Heidi, This isn't a question for you to answer, but a request that you talk to someone about changing the margins on the website. Whenever I try to print out info, whether your Q&A or those of Dr. D'Adamo, the right-hand margins cut off some letters, even whole words. Then I have to laboriously go through and hand-letter in the omissions. And that is time-consuming and very aggravating. Also, if the material is something I want to show my doctor, for example, it looks mighty unprofessional. I originally thought it was my small printer, but not so, because I am just now on my husband's larger system, and the same thing occurs. So it must be the margins on your site. Please see what you can do to solve this problem. It might be a little insignificant, but I surely am not the only person facing it. Thanks for your work and blessings be heaped upon you! Ruth



I think it's been fixed as of today, Ruth ~ thank you for the suggestion, and for your kind blessings!



Hello Heidi, I love your column. However, each time I click your collumn's link to the "official change log," I get a notice that the page cannot be found. Any suggestion? Thank you, Eva



The URL is http://www.dadamo.com/lr4yter.html -- I'm not sure which column contained the link that doesn't work, but I'll correct it if I find it ~ thanks! :-)



Has "Eat Right for your type" been published in Spanish? If so, where is it available for purchase. Thank you, Ana



Both Eat Right and Live Right are available in Spanish, at least in Argentina. See the International link just under the Eat Right 4 Your Type heading on our home page for the availability of international editions. :-)



I have tried to get information regarding "Subtype" from the webpage, specifically "RH incompatibility and schizophrenia" to no avail. Can someone somewhere send me the information that is available with regard to the previously mentioned site as it may relate to my son. (I realize this may not be your department, but I would appreciate it very much if you could find the time to send this request on to the appropriate person so that I may access this information) Thanks a bunch! Deb



Dear Deb: I reviewed the Ask Dr. D'Adamo page you noted, but couldn't ascertain what information regarding subtype you're seeking. Have you tried the "subtype" link at the bottom right corner of the home page? If this doesn't provide what you need, please let me know!



Hello Heidi Somewhere I recall you making a reference to the Practitioners registry. Could you change my listing? I am listed under Healing Garden Clinic. Kenneth Carlin, ND 919 3rd Street, Suite 102 Langley, WA 98260 (360) 221-5596 Thanks - Ken



Hi, Ken ~ thanks for updating your entry! By the way, the NCNM Alumni Referrals database also lists you in Seattle ~ just a note! :-) I've made your changes in our Practitioner Registry Database. We truly appreciate your support!!



Thanks to all for their hints, tips and suggestions ~ always glad to hear from you!

Heidi, I was just reading the column about red yeast rice and cholesterol. I've recently purchased some red yeast rice from Solaray (600 mg). Were you not aware of this source, or were you basically deliberately saying it's not a good source? I've had high cholesterol (~300-400) for years and years. Five years on a strict B diet has done nothing for it, so I keep trying other things (though of course I will stay on my B diet too!). (And I never take drugs.) Anyway, I'm going to have my level tested again in the next couple of days and then start the Solaray red yeast rice and see what happens. I'd be interested in knowing, though, if you think I should instead go through the source you mentioned. Thanks! Kathy

---

Hi, Kathy! Solaray's red yeast rice is available in most supp shops, and comes in capsules (and small quantities, 45-90 caps), which admittedly is a convenience compared to the Jingxin red yeast rice I recommended. Theirs must be acquired through mail order, and comes in 1 kilo (2.2-pound) bulk packages. From what I have read, however, the Jingxin product is far more effective -- and somewhat safer to take.

When one of the new cholesterol-lowering drugs (Lovastatin) was released, the FDA prevailed in naming the monocolin-k component of many major manufacturers' red yeast rice supps a "proprietary" ingredient. In 2001, most of the companies pulled their RYR supps from the shelves. That's when I learned of Jingxin's product.

Put simply, Jingxin's RYR acts through its high concentrations of MVA (approaching 100% in their "masterwork" RYR), which lowers cholesterol on its own. The active substance monocolin-k in pre-2001 commercial supps is activated only through hydrolysis by several kinds of carboxyesterases. Some of us produce plenty of these compounds. Others make little to none of them, in which case constant dosing with monocolin-k can result in damage to the liver and kidneys.

Jingxin includes a full individual-batch assay from a government lab in each order, so you know exactly what you're getting. I've been looking around the Net for details on the two commonest brands of RYR (KAL and Solaray), and I'm not finding any specific monocolin-k/MVA breakdown on their products. If you've got a bottle there in hand, I strongly suggest calling the 800 number if it's on the label, and asking for this information. Then compare it to the product details on Jingxin's website, or call Michael in the New Jersey agent's office at 732-257-8844. Then you'll have a solid basis for your decision on which one to use.

I'm sorry you've had this persistent trouble with cholesterol levels. Maybe you're one of the rare NN subtypes? Perhaps some people with genetically-keyed high cholesterol are "meant" to have it? like a normal state? More Research Needed!

Thanks for writing, dear, and please keep me posted on your situation. :-)

I am a type o non-secretor. I also have hypoglycemia. I do fine on the high protein, low carb diet, however I have added foods such as ezekiel bread, rice, pinto beans, pineapple juice, and cherry juice to my diet. I continue to eat lots of meat and vegetables. Should I eliminate foods high on the glycemic scale even if they are considered beneficial? I am still trying to determine what affect bad lectins have on blood sugar levels. I am determined to stay on this diet. Thanks!

Peter is fond of pointing out that it is not how much carbohydrate, but what kind of carbohydrate, that makes the difference. The glycemic index is only one aspect of food analysis. Live Right’s recommendations are designed not just upon the general observation of a food’s effect on blood sugar levels, but according to the kinds of sugars present, any lectin activity, the relative amount of beneficial substances, and other type-mediated issues.

For instance, pineapple juice contains anti-inflammatory and protein-digestive enzymes. Black cherries are high in antioxidant compounds, and act to lower polyamine levels. In contrast, apples and oranges have much lower glycemic index ratings than pineapple… but apples contain a lectin affecting type O nonsecretors, and have little to offer aside from fruit pectin, while oranges contain high levels of putrescine, rendering them avoids for most types. Would anyone on the typical hypoglycemic’s diet consider indulging in watermelon? Of course not, it’s at the bottom of the list, with an index of 103/72! But Live Right says it’s beneficial for Bs, ABs and A nonsecretors… because it contains substances that moderate insulin’s effects as well as reducing edema. In effect, it performs the tasks that the glycemic index hopes to achieve through discouraging you from eating it.

If grains trigger wooziness or cravings, cut back. O nonsecretors should have only a maximum of three servings per week ~ if you're Rhesus-negative, that figure drops to two.

Other factors come into play. There is always an adjustment period involved if this diet is a big change from your former one. At first, you may experience hefty cravings for the grains and sugar you’ve eliminated from your diet. Not only your liver and insulin functions, but your very brain chemistry, changes in response to this kind of dietary upheaval. Smile! Feeling lousy is a sign that the adjustments have begun, and sticking to the diet means you won’t have to go through them again. The best approach is to fill up on protein, perhaps more than the suggested amounts, and fill in with vegetables ~ this is perfectly OK, and is your body’s way of treating itself to the healing and rebuilding power of what it needed that it hadn’t been getting. Over a few months’ time, most Os find their appetite for meat settles at a more moderate level.

