For O's who like peanut butter sandwiches: a little more sophisticated, but in the same ballpark is the almond butter sandwich (almond butter comes in crunchy if that's your preference), with Morello Cherry Preserves (Bread and Circus has a good one, just cherries) or guava paste. A great portable lunch: gooey, crunchy, sweet and savory, delicious. For children, almond butter alone may not make it, but as an alternative "peanut butter and jelly sandwich" this can work. Elizabeth

The most widely used herb for helping with milk flow while nursing, is fenugreek. But for B blood types it is an avoid. What can I use instead to help with milk flow? De Anna

Fenugreek is used in four different Encyclopedia protocols for type Bs. It was once listed as an avoid, but the recent research shows it is most helpful for your type -- so use it with confidence. :-)

Hey there, Heidi! Thanks for the quick response. Concerning seeds for Bs, would seeds from winter squash be considered okay (i am slightly wary since pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are avoids, at least for secretors)? Also, the seeds from various herbs/spices (more specifically dill, fennel (what a utilitarian plant fennel is!), cumin, coriander, and so on (i suspect mustard seeds would be beneficial for us Bs as most of the brassicae are), even fenugreek?). Thanks again for your feedback and continued support! matt.

Winter squash seeds are fine, and make a GREAT pumpkin seed substitute. Both the leaf and the seed of listed herbs have the values noted, unless listed separately and with differing values (cilantro and coriander, for instance, have separate listings although they have the same food values). Fenugreek... see the reply to De Anna, above! :-D

Thanks for answering so fast! I'm still curious about the goat yogurt, though. What value does it have? Caroline

Cow's milk, and yogurt, are both avoids for all Os. Since goat's milk is also an avoid for Os, I'd consider the goat's milk yogurt an avoid as well... hope this helps! :-)

Hello, Heidi. I'm a B secretor with a question on skin care. Does it matter, depending on blood type, what lotions you should use for dry skin or sun block? Thank you for your help. Todd

Hi, Todd! For topically-applied products, do try to get clean, pure stuff -- but it doesn't matter if they contain avoids. When thinking sunblock, think simple ingredients, let the eyes get some sun (to signal the body's own defenses), and use antioxidants internally. They are more effective than the external application of sun-protectants. Of course, be sure not to overdo, OK? A little sun goes a long way... :-D

I've been reading what you've written about pregnenolone as a precursor to other hormones. Would it be helpful to a perimenepausal woman like me to avoid HRT? Rachel

I think it might help you, and it would be worthwhile for you to get a full hormone testing panel from a naturopath or other holistic health practitioner, to pinpoint exactly where your needs lie. A good ND can set you up with a protocol of plant-based and other supplemental hormone stimulators / adjuncts / precursors, to fit perfectly with your physiology. :-D

Hi Heidi, I have problems with hyperinsulinemia, am B+, unknown secretor status and have been on the diet for two weeks. I tried a modified Atkins diet for 2 weeks before that and lost about 9 pounds, but felt lousy the entire time. I avoid sugar and all refined carbohydrates and refined foods. I have a lot of weight to lose, but mostly I want to feel better and have more energy. I am still having problems with being tired all the time, but I think it is because my body is still getting adjusted to life without high-fructose corn syrup.

I was addicted to soft drinks, mostly Coke and drank 3-4 cans a day. It is interesting to me that corn is a food that helps Bs gain weight and I was feasting on high-fructose corn syrup everyday. No wonder I gained weight. Not to mention the fact that carbonated beverages are also an avoid substance for me.

I am an acupuncturist and herbalist and have been using the BTD with many of my patients, particularly those with auto-immune disorders with great success. So, I decided to try it myself. Please tell me that I will start to feel better soon. I am eating mostly meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits and dairy. The only avoids I haven't eliminated are the oils in bottled salad dressings, a bit of blue cheese (my fave) and some soy-protein isolate in an occasional meal replacement bar. I try to eat mostly beneficials but out of convience, I do eat a lot of neutrals. I have a few questions.

There are a few foods that I haven't been able to find in any of the lists: Malitol, soy-protein isolate. I also have a question about tamari. On the lists, soy sauce is an avoid food for Bs, but tamari is listed as neutral. How can this be? Tamari is just a type of soy sauce that is usually made without wheat. It still has soy in it. Is it somehow missing the lectin? And lastly, Black walnuts are considered beneficial, and English walunts are considered neutral. How does one tell the difference? At Whole Foods they are labeled - Walnuts. I have loved reading the letters to you and your responses. They are inspirational and help me with my patients as well as myself. Thank you in advance. Sincerely, Tracy S

Tracy, thank you so much for writing! I admire you for coming round here with your questions -- so many professionals would rather not know, rather than appear to not know Everything! You must be a very fine healer.

First: YES, you will most certainly feel better soon. The corn is a nasty thing to detox. The neutrals and those very few avoids aren't holding back your progress at all, you're starting out gently and that approach will always show steady results.

We have no rating for malitol. It is one of the sugar alcohols. It's produced from dextrose, which is a corn product, but should contain no lectin after processing. My beloved vegetable glycerine is also a sugar alcohol ("glycerol"), which is made from palm or coconut oil instead -- once again, no lectins there once the glycerol is produced. So I'd say proceed with caution, but malitol's unlikely to harm you.

The difference between the "soy sauce" and the "tamari" in the lists is that the soy sauce item is meant to cover those cheapest varieties which are not fermented, but contain some soy protein, caramel color, corn sweetener, etc. "Tamari" (which has been amended to "Tamari, wheat-free" in the database) should be a fully-fermented product, with no wheat or corn derivatives (and hopefully organic! :-)). This is the process which makes it neutral for you.

Black walnuts are uncommon in markets. If you could see them in the shell (blackish-green, and nearly impenetrable! a portable nuclear device would be handy for opening them) you'd immediately notice the difference between them and the delicately pearly-tan wrinkly-shelled English walnut. All the bagged HFS walnuts I've ever seen are English walnuts -- that's the common one.

I am so pleased you and your patients enjoy the column -- please write again if I can help in any way! :-D

Heidi, its Yelena again, the one who has been fighting constipation all this time. Today I was diagnosed with "large leiomyoma vs. leiomyosarcoma of stomach". I am going to have a stomach surgery, and I am going to use 4 protocols at the same time: surgery recovery protocol, chemotherapy adjunct protocol, chronic illness protocol, cancer prevention protocol I would like to know if the protocols are compatible and if I should take all the supplements from each protocol? If some supplements are missing, is it still going to work to some degree? Thanks for helping me during this hard time, - Yelena

Yes, Yelena, the supplements will work well, even if you cannot find some of them, and they will work if you use all those protocols at the same time. I wish you all the best in your surgery and recovery, and my prayers go out to you! Please check in as soon as you feel a little better!! :-)

Hi, I'm an AB nonsecretor. I have an unreal sweet tooth, and when I look at all of the sweetners in my avoids catagory, it seems there are no sweetners to be had. What do I put on my pancakes, french toast, toast? How do I sweeten any desserts I might make? Tea, lemonade? Even rice syrup is an avoid. Suggestions? Thanks, Patti

Hey there, Patti ~~ well, we do want to gently wean you away from all the sweets! ;-)

Welcome to the nonsecretor world of almost no sweeteners at all. ;-} You AB nons and we O nons have a lot to commiserate over there. Our lists are almost identical in that category.

However, I have a solution (literally). First, get hold of some vegetable glycerine (use the search term "glycerine" at the bottom of this page, and look for the "All About Veg Gly" column, if you need some references). Next, look in your health food store's spice section for 'Frontier' brand extracts. They're made with the item itself, organic alcohol, and water. You could add any flavor you like to the veg gly (which is very similar in consistency to maple syrup) for your pancakes, french toast and toast (you're using only OK flours for all that stuff -- please say yes? and only 4-6 grain servings per week, right?). Veg gly works wonderfully in baking, tea, lemonade (although I preferred my one-lemon-to-6-granny-smith-apples (juiced together) lemonade), etc. Try it and see what you think! There is some sweetness in nonsecretor-land after all! :-D thanks for writing, dear!

Hello Heidi Thank you again (and again) for your hard work, patience, and diligence in answering all our questions. I read the postings every morning after email and before the news. My question is about vegetable glycerin. I tried it ages ago when you first recommended it but back then I was still having coffee in the morning (decaf at least.) I think it tastes awful in coffee. Now that I've switched over to green tea (again) I find it very agreeable. What I wanted to find out is how this stuff actually works. I did a search and got a couple dozen hits in the past columns, but never found one that explained the science or rationale explaining why it's better than stevia or honey or fructose. Is there a fact sheet somewhere? I don't see it in the type base either. Several friends have asked me about it and I can't give a decent answer. But I can tell you it does seem to help decrease my sugar cravings, at least in the mornings (but not on Easter!) And it seems like my weight isn't so labile when I use it. I'm peri-menopausal and my metabolism is taking a nap. I think the vegetable glycerin might be helping with that as well. Thanks again for all the caring and concern. Diane

Hi there, Diane -- For what you're seeking, I do not have a fact sheet made up. I will say one thing: there is no sugar in it. That is the main reason why it is superior (especially for nonsecretors, and anyone struggling with sugar cravings and blood sugar imbalances).

