Before the Blood Type Diet, I ate wheat germ, wheat bran and yogurt every morning for breakfast. My stomach hurt most of the time. I was putting some of the worst Type O avoids into my body first thing every morning.

However I liked the texture of that breakfast, and I liked the variety of fruit I could add to it. I went on the BTD cold turkey, so the first morning I had to come up with a new breakfast. It took a few weeks, but I eventually came up with a combination that I liked and that was highly beneficial.

I start with :

1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

2 Tbsp granular lecithin

1 Tbsp rice bran

2 - 3 Tbsp ground nuts or seeds (Some of my favorites are almonds, flax seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and pecans)

I moisten this with enough water of fruit juice to give it a pudding-like consistency.

Then I add the fun stuff.

This week I have had two radically different breakfasts following this pattern.

One day I used a combination of ground flax seed and ground almonds. I added a large banana and a heaping tablespoon of unsweetened carob powder. It was delicious - like eating dessert for breakfast.

Another day I used ground pumpkin seeds. I added a banana and a third cup of fresh blueberries. Equally delicious, but completely different.

I needed brown sugar for some muffins. I was at the health food market, and stopped by the bulk bins to buy some. The label on the brown sugar said "refined sugar, syrup added." I knew that from my health nut days - but I hadn't thought of it in ages. However now when I see "syrup" I wonder what kind? Probably not something good like blackstrap molasses. Possibly something avoid like corn syrup.

I looked around at the other bins and saw an old friend - turbinado sugar. I used to buy turbinado sugar back when I was trying to be a health food purist. I eventually stopped using it because of the cost. Here it was in the bulk bins for only a few cents more per pound than brown sugar.

If you are not familiar with turbinado, here is a quick explanation from the internet.

"Raw, Natural, & Turbinado: In recent years, sugar refiners have realized that there is a market for less refined forms of cane sugar in the U.S. and have begun to sell this kind of sugar under various names

and packagings. None of it is really raw sugar since it is illegal to sell it in the U.S. due to the high impurities level in the truly raw product. All of it has been processed in some form or fashion to clean

it, but it has not been subjected to the full refining and whitening processes of ordinary white table sugar. This leaves some of the natural color and a mild flavor in the sweetener. All of these less refined

sugars may be stored and handled like brown sugar."

I came home with a bag for baking. For most purposes it will substitute perfectly for brown sugar. For a few recipes where a stronger flavor is required, I'll add a little blackstrap or maple syrup.

A few days ago I wrote about how I had not been following the Live Right for your Type sleep guidelines and how I suspected that lack of sleep was affecting my weight. I mentioned a second area where I don't follow the program. Here it is:

Under Lifestyle strategies, keys for type O, I read this: Eat all meals, even snacks, seated at a table. Chew slowly, and put your fork down between bites of food.

Breakfast I almost always eat at the kitchen table while I do my morning Bible study. Dinner we almost always have together as a family. I would estimate that 75% of the time we eat around the table talking to each other. Probably 25% of the time we eat in the den watching a movie

together.

Lunch is another matter. I always say I'm going to sit down at lunch and read a magazine or book. But I usually plan more things for the morning than I have time to do. And I wind up eating my lunch standing up as I finish a project.

Another area I need to work on…when I'm not too busy…does that sound Type O or what?

I was in the kitchen preparing breakfasts and listening to the radio. As the announcer went to a break, he said that next he would be talking to the writer of an article about foods that prevent sports injuries.

It caught my interest because I exercise a lot, and while I haven't been prone to injury, if there's something I could do to avoid a strain or a tear in muscles or tendons, I would do it. I was also curious to see if there was conflict with the Blood Type Diet.

I had intended to put up a link to the article, but I must have written the name of the Magazine down wrong, because it's not where I thought it would be. I will share with you the notes I scribbled down as I listened. The writer recommended five foods and supplements.

1. Water. He said muscles were 75% water (I didn't know that). If your muscles are dehydrated, they are more likely to get hurt.