Vegetable glycerine, widely available in health food stores, has beneficial effects upon our ability to release energy from the food we eat, and can be used in place of any sweetener you now employ.

If you are willing to use supplements, try 5HTP, L-glutamine, and/or L-tyrosine for cravings. You won’t need them forever. Deflect-O™ helps clean your tissues of insulin-mimicking lectin deposits, and Polyflora-O™ speeds the repopulation of beneficial bacteria to support your digestion and immunity. Both are available from North American Pharmacal.

Finally, don’t forget the exercise part of the plan. Half an hour per day is a tiny investment compared to the whole-body rewards it confers. For type Os, it is absolutely essential to get an exercise program in place which is based upon your current fitness level and keyed for gradual improvement. Watch for signs of boredom or strain, and adjust your routine accordingly.

This plan has a wonderful track record in handling hypoglycemia. I'm sure you'll meet with success!

My blood group is 'O' and as I am sure your aware the diet is pretty carnivorous. However, my main problem is that I am and have been since birth a vegetarian. I am trying to follow the diet, but was wondering if I can allow more eggs and dairy into my diet plan to make up for the missing meat and poultry. Many thanks for your help.



A great number of type Os come to this diet from a vegetarian lifestyle, and wish above all to adhere to their ideals. Based upon my personal experience and the accounts of hundreds of others, I would encourage you to consider how much good you can do in the world if you are the healthiest person you can be. Consider this plan from the standpoint of what we Os are biologically designed to eat, and what balance means in nature. As a stopgap measure for your pondering phase, I'd like to offer Bob L's wonderful post on how type O vegetarians might approach this diet. Here it is:



"Select the foods you will eat from the beneficial and neutral lists. Try not to base your meals on grains, but if you do, rice is probably best. Instead of grains use squash or sweet potatoes as a starch. Eat plenty of vegetables and moderate amounts of fruit. Get protein at every meal from nuts, seeds, beans and tempeh which I think is better than tofu. Soaking nuts like almonds to germinate them make the nutrients contained more assimilable. Use nutritional yeast.



"Supplement with vit B12, and the amino acids taurine and carnitine. D'Adamo says the ayurvedic herb Coleus Forskolii aids cellular energy production in vegetarians. If you are a secretor, you may be able to eat a little more of the neutral cheeses like feta, farmer and mozarella than is recommended. If you will eat eggs, this would make things easier and simpler.







Note: Strict vegetarians should be aware that both taurine and carnitene are amino acids derived from meats.



If you have no health problems, this modified O diet could work for you. But if you find yourself overweight or ill, it may be Nature sending you a rather carnivorous message. Good health to you!

Dear Heidi, thrill with your column, I read it first thing in the morning after I have my breakfast, I am AB secretor with a history with cancer, very healthy otherwise, taking all the supplements Dr. D'Adamo recommends and following the diet. The supplements I take are from North Pharmacal but in the Encyclopedia in some protocols there are some supplements that I can not find, please help me, for example Astragalus and OPCs. For my stress reduction I am practicing now Qigong and Tai Chi and I feel great. Thank you for your time and the love you transcend in your column. Luisa

---

Thank you, Luisa ~ how kind! ~~:-}

Here are a few pointers on finding the supplements recommended in the Encyclopedia. Perhaps you've done all this already ~ if so, just email me and I'll try to help further!

1.) Perhaps you or a friend or family member could scour your locality for a responsive organic grocer or supp shop. Copy out exactly the full English name and Latin name (if given) of the supps you're looking for, including the preferred strength (20mg, 500mg, etc.) and how many to take, how often. Also, figure out how many you'll need to complete one round of your protocol (commonly, capsules are packaged in 60, 120, 180 or 500-unit bottles). If you find a store that stocks your supp, but in a different strength -- 100 mg capsules when you're looking for 50 mg, for example -- you may be able to take fewer dosages -- if the book calls for 2 caps three times per day, for example. You see what I mean.

If you find a shop that carries a good supply of vitamins, etc., but they don't have what you're looking for, ask to speak to the manager. Explain what you need. Ask if they normally carry it -- or could special-order it for you, and how much it would cost. Think about how much you'll need for one round, two rounds or more of your protocol (however many you plan to do), and ask how many bottles you'd have to commit to in order to get the special order. Unless you're really flush with cash and the minimum order is no more than you can use, just get a price from them -- you can always place the order when you've checked other sources' prices and delivery times. It may be that someone you know could join you in the order, or you could ask the manager to let you know if others request the same supp -- you could form a group order that way.

Why am I belaboring this simple idea? As a general rule, I like to support local businesses. It's just a political philosophy I have, but it's not some high-level abstraction unrelated to daily life. Those people in your neighborhood or town or city who work every day to get good stuff on their shelves won't be there for you when you need them if they don't get your business. In addition, a few vocal customers can change a marginal little joint into a thriving supply of high-quality products. Most merchants want to know what you want to buy, and they want to be the ones to sell it to you. Everyone wins! :-) All I'm saying is... give Commerce a chance!! :-D Just opening your mouth to a manager puts a seed idea into her head which will pop up every time someone else does the same.... be part of the process, folks!

2.) If local shopping is not an option, then go to my favorite search engine: alltheweb.com's advanced search. Choose "exact phrase." Enter the supp you're looking for. Down below, enter each of the following terms separately in one of the three windows provided, after choosing "must include" from the pulldown menu: mg, cap [or veggiecap if desired], organic [try with and without this one, as not everything you're looking for is an herb or root]. This technique isn't perfect, but it weeds out lots of pages (bulletin boards and general health sites, for example) that won't help you.

Astragalus is a venerable supplement you'll find all over the Net and in several well-known brands in most supp shops. That one should present you with no problem.

For oligomeric proanthocyanidins (a term I don't see often while browsing! :-)) I didn't use the additional terms -- I just entered the name and specified "exact phrase" to see how many hits I'd get.

58 hits. Hmmm.... Does Dr. Joel Wallach have his own bunch of sites? I see many different websites with the same advertising text offering his "OPC-T" product (some amalgam of OPC and green tea). The main, first website doesn't even tell me how many capsules I get for my USD27.50 (or 21.50 if I sign up for "wholesale status"...) Hmmm.... I just want OPC, not Joel Wallach. SO, now I go to the bottom of my search page. Under "word filters," I enter "Wallach" and pick "must not include" from the pulldown menu.

To quote Jed Clampett, "Whee-doggies!" I'm starting to feel your pain! Now I've got 47 websites, and a bunch of THOSE have the same ad texts, which appear to be selling something called "Perfor-Max" which has two different formulations (one with grape seed, pine bark, and curcumin extract, the other adding green tea leaf, hawthorn berry, and rosemary leaf) and offer something called "distributor" status. Multi-level marketing scheme? Looks that way from here... I don't know. Hmmmm... Between Dr. Wallach and the Perfor-Max sites, you have a couple of choices if you'd like to purchase a capsulized form per the Encyclopedia's suggestions.

