Greetings, Pam! One of the lovely things about the B diet is that you do benefit from certain red meats, but you need eat them only in small portions and infrequently. The frequency table in Live Right 4 Your Type gives minimums of 2 servings per week for B Asians & Caucasians, up to 4 servings minimum per week for nonsecretors ~ if you are Rh negative you'd add 1 serving to those minimums. These need not be all red meat: the neutral fowl turkey, ostrich and pheasant are incorporated therein as well. Does fish suit you better? Almost all of the commonest fishes are either Beneficial or Neutral for you, and those minimum frequencies run to only 3 or 4 times per week. The alternatives of beans, seeds and nuts for protein are least suited to your type -- the marked sensitivity of Bs to so many of the legume/seed plant lectins would severely limit your choices, and the protein assimilation from these foods in Bs is far from ideal. Yes, they'd keep you alive, but I hope you're more interested in optimal health, and healing of your conditions, than mere survival.

I have to comment upon your ob/gyn's recommendation: it is the classic one-type-fits-all approach. It applies beautifully to nearly 90% of the population (Os and As), but was never fine-tuned to the requirements of ABO-mediated biochemistry. I urge you to study the type B chapters in Live Right 4 Your Type and decide whether the advice your medical practitioners have given you in regard to diet (a discipline in which most of them have received less than 10 hours' of instruction) is based in actual knowledge of what will help YOU, or if it is mere hearsay based upon studies in which your unique makeup was not represented.

The Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail (MFC) is a tablespoon of flax oil, a tablespoon of lecithin, and eight ounces of the fruit juice of your choice, shaken or blended. It works so well for Peter's patients that he noted it in Eat Right 4 Your Type and Live Right 4 Your Type. The best way to see if it helps you is to try it. I suspect you'll notice some pleasant surprises!

Pam, I hope these thoughts will help guide your way a bit. Let me know if you have more questions! :-)





Hey there, Sharon ~ thanks for the big hug! Right back atcha, girl. ~:-D

If 5-HTP works well for you, it may be because you're a nonsecretor. Works wonders for us. You can up it to 150 mg twice daily, and see how your snooze project progresses! Tryptophan is so abundant in turkey (a goodie for Bs) that I'm sure you can supplement it without harm, and probably with excellent results. Don't forget to include a little real turkey now and again... especially homemade turkey soup with its broth, blah blah blah, you know my views on this!! ;->



I fully empathize with your squeamishness over ingesting hormones -- believe me, I've no love of such things. However, Peter recommends the melatonin for type B insomnia, and so I shall as well. You see, this is not forever. Menopause is not a permanent condition! LOL, thank God!! :-D So if you need it, do it, and no worries there.

Here's another tiny tip: add some MethylB12 (available in our online store), first thing when you rise in the morning -- an hour before eating. Try one cap, and slowly up it to three if needed. It helps regulate your cortisol "clock" in the morning, to encourage sound sleep at night.

Welcome to the BTD, Pam! I do envy you one-type households! :-)



1. Avocadoes are an avoid for type O secretors due to a lectin.



2. Ginseng, gingko and St. John's Wort are popular herbs which work far better for types A and AB than they do for Os. If you're using them for their anti-aging, cognitive enhancement and mood stablization properties, may I suggest the potent adaptogen Rhodiola Rosea (Russian Rhodiola, or Arctic Root), supplementary thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1) and L-tyrosine instead? St. John's Wort in particular isn't recommended for Os ~ it is an MAO inhibitor, and we have the lowest levels of MAO of all the blood types to begin with. Your husband may also benefit from a supp called 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), especially if he is a nonsecretor. In the Store on this site, you can purchase Catechol, which is ideal for mood elevation in type Os, and contains several of the separate compounds noted above. I have to put in my classic plug for strenuous exercise here: it's unmatched for balancing type O mood swings, and is fully 50% of our health plan for very good reason. Those workouts not only build muscle, melt fat and pep up our digestion ~ they boost functioning of every organ system, including the endocrine (stress relief) and neurosystem (for that happy brain). end of lecture! now grab yer sneaks & GO! :-D



3. The main reason why pickles are a no-no is that cucumbers are an O avoid (one of the changes in the food lists since BTD). Check the TYPEbase 3® online database (also linked on our homepage) for food changes... and keep an eye on the Updates Page for any future additions or modifications.



4. Hominy/grits is a corn product ~ nix on that one! :-}



5. Cilantro is listed as "coriander" in your book (separately in Live Right 4 Your Type), and is neutral for nearly everyone (beneficial for A nonsecretors).



Once you and your husband have adjusted to your new diet and activities, I doubt you'll miss those old avoids much. There's plenty of great food on our Beneficial and Neutral lists, so the key (here, as in so many things) is to form new habits to crowd out the ones we formed before. Drop me a line on how it's going for you two ~~ and thanks for writing, Pamela!!

Jacquelyne in the UK is working on a cookbook along BTD principles. She gently reminded me today that she’s had a handful of questions outstanding for some time now... :-} I know we have a multitude of readers from the UK, as well as fish, liver, curry & cheese fans either side the Pond, so, here we go!



Can I count sheep's cheese, yogurt, fromage fraiche, etc the same as for goat's cheese?

Certainly. Goat milk, sheep milk ~ the differences are so minor as to be insignificant when encountered by the human digestive tract.



Calve's liver appears in your lists but why has lambs' liver and that old favourite chicken liver been neglected. Should we all avoid? Also when you speak of curry powder are we talking about garam masala? And what are the ingredients. Over in the UK curry powder (I believe unknown in India) can consist of a whole variety of things. Please help!

If an animal’s muscle meat is neutral or beneficial for a given type, the organ meats thereof rate neutral or better ~~ due to the concentration of vitamins and other nutrients in that "fifth quarter" of the animal.

"Curry" has a place in the food lists because it is a spice combination found in every U.S. supermarket spice rack. The components tend to vary little from brand to brand, so the rating was based upon the standard ingredient list on the average product found in the supermarket. There is wiggle room, as you can see in the Live Right 4 Your Type lists, since some blood groups who do great with turmeric (the largest ingredient in most store-bought "curry powder") do far less well with some of the other ingredients, and vice versa. Yes, we are technically talking about garam masala, but truly a mild and middle-of-the-road commercial variety most commonly composed of turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, pepper, clove, cinnamon and garlic ~ and although you didn't ask this, we certainly do not mean "curry leaf" which I’ve seen in the UK but never here.



Can I assume that the listing for shrimp would also apply to prawns?

Sure. Shrimp, prawns... or "scampi" in Italy. All those little shrimp-similar crustaceans.



Me again, sorry! Does skate (order Rajiformes) or ray (order Myliobatiformes) feature in your testing? Or is this a fish only found in British waters? Can it be classified? Many thanks!

I’ve eaten skate in the U.S. (delicious!!), from New York to Florida. There are 20+ species swimming in our coastal waters, all loosely called "skate," most indeed belonging to the genus Raja. I’m sorry to report we have no listing for skate or rays, and I would not conjecture about them at this time as is sometimes my wont. Until they are tested and rated, they may be technically considered "neutral," and goodie for me cuz I adore them.



We have a fish in the UK called red mullet (or goatfish or surmullet), is this any relation to your red snapper? Then there is also grey mullet - is this what you call mullet in the Encyclopaedia?

Our "mullet" is Mullus auratus, also your "red mullet," "goatfish," and "surmullet." Same fishy. We, too, call it "red mullet," and that is what we most commonly see on our fishmonger’s ice-pile: plump little red-silver guys, perhaps five to seven inches in length. Your "gray mullet" is Mugil cephalus, a slightly larger and stouter creature (a bit rough-hewn round the head) sometimes called "striped mullet," and not as readily available here on the Eastern Seaboard – but any of the Mullus and Mugil genus can be considered identical to our "mullet" for rating purposes. Our red snapper is a much larger fish, genus Lutjanus ~ and several species applicable, depending upon which State one fishes from: the far western islands of Hawaii, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, the coast of North Carolina. They’re all red snapper to us!

Here’s a nice portrait, with measurements, of the fish I see everywhere here in the Northeast: ~ Lutjanus campechanus, on every NYC menu!



