Dear Heidi, can you enlighten me about the way secretor status is handed down genetically to children - is 'secretor' dominant? - my husband is group O secretor, I am group A non-secretor. So far tested my two group O children are secretors. Haven't had results for the two group A children yet - I beleive the secretor status is not linked to ABO,so hoping they are secretors for their health! Christine

Hi, Christine! Follow this link: More on Blood Type Heredity. Enjoy!

*The Blood Type Diet Encyclopedia* has pinto beans as an "avoid" for type O's; *Eat Right 4 Your Type* has it as neutral. Which is it? Mark

Hi, Mark! That change was made when Live Right 4 Your Type came out. Follow this link for more information: Updates Page. Thanks!

Please, reply or post some advice as to the BTD recommendations in relation to Multiple Sclerosis. All and any sort of information would be highly appreciated. Sincerely, Eugene

Hello, Eugene ~ Please follow this link: Optic Neuritis - MS, this one: re Green Tea / MS, and this one: Vitamin D. Best of health to you, dear!

Hello again, Heidi Thanks for your column, which is very informative and interesting (although I, too, miss the old message boards). I have persuaded my sister, an O (don't know secretor status) to try the BTD and she is doing quite well. She is, however, experiencing very bad cramps in her legs at night. She didn't have these before going on the diet, and is feeling a bit discouraged. Any ideas that might help? BTW the Encyclopedia is now readily available in Australia - paperback AU$39.95. Susan

Yes! She would greatly benefit from a good calcium supplement -- and I mean, a few minutes after she takes it the cramp will disappear. If she cannot get Phytocal-O there, then look for a "bone builder" compound based upon microhydroxyapatite (bone) and make sure it is from clean-raised animals ~ lamb, perhaps. Calcium citrate is the third-best form. Primarily, she needs more vegetables in the diet, specifically dark green leafies and a good variety of the others -- and some mineral water and/or broth made from bones of roasted "organic" fowl or meat, or from fish bones. She'll be fine in a bit! And thanks for that bit of news about the Encyclopedia! :-D

I was wondering about the "protein shakes as supplements" referred to about half way down page 128 of LR4YT. I am not a senior, however I am a very physically active type O, and I try to consume a minimum of 1 gram of protein daily for each pound of my body weight. I used to supplement my intake with whey protein powder mixed with milk, however if I am going to give this diet a try, I need to find an alternative. Can you please recommend a specific type, and even brand if possible, of this "protein shake supplement" to which Dr. D'Adamo is refering? Any help at all would be much appreciated. Thank you very much. Darren

I am new to the diet plan. I have not been able to find any info on Protein powders ie, Whey protein. Some are milk based which would be an obvious no-no for a type O, but what about egg based, or whey based, which is derived from milk, but is only a single component in the milk. Could the whey have separate lectins that are compatable with O blood type? Any info you can offer would be helpful! Thanks! Nicolette

Hi, I am of the "0" blood type and I'm trying to loose weight and gain muscle mass, what kind of supplements would you recommend that I take to, loose weight and second gain lean muscle mass according to my blood type which is "O +"? Oliver

Hello, Darren & Nicolette & Oliver ~ Yours is the question most asked by type O bodybuilders and just-general-health-seekers alike!

For all you folks, the best supplement to lose weight and gain muscle mass is the Type O Diet/Exercise Guidelines. Requires no drugs, no surgery ~ in fact, can be accomplished with one book, a pair of sneakers and a plan. :-) The full story can be found in Live Right 4 Your Type, and if you'd like to fix a protein shake, here are some suggestions for the protein part of it: a hard-boiled egg or two, a scoop of nutritional yeast, rice protein, egg protein, soy protein (for secretors), walnut or almond butter, or some combination of the above -- some of our intrepid hunter-gatherers find that a few chunks of meat whiz up well in the blender, too!

So ... WHEY is the Only No-No ~ there are so many other choices!

First rule of protein powders: read the label and check for avoids. Second rule of protein powders: see first rule.

Live strong, last long! ~~:-D

heidi, my question is about creatine. dr. d discourages its use in his column, in response to a type A individul. is there any blood type connection? i seem to recall reading somewhere that creatine monohydrate, like pork, is chemically a-like. is this right? thanks, cric :-)

Hi there, cric! Now that you're thinking you've read it, you've got me thinking I've read it, too ~ not sure where! However, that column Peter wrote on creatine applies to all types, so I'd not spend me hard-earned cash on it. Here it is again for those who'd like to read it. Thanks for writing, dear, and keep in touch!

