Today a BTD-er asked about haricot & butter beans. In the UK and possibly Australia these are our names for navy beans & dried (yellow) lima beans. I suspect these are what your correspondent was asking about, rather than any green bean. Both have entries in ER, LR & typebase. Borlotti beans I researched for ages when I first went on the BTD. I found lots of other names for them such as cranberry beans (the cook's thesaurus is a good link) but could never find a name that was on typebase. It is possible they are only used in Europe & not the US. They are pink & marbled when fresh, brownish & marbled when dried, and brown when cooked, & are sold widely in the UK in cans. Sarah

On potpourri you had a question from Debbie asking abouut beans. I was oncerned that you put haricot beans and butter beans in with green beans as I am fairly sure that haricot is the 'english' name for navy beans, and butter beans are also known as lima beans. There is quite a problem with different 'local' names for beans and fish, perhaps the latin names should be included? christine

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Ladies, thank you for your notes! I shall adjust my pescatorial and bean-y replies to the UK & Oz accordingly. :-)

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Hi, Heidi. If you answer one of our questions, do you email us, too, or do we have to be "present to win"? Lisa

Hi, Lisa ~ the answers are posted only on the site here, with very rare exceptions. However, one can always do a search, or list past entries, rather than read the column daily. :-D

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I am a type B. Also I am vegetarian so would like to know what products I can eat to make up for the lack of meat or fish. I do eat eggs and dairy products. Many thanks, Anat

Nutritional yeast; whey, rice or egg protein powders; blackstrap molasses; and focus on the few beans, nuts and seeds which are beneficial or neutral for B's. In my view, this is not an ideal way to approach the diet, but these tips may help you find the balance between your vegetarian tenets and your body's needs. Good fortune, and good health!

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I am a B+ non-secretor with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. I have a question about the two tier diet. Tier one is to maximize health, Tier two is to overcome disease. Should I limit my choices to Tier two to overcome disease, or should it be used with Tier one? Tier two alone seems rather restrictive in choices. Thank you. Leesa

Leesa, use both Tier One and Tier Two. The Updates/errata page contains an explanation of the use of the Tiers system... just click here. Let me know how you come along!

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I am an A non-secretor. My diet has included a green supplement that contains both spirulina and chlorella. In the Blood Type A Food list pamphlet (but no where else in Dr. D'Adamo's books, "Algae (blue-green)" is listed as an avoid, in the "spices" section. Is this true for both of the types of algae I take, is it true for non-secretors as well as secretors? Also, what about cheeses made from sheep's milk? Thanks, Ty

Hello, Ty ~ We try to discourage people from using blue-green algae because of toxic contamination reports on one brand quite a while back. Chlorella is OK for all types to my knowledge. Cheeses ~ well, it's true that we have no specific listing for "sheep's milk," or "sheep cheese," so technically it is an unknown & therefore can be considered neutral. But! Just promise me you'll keep a sharp eye (or a soft hanky) out for any signs of goopiness ~ a little cough, runny nose, itchy eyes, or sudden digestive s l o o w d o w w n... those are signs that your immune system considers that lovely sheep's milk cheese a foreigner! :-)

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For the eat right for your type diet, the book states in the type O section to not take goldenseal or echinacea. However, in the back of the book under medical strategies it advises we can take these for flu or indigestion. Please advise. Thanks -- lori

Goldenseal is fine as a gargle, but like echinacea, it shouldn't be taken internally by Os. Substitute astragalus for echinacea as a flu fighter ~ works nicely!

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Why have some foods changed their place on the lists, from beneficial to neutral, avoid to neutral, etc.? I read "Eat Right 4 Your Type" a year ago and recently purchased the Type O Food, Beverage and Supplement Lists. I found Ezekial bread to have moved from beneficial to neutral. This is a problem because my weight loss is slow -- and I was trying to eat beneficial foods as often as possible. Now I find I have been eating the wrong bread for a year! I noted other changes too -- such as that cinnamon has moved up from avoid to neutral. Beer (formerly neutral) and apple juice (formerly avoid) are no longer listed at all. What's the story? Thank you. Kathryn

Kathryn, here is the link to our Updates/Errata Page, which contains explanations on the rationale behind the value changes. Also, feel free to check the TYPEbase3 food database for the latest values. By the way, limiting breads (and any other grain foods) to three or less servings per week is an effective weight-loss jump-starter for Os. I hope this helps! :-)

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I AM 49 YRS OLD MALE,A+, 5 MONTHS ON A DIET. I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING MY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS, BUT COULD NOT LOOSE ANY WEIGHT. MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS ALSO HIGH. ANY SUGGESTIONS??? Mirek

Hello, Mirek ~ the first thing I'd do is begin a daily program of yoga and/or meditation. Second, try limiting the grain element of your diet to one serving per day. Do some mild exercise three times per week -- walking, light weight-lifting or a short spell in the pool. The idea is to engage in calming activities so that you can reduce your cortisol levels. This will work to enhance your weight loss and BP normalization. Let me know your progress!

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Have your internet site been hacked? Entering I first got some strange pages with a one eyed creature. Geir

:-D You've probably received my email, Geir, but just a note here in case others had the same question:

that one-eyed creature is a prince among men ~~ as well as your enigmatic host, here at dadamo.com. :->

if you see an odd front page hereabouts again, just click around on it looking for links ~ you'll undoubtedly find yourself heading for some surprising and worthwhile destination... as usual. :-D

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Dear Heidi, Merry Meet! Thank you for remembering us (Celtic/Wiccan) with your harvest blessing. I appreciate your column; I also start my day reading the dadamo website. Thanks for your clear concise answers and information, and your sense of humor (love the "pic"). Bright Blessings to you all. Susi

How kind of you to write! It's great to hear from you ~ thank you so much for your compliments. :-} Go soirbhigh an fios thu! and may your blessings return to you threefold!

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And to you all!

thanks, bhop, that's very interesting! I'll have my type A guy try it out!! :-)

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Where can I find vegetable glycerin you spoke about? Can you substitute it for honey? Is it equally acceptable for all blood types? I don't know anything about it. Can you talk about it please. Maddy

Yes, it is a tasty and metabolically effective sweetener, with active balancing effects. "Heritage" and "NOW" are two brands commonly found in health food stores. It is fine for all types!

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Please give the name of Pro-Biotic supplement for my type A, that I might find in a HFS. re: page 137 in BTD. Thanks much. Jim.

I can't recommend any specific brands of probiotics available in local retail establishments, but I can recommend Polyflora-A, which is sold on this site. Check the Type A Store, it's there!

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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 he family's research. --Take Care-- (On the O type diet for 1 year.) -- Kevin

Kevin, that's an inspiring account! The juicing is a great idea. Get some whole flax seed and a cheap electric coffee grinder. Grind up two tablespoons of flax, soak it in just enough water to cover for 15-20 minutes, and eat it up. It's a tasty way to get plenty of fiber in your diet. You can add it to your smoothies, and a bit of fish oil added in as well can help balance your EFAs and help with your healing. Polyflora-O and ARA6, both available on our site here, are great additions to an intestinal health protocol. Remember to MOVE as much as you can, every day! Any form of exercise you can do will keep you going in the right direction. I pray that your blessings will redound on you 1000 fold, and I look forward to hearing from you as you progress!

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hi heidi, please could you tell me the what type are borlotti bean, butter bean,haricot bean,black-eyed bean?as i cannot find this on typebase or your books.i am type o non-secretor.thankyou for all your wonderful work i always start my day reading yours & dr d & dr b's pages.i wish the others would do pot pourri pages too i imagine it would help them clear their backlog of mail.in the meantime keep those pot pourris coming,pretty,pretty please.thankyou:-))) debbie

Borlotti beans are unknown ~ butter beans and haricots may be used with our "green bean" rating ~ black-eyed bean = blackeyed pea. More potpourris coming all the time, and thanks for your kind words, Debbie!

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Happy New Year to our Celtic friends, and may you all know peace and prosperity in this Harvest season! :-)

Maia wrote the following for Rula, whose question appeared in the OTD column from November 30, 2002:

Hi Heidi, I'm glad you like getting reader feedback! (Oh no, not Maia again!) I was concerned about the woman who had read that she needed to consume less than 40grams of protein daily, in order to avoid osteoporosis. This is contrary to everything I've read, and contrary to what I know from my chiropractor. My chiro says adults of any blood type need at least 50 grams protein daily to avoid deficiency. This is backed up by the U.S. RDA, which says you need 50 grams...and the RDA tends to be the bare minimum you need to survive, not thrive. It is also supported by a standard medical textbook, Guyton's "Textbook of Medical Physiology," which says you need at least 50 grams, 75 grams to be safe.