However, here is a link to "an" answer to why we like to recommend it:

All About Veg Gly! Hope this helps, dear!! :-D

I am a Type O and noticed that cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts are not allowed to eat because they will inhibit thyroid functions. These three vegetables belong to the Brassica family but broccoli and kale also belongs to the same family as well. Why is that they are permitted? I am a bit confused. Thanks. Diana

Hi, Diana -- Different members of the Brassica family affect different types differently. Did I say "different" enough times in that sentence? :-) The little cabbage-y looking guys appear to have more powerful and focused effects, and cauliflower is included because it offers so little of value to balance its potential goitrogenic influence. That said, some people do best without kale & collards as well, but that is on an individual level, and not determined by blood type.

Thanks for your Q, Diana!

Hi, I am an 0 Secretor who likes to makes smoothies with almonds milk, but the only brand of almond milk I have ever seen is Pacific Foods, and it is filled with the bad stuff (carragenan and gums and stuff). Do you know of any other brand, especially one without the avoids? Sara

I think avoid-free almond milk is the most difficult to find among the various milk subs. I make my own, with organic almonds and filtered water. I pour boiling water over a cup of almonds, leave them for a few hours, then remove the skins. Then, I pop them into the blender with about 4 cups of water, blend blend blend, and strain. A little veg gly, pinch of sea salt, helps the flavor emerge nicely. It doesn't keep long, only a few days, but is worth the trouble to make.... and... hey readers, got any recommendations for OK commercial almond milk brands? Write 'em in!! :-D thanks for your note, Sara!!

Type O, secretor. Is buckwheat considered a wheat product or a grain? Health food store says it's the later, wanted your input for type O's. Thanks alot. Jenny

Hello, Jenny ~~ Buckwheat is listed in the "grain" category. It's one of the grasses, and is not related to "wheat." :-)

Hi Heidi! Thanks for your response to my earlier question concerning food types. I have two questions for you. I'm a type B+ (sec u/k) and was wondering if seeds from neutral and beneficial fruits/vegetables share the same value -- i seem to recall reading that there was something about seeds that wasn't so great for Bs. I remember you addressed this question before, but couldn't find it in the archives very easily (too many titles of potpurri!). Also, are the spices listed inclusive of seeds (when ambiguity exists, that is)? (E.g. is "dill" meant as "dill weed" or "dill weed/seed" and so on.) Secondly, the sacrificial polysaccharides (larch arabinogalactan, laminaria, ...) are the same for every blood type. Does this mean that they will block the action of all lectins, good and bad? Thanks for all your hard work and support! matt.

Hi there, Matt ~~ All those sacrificial polysaccharides are lectin-specific. They provide handy "decoys" to lure the lectins away from the tissues otherwise their target.

Technically, if a seed or nut is not listed, it can be considered neutral if you have no desire for weight loss or other health issues to be resolved. You may be remembering the observation in the various ER books that Bs have a lot of avoids in the seeds & nuts category. Is there a particular vegetable whose seed you're wondering about? just drop me another note, OK? :-D

Dear Heidi, I have a question about type Os and goat products. Goat cheese is indicated as fine for type Os, but goat milk isn't- why is that? Also, goat yogurt isn't mentioned- do you know what value that is? One of the recommendations for type Os is that they supplement with calcium, but goat cheese is supposed to be rich in calcium, so I was wondering why the supplements would be necessary. Thanks a lot! Caroline

Hi, Caroline ~~ Os do not process calcium from dairy too well. It is not a good source of calcium for us. Goat cheese is the curd -- goat milk also contains the whey. That's why goat milk is not recommended. Many foods contain high levels of calcium -- try the Ask Dr. D. column, go to the bottom and search for "almond" -- you'll find the list there. If the food is neutral or beneficial for Os, it would be a great way to supplement. High-solids mineral water and bone broth also provide significant dietary calcium. Hope this helps, dear! :-D

Heidi, not to take sides on the MMR vaccination issue - just to add a bit of knowledge for making informed decisions. Some 30% of boys and men who become infected with the mumps will develop orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles that can lead to sterility. Immunization against mumps is the only way to prevent mumps-associated orchitis. It is a terrible conundrum - to vaccinate or not, but both sides of the issue should be considered. Of course, the best solution would be to develop a completely safe vaccine. Kim

Thanks, Kim -- indeed, something to be considered. And I, too, would far prefer a safe vaccine! :-D

Hi Heidi! Quick note for pregnant Roz: there's a marine algae source DHA supplement in most HFS trademarked as "Neuromins" I believe. (My pregnant friend's chiro gave her this.) Many different brands carry it, so it's not hard to find. Thanks for letting me add. --M.K.

Hey, Ros, howzabout that? thanks so much, M.K.!! :-D

Dear Heidi, Thank you so much for your response. I have since given up the coffee and cream and my joint pain has vanished! My skin is finally clearing. I am sticking closely to the diet and am seeing wonderful results. My rheumatologist said I have reactive arthritis as a result of a bacterial infection a long time ago. Now, apparently, certain foods trigger my body to attack its own joints - funnily enough all the foods on the O non secretor diet! It is very hard to do this stringent diet - but hopefully with time, I will be able to introduce more fruits and natural sugars - even those right now trigger my skin to break out. I have a different idea altogether. I think I have a leaky gut (Dr D'Adamo thinks this is the problem) due to so many antibiotics in the past. Are there any herbs I can take for this? I take the O Polyflora. Also with this high protein diet, i am really suffering from constipation - any ideas that are grain free and low in sugar to help things along!? I am taking a lot of magnesium and two polyflora first thing in the morning and evening. I am drinking 9 glasses of water a day. Thanks so much Suz

Dear Heidi, I forgot to add that I have been doing TM meditation for a number of years now - but recently I have not been doing it twice a day. I had no idea that meditation was able to heal the physical body. I do feel incredibly relaxed afterwards and that is primarily why I do it. You really think that this helps heal one's gut? Suz

Hi, Suz -- are you OK with flax? If so, try a tablespoon in the morning (or evening, it's up to you), ground up and mixed with water. Let it sit and "gel up" for 15-20 minutes. Very tasty.

Arthritis / autoimmune disease / leaky gut / stored stresses are strongly linked together. Powerful meditation practices can remove the cause (the hormonal configuration which prompts the body to attack its own tissues) as well as strengthen the immune system, so that intestinal micro-organisms are brought into balance. By using this tool to balance your endocrine system, and avoiding damaging foods, the body is strengthened and its burdens are lessened. I don't know of one herb to take for the leaky gut -- I do suggest using the Encyclopedia protocols, and keep taking PolyFlora-O (as well as ARA6).

Hey! Congratulations on the exit of the joint pain! See, it works!! just keep at it, you're on the best possible road now. Take good care, dear, and keep writing. :-D

Hi Heidi Having recently bought BTD, my daughter and I are only just starting the diet (after 2yrs on Atkins), so nothing to report yet! In the meantime, perhaps you wouldn't mind giving me some info on Mode of Inheritance of ABs - I have searched your huge website but cannot seem to locate anything relevant. From ER4YT I see that ABs obtain an A from one parent and a B from the other but the specifics aren't stated, eg. do the parents have to be AA and BB (perhaps explaining the AB rarity)? What is an AB capable of producing? Also, are AB- females the exception to Landsteiner's discovery (Page 358) "...that these women were carrying a different blood type than their babies, who took their blood type from the father" - my own case showing only the Rh+ being inherited from the father: OO+ x AB- producing three BO+ daughters. Lynn

Hi, Lynn ~~ Each parent needs only one A or one B gene -- in other words, the parents of a type AB child can be Ao + Bo, Aa + Bo, Ao + Bb, Aa + Bb, AB + Bo, AB + Bb, AB + Ao, or AB + Aa.... whew, they're a lot of them, but so few ABs!! :-D The child of an AB parent will inherit either an A or a B gene from that parent. If the other parent is type O, then the child will be A or B (since the O gene is recessive to both A and . If the other parent is a B, an A or an AB, the child might be type B, type A, or AB, depending on which gene is contributed from the second parent, and upon whether the A or B parent has a recessive O gene.... is this now totally incomprehensible? :-} sorry!! No, the Rhesus factor is a separate blood type from the ABO group, so it's quite possible to get only the O gene and the Rhesus factor from one parent -- Rhesus is also two genes, with positive dominant to negative, and with the possibility that an Rh positive person is carrying a recessive neg gene.

