Hi Heidi,

Before I ask a question for my husband, I have to tell you the most wonderful news about EAT 4 YOUR TYPE! I was put on Lipitor 3 years ago due to high cholesterol that would not even "budge" despite vigorous exercise and a vegan diet. I gave up being vegan and my cholesterol went down due to the liver damaging statin, Lipitor. I went off the Lipitor without telling my doctor and tried one last time to try diet and exercise to no avail. My cholesterol climbed to 279. Four months ago, I made up my mind to try to eat for my "B" type blood and QUIT taking the Lipitor. I got my blood tested last week and my cholesterol went down over 100 points!!!! I lost 8 lbs. too without even dieting!!!!! Soooooooo, I have a lot of interested friends.....

Now for my husband's question. He is Type AB. (Interestingly, his maternal ancestors are from Poland and paternal ancestors from Russia). He has been on Lipitor for 3 years too. The "stubborn Russian" side of him doesn't want to give up a banana and a glass of orange juice every day and doesn't feel that an occasional hot dog or hamburger will do him in. (In a 4 month period, I did have chicken, popcorn, tomato sauce on pizza and shrimp just a few times bit will NEVER go off this plan again!) What can you say to convince him to give up those 2 fruits? Thank you and please tell Dr. D'Adamo of my success! Regards, Karen

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With such a persuasive BTD'er in the house, I'm not optimistic that my humble offerings will inspire your husband to flee his favorite avoids, but I'll give it a go.

The banana lectin is no good for his stomach and intestinal lining. He might not "feel" anything since he's so used to eating them. The harm done by oranges is even less perceptible: it contains polyamines, cancer-causing substances in adults (especially As and ABs). Hot dogs are similarly bad choices, due to the pork/nitrate combination which is, sadly, a recipe for stomach cancer and immune system disease in ABs. Hamburgers made from commercial meat with its load of pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones are another recipe for AB disaster.

Your charming account of yourself & husband is so delightful, I'm tempted to say "Aw, you two are perfect; don't change a thing!" Not the best approach, though. :-D I can suggest a couple of strategies, but you'll have to be the judge as to what is worth trying with your husband -- you're the one who knows him best.

If he's healthy otherwise, try making up a cold smoothie for him -- bananas, oranges and another favorite fruit (but mostly bananas). Offer him some banana cream pie. Baked bananas drizzled with honey are also really tasty. Fruit salad (you guessed it -- heavy on the bananas). Just try to double or triple his banana intake for a week or two, and watch him closely to see if he complains at all of stomach pain or gas.

In the meantime, slowly introduce into his diet some pineapple juice, black cherry juice, etc. -- in smoothies and juice mixes -- and maybe some herbal tea if his stomach rebels against all those bananas. ;-)

Turkey hotdogs and fresh-ground turkey or lamb can take the place of the pork and beef. There's even a decent turkey bacon made by Applegate Farms. Substitutions and experiments with new foods are good ways to boost his health, whether he finally gives up those pesky avoid items or not.

There is a highly useful supplement called red yeast rice which works even better than Lipitor with none of the side effects. The only source I can recommend is http://www.redyeastrice-china.com/ In their pages, you'll find a U.S. contact phone number in New Jersey. They sell one-kilo bags of the powdered RYR. 1200 mg (1/2 teaspoon) twice per day is the effective dosage to lower high cholesterol in a matter of weeks, and if your husband moves a little closer to the AB diet, the effects can be permanent.

Many congratulations on your success, Karen, and my best wishes to you in the laudable task of gaining it for your husband as well! :-D