As a 5'6" relatively active O blood type, at 135 lbs, I personally need about 100 grams protein a day, or I notice protein deficiency signs. (Such as fatigue, inability to be hungry without shakes related to blood sugar swings, and craving for sweets especially milk chocolate. Protein sufficiency is necessary to maintain stable blood sugar -- according to Guyton, protein deficiency mimics diabetes symptoms, which it sure did for me.)

According to my chiro, you can actually bring about osteoporosis through protein deficiency -- because bones are made of a matrix of collagen fibers (protein) and minerals. He treats osteoporosis with a good mineral supplement, and by ensuring protein sufficiency (also in some cases female hormones need balancing, for which he usually focuses first on making sure a person is not fatty acid deficient for omega 3's and omega 6's. Good resource on fatty acids, see udoerasmus.com website. Some women need to do more to balance hormones, but that would be too long an e-mail.)

Note that mineral deficiencies can also lead to chocolate craving. My chiro believes osteoporosis is reversible in most cases, because it's not that bones are permanently damaged, since bone structure/minerals/cells are always being renewed. Osteoporosis happens when you have a problem regulating the ongoing bone replacement process, which can be corrected, then the bones heal. I am an excellent example of healing -- had the beginnings of osteoporosis at age 35, to the point where about two of my teeth would crack each year. My teeth don't crack anymore since I started ER and worked on minerals, proteins & fats -- it's been 3 years -- and other signs of osteoporosis receded, though they return if I don't eat enough protein. (I always have enough minerals.) Anyway, hope this helps someone, take care Heidi! maia from the BB

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*LOL!* Oh, Hooray! It's Maia again!! I always love hearing from you, dear, and there are many others out there who are thanking you for sharing your wisdom ~~ just as I am! Great message ~ do PLEASE keep them coming! :-D

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Hi Heidi, I just thought I would pass along my Thanksgiving Day experience. Since my sons went out of town, a friend invited me to spend Thanksgiving Day with them. At meal time I stayed away from my major obvious avoids, such as the ham, rolls, and I just had a little bit of the cornbread dressing. I couldn't avoid everything and still be polite so I am sure some of the casseroles I ate had avoid ingredients in them. I did try to eat more of the OK things such as the turkey, fruit, and cranberry salad that I brought. I also took some Deflect capsules just prior to the meal.

Anyway, later that afternoon and evening I experienced some digestive system distress. The day after I was back to normal. The experience has once again confirmed to me the value of the BTD. It amazes me how I went through so many years of my life not knowing how to eat to protect and maximize my health even though I thought I was fairly knowledgeable about basic health and nutrition information.

I wish a lot more other people understood this so maybe it would be easier to find acceptable foods and to eat an acceptable meal out. I also would not be totally honest if I didn't say that at times, for a variety of reasons, I wish I didn't know about the BTD. What is the saying? "Ignorance is bliss" Of course that would be ignoring all of the benefits of the BTD. At this point I believe that the BTD will be a permanent part of my life and I just have to continue to figure out how to make it work for me and my life. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Regards, Don

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See, folks? It can be done, even on major holidays. ;-) The accounts people send in of how they live the BTD are guideposts to beginners and old hands alike. So send in your success stories, too!

and thanks so much, Don ~~ I had a great Thanksgiving, and a lot to give thanks for!! :-D

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I started with BTD 2 months ago. I am a Non-secretor(recently confirmed with blood test) type 'A' height 5ft2". With no results I was advised to get LR4YT. Having read both books I am totaly confused. Generally I am a healthy female 38 yrs old and fairly active. I play golf Twice a week and do gym/weights 2-3 times a week. I have always had a weight problem and retain water. In my view I am about 10-15kg's overweight. My weight is evenly spread. One thing I have learnt is that I have always eaten the wrong foods. Foods that I avoided are the things I should be eating. Even though I have not lost weight I havn't gained. I was following the secretor diet. Now having find out that I am a Non-secretor.

Durum wheat was a food type in BTD but now it is not even listed in LR4YT, I know it is stated in the "errata on the publication" that foods not listed are to be considered neutral. Additional to this I have had a problem finding out the properties of certain foods. eg Durum Wheat semolina pasta is this made from Durum Wheat? I have been told that semolia is a process that the wheat goes thru. Please advise.

The two tier diet. I want to loose weight initially then concentrate on maintaing that weight. My weight has always fluctuated with the 10kg's I need to loose now (Queen of diets). I am realy sick of trying to control my weight. Can you please help me formulate a diet for weight loss. Am I suposed to eat only Tier 2 foods or can I eat Tier 1 as well. Should I only eat beneficials or can I include neutrals. Your assistance in this regard would be greatly appreciated. Maureen

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Hello, Maureen! Nice to hear from South Africa!

Having found your secretor status, you're now on the road to success! Don't be discouraged if your weight loss is slow; everyone's metabolism is different, and since your weight has fluctuated over that 10 kg range (22 pounds), your body may be resistant to letting go of the weight due to those ups and downs over the years. A gradual, steady fat loss is what you want to aim for ~ it is far more likely to stay off that way.

We in the U.S. denote six classes, or types, of wheat: "durum," "hard red winter," "hard red spring," "soft red winter," "hard white," and "soft white." The hard wheats contain a higher gluten content than the soft varieties, and are used in foods like breads and pasta (yeasted and/or kneaded products); the soft wheats make their appearance in cakes, pastries, biscuits, and other "no-knead," baking-soda- or egg-rising, delicate products. Semolina is made from durum wheat berries by a grinding process. The germ and bran are separated out from the endosperm (the "white part" or "meat" of the berry), and some of the endosperm is taken aside along with the germ and bran to make "durum flour," either "white" (no bran) or "whole wheat" (germ and bran). Semolina is the fine-ground endosperm only ~ no germ or bran. Couscous is identical to "semolina," but is used as-is after grinding -- it is not further ground into semolina flour.

Now, hold on to your chair and please don't hate me! For type A nonsecretors all wheat of every kind (except sprouted wheat) is an 'avoid.' Semolina, durum wheat, wheat germ, wheat bran, white flour ~ you name it, it's on your no-no list. :-}

Second possible shocker: ;-) The Tiers system is designed for secretors ~ you can see this principle at work by looking at the first (secretor) column of the food lists. ALL Beneficial and Avoid foods for secretors are in Tiers I & II, and ALL neutral foods for secretors are in the Neutral Tier. Nonsecretors should continue to be guided by the food values as listed, no matter which Tier the food item appears under.

To get started on losing that weight and keeping it off, here are my suggestions:

(1) Eat only Beneficial foods for at least one month straight ~ no avoids; limit the neutrals as close to 0% as possible. This has helped MANY type As in jump-starting and facilitating weight loss. Once you've formed the habit of a primarily Beneficials diet, insulin resistance and any other conditions which may be impeding your weight loss can resolve far more quickly ~ and your water retention problems will just fade away!

(2) Pay careful attention to the portion/frequency tables, and note that fruits and vegetable frequencies should read "per day," rather than "per week." (That point is in the Updates Page, but worth a reminder!)

(3) Re-read the Type A Prescription in LR4YT, especially the exercise recommendations on page 182. Do you walk the golf course, or ride in a cart? guess which one I'd prefer? :-D

(4) Drink plenty of pure water between meals ~~ it will help your body excrete the toxins released as it lets go of the fat, and make the process easier & faster for you.

Give it one solid month, and drop me a note on your progress. You'll succeed, Maureen ~ I know you will! Do keep in touch!! :-)



Hi Heidi! First, let me say that I find your column a great source of information on the BTD and that I look forward to it every day. I’m a Type O+ Secretor (31 years old) and have recently found out that I have the MM blood type. In LR4YT, Dr. D’Adamo suggests that these people adopt an aggressive cancer-prevention lifestyle if they have a family history of cancer. This is true in my case. I was wondering if you could say a bit more about what he means by an aggressive cancer-prevention lifestyle. I guess drinking lots of green tea and not smoking (which I don’t do anyway) would be part of such a lifestyle. For over a decade, I have suffered from various health issues (IBS, adult acne, hypothyroidism, knee pain) which fortunately have nearly all disappeared since I started following the BTD two years ago, but I’m afraid that this has made me rather prone to having cancer later in life. I was also wondering why in his book LR4YT, Dr. D’Adamo suggests that MM typed Os should try to use mostly Tier One Beneficials in the vegetables and fruits sections. I thought that one should adhere to the Tier Two Diet when suffering from health-related issues. Many thanks! Thomas

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Hello, Thomas! First I want to reassure you that just being on the O diet is a superb cancer-prevention strategy all by itself. You'll undoubtedly be the beginning of a NEW family history! Using the lifestyle recommendations for Os and the specific MM-modified O secretor food list, along with food-based vitamin C, basic supplements and ARA6 for antioxidant support, puts you far ahead of the pack in the cancer-prevention league!