I thought that porgy (neutral A/O and beneficial B/A was the same as scup (neurtral O/B/AB and avoid A) according to various websites and yet there are different in the Encyclopeadia. The name Stenotomus chrysops seems to point to both. But my real question is - is this fish (or one of them) any relation to the UK Bream as I have never seen porgy or scup over here? Many thanks

"PorGEE, I’ze your woman now... I is, I is, and....".. whoops, slipped into a Gershwin moment there. Here’s our humble "porgy:" Chrysophrys auratus which our government would like us to call "squirefish" and which everyone calls "porgy" anyway. It is, for us, a Pacific catch, reaching so far west in its range that it has managed to pick up the nomen Australia Red Seabream ~ but has not, I fear, reached so far as your eastern shores! Never eaten one, sorry to say, and from its demeanor I'd wager we're neither of us missing much. Now, your S. chrysops IS our "scup" ~ wish I had another attractive pic for your comparison, but it is not such a large-scale food fish here (where all these delightful food ratings were born) that the FDA site would waste bandwidth on its image. :-> I strongly suspect your "bream" is our "Atlantic pomfret" (or just "pomfret" or "bream") ~ Brama brama ~ sounds like bull but it ain't. Oh ~ and we’re so special over here in the Colonies that we have a "Pacific pomfret" as well: Brama japonica. Whole lotta fishin’ goin’ on! But of course all this is of little help to you, since I’ve no snazzy pic to offer nor any rating for B. spp. Another neutral international fish for the record, and who can say we might not benefit from a bit more neutrality in this tumultuous world of ours? :-D

Jacquelyne, thank you for your questions... and the reminder! :-> Best of luck in your work, and DO keep in touch!! :-D

Several readers have expressed an interest in home-cultured foods and have requested references on how-to and what-to-do-what-to, etc. ;-)

One approach is the use of kefir-grains. I suggest a thorough reading of "Dom's Kefir In-Site" pages, linked here and here. The process sounds quite complex at first glance, but is quite understandable and doable after a few passes through the text and a couple of test batches at home.

In the beginning of January, 2001, "Marlese" posted to the old message board some tips on cultured nuts/seeds she'd picked up in Natalie Cederquist and James Levin's book, Vibrant Living. I would also suggest taking a look at the book, since she mentions there are a number of different kinds of foods used in their recipes. I've reproduced her post in full here below:

Cultured Live Food Recipes: LONG

Posted By: Marlese O+

Date: Wednesday, 3 January 2001

Claire West asked for these, but I thought other people might be interested, so I’m posting here. I’m going to post the original recipe, and then each blood type can feel free to substitute avoids with HBs and neutrals. Cultured live foods have living enzymes, airborne lactobacillus, and lots of other good stuff. It’s also good for people who have difficulties digesting nuts because the culturing process breaks down some of the proteins and fats and pre-digests the food to a degree. I’m very allergic to nuts, but have absolutely no problems eating them this way. Except that they’re still fattening. Very fattening. It’s easy to overeat them in this form, but they do have nice milky feel which us O’s can miss sometimes.

I got all of the recipes from Vibrant Living by Natalie Cederquist and James Levin. When I was eating raw, I would use recipes from this book when I started getting bored. As an O, I simply couldn’t thrive on a vegan diet, and wasn’t willing to eat raw meat (except for ground beef, of course). But the raw movement has come up with lots of nice ways to eat seaweeds, fruits and veggies without destroying their benefits by cooking them. I’d recommend the book to anyone and am grateful to Claire for making me dust it off. I had forgotten some of this great stuff.

Basic Sun Almond Seed Cheese

½ c raw sunflowers (if subbing, use lean seed like pumpkin)

1 c raw almonds (if subbing, use richer nut like pine or filbert)

2 c clean (spring or filtered) water, or Rejuvelac (recipe below)

1 teaspoon(t) white miso

1. Grind the nuts into a powder (I use Vitamixer but blender might work), toss in water and miso and blend till mixed.

2. Pour mixture into a glass jar, cover with a towel, and let it sit on your kitchen counter for 8-20 hours. The longer it sits, the more of a sour flavor it gets. I like 10 hours.

3. If you used a regular blender, there will be "whey" on the bottom and "cheese" on top. Just scoop off the cheese and store in fridge (to make it even thicker, line a mesh colander with cheese cloth and let sit draining over a bowl in your fridge for a day). If you used a Vitamixer, the whole thing will be a softer sort of cheese.

Dream de la Cream (holy cow, does this live up to its name)

1/3 c raw macadamia

2/3 c cashews

½ c almonds

1 c clean water or Rejuvelac

Same as steps 1-3 above, only don’t let it sit more than 8-12 hours. This is a more delicate mix, probably because of the higher fat content, which will spoil if left out too long. But it’s delicious.

Seasoned Nut Cheese

1 c almonds

1 Tablespoon(T) nut butter

1 T Golden or white miso

¼ c chopped onion

1 chopped garlic clove

2 t umeboshi plum (I’m not sure if this is OK for O’s, but I don’t add anymore. Can substitute a pinch of sea salt)

optional: herbs like basil, oregano, cumin, dill, dulse etc. Fresh is best, but in a pinch, can grind dried herbs in mortar and pestle first to release flavor.

1. In glass jar or bowl, cover almonds with water and let soak overnight (8-12 hours) on your counter.

2. Drain almonds and toss into blender or Vitamixer with the rest of the ingredients.

3. Pour into glass container, cover with towel, and let sit on your counter for 6-10 hours.

REJUVELAC—stinky and hard to get right, but it has tons of B vitamins, enzymes, lactobacillus and lots of good stuff. Some people even claim to like the taste. Weirdos. I think it’s good mixed with other stuff like cold soups or juices. If you use it to make seed cheese, they culture a lot faster.

½ c wheat berries

6 c clean water

optional: ¾ c raisins

1. Soak the wheat berries for 24 hours.

2. Sprout the wheat berries for 2 days.

3. Toss sprouts in blender with 1 cup water and chop to break them up. If you’re using a Vitamixer, resist the temptation to blend; CHOP ONLY. If you’re going to add the raisins, now’s the time to do it. The sugar helps the taste and fermentation process. Add another cup water and blend a bit more.

4. Pour the mixture and 4 cups water into a large enough glass jar, like an iced tea jar, cover with a towel, and let the whole thing sit on your counter for 3 days. Stir it twice each day.

5. At the end of the third day, it should smell sour like lemons and sauerkraut. If it smells bad, DO NOT DRINK IT. That means that the unfriendly bacteria have taken over. This is what makes it difficult to make. There are so many variables over a three day period that it’s hard to control each batch. I spoiled my first few batches, so don’t be discouraged. I think everybody did. If the batch is good, it helps you detox and aids in food digestion. Start with 1 cup a day and work up slowly from there (don’t rush because you’ll detox too hard).

6. Strain off liquid and store in fridge for up to 2 weeks. There are lots of recipes for using this stuff, like blending it with fruit into smoothies. It’s kind of bubbly and mixes well.

7. If you want, you can take the strainings from the last batch, add 6 more cups of water, and let it ferment for 3 days, stirring twice a day like before. The second batch is lighter in taste.

I hope these suggestions get the home-cultured-foodies off to a great start! and, thanks, Marlese!! :-)

I get a few cards & letters each week, from every corner of the world, requesting information on where to go to get a secretor status test.



There are two ways of determining one's secretor "type." The "gold standard" is the salivary inhibition, or SALIVA SECRETOR TEST ~ its accuracy closely approaches 100%.



This test procedure was developed in conjunction with Great Smokies Diagnostics Laboratories here in the eastern United States, and is not generally available worldwide. While North American Pharmacal can send you the test in the U.S., it is advisable to follow the recommended collection and shipment procedures to the letter if you are sending your sample during warm weather or from very far away (Hawaii, for example). There are some exceptions as to whence NAP can accept these orders: namely, New York State and Canada, due to laws in force that prohibit the shipment of saliva across those borders. To order the saliva secretor test from NAP, click here!



CANADA: Francoise Ouellet has been facilitating secretor test orders for Canadians for over a year now. She lives quite near the U.S. border, and has legal means of requesting, delivering and shipping the tests. Her French BTD mirror site can be found at www.abovie.com, and her email address is sherbrooke@abovie.com. Yes, she speaks English! :-) She is a devoted friend, and this service is only one of the many she has performed over the years for our BTD family.



GREAT BRITAIN and EUROPE: NAP products, including the saliva test, are distributed in all EEC countries by Stacktheme Ltd., the official NAP European distributor. Continental customers may wish to contact Stacktheme Europe for expedited customer service and delivery.