2. Omega 3 fatty acids. He said that omega 3s prevent muscle inflammation. He recommended walnuts and salmon as sources.

3. Greens. He said all greens boost blood alkaline levels and help injuries to heal faster. He was especially complimentary of spinach, but gave high marks to all greens.

4. Vitamin C and Calcium. Both supplements he said would cut your risk of muscle injury. He said that most people get 25 - 40% less calcium than they need (from my experience, I believe that).

5. Caffeine. He said that caffeine prevents muscle soreness and helps with performance.

The five recommendations would work for all four blood types. Many high caffeine foods are avoids for Type Os (coffee, tea, Cokes), though Green Tea would be a beneficial source. Because caffeine gives me ear noise, I think I will stay with my decaffeinated green tea. But the other four recommendations are practical, and I'll keep them in mind. I'll mention this article to my husband and son the next time they shun unfamiliar cooked greens.

My daughter has been working at a children's music camp. Every day they provide lunch for the campers and staff. After she saw a list of the menus, she asked if I would pack her a lunch every day.

There was nothing that was beneficial for a Type A: no salad choices at all. Basically it was fast food. The four days this first week that I remember were hamburgers, pizza, tacos, and chicken nuggets.

The first day, one of the guys on staff also brought his lunch. They ate together, and she was glad that she wasn't the only one teased about her "healthy lunch."

Do children and their parents demand a constant diet of junk food? Or, is it easier for the people in charge of schools and camps to bring in junk food than to hire a real cook?

My food choices when I was a child were horrific, but the adults in my life made sure I knew that. I was very much aware that I ought to be eating vegetables and more fruit. I cringe for the health problems of the next generation. Some of them seem to know nothing except fast, artificial food.

I have observed before that a little meat goes a long way with my two type As. For years I was embarrassed that I took bigger helpings of meat than my husband. I was still hungry if I ate the amount that he ate. My daughter eats what I would consider a child's portion of meat, though she is in high school.

Recently I've been noticing that among meats, some fill me up faster than others. I am satisfied with a normal serving of beef and lamb. Four or five ounces is fine. It takes a little more chicken or turkey to get the same feeling of well being. I eat nearly twice what is considered a normal serving of fish.

A six ounce can of tuna, for instance, is supposed to contain two servings. My daughter thinks half a can of tuna is just right. I need a whole can. If all I have is a half a can, I add another protein source - like nuts or a neutral cheese)

I'm thinking about this tonight because I fixed cod for dinner. In the midst of the preparation process we had a crisis. (OK if you must know a cell phone was dropped in the swimming pool) I was still pretty wired when we served dinner. I got one piece of cod, and knew it wasn't going to be enough. I ate a piece and a half and felt much better.

I follow the Blood Type Diet food lists and exercise recommendations faithfully. But there are two areas where I haven't had the self-discipline to follow the program.

Both the Encyclopedia and Live Right talk about the importance of sleep and circadian rhythm. This seems to be especially important for Type As. Neither my daughter no my husband get enough sleep during the week. Then they try to make it up on the weekend. I'm encouraging both of them to get to bed earlier in the evening.

A recent experience indicates that Type Os shouldn't ignore getting a good night's sleep either. Disclaimer: What follows is one person's experience. I can't back it up with a scientific study. It falls under the category of anecdotal evidence. However, for me it sure seems to be true. A lack of sleep leads to weight gain and a few days with 8 hours of sleep leads to weight loss.

Last fall I wrote that I had mysteriously gained a few pounds.

They mysteriously vanished over the Christmas holidays.

They returned during yearbook deadlines.

They vanished when school was out.

During the summer I get more sleep than I do during the school year. I start out in September determined to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night, but by October that goal is abandoned. My weight was 128 in the summer, but climbed to 130 late in the fall. It disappeared when I got more sleep over the Christmas holidays. During yearbook deadlines I was often up late at night, and back came those two pesky pounds. They went away when school was out and my schedule relaxed.

Here is what made me take notice. I have been absorbed with an Internet research project. Several nights last week I stayed on-line until 2 or 3 or 4 in the morning. I still got up on time to send my husband off with a good breakfast and lunch. My weight popped up to 130. Over the weekend I made an effort to get 8 hours of sleep. My weight is back at 128.

