The question I get most of all is in regard to what it means to be a secretor or non-secretor, how to find out, etc. So Here goes...

For beginning on the BTD, it is advised to start out with the Secretor version of the diet, or that found in the wallet foodlists. That is simply because most (about 80%) of all people are secretors, and it’s a little easier diet to follow when you’re starting out as grains and sugars aren’t as restricted. After a time, though, you will want to find out your secretor status, especially if you have any chronic health problems. This enables you to fine tune the diet further and see even more amazing results.

You can order the salivary secretor test through this website’s online store, North American Pharmacal, or a few other sources. Here are some links:

NAP Secretor Test

In Europe, go to

http://websell.pipex.com/beta-cgi/rightforeu/4-kits.html

You must know your ABO bloodtype beforehand, and the rest is simple, with detailed instructions provided. Basically you spit into the little tube provided and mail it to the lab in the postage-paid envelope provided. You can get your results either through the mail or online. The salivary test is more accurate than blood tests, as it is easier to read in the lab.

Then, when you get your results, if you find out you’re an O secretor, congratulations! Have a party, and eat some strawberries for me. If you’re an O non-secretor, time to study up and make the mental adjustment to giving up soy, dairy, spelt, and cutting further back on carbs. O’s can see my archive for things that non-secretors can add back into their diet, the blog was titled “O Secretors: 58, Non-Secretors: 16”, from January. For most of you the news of your non-secretor status won’t be a complete surprise, you may have already noticed some of the signs: increased food sensitivities, more problems with UTI’s, Candida, h. pylori, dental cavities, etc. In my case finding out my secretor type helped me get a diagnosis on my h. pylori. I realized, you know, I do have some symptoms, so I explained my symptoms to my doctor and he tested me for it with a positive result.

Keep in mind that it’s not easy to guess ahead of time, as not all non-secretors have all the telltale signs. For instance, I have great teeth, not one cavity, but I do have most of the other problems (more than a handful of food allergies/intolerances, previous problems with h. pylori, previous recurrent UTI’s, etc.). I attribute my good teeth to diagnosing myself (inaccurately) with hypoglycemia as a teenager and going sugar free for many years. I didn’t have hypoglycemia, my sugar levels were normal, but I knew then that I felt better when I didn’t eat sugar, especially sodas.

Here is a good overview of secretor subtypes I just came across:



http://websell.pipex.com/beta-cgi/rightforeu/4-Lewisgroup.html

The Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia and Live Right 4 Your Type give the most comprehensive information I can find, so I recommend those especially for my fellow non-secretors.

Also, if you're a nonsecretor, you don't need to worry about the Tier system in Live Right, all non-secretor food lists are automatically like Tier II. We nonnies have to be good, but the potential for great health is certainly there, if we follow the plan. Many non-secretors express how sick and tired they are of being sick and tired...we were often the sickly children, getting prescribed antibiotics time after time, missing school or work, repeated unfruitful doctor's visits, etc. The great news is that we can turn that around and become the image of good health. In my experience, we O nonnies can lose weight very quickly on the diet. Do other nonnies have this experience? I often worry about losing it too quickly. I have to avoid stepping on the scales or else I might be tempted to slow things down by eating too many carbs. Just focus on how you feel, not what the scale says.