I do hope I at least answered your Q ~~ if not, please write again!! :-D

Hi Heidi, I get so much joy, info and fun out of your column. I am feelng more energetic with the Maca, switching off oatmeal every other morning, liver support protocol and yoga at home. (A2, Rh neg, nonny) Thank you. I am responding to several readers that you responded to on 28 April 2003. First to Suzanna, O nonny, who is missing treats but feels better with no grain and low sugar. I wanted to add another beneficial veggie treat along with Heidi's recommended sweet potato one. And as a side bar, I find that organic sweet potatoes are incredibly sweet. Add some butter and it is definitely a treat. This next one is one my daughter loves. Get canned pumpkin, Libby's brand only. Seems to be the best. And scoop out of can, add vegetable glycerine to taste and a bit of nutmeg or allspice depending on your taste. Warm it up or just dig right in. This is for Cindi's friend with ringing in the ears. My sister, (O nonny) had this also. But she was told it was "all in her head" - which usually means they don't know what it is. When she learned about the O diet (even before she knew her secretor status) and stopped eating wheat and cut back on grains, lo and behold the ringing went away. The wheat was causing inflammation all the way up, as inflammation tends to do, to the eustachian tubes. My sis also took Fucus Plus and DGL Licorice which helped tremendously. Cindi's friend's problem might not be so simply addressed but it certainly may be worth a couple of weeks of cutting out wheat and maybe all grains and starches to find out, instead of an operation to cut her hearing. Here is a salad dressing recipe to add to Judy's "stable" of recipes. It seems to be a big hit (except with O nonnies and Bs) and is very simple to make and keep. 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1 tbsp. Braggs (liquid aminos) or to taste a little less than 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil Shake in a salad dressing container or jar with lid to shake so oil emulsifies and it stays blended. And thanks to Mark for the soy sauce substitute recipe. \ And a note of encouragement to Elaine and a couple of small tips about binges for all Os who are reading. Dr. D'Adamo says in Live Right, "When you crave a pleasure-releasing substance (sugar, alcohol, tobacco, narcotics), do something physical." "If you start to crave wheat, eat some protein: the craving will usually go away." I feel that everyone who reads the column adds to the well wishes for each person and as a whole. Good stuff. Thanks again. Nina

Marvelous!!! thanks SO much, Nina!! :-D

Hi Heidi, I'm writing to pass along the pumpkin cookie recipe as requested. You probably won't believe it, but I was munching on one as I read today's questions. I took a recipe I've used for years and changed ingredients to make it O friendly. 1/2 c. butter (changed from shortening) 1 1/2 c. sugar (I have used part veg. glycerine/part sugar, or all veg gly with good results. I went by what another reader suggested, using half as much veg gly as regular sugar. Also, since I haven't had veg gly, I've just used less sugar - maybe 1 c.) 2 eggs 1 c. (generous) pumpkin 1 t. vanilla 1/2 t. sea salt 1 t. baking powder (I know cornstarch is an ingredient, but it's such a small amount and I didn't know a substitute. . .) 1 t. soda 1 t. cinnamon 1/2 t. ground allspice 1 1/4 c. spelt flour (I have used the more expensive white spelt flour, which is great, but also had good results with the whole spelt flour) 1 1/4 c. quick oats 1 c. walnuts (I don't like walnuts, so I grind mine in a blender until they are almost a paste and add them that way so I don't notice them 1 c. choc chips Mix in order given and drop onto cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. If they spread out too much while baking, they might need a bit more flour. I freeze these and they taste fine a week or a month later.

Having been on the diet for 8 months, and gone from size 18 to 6, many people comment on my weight loss. I tell them all about the BTD. It has really become easier for me and feels natural, like now I wouldn't want to eat things I used to eat all the time. I'm even getting used to being out to eat with my husband and watching him eat the rolls or bread that come with the meal . . . My husband and one of my children are type B, the other 4 children are O's.

My husband follows the diet for the most part, but the kids(ages 10 - 20) aren't interested. I don't want to force them, and at this point I don't even talk about it, just try to suggest foods that are beneficial and make food that is good for everyone as many nights as possible. Some successful meals are beef stew (with lots of onions, carrots, and turnips instead of potatoes), turkey pot pie (onions, carrots, peas, and turnips again, and white spelt crust). My kids don't like fish, but love fish sticks and so I've made my own out of cod dipped in egg and ezekiel bread crumbs and fried in olive oil - they loved them. Some meals, though, are old favorites that are easy for me and loved by them like spaghetti or tacos and I just eat some steak and veggies.

Some things I make like macaroni and cheese or turkey enchiladas are good for B's, but the O's eat them anyway. I don't buy any corn or pork products, so they have to buy their own if they want them. It's hard for me to see my O's eat a peanut butter sandwich and glass of milk. On the other hand, my B daughter makes her own refried beans with a drained & rinsed can of kidney beans and mexican seasoning mixed in the blender. Put on a flour tortilla with cheese, it's a fine snack for her, but then the O's decide to join her . . . Sorry this has gone on so long. Thanks for all your answers, and other's comments - they give me encouragement and ideas to try. MFN

MFN, wow! thanks VERY much for the recipes, and the account of family life!! It sounds like everything's going along beautifully there.

I do have two little suggestions (you probably know these already, but just in case....) ~

Rice pasta is virtually indistinguishable from wheat pasta once cooked. My type A-non guy likes pasta now & again, so that's what his spaghetti gets made with. It's even neutral for O nonsecretors ~~ hoorah! ;-)

I started making fresh tortillas for him, mostly because they're SO simple, easy and fast -- and they taste wonderful, and keep nicely in a plastic bag in the fridge. You do (sort of) need a gas stove.

They're just flour, salt & water. I use kamut, but white spelt would do perfectly.

This recipe makes four six-inch OR two 12-inch tortillas (or wraps)

1 cup spelt flour, 1/4 + cup water, 1/4 tsp salt

Mix the salt and the flour together. Sprinkle the water in gradually and start stirring the flour around. When it's mostly lumps and very little flour, gather it up and knead it for 30 seconds or so, until the dough begins to develop a bit of gluten and seems to want to "hang together." Divide the dough into two or four pieces, and let it rest for five minutes.

Put a nonstick or well-seasoned iron frying pan on medium-high heat. Roll out the pieces with a rolling pin (no extra flour, water or oil). Pick them up & turn them as you roll them. Don't stack them once they're rolled out -- they'll stick together. :-) Put one in the hot pan for maybe 7 seconds, just till it starts turning "solid," then flip it. Let it go another 5 or 6 seconds, then put it directly on the fire, set to medium/low -- I use the back burner, and move it around on the flame with tongs. It will poof up -- I flip it quickly, move it around again to "poof" the whole thing, then flip it once more, move it around, and it's done. Once you've done one, you'll see how quick and simple they are! Took longer to explain it than it does to do it! :-D While one's on the flame, I have the next one in the pan. Anyway, I can have them done in less time than it would take to go to the store & pick up the ready-made wheat ones. cheaper & tastier, too! :-D

Thanks so much for writing, MFN ~~ I really enjoyed your message!! :-D

Hi.. today my mom came with your book to my house.. I couldnt resist it and I sit down and read it at least all my blood type section. It seems so natural and so true.. I wanted to start inmediatly. But, I encounter one sad fact: I dont know which race I suppose to attached to. Im hispanic and in your book, you only talk about caucasiccal, black and asia races. but not about hispanic. I dont believe it would be appropiate to just "pick" one race.. Can you please tell me what to do? since I would love to start ASAP. Ho! im a O Blood type, dont know if im a secretor or non secretor yet. Hope you will answer me.. Im very interested in gettin started. Thanks in advance!! Alma

Hi, Alma! Hispanic is generally "caucasian." Some Latinas use the African or Asian list, if their heritage is primarily one of those -- but if yours is neither one, and you are of European descent, then the best one to use is Caucasian.