What I've learned so far from these searches is that OPCs are substances found in many foods, so over-the-counter preparations will vary. At http://www.self-improvement-personal-development.com/p_long.html I read that OPcs are a whole group of bioflavinoids, and that "The most potent source of OPC (Activin) is found in grapes. Red wine is considered the richest natural source of OPC." A pleasant idea is beginning to form in my head.

http://www.realhealthlabs.com/arthromobility.htm offers both grape seed extract and curcumin ("turmeric") extract. Our site here sells ARA6, which is larch arabinogalactan (from bark of the Western Larch tree, a deciduous conifer) as well as Hawthorne Plus (hawthorne berry extract & more larch). Rosemary is a lovely herb for cooking. Green tea and red wine [perhaps all on its own] cover the rest of the bases. SO: how about a total of 500 mg per day from those supplements, some green tea in the morning and some red wine at night? Sound good?

3.) A Special Note: If all else fails in a long search for something, here's another option: Hickey's Chemists, Ltd. in my town of New York City. They have heard of EVERYTHING and seem to stock even more. If you call them toll-free at 1-800-724-5566, you can talk to one of the shockingly knowledgeable staff, who can then mail your order to you. These are wonderful people who have come through for me in tight spots, and I like to throw them some business whenever I can.

Well, that's an example of my thinking process on supplements. If you see a column entitled "Was my face RED!?!" tomorrow, you'll know Peter sent me a friendly message telling me his preferred OPC supp. In that case, I'll pass it on. ;-D

I truly appreciate your story, Luisa. Keep enjoying the diet, and spreading the love around! thanks, dear.

I am type A. I have been eating for my type for a year now. Here is the problem..... I have been taking a diet pill ( I know I know ) and it contains MaHuang and Ephedrine. I want to get off of it now. I am just afraid I will gain weight back. What do I do? I do Yoga every day. I weight lift 3 day's a week and I will be hungry all of the time if I go off of this stimulant. Am I damaging myself even more by continuing to use it? Sarah

---

Hi, Sarah ~

The risk of stroke, heart attack, seizure, and numerous lesser ailments from ephedrine and the herb Ma Huang, let alone the several instances of death which have been associated with them, makes me hope you’ll read this page, stand up, grab that bottle and toss it in the trash!! :-) I can imagine all the work you've put into being healthy, and you probably do know all this already, but sometimes it helps to hear it again. ;->

Something I know from my life in a law firm: the number of lawsuits arising out of the life-threatening side-effects of these drugs is so huge, there are whole firms who do nothing except sue over Ma Huang! Believe me, lawyers wouldn’t bother with this kind of practice if they didn’t have plenty of clients (chemically injured people) knocking at the door. However: because of the widespread knowledge that these substances are hazardous, and yard-long package inserts which make the matter clearer than ever, plaintiffs will have a progressively more difficult time proving that they were victims rather than adults making the fully-advised choice to use it for potential benefits despite the risks. So as time goes on, your risk of health problems increases and your potential success in court diminishes. It’s just great in so many ways, eh?

Here’s something else to ponder: the heightened sense of anxiety you’re feeling over gaining back the weight is yet another side-effect of the drug. Does anyone but me think this is brilliant? It’s like the drug creates in its users the fear of quitting it. Wow! Don’t we all wish we marketed a product like that?? (JUST KIDDING!)

OK, so that’s the bad news. Here’s the good: I can’t count how many people lost weight one way and another, and gained it back, and lost it again, and gained it back, yet when they started using their blood type diet they came to a healthy weight and didn’t yo-yo anymore. I think I gained and lost half a ton in total before I started this diet in 1997 (when I was TOO thin). Guess what? 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002… here I am, still at the weight I established a couple of months after starting the diet. Sure, my body mass fluctuates a bit with my exercise schedule and the seasons, but that amounts to maybe a 3-pound variance. The blood type plans are spectacular in their ability to bring you to a balance and support you there.

You’re solidly on the A plan, and you can trust that it will carry you through. You may or may not feel hungrier than usual, but don't be afraid to fill up with salads, steamed vegetables, fruit, beans, anything that's on your OK list. Have some coffee or green tea in the morning if you wake feeling groggy. Surprising tip: a big glass of water can make fatigue vanish (since it's so often related to dehydration). Try it! I would expect a short readjustment period while your body gets rid of the toxins and you get used to living without the stimulants... but it will pass quickly, and you’ll then have the chance to enjoy the benefits of all your efforts to be healthy ~~ and you’ll feel so much calmer and happier once the drugs are gone, to start with.

Best of luck! You can do this, and the sooner you do, the easier it will be. Thank you for writing, Sarah, and please keep in touch!

\

I am an A type and live in South Africa, Cape Town. I read the book - "Eat Right For Your Type" and want to follow the diet. I am also a bit overweight. My problem is that I can not find tofu or soya milk and soya joghurt. Also the wheat essence bread is a problem as nobody ever heard of it. Where to find amaranth and buckwheat and recipes to make a bread from that is also a problem. Soy products if you are lucky to find some are also quite expensive and not cheap as indicated in the book. What do I do now as soy should be the main ingredient in my diet and I am fully prepared to eat it as I do not like red meat anyway. Thanks! EURIKA

---

Eat Right was written in the U.S. over several years, and first published in 1996. No one knew then that the book would be printed in many languages for worldwide distribution! So I must apologize that some of the statements about food availability and prices may not apply in your area.

Here's a contact I found:

SOUTHERN AFRICAN SOY FOOD ASSOCIATION

SUIDER-AFRIKAANSE SOJAVOEDSELVEREENIGING

The first Chairman of SASA, Mr Pieter Prozesky said "the Association hope to improve the contribution of soyfood to the nutrition of Southern Africa's people, as soyfood is seen as one of the food products of the future".

SECRETARIAT: Agrimark Consultant: Icy Jooste

CONTACT DETAILS:

POSTAL ADDRESS: PoBox 4132, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 9300

Tel: +27 51-404 1874 Fax +27 51-404 1705

E-mail: admin@soyfood.co.za

Web: www.soyfood.co.za

I know they were active at least until early 2001, so although their website is down as I write this, it may be only temporary. In the meantime, try calling or writing. They may have excellent suggestions for local companies making tofu, soy milk, etc. Of course, there are recipes on the Internet for making your own, but you will at least need soybeans to do so. Perhaps the SASFA can direct you to organic sources. Imports from the United States will most certainly not be organic, and it is of vital importance to get staple foods which are non-GMO. I hope they can be of help to you!

Essene bread is made from 100% sprouted grain, salt and water, and can be made at home. Go to the bottom of this page and enter "essene" into the search engine ~ I've posted recipes for essene and Ezekiel breads.

Recipes for all kinds of breads can be found in the thousands on the Internet ~ use your favorite search engine (try alltheweb.com, for instance) and I'm sure you'll find more than you can use!

I am surprised it is difficult to find amaranth where you are, since it is a major food crop of South Africa. Buckwheat is grown there as well.

Here's an idea to get general information on good food sources: The Women's Wholistic Health Directory lists resources and can be contacted directly with questions on where to find products you need. You might write to its publisher in Roggebaai, or get in touch with one of the suppliers listed under "Health Shops and Products." Even a shop devoted to aromatherapy might have good suggestions.