I was reading in the BTD Encyclopedia about the effect of circadian rhythm on bone growth, skin rejuvenation and immunity - all of which are areas of concern for me. I must be more disciplined about getting to sleep on time at night!

The second area where I fail - - I'll blog about that soon!

Just my opinion, but addiction is a word that is overused today. In addition to saying someone is addicted to drugs or cigarettes, you hear about people addicted to gambling, sugar, sex, food, pornography, etc.

Unless there is a physical basis, I prefer the Biblical concept of mastery over the word addiction. Human beings, especially Americans, like to think of ourselves as independent, self sufficient, and in control of our own lives. The Bible teaches that we shouldn't kid ourselves - we will serve (or be slaves to) something, and it behooves us to choose wisely what will be our master.

For instance Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other…You cannot serve both God and Money." Luke 6:13

Paul wrote, "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14

And when Solomon's son was king, the nation rebelled against God. Egypt, where they had been in slavery many years before, invaded their land and conquered part of it. God's prophet went to the king and said, "They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands." 2 Chronicles 12:8

In other words you can serve God, or you can serve someone else, but someone or something will be your master. This principal holds true in the area of diet and exercise.

If you have no plan and you think you can eat what you want, you will find yourself trapped by commercialism the pleasure of your taste buds. One day you realize you are enslaved to junk food. On the opposite extreme you can follow a diet that is faddish and restrictive (pork rinds and wheat bran come to mind). You have allowed a charlatan to be your master.

If you have no plan to exercise, you will become a couch potato. You are enslaved to a weak body. Or you can follow an exercise guru who has you on a strict regimen that you grow to hate even while you stick to it with devotion.

I find the Blood Type Diet to be a benevolent and gentle master. I have a large list of tasty food to choose from. I'm asked to stay away from highly processed fake food. There are also avoid foods for my type, but ironically many of those were foods I naturally didn't like. If I follow the food lists, I have lots of energy and nagging health problems often disappear.

I'm told to find an exercise that is right for me and to pursue it. As a type O, I can choose from a variety of physical, aerobic type exercises. While I love running, my daughter found it to be a "cruel master." However the calming stretching exercises that she loves, would be burdensome to me. We exercise according to our types, and we are both in good shape.

The next time you hear someone say "I'm addicted to food," you can respond, "Of course you are! The question is not whether food will be your master, but whether you will follow a benevolent or an oppressive plan for eating.

If I were playing Similes back in the days of Charles Dickens, I would know that the title of this blog should be "racing like the wind." But Dickens wasn't trying to exercise on a hot day in an air-conditioned building. So I will leave the title as is.

My daughter is going to teach in Vacation Bible School, and her group had a planning meeting today. I arrived 30 minutes early to pick her up so that I could climb stairs in the delightfully cool church building.

Climbing stairs is wonderful Type O exercise. It works my leg muscles, challenges me aerobically, and is very intense. In the past when I have climbed stairs, I have been aware of an uncomfortable feeling in my right knee. It's not so much pain as a sensation that my right knee is weaker than my left knee. That same sensation doesn't keep me from running, but it does make me limit myself to running only once a week.

I blogged several months ago that I had borrowed some T-Tapp tapes. That program stresses over and over that walking like a duck (with your toes pointed out) will cause knee and hip damage. It also stress the advantage of what they call KLT (pushing your Knee toward your Little Toe).

As I started climbing this afternoon, I felt my weak knee reminding me that it was there. At the same time, I realized that my toes were out. Some instinct for balance had me climbing like a duck. I pointed my toes straight forward, and for good measure pushed my knees out over my little toes. This was not particularly graceful. I looked like a cowboy after a long day on a horse. But as soon as I started, the weak feeling in my knee went away.

I climbed 60 flights of stairs feeling discomfort only when my toes would sneak back out or my knees would go in.

There were lots of people working at the church today. A few took the stairs, but most opted for the elevator. I began to race the elevator, and found that I could easily beat it every time.