The quote from LR4YT you mentioned is addressed to type A (secretor)/MM individuals. Because many cancers are "A-like," the type A immune system is not as effective on its own in eliminating them -- hence the higher risk noted in conjunction with the MM type.

My understanding of the MM modifications for Os is: no dairy at all, and get plenty of the Beneficials in the fruits & veg categories... mostly Tier I, but Tier II can be added. In the case of fruits, there's only 1 good guy in Tier II. Under veggies, there are several Tier II Beneficials ~ use them to replace neutrals you'd otherwise choose. That is the key to understanding Tier II: the beneficials noted there are not "special" medicinal foods, but a class of items to be used in place of neutrals when one wishes to get the full benefit of the diet. The avoids listed there are less troublesome for healthy people than the Tier I avoids; and the beneficials are less vital for healthy people than the Tier I beneficials. :-)

Take care, and take heart! You're doing splendidly, and you'll be building your health and immunity with every month you spend on this plan!!



Dear Heidi! I just recieved the encyclopedia. For my Lupus there are several protocols adivised. A few for autoimmunediseases in general and various for the lupus itself. Should I follwow all of them at the same time, or go through them one after the other? The tier system is not mentioned in the food list. As it is a compendium for certain diseases I assume that it is just fine to follow what is stated in the enyclopedia list instead of following meticulously the tier system in the book Live right fyt... Thank you in advance! Karin

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Hi, Karin ~ The protocols work best if you do only one or two at a time, but I see in the protocols for Lupus that the Detox regimen is one week only, and the Immune System protocol is four weeks. I'd choose them first, then continue with the Chronic Disease list. As I recall, you are a Type B secretor, so, YES, use the Tier system for your food choices. The Encyclopedia is primarily intended as a reference work for the disease protocols, and included the food lists only as an appendix to the main work. That's why the Tiers are not given room there.

Thanks for your kind messages, Karin, and keep us posted on your reactions and progress! take care!! :-)



Hello, Heidi! I really enjoy your section of the website and log on each night to see what I can learn. I am an A Non-secretor. I have followed the plan since late May and have lost 25 lbs. I have noticed many other benefits including getting rid of that yucky stuff that seems to come up each morning from eating wheat, corn and dairy. People are always asking me about the diet, and I am always ready to share with them about how great it is. I do have one question about the two-tier system in LR4YT which I am trying to follow as closely as possible. When focusing on Tier Two, what do I do with Tier One? Do I include both, or just use Tier Two by itself? I have read the info on the website, but I am still confused. I'm sure it should be very simple, so I know you will clear it up for me. Thanks for all you do to keep us informed. The potpourri pages are great! Phyllis

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Hey there, Phyllis! Glad you like the ol' OTD, and I'm thrilled with your marvelous achievements!

Well, hope you took a peek at my little (*LOL*) note to Maureen right up above there. We nonnies ain't got no Tiers, 'ceptin' our Nonsecretor Tier, which is implicit rather than explicit in Live Right. Pleeze say you're not going shopping for a gun to shoot me? Rather than thinking about all the effort you've spent trying to get those Tiers working, umm.... think about how much simpler it is now. HOORAH! Right? Lemme hear it... a little "hoorah," maybe? a tiny "yay?" :-}

The Updates Page has a paragraph which covers this point, but not as clearly as I thought when I wrote it. Live & learn, eh? Here's that text:

"Tier Two values should be used as written if you are seeking to resolve an illness, heal from injury, lose weight, bear up under added stress, or to alleviate chronic fatigue or other health issues -- or if you are following the diet according to your status as one of the variants nonsecretor, MM or A2. Minimize your use of Neutral foods."

If you follow this advice to its logical conclusion, you'll see that nonsecretors using Tier II values "as written" are back in the Beneficial/Neutral/Avoid ballpark, with additional playing rules to "minimize... use of Neutral foods." The nonsecretor food lists are designed to work on their own, with no modification save any additions/reductions vis-á-vis the Rhesus factor ~ for type As, this tweak shows up only in the Dairy section. The benefits for secretors of following the MM modifications are built into the nonsecretor diet, so nonnies don't use those changes.

Great to hear from you, Phyllis ~ have a lovely!



OK everyone, now we're all experts on the Tiers! That was easy, eh? Thanks for all your wonderful comments, kvetches, Qs, stories and generous advice. Keep shining!! *:-D

Dear Heidi-- I need to check two things on the Blood type diet for A+ secretor... The first is; tomato, eggplant and pepper are tier two 2 in the Italian translation of Lr4yt. Is it correct or they should be a tier 1 Avoid ?



The second question is: I am forty years old, thin and healthy and my brother thirty four. Only for him six years later a pediatrician diagnosed gluten intolerance. I had the same entheropaty (undiagnosed), but I seemed to recover well without any wheat-free diet when I became three years old . He recovered after one year of gluten free diet but I do not know his secretor status.

I was easily struck by colds and sinusitis, but without cow milk it gets far better. Should I try to forget about wheat for my gluten entheropaty as a child, or being a A secretor eventually I was able to cope with wheat and I can eat pasta just not too frequently? Thank you very much for helping us ! Maria

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Hi, Maria! Yes, the Tier II list in your book is correct. As to how much pasta is good for you, it seems to me that what you are doing now has shown its results: you are "thin and healthy." As long as your digestion is unimpeded by pasta ~ and by that I mean, if you have regular and easy bowel movements (twice per day at least, for three meals per day) which pasta does not slow or dilute ~ then I believe your childhood enteropathy episode is not predictive of your present physical response to this food. Not to worry! After all, type A secretors (you lucky rascals) have white flour and semolina on your Neutral list, so the classic pasta secca should present no problem for you. This is surely the case with you if eating pasta regularly does not trigger the colds and sinusitis you mentioned, as dairy did.



Do your local pasta shops carry dry pasta made of any other grains? This is another option you may have to limit your wheat exposure, IF you would feel more secure on the safer-than-necessary side! For instance, I can find quinoa/corn pasta, 100% rice pasta, spelt pasta, all in many shapes, at my local organic grocer -- and the rice pastas are truly wonderful in taste and texture, in my (Irish! :-}) opinion. I'm sorry to say I have no recipes for making fresh pastas from these ingredients! :-( but dry pasta produced from alternative grains is becoming rather common in some parts of the world.



At any rate, give thanks for your type A heritage of all those beautiful Italian pastas! Eat! Enjoy! {a little envious here!! :-D}







I am still a little confused on the difference between type I and type II avoid and beneficial foods. When I read the descriptions of the impact of the type II foods on the body, they seem as ominous as the type I's, and yet the "Live right" book indicates you don't need total compliance to type II avoids if you're healthy. I know that's a big if and I'm not there yet! I've also read responses from Peter that indicate a healthy person can probably be compliant 80% of the time and still be okay. I don't know if he still feels that way since that was some time in the past. But does that mean you can eat type I avoids 20% of the time? Or does that mean you can eat type II avoids 20% of the time? Or what? Also, what does it mean to be a type II beneficial? I've been on the diet for a year and a half, I am in my late forties and am starting to feel good for the first time in my adult life, but it's been an uphill battle, and I don't ever want to feel that bad again. FYI - I'm an A. ~ Chris



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Hello, Chris ~~ It is a little confusing! Compliance itself is a vexed issue; (70%, by the way! :-D) ~~ does "70% is OK for healthy people" mean 70% Beneficials? Some combination of Beneficials & Neutrals? How can eating 70% Neutrals and 30% Avoids be viewed as equivalent to eating 70% Beneficials and 30% Avoids? Do Neutrals count? Does one cancel out the other? (ah, at least I can answer that one: NO. :-D)



Makes me want to ask a different question: How about the digestive need for calm and focus upon the food itself, rather than weighing out what portion of every single morsel is counting toward some percentage which was given by Peter as a mere guideline anyway? :-} phew! thanks for listening! :-} It was nice of Peter to give his professional observations on how well his patients seem to fare if they comply with the BTD to a certain extent ~~ Heaven knows we dogged him and harried him until he produced that number. Look at what success brought us. ;->



I find the percentage-compliance idea useful only as a back-of-the-mind reassurance touchstone/pressure release valve. Had a bad (avoid-ridden) day? Well, adding it up ~ turns out it was only 25% avoids... not so horrible after all! Got Gramma Beatrice's 80th birthday coming up? An avoid or two won't kill you, but she might if you turn up your nose at her six-layer cream-cheese pistachio pound cake. Been eating 100% beneficials for six months and feel like you're going to spit bullets if you don't have JUST ONE BITE of that magnificent ham from your Italian cousin in Parma???? Hey! Mangia! I don't want to open the paper someday and see, "Inmate pleads 'It was BTD Compliance that drove me bonkers!'" Remember Peter's yearly meat-stuffed cabbage, and eat that ham joyfully, with gratitude. ;-}



Here's my little message: KNOWLEDGE - COMMITMENT - RELAX. You know your diet (maybe by heart at this point!). You've got the commitment ~ you made the decision that this was the course to follow, and you're right out there, walking the walk! cuz why else would I see you struggling to get all the i's dotted and the t's crossed? :-) Now gimme an R... gimme an E... :-> we want to open the circle of all that beautiful energy from your newfound health ~ open it out into things you'd like to accomplish in the world.



