my case, I was down for the count 25% of the time with dysmenorrhea. An ugly name for an extraordinary, truly psychedelic thing. The high-dosage prescription codeine-based painkillers really weren't putting a dent in the pain and associated fun stuff ~ so, I was put on the Pill. This was great, because although I turned into a lunatic and came to believe it was my nature, I had no more pain and didn't flood seven days out of the 28. I don't suggest she go that route.



It is no surprise to me that her hip pain increases during menstruation, as I vividly recall that sensation. There is swelling in the tissues and a change in the ligaments and tendons at that time, so if she can avoid all grains and sugars for four days before the onset, the effects will be lessened considerably.



She's in college, so stock her up with Phytocal, PolyFlora and Deflect, and give her a straight food list for nonsecretors from Live Right with Beneficials in Green, Neutrals in Blue or Purple or some nice color, and Avoids in Red. Use the O nonsecretor pyramid I posted a while back to make up a paragraph at the beginning: Meat/Fowl so many times per week, etc. Her diet in college will NOT be exemplary! but if she wants to succeed in her work, she'll soon notice how the foods make study and practice easier or harder, how her periods go and how her skin and body look. That's it. Let her find her own way. Never let it develop into her-against-Mom about the diet. She's got all the knowledge she needs and she's a big, smart girl, so it's time to Let Go and Let Daughter. Wash your hands of it and perfect the smiling response, "That's nice, dear." You are frowning now, but you'll thank me for this! LOL! :-D



#2: Do a food list for your son, too, and mention that nutritionists charge big money for this kind of service but he's getting it for free. :-) then go right ahead and drop it all with him, too. ~;-D Your son can use egg protein (Jarrow, perhaps?) in conjunction with nutritional yeast (KAL is by far my favorite brand). Second choice would be soy protein. Tell him I said to spring for ORGANIC protein powder, if he's going to be using a lot of it. But never replace a meal with a shake. And go easy on the beer. ;-> We type Os are so beautifully suited to sports, but often so ill-equipped to deal with the hogwash that comes along with them ~ and I don't just mean the cheap suds. I do salute him for pursuing that grandest of team sports, and wish him well in all things!!! and... Can't find that bodybuilder article. Do you remember the name of the person? I'm kind of embarrassed here, but I don't remember and it's rather difficult to search the site without having a file "handle." Just drop me a note and I'll ferret it out for you!



#3: Hrrmmm... I'd start with two tablespoons of maca per day, which will begin to alleviate any hormonal-related energy and weight issues. Tweak it as you see the results, and add some bladderwrack as well, if you wish. You know, my friend... that kind of running-around-taking-care-of-others does rather the opposite of exercise ~ wears you down and tires you out while increasing your stress levels. Your kids are well old enough to take charge of themselves. Doesn't Mom deserve some care and her own time, too? How about an hour every other day for a nice workout? Is this so much to ask? Honestly, you'll feel so much Better! Different! in ways I can't truly describe in words. If you like, right now think of it as what you need to do in order to keep taking care of the other three whilst working and cooking and cleaning and keeping up with everything else you do. And, feed well! That leftover piece of steak is YOUR snack! Jolly well right up with the meats, fish, turkey, etc., with as much veg as you can hold. It's cook's prerogative. Don't undereat in hope of dumping that last 15 pounds ~ your energy levels will take care of it for you if you don't starve yourself. And do take that three hours in the week's 168 just for your own workout, or I shall fuss at you something fierce. Deal? ;-)



#4: Your husband could be a secretor or a non. There are two secretor genes, and they follow the typical pattern of dominant (secretor) and recessive (nonsecretor). What we DO know is that he at least has a recessive nonsecretor gene (so do you), since your daughter is a non and she needed two non genes to turn out that way. It's like being an O in that respect, in that O is recessive to A and B ~ so a type A person and a type B person together can have a type O child and be thoroughly confused (until they write and ask me. :-)). Two secretors can produce a nonsecretor child, but we don't know if that's the case in your family. Anyway, the classic cough-that-persists in type Os is most commonly defeated with one or two days of dairy avoidance. It happens that fast! I wouldn't necessarily present him with this info, but rather plan a few days' meals with no dairy (and have something besides coffee to drink if he uses it with milk or cream). Just test it out on him, if possible. A weekend would do if he works full-time and eats "at will" when away from home.



I honestly commend you for doing your best to take such good care of your family ~ I truly hope these suggestions will be of use to you!! thank you for writing, Virginia ~ it's a pleasure to hear from you! :-D

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Hey Heidi! In several columns recently you mentioned maca root powder for both O's and A's as part of a weight loss / bloating solution. I find no reference to this in any of the books. When I researched it, I found out it's considered the equivalent of an herbal 'Viagra,' and made from some kind of potato or yam. Since both of those are avoids for A's, and ... qualified in O diet, could you please shed some light on this? What is it, what does it 'do,' who can use and who should not, etc.? Also, wasn't exactly looking for an aphrodesiac! Thanks! Thanks! Marissa



Hi, Marissa ~ Maca is neither a potato nor a yam ~ most of the root sold in the U.S. is Lepidium peruvianum Chacón, no relation to our Solanum tuberosum (taters) or Dioscorea villosa (yam). You will see loads of internet companies marketing maca as an aphrodisiac ~ this is due primarily to the fact that so many people are eager to buy aphrodisiacs, oddly enough. Anyway, let me refer you to a better source of information on this plant: http://www.rain-tree.com/maca.htm There the various claims are rectified and made proportional to the reality! :-)



I often suggest supplementing with maca because in my experience, people very often find it has a significant beneficial effect in several health areas. I suspect this is due to some deficiency in their diets which maca fills, which would have been difficult to trace, identify and supply otherwise. It is certainly a nutrient-packed food! Even for those who eat an exemplary diet (so far as we can tell), maca has had a marked effect on energy levels, PMS and pre-/menopausal symptoms, and general "outlook" (scientific term, lol!) where those were areas in which improvement was desired. Therefore, since it shows harm for none and potential for all, I hope those who feel they might benefit from it will give it a go. In terms of our food lists, it is yet untested, therefore an unknown. Hope this helps, dear! ;-)

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Hi Heidi! Thanks for your answer awhile back, on the camping food. I hadn't even thought of buying my own dehydrator, now there is the nose in front of my face, what a great idea! I am appreciating. I noticed something in the letter from Helene the 79 yr old German lady -- she has craves sweets and also doesn't seem to be eating much protein (though I don't know gram measurements). That combination is always a red flag for me -- Protein deficiency can cause sweets craving, for me especially chocolate, and I can actually monitor my protein intake by whether I think of chocolate. I have also read that older people are most likely to be protein deficient and dehydrated. Protein deficiency would sure give her fatigue! Hope it helps, (o: Maia

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A note for Helene (2/4/03): My sister is a type O and has found that if she isn't eating enough protein, she craves sweets, especially chocolate. Ginger