Before I close this blog, there was a thread on the Forum - I think it was the one about massaging fat - where someone asked if there was a way to get rid of fat knees. Teresa Tapp calls that "knee knocker fat." She says that walking like a duck builds it up, and that KLT will gradually make it go away. I never got around to posting that on the thread, but perhaps whoever wrote it will read it here.

We had a wonderful and busy 4th of July holiday. Monday morning I could smell that one of the neighbors was starting to barbeque outside. I asked myself, how close could I come to a traditional, yet BTD friendly, 4th of July meal?

I grilled beef and turkey burgers outside. They were delicious. I fixed sweet potato fries for the Os and opened a package of baked corn chips for the As. I fixed spicy pinto beans for the As and grilled onions for the Os.

I was happy eating my burger, onions, and lettuce with a fork, but the family wanted buns. I sent my daughter to the grocery store. She came back saying, "They didn't have anything but wheat buns, but look this package says no trans-fats." (I'll have to write another day about the new labeling laws, but at that moment I was pleased that my kids know what trans-fats are and know it is best to avoid them.)

In the evening we went to a concert and fire works display at a local park. We spread our blanket on the grass and ate a picnic dinner while we waited for the fireworks. Type As are so easy to take on picnics. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich on Ezekiel bread is both portable and beneficial.

For myself on picnics I usually roll meat up in sushi nori seaweed papers. When I have done this in the past they have been good, but tough. Yesterday I took two sushi nori papers and spread them with buttery spread (ghee and olive oil). I rolled them up with lots of sliced turkey and put them in a plastic bag in my daughter's backpack. The day was warm. The buttery spread melted and soaked into the seaweed. By the time I ate them they were soft and full of flavor. A little messy, but nothing a napkin couldn't handle.

I leave you with a Bible verse so appropriate for the 4th of July:

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16

My husband hurt his knee last year, and after he did, swimming aggravated it. There he was swimming laps for his health, but it was making his knee worse. After physical therapy his knee is much better, close to normal in fact. But he is scared to swim laps. I can't say I blame him. Taking a summer off to make sure the knee is completely well is probably a good idea.

My daughter swims laps with me one day a week. When she was on the swim team, she swam five or six days a week. This year she is focused on flexibility exercises that she needs for twirling. So one day of swimming is all she wants.

My son is the pool manager this summer. He is at the pool all the time, but he is working when I am swimming. All of that is to say that the years that the whole family went to the pool every evening and swam together are past.

I have been swimming three days a week. I ride my bike the half-mile to the pool, swim for 30 - 45 minutes, and ride home. My bike is the one my parents gave me when I was perhaps 9 or 10 years old. It is an AMF Roadmaster - probably an antique.

People sometimes do a double take when they see me. Is it because my bike is so old? Or is it because women my age don't usually ride bicycles in their swimsuits? Perhaps they are wondering how I stay in shape. If they asked, I would shout "Blood Type Diet" as I rode by!

On May 22 I started an experiment. I began body brushing only on the right side of my body. I wanted to see if body brushing really made a difference in cellulite. I pledged to brush twice a day. Most days I made it, but I'll admit I missed a few times.

After almost 6 weeks I can't say that I see a bit of difference in the cellulite on my legs. Zip, Zero, Nada.

I'm going to continue the experiment for another month. While I can't see any difference in the cellulite, there is a hint of a difference in regards to another leg issue. I will report back on August 1.

If anyone else joined me in my experiment I would like to hear your results. It's not to late to start. Brush only one side for the next month. See if you see any improvements in the side you are brushing.

It has been so hot that I had to turn the freezer off a week early. Our deep freeze is in our garage. I usually shut it down after July 4th and leave it off until mid September. The temperature in the garage during the summer makes the motor work too hard and uses too much electricity.

The past few days we've had some odd menus as I tried to use up enough food from the deep freeze so that the rest would fit in the little freezer above the refrigerator.

I hate finding weevils, so I keep all of my flours in the freezer. There's no room for that now. Flour is in tightly closed Tupperware containers sprinkled with a few bay leaves. I read somewhere that weevils stay far away from bay leaves. It seemed to work last year.