While soy is important in your diet, remember that it is only one element of many. One serving per day is plenty. Grains (again, one serving per day) and beans should be part of a balanced diet along with vegetables and fruits. Load up on local produce, enjoy some fish or chicken now and again, and use your type A exercise to relieve stress and aid weight loss.

Good luck, and thank you for writing!

I am a Type A, long-term vegetarian who enjoys some of the vegetarian "meats" on the market today. However, I am concerned about nitrites, and wondering if vegetarian "bologna" and "hot dogs" contain these? Thank you. Lynda

---

Nitrites have been used for decades to preserve/enhance the color of meat in sausages, bacon and cold cuts. Oscar Meyer doesn't want gray bologna! ;-> In some old brands, you can even find saltpeter, for the same reason. Tofu- and grain-based veggie meat substitutes aren't red to begin with -- so, they generally include a vegetable coloring such as beet juice to get that familiar hot dog look.

Check the ingredient list before buying anything in a package, especially complex creations like vegetarian "meat." You shouldn't find any nitrites, but there may be other unpleasant and/or avoid items lurking in them. Reading the label is the only way to be sure you're getting what you want.

Thanks for writing, Lynda!

As a type O perimenopausal woman I am very concerned about prevention of osteoporosis. I had bone density testing done recently and they found osteopenia in one of two sites. I know how important calcium supplements are (and wt. bearing exercise.) My question concerns optimal Calcium intake. I know from experience that my compliance goes down when I have to take too many pills per day. The new chewable calcium supplements have led to 100% compliance. Will the small amount of corn syrup in these chewables interfere with the absorbtion from the gut? Any chance chewables will be available in BTD format? (like with rice syrup instead?) Thanks in advance for your time and attention.

Diane

---

Hello, Diane ~

The corn syrup in the vitamins won't affect calcium uptake, but you may find it will trip you up in other ways. The form of calcium they contain is important, though. I hope it's not calcium carbonate! of which very little is actually absorbed and used. The best kinds for type O that you'd likely find on the supp shop shelf are microhydroxyapatite (basically bone meal) or calcium citrate. Even better is Phytocal-O, sold at this site. Sorry, I know of no plans for a compliant chewable.

If I were you, I'd make a fruit smoothie in the morning and stick the contents of a higher-grade capsule calcium in there, along with a bit of nut butter or oil (or any oil supp you take). Lots of encapsulated supplements can be disposed of (and disguised!) in this manner, and you could make one at night as well.

I'd also try to include high-calcium foods on a daily basis. For instance, a cup of collard greens and two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses account for 700 mg! Here's a list of foods with significant calcium content. Make them part of your healing diet.

Thank you for writing, and good fortune to you!

I am blood type O. In the book, we are allowed to eat Goat cheese and not goat milk. What about goat meat? Is that in the neutral or highly beneficial group, or is it in the avoid section with the goat milk?

Also, I regularly take high enemas with two bags os water, two quart bags in the morning, two quart bags in the evening. I am feeling much better since I started eating according to the Eat Right for Your Type diet plan. I am also taking the recomended supplements for my blood type. Is there anything you might be able to suggest to correct the bowels instead of taking so many enemas? Thank you very much for all of your information. I was extremely pleased to find this web site and be able to ask these questions. I would appreciate any answers you might be able to offer. Sincerely, Seldon

---

Hello, Seldon ~~

In the latest book's updated food lists, goat cheese and goat meat are neutral for type O secretors. Goat milk, however, is still an avoid. You might want to pick up a copy of Live Right 4 Your Type. Its new food values have had an impact on us BTD'ers similar to that of an epic novel -- some joy, and some tears, for everybody! :->

I sympathize with your desire to resume normal bowel movements without the use of enemas. While you didn't mention how long you've been taking them, they can be an arduous habit that is hard to break after long use.

Lucky for us, this is (comparatively) easy to solve with the ABO diets. I hope I can be of help with this.

The main goals are: get water and fiber in plenty to the intestines; support your beneficial bacteria; stimulate peristalsis through exercise.

Raw fruits and raw or lightly cooked vegetables contain abundant water held in the fibrous cells of the plants. Base at least two meals a day on a filling salad or pile of steamed-but-crisp fibrous veg (dark greens, broccoli, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, okra (great for healing the colon), asparagus, Brussels sprouts (they're neutral now! Hooray!)) -- you get the drift. Make sure to get enough meat and FAT (oils, nuts, seeds) to smooth things along. Between meals, try to consume a few quarts of water in the day -- adding a little good sea salt to each will help carry the water into the bowels where we want it. And try this: two tablespoons of flaxseed, ground in your electric coffee grinder, stirred into 1/2 cup water and left to sit for 20 minutes or so. It will become a gelatinous mass. Eat it up! It looks bizarre, but tastes great, and is one of the classic natural laxatives that provides fresh essential fatty acids, too.

It's possible you're low on magnesium -- most folks are. A magnesium citrate supplement, even a glass of Epsom salts at night & in the morning, will do a good jump-start on your ability to eliminate "from the top down." It's a good idea to take calcium and magnesium in a 1:1 ratio -- start with the mag's recommended dosage, then up it slowly until you have loose stools. At that point, back off until stools are normal.

Everybody reading this is now thinking, "OK, Right! What's NORMAL?" What's normal for most people these days is pretty dismal, so I won't tell you what's normal, I'll give my views of what's optimal. It is: an easy bowel movement soon after each meal, at least a foot in length, one-to-two inches in diameter, medium(-ish) brown in color, and holds its shape. Mine floats. Does yours? LOL! :-D Boy, will the mail be pouring in tomorrow!!

Now: Peter D'Adamo has created probiotics for us, and the type O Polyflora compound is something you should seriously consider. It contains billions of beneficial organisms, in healthy shape, and they come along with their favorite foods to stimulate their growth and activity. These little fellers are the very crux of health, and we wouldn't be alive without them. When you've been on the diet for a period of months, your colon populations will have had time to resume on their own, but if you'd prefer to speed the process, use the probiotics.

And don't forget "fully half of the type O plan:" exercise. The more we get, the happier we are (OK, there are limits!), and I suggest a strenous walk, hike, run, row, whatever you're in shape for: start where you are and go from there. Between you & me? the diet and the exercise will accomplish your goal all on their own, if you pitch in with a whole heart. ;-)

Thanks, Seldon ~ I wish you luck! Report when you can!

---

Hello, Scott ~ Nice to hear from one of the rarer subtypes! although I'd prefer it be under happier circumstances. :-(

Well, I have a type A in my house, so I scanned his Polyvite A, Phytocal A and Polyflora A. White bottle, white label, blue & black on the front... I assume that's what you've got there. Although the Polyvite contains Thiamine HCl, or Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) and Pyroxidine HCl, or Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), there's none of what I think you're referring to, namely Betaine HCl -- that's the "stomach acid" supp. If one of your bottles says Betaine HCl, please drop me a note!

I've heard from a few people who get heartburn when taking gelatin-capped supplements, and who resolved it by pouring the contents into a drink instead of eating the caps. However, the veggiecaps used in the type A supps shouldn't have this effect on you.