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Thanks for Your Page! Great! Concerning the Question of Eva from today (Feb 4th): There is a paradise butcher down in Germany there, and they produce a far out pure calfliversausage, and many other products from beef or calf. No pork contained. But the calfliversausage is the best realy. Yours Georg (not connected to this butcher...) Böckle Landmetzgerei, Tel. 0049-(0)8374-8319 Fax -6230 http://www.metzgerei-boeckle.de/



Whoo, lovely advice all round! Thank you so much, friends!! I'm sure Helene will benefit from your kind offerings!!! :-D

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Study on link between wheat and diabetes

[this story may be of interest to you. it is from the Ottawa Citizen of feb. 5. Cheers ~ Blaine]



FEB 05, 2003 THE OTTAWA CITIZEN PAGE: A1 / FRONT (NEWS)



Ottawa researcher links diet, childhood diabetes

Wheat protein pinpointed in pioneering study

Tom Spears, The Ottawa Citizen



For years the medical textbooks all agreed on one thing: Type 1 diabetes, the kind that strikes in childhood, is not caused by a person's diet. This didn't make life easier for Fraser Scott, an Ottawa medical researcher looking for things in our diet that do cause the disease. How do you ask for funding to investigate a connection that doesn't exist? This makes his team's discovery a little sweeter.



They have just published findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry that show a protein in wheat appears to cause some children's immune systems to attack the wrong target, damaging their body's own cells and causing diabetes.



Dr. Scott first got the idea when he worked at Health Canada in the early 1980s. He was experimenting with a strain of lab mice bred to develop diabetes easily. But when he put the mice on a restricted diet, he noticed something odd. Mouse after mouse stayed healthy, showing no signs of diabetes. At first he suspected someone had sold him a batch of dud mice. But he tried again with more mice and got the same result. Maybe diet is important after all, he concluded.



Wheat seemed a possible candidate: Children with Type 1 diabetes (once called juvenile diabetes) often have celiac disease, an inability to digest wheat. He decided to have a closer look at wheat. Dr. Scott, Amanda MacFarlane and Karolina Burghardt at the Ottawa Health Research Institute and colleagues at the University of Ottawa and in Finland have isolated one protein in wheat that appears to cause the trouble. They scanned through one million candidate proteins from wheat, narrowing the field first to three that caused reactions in the immune system, and finally to one that is linked to damage in the islets, parts of the pancreas that produce insulin, which helps the cells break down sugar.



Diabetes occurs when the pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin. "To put it in the simplest terms, some individuals have an abnormal immune system," he says. A proper immune system should attack germs in our food, but not the proteins, of which we eat untold thousands every day. But when the immune system goes off course and starts attacking the proteins in wheat, he suspects that it keeps going on its destructive course and starts attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas as well.



Somehow, he believes, wheat has mobilized these disease-fighting cells into full-scale attack mode -- but against the wrong target. These destructive cells in the immune system "are just sitting there until something stimulates them," Dr. Scott says. "Then they expand, migrate to the pancreas, and cause a long period of inflammation that ultimately kills the beta cell," the cell that makes insulin.



Other infections may also play a role, possibly making this immune attack worse. In his lab, one wheat protein called Glb1 caused blood from people and rats with diabetes to "light up" in an immune reaction. That appears to clinch the link with diabetes. If his findings hold up, this will be the first protein in food shown to cause at least some diabetes. (The disease also has genetic causes but isn't purely genetic: If one identical twin has it, chances are only about 30 per cent that the other twin will have it, despite having all the same genes.)



The team hasn't made the type of discovery that will create new drugs. But they do see some uses for the findings. It's possible, they believe, that exposing babies to the wheat protein at an early age, when the immune system is still learning what's an enemy, can "teach" the immune system not to react to wheat later in life. Another possibility is that people with family histories of diabetes may want to avoid wheat, "but that's a really grim diet," Dr. Scott say. His co-author Illimar Altosaar, who teaches food biochemistry in the medical school at the University of Ottawa, has started making "knockout" varieties of the wheat they used, removing just the one protein linked to diabetes. He wants to see whether rats fed the knockout variety will still develop diabetes. Wheat blends thousands of proteins, he said, "to make all the magical things we know in baking: the dough, the aroma, the mystique of bread, the baguette in a bicycle pannier. It's a very, very complex matrix." Looking for wheat varieties that don't have the problem protein "is the first thing we have to do," he added. Food scientists may also decide to engineer or breed a wheat variety without that protein.





Blaine, thanks so much for that article. I must disagree with Dr. Scott that wheat-free = "grim," but I applaud him for soldiering on with the research on this modern monster. :-) The more, the merrier in this field! Do you think I should suggest spelt to him as the first 'wheat-ish' place where that "problem protein" might not be found? Better yet, let's send him a link to this website! Even better yet, how about a copy of Eat Right and Live Right, for starters?

~:-) thanks again, dear!! most appreciated!!!

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on page 332 of the ERFYT Encyclopedia Peter recommends 200 mg of melatonin per day for B's insomnia. Most tablets are 3mg. Is this a typo? Rachel

Hi, Rachel! Here's what I wrote in a July 2002 column in response to a similar question:



:-)

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Hi Heidi, Quick B question: What (if any) are the dietary/exercise implications for those of us who are B(o), as opposed to B(b)? Many thanks for your time! I very much enjoy your column each day, always learn a great deal. (Although I still hope that when I pop in the great and wonderful old BB will magically be restored! Dear Santa...) Cheers! Kathleen



Hey there, Kathleen! The recessive O gene carried by some type B (and A) individuals does not have any significant impact upon diet or exercise, as far as we know. That's why Live Right made no distinction between heterozygous (Bo or Ao) and homozygous (BB or AA) As & Bs for purposes of the diet/exercise plans. However, if any researchers out there are interested in the topic, their findings would be welcome! :-) and I'm happy you enjoyed the boards while they lasted ~ so did I! :-D

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Hi Heidi. I am Type B with a long history of digestive candida problems. I have kept it under control with a strict yeast free diet. I have been on the "B" diet for a month now and feel 75% better than I've felt in years! Last week I started the protocols for Fungal Disease, Candidiasis (Digestive). I was not sure which protocol to do first or how many to do at a time. I an doing the 6 week Yeast/Fungus Resistance Protocol and was thinking of starting the 4 week Immune-Enhancing Protocol in four weeks and the 4 week Intestinal Health Protocol in 6 weeks. Does this sound good or do you have any suggestions?

I also had a very hard time choosing the herb tinctures. Most of them were not 1:1 so I wasn't sure how many drops to use. For example, the oregano I bought says 4 drops, 2-3x/day and the Thyme (1:5) says 30-40 drops 2-4x/day. BTD says 4-7 and 5-10 drops, respectively. If I follow ER4YT will I get the proper doses? Will you suggest 1 or 2 internet companies I can order from next time? I also have not found Jobs Tears or Codonopsis anywhere.

I have not yet have the secretor test, but lean towards believing I am non-secretor because I have a tendency to get more non-secretor illnesses. My dentist told me I have the kind of saliva that fosters bacteria and a tendency to more cavities. He also said that about my 10 year old daughter who has no cavities. Is he somehow able to see that we are non-secretors??