I will miss having quick meals set aside in the freezer for hectic days when I don't have time to cook. I make a double batch of a recipe and store half in the freezer. However, there's not much storage room in the little freezer.

Then again the kitchen heats up so fast that I don't do as much cooking in the summer anyway. We'll be having variations on chef salad several times a week until fall. The crock pot and the smoker outside on the patio will also be used more.

The thought of going to the store every day, every-other-day perhaps, is not exciting. I will try to make the most of it by enjoying all of the fresh produce that is in season.

I am stalling about finishing this blog. I need to go to the store right now for bread, juice, and meat for tonight's dinner. I should have gone an hour ago, but I was reading a suspenseful novel and a nice breeze from the fan was blowing my way. Now the hands of the clock are pointing at me accusingly. Out I go, braving the elements to provide sustenance for my family.

Psalm 78 is a review of the history of the Israelites. The writer describes the recurring cycle of rebellion against God, disaster, and repentance. The purpose is to encourage the current generation to follow God fully and absolutely. In the middle of the Psalm is a passage that could have come from the Blood Type Diet Forum!

In Psalm 78:17 - 31, the writer is telling the story of Israel's wandering in the wilderness, how God provided water for them and then miraculously provided food. Here are a few of the verses.

"They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved…When the Lord heard them, he was very angry…for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. He rained down manna for the people to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat...He rained meat down on them…They ate till they had more than enough, for he had given them what they craved. But before they turned from the food they craved, even while it was still in their mouths, God's anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them."

The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. God miraculously freed them and was leading them back to their homeland. He was daily taking care of their needs, including sending manna every morning. But they craved the food they used to eat.

Do you see the parallel?

Each of us found the BTD because of some problem we were having. For me it was indigestion. For some of you it was fatigue, allergies, obesity, etc. We now have a list of foods that will give us health. It's a list with lots of flavor and lots of variety. We start the diet, we feel better, then what do we do? We crave the food we used to eat!!!

We complain. We want bread, cookies, gravy, chicken fried steak, potatoes, donuts, cheese, pie. How many times do I read on this website things like, "I couldn't resist," "I had to have." "What's wrong with…?" "Would it really hurt if…?"

The Bible says that God gave the Israelites the food they wanted, then a plague broke out against them. Again I see a parallel. The food you and I crave is available all around us - at the grocery store, in restaurants, at parties, perhaps even in your own kitchen! I can abandon the BTD anytime I want to, but often while the food is still in my digestive system, I feel the results.

I am reminded this morning to be thankful that God has provided such an abundant list of foods that build health for me. I am also warned that to crave food that I used to eat will lead to nothing but pain and disappointment.

We went to a seafood house for lunch after church. My daughter eats fish at home, because I cook it in ways that she likes. She has had bad experiences ordering fish at restaurants, so she ordered a grilled chicken salad.

Most of the items on the menu said "lightly breaded and fried." I found one item, a little more expensive than the others, that said broiled with lemon pepper. They had the usual coleslaw and French fries, but there were other vegetable choices as well. I ordered black beans and spinach. My husband also ordered the broiled fish. We settled down at our table to sip water with lemon juice while we waited for our food.

At this restaurant they call your number and you go pick up your food. My husband picked up his meal and mine; I couldn't see my daughter's. There it is, said a server pointing at a shrimp salad. "I'm sorry," I said, "she doesn't eat shrimp. She ordered a chicken salad." I got a dirty look, but she took the shrimp salad back to the kitchen.

I returned to the table, and looked at my food. The fish was breaded. Back I went to the counter. The same server was there. "I don't want to cause trouble," I said, "but I ordered broiled fish."

"That is broiled," she answered.

"It's breaded," I said. "I don't eat wheat."

"It's not wheat," she answered. "It's crackers."

"Crackers are made from wheat," I said. "Your menu said breaded for every item except the broiled fish. I ordered that because I didn't want the breading."

"I'll redo it if you like," said the server, "but it will take a while."

That's fine, I'll just eat my vegetables while I wait," I said.