The Tiers system is a guide, like "compliance" numbers ~ it is a diet refinement tool to incorporate or not, depending on one's choice. Take stock of your health and goals right now, and use the Tiers as you see fit. The listings are correct as emended in the Updates Page. For your present situation, I'd say: focus on Tier I Beneficials -- and substitute Tier II Beneficials for some of the neutrals you'd usually eat. See if there's a neutral or two you can slip in for any avoid that has been a pain in the seat of temptation. In this way, you boost the salutary medical effects of the diet.



Well, I've gone on way too long. what a surprise! ;-D Hope you know I'm not yelling atcha ~ probably just yelling at myself! I'm not sure whether I should thank you for writing or for reading... so I'll just say thanks, Chris! ~:-D







I am confused about the Tier System in Live Right. It says in the text for Type A that you should add Tier Two values to Tier One values in order to be more compliant and that you should then "use caution incorporating neutral foods from general nutritional supplementation". This concept leads to some interesting priorities in food use that seem to be against the general suggestions for Type A (I am a non-secretor and so am using those values) For example, cottage cheese would be allowed and yoghurt and Kefir (good probiotics which the text says we should use) would not be advised. Lamb would be used and chicken not; kidney beans would be used (which are in general really bad for Type A the text says) and snap beans or mung sprouts not: tomatos would be good (another text no-no for Type A) and a whole host of other vegetables like kelp (said to be good in the text), asparagus, beets, string beans, etc not good; bananas (a lectin food for Type A) good and peaches, pears, etc. not good. These items especially seem puzzling to me. Maybe I am not interpreting the Tier System correctly. I find the instructions about it somewhat confusing. Thanks for answering this question. Since you have added info about the secretor status, the Blood Type diet feels very resonant and useful (I always wondered why in the original book I felt more like an O than an A). Thanks again. Clare



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Well, Clare, I kinda hope you skipped right down here to your question. Stop the presses: we nonsecretors can toss those Tiers right off the parapet. Look through LR4YT's food lists, and you'll see that ALL Secretor Neutrals are in the Neutral Tier (with the exception of blackberries for AB, which was an errant boo-boo); ALL Secretor Beneficials & Avoids are in Tiers I & II. Conversely, nonsecretor food values are in and out all over the place. The Tiers system is aligned along a Secretor "spine." Thus, our food list (the Nonsecretor Tier, if you will) is not affected by where a value falls. It's just the old Bene-Neut-Avoid grind for us! :-) Makes it a little less exciting, but a touch simpler, too. Hope you like it! I sure do ~ mostly!!

:->







Hi Heidi, A few questions if I might. 1. If two parents are type O will children also be type O? LR4YT maintains A & B are dominant so we are assuming we are both Oo. 2. Is Jasmine tea (sometimes called Chinese tea) ok for type O non-secretors? 3. Are potatoes neutral for type O non-secretors on Tier I diet? Potatoes are Tier II avoid. Thank you for your time. Willie



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Hallo, Willie! Yes, the union of two type O parents can produce only type O offspring. To be type O, one must have two O genes, so there's no other kind available to contribute. "Jasmine tea" only means there are jasmine flowers in whatever tea has been so flavored. Green tea is OK for Os, but black tea is not ~ so it's the old case of "read yon label." Potatoes, alas; take a look at the answer to Clare's question above. Nonsecretors are not given the leeway of secretors in using the Tier II foods as we wish. But heck, we don't mind! We get... Turtle! ~~ they can have their demmed potatoes. Right, Willie? Right? hmmm... :-} *sigh!*







Hi Heidi, I'm traveling to Brazil. Is anaconda acceptable for type O? Couldn't find it on the lists. Now for my real question. Back in the old days...five years ago or so, regular white potatoes and their various relatives were considered a major type O avoid like wheat, dairy, etc. But when "Live Right" came out they became a tier 2 avoid which means to me that they're OK for O's who have no health issues and simply wish to maintain their current level of health. In other words, according to BTD are white potatoes OK in moderation for ... Bob L ?



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Yeah, thanks, Bob, I just went through all that with Willie just above, and now here you pop up, Johnny-on-the-spot to rub it in. Yeah. Fine. Eat those potatoes, old buddy. Eat as many as you can hold ~ you leanbean types really frazzle my razzer, have I mentioned that before? By the way, those spuds go really well with capers, shiitake mushrooms and some acacia gum to hold it all together ~~ check it out! I'll be thinking of you in South America this winter, as I look out upon the lovely traditional NYC Christmas Scene of brown snow and gray ice. And hey: Enjoy those big Brazilian snakes, my friend! Have a beautiful trip!!!







... to be continued...

Hello Heidi - many thanks for answering my previous questions and here's another for my type B, 50 year old husband. He has swollen parotid glands on both sides of his face, and his only other symptom is a dry mouth. He has had this problem for a few years now. I have used the Eat Right Encyclopedia and found Sjorgen's Syndrome - would it be helpful to follow the Chronic Illness Protocol and Anti-Inflammation Protocol - the only problem being that we cannot get phosphatidyl, OPC's and jiaogulan. He takes 2.5mg bendrofluazide daily, has oats every day but they have not his blood pressure down, and a multi mineral/vitamin. Do you have any ideas? Many thanks in advance - Cynthia



Hello, Cynthia! Sjögren's is statistically rather uncommon in men; if memory serves me, 90% of the patients are women, although of course your husband could be among that remaining 10%. Another possibility is sialolithiasis, in which calculi, or stones, form in the salivary glands, accompanied by some infection -- again, a long shot, as only 10-20% of these cases involve the parotid glands, but still possible.



What I'd like him to do as soon as possible is see a doctor (preferably a naturopath). He should get a professional diagnosis, to make sure that no other serious illness is involved.



It will certainly help him to follow both those protocols. Could you let me know why you can't get the PC and jiaogulan? Is it that you don't find them in the UK, or some other reason? Do make use of the BTD-UK discussion group, as they're well positioned to share information on shopping matters. OPCs are abundant in berries & other plant foods, so there are other ways to get that particular supp without buying a supp per se. For him, loading up on the dark red & purple fruits/berries from that fabulous B fruit list, for example. Do let me know about the supps, OK? and I wish you both all the best!! :-D

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Hello again, and thanks for answering my last question. NAP offers a number of different supplements for sinus congestion due to allergies, i.e., Urtica Dioica, Quercetin Plus and Collinsonia Plus. I've tried the Quercetin with limited success, but from reading your last column, I think I've been underdosing it and incorrectly expected immediate results. I'll try increasing the dose and be more patient. Anyway, when do you recommend one supplement over the other for congestion due to allergies? Thanks again. Todd



Hey there, Todd! Well, we make allergy-relief recommendations largely on the basis of blood type, with some other mediating factors. Come to think of it, I don't even know your ABO type -- could ya post it? ABO, rhesus, secretor status, all give us a better idea of the individual's biochemistry and how foods & herbs will help or harm them. Thanks, dear!!



In the case of quercetin, its anti-inflammatory effects kick in within a day or two, as do its antioxidant powers. Subduing allergic response is a somewhat lengthier process, usually one to three weeks -- but it works in nearly everyone. A steady 2000 mg daily dose for that period should be sufficient, whereas for infection one can profit by eating 500mg caps like candy all day long, with plenty of water. Well, I'm exaggerating a bit, but 6-9 g per day is not an extreme dose when used to discourage sinusitis from becoming bronchitis, for instance -- and in that case should be accompanied by a good food-based C supp. Two or three 500s daily is adequate for long-term antioxidant uses. :-D

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Hi Heidi, Thank you for the wonderful column. My husband and I both are type O positive secretors. And with that I know my two boys (age 2 and 4) are also O positive too. My older son has always been a picky eater taking in very little at mealtime. He is skinny and I’m a bit concerned of his health and growth. Though my younger boy started out a big eater, he’s beginning to take on his older brother’s eating habit. Do you have any suggestions in helping them to gain weight in a healthy way? Are there any O foods that can help with weight gain? My husband and I are trying to watch our food combination to keep proteins and starches separated from each other. Should the boys NOT be concerned with food combination? When I’m at work the boys are under the care of their grandparents who are non-believers of the blood type diet, therefore my boys are getting a lots of milk and wheat based foods (breads and crackers). By the way, from your website I learned that only about 20% of the populations are non-secretors. Does it mean the chance of my boys being secretors is very very high since their parents are both secretors? Thank you very much. God Bless. Carol



Hi, Carol! The situation of both parents being nonsecretors is the only one in which we know for sure the secretor status of the kids. Either of your boys could be a secretor or a nonsecretor, because the nonsecretor gene is recessive and can "hide" behind a parent's dominant Secretor gene. So, both your boys have to be tested to find out. ;-)



Well, the first thing I would do is have a nice sit-down chat with the grandparents. You might impress upon them that the boys act up and pick at food if they're fed certain things during the day. Any way you know of to get the point across is fine, no matter how simple or in what words. Just impress upon them how special these boys are, and how the grandparents can get involved in making sure they grow up strong and healthy.