Also FYI, I have only been eating Beneficial and Neutral "B" foods for both secretors and non-secretors until I know my secretor type. Are there certain foods in those catagories I need to eat less of (ie grains)?

One last question. I have recently turned my friend onto reading BTD. She once had a test for being a bone marrow donor and only knows her HLA Phenotype is A2, A23, B44. Can you tell me her blood type from this? Thanks for your help! Laura



Greetings, Laura! If you'd like to do more than one protocol concurrently, that's fine ~ but I would do no more than two at one time, and if you wish to repeat a protocol, leave two weeks between ending it and re-starting it. About the tincture dosages: the ratio you're seeing (1:1, 1:5) means "Quantity of HERB-to-Quantity of SOLVENT" (alcohol, water, whatever is used). Use the dosage recommended in the Encyclopedia ~ thyme is an efficacious herb, even taken as a weak tea.

To find herbs (to find just about anything, actually!), go to the 'www.alltheweb.com/advanced' search page. For job's tears, specify "exact phrase." And you might want to use the filters to remove the term "bible" or something like that, so you don't bring up all the religious sites while seeking the herb. I often choose "must include" and put the Latin name of the herb in that field, so that I don't pick up a slew of unrelated sites. I saw many online sellers of both job's tears and codonopsis, so I'm sure you'll find a few to research!

Your dentist seems very observant, but as to the basis of the observations, I'll pass. Why not ask him exactly what qualities of your & your daughter's saliva he has established as evidence of being cavity-prone? ;-) Fascinating! :-)

Your strategy of eating no secretor OR nonsecretor avoids is a good and safe one, for now. To get all the details on portions and frequencies for the various food groups re secretors vs. nonsecretors, use Live Right 4 Your Type ~ it has a wealth of information on these and many other matters close to our polymorphic hearts!

Sorry to say that knowing your friend's HLA phenotype doesn't give us a way to determine her ABO type. ABO and HLS tissue type are coded on entirely different genes, so one can't tell us about the other. However, an ABO test via the blood type kit sold in our Store is cheap, quick, and highly accurate. Don't delay! :-D thanks so much for writing, Laura!!

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In your book "cook right for your type" on page 330 you list gado-gado

as beneficial for type B but peanuts are strong avoid for type B. I

love gado-gado but fear this is an error/ contradictions.

also since i love tomatoes, and tomato sauce, chutney etc i am very

interested in finding out if I am a non-secretor. How I do I find this

out. I am B+ thank you for your help Jorie

Hi, Jorie ~ Yes, that's a typo in the ratings box. As the text says, it's great for people who "can eat peanuts." :-) Try making it with almond or walnut butter instead! There are two ways of ascertaining your secretor status: by getting your Lewis (blood) type through your local doctor/laboratory, or by using the Saliva Secretor Test available from our Store here. Hey! I hope your results turn out to be what you hope for! take care, dear, and thanks for your note! :-D

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I'm a B+, and I was wondering what the difference between string chesse (Avoid), and mozerella cheese (Beneficial) was? Also, in the paragraph before the listing of Oils in the Live Right book, it mentions that Black currant oil and walnut oil are beneficial, but in the list they are neutral. I was wondering if I misunderstood something there?! Thank you, Wendy



Hello, Wendy! Here is a column I wrote about mozz vs. string cheese in July of last year. I found it by going to the bottom of this page, typing in "string" and hitting the search button. It's called, predictably enough, "Mozzarella vs. "String" Cheese ~ Type B." For your question about the text in Live Right, just go straight to the Updates Page linked on the main page of this site at the bottom of the "Library" section. Once there, just do a simple "control-f" search for, let's say, walnut. You'll find the answers your're seeking! :-)

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I have some moose meat in the freezer and am wondering if it is OK to eat -- I am a Type B and my husband is a Type O. Moose isn't mentioned anywhere on this site or in the books! Julie

Wow! Lucky you, Julie! No, moose isn't listed, but beef is neutral for you and venison is beneficial, so I'm sure moose is at least neutral for Bs. Technically, of course, it is an "unknown" ~ so for those people who are happy with their health and weight, it may be considered ... yep, "Neutral!"

The moose is a member of the same subfamily as deer, or venison (Odocoileinae). A magnificent and ancient-looking fellow, he is our largest North American land mammal, sometimes reaching seven feet in height and a weight of over 1500 pounds. I guess most of you know all that, but I'm babbling from a very soft spot in my heart for the moose ~ childhood memories! :-) Anyway, I'm quite confident that it is good for you, and I'm nearly certain it's beneficial for your husband! Enjoy!

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Hi, My wife and I have purchased a number of Dr D'adamo's books (Eat Right 4 Your Type, Cook right... , The complete encyclopedia... etc)and have been doing our best to follow the diets and remedies, to hopefully live a healthier life. I have two questions. The first thing I have found confusing is the Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail suggested for Type B's on page 167 of the Eat Right 4 your type book. I am type B and I have been drinking this cocktail for many months now. I purchase Lecithin granules from our local health food store and have realised that the lecithin is a 100% soya product. I have noticed that in Dr D'adamo's Eat Right 4 Your Type Complete blood type encyclopedia (on page 518) it states that type B's should avoid Soy granules (Lecithin). I am a little confused about what is correct as it seems a little contradictory, any explaination would be greatly appreciated.

The Second confusing issue for me is wheat products, as a type B I have changed my grain/flour preferences to a more rice and oat base. However, I have found that Dr D'Adamao suggests that Wheat Flour should be avoided, however Plain and Self-raising Flour are seen as neutral. When I look at the ingredients of Plain flour I have purchased it states Wheat Flour as the main ingredient. Is there something in the process which makes these flours ok for Type B's? Thankyou for allowing me to summit these questions and all thankyou for researching this way of life as I feel it is helping me enjoy a healthier life. Regards, Paul



Hello, Paul ~ Lecithin is still neutral for all types, sorry for the confusion! Its status has been clarified in TYPEbase 3 and in the Updates Page (linked at the bottom of the "Library" section on the home page).

About those flours, it is "whole wheat" and "gluten" or "high-gluten" flour and breads that are to be avoided. The plain and self-rising flours (the latter has leavening mixed in) are neutral because they contain no wheat germ or wheat bran. I do hope this makes the dark light, and I'm very pleased you're happy with the B diet!! :-D

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hello Heidi! I am a type B+ and on the diet for quite some time now...I feel great and have lots of energy. Actually I haven't really had to change my eating habits too much because on the diet, I'm allowed to have most of the foods I love. However, one of my favorite foods, olives!!!--is not allowed. (I like the Greek variety, not canned). What is it about olives that makes them undesirable for type B even though the oil is fine? (I cheat about once a week and eat them.) Thank you so much for your great column! Thanks again, Jennifer



Hey there, Jennifer! The effect of olives upon your digestion is quite different from the effect of olive oil. I suggest going to TYPEbase 3 and entering the search term "olive." You'll come up with a number of links for further information, on lectins, allergenic potential, etc. Olives do contain olive oil, but there is lectin activity, as well as other active compounds, in the flesh of the olive, hence its varying status for the ABO types vs. that of olive oil.