When I repeated this conversation back at our table, I thought my daughter would fall out of her chair laughing when I got to the part about wheat not being a problem because the fish was breaded with crackers. Because of the BTD my teenager knows more about food ingredients than the servers at this restaurant!

When she brought my daughter's chicken salad to the table, she smiled. When she brought my fish (very tasty by the way), we exchanged pleasantries. She suggested that the next time we come I specifically say no breading of any kind on my order. I think that is a very good suggestion.

It can't be said too often that exercise is every bit as important to living right for your type as what you eat. It's more interesting to blog about food: what I cooked, how people reacted to new food, choices available (or not available) on menus. Exercise becomes a routine that is built into every day - like washing dishes or making beds. Writing another blog about a swim or the exercise machine feels about as exciting as writing about the laundry. But this morning something happened that made me smile.

It is much too hot to run any time except early in the morning. To be completely honest it's too hot to truly enjoy running even then. Of all the different ways I exercise, running is the one that leaves me feeling the best when I'm finished. So even though it's hot, I run once a week.

I have a friend in the neighborhood who I've known for 12 or 13 years. We worked in PTA together when our college sons were in elementary school. Last year she noticed that I was trimmer than I had previously been, and commented. I gave her a brief version of the health problems that led me to the BTD and what had happened since. She listened, smiled, and changed the subject. That is the initial response I get from most people. Often they will call back a few days or months later and say, "What was that diet again?"

She and her husband walk their dog for exercise. This morning I passed them on my run and shouted hello. The blocks in our neighborhood are almost exactly 1 mile in perimeter, and I planned to run two miles. On my second mile I passed them again, and again called out a greeting. This time there was a look of astonishment on her face. It said, "You and I are the same age. How do you have the energy to lap me and smile about it?"

I can't force the BTD on anyone, but if she calls, I'll be happy to explain it to her again.

My trip last week to my parents' house was unexpected, and I had just stocked up with a lot of fruit. Though my family ate fruit during my absence, I was getting worried that it was too ripe and would soon start to spoil.

I'm not very good at sitting still and watching sports on television. Sometimes I fold laundry or do paperwork. It was impossible for me to sit at all during an incredibly close 7th game of the NBA Finals. Baking seemed like a good idea.

I had five bananas that were so ripe they didn't have to be mashed. I scraped them out of the peel with a spoon. I mixed up banana bread batter and baked one load of bread and a batch of muffins.

I also had a lot of plums that were too squishy to put in lunch boxes. No one likes to bite into a plum and have juice drip all over your hands and shirt. Since I couldn't find a recipe for plum bread, I decided to take a chance with one of my favorite Type A muffins. (Here is the link if you want it - http://www.dadamo.com/bloggers/h/archives/00000252.htm )

When I have made Rice Muffins with fruit like blueberries, I used the 1 cup of applesauce called for in the recipe plus a cup of additional fruit. This time I peeled and chopped one cup of plums. They were so soft that I was afraid to use a full cup of applesauce, so I cut it in half. I should have omitted the applesauce altogether. The first batch of muffins was too moist.

After I took them out of the muffin tins I put them back in the oven on a cookie sheet to dry them out a little. I added additional flour to the batter before putting the second batch of muffins in the oven. They came out with a better texture. The plums made them very, very sweet.

I have healthy breakfasts for several days.

Tonight's dinner was salmon, salad (Romaine lettuce, carrots and celery), curried rice, and rye/spelt biscuits. I needed another side dish. Black beans sounded good, but I wanted something different.

I mixed a can of black beans with a can of great northern beans. The reaction from the family was interesting. My daughter does not like her foods mixed together. She said the beans looked really nice and that I should fix them that way for company. But she picked out the black beans first, and then ate the white.

My husband loves casseroles. He promptly mixed the beans and rice together and enjoyed them. My son ate a large helping, saying he likes the way the beans taste together better than when they are separate. We have settled on the name of zebra beans for this dish.