Since your kids are there during work days, stock your parents' house with the foods they'll be eating during the day. Ezekiel bread, rye, rice crackers (lots of good ones on the market), things like that. You don't have to make all the changes overnight, but the sooner the better. Give your parents a short list of what the boys SHOULDN't eat -- sugar, pork, wheat, corn, no dairy except butter, potatoes, peanuts/peanut butter, apples, coconut, oranges/orange juice, etc. -- try to make up the list from avoids you figure they'd be fed at their grandparents' house or if eating out with them, it doesn't have to be a complete list of the avoids in the book. And suggest some substitutions, like sweet potatoes, turnips, greens, blueberries, almond butter, etc. Again, you may have to do some shopping and a sketch of a meal plan for them to make sure the kids have enough good foods on hand, and gramps & gramma aren't overwhelmed with the changes.



They certainly don't have to be concerned with food separation. Those boys will be fine! And they'll get the right foods just when they need them, during those fast-growing years. They'll settle down with their food habits and gain weight just fine if they're given plenty of activity and a calm & supportive atmosphere. Let me know if there's anything else I can offer here, Carol! and sorry for the very late reply, dear!! :-D

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Heidi! I have a progress report and a slight problem going on. I've now been on the BTD eating regime for 3 solid weeks. I've lost approx. 8 lbs. The 1st two weeks I felt like a million dollars. Clarity, well-rested, excited about life, etc. This 3rd week, and now going into my 4th, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. My workouts are a complete struggle to get through, I've got horrid mental tension and neck aches, and weird body aches here and there, and because I feel so fatigued, there is some craving happening. But not so's that I haven't been able to control it. (Which is a miracle in itself, believe me!)



I get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I take all of the BTD supp's and in addition the Bladderwrack Supp, and the Stress Supp that NAP sells. I've also been taking some of the protocol suggestions in the Encyclopedia to rid myself of the Candidia. I also take Proberry and Larch and Brewer's Yeast. My typical day's eating is a breakfast shake made with 8-oz unsweetened Soy Milk, 8-oz cherry or pineapple juice, egg white protein powder, Brewer's Yeast, 1 banana, 1 tble flax seed oil, 1 tble flax seed powder and some stevia.



My mid morning snack is 1 slice of manna bread, 3 or 4 dried figs and walnuts. my lunch is usually beef stew made with turnips, onions, sweep potatos, carrots, celery, and beef broth, and then a pear or plum.



my mid afternoon snack is usually fruit of some sort. dinner is a romaine lettuce salad with eggs and sesame seeds and flax seeds and then either some sort of beneifical fish or a steak. this is generally how the eating goes.

during the day i have seltzer water with stevia and ice and green tea. (does the caffine in green tea cause us O's any problems becuase of caffine's effect as far as causing cravings?) I ask that becuase coffee always always always made me want sugar. I must get to the root of this fatigue! Am I taking too many supp's? Am I still de-toxing? I mean really! I want to feel strong and wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the world with all this meat in my blood! ha..



I started trying to get more protein in as well, thinking that maybe i was not eating enough to cover my workout routine. I do an eliptical machine at the gym 3 times a week for 45 minutes; i hike for 1-1/2 hours 1 day a week and 2 days, i take an hour walk and then i take one day off for rest. I also do pushups, situps and some leg and arm work 3 times a week at the gym. Sometimes I think maybe i have bouts of chronic fatigue syndrome and possibly after i finish the protocol on the candida that I should take some for the CFS. I used to have silicone breast implants (Years ago - got them out in 97), and one of the implant envelopes had a hole in it and was slowing leaking. Maybe that is still affecting me somewhat. I do drink either seltzer or a small amount of fruit juice with my lunch and dinners and i think i've seen something here in the column about not drinking with dinner. Yes? No? Anyway, any help you can provide on this fatigue or if anyone out there has gone through this in the first part of going on the diet, please let me know, and maybe share what you did about it. Thanks so much Heidi. I sure to love your sense of humor! You are always so patient with all of us inquistive children out here! Christina



:-D Ok, you inquisitive kid! :-D If you're particularly sensitive to caffeine/theine (and lots of Os are, it stimulates an adrenal response that can mimic hypoglycemia), it's worth limiting the green tea to one cup per day, but I'm not convinced that's at the root of the achiness and fatigue. Yes, it is MOST likely detoxing and metabolic readjustment going on right now. Feeling patient? GOOD! ~~:-D However, here are some things that occurred to me looking at your daily diet (thanks for all the details, it REALLY helps!) --



About all that meat in your blood, hey! Know what? I don't think you're getting enough. Tee Hee! Take another gander at the frequencies for meat and fish. You should include some red meat daily, with a portion of poultry in the week and five of fish -- those being additional, me dear. We Os don't thrive especially well on protein powders, although they're OK for athletes as a fill-in between the meals. So I look at your breakfast and say "*ANNNGHT!* Doesn't Count!" (lol!)



And, to boost your pro-energy, anti-craving campaign, use veg gly instead of stevia to sweeten things. Just see if it doesn't make a world of difference.



Now: the main thing to do is get breakfast into the dinner slot, and vice-versa. I can't tell you how much this ratchets up everything: energy, body tone, wake/sleep schedule, just everything. Eat a thorough breakfast, with some root veg, greens, and meat. If it's easier for you, cook up some ground meat with tomatoes, onions, garlic, greens "hammered" separately and mixed in, salt & pepper, a few chili flakes if desired, and store it in the fridge for breakfast glop. Heated and topped with a fried egg or two, it's a protein powerhouse. Yeah, I know, it's not exactly Continental, but it's Paleolithic, and that's where we're from -- no Marschallin's hot chocolate for brekky for us. Count a soy milk serving as a bean serving, and include it during the week on that basis. ;-)



Lunch is fish-time. Something simple, like a salad topped with grilled fish or tuna salad, or cod & mashed buttered turnips (famous pub fare), or lemon sole & broccoli.



Have your salad at night, with a sprinkling of nuts and cold leftover veg like green beans, red peppers, you name it, and a toasted bit of manna bread with butter.



On what to do to protect from adverse effects due to the breast implant that leaked, I'm dead clueless, but I strongly suggest spending mucho hours searching the Net on that issue and reading everything you can find on it. Other than reducing other immune-stimulating substances, in the diet and environment for instance, I haven't anything to offer in that matter.



However, I hope the rest of the advice helps, Christina! :-D

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i have been reading your valuable book live right 4 your type, and i am confused about my secretor or non secretor status isn't there any simple way to test my status that i can do at home rather going to all this procedure of shipping etc. pls. advice me i will be very thankful to u. Rehana



Hi, Rehana ~ Secretor status can only be established by laboratory testing, whether by saliva inhibition or blood test for Lewis type. It requires procedures which simply can't be adapted for home use. Wish we had a quick do-it-yourself version, but at least for now the state of technology hasn't provided one. ;-) but that said, doing the test is TRULY worthwhile -- and you only have to do it once! I hope you decide to go ahead with it ~~ take care, dear! :-D