So just promise me you won't overdo 'em, ok? and thanks for your kind compliment, dear! :-)

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I have secondary breast cancer being controlled by drugs. I am blood type B and have been living on the type B diet for two years. As a type B I'm allowed beef and lamb and some dairy products as I'm sure you know. The trouble is all the established anti cancer diets insist on no red meat and no cows milk. If i cut out these from my B type diet I am not eating all the foods neccessary to be healthy according to Dr D'adamos advice.What should I be doing? Please can you help me? I'm very confused?! Gillian



Hello, Gillian! The established anti-cancer diets of which you speak are one-type-fits all, but do the most good for types A and AB. For your type, meat and dairy are indeed good for you ~ but in your position, make especially sure they come from organically fed, free-ranged, medicine-free animals.

To speed your healing and build protection against recurrence, please get hold of Live Right 4 Your Type and the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia. LR4YT contains expanded guidelines and food lists, for which you need your secretor status in order to fully benefit. The Encyclopedia has anti-cancer protocols designed for each type. Please dive right into all this, and I want to hear how you're doing, OK? Drop me a note now and again, if only for a progress report. Take care and my best wishes follow you!! :-D

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Hi- I'm a 44 yr. old ,blood type B ,I.D.D. ,overweight . Could you tell me what I can eat when using the food combining methods of not eating concentrated proteins with carbohydrates. Also for excercize where would Pilates fit in - physical or relaxation ? Ingrid



Hey there, Ingrid! I can give you a simple guideline: Grains should be eaten only with vegetables -- no beans, eggs, fish, fowl or meats. Those high-protein foods may be eaten with vegetables. Vegetables, in fact, may be eaten with anything except fruit. Fruit should be eaten alone, whether singly or in combination with other fruits. Oils, butter and ghee may be added to any of the non-fruit meals.

And do include a handful of dried seaweed (dulse, or kelp, is commonly available and quite tasty) in your diet every day. Seaweeds count as a vegetable if you are using food combining.

Pilates is a stretching/balancing routine which would fall somewhere along the lines of light exercise for you. For stress-relief, choose tai chi, meditation, or a visualization practice. Good luck, dear, and write again!

:-D

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Hi, Olympia! About kambucha, (also "kampucha" or "kombucha") I haven't a clue. We have no similar listing for this substance. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, it is the 'manchurian tea mushroom' ~ not an actual mushroom as we understand it, but rather a colony of yeast and bacteria. Kind of like the "tea" version of sourdough starter. It appears to create a kind of acidic, laxative and possibly probiotic substance in the two weeks it sits in the tea, but we haven't tested it and can't comment as to the benefits or detriments of drinking it. What I do know is that kombucha tea may have any of several ingredients including sweetened black tea (traditional) ~ black tea is an avoid for everyone except B secretors and A nonsecretors, even with the tea fungus added to it. Other than that, I guess it will have to be considered "neutral unless you've got health complaints!" just like nearly all of our other "unknowns." :-) Neat question, Olympia ~ thanks!! :-D

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Hello Heidi, Thanks for your info.on vegemite a while ago.I had no trouble giving it up. However, I noticed on a gardening program recently that it is good as a plant supplement, especially for pot plants which can get a bit neglected. Which leads me to reflect on plants and their needs and antipathies, where perhaps the practice of companion planting comes into play?



On another topic, my thyroid supplement has an ingredient called aspartic acid. Is this related to the dreaded aspartame?



Third question on identification of mushrooms: are 'silver dollar' domestic and button mushrooms the same thing? (3-4 cm diameter, with a white rounded cap and usually grown in controlled environs) What are 'field mushrooms'known as by their technical name so that I can identify thjem on the food lists?? In Australia they are the bigger ones, 7-8 cm across, with a flatter top and more luscious flesh. Thanks as always, I've just passed my 3 month anniversary of erfyt,and with very high compliance, can always tell when I have stepped outside the food list, even in a minor way. I like to do this occasionally, just to prove the truth of the system! Cheerio, Jenny





Hey there, Jenny ~ About your thyroid supp: is this free aspartic acid (aspartate)? If so, I would immediately discuss with your doctor the possibility of switching to another type of supplement. Aspartic acid unbound to protein is an excitotoxic amino acid which can trigger a spike in aspartate plasma levels. This has been shown to be hazardous to the brain ~ killing brain cells in areas not protected by the blood/brain barrier. Do have a talk with your physician about this. Aspartate is not aspartame ~ rather, it is one of the ingredients in aspartame, along with methanol and phenylalanine. It does make up its share of the hazard, though.



This UK mycology/sales site's Latin naming of the field mushroom as Agaricus campestris is correct ~ however, look carefully at the photo they provide. It's possible that what you're finding in your markets is actually the portobello (sometimes referred to as Agaricus brunnescens), the largest variant of Agaricus bisporus (the button/silverdollar/domestic mushroom (yes, those three terms refer to the same mushroom) as well as the cremini mushroom). ~ For your reference, field mushroom would have the same rating as portobello in the food lists.



And I'm very pleased to hear how well you're doing!! And you've discovered your body's ability to recognize avoids, as well... great work, and best wishes to you, Jenny! :-D

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Hi Heidi Thanks for the last few columns - you have been very busy! I am actually responding to the question you answered about whiting and hake. The fish issue is indeed difficult and I wonder if our local hake may not be an allowed food instead of an avoid as it is one of the easiest types of fish to find. I know that it might be difficult, but will it not help if we could have the scientific names of the avoid fish? I do eat our cape whiting after I saw that it is allowed. After wondering about what is meant by whitefish on the foodlists, I did some research and came accross a website that I feel can be a great help regarding the fish issue (http://ibs.uel.ac.uk/fishbase/fishgen.htm). I found out on this site that our local "Wit Steenbras" is actually what will be referred to as whitefish and after doing a search on hake, I came accross quite different scientific names than the one you mentioned (Urophycis tenuis). This made me wonder if indeed our hake are an avoid or not! To me it seems as though whiting and hake might be the same fish - can you comment because it will make life a lot easier to know the scientific names of those fish that should be avoided. Thanks a lot and have a wonderfull new year - and a rest which I am sure you need. eurika





Ah, another die-hard fish fan! :-) Thank you for that link, Eurika ~ since it is a UK site, it will prove useful for figuring out UK fish 'market names' and their Latin equivalents.



Remember that the values established for our food lists are the result of tests done on American market-named items. So, to find out the Latin name of the fish we have a value for, first go to the FDA Seafood Name Search and enter our lists' name (which is a "market name") for that fish. You'll find the Latin name appended, which can be used to find the equivalent (pretty much... even Latin names are not consistent in all countries) in the UK fish database you linked, or in other countries' seafood databases.



If you follow this procedure with "whiting," you'll see a great number of hits come up in the FDA search ~ whiting is a very commonly-applied vernacular moniker. Here's where the work comes in: scroll down until you find fish with a market name of whiting. There are several -- but you don't want the European, or Argentinian, or Patagonian, or South African, etc. "whiting." You want the AMERICAN (native or commonest) fish, either Atlantic or Pacific, as the others are listed only because they are registered imports. Merluccius bilinearis is its Latin name, and is the reference against which other fish may be compared.