Your stomach may react adversely if you wash the supps down with a lot of water right after a meal: it has the effect of diluting the digestive fluids and stopping everything in its tracks, and you might feel some hardness, dull pain or burning in yer tum. If that's not it, read on!

Here's what I'd do: skip these pills for two days. If you're still getting the burning sensation after eating your customary foods, it's not the pills. If the burning doesn't return, then on day 3, take the Polyvite in the middle of your meal, without water. Just swallow it with a bite of food. See how you do. The next day, do the same with the Phytocal.

If it turns out that one or both of these formulas is implicated, please get back to me and we'll work on it!

Thanks for writing, and good luck!!

---

Erika, I’m glad to hear the O diet is working for you!

Starting around puberty, I had the same bitter confrontation with cellulite: everything was fine except for that little thigh-back area, which occupied about 3 square miles of my psyche. :-} It’s one of life’s meanest tricks, that around the time you’re old enough to care how your thighs look, something like this crops up!!

But don’t worry -- yes, the type O plan can get rid of cellulite. Briefly put, it changes the quality and appearance of the fat you have – and remember that we all need a little fat, not only for protection of internal organs and nerve health, but for attractive, "plump" skin as well. As you follow the diet and get plenty of exercise, (1) your skin becomes more elastic and better hydrated; (2) your hormonal balance is re-established; (3) your body relaxes and releases extraneous fat stores for energy; and (4) the old toxins stored "back there," as well as intercellular water (sogging around between, rather than within your cells where it belongs) are processed and excreted.

Result? Smooth thighs, among many other benefits. :-D

Couple of tips:

Go to your health food store and purchase a good body brush. Most of them have instructions for use included in the package. "Dry brushing" is a technique for detoxifying our largest organ (the skin) and stimulating lymph movement. It’s done once a day on dry skin (before you shower or bathe). Start with the soles of your feet, and use circular or sweeping motions, working up your legs toward the heart. Give a little special attention to the pesky thigh-backs. Then each arm, your neck, and back – working toward the center of your chest. Don’t brush your face. Five minutes should do it.

If you have a juicer, make a couple of glasses of carrot/celery/spinach/beet juice every day or as often as you can. Four carrots, one stalk of celery, a handful of spinach and half a beet will make a large glass of juice (watch the beet juice, it stains clothes something terrific!). Lest you write back to me in horror, I should also warn you in advance that beet juice will turn your poop dark red. Fear not, this is a good thing (at least while you’re drinking beet juice, that is! :-})

Finally, what I really want you to do is get that bikini on and go right out on that beach, today. :-> You have so many profound things to be proud of, and glad about: release from depression through your own efforts is one extraordinary accomplishment that comes to mind. You’re starting a fabulous new way of life and will never know the myriad health problems others take for granted. You’re blessed with brains, a sensitive nature, and a body that will just get better, among other fortunate qualities that I don’t know about. While sitting in the sun considering them, look around you at the other people sharing the sands. I’ll bet you look lots better than most of them. If you can observe them all -- the homely, the crippled, the awkward and the gorgeous -- with kindness in your heart, it will help you to be a little easier on yourself (and your thighs) as well. Cultivate the same generous and understanding attitude toward yourself that you show to others. ;-)

that ends today's sermon! ~~~:-D Seriously, Erika, I have no doubt you'll see great results -- keep up the diet and exercise, try those tips, and drop me a line on your progress!

Re: On the Diet Topic For 28 July 2002 Rye Bread, Butter and Pork -- Yum!

Hello Heidi, Your column is great, very informative and entertaining. I wanted to let you know about artisan bread in the UK - we make a great rye bread as well as other types of bread, and Margaret has obviously not tried it - freshly-milled Biodynamic rye grains, spring water, baking ferment, and not as sour as a sourdough. Our recipe contains no added yeast, sugar, wheat or other additives, and our bread is the first UK food product to contain blood-type compatibility. You can read about it on our web site http://www.artisanbread.ltd.uk - available nationwide via health food stores and by parcel delivery. Thanks for reading this, and keep up the good work. Tom

---

I was so pleased to log in today to this timely reminder from our good friend Tom Greenfield, a Registered

Naturopath (ND), Osteopath and Cranial-Sacral Therapist in Canterbury, Kent, UK. By the way, he offers Blood Group Diet Consulting, and runs an email support group tailored to the needs of our BTD’er UK contingent. Have a look at his website for details of his practice and clinic: www.nature-cure.co.uk

In his spare time (LOL!) Tom acts as Nutritional Consultant for Artisan Breads in Kent. This is a wonderful company, committed to producing the finest quality health-enhancing goodies. Their website offers the pleasant shock of an ABO-specific chart showing beneficial/neutral/avoid ratings for each bread type/blood type – and articles about yeast vs. ferment in baking, an incisive news report on one woman’s experience dealing with Candidiasis... and if you were wondering about the mineral content of the local Kentish spring water they use, well, you'll find it there as well!

They also list more than 80 retail locations ("stockists," to you locals ;-)) in England, Scotland and Wales, and accept online orders. If you’d rather buy than bake, or just need a rest from that summer kitchen, it’s hard to imagine a better choice than Artisan. Supporting companies such as this one is a vote from your pocketbook for a healthier world. It makes a difference!

Thanks so much for your note, Tom, and take care!

---

:-) As a new subscriber to this way of eating, you’ll be glad to know there are treasures galore on this website. Here’s what I found on pork by searching "Ask Dr. D’Adamo:"



Pig meat provokes an immune reaction in all types, according to research from a few years ago. Whether the observed response was ABO-mediated, or due to the viral material which pigs commonly carry, I couldn't tell you because I can't find the article! :-( What we do know is that pork is well off the list for all types.

.

My favorite kinds of , you'll find detailed instructions (including how to make rye sourdough starter), pictures of finished products, and many references to other websites and books to expand your bread-baking repertoire.

ABO-Aware Baker's Note: For the "3 to 3 1/2 cups of bread flour," type O nonsecretors should substitute kamut or quinoa -- and use 1/2 instead of 1/4 teaspoon baking soda – and add 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed soaked for 1/2 hour in just enough water to cover. It will form a gel-like mass. Instead of the cornmeal, you might use crushed millet or coarse-ground quinoa. For everyone else, just use white (rather than whole-grain) spelt instead of the "bread flour" and the millet or quinoa instead of the corn -- all except you Bs, who should stay away from rye bread altogether! Don't feel left out: Joan's page contains lots of non-rye recipes! :->

Sheepherder Sourdough Bread (Bread Machine)

1 cup sourdough starter, room temperature, bubbly [try her rye starter]

1 cup lukewarm water

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup light rye flour

3 to 3 1/2 cups bread flour or unbleached all-purpose flour

Extra flour / Cornmeal

Sesame seeds

Olive oil

The thickness of your sourdough starter can determine how much flour needs to be used. If you think the dough is too moist, add additional flour (a tablespoon at a time). The same is true if the dough is looking dry and gnarly. Add warm water (a tablespoon at a time). Add all the ingredients in the bread pan of bread machine. Process according to manufacturer's instructions for a dough setting.