SOUTH AFRICA: Contact the "Western Cape Blood Transfusion Service" at (021) 507 6300 and ask for the Serology Department. They perform both the saliva test and the Lewis test.



The second way to find one's place in the secretor/ nonsecretor universe is to request your "LEWIS TYPE." This is a blood test, and laboratories around the world are equipped to do it on the request of your doctor or clinic. You may well find that your physician or clinic lab head has never heard of it. Don't let that deter you. Contact the lab who usually performs tests for your physician, and ask them to explain it to your ol’ doc there. The labs will know what Lewis typing is.



AUSTRALIA:



Over a year ago, I heard from two Australians who had tracked down the LEWIS test at labs near them. Analytical Reference Laboratories in Melbourne (phone 03 9328 3586, contact name Colm Benson) had plans at that time (February 2001) to offer the saliva test sometime in the future, and now just might be that future. :-) For now, ARL do offer the Lewis test and can coach one’s GP in its significance and interpretation.



General Diagnostic Laboratories, also in Melbourne. Their address is 68 Burwood Highway, Burwood -- consult the local telephone directory for their phone number.



Western Diagnostic Pathology, 74 McCoy St in Myaree WA 6154 (contact Tracey Dickson, 08 9317 0864) is another Australian lab familiar with Lewis typing (and with the Blood Type Diets).





Now, once you’ve obtained your Lewis test result, here is the key to its interpretation:



Le a- b+ This is a Secretor!



Le a+ b- This is a Nonsecretor!



Le a- b- (rare) This is a Lewis Negative person, who may be either a secretor or nonsecretor ~ saliva testing necessary to be sure. Peter recommends these folks use the nonsecretor diet, since their particular health concerns tend to coincide with those of nonsecretors.



Le a+ b+ (VERY rare) Like the Lewis Negative, the Lewis Positive (double positive?) person would need the saliva test to determine secretor status conclusively.



OK! Wherever in the world you are, there is probably a laboratory within hailing distance to help you discover your place in the secretor/nonsecretor yin & yang. Do a bit of "continuing education" on your doctor, contact labs direct if need be, and Good Hunting to you! :-)

Hello, Anna! I'm pleased to hear your immunity is up!! But don't be puzzled by what the drugs are doing (or not doing): treatment of Candidiasis through medication almost always leads to a relapse. Drugs cannot address the cause, of course, and that's our byword here ~ but most significantly, it worsens the situation by killing a bunch of beneficial, protective critters along with the overgrown Candida albicans organisms (who are present in healthy people as a normal state of affairs, but at far lower numbers). Then you're right back where you started, with the stage set for those feisty C. albicans to take over once again. The motto of "anti-candida" drug therapy is: Kill Them All ~ Let God Sort Them Out. It's as if you've put down the insurrection by overpowering all the rioters, along with all your own guards and the rest of the innocent populace! Guess who's going to get up first, brush themselves off and start growing faster than ever?? As Peter wrote so succinctly in the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia, "Ironically, one of the primary factors in recurrent yeast infections is long-term overuse of antibiotics." Let's explore the life-enhancing (naturopathic) approach.

The key to re-establishing a happy colony for your colon (and farther up) is to provide, and feed, the good guys who are struggling right now in a toxic environment. You see, it is they whose job it is to maintain your intestinal "balance of power." :-) Not to mention digest your food and ensure a strong immune system. Cultivate them and feed them right, and everybody's gonna be smiling.

To do so: yes, I would eliminate all wheat except for 100% sprouted grains or breads. If you're serious about getting things back to normal in a hurry, ditch all grains for a month or two. There's nothing in them nutritionally that you require for a perfect diet, and you can add them gradually later on when the yeast uprising has been put down. Second, emphasize those cultured dairy products, like goat yogurt, kefir, and sheep's milk feta and other goat & sheep-based cheeses. They contain protein, calcium and gut-organism boosters for you. Third, make your own fiber-rich "pesto" from a few tablespoons each of raw walnuts & flax seeds, a couple of handfuls of cilantro (the leaves of the coriander plant), three or four cloves of garlic, some olive oil, and a touch of sea salt to taste. Whiz it up in your blender, and take a tablespoon every day ~ it also makes a lovely dressing for salads or hot dishes when stirred into enough oil & lemon to produce the desired consistency. I'd make sure to get an abundance of dark green leafy vegetables every day, along with the beneficial meats and oils (include some walnut oil in salad dressings) and make use of warming spices ~ peppers, turmeric, local horseradishes, ginger.

Since you're in Malaysia, I'm sure you'll have to adjust these suggestions somewhat due to foods unavailable to you there ~ just do your best!

On the supplement side, the following are of great help: ARA6 powder, two tablespoons per day (reduce to one after a month, if desired), and the PolyFlora-B probiotic, both available from our site. If it's not practical for you to obtain these, try the following for 4 weeks ~ take a two-week break, then start again if things still haven't settled down: Elecampane (Inula helenium), 500 mg: 1 capsule with meals; Coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum) tincture: 2-3 drops, twice daily; oregano (Origanum vulgare) tincture: 4-7 drops, twice daily. And use a good commercial probiotic ~ type Bs do fine with most of them.

About the polycystic ovarian syndrome: Peter wrote this Ask Dr. D. response to a type O woman with PCOS, and as it happens, his explanation of the condition and advice on how to resolve it is perfectly applicable to type B (all types, actually), as well. His first suggestion is to follow that B diet, as you are doing! An excerpt:





Now to durian: we have no rating for it at this time ~ until we do, it may be considered "neutral," but if one is attempting to resolve any health issue, unlisted foods are probably better left alone for the time being!

thank you for writing, and I hope to hear soon that you're on the mend!!

:-)

Dear Dr D'Adamo, I am a registered dietitian and in reference to your "as I see it" piece, I cannot agree with you more. There are many RDs who feel as I do and we are trying to be heard. I have used your diet to help dozens of people. I work with an oncology dept of a hospital (and the general public as well) and we are encouraged to design and run studies. I would love to figure out a way to show my oncologists the legitimacy of the blood type diet. Do you have copies of your studies at Bastyr or can you tell me how to get them? I went to hear you speak in Ridgewood NJ several months ago. Many thanks, Stephanie

You said it, Stephanie! :-) What good news that the word is spreading among RDs... that is music to my ears. I'm posting your entry here to alert Peter to your praise, and your request! THANKS!



hi heidi, do you know if peter is considering having the stearates removed from his nutritional products. I feel this would make his products unsurpassed in the health field. Stearates and fillers can cause difficulties in sensitive people like myself and others I've spoken with. Would appreciate if you would pass this along to Peter as well as giving him my best. thank you. Regards, Robert C.

Hi, Robert ~ it's always so good to hear from you! I remember you're type O... I've had similar comments from only two type As, but there must be a small percentage (a good handful in terms of numbers) of people who are sensitive enough to have some untoward reactions to the fillers, so I thought I'd put your suggestion up here so that Peter & Martha may evaluate it for further study. I have seen first-hand over the years how deeply committed they are to excellence in all they do. Keep in touch! and thanks for your thoughtful note!!