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Hi Heidi- I have started this question three times and have given up halfway through each time since I consider my situation overwhelming and HOW could a diet turn my life around? OK, fourth shot at this and I do hope you can help. I started the Atkins diet about 6 years ago and it solved my hypoglycemia problems, but I felt sooo deprived and it certainly did nothing for my other problems. The List: 1)Allergies. Have been on antihistamines (Zyrtec and now Tavist)for over a decade and none of the ones I tried helped with the post-nasal drip. Recently, doc put me on steroid nasal spray. I decided last night was the last snort even though it works and my sleeping has been better. Just don't want steroids. 2)Cervical Radiculopathy and degenerative effects. Had an injury three years ago at work and have at least one bulging disk in my cervical spine, level 6, where the brachial plexus emerges from the spinal column. This causes pain, sometimes tingling and numbness,in my neck, shoulders, arms and hands. As a result of my injury I am in severe pain 24/7/365 X3. Then there's the domino effect and for about a year now, my entire back and legs are involved as well. Family doc has me on oxycontin which helps me deal but is not the solution. Waiting now for legal bullsh*t to allow me to see a specialist since I am uninsured. Can't even walk aerobically since the swinging of my arms causes too much pain. 3)Blood in Urine, chronic hematuria, caused by the large and long-term doses of NSAIDs the docs had me on from the time of injury up to about a year ago. 4)Constipation has been worse, doc recently upped by oxycontin dose. Yes, I take 2 tablespoons milled flax a day. I dropped the psyllium, bad for an O right? 5)The Blues. Hate that D word. I haven't worked for the past two years and I am very concerned about my career. I have just about given up on the possibility of ever being able to do 'bench science' again. I do try to keep a positive attitude. 6) Wake up so frequently through the night that I wonder if I'm achieving REM. I certainly don't feel rested. This problem has been better since I dropped the wheat(beer) and stopped the post nasal drip... I started Dr. D'Adamo's plan about mid-January of this year. I noticed improvement immediately just with the elimination of wheat and dairy. Just found out that I am an O- secretor. I ordered the 4 Your Type Basics Pack and Respiratone and it will arrive in about a week. I will try to get stone root, stinging nettle, bladderwrack, larch arabinogalactan, and frankinsence/Boswellia from GNC. I do take ester C and wonder why acerola chery or rose hips derived C is better? I am taking quecetin as well; started a few weeks ago at the same time as the steroid nasal spray...so perhaps the nasal spray wasn't the solution for my drips but rather the quercetin?? I do need to tease apart the effects of the pharmaceuticals vs the supplements. Is there anything you think I am doing wrong and what else should I try? I am taking some hope from the fact that I do feel better since starting Dr. D'Adamo's wellness plan but I am impatient! It has been too long since I have been well and I am so scared of continually getting worse; my experience over the past 3 years since the injury. Thanks for your time. I have learned a lot from your column and check it out everyday. Judy



Hey there, Judy!



You have a number of concerns, and I truly understand your impatience! but the key to healing is giving the body the proper foods and rest, while trusting that it can and will heal itself. It will do the job for you, in miraculous ways, and in much less time than it took to develop the problems.



We prefer to use food-based supplements: a quarter-cup of rose hips soaked overnight in a cup of water and blended & added to a smoothie has far more "body-recognizable" vitamin C than synthetic supplements. Ester-C isn't going to harm you, but a food-based C will give more C for the money.



With an injury such as yours, physical therapy (to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine), and a powerful meditation practice such as the kriyas described in Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth, in conjunction with proper diet are essential to regain your strength and heal your injury. It CAN be done! I realize you may not have the personal means to cover physical therapy right now any more than you can afford the specialist, but I strongly urge you to pick up that book and read it cover to cover. Fear, anger, disappointment, frustration, are all discussed there in the context of healing -- which proceeds far more quickly once we relieve the body of the pressure of our anxieties and demands. It's a brilliant book, a companion to The Pain Cure, by the same authors.



I know you're in turmoil and pain, but do know that there are thousands of people who read this column -- and we all empathize with your situation and many have come from far worse circumstances and seen their entire lives turn around. We believe yours will be profoundly change for the better by following this plan, and I'm sure that anyone with similar experiences will write in with their suggestions as well. You're not alone, and you won't get worse unless you choose to do so. The way is open for you!



Best wishes, dear, and write again any time! :-D

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Hi Heidi, In the group posted on 3-11-03,I just read Doreen's comment about having a frozen shoulder and needing to take Vioxx. I had a frozen rt. shoulder approx. 4 yrs ago d/t injury and had 3 different places of attachment that had occured along the scapula. I began seeing a chiropractor who was also a nutritionist and used Cox Distraction, Activator method, and multiple other alternative treatment modalities.



After a few treatments he was able to release those areas of attachment (which made a "popping" sound - no pain) and I regained full use of that shoulder and arm. I needed to do some shoulder strengthening exercises, which I still use today. Just thought she might want to consider another avenue of treatment.



Make sure that the Chiropractor is not just a "twist and crunch" guy...The methods my Chiropractor used are what has put my musculo-skeletal system back together again after 57 years of "leaping tall buildings in a single bound" and now that I'm following the "O-nonnie" BTD and using the BTD supplements I feel physically better than I ever have in my life!



Also one of the most important things I did was have our secretor status checked.(My husband is a secretor,I'm a "nonny") Here in the States the test is readily available so easy to do. It made a major difference for me.I was using lots of soy products and was wondering why I was still having problems. Enough said!



Have a wonderful day and thanks for diligently researching and answering all our questions! Jan



Oh, thank you SO much for that note on frozen shoulder, Jan! I just love being a part of such a great, knowledgeable and compassionate group of people!! And what a wonderful report -- yes, it makes a great difference, doesn't it? thanks again!! :-D

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hello, I am a 36 year old mom to be (about 26 weeks)with a type B blood. My whole family is on your blood type diet and we are loving it. Since i am expecting now, do i need to add or change anything? How about the flax seed oil, should i keep taking it or not? thank you. alexis



Hi, Alexis! I understand that the Baby Book is now available -- that's what I'd suggest for you! See the home page, www.dadamo.com under "Library," and ask your local book shop. Very best wishes on your pregnancy, and do keep in touch!! :-D

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Hi Heidi, for Jim and his wife with the 1.5 year old baby--I was wondering if they have tried to contact a local LaLeche League group for help in getting the breast feeding going again. He didn't say what specific problems caused them to have to pump breast milk and then the milk supply to decrease, but this is common when pumping because the pump doesn't stimulate the milk production as well as the baby's sucking. It is very possible to get the milk supply going again with some patience and help from La Leche League or perhaps a lactation consultant. There have even been adopted babies who were breastfed by mothers who have never been pregnant---it's tricky, but do-able so perhaps Jim and his wife could get a little assistance and get the breast milk going again. It also concerns me because they obviously have had some problems , so adding the additional chore of mixing up all kinds of homemade formulas may be too much stress for them. La Leche League is a wonderful organization full of dedicated experienced moms who have additional training in helping with breastfeeding. I encourage Jim to contact his local group if he hasn't already. Suzanna



Many thanks, dear! Jim, there you have it -- from Suzanna, an expert, believe me! :-D

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Here's a chemistry question: I bought a package of frozen salmon patties at Trader Joe's. I was trying to get more fish in my diet and there's nothing worse than old fish, so I prefer frozen. Since I am single and rarely cook much for dinner, it really has to be convenient and fresh. (Especially now I'm in yoga class after work.)So now I'm hearing about the polyamine problem. I also see that there are many foods in LR4YT that block polyamine production (or absorbtion?). If I make sure to have green tea or parsley with my formerly frozen fish, is that better for me than not having fish as often? Or is it better to avoid it unless I buy fresh? The other problem is, I walk to work. The closest grocery is Trader Joe's and their fresh salmon is all farm-raised. Do I walk home from work and get in my car at rush hour to go to some other grocery to get fresh wild fish a few times a week? What really are the relative benefits of frozen, fresh, farmed or wild salmon? And can green tea or something else mitigate the problem? I have a little pond, but the gold fish are too wild to catch. Sandra



Welll..... I'd get in the car on a weekend morning and stock up on fresh wild fish, and freeze it yourself! It's the "flash freezing," not home freezing, which jacks up the polyamines in fish. Green tea, parsley, black cherry juice all block polyamines, so that's the ticket while you're using up your farmed and/or frozen fish. :-D

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I love ripe fruit. However, as a committed consumer, over the years I have stopped buying it or taken it back to the store (especially mushy Red Delicious) to show my disappointment when the fruit does not live up to the "ripe," "sweet" (or with apples, "crunchy") claims. Having once tasted a ripe peach, sweet juice dripping down my face (actually, I seem to recall eating at least three in a row, standing under the tree, dripping on the ground), I won't buy those pretty sour wax-fruit-perfect peaches in stores. I've picked my own strawberries and I know that ripe ones are red all the way through with no white anywhere, and no need for added sugar. No matter how pretty they look, if they're white anywhere, they're sour. (Unfortunately, I only have a few plants and the bugs always get them before I do.) When you pick raspberries or blackberries, they're ripe when they fall off in your hand to a gentle tug and the core is red or purple, not white or green. I don't know what tree-ripened bananas taste like (thank goodness!), so I buy them and sometimes grapes (green grapes with a hint of yellow are sweet). I also have a plum tree and a hedge of pineapple guavas. They're ripe when the squirrels start eating them. I've been subsisting on dried or frozen fruit (which I hope was ripe, or else don't mind if it's tart) and occasional lucky purchases. I'm in southern California near the coast, and I don't think it gets cold enough for apricots, apples or peaches. Farmers Markets are no better than the supermarkets: they give consumers good-looking fruit with a shelf-life, picked days too early. Lucky "B," I can eat a whole watermelon over 2 days, but have a big problem when it disappoints. I know that ripe fruit is one step from decay, but what should I do? LR4YT tells me I need more of it. Is unripe fruit nutricious? Should I give up my consumer principles and buy it anyway? Sandra



Frozen fruit & veg are the best choices, when fresh is not available. Since the big fruit season is coming up, it's time to think about freezing your own "perfectly ripe" stuff as it appears -- I can't figure out why they don't have excellent fruit in your area! Oregon & Washington apples, apricots, plums, pears, etc. should be plentiful in your market during the summer and fall, no? That's the time to slice, dehydrate & bag them to store (or freeze) for the winter. I sure don't want you to buy underripe fruit! What the heck's going on in SoCal? It used to be overflowing with great fruit. Hey, how about oranges, lemons & limes at least? Sheesh!



