I am happy to again be reading on the Forum after a long hiatus. I gave up chat rooms and computer games while I was dealing with my parents’ end of life issues. I didn’t realize how much I had missed the Forum until I got back on a week or so ago. This morning I read a post from “Mother”. After initial success on the BTD she is frustrated. She has been trying to eat only beneficial and diamonds. Now she is not only bored with her food, but experiencing unpleasant physical symptoms.

First a disclaimer. This blog is my opinion. I have never met Dr. D. I have never talked with him. We exchange an occasional e-mail, but he never tells me what to write. This is how I have applied his writings and his speeches that are available on MP3.

Dr. D. never asks us to eat only beneficial and diamonds. I doubt he would consider it to be healthy.

One of the first things that grabbed my attention about the BTD was the concept that “For you some foods act like poison, some foods act like medicine, and some foods act like food.” Beneficials (diamonds) are the foods that act like medicine. Really now, can you imagine existing on medicine- even supplements - alone? Of course not. I maximize beneficials, especially when I am sick or under stress, but I would no more eat only beneficials than I would try to exist on Benadryl, Vitamin B complex, penicillin, and calcium.

Neutrals are good food. They supply energy, phyto-nutrients, vitamins, fiber, and variety. Eat them. They are good for you. I’ll go farther. They are good for you in any amount. If I eat a meal of chicken, butternut squash, and English peas, I have eaten a good meal.

This was from a FAQ column on the BTD website.
What is compliance?
• If you are recovering from an illness or desire weight loss, then 80%-100% of your food choices should be highly beneficial.
• If you are a healthy individual over the age of 55, 80% of foods should be beneficial.
• If you are under 55 and healthy, 70% or more of your food choices should beneficial.
• The remainder of your food choices should be neutral. Avoids should not be eaten.

Dr. D. wrote in his Ask Dr. D’Adamo column that “Generally 70-80% total compliance works well in most people (out of 10 food choices, 7-9 being neutral or beneficial choices)” To me, that means that 1-3 food choices technically could be avoid.

If you have read my blog for very long, you know that I don’t eat avoids at home. I don’t even keep things that are avoid for both As and Os in the house. I try not to eat avoids in restaurants, but if one sneaks in I do not worry about it. I do eat avoids at parties and when I am a guest in someone’s home. Sometimes I feel negative effects. That reminds me why I love this diet! Sometimes I don’t feel anything at all. That reminds me that my body is not hyper sensitive, and that 70 – 80% compliant builds health.

I am happy on this diet. I am satisfied physically and emotionally. I have been content for almost 8 years. I stay happy and satisfied because I freely enjoy neutrals, and I give myself a break once in a while on avoids.

To “Mother” and others like her, I would say that I would be bored too if I ate only beneficials. I’ll be honest. If I had eaten such a limited diet as only beneficials for 2 years, I would abandon the BTD and go looking for something else. But Dr. D. has never put those kinds of restrictions on us. Neutrals are good for food. Enjoy them and the delicious variety they bring to the BTD.