And for all you athletes (and athletes-in-the-making), a quick note from Chris on building lean muscle mass:

Strenuous exercise can be accomplished by performing SUPERSLOW exercises for 30 min. ONCE A WEEK.(Ken Hutchins, www.superslow.com) Or, if you don't have access to nautilus equipment, high intensity weightlifting for 30-40 min. 3 x week will do. (books by Ellington Darden) Aerobics & 'CARDIO' are simply marketing terms and reduce metabolism....and work against you. I'm an ex=jogger O non-secretor and understand this. Sports should be done for "mental relief" rather than EXERCISE.....exercise should be a well-controlled intense & BORING undertaking(no talking/music....full concentration) . time for me to get off my pedestal....or lectern. chris

Thanks, Chris! And for those of us for whom general out-of-shaped-ness makes high intensity weightlifting sound a tad daunting at the moment, remember my oft-mentioned 5BX Canadian Air Force site. Designed for everyone, whatever age or level of fitness, takes ten minutes per day, and really gets results!. Heartily recommended!

:-D

I am a type O, and I miss the cream cheese on my (spelt) bagels! Do you have a solution? Diane

Hi, Diane ~ I don't have a solution right off-hand, but I do have a couple of suggestions. Try some very soft, fresh, plain goat cheese (spreadable) or mozzarella (meltable). Some soy cheese might also work ~ scour your organic grocer, cuz I believe there are cream-cheese-like products available for your purposes. Hey, if you find something you really like, write back & tell us, OK? :-D

Hi Heidi, I enjoy the new column immensely and it is a daily ritual after breakfast every morning to check. Breakfast is my biggest hurdle, still getting stuck with eating too much grain. Can you give a short synopsis example of what you eat for a typical day? I look in ER4T for menu ideas but there is more incentive when someone else tells you what they eat. thanks, Jayne

Hey there, Jayne ~ Well, I'm not sure if this will fit into your plans or your schedule, and also keep in mind that I'm a nonsecretor! but here goes.

In a typical day, I eat no grain, beans or dairy at all. Whoosh! There go three food groups! ;-> To some this looks tremendously difficult and restrictive. To me, it simplifies things beautifully. I do very occasionally eat those items, but more as exceptions to the general flow of things than as a planned part of my diet.

OK: breakfast could be

a stir-fry of ground buffalo/kale or collards/tomato/onions/garlic/olive oil/sea salt/red pepper flakes in a bowl with two fried eggs on top; or

curried turkey made from ground dark-meat turk, onions, garlic, red peppers, chopped okra (or whatever's fresh and yummy and beneficial at the organic grocer that week) ~ and the usual curry spices; or

turkey or beef broth with turmeric, nutritional yeast, dulse, sea salt, and cayenne; or

leftover fish and veg. Could be just about any fish/veg combo, although I love fish stew this time of year -- and a piece of salmon with a roasted bit of sweet potato will Never be refused! -- or

if it's summer, I might start the day with a smoothie of blueberries, black cherries or cranberries, almond butter, nutritional yeast, blackstrap molasses, maca, soaked-rose-hip water, and whatever little booster/supp I can take care of in that fashion. Sometimes I use pineapple/grapefruit/black cherry, etc. (high summer).

That's the usual breakfast! and I hit the green tea pretty hard. :-) Breakfast is my big meal.

Lunch varies, once again, but it's mostly a big salad with a handful of nuts (in warm weather) or a vegetable-heavy stew (in the cold, like now). Occasionally we roast a small turkey or chicken with greens and squash on the side. Late lunch, for the most part.

The rest of the day, I fill in with whatever I didn't already cover. It might be some fruit or fruit juice, mineral water, nuts, dried seaweed (VERY tasty), a smaller portion of leftover fish or meat with salad or broccoli, etc. Sometimes I make my "O-V8": juice together tomato, red pepper, carrot, celery, beet with greens, parsley, onion, garlic (with the addition of a teaspoon of flax oil) and eat whatever raw veg I have on hand along with it.

I hope this gives you some ideas, Jayne! It's really pretty easy once you think of breakfast as dinner and treat the other meals as lighter or snack-ish fare. At least, I think so... well, again, good luck and I do hope this helps! :-D