Anne, the rye bread mix sounds fine. Technically, type O nonsecretors should avoid soy, but if you're in good health and don't plan to learn your secretor status, just keep watch that it doesn't constipate you or cause pain or gas. The range of frequency for two slices of bread is between two and six times per week. The two Organ products are based on cornstarch ("maize starch"), so aren't recommended for us. Thanks for writing, and best of luck with your baking!





I have been following the diet very closely for about 6 weeks, including integrating cardio and strength training into my schedule. I am type O, 22 years old, 5'6" and weighed 123 pounds when I started and 127 pounds now. I don't care so much about losing weight, but I want to lose some flab and convert some fat into muscle. So far, I feel great and I look better, but I have gained 4 pounds and want to see less flab and more muscle! I'm wondering if I am eating too few calories and perhaps my metabolism is suffering for this. Dr. Dadamo's calorie calculator says I should get at least 2000 calories a day (for light exercise, 2300 for moderate exercise), but frankly I find this a very high number. I have lately been calculating my caloric intake and find it to be at most 1500 per day. I eat very healthy and I am not hungry, so I can't imagine what I could do to bump this up, but I don't want to slow down my metabolism! Can you explain the relationship between calories, weight, and metabolism? I'm sure this could help some others as well! Thanks! Kay



Hi, Kay ~ Instead of the calorie calculator, try the Body Mass Index calculator. The weight you gained may well be muscle. If your BMI is improving, then you are losing fat and building active tissue mass ~ your report that you feel great and look better means you're doing the right things. Instead of the scale, take measurements of your waist, hips and thighs. Compare them weekly with the old ones. Rather than adding calories, just follow the portion/frequency charts in Live Right, don't eat to the point of discomfort, and note your energy levels after your workouts. If you're dizzy or weak, add a berry & nutbutter shake or other protein snack. As you build muscle, you may begin to require more food. For now, give it time, you'll do fine! NOTE FROM CONTRIBUTOR ADDED: "If one gains weight, whether fat or muscle, the BMI will also go up. This is why the BMI is an inaccurate measurement of health status in professional bodybuilders and other muscular folk. The best way to determine whether or not you are losing fat is to monitor you body fat percentage using calipers and/or bioelectric impedence testing. Cheers, Ryan" Thanks, Ryan! I realized my error only this morning as I was checking the column (*;-}), and I appreciate your note about it!



Currently reading BTD, Century Books 2001 edition. Am O positive (with hypothyroidism), my husband O negative and OK, but am about to care for A2-type Mum post knee replacement surgery so was checking to see how we could cater for all of us. Herbal teas for A (p. 125) says that cornsilk and red clover should be avoided as they have the opposite effect to that required and suit type O, but in the list for type O on p. 80, they are among the teas to be avoided. Obviously there is something wrong with these lists. Now I am wondering if other lists are also wrong. I take 150µg thyroxine daily and was told to avoid iodine, so assume that this includes the bladderwrack etc. advocated. Rosalind



Your book's lists are correct: cornsilk and red clover should be avoided by both type O and A. Ask your doctor whether the iodine in seaweeds will interfere with your medication. There are multiple Outcome Reports referring to alleviation or normalization of thyroid function after following the type O diet for a period of time. Go to the page I just linked ~ in the Search For field, put "thyroid" and in the Search By pulldown menu, choose "Comments." You might copy, paste and print them for your discussion with your doctor. Good luck, and good health to you!