Welcome to our little world, and thanks for writing! :-D

Regarding oils for Type A secretors: if I follow the recommendation in LR4YT, it looks like I'd use about 1 Tbls a day of oil. I use this amount of oil per MEAL, currently. Dropping down to the recommended amount of oil sounds like rendering most meals unpalatable. I was thinking Peter must be figuring we're getting dietary fat from other sources, such as minimal dairy, nuts/seeds, etc. Then I see on p. 233 of LR4YT that fats can constitute 22% of an A's daily intake. How will this happen if I'm consuming only up to 1 tsp of added oil per meal? I realize these are only guidelines, and that there's a range on either side of the recommendations within which I can experiment, but "1 T/day" and "22% of daily intake is fat" seem pretty wide apart. I assume that this is to include any oil we consume in salad dressings, prepared foods, etc. Would you confirm this is not a typo? Are Type A people really eating this little oil and staying with it over the long haul? Related to this, is there a test I can get to measure the amount of intestinal alkaline phosphatase enzyme I actually have? It's the enzyme which breaks down fats and is supposed to be low in Type A's. Thanks very much. Claire

Hello, Claire ~ Most As find recipes for salad dressings, sauces, marinades and such (in the RECIbase database, for instance, linked on the homepage) which use less or no added oils. Yes, Peter figures that the foods such as beans, avocado, nuts, seeds, poultry, and fish do contain fats and that 22% is a good estimate of the percentage of total dietary fat recommended for As (including a bit of added oil). "1 T/day" is the portion from the "oils" category.

The standard physician blood panel, often used as a baseline indicator for a new patient, tests levels of thyroid hormones, lipids, glucose, minerals, liver enzymes, and red & white blood cells against a reference range. Among the results is the serum alkaline phosphatase level, which relates somewhat to intestinal AP. Bear in mind that the reference levels vary, even with two different individuals using the same lab -- and that, for example, while I tested at 57 u/l in my last check, my type A non guy tested at 66. However, I experience no trouble from an extra teaspoon or two of oil, while the same amount has given him diarrhea. ;-) just a word to the wise! :-D thanks for writing, and hope you're doing well.

A recent column piqued my curiosity. Up til now, I had thought there were only 2 kinds of pumpkin - cow pumpkins, which aren't that great for eating, but good for Halloween carving! And pie pumpkins, obviously good to eat. Someone mentioned Kabocha pumpkin as a green warty skinned pumpkin - I had never heard of it, nor have I seen it in my local health food store or grocery store. Are there other varieties of pumpkins out there? Are they available in the northeast (US)? And how seasonal are they? Seems I only see pumpkins being sold in September and October! I'm kind of weak on my beneficial vegetables and can't seem to get away from my favorite (butternut squash, which we can still get into spring). I would like to experiment with pumpkins if I can find them! Cathy

Hi, Cathy ~ yes, there are pumpkin species galore, most of the "new" edible ones being varieties imported from Japan and later grown among the boutique food producers. I suggest asking your local produce specialist about them, and see what might be available in your area. Or browse through a big vegetable seed catalog -- they often have far more choices than any HFS! :-) enjoy!!

hi heidi, a couple of Q's re the baby book. it says cod liver oil is neutral, and doc bron mentioned it the other day with regard to smarter babies. i trotted of to my HFS to buy some and they refused to sell it to me due to the high vit A content. they said its way too toxic. instead they reccomended fish oil ( not from the liver) as a means of getting DHA's. does it have too much vit A for preg ladies? also, the book says its Ok to drink type A tea, but i have previously emailed NAP with the question and they said avoid type A tea while preg. im confused. i really like the tea, can i drink it? thanks for your time. roz xoxx

Hi, Ros ~ Sheesh, I see why you're confused. About the tea, I'd just write back to NAP, explain that the Baby Book says the tea's OK, and ask if there is any ingredient which is no-go for pregnant As. When you wrote the last time, they probably told you not to use it out of an abundance of caution -- and they wouldn't have had the Baby Book information at that time, so they'd want to be extra-safe about it.

About the Doc Bron article: the body of it is an abstract from a general study. Look at the bottom, where he wrote: "I give my pregnant patients a plant based DHA source that has very little or no Vit A." He's referring to an algae-based or flax-based product, both of which contain higher DHA to EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) proportions -- that's important, because the two seem to compete with each other. Fish oils contain higher EPA to DHA proportions, and they do contain vitamin A (only animal sources do, the plant sources have precursors which we have to digest in order to manufacture the A).

I don't know the name of the product Doc Bron uses, and it may be something only practitioners can obtain, so I'd use a bunch of seaweed and add flax oil daily. And ask your local supp shop if they have a high-DHA product that will meet your standards. Hey, hope you're reading this, although you must be about 30 seconds away from delivery, sweetie!! I'm EAGERLY awaiting the report from you, dear!! :-D

I am 61 years old, A- and have been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes a month ago. My diet is as follows: Breakfast: I pkg instant Oatmeal (Raisin, Date & Walnuts; Cinnamon & Spice, Regular or Raisin & Spice) made w/1% milk. Sometimes I add more raisins or banana to it. Lunch: Salad (iceburg, cucumbers, zuccini, squashes, carrots, brocolli & cauliflower), canned Chicken (chicken breast meat, water, salt), Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing. A fresh fruit cup of bananas, pear, apple, red grapes (occasionally canned pinapple in it's own juice). Dinner: Bumble Bee Pink Salmon, sauted w/onions, tomato sauce, olive oil, capers, green olives, garlic, zuccini, summer & butternut squashes, pumpkin & adobo seasoning. Or occasionally, a roasted chicken from Sam's Club. Desert: 2 scoops of Hood Low-fat, Sugar-free Vanilla ice-cream w/2 tbsp of Zorbee Sugar-free Chocolate Syrup. Occasionally, Sugar free cakes, pies & cookies from Stop & Shop. I've been eating this way for the past month, since my diagnosis. My sugar has gone from 500+ to 70 - 250 lately (w/a one time dip in the 40's). I would like to know how I can prevent my sugar from soaring in the night and waking hours from 140 - 175. What am I still doing wrong? My daughter also pointed out to me that the sugar-free sweets I've been eating are made with aspartame, guar gum, carrageenan, etc. and are not good for me. The diet I was given by my physician was the typical ADA diet and I can't see how that can help me. I was referred back to this diet by my daughter and came from a very bad eating habit of sweets, sweets, sweets. How can I curb my sweet-tooth, before it gets the best of me? I'm presently on Glyburide 2.5mg (1 tab in the AM) & Metoprolol 50mg (half tab 2x's a day). I would like to eventually be off of these. ANY suggestions will be MOST helpful. Is Dr. D'Adamo still accepting patients? Carmen

Hello, Carmen! You need vibrant liver health to overcome your diabetes -- so the "sugar-free" products, pies, cookies and the dairy (milk and ice cream) are working against you. The artificial sweeteners and dairy lectins in those products put tremendous strain on the liver.

Dr. D'Adamo's clinic accepts new patients, so that is one option for you. In the meantime, I suggest two things: use fruit concentrate or vegetable glycerine to sweeten foods you make at home, and begin following the type A diet as outlined in Live Right 4 Your Type. There will be an adjustment period, but it will pass, and you'll wonder how you ever ate any other way! We're here to support you, too! So just pick up the book and get started, and I promise you that you'll be healing in no time! thanks for writing, Carmen, and please keep in touch regularly!! :-D

Hello Heidi! In continuation of the vegetable glycerin conversation, I would like to know if the source of the glycerin matters. For instance, I work in Whole Foods Market, and the brand we carry (www.frontiercoop.com) is derived from palm kernels. I went to the site mentioned in an earlier posting (www.azurestandard.com) and theirs is derived from coconuts. Since coconuts and their byproducts are an avoid for almost everyone should one try and find a glycerin not obtained from an avoid? Thanks in advance! Miranda

Ah! Yes, a question which has plagued many of our readers! So, here's the Veg Gly Reference Page for your consideration! enjoy!! :-D

Hi Heidi, I received my secretor results: Type A non secretor. So that brings up the question: how careful do I have to be about corn, e.g., must I entirely avoid citric acid, which I think is usually made from corn; since I avoid vinegar, I buy olives, etc. preserved with citric acid. Not that I eat very much of the stuff, but again, how careful do I have to be?

I have many food allergies, including to soy, egg, and dairy. I am also on a gluten-free diet. Also, while I have not tested positive for allergy to non-gluten grains, I find I do better if I keep grains to a minimum (I get lower respiratory symptoms from them). I also feel I need quite a bit of animal protein, although I do also eat beans and nuts/seeds. Do you think it would be OK to increase my animal protein to more frequent (or larger) servings than are listed for A's?

Also, any ideas on how I can gain weight? If I am prone to candida, do I need to limit fruit or other foods that normally would be on the A diet? I eat sugar and fermented foods only extremely rarely, so that is not a problem. I often read in your column about the advisability of keeping cortisol levels down. I have adrenal insufficiency and am taking a partial replacement dose of 15mg hydrocortisone. However, I also tend toward anxiety and getting stressed. If your recommendations for things like yoga are for calming, I know I need that. But I also need to keep my cortisol levels up. Any thoughts? I am interested in taking Seacure but I have heard that it is not good to use seaweed when there is an autoimmune disorder. I have autoimmune thyroid (Hashimoto's). Do you know of others with this who have used the Seacure?