Anyone out there living in Sandra's area with a tip or two? :-?

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I have not had dramatic results from the diet, probably because I've been ignoring the quantity issues and just focusing on eliminating avoids, or because I was a healthy omnivorous "B" in the first place. But, now I've bought Live Right, and I have made my chart and a couple of issues become apparent. 1. I have been making a Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail daily. This was made with soymilk, banana, flaxseed oil and lethicin for a couple of years until the soy status change came to my attention (sigh--no wonder no results; almost as bad as finding out my honey-mustard was made with corn syrup, corn syrup solids and high-fructose corn syrup). Now I make it with about 10 oz of non-fat milk per day. Does the 2-5 oz. serving at 3-4 times a week of milk/yogurt, really mean a maximum of 20 oz. per week? Because I see that would mean giving up yogurt dressing, and several days of the cocktail, or else switching to juice. 2. With a 5-8 servings (1 Tbsp) limit on oil, I've used up my weekly allotment of oils already. Does this really mean I should give up my beneficial olive oil in order to have my neutral (but highly recommended) daily MFC? 3. Are the numbers of servings in LR4YT really minimum and maximum ranges? I note that the neutral vegetables are listed with minimums and maximums, but the beneficials only indicate there is no maximum, but give no minimum. Is there some minimum number of vegetable servings (whether beneficial or neutral) recommended per day? All of these questions make me wonder whether the quantity numbers are really a minimum-maximum range, or just a range of minimums... Sandra



:-D OK, first of all the MFC should be just fruit, oil & lecithin for best results. It was formulated for a specific balance of components, and adding milk or other protein sources skews that balance. So remove the milk from it and that takes care of your dairy frequency problem.



One or two servings of olive oil in addition to the MFC is perfectly fine.



The plan is not hard & fast on the "minimum daily requirement" of beneficial veg, so the spirit of the thing (as I understand and use it) is to choose beneficials over other vegetables when available, and that the frequency given for the "neutrals" is a kind of minimum for the beneficials. Those "unlimited" notes are meant to urge us to eat as much of the bennies as we can. Except for the instances in which "unlimited" is the byword, the frequency numbers are intended to be ranges from min to max. :-D hope this helps, dear! and thanks for your messages!! :-D

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Where can I find Essene or Spelt Bread in UK? As I do not have time to do my own baking would an automatic bread machine help and are the ingredients readily available in UK? I am type O and my husband is B, we have a problem as we cannot find wheat free breads. Thank you in advance for your help. Irene



Hi, Irene ~~ Here's a column from July of last year which will help:

ABO-Happy Bread in the UK? You bet! Thanks for writing, and enjoy those marvelous breads!!

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Hi, Paula! Well: Ezekiel toast with ghee, jam and scrambled tofu with onions? Or... beans and eggs (a campfire favorite)? Miso soup and steamed vegetables? An open-faced sandwich of sauteed tempeh with greens and sprouts on toasted rye? A one-egg omelette filled with leftover chicken/rice/veg from the night before? Or a small salmon patty (flaked canned salmon with toasted Ezekiel crumbs, minced parsley & onion, an egg and lemon juice ~ makes several patties from one can of salmon) made the night before, warmed in a pan and wrapped in crunchy radicchio leaves? This morning, my type A man had a cup of coffee, then a piece of the kamut double-crust apple pie I made for Thanksgiving. I could keep going, but you get the idea!



The first key to breakfast, as I see it, is planning it the night before. The second key to breakfast is: you are free to eat ANYTHING at breakfast that you'd eat at any other meal. Anything goes, girl! Use breakfast to pack in the Beneficials, and choose lighter or heavier as your daily activities and inclinations dictate. Boredom inspires temptation... so let breakfast be an opportunity for creativity! :-)



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Dear Heidi, I'm 43 years old and my background is Greek. I'm 5'4" and 153 lbs. Although I enjoy good health I don't feel great. My mum is a diabetic and my father died of cancer when I was 14. I also don't like to take medication and I'm lucky that I don't need to. I like to take the natural approach and this diet sounds like it could help. I found after reading the book that I do suffer from the symptoms described (but not all) and I've had a hell of time trying to loose weight even though I eat well and excersise regularly. I would like to do this diet with proper monitoring. Do you know of any doctor/nutritionist/clinic/hospital here in HK that has used this programme and could assist me? Also, In ER4YBT p.68, Type O should avoid all cabbages. In Blood Type O Food, Beverage and Supplement Lists, p. 29, all cabbages are neutral. Which is correct? Pauline



Pauline! I do not have a listing for any BTD practitioners in Hong Kong, but the instructions in the books can safely be followed by healthy people like yourself who seek a higher level of well-being and a protective diet. These diets are one of the premiere "natural approaches" -- and the only dietary system specifically designed for the needs of the individual rather than based upon the generalized statistics of the many. Give it a good solid testing for one month, and write again! The single blood-type lists have the latest secretor-neutral updated values for foods. Let me know if you need more information, and thanks for writing!!



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Hi Heidi, Can you help me figure out a problem? I am Type O secretor and follow the diet 100%. Right now I am making smoothies out of egg protein and want to find another(not rice or soy) that I can use. I found a triple filtered whey protein(no cassein in it) and have also read many reports that whey has an added benefit of helping to strengthen the immune system, so I was wondering do the benefits outway the the negatives for using whey. I would like to use it once a day. Is there anything I can do to make it acceptable to use on a daily basis on the blood type diet?? thank you and I sure miss you with the old forum, but everything changes....... James



Hello, James ~ man, I miss you, too! :-} Howzit goin?



If you really want a powdered "smoothie additive," have you tried nutritional yeast? B vitamins, protein, and other added benefits all in one little scoop. Some nutbutter popped in there makes a 'taste divine.' :-) I can't recommend milk proteins for type O, neither whey nor caseins ~ our immune systems (already the most "active" of the types) are made calm & strong by exercise and the proper selection of whole foods on our diet. Did the reports you've read sort results by blood group? I'd love to see them if you have a chance to pass them on to me! And what are the benefits of whey that something like Rhodiola rosea couldn't replace? :-D Now you're wondering why I've got more questions than answers here... but these are the answers I get when I ask myself the questions you offered. Let me know, OK?



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I'm a type A+ Is sprouted wheat or rye bread better for me? Thanks in advance -- Robert



Hmmm... that's a new question! I tend to think that sprouted rye, an older grain than the commercial wheat hybrids, is marginally more nutritious and digestible than sprouted wheat, but the difference is probably esoteric and not at all an overriding one for purposes of the diets. I've no authoritative basis to prefer sprouted rye over sprouted wheat for these reasons ~ it's just my personal feeling about the thing. Technically, either is fine for you!



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Dear Miss Heidi -- Thank you for your efforts in advising and helping people. I am 38 years old. Unfortunately last year I became menopause. My blood type is A negative. After reading BTD I began to avoid red meats and began to increase lentils and white beans in my diet since there isn't any soya beans or soya products in our country. Thanks to Dr. D'adamos' efforts in ER4YT the side effects of menopause like hot flushes and mood swings diminishes. My concern now is about the relationship between early menopause and osteoporoses, although there isn't any case in the history of my family of such thing. I also have read that the amount of protein consumed must not exceed 40 mg/day, otherwise the Calcium in the bones will counterbalance. I eat dairy products like yoghurt every day to have enough Calcium but I think that I exceed the amount of protein mentioned above. I lost weight in persuing ER4YT now I am 51 KG and my height is 168cm and I want to gain some weight. I am also interested in brisk walking and aerobics for and hour daily to help me avoid such thing in the future. Is this enough? What can I do please advise me. Sincerely, Rula



Greetings, Rula ~ From your results with hot flashes and mood balancing, I believe you are on your optimal diet, right now!