Heidi, You recommended the book Meditation as Medicine again today in your response. I got curious and looked at it on Amazon.com then called the local bookstore and plan to go buy the book tonight or tomorrow. While I am there I might look for the book Jerky that you mentioned some time ago too. I am interested in trying to make jerky since I haven't found any free from avoids in the local stores. I was wondering if there are any other books that you or Dr. D'Adamo recommend. Winter is coming and I need things to read while I am curled up under a blanket in front of the fireplace ;-) Thanks, Don

Gee, thanks for the casual mention of your fireplace, Don. Now I can curl up in front of my sooty-flaky heating pipes here in NYC and imagine you there with a roaring fire. Wow. I thought you were my friend!!! ~~;-D Well, it's dangerous to ask me about recommended cozy winter reading. Do you like poetry? How about Seamus Heaney's The Spirit Level? Certainly the finest living poet, and far & above most of the dead guys. You might even start with his first tiny chapbook, Death of a Naturalist and work your way along. Pure joy! Next: Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, by Ayn Rand. Revelations in pure reason, one upon another. Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer, Kenneth R. Pelletier, Ph.D., which goes nicely with the CLASSIC: Hans Selye's The Stress of Life ~ not that stress will be weighing much on your mind, all cozy by the hearth there! :->

Peter? :-D



Have had a lot of pennies drop since reading LR4YT confirming conclusions drawn over a long period of trial and erring. Thanks for developing and sharing this information. Is there a source for a secretor test in Canada? Thanks, Bruce

Hi, Bruce ~~ I'm very pleased that you've found the best health plan of the 20th AND 21st centuries! Thank you for your kind words!! I'm not sure at this time where the situation stands with secretor tests in Canada, so I'm posting your query here. When I have an answer, I'll forward it to you... thanks again, and may you prosper! :-)



Dr. D. Hello, First I wanted to personally thank for you saving my life. I was diagnosed with RA 6 years ago (suffering for 10 years, since I was 21) I was unable to walk, my doctors gave up on me and told me to get a wheelchair and go on Chemotherapy. I told them to "buzz off". Finally after searching the Internet for years on end trying thousands of products - I found out I was O type and was allergic to all wheat products. After 1 week on the diet I was Pain Free! I took lots of Omega 3/6 with my Ultra Clear shakes. Now I'm eating lots of red meat and probably too much protein and not enough fruits/veggies and fiber. What do you recommend for constipation? I bought a vita-mix blender to help make veggie/fruit shakes to get more fiber. Do I need more flora? Thank you for any help. I prayed to god to take my life or find me health from the pain I went through - thank god for Dr. D and his family's research. --Take Care-- (On the O type diet for 1 year.) Kevin

Kevin, your spirit is so powerful, it jumps off the page! I'm in awe of your accomplishments. The fruit & veg smoothies/juices will probably take care of the constipation, but you can certainly add a tablespoon or two of freshly ground flaxseed (soaked for 15-20 minutes in enough water to cover) -- it's great not only for the EFAs, but for the fiber. Get some raw vegetables into yourself every day, and consider adding some prunes -- you can juice them yourself if you like. Two supplements that may speed your progress are the PolyFlora-O probiotic, and ARA6 which is a food for the critters and a fiber for the bowel, as well as a great anti-oxidant. THANK YOU for your great praise of Peter & family (I feel the same way! :-)), and I'm posting your message here to make sure they see it!!



Dear Martha and Peter, my life has been so enriched by your many kindnesses so inspired by your accomplishments, and so enlivened by your friendship and your trust... well, words just don't do the job. I'm grateful I am alive on this earth while you are. It has been a stupendous blessing to me and to countless others ~ who keep telling me about it. ;-) love, ^heidi^

:-)

Encyclopedia errata? Page 472: Arthritis Protocol Type B calls for Glucosamine sulfate. Page 565: Glucosamine sulfate listed for type O only. Glucosamine, N-acetyl listed for type B. Which is correct? Nancy

Both N-acetyl glucosamine (lectin-binding) and glucosamine sulfate (anti-inflammatory) may be used by type Os and Bs. Thanks for your note, Nancy. :-)

I am a female, 58 years old, AB, non-secretor. I have been on the diet for 3 months, and just within the past few days found out my secretor status. I have been eating a lot of salmon, but last night as I was reading the blood type encyclopedia, I read that salmon has lectins which would make it not a good choice for me. However, salmon is listed as a beneficial food in the seafood list. I am really confused at this point. There are a few other foods that this is true for also. Can I not rely on the food lists? Also, I have been adhering to the food lists pretty rigidly and have not lost weight although my general health and feeling of well being has improved tremendously. Any hints for weight loss for me? Karen

Karen, the food lists are correct. Please see this link to my June 6 column, where your question about the A & B lectin paragraphs is answered. To spur your weight loss, aim for a diet comprised of 100% beneficial foods. And do your strenuous exercise interspersed with yoga, meditation, or tai chi. :-)

Dr. D'Adamo is not currently accepting questions and has diverted all questions this way. My question is simple. In both "Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type" and the new "Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia" he says that salmon, apples and beets are either beneficial or neutral for blood type b but on p.349 in the encyclopedia, in the chapter on lectins in a small paragraph, he states that blood type b's should avoid salmon, beets and apples. I'm trying to figure out whats what. I live in Washington State. Salmon and apples are a main staple up here and I would like to know whether are not to avoid them. A reply of some sort would be appreciable. Thanks David

Hi, David! Washington State is a great place to live... a little envy here! Please see this link to my June 6 column, where your question is answered.

:-)

Different books from Dr. D'Adamato show foods in different categories. Which list should I follow? eg. in one book maynnaise is neutral for O's and in another it is to be avoided. In one book kiwi is neutral in another it is to be avoided. There are many examples of this type of movement from the 1996 book to the encyclopedia book. Help, which is correct? Balakhovsky

Greetings! New techniques, new discoveries and wider research have resulted in the several value changes and item additions found in the later books. Please see the bottom of the page of this link to my August 12 column, where your question is answered. :-)

I currently have the "EAT RIGHT 4 YOUR TYPE" book and the "EAT RIGHT 4 YOUR TYPE" Encyclopedia. I am type O blood and I noticed some contraditions. 1. The book says "Cabbage-like" foods are bad for type O and the encyclopedia lists thems as nuetral. 2. The Enclopeda classifies bananas as highly beneficial for type O, the book does not. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks for your help. TS

Tom, please see the bottom of the page of this link to my August 12 column, where your question is answered. Let me know if anything else comes up. :-)

Why aren't Tier 1 & Tier 2 indicators in the Blood Type Encyclopedia? Dear Heidi, I've discovered some errata between Live Right 4 Your Type and the Encyclopedia. Is the Encyclopedia "The Word" now? If so, why is there no mention of "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" in the Encyclopedia? Is the "Tier 1"/"Tier 2" distinction still inportant? If so, why is it missing from the encyclopedia? Also, is there a place to check whether the errata has been reported before, or should I email you the errata? Chris

The Encyclopedia is designed as a reference guide to therapies, and includes the food lists only as an addendum. Live Right is devoted to specific food ratings, the secretor system, and in-depth lifestyle guidelines -- with supplements mentioned in passing. The two books work hand-in-hand in that respect. For checking whether a discrepancy has already been addressed here, see the bottom of the page of this link to my August 12 column. :-)

Re: Pinto Beans: I've reviewed the Eat Right, Cook Right, and Supplement for Type "O" books and need more info regarding Pinto Beans. In the Eat Right and Cook Right book, pinto beans are NUETRAL. However, in the Supplement booklet it is listed as AVOID. Please tell me which is most accurate? If they are an AVOID for Type O, can you tell me what has changed as it relates to Type O's? Regards Peggy

Hi, Peggy! Please see the bottom of the page of this link to my August 12 column, where your question is answered. :-)

Dear Ms. Merritt, I'm wondering if there's possibly an error on page 269 of "Live Right 4 Your Type." On that page the guidelines for eating fruits are given as "Times per week," but shouldn't they be "Times per day"? Otherwise, this disagrees with advice on page 191 to "Eat lots of beneficial fruits and vegetables" and also with "Blood Type A Food, Beverage and Supplement Lists" guidelines, page 35. I'm pretty sure page 269 is a typo, but I look forward to your definitely clearing up the discrepancy. Thank you so much! Regards, Will, a very satisfied user of the wonderful Blood Type Diet!

I'm happy that you're happy, Will! Go to our LR4YT change log here (it is also linked on our main page and many of my columns) and scan down the page for "Corrections." The exact line begins, "Under FRUITS, and under VEGETABLES...." Your question is answered there. :-)

CONFLICT between COOK RIGHT 4 YOUR TYPE and BLOOD TYPE 0 FOOD, BEVERAGE AND SUPPLEMENT LISTS -- Pinto beans listed as "highly beneficial" for type O in former and "avoid" in latter. Which one is correct? Mij

Please see the bottom of the page of this link to my August 12 column, where your question is answered. :-)

thank you for your notes, everyone ~ your contributions mean more information for everyone!! :-)

a HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY to all ~ and

Of course I remember you, Joyce! :-) Rice, oats, barley, quinoa and millet come to mind ~ along with spelt, which makes a more recognizable sandwich-y bread dough than rice or millet alone. If you enjoy making breads at home, try mixing a number of flours, including oat flour ~ a flour mill to grind the grain fresh is a nice gadget ~ and experiment with the yeast quantity, liquid, and rising times until you have a good feel for how these flours work. There are also commercial rice, spelt, millet and quinoa breads as well as the sprouted grain varieties. If you are trying to eliminate wheat, sprouted wheat flour or bread is fine, as is spelt ~ but you may find you make better progress resolving the bloat and ovarian troubles if you set grains (and sugars) aside for a few weeks. It will certainly do you no harm, and the hiatus in grain eating will allow you to add one grain at a time later on and see exactly what your reactions are. Good luck, Joyce, and drop me a note to tell me how it's going!