Just saw today that my first set of questions is posted. Thanks for all the great input. On the subject of pollutants in fish, that was very helpful info on methylmurcury. However, it's not just mercury in fish, but my understanding that especially fresh-water fish from polluted rivers and lakes can be very high in PCB's and other such contaminants. Well, I guess it is all a question of balance.........We certainly do not live in a perfect world! Anyway, Thanks again for your cheery notes every day on this site. Health to you. Joan

Hey, Joan ~~ congratulations on your secretor status, and welcome to the Wild Nonnie World! ;-)

Yes, do avoid corn in all its forms. See if you can find olives in brine? I know my local ethnic grocers carry them.

It's no surprise you need a bit more animal protein than the A secretor camp, especially if you're not eating eggs at the moment. Your list recommends up to five servings of fish and three of meat/poultry per week, so five fish, two lamb and a turkey should do nicely.

However, if there is one grain you're OK with, I'd eat a small serving of it daily (perhaps 1/4 cup of organic whole oatmeal in the morning). You're a non, but you're a type A non, and the single serving of whole grain will work FOR you in the protein-need and energy departments. Sounds paradoxical -- but try it for two weeks. Whole amaranth is also a good choice, if that's more appealing to you. It will do good things for your intestinal health, which will in turn help you gain healthy muscle tissue. And fresh fruit will NOT exacerbate the candida. You're taking PolyFlora A and ARA6, right? Premiere products for healthy intestinal populations!

Yoga and Cortiguard help your body secrete cortisol at the right times, and diminish it at the right times. Steroid drugs eventually do a great deal more harm than good, and they are not adaptogens anyway. If you have much of your adrenal tissue still intact, the harmless precursor, pregnenolone, can let your body begin producing its own proper levels of adrenal hormones, without steroid damage and side-effects.

In hyperthyroid conditions, iodine-containing foods are discouraged. Your condition is hypothyroid, and through careful management of your gut health and the use of natural products such as inexpensive glandular + B compounds and pregnenolone, you can certainly restore your thyroid to normal functioning.

Yes, in a polluted world, it's even more important to stay strong and calm, to aid the immune system in responding properly and relaxing promptly. ;-) The FDA-regulated and inspected fish at reputable fishmongers will have very low levels of PCB contaminants -- that's something which is checked constantly in commercially-available freshwater fish. So let that one be a minor issue for you, and let me know what you think of these suggestions, OK? thanks, Joan, always nice to hear from you! :-D

I am a Type A and own the book "Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type". I would like to know how to maintain a healthy PH level on the Type A diet. I have read alot of material on ph levels and find that the foods recommended conflict with the type A diet. ie: shrimp, potato,oranges and many other fruits just to mention a few items. I appreciate what ever information you can provide me. Thanks. Kathy

The healthy pH levels for each type are designed into the diet. When "used as directed" with a wide variety of foods from the recommended list, it does the job for you.

Here is a column to look at, in which I talked a bit about this topic. There are "low" pH foods which are good for you as an A, and "high" pH foods which would do you harm, so we don't use the acid/alkaline system separately and directly when choosing foods. It is the body's pH which matters, so that an "acidic" fruit such as grapefruit is rendered alkaline during digestion -- and different types thrive with different pH levels. I hope this helps, dear! Do write again if you're still wondering about anything at all! :-D

Dear Heidi, How are you? It has been awhile since I last sent an E-Mail to you. As mentioned previously; my blood type/Rh factor is "A" Positive, A1/A2 status is A1, "MN" type is "MN", and secretor status is DOUBLE LEWIS NEGATIVE. (Per telephone call to Dr. D'Adamo's office, April 2nd, I have been told to use the "Secretor" column in LR4YT book, because my "saliva" specimen reads as "Secretor", from Great Smokie Laboratories in Asheville NC. Also, I was told to really go easy on the wheat, corn, and sugar - to use as minimally as possible). I am mentioning this to you for this reason: The lady who took the time to check this out with the medical staff at Dr. D'Adamo's office was EXTREMELY polite, helpful, and decent to talk with, when I was inquiring further about my "secretor status". Her name is CAROLYN. I just wanted you to know, so that CAROLYN would get the rightful recognition she deserves. Also, please let your readers know how decent a person CAROLYN is when dealing with callers. Thank you very much! Heidi, God bless you and your family; God bless the U.S.A.! Marshal - Wichita, Kansas

Hey there, Marshal! I'm doing just fine!!

Thanks so much for offering your experiences to others -- it's most helpful to hear from rare types like you! and it is WONDERFULLY KIND of you to write in your praise for Carolyn! I hope she sees this -- a big public pat on the back to you, dear! Great service doesn't go unnoticed!! thanks again, to ALL!!

:-D

I am type O+., 65, have oseoarthritus with very painful knees, pain in muscles and joints, back, legs, hits, etc. I quit taking PrimPro recently. I have also some acid reflux ocassionally and have been told years ago that acid in mouth was eating away at tooth enamel. Besides EAT RIGHT, I have been reading about coraL calcium and the PH balance of blood. 1. What is reccommended to replace the Hormone? 2. Is it necessary to know if you are a secretor or non secretor? Please explain what these terms mean. 3. To determine the blood PH, the coral calcium book says to use litmus paper and test saliva. Would secretor/non-secretor influence the accuracy of this type of test? 4. Are there kits for testing the PH of Blood this way? 5. It also said meats were acid forming foods....wouldn't eating meats make your Blood PH more out of balance and acidic? 6. One poster said something about a "little O" book which said Oats were neutral while the big book said Avoid......Where does one get the more-up-to-date "little O" book? Thanks, Shirley



Hi, Shirley! Well, let's take your questions in reverse order.

6. The title of the "little O book" is: Blood Type O Food, Beverage and Supplement Lists -- it's in the Store here, as well as bookstores, health food shops and pharmacy chains (Rite Aid is one). There is one book for each type, a very thin (100 pages or so) paperback book, which outlines the basics of the diet and gives food lists which are secretor NON-specific. The food values do not exactly follow either the secretor or nonsecretor values. In other words, they are designed for people with no interest in pursuing further type testing, but who just want a bare-bones instruction book small enough to be taken along when shopping.



5, 4 and 3. We don't recommend or use pH testing in this plan. Take a look at a column I wrote a while back, which includes information on coral calcium. To reduce the general acidity of your system, use the O diet and focus on the basic food groups: vegetables & fruit. Additionally, you may find that eating grains and meats in separate meals will make them easier to digest. Vegetables would be eaten with either the grain or meat meals, and fruit would be eaten alone. It's quite effective for many people ~ give it a try! :-)



2. The modifications for secretor status are available for your use, in Live Right 4 Your Type and the food values in the TYPEbase 3 database. If you'd like to use them, you'd need to find out your secretor status. If not, you can follow the revised basic food lists in the Blood Type O Food, Beverage and Supplement Lists. To learn more about secretors & nonsecretors, Here's the link!



I do suggest that anyone who is dealing with one or more serious health conditions, or who is a performance athlete, or who simply wishes to take full advantage of the secretor-specific plans for optimum health -- and who is willing and able to get the test done -- should do so! It's certainly not a requirement; it's just one way to take advantage of all the work Peter has made public. Something for everyone! :-)



1. While awaiting your appointment with a skilled naturopath, homeopath or other health practitioner, the only thing I'd try is two tablespoons of maca powder per day (mixed in juice or rice/almond milk, or added to a smoothie). Hormones are a highly individual and complex business. To obtain the desired effects of a drug by using plant-based compounds requires testing and expert advice. For instance, you may experience symptoms indicating that you are low in estrogen, or in progesterone. However, an expert will be able to guide you along and find out that, perhaps, it is a pregnenolone deficiency for example which is leading to the symptoms described... or perhaps you are hypothyroid, and having many symptoms which if viewed superficially would mislead you into treating the wrong cause. ;-) So get good hands-on help, and let me know how you do! :-D

Heidi...not a question, but a comment. I wrote you several weeks ago complaining of a rash. You wrote back telling me of another Type O woman who determined it was flaxseed. I quit taking it immediately, and wrote you about the resolution to my rash...about a week. I thought I should write you again to let you know the rash went away, only to return about day 10. It is now less intense, mostly an itchy pustule or two, sometimes a tiny cluster, mostly around ankles and knees, sometimes on elbows. Roughly symmetrical. Itches and goes away in a day or two, only to pop out somewhere else. Is worse in the evening. Not interfering with sleep or causing great distress. Just aware that my immune system is not functioning at its best. Have become a little fearful of all seeds and nuts, including pumpkin and walnuts, otherwise am trying to stick to mostly beneficials. Just thought I should give you this update to be perfectly fair to your growing database and experience with people on the BTD. I am learning that these things may be more complex than the removal of one offending substance. Makes me more appreciative of why the cause and cure of allergies and skin disorders can be illusive and not always so easy to ascertain. Thank you. Nancy



That's good to know, Nancy! I really appreciate your keeping us updated. It looks like you isolated 'part' of the cause, since eliminating flaxseed got rid of the rash for a period of time. If you're motivated to do so, start keeping a food diary. See if removing all nuts and seeds from your diet (and ensuring absolute purity & freshness in any oils you eat) has good results on the rash. Also, you might consider doing the gallbladder flush described at Julia Chang's liver health pages. If your system is clearing lingering toxicity, the flush can speed that process beautifully. I've done it several times, and the Vernal Equinox on the 20th upcoming would be a proper time to start it. Read all about it on Julia's site, and feel free to post with questions. Take care, dear, and keep writing!! :-D

Hi heidi, Two quick questions: 1. I need a recipe that my girls will eat that is similar to ranch dressing. I've looked in recipe base and in ER recipes but nothing is close. Any ideas? (for Type O) 2. Who has been on the Blood Type Diet the longest? Dr. Dadamo? and has he/she had great health from it? thanks, jayne



Hey there, Jayne! Well, I'm going to assume your girls are secretors (easier for me that way! ;-)) Ranch is based on mayonnaise and buttermilk. No problem.