Whiting is a member of the Gadidae, a huge family of fishes including cod, hake, and pollock. Our "whiting" has a vernacular name, "silver hake," which can further confuse the unwary! :->



In the case of "whiting" and other names which cover a broad range of fish among various countries, it may prove illuminating to do a websearch for photos ~ for comparison with the fish you've got at home there in SA. For instance, HERE is an eastern coastal American site with a nice illustration accompanied by a description of the fish. For comparison with our "hake" (Urophycis tenuis), see THIS photo!.



*Phew!* That's all the space we've got for pescatorial procedures! but I hope this is further help to all of you when comparing your local fishes against the blood type diet listed items!! :-D

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I am type A, Caucasion, female, age 50. I had my gall bladder removed a year and a half ago and I wondered if there are any special considerations in the type A diet that I should be aware of in order to compensate for the lack of a gall bladder. Thank you. Terrie





Hi there, Terri! I think the straight-A diet will be ideal for you, as it is naturally low in cholesterol and fat, so will not call unduly on your bile production. All the gallbladder does is concentrate the bile before release ~ you'll still have bile to digest fats (it's produced in the liver), so it's not a significant loss! but you should eat only very small quantities of fat at one meal, so that the bile released directly from the liver will be adequate for fat digestion. Do maintain your yoga practice, as it is a great healer and balancer. Thanks for writing, dear! :-D

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I have a question concerning secretor status In your book Live right for your type ( in danish - lev efter din blodtype ) you dont mention as many types of food as you do in your book Eat right for your type ( in danish - spis efter din blodtype ). Example: Shrimps. Mentioned in Eat right for your type - iam an A-type, so i should not eat shrimps.But shrimps not mentioned in Live right for your type, so i need to know what to do when food not mentioned in Live right for your type. Look forward to be hearing from you soonest. best regards Susanne





Greetings, Susanne ~ I'm not sure why the Danish book does not list "shrimp," but no matter ~~ just go to the TYPEbase 3 database on the front page of this site, and search for the food you're seeking. Remember to hit the "search" button -- hitting your enter key does not work on that page. Live Right 4 Your Type includes a multitude of foods that were not included in Eat Right -- could you give me a few more examples of the ones you're missing in your edition? thanks, dear! :-)

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Hi, The ER4YBT diet was "suggested" to me by my naturopathic physician a little over a month ago as a result of recently being put in a high risk category for breast cancer. I read the book in one night and, though the Type A diet is very restrictive and many of my favorite foods are on the Avoid lists, I intuitively felt it made a lot of sense and began the diet immediately. My question regards soy. I eat tofu everyday for lunch (I've found some great recipes and have even converted a couple of friends from work to at least some tofu). I lift weights 6 days a week so need a lot of protein. I also drink a soy protein shake every day and put soy protein in my morning oatmeal. Because of my workout routine I need to eat six times a day so two other meals are generally soy cheese and a soy based energy bar. I save my chicken and fish for dinners so my husband and I can eat the same dinner. I've recently read that soy can be bad for you. Dr. D'Adamo does address this in one of his other books, but I'm still concerned. As an A+ can I overdose on soy? If I'm eating too much soy, is there another good source of protein that I can use instead. Thanks for your help. Lonnie



Hi, Lonnie! Sure, you can eat too much of anything ~ simply because too much of one thing means other things aren't making it into the meal plan! :-> It's GREAT you have a knowledgeable naturopath who uses the BTDs in practice. Please discuss the following with him or her, as I'm sure s/he'll agree that a robust cancer prevention strategy cannot rely on one substance alone.



I highly recommend the more recent book, Live Right 4 Your Type in conjunction with the Updates Page, as this book provides portion and frequency guidelines for each food group -- as well as a plethora of lifestyle advice. Also, get familiar with the TYPEbase 3 database for quick food value reference.



For instance, type A secretors are allowed 5-7 servings of beans & legumes per week ~ that's a maximum of one per day. However, their veg/fruit allowances are far higher.



All of the diets have their foundation in vegetables and fruit, with the protein sources taking up a much smaller percentage of the total daily food volume. Those masses of plant life are an integral and extremely important part of the diet's cancer-protection effects. So don't skimp on them in favor of soy or any other protein source.



I wrote a column some time back entitled Meal Planning for the Masses! ~ It sets out guidelines for figuring out what one's ideal daily/weekly diet is, and how to organize same for shopping lists. Have a good look at it ~ I think it can simplify the process of making full use of the food plans. thank you so much for your note, Lonnie ~ don't be a stranger!

:-)

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Why does my nose almost randomly run, just like water? I could be eating a meal or watching tv and then all of a sudden, my nose runs like water. I'm Blood Type A. I've completely switched over to the Blood Type A diet 2 years ago. The results have been short of miraculous. I used to power body build but now I read, go for walks and listen to calming music. My weight was about 220lbs at 37 inch waist. Now I weigh about 158lbs at 29.5 inch waist. My blood pressure was around 160 / 100, now its around 100 / 60. I used to have very dangerously high iron levels, now its optimal. Lots of sinus and throat mucas, now very little. No more white blotches in my nails, no more pink eye or ear infections. I haven't felt this good my entire life. I'm 30 years old now but I've been told I look 25'ish. My close friend is also 30, doesn't eat right for his blood type and looks in his late 30's to early 40's. Adrian





Hey, Adrian! Nice to hear from you! :-) Well, type As certainly have a plentiful talent for mucus production (a wonderful thing for protection against "invaders"), and what is happening now is the result of the healthy, watery mucus very capably washing away any inhaled or ingested irritant. Keep a mini food diary - whenever that faucet starts running, make a note of what you ate in your last meal. Get a picture of the patterns over a month or so, and see if there are certain things usually present in a meal when the waterworks appear. :-) You may find there is a food item or two which is prompting the immune response.



and... WHOO-HOO!!! Grand results, just grand!! Enjoy them to the fullest!!



~~:-D

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Heidi, I enjoy reading your column and appreciate getting answers to some of my questions by reading your answers to other's questions. I am a 43 yr old female, O+ and have been on the diet and exercising for 2 months. It has been a BIG change for me because I previously had a grain(mostly wheat and corn) based diet and a lot of dairy as well. I have been quite strict about avoids, and tried to eat as many beneficials as possible. However, because of financial reasons, I have not been able to buy organic vegetables & fruits and free range beef and fresh fish. I'm doing good to afford frozen fish and regular produce from the grocery store. Thankfully, greens are inexpensive

I have lost about 10 lbs, which makes me very happy, but have a few concerns. I have asthma and allergies and was hoping that I could eventually quit taking the 3 prescriptions I take daily. I tried cutting back a little on my medications after 6 weeks on the diet, and my symptoms got worse, so I went back to normal doses. That was a little discouraging to me, after reading results others have had.