_

Type B and PMS My wife (B age 39, and me (O) age 36, have been following the BT lifestyle for 4 months now, with great improvements in helth, energy and weight loss. Anyhow my wife is the cutest, nicest and most lovable woman in the world, 3 weeks every month. BUT, the last 3 days before she gets her period, and the following days, she turns in to a "monster". Aggressive, no tolerance and generally in a bad mood. We both follow Dr. D's plan very strictly. Is there anything you recommend to reduce the "hormone-party" in my wifes body? Geir

Oh, dear, you're having fun, eh? Well, how are her calcium and magnesium levels? Lots of dark green leafy veg, almonds, allowed dairy products? Does she get adequate protein? Additional time on the diet, along with the recommended B-group stress-relief practices such as visualization, meditation, even a nice rousing martial arts class around that time of the month, may be the keys to balancing those hormones. If the problem persists despite the diet and stress-relief regime, she might try the following supplements. I doubt you have access to the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia there in Norway yet, so I'll transcribe here the suggestions for raging type B PMS: FOR EIGHT WEEKS: Cordyceps sinensis, 500 mg: 1-2 caps 2x/day, GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) 500 mg: 1 cap 1x/day, Inositol, 500 mg: 1-2 caps 2x/day; Schizandra (or "Wu-Wei-Zi") herbal tincture: 15-25 drops 2x/day. FOR FOUR WEEKS (can be concurrent with the above): Chaste Berry (Vitex agnus-castus), 400 mg standardized extract: 1 cap 2x/day, Raspberry leaf (Rubus spp.) tincture: 15-20 drops, twice daily, Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture: 10-15 drops 1x/day; black currant seed oil, 500 mg: 2-3 caps 1x/day. Let me know what you choose & how things proceed! :-)

_

Heidi, two of my children have very high cholestrol levels at a very young age. My son was 10 and my daughter was 4 when they were routinely tested and were found to have cholesterol levels near 400, and their HDL/LDL's were not very good. They are otherwise extremely healthy, thin, muscular, active, good students, etc. They are now 11 and 17 years old. My pediatrician keeps trying to get me to go to specialists for the last 7 years but my husband and I don't want them put through all kinds of tests and live the "patient" life from appointment to appointment, test to test, blah blah...especially when there is so much contradicting advise, medications, etc. which brought me to BTD in the first place. I have always suspected that it was something with their diet and their heredity so in the past I struggled to find out what would help them until 2 years ago I found ER4Yt. I have been on the diet since Feb./01 and have been feeding my kids right as best as I can, my daughter is very compliant, but my 17 year old son cheats every chance he can get even though he has seen positive results in the way he feels, and acne clearing up, and athletic performance levels when he eats right. My daughter is type 0 and my son is type B. I have stopped trying to discuss any of this with the MD, since they don't agree with the diet and think I should persue consultants and specialists and possible put them on lipid lowering drugs. I haven't had them retested since I don't want to involve MD in this any more. My concern is should I be doing more for them ? Is there any way to monitor their progress or lack of progress ? I just don't know what to do and I am sort of burring my head in the sand and just hoping and praying that the diet will do it's job and just pretend that I never found out that their cholesterol was so high in the first place. ( we never even knew about such things 20 years ago anyway). Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated . Thank you. Suzanna

Hi, Suzanna ~ hey, you're in a stressful situation there, and I understand how scary it can be when you're so worried about your kids you don't want to THINK about it anymore! :-} Let me suggest an approach that might take the mental pressure off you without making your children live-ins at the MD. If the cholesterol levels started out that high, I'd test them twice per year (then forget about it until next time). I suspect this may just be a condition that runs in the family, but don't despair! There is a SAFE natural alternative to the specialists and the drugs called Red Yeast Rice. Before you run out and purchase a bottle from the HFS, I'd like to recommend that you get the best RYR available -- highest levels of cholesterol-lowering compounds, and government-certified against any harmful elements. That brand is from Jingxin ~ here is their webpage and the phone number to call in the U.S. is 732-257-8844 -- it's in New Jersey. Each batch comes with its own chemical assay and certification. "Michael" is the person I spoke to when I ordered my kilo (2.2 pounds) package. The prices vary, and when I purchased it they did not offer capsules - only bulk - but it can be stored in the fridge for a year and used in smoothies or stirred into pineapple or carrot juice for the kids. A teaspoon a day will do it! It works within weeks, rather spectacularly. If you have any questions about this, please write again. Take charge of the situation, and you'll sleep better at night, dear! Take care!! Let me know how this works out!

___

Thank you all for writing!!!

Diane, I think you're doing just fine. My cholesterol is low, too -- around 160 -- but the HDL/LDL ratios are spectacular (as I suspect yours are) and it appears this is something we can thank our genetic heritage for ~ it's been associated with good health and long life, as long as we're getting ENOUGH good fats! Feel free to add the flax oil back into your routine -- it will help, not hurt, your weight loss plans. And a little more ghee is a good idea, too. Keeps the intestinal walls smooth and the flora & fauna joyous. :-)



For Type As, I have some questions related to the BTD: (1) Is cactus (any variety) a suitable vegetable? (2) Why are peanuts beneficial but not peanut oil? (3) Can scrod be included as a beneficial or neutral fish? (4) Artichoke pasta is allowed but I cannot find it in health food stores. Help! (5) Are blueberry juice and aloe vera juice highly beneficial? Should blueberry juice be diluted with water? (6) Is meat tenderizer (unseasoned) a beneficial or neutral spice? (7) Do you have specific suggestions for someone who is immune compromised? I had Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 1997 and my spleen and adominal lymph nodes were removed. (FYI: I was always very healthy, rarely got sick, skipped most childhood diseases, have my tonsils, adenoids and appendix and went 2-1/2 yrs. without a cold between 1994 and 1997. Oncologists say this cancer is brought on by a virus, hits most people in their 40s and is the fastest rising cancer within the U.S.) Since 1998, I have taken numerous nutraceuticals, eaten a clean diet (before I discovered BTD) and take AM/PM probiotics with FOS. Mira

Whoo! Mira, I'll take these questions in order:

(1) Prickly pear is the only cactus, other than aloe (a succulent) listed in our databases. Aloe is beneficial for secretors, neutral for nons... and prickly pear is neutral for all As. Unlisted cactuses ("unknowns") may be considered neutral for folks who are not overweight or trying to resolve other health issues.

(2) Peanuts vs. peanut oil: see Peter's Ask Dr. D'Adamo column entitled Peanut Oil Versus Peanuts for the answer!

(3) Scrod's been added to the lists since BTD! In late 2000, as a matter of fact. See the TYPEbase3 reference database on our site, remember to use the "search" button (hitting the 'enter' key don't do it), and have fun!!

(4) Once upon a time, there was a brand of 100% artichoke pasta... it tasted so spooky, few customers bought it twice, and the product was discontinued. Use one of the many great organic rice pastas instead!

(5) Blueberries are a low-sugar fruit, but I'm from the tradition of "dilute all fruit juices 1/2-1/2 with spring or mineral water." Unless you're using them in combination with other fruits in a juice, I'd say you could get away trying it at full strength... but if it boinks your sugar metabolism at all, go back to diluting, OK? :-)

(6) Meat tenderizer... hmm... You mean the chop-headed mallet I pound things with? Fine for all types! ;-) I hope you don't mean that MSG-stuffed chemical substance sold as a powder in supermarkets? Yikes! Get it away, get it gone!! Not OK for any type, especially not for As, most especially not for As with health challenges. By the way, what kind of meat are you eating that you'd be putting tenderizer on it? For fish or fowl, use a quick trip to the fridge in marinade (olive oil, lemon juice, salt is the basic recipe - 20 minutes for fish filets, 2 hours for the birdies) instead of the powdery unpronounceably-ingrediented chemical product.