First, make your own mayonnaise from organic ingredients! Here's a quick recipe, adapted from one "katie" posted on the old BB in 2001:



1 whole egg

1/4 tsp. dry mustard

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 tsp. fresh-ground pepper

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 cup olive oil



Break egg into blender jar or processor bowl. Add mustard, salt, pepper and lemon juice or vinegar. Blend 30 seconds until foamy (or process 2-3 seconds). Gradually add oil a few drops at a time until about 1/2 C. has been added. When mayo has thickened, you can add remaining oil more quickly. If it becomes too thick, add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar. Correct seasonings.



Then:

2 cloves garlic (fresh or roasted)

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 cup mayonnaise

1/8 cup soy yogurt, thinned with 1/8+ cup water

2 T minced parsley

2 T minced chives

1 scallion, trimmed, sliced thin

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Fresh-ground pepper



Mash the garlic and salt to a paste with a mortar & pestle or a heavy spoon or knife. Then whisk everything together. If it's too thick, thin it with a bit of water.



Let me know what you all think! :-)



As to who's been on the diet longest, that would be difficult to say. Peter, perhaps ~ maybe his Dad, who knows? (I prefer to think it was my maternal grandfather, who by all accounts maintained a paleolithic diet we Os would be proud to claim our own! ;-D) Peter is certainly in great health, and so was my granddad till he got bored in his second century and bid us goodbye.



:-D

I have been on the diet for almost 4 years now. I am fairly compliant and for the last couple of months very compliant because acid reflux returned. I am so tired for no apparent reason I am taking: Fem Balance, Imm Calm, Deflect, Phytocal and O Multi's. I rarely eat grains and when I do it is usually rice - bread (even Spelt has become a thing of the past as I think it may be the acid reflux culprit). I ache quite badly in the morning until I have MADE myself exercise which I do faithfully -- 45 minutes walking at 4 - 4.2 mph everyday except Sunday. I also weight train 3 times a week (for my menopausal bones) and I do leg exercises. I don't work (early retired) so it's not stress related.



The aching in the morning seems to have gotten worse since I quit the hormone replacement therepy last November. I go to bed, usually between 9.30 and 10.30 and wake around 7 - yes I do sleep, only waking maybe once in the night and falling back to sleep. Do you have any idea what could be causing this (other than winter blahs? -- yes I do get out -- go snowmobiling!) or any suggestions on how to "pep" myself up. Oh, I eat lots of meat protein - beef about 4 or 5 times a week. thanks in advance - love your column! keep up the good work - wish I were as knowledgeable as you! Tell Peter you are worth at least $250,000 a year!! Sue p.s. the only liquids I drink are water (4 - 8 oz glass a day) green tea (5 cups a day) and red wine - a 6 oz glass a day. Sue



P.S.: Since my post I have come down with the worst head cold I have had in four years, so I am thinking that the tiredness was the onset of this. I am so upset that this cold has taken such a hold -- the first one since being on the diet - oh dear, does this mean this is one more thing that is going to reoccur -I feel like the diet has stopped working for me - I have been eating mostly beneficials since the cold started but have actually had to resort to taking a sinus over the counter drug -- a first in nearly four years...I am praying that I don't end up with bronchitis - if THAT returns you will hear me screaming from where you are - reassurance PLEASE and thanks!! sue



Hey there, Sue! Wow, girl, you sound like me when I used to get the sinusitis-proceeding-to-bronchitis fun stuff -- three or four times a year. Remember that you are likely to feel VERY depressed simply because that's how your gut biochemistry is signalling your brain at the moment. Don't worry! One cold in five years is OK! The diet hasn't stopped working for you, you're just experiencing that horrible "down" feeling caused by the infection. It really and truly acts like a depressant drug.



Now: even in the bad old (pre-ER) days, I found that eating quercetin like candy could head off the bronchitis. I'd up that water intake to the equivalent in ounces of half your weight in pounds. Eight 8-oz glasses, each with a tiny pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Slug 'em down! And see if you can't reduce the green tea intake just a bit -- try to keep it to three cups per day. I am theorizing that the amount of theine may be stimulating you too much, so you're tired the next day. Vary it with Sip Right or hot homemade broth with some cayenne, cumin, nutritional yeast, salt and garlic powder. And how about O-8? In a juicer, combine three carrots, two very ripe tomatoes (or use canned tomatoes with a dash of the juice), one stalk of celery, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 of a beet, three fresh pearl onions or 1/4 of a red onion, 1/4 clove of garlic, and about a golf-ball sized bunch of parsley. If you're sick, just make 4 times the batch (saves dividing all the stuff) and drink it all day. Shake it up with a scant dash of cayenne pepper, if you like.



It's too late for this particular cold, but you might consider keeping a bottle of Heallix on hand. Take a tablespoon (mixed as directed on the bottle) at the first sign of trouble. Miraculous stuff 4 all types and a great number of health problems! Also, start soaking some organic rose hips in some water overnight -- blend, strain & drink daily. You may need more vitamin C -- especially with the LONG winter we're just coming out of.



Let me know if your energy perks up once this cold is history! If not, we can look into other possibilities ~~



thanks for writing, dear. Don't be a stranger, OK? pop me a note on how you're doing! OH! and thank you for your very generous compliment! :-D I'll pass that note to Peter without delay. :-D

HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE O TYPE DIET FOR 2 YRS NOW. I WENT FORM 187 LBS. TO 113LBS. AND HAVE FELT FOR THE MOST PART WONDERFUL EXCEPT THAT FOR MANY YRS. PRIOR TO THE DIET I WAS A VERY SICKLY PERSON AND TOOK MANY HIGH POWERED ANTIBIOTICS AND STERIODS. I ALSO UNDERWENT A COMPLETE HYSTORECTOMY MANY YRS BACK. QUIT WITH HRT FOR 9 YRS. BUT TWO YRS. AGO STARTED BACK DUE TO A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. THIS WAS ABOUT THE SAME TIME I BEGAN THE O TYPE DIET. FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER I HAVE SUFFERED FROM YEAST INFECTIONS, BUT FOR THE PAST 16 MONTHS I HAVE BATTLED SEVER CANDIDA...CAUSING ME MUCH SICKNESS. I HAVE OMITTED ALL GRAINS, SUGARS AND STARTCHES FROM MY DIET, AS WELL AS ALL DAIRY. HAVE BEEN EATING MOSTLY VENISON AS IT IS PLENTIFUL HERE FOR US AND RECENTLY HAVE FOUND A SOURCE OF BEEF W/O HORMONES OR ANTIBIOTICS. I FEEL I AM AT MY WITS END AS THIS CONDITIONS DOES NOT GO AWAY. ANY SUGGESTONS? THE PHYSICIANS I HAVE SEEN HAVE ALL SUGGESTED DIFLUCAN AND NYSTATIN. SOME HAVE AGREED WITH THE FOOD CHOICES WHILE OTHERS HAVE EVEN DISMISSED CANDIDA AS A CAUSE OF HEALTH PROBS., THINKING IT ONLY AS A VAGINAL CONDITION. I AM NOT INTO MASKING SYMPTOMS AS MOST PHYSICIANS I HAVE SEEN SEEM TO BE, BUT RATHER IN TREATING / HEALING THE WHOLE BODY. PLEASE HELP. I AM BEYOND MY LAST STRAW. THANKS, NANDINIA



Hello, Nandinia! Candida can be difficult to resolve, but you are on the right track with your diet -- you just need some supplemental help. Taking more antibiotic drugs will only do harm and put you back where you were at the beginning. Are you taking PolyFlora-O (the probiotic)? That's the first thing to do, immediately. Second, get hold of the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia and begin the Candida protocols.