When the bread machine has completed the dough cycle, remove the dough from the pan to a lightly oiled surface. Knead the dough several times and form the dough into an oval; cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes. After resting, turn dough bottom side up and press to flatten. Form dough into a one-inch high circle and place on a baking sheet dusted with cornmeal. Press sesame seeds into the surface of the dough and brush with olive oil.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot to rise 1 to 2 hours until almost double in size. NOTE: It takes much longer to rise; sourdough rises much slower than bread made with regular yeast. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. After rising, bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F. and bake an additional 15 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Enjoy! :->

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

---

---

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

I'm an o blood type. I became a vegetarian last year but before that I followed the blood type eating program and felt fine physically.

The past few months I have started gaining weight at what feels like an alarming rate. I feel tired and have trouble concentrating and staying focused. My GP prescribed iron but I haven't seen any change.

I'm taking spiralina, B12, bladderack and iron, not eating wheat products and following the plan with eating only fruit & veg that are good for o blood type.

I've started eating alittle fish but would prefer not to eat anything that has to die to give me life. What do you suggest? velda

---

Emotionally, I'd prefer the same! but I've learned through hard personal experience that vegetarianism is not an option for me. I wonder if you, too, have discovered that your loving energy is more effective in the world when you're physically healthy than when you are hungry, tired and ill.

All things have a short term upon this Earth, and each one has its place in feeding, AND being fed by, others. This principle is as true of a carrot as of a rabbit. Your need for balance and vitality is no less than any other creature, and is no less important to the serenity of the whole.

I believe Peter D'Adamo's work is a serendipitously spiritual text, propounding in scientific terms the wisdom of each person eating and acting according to her created nature. Your body is giving you the classic type O signals that it needs the right kind of protein in order to prosper, and that without it, supplements will do little except eat your cash. While some otherwise healthy vegetarian type Os seem to get a little boost from Coleus forskolii, it is not a solution. Nor is plant protein combining, "hi-protein" vegetable powders, "right thinking," fancy amino acid compounds, or starvation in the name of "detox." Believe me, if there were a solution, I'd already be using it. :-}

With the comparison between your experience on the type O plan and the vegetarian one, you have valuable feedback far more convincing than anything I could say. Fish is a good start. Use the O diet to work yourself back to that place where you felt good. There's no better argument in the world for any lifestyle.

Good luck to you, dear!

It sometimes happens that one contributor answers the question of another, as Barbara and David did on the subject of female endocrine imbalance and what we can do about it.



During the depression times of the past 10 years, I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. With heavy periods I have constantly battled being anemia, but have managed with supplements. Now at 50 I begin to experience menopause. I am experiencing hot flashes and night sweats to a point that it effects the amount of sleep that I get. Also, at night my hands go to sleep and I often wake to sweats and asleep hands. I have an appointment with my doctor on June 11, but am interested in sticking with the diet as much as possible. (After spending 5 years of throwing up every day, I no longer go through that since I started the diet--I know it works!) What can you advise me about this condition and what can I do to make life easier? Zoe



On Tuesday, June 18,02, I was reading info on your website and discovered something that has changed my life and will change the lives of many of my clients and family and friends...This item is RHODIOLA ROSEA...I have been experiencing HOT FLASHES for years and no matter what I attempted they were there...have added Rhodiola rosea to the mix and low and behold the hot flashes have all but disappeared...Have to say Thank you for all of us that will benefit from this knowledge...You have a major challenge in this undertaking of Blood Type work...congradulations so far and keep on the investigative trail. Blesssings ~ Barbara



Can certain foods be eaten to avoid the ESTROGEN DROP during menstruation? This estrogen drop causes 3 days of severe migraine headaches every month. I am type A blood. Lorraine



Hi Just wondering if any Blood type compatibility studies have been done on MACA, the peruvian cruciferous vegetable that is having major benefits for endocrine function in both Males and Females. Info on Biological analysis at www.maca.com (not my site). I am a practitioner in Australia and it it seems very beneficial so far for Type A's. Thanks, David

---

In addition to the excellent suggestions of Rhodiola rosea and Maca root for all types, black cohosh extract (not for hypertensives or heart patients), chamomile tea and Blessed Thistle tincture have balancing effects upon the type A endocrine system and can alleviate the unpleasant symptoms some women experience during menopause. The phytoestrogens in soy foods are of special help to As as well.



My best suggestion for any woman with problems associated with hormone balance is to use the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia's specific protocols to guide you in choosing effective herbal and supplemental support, and engage in your recommended exercise and stress relief practices on a regular basis.



Many thanks to you all for your warm support and valuable Q&A!

I am a blood type A and am desparate for some suggestions. When I try to follow the anti-candida diet, I have a lot more fatigue because I really seem to need the fruit. And I'm tired of living only on veggies and whole grain cereals, much as I like them. I need a bit more variety than that. Can you offer any advice? CHRIS

---

Getting rid of candida can be a nightmare, and I sympathize with your plight!

Paradoxically, the very drugs commonly prescribed for candidiasis often cause and further the condition. What you need is a rebalanced colony of beneficial intestinal micro-organisms -- and the antifungals and antibiotics can only quash the symptoms temporarily, while setting you up for new infections.

What will help is an approach based upon a personalized diet including some herbal and supplement support; and using yoga and skilled meditation practices to reduce stress and bolster your immune system response.

Find out whether you are a secretor or nonsecretor, and follow the diet outlined for you in Live Right 4 Your Type. You may need more protein and less grain than you eat currently.

Use your type-specific probiotic at night, and feed those good critters with a tablespoon of Larch arabinogalactan twice per day. Try 250 mg. of Betaine HCL or 5 drops of Gentian in warm water before meals, as a "stomachic," and two 350 mg caprylic acid capsules taken twice daily away from food to gently eradicate the candida organisms.

There is a detailed discussion of candidiasis with treatment protocols in the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia which could prove invaluable to you.

The one thing we can be sure of is that you will feel worse before you feel better! This is largely due to the intestinal population changing drastically as die-off and new growth occur. Don't Get Discouraged! Use your yoga and meditation practices to maintain energy and calm, and know that taking this route will mean you can finally beat this problem. You won't have to live on grain and vegetables, or take antifungals and other deleterious drugs.

I wish you the best of health! Drop me a line on how you're doing!

I have been "on the diet" for almost three years and have had much success with it. After only 6 weeks on the diet GERD disappeared and so did many other ailments. Recently, however, GERD seems to be rearing its ugly head again. It is not as bad as it was and happens infrequently but, nevertheless, it happens. I have not re-introduced any "avoids" into my diet - in fact I have weaned myself away from white wine now and only drink the occasional glass of red. Would you have any suggestions as to what could be the reason for GERD to reappear? I hate the thought of having to go back on medication. Thanks - Sue

---

GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) is a condition in which acidic stomach contents flowing up the esophagus from the stomach, usually resulting in the burning sensations of "heartburn." The effects on the esophagus can be very harsh, setting the stage for the development of even more serious health problems.

I. An ancient Chinese medicine treatment is often effective against GERD:

Use a juicer to extract a couple of teaspoons of juice from fresh ginger root. The quantity of root will vary -- just use enough to get that much, which is enough for one day.

Take 1/2 teaspoon on an empty stomach, in the morning and 1/2 hour before lunch and dinner. It is very potent stuff, and burns a bit going down. Don't worry, you'll probably even get to like the sensation in time! and it won't do you any harm.