Another question I have is about supplements. I'm not familiar with herbs and haven't taken any, I'm especially worried about calcium since I've stopped drinking milk. I've read about and would love to get the calcium supplement for o's sold on your site, but can't afford to at this time. I guess what I'm wondering is: since I can't get the perfect foods and afford the supplements, how beneficial is it for me to continue on the diet at this time? Am I doing more damage than good by eating more produce (with pesticides) & more beef (with antibiotics & hormones)? Thanks for your help and comments. M.N.

Hi, M.N.! You're doing a wonderful job! New diet, new exercise plan, and you're working to learn more ~ what a great attitude, dear! Your approach will accomplish your goals far more quickly than if you were rich as Croesus but uncommitted to this plan. You absolutely do not have to take supplements -- For calcium, use Peter's Calcium from Almonds list ~ make broth from the bones of roasted chicken, turkey, beef, etc. ~ and pick up a bottle of Gerolsteiner mineral water (or whatever brand you can find locally) once or twice per week.

You are certainly not doing more damage than good by eating more of the foods that are good for you ~ just think, the foods you used to eat are just as heavy with pesticides as the greens, veg, and meat you are eating now. I have a suggestion for getting clean meat at a lower cost than your local retail source: www.eatwild.com has a huge listing of various producers who sell direct and will ship to you. Take a look at it and see if it would meet your needs. There might be someone listed who's near where you are -- in which case, you could drive out and pick up your supply (no shipping cost) and freeze it at home. Investigate greenmarkets or farmer's markets in your area, too: you get a lower price and better food, and the farmer gets all the money ~ no middleman.

Don't be too rushed to get off the meds (I say that, but I totally understand your desire to be rid of them!) ~ as your body heals, the time will come when you don't need the meds. Just let it happen at its own pace, and it WILL happen.

thanks for writing, M.N., and I know you're succeeding right now! :-D

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I'm an "O-." I have been using RevivalSoy products to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Their products deliver the equivalent of 6 cups of soymilk (providing 16 grams of soy protein and 160 milligrams of soy isoflavones. Their new low carb shakes and bars contain "sugar alcohols" as the primary sweeteners. Their literature states that sugar alcohols are categorized as sugar replacers because they replace sugar sweeteners. Sugar alcohols taste very similar to regular sugar, but they are not absorbed very well by the intestines, thus they add very few calories or carbohydrates to products. As an added benefit, they do not produce substantial rises in blood glucose levels (i.e. they are low glycemic index sweeteners). Can I, as an O, safely use these products? Thanks, Claudia

OK: Here is my message to people who are sending questions to my column in order to promote RevivalSoy:

INGREDIENTS of one of their drinks:

Revival® Doctor-formulated Soy Protein Isolate, Fructose, Sucrose, Cocoa, Calcium Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan, Carboxymethylcellulose and Xanthan Gum.

Then they have the nerve to say:

EXCHANGE: 2 very lean meats + 2 1/4 starches

If anyone here thinks soy isolate and a whacking load of corn-based sweeteners and gums and carrageenan and chemicals is somehow OK for ANYONE, let alone type Os (!!), let ALONE as an "exchange" for two meats and two "starches," then all I can say is, I wish you well ~ but these products are not BTD-friendly. I could say lots more, but I am driving on. *phew.* Thanks for listening! :-D

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The diet recommends the use of "seltzer water". Is this the same as club soda or tonic water? If not, is seltzer water commonly sold in grocery stores? Brenda

Hello, Brenda ~ Seltzer commonly refers to salt-free club soda. Seltzer, club soda, doesn't really matter for purposes of the diet; both are found everywhere, so they're easy to find. Tonic water is seltzer with quinine and a bit of sweetener -- but I have not found a single brand of tonic water without corn-based sweetener, so watch those labels (and write in to tell me if you find something WITHOUT that corny stuff! :-)). And here I'll put in a plug for the King Of Fizzy: high-solids mineral water! Study 'em up and pick a favorite at www.mineralwaters.org ! :-)

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Hi Heidi I have just started the diet a few weeks ago and LR4YT has become my bible! In such a short time I no longer suffer from bloating, gas or constipation. I also have no cravings at all for sweets. However, I do still suffer from fatigue. I still need almost 10 hours sleep to recharge my batteries fully and if I don't get this then feel really tired in the early to late afternoon. What can I do to feel more energised in the afternoons? I am a type o (secretor status unknown). I already take a vit B supplement but it doesn't really help. I have completely eliminated wheat, potatoes, corn and beans from my diet. I still have one cup of coffee a day (usually during the afternoon which helps to wake me up somewhat!). Any ideas? Thanks for your great work. Shalinee from down under...

Hummm, hmmm... This could be due to a number of things, but I'll list 'em all ~ just pick and choose among them depending on your circumstances.

Try using green tea instead of coffee in the afternoon ~ it's a great mental brightener, and beneficial for most folks (without the shakiness coffee can produce, along with its other deleterious effects).

Do you get plenty of calcium? If you're unsure, see the calcium part of my reply to M.N., above. A calcium deficiency can certainly produce lagging energy.

There are rhythms of energy through the day, and we all experience "up" and "down" parts of the cycles at various times. Mid-to-late afternoon is a natural time for a nap ~ unfortunately, most work schedules don't accommodate natural energy slumps.

It's possible you need *less* sleep than you're getting, as more than six or seven hours at a stretch is actually harder on the body than two sleep periods of two to five hours separated by an hour or two awake. So, let's say you sleep from ten to two, get up for an hour, then sleep again from three to five (or six). Or, eleven to five with a two-hour nap in the early evening. Play with this and see if it helps you.

It's quite common to experience sleep changes in your early phase of the diet. They usually resolve themselves within a month or two, so it may simply be a matter of time. Hang in there, and see how you're doing in a while - let me know, too, OK? :-D

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Dear 'on the diet' I am blood type o+, 33yrs old female. I have had history of low blood sugar. For a number of yrs i have experienced alot of distress regarding food that i ate. After eating certain food i would feel worse that before! I eliminated wheat and realised that this was giving me reactions to my adrenal grands that make me feel so so so stressed. Yesterday i realised that this is also occuring whenever i eat grains. Even rice and especiall modified maize starch, which sends adrenals and my stress response crazy ( Just like hypoglacemic reactions). I have noticed that this is especially so lik yesterday when i accidently ate rice and something with modified maize starch in it. I spend a long time trying to relieve these symptoms of stress and it took another day to do so. I have read the live right book and it helps alot. I understand that grains are not good for type o. But i would like to ask for any advise around this reaction that i suffer from. I am a very sensitive person which may be be the reason why my body reacts so strongly. If you have any insights into this that you feel would be helpful to me i would very much appreciate this. Also any advise for what i can do to counteract this reaction, that is very stressful and help to remedy this situation, would be helpful. Yours sincerly, May you be happy. Sarah

Thanks for your kind wishes, Sarah! This is a simple problem to solve: no corn for you. It's a serious avoid. Anything with "corn" or "maize" is to be shunned like horrors. If you stay away from it, I promise those reactions will soon be just bad memories! take care, dear!! :-)

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Can a "patch" worn on the arm containing "FUCUS VESICULOSUS and GARCINIA CAMBOGIA" be harmful or beneficial to curb appetite for O's? PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. THANKS!! Pennie

Hi, Pennie ~ A patch, eh? What will they think of next to market to people desirous of weight loss? I opine that it will do nothing to curb your appetite, but will certainly lighten your wallet. Truly, you'll have much better results (and more expendable funds) following the diet, taking l-glutamine for cravings until they subside with time on the diet, use encapsulated fucus, and skip the garcinia altogether ~ Peter tested it some time back, with no significant results.