(7) Yes. (a) Get hold of Live Right 4 Your Type AND the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia from this site or any major bookstore or health food emporium. (b) Check your nutraceuticals against the lists for possible avoids, and (c) consider using the PolyFlora-O product sold here along with ARA6, a truly astonshing flora-food and antioxidant.

You sound like a woman with determination and energy, and robust natural health & healing abilities ~ and I know you will prevail over any challenges you face. Keep in touch!! :-)

I am already 10 months on ERFYT diet,O+ (non secretor). First period went rapidly wery wel, I lost 4 kilos overweight (after pregnancy) but the most importent of all I do not have migraine attacs any more (until now). But there is one thing I cant clarify, my weight goes up and down in periods, between 58 and 60 kilos. Some times obviously water retantion. Also a swelling of the stomac/belly area. But I dont know why?? Because I strictly eat according the diet. I decided to register every thing I eat, may be in this way I can find an answer. I love eating fruit all from the list beneficials/neutrals dry or fresh. I replaced bread with rice cracers and rarly kamut bread. I know that non secretors more sencetive for insuline/water retantion.Should I reduce even more the amount of fruit or grains. could you please advice about more factors may be I am not aware of. Thanks! Lisya

Lisya! Writing down everything you eat and how you feel & digest afterwards is the BEST way to track down inscrutable symptoms. Smart thing to do! And I'm really happy the migraines are gone. What terrible things they are. I'd suggest going grain-free and fruit-free for one week. Also, no sugar or sweeteners except for vegetable glycerine. The next week, add one grain or fruit item - eat it at the same time each day, and see if your bloating returns after any of those meals. If you do get a reaction to a food, mark it as a temporary avoid and stop eating it - and if you eat nuts, watch carefully for a reaction there as well. The week after, choose a different item to add, and proceed that way until you've tested all the fruits & grains you usually eat. There are plenty of simple meals you can make from fish or meat and vegetables ~ eat small amounts at four daily meals, if possible, to simplify the job for your digestive processes. Let me know how this is working for you!

_

type A, curently have Limes with hives, BIG ones. tried to stay away from staroyds untel diffaculty with breathing. This tretment worked imiteley, today infact was the first dose. My concern is, the last time ( ten years ago ) I was not able to get OFF staroyds. I would get down to 5mg. and flar up again. When this happens the welts are Large,I'm weak, cold, garthing thought is difacult, light headed... This went on for nine mo's. then I colapsed.(braking three toes) The only thing that worked was the drug SELDINE, (since taken off the market),. ONE if the ingrents in Saldine stoped the rebound sydrum. Am now taking Doxyccline 100mg.x2 and Prednisone 10mg.starting at 5 tabs 2x day. Each day decresing one with each dayly dose. I looked in your three books for info. Hives connected to same? Is there any thing I might do drefernt at this point? I am 67 years NEW,200lbs,5.5 1/2 atteng Weight Witches). Just so you get a better idia of the " Witch " your dealing with... I coulden't resist... patricia

:-) Hi, Patricia! ~ Lyme infection is nasty, eh? let's try to steer you a course toward improvements. First, follow the type A diet strictly, and get going with your yoga -- either a class (preferable!) or tapes you can do at home. You really need to remove the food burden from your immune system, and to drop your cortisol levels through the yoga in order to get the hives under control. I'd also like you to keep a journal of everything you eat, and when, and note if a hives attack or any other negative reaction follows soon after. At least keep a very close eye on what your body thinks of what you eat! In your present state, the food could be an avoid, neutral, or even beneficial -- but eliminate it if it triggers the hives or gives any discomfort. Once you've gotten rid of food irritations and excess cortisol, you're going to see great improvements, and your medication can be reduced further (under your doctor's supervision, of course) and eventually eliminated. Hey - watch those Witches, and make sure they don't influence you to alter your diet from All A, All The Time. Get the support at your meetings, they're great for that -- but "fly alone" on your food choices, OK? You have a great spirit, and you'll have great success! Keep me posted on how you're doing!!

_

hi there! have been recommended your book & diet by a friend & wish to start soon. have just spent approx. 1 hour on your website & found very interesting - but- did not find the answer to my questions. i am type o with lebanese parents. the type o chart is divided into african, caucasian & asian.eg: milk & yogurt are 0 for african & up to 2-3 for asian. which category do I use with my lebanese background? also i am approx. 10kg overweight, underactive thyroid not picked up by doctor but by the naturopath, have 2nd recurrent ovarian cysts (last time pathology showed benign but low grade cancer potential),have had sinus & pimples & acne mainly on back, chest & back almost all my life (i'am almost 40), now have hyperpigmentation as well.any further hints/suggestions to help with all of this? looking foreward with thanks. rose

Welcome, Rose!! You're a Caucasian ~ use those charts. Since you have something brewing there in your ovaries, I suggest (1) you eliminate all dairy completely for the time being, and (2) you obtain your secretor status. Ask your naturopath (and may I say, you are EXTREMELY fortunate to have one in your area!!) to give you a saliva secretor test (if available) or to direct you to a laboratory that tests for Lewis subtype (it's a blood test), which corresponds exactly to secretor type (with some rare exceptions). Try to get hold of the newer book, Live Right 4 Your Type, and follow the protocol just as closely as you can. Emphasize the clean meats and fish, and the beneficial vegetables, have some eggs a few times per week, take a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast every day (my favorite brand is KAL, and it tastes great in salad dressing, meat sauce, even fruit smoothies -- and disappears when added to tuna with oil & lemon), and include either VERY FRESH flax oil or some fresh-ground flax meal soaked for 20 minutes in a bit of water, every day for now. The O plan of diet and exercise will do the lion's share of the work, but if you're motivated to use these tips, you'll speed your progress. At any rate, you've come to the right place for the last diet you'll ever need!! Please keep in touch and let us know how it's going for you!

_

__

Hello, George! The type O diet is the place to start. Modify it as follows for one month: eat no refined sugars, no grains, no fried foods and no nightshade vegetables (tomatoes or peppers of any kind). We want to eliminate anything that might be worsening the psoriasis, so if you notice any food that seems to make things worse, give it the boot. Every day, grind up (in a clean coffee-grinder or with a mortar & pestle) a tablespoon of brown or gold flaxseed. Cover with a little water for 20 minutes, and slurp it down. Follow it with a teaspoon of good, fresh fish oil. Eat as many raw and lightly-steamed beneficial vegetables as you can stuff into yourself. Have your organic meat and one serving of fish every day. Get an (organic) egg or two per day. Drink near three quarts of pure water every day (NOT distilled, but spring or filtered water), and a quart of high-solids mineral water such as Gerolsteiner. Take the PolyFlora-O and ARA6 supps from this site if possible ~ they will speed your healing.

Check EVERY SINGLE INGREDIENT of every product that goes in your mouth. It’s a lot safer to make your own salad dressing in a blender, using oil, lemon juice, salt, and anything else you like to add, than to risk any storebought brand which may contain bad oils or corn sweeteners. Same goes for ketchup & mayonnaise… although there are some decent ketchup brands such as Muir Glen. I plan to post basic recipes for common condiments here soon. They are simple to make, take about 5 minutes, keep just as long as the commercial stuff, and are much tastier when you make them at home.

If you are now taking any drugs, or have been on courses of antibiotics and/or corticosteroids, I cannot tell you to stop taking them ~ but these drugs do slow the course of your healing. They impair your immune functions, which reside primarily in the health and activity of beneficial flora and fauna in your digestive system. Psoriasis is a symptom of autoimmune dysfunction. These drugs are given because conventional medicine doesn’t know how to treat the causes of your condition – they’re doing the best they can to limit your symptoms, but such treatments are counterproductive in the case of most health troubles, including yours. As your condition improves, consult with your doctor about very gradually lowering the dosages of the psoriasis medications, if any, that you’re on.

The last thing you’re enthusiastic about right now is exercise, right? ;-) I want to strongly encourage you to begin an exercise plan. Its benefits are far above and beyond the effort it takes to get started and stick with it. Every aspect of your life will thank you for pursuing a solid type O exercise regime ~ including, most swiftly and notably, your largest organ: your skin. And consider a deep stress-relief practice such as Transcendental Meditation or Medical Meditation ~ the book Meditation as Medicine is available at most general bookstores and from online sellers like amazon.com and is a treasure in a package. Lower your stored stresses, and allow your body’s natural healing to take over from the fight-or-flight mode which lies at the root of autoimmune disorders.