After a week or so, up the dosage until you're taking a full teaspoon at a time. While it does not address the cause (most likely a combination of stored stresses and inappropriate diet) this simple home treatment alone has chased GERD away for good in many people. You don't have to make the juice every day, so once you've tried it for a day or two, you can juice up a few cups of it to store, covered in the fridge, for a month. It keeps just fine that way.

II. Do you have hiatus hernia? I did -- and my chiropractor was able to alleviate it by actually reaching in under my diaphragm and pulling the stomach down. This technique, too, does not address the causes of HH (large meals, lifelong stresses, poor and irritating grain-heavy diet), but it can remove the effects temporarily while your diet and stress-relief practices do the rest. HH is often present in people with GERD.

In brief, I'd suggest you start the ginger juice, discuss with your chiropractor the technique I mentioned above if HH is involved, and begin following a powerful stress-reduction practice of your choice.

I hope you're feeling better soon, and please keep in touch!

I'm trying to find recipe's for Essene Bread and Ezekial Bread. Where could I find these?? Thanks -- Lyn

---

In hopes that you're a practiced bread baker, Lyn, I'll offer here the basic procedures for making these breads. Neither is as specific as we'd like, but that's the nature of this beast. The vagaries of grain and climate will affect the final product... you'll have to feel your way along as you go.

The first, for Essene bread, was kindly posted on the old message boards in 1997. The second is my interpretation and compilation of directions for making Ezekiel bread which I've gleaned from commercial bakers, home cooks, websites, and intuition. I look forward to your comments and results!



Essene Bread

Posted by Brian on November 22, 1997 at 11:30:09:

In the past, some ER4YT "newbies" have questioned what Essene Bread is or where to buy it. Perhaps it not not available in all areas. In any event, here is our offering for making this special treat at home:

1. Sprout 2 cups of wheat until the sprouts are only 1/2 inch or shorter. If they grow longer than that, the final loaf will be too "green". It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for the sprouts to reach 1/2 inch in length.

2. Grind the sprouted wheat. We use an old fashioned hand-cranked meat grinder. You will end up with a rubbery glob.

3. Form into an oval shaped loaf and bake in a shallow dish at 250 to 275 degrees (F) for about 1.5 to 2 hours, until browned.

4. Cool, keep refrigerated, and slice with a wet, serrated knife. The finished bread has a pleasantly sweet flavor. Some like to top a slice with cheese and make a real meal of it.

Note: You can add whatever extra ingredients are appropriate for the blood types in your household (chopped dates, raisins, salt, honey, grated carrots, whatever). You can also substitute rye grain for wheat, if you prefer. Be creative. Hope this helps. Make it at home and save lots of money (most health food stores sell Essene Bread for a healthy sum). Manna Bread is a heavy sweet bread, and adding the extra ingredients would give you something similar.

---

Ezekiel 4:9 Bread

"Take thou also unto thee wheat and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches [spelt] and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof." Ezekiel 4:9

The Ezekiel bread noted in the blood type diet books, like the Essene bread, is made from 100% sprouted grain. Unlike the Essene (or "manna") recipe, however, the sprouted grains (and beans) used in Ezekiel bread must be dried before grinding them into flour. This is a pretty tricky process, and you'll probably need a dehydrator with a fan in order to accomplish it without mold setting in on the sprouts.

Put 1/2 cup each of the wheat, barley, beans (pick a bean from your OK list), lentils, millet and spelt in separate sprouting containers -- large jars with screened tops. When each item shows a tiny sprout (1/16-1/8" in length), place that batch on one of the dehydrator screens and start drying. They're done when you can crush them and find no lingering moisture; the time involved will vary between ingredients and between batches. :->

Use a flour mill to grind the mixed sprouts. Now you're ready to begin the bread recipe (or ready to strangle me, or both. :-) Is that store-bought Ezekiel looking more attractive by the moment? :-D) Additionally, you may have to experiment with leavening ingredients, as sprouted grain loses much of the gluten that allows the bread to develop elasticity and body.

Here is a good one from the Mormon recipe site:

1.) Measure the following into a large bowl:

4 cups lukewarm water

1 cup honey

1/4 cup oil

2 Tablespoons yeast

Set aside for 3-5 minutes to allow yeast to grow.

2.) Add to yeast mixture:

2 teaspoons salt

Fresh milled flour (about 9 cups) from above mixture of grains

3.) Stir or knead until well kneaded. This is a batter type bread and will not form into a smooth ball.

4.) Pour dough into 2 large loaf pans (10x5x3), or 3 medium loaf pans, or 2 9x13 brownie pans.

5.) Let rise in a warm place about an hour, or until the dough is almost to the top of the pan. If it rises too much, it will overflow the pan while baking.

6.) Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes for loaf pans, and 35-40 minutes for brownie pans.

Good Luck!

---

Thanks for asking!

Jerky's not just for type O. It can be made from red meat, fowl, fish, even snake... even alligator meat makes tasty jerky.

I understand you’re a busy person, so I hope I won’t discourage you from making jerky when I say: the key to success is experience. You don’t really need a fancy dehydrator or even an oven. If your climate is dry, breezy and warm, a clothesline will do. But technique is paramount, since the basic idea is to preserve meat through drying and/or salting for a projected period of time – and every cut of meat is different.

It can be made with complicated marinades, or nothing more than fine sea salt. Most people associate jerky with thin strips of meat, but pound-sized chunks can be used, too. With strips, you can tell it’s done when it will bend and crack a bit, but not break. The larger hunks of meat are prepared to the point where they no longer drip or sweat, but it’s a little more difficult for the novice to determine when they’re really ready for storage.

Here’s a quick recipe for two pounds of lean red meat or turkey, cut into ¼” strips. Just double all the ingredients if you want a bigger batch:

Mix together 2 minced cloves of garlic, 2 tablespoons of salt, a tablespoon of ginger powder, ¼ teaspoon of cayenne and ½ teaspoon of fresh-ground black pepper. Type As & ABs: you can substitute one teaspoon of cumin for the cayenne and pepper, reduce the salt to one tablespoon, and add 1/2 cup of wheat-free tamari. Put the meat into a glass or ceramic container, distribute the spice preparation over all sides of the meat, cover and put it in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, drain any liquid that has seeped out. Line the bottom of your oven with some protective covering (like aluminum foil) and arrange the meat strips flat across the oven racks. Each strip should be supported by at least two wires of the rack; you don’t want the sides of the strips to touch as they hang there. Set the oven to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and leave the door just cracked open. Use an oven thermometer to monitor the actual temperature, and adjust it so that it remains around 140 degrees Fahrenheit for six to eight hours. Start testing the jerky after six hours – it should, as I mentioned, bend with some cracking when it’s done.

There is a wonderful little book which explains and elaborates upon the basic techniques of the manufacture of all kinds of jerky and pemmican, and I recommend it to anyone who would like a solid grounding in the subject. It’s called, surprisingly enough, Jerky, written by A.D. Livingston and published by The Lyons Press. No matter whether you just want a snack to take to work, plan to store large quantities of game meat for survival and kitchen recipes, or are hoping to find a use for the nutria you’re eradicating from your pond, this book has what you're looking for.