I hope this helps, dear! :-)

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HELLO, I am a type O positive and have been using this diet for the past few months. I have trouble sticking closely to the diet even though I have some troublesome health issues like an auto-immune thyroid problem and seem to be developing "asthma". Cake and cookies lure me as well as other wheat based snacks, especially at other people's houses. I'm good about the dairy and pretty good about the corn products, although eating mexican food is a weakness too. Do you have any advice on increasing will-power? Also, do you have a recipe for ghee? I'd like to make it at home. Thanks so much, Marian

Hi, Marian ~ Will power is a result of desire, although most folks think of it as soldiering through some painful process. What looks like will power from the outside is often well-founded and pleasurable commitment based on experience, on the inside. The contrast between having asthma attacks and not having them motivates many people to choose the good foods over the old standbys. Seeing the weight come off, or the cholesterol drop, or the thyroid meds stepped down... or the skin improve, or the arthritis disappear... one's values change, and the world changes with them. The tempting treat literally becomes "that poison that makes my joints swell and burn." So, each of us finds a way to handle hunger that doesn't involve eating poisons. Planning ahead, bringing a snack, offering a dish or two for the potluck, etc. ~ your preferred lifestyle will guide you as to what measures to take!

About the ghee, I *can* help you there! :-D Take one pound of butter (my favorite is organic cultured sweet-cream), melt it in a deep pan over medium-low heat (NO stirring at all, in this process), then raise the heat to medium-high and keep it at a medium/high simmer until the foam subsides. Skim off the thick stuff that comes to the top with a slotted spoon. When that's gone, dip a strip of paper into it and light it (over the sink). If the paper sputters, the ghee's not done yet. Test it again in a few minutes. When the paper burns without sputtering, take the ghee off the heat to cool for ten minutes ~ then pour it into a heavy glass jar with a close-fitting top (leave it loosely closed until cool), and let it cool completely. That's it! Some folks like to strain it through cheesecloth, but I've not found it necessary. And everyone has their own tips & tricks, so you'll probably come up with some of your own, as well. Enjoy! It's lovely stuff! :-D

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As a Type B person, I've been following Dr D'Adamo's directives with the Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail most mornings for several years. I recently purchased the Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia, and was surprised to see under the listing for Lecithin(p.518) that type B's should AVOID it! Is this something new? Now I'm confused! Lesesne

Hello, Lesesne ~ That is my own personal error in the Encyclopedia, for which I fully expect to pay life-long! ;-)

Lecithin is OK for ALL types! So enjoy your MFC, and my apologies for the scare! :-D

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In Dr. Dadamo's book "Eat Right 4 For Your Type" on Page 318, 2nd paragraph, last sentence, it states that a type B person can can eat soy products but it is uncertain if it has the same benefits as a type A person for cancer treatment etc.. This seems to be in direct conflict with the type B diet whcih lists soy products of al types on the avoid list. Should this maybe reference a type "O" person? If so, then this would in essence be in itself a type"O". Kidding. I hope that you will e able to help me with my confusion. Thanks in advance, Jim

Hiya, Jim! ... hey, lay off the TYPO jokes, OK? I'm a little sensitive on that count (see the answer to Lesesne, above!) ~ ;-D

The real answer to your question is that when BTD was written, the newer research on soy & Bs had not yet been done -- so in that book's food lists, you'll see soy listed as a beneficial legume. The avoid values you're referring to are from that more recent research, and reflected in the food lists in Live Right, the Encyclopedia, the Food, Beverage & Supp Lists and in TYPEbase 3. thanks for your note!! :-)

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There is a lot of concern, particularly among Afro-Caribbean males about prostate health. However, some of the foods that are supposed to be beneficial to the prostate - eg. tomatoes and pumpkin, are on the avoid list for type B. What advice do you have on this? Are there other foods that contain lycopene that can be substituted for these foods? Jaine

Yes indeed! Peter's column page entitled Lycopene Without the Tomatoes has a lovely list! A couple of those items, I noted, are beneficial for Bs, and the rest are solidly neutral! I hope this helps, Jaine!

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I want to know about some apparant inconsistencies in the book. As a type B, I sould not eat olives, yet olive oil is the best thing for me. As a type B I should not eat Wheat flour, which is in everything including most all beef wienners, yet white flour is on my list as acceptable. Is white (bleached) flour somehow better than whole wheat flour. The book said wasa bread was OK to eat yet they have all kinds including rye and wheat, which I should not have. I also found quaker rice chips and they contain corn, however the ingredients list says that the kernel is removed. Does that make a difference? I am finding cornstarch in most processed meats, including butterball turkey bacon, which is one thing that my daughter loves. I am overweight, I am trying very hard to follow the diet and have been for almost two months, though I have not lost any weight. My daughter is the same blood type as me, she is also 100 lbs overweight, I know she needs to concentrate on the fruits and vegtables, but if she is at least not eating most of what is not good on the diet, should she begin to loose weight. How badly can she sabatoge the process by deviating from the diet? I have more questions but will quit here for now. Thank you very much, Donna.

Hello, Donna ~ good questions. Corn and wheat are in just about all processed foods, and we who follow this diet do a lot of research around our neighborhoods and on the Net to find better products. They ARE out there. Applegate Farms is one producer of wonderful turkey bacon & sausage products that are corn & wheat free.

It is especially important for type Bs to avoid the corn, corn sweeteners, corn products of all kinds (even with the kernel removed), as it can truly sabotage your efforts.

It is most important to (1) get those fruits & veg, and (2) start a very mild exercise program like walking, or the 5BX Plan -- either program can be done at your own level and speed of progress, and will most certainly help you get the weight off. But DO fill up on veg & fruits (after all, you have the most marvelous fruit list of all 4 types, so enjoy it!! :-)) There is NOTHING like these foods for providing vitamins & minerals, antioxidants, and pure water all in one package.

You're at the most difficult stage right now ~ trying to make the transition, and reading all the labels & finding out how bad most of your old diet's foods were. OK! That's past! Do your best to make these changes at your own speed, and drink plenty of pure water between meals. Use the TYPEbase 3 database to check any food you're uncertainof. I'm sure you'll have good results in the weeks to come ~ keep in touch, OK? :-)

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Hi, your column is great. Do you have any recommendations for a type B with chronic infections (klebsiella/blastocystis) and recently discovered celiac. P.S. Thanks for mentioning in a prior column that "b" and soy don't mix. I was already avoiding it per concerns noted in Live Right for Your Type and a recent "accident" made the problem painfully clear. Thanks. elene

Hi, elene ~ I can offer some suggestions you can put to work yourself, but I want to make sure you are under a knowledgeable physician's care... you are, right? If not, you should be, and this should be someone who understands the value of the B diet for you, OK?