The study quoted in Peter's column, "Will Type Os Eating Protein Lose Bone?", indicates that getting adequate protein in your diet stimulates the production of intestinal alkaline phosphatase -- the very secretion needed to assimilate calcium efficiently from food. It is a rather outdated idea that more protein = less calcium, or that eating the correct "A" sources of protein in the proper amounts for you means your bones will begin giving up calcium! The best thing for you as a type A is to get good food sources of calcium, like dark green leafy vegetables, almonds, broccoli, soy, sesame, and boost your calcium assimilation by including foods high in carotene along with those high-calcium items.



(For those of us still on the imperial measurements system, Rula is 5'6" tall and 112 pounds.) Rula, I suggest a daily brisk walk is a great idea. To gain weight -- by that, I mean active tissue mass, or muscle -- use yoga at least three times per week and do either a brief (20-30 minutes) weight-lifting session two or three times per week, or strength-building calisthenics daily -- or vary your routine daily between them. A wonderful series of simple, quick and easy exercises can be found at the Canadian Air Force site. Start with the Age Table, then go right on to Chart One. If you use these exercises daily, you will be a very strong and slender type A!



My best to you, and please keep us posted on your progress!! :-D



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Dear Heidi,

I feel I should supply you with more information, as my story is very important for a group of people not often heard from on the BTD columns, type O schizophrenics. My experience with the BTD could prove highly useful to someone going through the ropes, as the obstacles for O's with neurochemical imbalances coupled with digestive track malaise are tremendous, and very very painful.

I used to zonk out at noon back when I ate an O friendly carb breakfast. The only thing that helped was to eat meat in the morning instead, have the carb meal in the noon or afternoon, of Ezekiel or mana bread with a glass of ground flax, and to gorge myself the rest of the day on beneficial seeds, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and nut butters. I don't really follow the portion guide entirely, as my economic situation pretty much limits me to ground beef, lamb or buffalo once a day, with some steak or fish on occasion. I usually have meat, 6-8 oz, eggs and a big salad in the morning. Organic eggs pack a kick that along with meat seems very satisfying.

Going back to schizophrenia, I was a diagnosed "basket case" schizophrenic. The docs said I would be medicated for life. My problems began in my late teens with marijuania use, I became chronically depressed, paranoid, and anxiety ridden. When I moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles, I left behind my best buddy and our hardcore exercise/ surfing regimen. Boy were we in shape! We rode winter swell and circuit trained to do so and survive. On a clear day, the ocean crystal still, the water an icy 38-45 degrees, we would ride waves that tubed big enough to fit two school buses one on top of the other! Sometimes we could stay in that tube for up to a 100 yards. What a thrill!

In SF, working at restaurants, I slouched into depression and non exercise, making matters worse neurochemically, especially when coupled with the amount of anti type O food I ate! Lots of wheat, coffee, milk, corn, cheese, potatos, lentils, peanuts, coupled with a deep thirst for microdraft beer, all led to weight gain. I was skin and bones in high school, could eat endless amounts of fat and not gain a pound. Boogie boarding in high surf consumed more calories than I could consume. And the medications eventually prescribed to me, at about age 25, damaged my liver and kidneys, and from then on the pounds really went on.

In 1998, my surfing buddy, Blair, recommended the BTD, as it had cured him of chronic fatigue from mononucleosis. I was too blitzed on meds to see the light, that is, to start the diet. But my problems became so severe that the diet eventually came back to my attention as the way out. My blood pressure was off the chart, I weighed 285 pounds and my thyroids bulged even more than they ever had. Indigistion, constipation, terrible endless heart burns, an ulcer, back pain, insomnia, flatulence from hell (a great and endless wind) all plagued me as they always had since puberty, but with ever increasing intensity. And moreover, the meds caused me excruciating pain in my arm and knee joints, kind of like a throbbing acid burn every three seconds, without end.

I eventually quit taking the prolixin without my shrink's knowledge, and he eventually put me on a new med, zyprexa, that didn't cause but a small discomfort in the joints. But the damage had been done, my immune system had become so riled up from the various meds I took, up to 5 different ones at one point, each one to counteract the side effects of the other one, and my liver function so impaired from my diet, the meds, and the vast quantities of alcohol and cigarettes I consumed to numb the pain in the joints, that a serious thing happened. I had thusly become addicted to alcohol and cigarettes.

The day came when the allergies kicked in. My legs and arms became red itchy and scaly dry. The itchiness just got worse and worse, worse than poison oak/ivy! I couldn't sleep, and had to keep my skin laquered with lotion at all times. I tried going semi vegetarian and organic, lost about 40 pounds, but couldn't lose any more, and experienced an even greater resurgence of allergies. Moreover, the pain in my joints returned in full blossom.

I then read the book, BTD, and started implementing major dietary changes on a two week basis, that is, every two weeks I would stop eating an avoid and start eating a beneficial. From my readings about O's,I figured that my overworked liver had been depositing A and B lectins in my joints, or the cartilage thereabouts, and a great amount had built up, and whenever I ate some food with A or B lectins, my liver would make such a deposit again. Thus, my over active and over stimulated immune system eventually detected those deposits and started nuking the area, hence causing the severe rheumatoid pains in the joints. Even today, years later, if I eat so much as a potato chip, the nukes fly, my joints kill me for hours.

So then I resolved to change my diet all the way. As soon as I stopped corn, the first main avoid item I dropped, my thyroids went back to near normal shape, my skin itched about half as much, and I felt much less depressed! From that point on I was enthused. With each successive dropping of avoids, there was literally a great lessening of allergies and pain, along with depression, anxiety and insomnia! And the weight just started to melt, 10 pounds a month, coming out in large black fatty tar like stools, I mean huge, the human limit there is!

But the pain was really a great relief of near seismic proportions. And all along my mood began to lift, hope returned, the sagging eyes and sad mouth cleared up, skin became something other than death bone white, I even began to smile and be friendly. Paranoia, anxiety, melancholy, and depression steadily diminish.

In a year, I was off of meds with the grudging yet happy consent of my shrink. My shrink was open minded to a point, had even prescribed me some organic Saint John's Wort, paid for by the city! Little did he know how much that stuff made me drink alcohol! Today, I have to still be extreemly careful with my diet, as my liver and immune system are irrevocably shocked from what happened. However, I have not had so much as a cold since starting the diet, excluding food poisoning and extreemly stressful events, like my grand parents passing away.

I am still struggling with my mind, trying to get back into life as a normal person, without the past foundations of social experience to build a functioning personality with. No more alcohol or drugs, my urge to take them has all but left. I feel happiness and enthusiasm for life again, something I haven't felt since the end of puberty when life in the ghetto, poverty, drugs, and stress took me away from any vestige of inner peace. Suicide no longer haunts me, I no longer feel as if I have ALREADY committed it, the kind of hopeless helplessness that pervaded my psyche, urging me to give up, that I am a failure. It is all quiet on the western front now.

I volunteer at a health food coop and tell as many people about the diet as will listen, albeit not many do except those in pain without anything to lose. Volunteering gives me a way out of seclusion while helping to spread the BTD. I got this old fellow, an O diabetic, to avoid carbs, and in two months he had lower blood sugar than I do! The most needy group seems to be black females, they seem to be missing the most body parts, just thyroids, kidneys and such, ho-hum! and are very receptive to a way off of the butchers table.

Of course, everybody at the coop is either a vegetarian or vegan, including a number of overweight type O's, and I am the only one whom has any knowledge of the diet, except a few token people who have taken some interest. But the BTD books seem to sell out consistantly.

Some other things of interest: my entire family as far back as 4 generations is 100% type O,except for a few cousins and late wives, including my mother's French family! There is zero cancer incidence in my family, and my brother married a type O, and they had a type O daughter. It amazes me how a recessive gene in a pool of mostly French, Irish, Scottish, English and a little Jewish ancestors can remain intact.

I really appreciate your splendid column and read it everyday. You are a bonafide heroine to me. The greatness of your column, at least to me, an 0, is the way you put things in a layperson's perspective, and more over, one with a type 0 perspective, giving your answers a rather heart warming effect. I feel hope and connection to reality in your column. I will go get some of that yeast you suggested, and some B-12!

There is plenty more about schizophrenia I know in conjuction with the diet but will save it for another time, like how to deal with withdrawl pains for instance. There are so many people that could live a good normal life again, if they would change their diet, especially type O schizophrenics. Please let me know if there is any area you need any clarity with, more info, or a volunteer for a study. Thanks, David

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David ~~ your story is a blessing and a ray of hope for people trapped in schizophrenia. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your generous offer to publish it here! Please be in touch if we can help you in any way, and I would welcome any further advice & accounts you may have for those with this terrible affliction. And ~ my most sincere congratulations to you on your spectacular accomplishment in self-healing!!