Folks, if you have psoriasis, just follow these instructions based on your own ABO diet and activity plan. And please, give me your feedback on your experiences with psoriasis. This is a disabling disease that strikes children, adults of childbearing age, the elderly... let's work together to make it as rare as hens' teeth! My ears are wide open over here! :-)

Hello, Cheryl! Good question! Barley malt (the sweetener; that’s its common name), is the avoid. Whole barley and sprouted barley or ‘malted barley’ (the whole grains or flours) are neutral for ABs. On product ingredient lists, the sweetener will appear as “barley malt” and the OK stuff will show up as “sprouted barley” or “malted barley,” or the flours made thereof. Sorry for the confusion! :-}

_



The best grapeseed oil available is expeller-pressed. If you find an organic brand, please let me know and I’ll publish it here ~ I’ve yet to find either grapeseed or rice bran oil, domestic or imported, from an organic producer, and those are the oils whose high smoke-points make them safer choices for high-heat cooking. Organic wine makers would be the logical place to start to find organic grapeseed oil, but I suspect their output is not yet large enough to support a commercial oil-pressing endeavour. Same for organic rice farms, but check into it for yourself if possible. There’s no ABO rating for grapeseed oil at the moment, so it may be considered neutral for all types for now. A note: if your walnut oil is unrefined (a few high-end companies like Flora offer it), it should be used only in low- or no-heat applications ~ salad dressings, or a drizzle on already-cooked food. Same goes for all nut oils, like macadamia or almond, and seed oils such as safflower or flax. By the way, sesame oil has a smoke-point near that of olive oil (325 F or lower), and is an avoid for ABs, so make me happy and stay away from that one? After all, you’ve got peanut oil, you lucky devil! Even better, look into soy oil ~ it has the highest smoke-point of any oil on your neutral & beneficial list. :-) I’m going on a bit long here, so let me refer you to a basic reference for oil composition and great details: the CYB Edible Oils Site. Enjoy!

_



Well, Shani, the more listed avoids you’ve been eating regularly, the more spectacular your progress will be when you get fully on the AB diet! So I want to hear you thank that chicken for how great it makes you feel when you stop eating it. :-D The food lectins for specified items do not change from location to location ~ however, named foods (beans and fish especially) may be confusing due to the U.S. terminology we use, or missing altogether from the lists because of the item’s rarity or general unavailability here in the States. This problem shouldn’t arise as much for you in Canada as it does for folks in – say, China, for example ~ but if you find unlisted foods common in your area, drop me a note and we’ll stumble through it together! I’m batting a pretty high average for fish, and our readers haul me up on the bean issue when I need it. Keep in touch!!

_



Oh, drat. This is a complex issue, on which I’m truly not professionally equipped to comment and as well severely prejudiced in favor of abolishing inoculations altogether except in cases of specific and extreme risk. Let me set aside my personal feelings and relate to you what our Blood Type Encyclopedia (page 454) has to say: “Blood group AB has a relatively [compared with the other ABO types] poor ability to generate antibodies against any of the influenza viruses.” So I have to say, if you decide you are at risk, do get that flu shot. If you do so, plan ahead to embark upon a program of taking Probiotic-AB and ARA6 every single day thereafter; the toxins and potential digestive imbalances created by the action of the influenza vaccination should be dealt with immediately for your greatest health and comfort. As my personal opinion only: if you are solidly on the AB diet and in good health right now, get a bottle of ProBerry3 from our store here and take it according to the package directions, every day till Spring is sprung. Include ARA6 to motivate your intestinal health and feed those vital flora and fauna, and eat your beneficials all winter long ~ with special emphasis on hardy greens, turkey, coldwater fish, eggs, oils, yams, and tempeh. Immunity resides in your gut, and we want those wonderful creatures to be happy, happy, happy. If you’re in the U.S., visit www.heallix.com and spring for this expensive but nearly miraculous compound. A little goes a long way, and nothing’s nicer than knowing you’re safe from viral and bacterial infection. Good health and a flu-free winter to you, Karen!

_





I'll paraphrase my column from August 12: The coffee status is an update ~ a refinement to the original ratings, based on new research and made possible by further work on secretor and nonsecretor reactions as well as other recent developments in this field. Peter decided that when considering all the new data together, coffee’s known detriments to your type have now been judged to outweigh the benefits – thus, the rating was adjusted. This is still a rather new science, but we expect more additions to the lists than changes from here on in. Thanks for your patience, and take a look at all the marvelous coffee substitutes on the health-food market that you can have & I can’t! Kaffree Roma and Teechino in all its varieties come immediately to mind, along with Raja’s Cup (a potent cup of antioxidants that we ALL can use). Your wide choice of grains means nearly every coffee sub you see will be OK for your type, and don’t forget roasted dandelion root ~ it’s lovely made into a tea that does yeoman service as a coffee-ish drink. Read the labels and pick a tasty one that will help enhance your health!!! _



Hi, Pamela ~ I can’t recommend coral calcium, for reasons I went into in the column on October 22. Your AB diet is “secretly” supporting an ideal acid/alkaline balance in your body, so stick with it. The Phytocal-AB product sold here on this site is the one type of calcium supplement I can wholeheartedly endorse, not only for the care taken in gathering its elements, and the high absorption factor of its ingredients, but most of all for the crafting of the supplement to suit AB biochemistry – including their generally rather low comparative stomach acid levels. A friend of mine credits the addition of Phytocal-AB to his diet for the remission of his intractable prostate cancer ~ I can’t say for certain that this happened as he described it, but it’s worth a mention here if only as an anecdote. I hear a lot of them, and the general trend leads me to believe that any AB concerned about their calcium intake will be well served by the supp Peter made just for YOU.

_

Type ABs ~ Want to see more columns about youse guys? WRITE IN!! :-) I’m running mighty low on AB questions! I'm sure there are plenty of ideas you have on topics of interest to those rare birds among us! Gimme ‘em.

:->

Is grapeseed oil acceptable to use on an O Type diet? Dianne

The nice thing about grapeseed oil (and rice bran oil) is the high smoke point. It is better for high-heat cooking than olive oil. However, both products undergo far more processing to extract the oil than olives, nuts and seeds (all higher in oil) and this fact is a concern for whole-food advocates. In terms of ABO reactivity, we have no test results for either of them ~ they may be considered "neutral" until proven otherwise. :-)

Hi Heidi, This may be more a doc Bron query, but: I am type O on the diet for over a year, do the high protein, high raw version but have recently encountered a strange problem: I now have dark discoloration at the outside corner of each eye, the same as the typical circles under the eyes, which I don't have a problem with. I once read somewhere that discoloration of the skin around the eyes related to kidney or oxygen uptake issues, which I hope isn't happening to me. What could cause/cure this condition? thanks. jc

J, you've taken a shot in the dark by offering me this Q, and I've little other than the same to shoot back: Is this a pinkish-brown or a bluish discoloration? Do you spend most of your waking hours in front of a video monitor? I'd say if it is pinkish rather than blue, it may be cause for adding at least a liter per day of mineral water to your diet as well as some really fresh flax oil or meal. If it is bluish, it may be simply the result of a sharp reduction in your skin fat layer ~ or the result of eyestrain. Bilberry? Cheap and worth a shot! ;->

Hi, Heidi, I'm not going to give you time to respond to my previous question before asking again because this has been "bugging" me since I got the Blood Type Encyclopedia this summer. I have been an advocate of natural remedies for decades, and was surprised to see how some of them were classified. I am a type B secretor, and have been taking, among others, garlic, hawthorne and bilberry for their supportive effects. I take others, but those three are interesting because they are not listed as being beneficial to type Bs for their usual support (cholesterol, cardiac and eye health respectively). They aren't listed as avoid either, but it makes me wonder if they do any good for a type B, as they are listed with those benefits or as part of the protocols for one or two other blood types such as O or O and A. Herb

Herb, since you have the Encyclopedia, I'd suggest you use your experience and knowledge of your own body's reactions to design your own protocol. Some herbs/supps/compounds work wonders in one type while they're rather limp noodles for others, even though they do no active harm. The issue is bang for the buck. Using the Encyclopedia's recommendations means you can take advantage of this research in order to maximize your results per dollar.