You have a wonderful approach to your health, and I know you will succeed in this!! Your body is already beginning to heal -- as your immune system strengthens, your entire health will change for the better. the beginning is the hardest part, when the gut organisms begin re-establishing balance and there is significant die-off and toxicity from the overgrown candida critters. Just start those protocols, and let me know how it's going with you. It will work! Keep striving and shining! thanks for writing, dear!! :-D

I followed this diet for several months now and it works great. I have also read the exercise profile / advice that the book offers. I am a type A and is actively involved in a rough, competitive sport (ice hockey). I know that the plan advises against type A involved in strenuos activities, but... I have invested years of work into improving my game and the sport definitely benefitted my physical well-being and confidence level. It is definitely hard, I cant agrue with that. However, I cannot imagine quitting the game I love so much. Is there an alternative for me? Should I emphasize certain foods that will sustain my energy better? Vito



Hey, Vito! Hockey player, eh? Whoo!! ;-D



Type As can pursue any sport they want to do! The key for you and all competitive A-athletes is to regulate cortisol. You do it in three ways: follow the diet according to the portion/frequency tables found in both Live Right 4 Your Type and the , making sure to get plenty of A-OK proteins to maintain your energy (so pleased to hear it's working its magic for you!); make time for a daily yoga or meditation session of 1/2 hour or so (even ten minutes of alternate nostril breathing, one of the yogic techniques called pranayama); and take Cortiguard (available here in the Store).



With a schedule of hard training for a sport, try to ensure that your off-time is spent in calming, peaceful activities. A walk through the park, listening to low-key music, reading a funny book, spending time with quiet friends, playing with a cat or dog. Whatever it is for you, make time for those things that settle you down. Doing this will give you a centered frame of mind, and believe it or not, improve your game!



Enjoy, Vito ~ best of luck with your endeavors ~ and thanks for writing!! :-D

Heidi, WOW!!!! thanks so much for your detailed response to my previous questions. And thank you for the references, especially for Molto Mario's recipes. (I like the food network anyways, so should have fun searching and trying new recipes.) I do have one area that I need clarification on. (Its a numbers thing again...) Portions and frequencies of Grains. In the eat right book, the grains were broken down into 3 different categories, and it seemed like a large amount to be eaten in a week. (not that I thought that was a bad thing!!) Now I am noticing that in Live right, those categories have been condensed into a single category, with 7-9 servings/week for A's? Now I fear I have been eating too many portions! Bread is easy; I count one slice as one portion. For brown rice and oatmeal, how much is a portion? in a previous response you said what could be held in two hands cupped together; for my hands that would be a little bit more than a cup. Do you mean dry or cooked grain? In the book, a portion is one cup dry. Usually when you cook the grain, the volume roughly doubles; on this basis a portion would be 2 cups. Now I don't eat 2 cups of rice at a whack, that would be two filling. But if say over the last week I ate 6 slices of Ezekial bread, and 6 cups cooked oatmeal or rice (ie 3cups dry) would that count up to 9 portions for the week? One more thing; a friend who is in a food coop gave me a small bag of Amaranth (dry). Tiny tiny! Any suggestions on how to prepare amaranth? I was going to try steaming it like I do rice, with a tad of olive oil. cathy



Aw, Cathy, gosh darn it -- you're determined to corner me into the numbers!! My weak suit, dear! :-D



I'd say that since we're all different sizes with different activity levels and varying desire for weight loss, etc., the suggestions for grain portions in LR may be a little too precise. Two slices of bread could be one portion for you, or it may be too much. If the rice is the main ingredient in a dish, it could be one cup (cooked) as the portion -- whatever you'd normally eat at one sitting. If it is a small part of the whole dish, half a cup (cooked) would count as your portion. Yes, you can divide up those portions over a number of days if you prefer the mathematical route, but I think the diet will work best for you if you think of having one serving (of the size you'd eat) of whole grains each day, and adding an extra on a day or two in the week. A teaspoon of flour added to a sauce is something I wouldn't count, but you might do so if it's happier in your plan that way. To give you an example: for my type A man, a portion of bread is two slices, or one big Ezekiel hamburger bun -- but a portion of Scottish oats is 1/4 cup dry, because it's very chewy and filling. You lucky type As have a metabolism well suited to a paucity of food, and you may find you do beautifully on very small portions, perhaps eaten at four or five meals in the day rather than three.



I like to cook whole amaranth in broth. Heat diced onions in a little olive oil and a bit of broth, on medium high until the onions are soft. Add the amaranth, a touch of sea salt, enough broth to just cover, bring to a light boil then take it down to simmer till done. Add a bit of chopped fresh herbs, maybe just parsley, at the end. Sprinkle a few toasted pignoli nuts on it, and you have a very tasty dish. Experiment with it ~ it has a great flavor, and can be adapted to all kinds of uses with a variation in veg & spices used.



Hope this helps, Cathy! It's difficult for me to pinpoint exact quantities for people, but I'm sure you'll work out a system that works perfectly for you! and thanks for your note! :-D

Hi, Heidi! I have a question regarding 'forms' of foods. I understand that processing may concentrate or dilute lectins or other components that can cause a food to change status, but would it be improper to assume that (for the most part) if one form of a food is an avoid (or beneficial), then the other forms should be considered likewise (to a lesser degree)? More specifically, as a type B (secretor unknown, suspect non-secretor based on family and personal history but am not assuming anything ), black/white pepper are considered avoid, but peppercorns are neutral. Should i avoid black and white peppercorns, or all peppercorns, or none? It's a similar situation with rice -- rice bran, rice flour, puffed rice, rice milk, are all beneficial, but rice is neutral. Since the beneficial status is conferred for an agglutinin by TypeBase3, it would seem that rice is perhaps a little better than a neutral, if not possibly beneficial? Thanks for your feedback! matt.



Hi there, Matt! It's commercial ground pepper that is the avoid. Freshly- ground pepper is fine, whether black, white or pink. ;-) Cream of rice and rice bread are neutral, but plain whole-grain rice is Beneficial -- along with puffed rice and bran and so on. I see that we have to correct the database on this count, as you'll see from the Updates Page. If you search for the term "rice," you'll see it was missing from the published version of LR, and should be designated Beneficial. I'll see what I can do to rectify that little problem!



Thanks for writing, Matt, you gave me a good heads-up! Take care, and write again, OK? :-D

dear hiedi, here is a question for AB secretors, it may sound silly but it is important for me. Let me list you all the suplements that I take. 4 your type basics pack, Ara6, Harmonia, bromelain, quercetin and Methyl-12 plus and Proberry3. In the last letter I told you I was diagnose with lumbar stenosis and you recomended quercetin. I would appreciate if you tell me how to take the suplements, how much and in what order, I told you it may sound stupid, but you have being so nice allways, that I take courage and ask anyway. god bless you, Luisa



Luisa, I hope you always feel free to write! I ran across an old quote the other day -- something like, "ask a question and feel like a fool for five minutes; fail to ask the question, and be a fool forever." So there! :-D



This is what I'd do: take 3 Methyl Plus first thing in the morning, alone, followed by a teaspoon of ProBerry3. The bromelain and quercetin can be taken before meals, at the dosage on the bottle. The items in the Basics pack should be taken according to the "therapeutic" level: PolyVite, Phytocal and Deflect can be taken with or after meals; PolyFlora, alone (without food), an hour before sleeping. I'd mix a tablespoon of ARA6 and a teaspoon of Harmonia into a jar, fill with some juice of your choice, and shake it up. You can drink this any time in the day -- maybe as a mid-afternoon snack?



Please keep me posted on your progress, Luisa ~ I look forward to hearing from you! take care, dear ~~ :-D

Still alive here!

Sorry for the unannounced delays in putting this column up. Apparently, our server has had some odd glitches in the "permissions" on uploading files ~ so when the problem arose, I had no columns waiting to cycle through, and couldn't put up a note to advise everyone of the situation. Peter is kindly getting it on to the server for me ~ thanks for your patience, everyone! :-D

Dear Heidi, In your reply to Nalini today you have raised an additional question for me regarding lentils/split peas/legumes etc. I had assumed that in the Encyclopedia the reference to Lentil (domestic) was the yellow lentil/yellow split pea which we use for both pea soup and dal in Australia. However in your reply to Nalini you say that yellow split peas has no rating yet. So what is Domestic lentil? The link photo of the dried beans and lentils is lovely, but it would be of great help to have a descriptive list of each item for identification by name, colour and shape. It will be sad if a beneficial or neutral lentil/split pea cannot be found for Indian Bs and Os as dal is so central to their cuisine. Please find one! To my lay knowledge (not scientific) the words lentil, split pea and gram all mean virtually the same thing, the variation being in the colour and size. Red is tiny and cooks quickly to a yellow colour, while yellow,green and brown are larger (half cm across)and take up to 45 minutes to cook. If a suitable lentil cannot be found for Bs and Os I would invite Indian cooks to experiment with beneficial beans for their bloodgroup to make a new age dal (eg navy or kidney beans for B and adzuki or black eyed peas for O) Cheers, Jenny

Hello, Jenny! Domestic lentil is the very flat, light tan lentil. Regarding the photo I put up in that list: it was only to show you the appearance of the tiny, yellow, waxy-ish, lumpy "split peas" in comparison to the rest -- not to give a reference on every bean pictured.