Do get hold of the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia ~ it is an invaluable resource, and I will quote some of the recommendations here:

You should definitely use PolyFlora-B, ARA6 (larch arabinogalactan) (both available in the Store on this site), and 500 mg of rose-hip or acerola-cherry Vitamin C every day. The "B" protocols are: Coriolus versicolor mushroom, 300 mg: 1-2 caps daily; Schizandra chinensis, 250 mg: 1-2 caps daily; Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) 500 mg: 1-2 caps daily ~ For 3 Weeks. AND alpha lipoic acid, 100 mg: 2 caps daily; Baptisia tinctoris (homeopathic 6c): 2-3 pellets, twice daily ~ For 4 weeks, concurrent.

Then, go to the bottom of this page and search for "blasto" ~ you'll come up with two column pages, please read them both. Melissa's treatment might be of help to you, if you substitute turkey for the chicken she used.

Elene, my thoughts are with you, and please write back and tell me how you're doing! take good care, dear!! :-)

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Heidi, I heard on the news recently of a study that claimed that browning meats (by grilling, baking at high heat, etc.) caused a significant increase in deposits (plaque, maybe? can't exactly remember) that would lead to heart disease. They were suggesting to (gag) boil or steam almost all meats. If this is true, do you think it might be one of those things that skews along blood type lines? In other words, it happens to Type A (for instance) and everyone else is getting lumped in? (Can you see this Type B and Type O crossing our fingers?) We actually do usually boil or steam or saute meats like chicken and rabbit, and we never deep-fry anything, but we certainly cook red meat on our countertop grill (no charring, at least, from burning fats or anything), and we do prefer some brown edges. Are we heading toward an early demise? Thanks! Kathy

~:-D Yeah, they're really out to get the meat eaters scared to death, one way or another. I wrote something on this issue just in the past few days, which you've probably already read, come to think of it! :-} Oh well, here it is again, and there ain't NO way you & me are going to start boiling our steaks.

Know what those ol' h-g's and nomads did to cook their meat? Put it on a stick and stuck it in the fire. Hi! the cancer rate was nil. I don't know what else (if anything) they fed those lab animals who didn't do well on blackened meat, but I suggest you and I use only organic meats (if at all poss), use common sense in cooking it, keep eating all the massive food & veg quantities demanded! by the diet, do our exercise and just go our merry carnivorous way rejoicing. Boiled lamb chops, yummy!! Pfooie. Wonder what they'll come up with next? stay tuned! :-D Thanks for that note, Kathy! ~:-D

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Hello, dot! The only cactus in the food lists currently is "prickly pear" which covers the entire Opuntia genus of cacti, comprising approximately one dozen different species. Both the fruit and the branches (the fat cactus-y looking "pads," sometimes sold under the name Nopalito) are edible, but all are avoids for type B secretors and nonsecretors. If you find an edible cactus which is not a member of the Opuntia genus, we would consider it "unknown," and therefore neutral for purposes of the BTD ~ but be wary of untoward reactions, OK? :-)

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I am type B and would like to know about these foods from India. 1) Black gram (Urad) 2)Pompano and King fish 3) Moringa Oleifera also called as drum sticks 4)Cutlass Bean 5)Red gram 6) gourds like snake gourd, bitter gourd 7) Sorghum 8) cluster beans 9) Colocasia Kindly tell us about these foods. If you don't have the info,can you test these foods? I will appreciate your input. Thanks, Smita

Hello, Smita ~ We have no values for most of the foods you mentioned, meaning they have not been tested. They can be considered "neutral" if you are in good health and do not need to lose weight, but use them very sparingly if you are trying to resolve a heath condition.

Pompano and sorghum can be found in TYPEbase 3® ~ just type in the food name, and remember to hit the search button, not the "enter" key. :-)

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the doc says in his eat right 4 your blood type, for B+, don't use club soda. it seems to work for me. any specific reason? thanx. blessings, dennis

Hi, Dennis ~ In the updated books, type B secretors are to avoid it, and it's neutral for B nonsecretors. In the TYPEbase 3® database, club soda is listed. The remarks for B secretors: "Inhibits proper gastric function or blocks assimilation." ;-)

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i am female 60 years old and type b+ blood i was under the impression that i could eat ordinary potatoes ie! white or red etc!in your book page 268 live right for your type that as a non secretor potatoes are an avoid for me please tell me it is an error as i have always eaten potatoes and to my knowledge they have not done me any harm i love them!!!! with thanks MMcC

Hi, Mary! sorry for the shock... The new books are an update & improvement over BTD from 1996, and I wish I could say it's an error, but it is the correct new listing. Good news... tomatoes moved to neutral for you... ? :-)

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I am blood type B and my husband is blood type A. Ezekiel bread and Essene bread are on both of our highly beneficial foods. I just looked up the ingredients in these two breads and noticed several ingredients were in these breads that are on our avoid list. Can you please explain why we can eat these breads if there are ingredients, such as barley, kidney beans, pinto beans, lentils, buttermilk, wheat flour, which are foods that we are to avoid. We are adhereing to the diet solutions according to Dr. Peter D'Adamo in his book Eat Right 4 Your Type. JoAnn

Hello, JoAnn ~ It is paramount for all of us to read the labels of products before we buy them, as you have discovered! The Ezekiel 4:9 bread in the food lists refers to a 100% sprouted, yeasted bread with no dairy, whole bean or wheat flour. Food for Life makes a fine one. Essene bread, again, is a 100% sprouted grain bread which may include fruit or nuts, or be only sprouted grain & water. Good hunting!

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Thanks for all the positive info on vegetable glycerine! Now, how do we convert recipes, i.e., 1/2cup of honey equals how much glycerine? One cup of sugar equals how much glycerine? Happy Holidays to everyone! carolyn(0+)sec

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Two questions about Vegetable Glycerine. Apparently it is not a carbohydrate, but instead an alcohol. Does this mean it has no calories? Or for calorie-sake is it essentially counted as a carbohydrate? What is the equivalency for using in recipes? In other words how many tablespoons of it equals some comparable amount of sugar? I'm very excited about this because it gives me something sweet, which is rare besides fruit and because it is available in a variety of sizes at my local Whole Foods Market. I get the largest size! I have added a dash of it to my smoothies and it really does help. Tom Tom Type O-Non Secretor

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You might add to your Glycerine discussion that Whole Foods and others may not stock it next to the sweeteners, but rather in the skin-care section. S.

Hi, veg-gly fans! Yes, I've always found it in the skin-care "oils" section. Calories? No idea! Certainly far less than sugar, if it is susceptible to the "calorie" scale at all. I've no idea how to convert it for recipes calling for sugar, except to test the taste of sugar in water to an equal quantity of vegetable glycerine. Use the amount that makes best taste-sense to you, since the flavor does not change when cooked. It's not a delicate or difficult-to-handle ingredient. Do a little experimenting, and enjoy! :-D

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