Enjoy!!!

I have been following the blood type way of life for just a few short months and feel amazing results. My blood type is B+. I have recently been experiencing a shortness of breath or more acuratly, I feel as though I cannot get a deep breath. After using stress relieving visualization and deep breathing I am able to regain my breath.

I do have a bit of a sinus infection that has been lingering and I was wondering if they are associated. Do you have any recommendations? Are there possibly any herbal remedies I should consider? ~ Jennifer

---

Hi Heidi, love the column. I have a thorny problem: I'm a type B (don't know secretor status) who's been suffering from horrible, chronic allergy problems and asthma that have progressively worsened since I turned 21 (21 years ago!). I've run the gamut of tests and treatments in those years, even had sinus surgery, and have also tried just about every diet "cure" I could find, including macrobiotic (imagine how well that went for me!), vegan, etc., etc.

This spring, I finally found my way to a homeopathic MD who recommends the BTD series of books, and I've been following the B diet pretty closely for about three months. Also, on her recommendation, using a homeopathic remedy (argentum nitricum) and several supplements -- reacted magnesium, "histaplex" (quercetin, bromelain, and something else), "lipistatin", and essential fatty acids (started out on EPO and a blend of DHA, GLA, and EPA, have JUST switched to fish body oils only).

Trouble is, after all this time, I'm seeing little to no improvement in the allergy/asthma condition. In the last couple of weeks, I've gotten discouraged by my constantly itchy, inflamed eyelids, heavy sinus congestion, and occasional asthma flare-ups, and I went to see her again yesterday for a checkup. She's surprised, too, that the allergy trouble hasn't gone away. So she switched the fatty acid supps, recommended regular (twice daily) use of the neti pot, and I went out and got some thyme/licorice tea. On the website, I see lots of stuff about allergies and sinusitis for Types A and O, but little for B. Have you seen this kind of thing before? Any advice? ~ Amy

---

---

These two questions arrived on the same day, and have interesting parallels. Jennifer found that her breathing difficulties responded to visualization, and now seeks herbal remedies to treat a lingering sinus infection. Amy has run a long course of dietary, herbal, surgical and homeopathic treatments, but is still working very hard to find effective means of combatting her persistent allergies, congestion and asthma.

I'll respond to these rather complex issues as briefly as possible (for me, that is... I'm brevity-challenged by nature, so grab a comfy chair and a cool drink! :-}).

First, a big pat on the back for you: type Bs are the most susceptible to sinus problems triggered by allergies, and can have the worst time eradicating them once they've settled in. I want you both to go look in the mirror and say, "I'm doing a GREAT job handling these difficulties, and I'm going to SUCCEED in getting rid of them!" :-D

Jennifer: check out that neti pot, it can make a big difference. Use warm water with just a bit of sea salt added. More below.

Amy: Jennifer's visualization and breathing techniques worked, meaning that stress played a major role in her health problems (sadly, that's true for the majority of people). Bs get such great results from visualization and meditation that I'd put these strategies at the very top of your list. I can't speak to the homeopathics you're taking, but I'm not a homeopath and it sounds like you have a knowledgeable and responsive practictioner.

You're both following the B diet, thereby greatly reducing your exposure to , that can be avoided or minimized while you're healing.

The concept here is not that any one element has "caused" your difficulties. Nor am I suggesting you'll end up living in a bubble so as to escape each and every possible one of these "causes." Your body will do the healing as soon as it feels there is no "state of emergency" it must respond to first.

Allergies and their results arise when your total stress load is greater than you personally, biologically, are capable of handling. They start resolving when you get the stress volume back down below the flood line.

If the 'load' is primarily dietary, the correct diet can work "miracles." If it is primarily environmental (constant exposure to powerful EMF fields, radioactivity, molds, poor water, poisons of all kinds -- a professional ship painter who lives near a power plant, for instance) then changing jobs and/or moving, generally clearing the personal environment can do the trick on their own. If long-term psychological stresses are involved -- and this can be the case even if we don't "feel stressed" -- then meditation, visualization, yoga, chanting, or any one of many other focused stress-relief practices may be all that is needed.

For most of us, it's some combination of these factors that leads to declining health. The best approach in every case is to cover all the bases. Did I mention exercise? Whoops! Bs can benefit substantially through an exercise program that is varied, offers some intellectual challenge, and can be done in a group and/or alone. Does martial arts come to mind? good! An occasional pick-up volleyball game, ocean swimming, figure skating, dancing. Pick and choose. You want to engage the muscles without leaving the mind behind -- it's that balance thing again. ;-)

Hans Selye's The Stress of Life is the classic work on the relationship between stored stresses in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and health problems of a startling variety. Well worth its cheap price at one of the online used-book sellers, especially if you're wondering how the heck I'm linking meditation with relief from sinusitis! And I can't leave out my ubiquitous plug for Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth. Folks, this book is worth its weight in gold-pressed Latinum for most people, and probably more for Bs. I'll spare you the testimonials, and just say that it is science, narrative, revelation, discussion, technique instruction and love, all in one.

Couple of supplement notes:

Probiotics act to normalize your immune response, meaning they can crank it up or soothe it down as needed. Naturally, I'm going to suggest using the blood-type specific probiotics available on this site. Your gut is the center of your body's digestive and immune functions, so there's nothing HB'er than beneficial intestinal critters!! If you only could take one supp, it should be this one.

To avert bacterial sinusitis, and especially if it has already progressed to that stage, use elderberry concentrate or Proberry 3 (also available on this site).

Turmeric and quercetin are both excellent anti-inflammatories, and have no known overdose. Amy, perhaps you'd benefit by taking Q at a higher dosage than what's in your combo compound.

Finally, there are specific protocols and advice for Bs with sinusitis and allergies in the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia.

Well, that's me being brief -- not by the length of what I've written, but by how long it MIGHT have been, you see. :->

Jennifer and Amy, thank you for writing, and please let me know your progress!

Hi Heidi...



Can you stand one more question about a discrepancy between two Eat Right books???



Sure! :-D



In the original Eat Right book Linden is an avoid for Type B. In the Encyclopedia, Linden is listed as an anti-inflammatory and nerve health agent.



I take a naturopathic tincture for high blood pressure. Before ER, it contained linden - along with rowolfia and hawthorne. We eliminated the linden after ER, but I was wondering if we should put it back in now? Has the status changed?? Thanks ~~ Linda



The Encyclopedia's entries on linden are correct. New research since Eat Right was published in 1996 has been extensive, resulting in updated values and recommended usages for a number of items.



If your homeopath or naturopath suggests you add linden back into the mix, there's no ABO-specific reason not to do so.



The antistress protocol Peter recommends for type Bs with hypertension includes the use of visualization. I note it here just as a reminder that directed visualization has been shown to exert powerful influence on an unexpectedly wide variety of ailments. Bs in general seem to have a special knack for it and appear to receive greater benefits from it than others do. I'd also like to suggest the book Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth, for the several brief "medical meditations" and other information specific to hypertension. These practices can produce results in astonishing proportion to the small amount of time required to perform them.



Good luck, good health and keep in touch!