:-)

I want to suggest that a map location of the dadamo clinic be posted on this site because I live in san diego , CA & I have an appointment at his clinic on dec /11/2002 thanx

I notice that some listed avoid foods make energize me & some beneficial foods sicken me,?what can be determined about that?

the Encyclopedia says Caviar is avoid 4 type(A): ?Is that all species of fish eggs even beneficial fish?-Happy holidays:-)

I forgot to mention that I put a little squeeze of fresh lemon in the hot filtered water with Cortiguard pills. bhop

Bhop, if you go to www.yahoo.com, you'll see a tiny link to "Maps." Just enter the address listed on our site for the clinic, and a map will be created before your very eyes. :-) If any of the beneficial foods give you trouble, put them aside for a month. Test small amounts at that time, and give it another month's break if they still don't sit right. As to the avoids, I must say that whole wheat and sugar energize me, too ~ then they drop me like a rock, all the while urging me to eat more, more, more.... many avoids act as drugs, and although the initial effect may seem positive, they do nothing but harm and entail a withdrawal period which we all face if we're committed to better health. "Caviar" means Beluga, Sevruga and Osetra caviar. Salmon roe is listed separately. Others (unlisted) are unknowns, to be treated as neutrals unless you are trying to resolve a health problem. About the lemon water & cortiguard ~ interesting, thanks!!

I just started on the blood type diet. I am type O. Under cereals in the book, kasha is listed as neutral. I'm not sure what that is, and have not found it in a store. However, I found a cereal by the name of Kashi at the Whole Foods store. Is that the same thing, or if not, is it still allowable for type O? It does have Whole Hard Red Winter Wheat listed as the first ingredient, and I didn't know if that was different than the whole wheat that is on the Avoid List. (This kashi cereal also contains whole long grain brown rice, honey, evaporated cane juice, whole oats, whole barley, whole triticale, whole rye, whole buckwheat, sesame seeds.) Thanks very much! Joan

Hi, Joan ~ Kasha is ... well, I'll let the folks at AgInnovation News explain it:

"A whole buckwheat seed looks like a tiny black pyramid with a round base. About 16 seeds fit on a thumbnail. The seed's hull is black and fibrous, but not that difficult to crack. Inside lays the light and sweet groat, which some say tastes like honey and nuts. Cracked buckwheat groats are sold as buckwheat grits. Roasted buckwheat groats or grits are known as kasha.

Kashi, on the other hand, is only a company name, and as you so astutely pointed out, the ingredients list is "where it's at" when deciding whether to purchase a product. Good work!! :-)

thanks again, everyone!! :-D

:-D Well, with all four blood types in your family, my opinion is that if your husband and kids get up in the morning, get dressed, get fed and go about their daily business, you're doing a spectacular job! You've got the basics down cold, and what can I say? Whew! Have a seat for a moment or two, and let's put our heads together on making that job a bit easier.

There are a few basic meals that work for everyone. I compiled these originally for dinner party menu planning, since I don't always know everyone's blood type ~ that situation rarely continues past the appetizer course (:-D) but if I don't get the chance to sneak up behind the "unknown types," yell "SURPRISE!!" and prick their finger, at least I know I haven't fed them avoids. tee hee!

I. Fish/green veg or salad/rice. Bullhead, carp, chub, cod, croaker, cusk, drum, halfmoon fish, mackerel, mahi-mahi, monkfish, mullet, perch of all kinds, pickerel, pike, porgy, red snapper, rosefish, sailfish, salmon, sardines, scrod, shark, smelt, sturgeon, sucker, sunfish, swordfish, tilapia, tuna, weakfish and whitefish are all OK for all types. Many of them are cheap and readily available in most seasons. Cod, mullet, snapper, salmon and others do well with a touch of lemon, butter and salt and a quick jaunt under the broiler. Your daughter & husband will appreciate a bit of OK cheese sprinkled on their half of the filet. Canned Alaskan salmon and sardines are amazingly inexpensive and beneficial for nearly all of us. A "fishloaf" made from mashed canned salmon (with the bones and skin), dried Ezekiel bread crumbs, egg, sea salt and minced onions & green herbs is simple and fast to make. Try the www.foodtv.com site for Mario Batali's recipes for oily fish like sardines and mackerel. The kids will like them, trust me!

II. Turkey/green or orange veg (and/or salad)/rice. Good quality organically-fed birds are more and more commonly found in large supermarkets these days, and year-round. If you buy a 15-pound bird, it can be roasted (unstuffed) very simply on a bed of carrots, celery and onions, and will provide a meat course for 4 for a few days. We carve the turkey immediately after roasting, and make stock from the bones and roasted vegetables. Frozen in pint containers, this is a great base for a quick soup of any kind later on. There's a vast number of veggies which work for all types. Also: ask your butcher for ground dark meat turkey. It makes great burgers for everyone.

III. OSTRICH in a rich stew with vegetables (carrots, celery, turnips or parsnips, cremini or portobello mushrooms, onions, parsley, garlic, kale sauteed separately with onions & salt, and some warm sweet spices like ginger and clove -- you can really stuff the veggies into them this way!!) with some red wine or marsala for richness (the alcohol boils away). If you live in an area of the world where ostrich is inexpensive, by all means make use of it. Just sear the chunked meat in a bit of oil, add the veg and broth, wine if desired, and sea salt, pepper & spices to taste. Cook until the ostrich begins to show a "looser" texture, but not so long that it begins to shred. It does have a flavor reminiscent of venison (a touch liver-y) which virtually disappears after storing the stew in the fridge for a day. At that point it will fool everyone into thinking it's beef. Reassure your son & husband that it's OK!

IV. Two-Pot Stir-Fry: A little olive oil and water in each pan. Onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, curly kale, broccoli, summer or winter squash, ~ asparagus & spinach in the spring ~ In the type O & B pot, put slices of the beef, lamb, liver, venison, turkey, or others, and in the A & AB pot, sizzle up some sliced tofu or tempeh... or turkey.

V. The Spanish Tortilla: It's a huge, thick omelette, primarily made up of vegetables -- onions, garlic, greens, shredded squashes, you name it. Saute it all in a heavy pan with olive oild, cover with beaten egg salted & peppered & herbed (if desired). Scatter some ground meat on one half, some diced tofu or tempeh on the other. Bake it until toasty-gold on top and cooked through. This can be sliced pizza-style and eaten hot, room temperature or cold. Grated cheese is a nice touch for the cheese-eaters. Tomato & sweet or hot pepper fans can have their portions sprinkled accordingly. A fresh salad goes superbly with it.

VI. Little Green Mystery Bundles: Boil a pot of salted water and add whole kale or collard leaves, with the stems snipped off. Leave them for a minute then plunge them into ice water, drain and set out on a pan. For the stuffing, some steamed rice for the hubby & kids, some tofu seasoned with tamari for hubby & son, sliced leftover meat for you & daughter, and any leftover cooked veggies for everyone. A little grated horseradish in each packet, roll up the leaves over the stuffing, secure with a toothpick, pour a cup of broth over the whole thing and bake for 30 minutes at 350 or so. Mark each one with a piece of veg, or different-colored toothpicks, so you'll know which is which! :-)

I know Denise isn't the only head cook of a four-type family out there. Got strategies of your own? Send them in, and we'll publish them for the benefit of all the readers. Denise, I hope these offerings stimulate your creativity and reduce your workload!! You are already doing a superb job of feeding your family. We'll do our best to support you!! My sincerest admiration goes out to you, and congratulations on your devotion to your family's health and well-being. Prosper, my dear!

Yes, it is perfectly OK to avoid the higher-carb foods for now, and to introduce them very slowly as your body's balance re-asserts itself. Most of the beneficial vegetables in the O diet are dark greens, very low-carb. The pork and dairy products as well as the avoid fats, vegetables and fruits approved under the Atkins plan are contributing to the toxicity (skin healing trouble) and high blood pressure. You will certainly see an improvement if you follow the Live Right 4 Your Type food list, with an emphasis on the beneficial meats, vegetables and fats. You can still have a serving (or two) per day of low-sugar berries -- you need those proanthocyanadins for skin health and antioxidant effects.

I'm sure that if the Atkins plan helped somewhat, this one will work wonders for you. It incorporates all the basic theories behind that system, but protects you from the deleterious effects of pork, bad fats and dairy. Consult the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia for specific protocols to boost your thyroid functioning.

Keep in touch about your progress, and thanks for writing, Sophie! :-)