Obviously tonight's menu was aimed more at the As than the Os. I ate a very large salad, a normal helping of salmon, and one spoon of beans. The As ate balanced amounts of everything. My son ate a whole lot of salmon and a lot of everything else. He was on his way to work out at the gym.

A lot of good, helpful, and productive ideas get linked to the Blood Type Diet on the Forum, but so do a few over blown and superfluous ideas. Not to mention ideas that are unproven or unaffordable.

Each person who writes brings their own background to the BTD. Because I am healthy, I don't have to take an occasional avoid nearly as seriously as someone battling chronic disease. On the other hand because of my health food background, I probably take more supplements than are really necessary.

Once in a while I read something on the website and inside I think "Oh my! What would someone brand new, trying to get a sense of what the BTD is about, think about that?" And sometimes my answer is that they would be turned off.

I read something this morning that got me started thinking in that vein, and I began to ponder what are the essential elements to the BTD?

Organic is not an essential. Some followers are 100% organic, some or not. I probably buy 25% organic, but organic is not a must for the BTD.

Grass fed/wild caught are not critical to the BTD. I have never bought grass fed meat. I buy hormone free meat and wild caught fish when it is affordable. But my family often eats commercially raised meats.

Fresh tastes better - no question about that. But fresh locally grown produce is not a must. In fact there are studies that show a higher nutrient content to foods that are frozen or canned immediately after they are harvested than produce that spends a lot of time in transport, on shelves, or in the refrigerator before it is eaten. When I shop I visit the produce department first. I keep a freezer and pantry full of beneficial fruits and vegetables to make our menus more balanced and more interesting.

You can freely eat either raw or cooked food on the BTD. There are lots of helpful things you can do nutritionally that may fine tune the BTD for you. Many on the BTD promote a variety of cleanses. There are supplements that may help you overcome deficiencies or disease. But none of those things are required.

The two things that define the Blood Type Diet for me are the food lists and exercise. The BTD is about making an effort to eat more beneficials and fewer avoids. It is also about exercising in a way that is beneficial for your type. If you consistently do those two things, you will see multiple health benefits.

I needed the radio to keep me company on the long drive home from my parents' house. As I scanned channels I found a talk show hosted by a dentist. He gave a fascinating talk about the healing effects of certain herbs. Because I was driving alone, I couldn't take notes, but I wrote down his name. This morning I called his office to ask if the information was posted. His assistant told me that it was in the current issue of Family Circle magazine. Here are a few of the interesting things he talked about.

Cinnamon lowers cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar. Sprinkle it on cereal, bake in breads, or add it to meat loaf.

Fennel, a licorice-flavored spice, prevents gas, heartburn and upset stomach Chew ½ teaspoon of the seeds after a meal or make a tea .

Ginger may be good for your joints as well as your stomach. In a UCLA study patients had less knee pain with a ginger supplement than those who took a placebo. Researchers said that ginger had almost as much benefit as arthritis prescription drugs. Ginger can be added to soups, salads, veggies and entrées.



Oregano may be protective against breast and ovarian cancers, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington D.C. In addition, oregano has antibiotic and antifungal properties. One study showed that oregano oil was as effective as antibiotics in treating staph infections in mice, without danger of developing resistance. Oregano can be added to spaghetti sauce, poultry, fish and veggies such as mushrooms and green beans.

Rosemary could help fight cataracts, and is a rich source of carnosol, a compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. (Specifically against skin and lung cancers) Add to fruit salads, soups, lamb and fish.

Sage may boost your memory. It is tasty on fish or in salads.

Thyme acts as an expectorant by loosening phlegm. Its lemony flavor is a good addition to salads, soups, sandwiches, meat, fish or poultry.

The article answered a recipe substitution question that I had wondered about for years: Which is better dried or fresh? One food scientist said that you get more antioxidant value from the dried version (except for garlic) because the dried version is more concentrated. If a recipe calls for fresh herbs and you want to use dried, cut the amount in half.

To read the full article, which includes warnings for using too much of certain herbs, go to: http://www.familycircle.com/home/homepage.jsp

I'm going to add rosemary to tonight's lamb and ginger to tonight's carrots.