Before I started this column, lentil meant to me the flat, tan OR green OR reddish things we get here in bags, labelled Lentils. I thought split pea was green pease split in half, and gram was chickpea flour. ;-D So I've learned a great deal, too!

And please don't worry too much about a loss of the native cuisine of our Subcontinental readers -- as I mentioned in that column, the "tuver dal" IS technically "unknown," therefore Neutral ~ so it is still available as a food choice. When we have more specific info, we'll certainly share it with you all! thanks, Jenny! :-D

Hello Heidi! Well, lots to report! First of all I'm Type O (secretor status currently unknown - I've sent in the test however), and I've been on the diet for 6 days now and the day before I started it, I was just about to go on one of those shake type fasting regimes again to try and gain control of my overeating and binging and out of control feelings I had with sugar and junk food. I actually started this fasting regime on Wed and by Wed afternoon, I knew that I should just chuck the darn thing and get down to some real responsiblity about food and take on the BTD Diet and give it a real try. A real good try.

And so I called in to my work for 3 sick days so I could have 5 days total (weekend included) to take this on and get over the intial cravings, have daily baths and rest times, and take time to prepare the food. Well, it was a bit hard because I felt bloated and gaseous and had bad intense headaches, and my joints hurt bad. (I had been taking a Glucosamine/Chrondrotin supplment for this, until I read in your column of a couple of days ago that taking the Chrondrotin is like a bad blood transfusion for Type O's!) But - back to the diet... I held on because of what I had read from other people in this column. I did my daily exercise and stuck right to the plan.

Today I can report that my cravings are all but completely gone, and so far I have lost 4 lbs. That was amazing to me. I have been so afraid that eating the amount of food on the plan would not work. I have had 'diet mentality' for all of my life. I have never lost weight without restriction and deprivation. And so my thinking tells me that it just can't be done.

Well, I took the time to trust the process and found out it can be and it is being done. I even allow myself one serving of grain a day because I love the Manna (Essene) Bread. I did not know I was not supposed to mix grains and meats in a meal however, so that is good news. It's no wonder last evening I was bloated and my tummy hurt a bit because I had some red meat and Spelt noodles together.

At any rate, I'm gung ho on the diet now and I'm estatic that I have found the right way to take care of my health AND my boyfiends health.

I have a few questions for you: In Dr. Dadamo's column of today, he talks of eggs and in there he states the following: "From that point on I no longer limited egg intake in my type O patients, and began to even allow moderate egg intake in my active otherwise health type A subjects." So, Heidi... does this mean us Type 0's can have more eggs than shown in LR4YT? Now... I find I am eating more fruits as snacks.. is that o.k.? I think it says I can have 5 a day. But some days I may be getting 6 or so. Well, I guess that's all for now! I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoy this column! My mother is Type B and does not have access to a computer, so whenever the column or articles on the site have to do with Type B, I print them out for her and off they go in the mail! I know.. I'm kind of gushing about it all.. but I'm so thrilled... I must be getting a nice hit of Dopamine to my brain! Ha! Ok... I'm signing off for now... Christina

WHOO-EE! You've made a great start, and I'm proud of ya! :-D Congratulations on your resolve to "start ONLY ONCE." :-) That way the most difficult part of the diet is forever behind you. ;-D

The Ask Dr. D. column you mentioned was actually written before Live Right was published ~ he's referring to his own previous practice of making eggs "avoid" for type A and strictly limited for type O. If we Os have a few extra per week now and again, it is unlikely to hurt us! but the frequency recommendations should be used as a general practice, for "optimal results." :-) Same goes for the fruit. While you're just starting out, an extra serving here and there of beneficials or neutrals is absolutely fine, especially if it keeps you from grabbing something not-so-good. The intention behind providing portion/frequency tables is to keep ALL the needed foods in the daily or weekly diet, so that one item or group doesn't tend to push out the others -- after all, one can eat only so much! and we want it to be varied and well-balanced.

Enjoy the dopamine, dear, and we'll talk again soon! :-D

Dear Heidi... I'm confused!!! In the Type O Roundup 14 on one of the questions the following information is given regarding Chondroitin: 4. Chondroitin ~ that one's an avoid for Os, since as Peter wrote in his column, chondroitin is made up of long chains of n-acetyl galactosamine (the blood group A antigen). As he so eloquently put it: "Thus by consuming large amounts of chondroitin, type O's are inadvertently provoking their immune system with constant doses of what amounts to an incorrect blood transfusion!" Unsurprisingly, the Encyclopedia lists chondroitin as useful for As and ABs only. Sadly, I think it would certainly be best to chuck the chondroitin rather than use it up -- and stick to the glucosamine-only supp! :-} However in the Blood Type Encyclopedia, in the section on Osteoarthritis, it shows Glucosamine/Chondroitin as a Therapy for All Blood Groups along with Ginger Extract. Also in the Intestinal Health Protocol, which is one of the Protocols listed for Type O's with Osteoarthritis, it lists NAG (N-acetyl-glucosamine) as one of the supplements to take for Type O's with this condition. Based on the advice in Peter's column vs. what I have found in the Encyclopedia, you can see why I'm confused! Help! I'm very concerned because I have been taking the Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplement for quite some time in hopes it was helping my bad knee condition where I have a bad condition of Osteoarthritis that flares up in a bad way from time to time. Please let me know why this information seems conflicting to me. Thank you much. Christina

Hey -- that was REAL soon! ;-) I've sent a note to Peter for confirmation on the chondroitin sulfate issue, just to be absolutely certain. When he lets me know, I'll post an update (and update the Errata column entry).

Here is my opinion in the meantime: the page 93 text needs correction, while the page 559 entry is correct. The Encyclopedia Supplement Base (p. 559) recommends chondroitin sulfate for As & ABs with arthritis. Peter's "Glucosamine/Chondroitin for Type O" column agrees, further saying that it is not recommended for Os (or Bs) and explaining why.

Glucosamine itself, of course, is still fine for everyone, but chondroitin sulfate should be limited to As and ABs. More when I know more! :-)

Hi iam 61 years old been on and off diets for 50 years now i have been doing disordered eating for a long time how can not look this program without being on a diet? Iam type O blood how can i have avoid foods without wanting them more? charlie

Hello, charlie! I know more than one person with obsessive-compulsive disorders who took one look at the diet and said "NO WAY! following a strict food plan would feed right in to where I'm trying to get away from!" So I respected that choice and let it go at that. However, once they'd seen the plan, it nagged at them. I'd be out to dinner with one of them, and he'd look at the menu and say "so, is this one good for me?" If the answer was Yes, I'd say "Sure, it's great." If no, I'd just say, "not really -- this other one is much better - so is this one and this one."

Once they had asked me about starting the diet, I suggested reading through only the text of the book, and leaving the food lists aside until they felt ready to start. And then, look at only the Beneficial and Neutral lists, and imagine meals made up of only those items. In other words, forget about avoids altogether and just let your mind wander in the Good Stuff parts. There is one enormous quantity of Good Stuff in these plans. ;-)

It's not a diet based on deprivation. You eat well, you never need feel hungry. Especially at the beginning, we say eat as much as you need. If you feel like a snack, you have one. There's a little something in every food group for everyone, you don't have to eliminate all grains or all fats or anything like that.

P.S.: Once you're on this particular "wagon," there's really no "falling off." It's... a lifestyle, it makes its way into your mind & heart, and after a while most people can't imagine eating any other way. Whatever changes you make, large or small, you'll see some benefits -- the greatest of all for you may just be, never going on a diet ever again. Give it a whirl, charlie ~ let me know how you do! :-D

I am an O blood type secretor.I have been a vegeterian for 20 years and my main food was corn and potatoes.I switched to the o diet about 4 months ago.The good things that have happened, my nails are growing for the first time plus my hair.I still have ridges on my nails though ,do you think that will go away.I do see an iridoligist and he says my liver is very very sluggish plus I am very yellow(WHICH I PUT DOWN TO ALL THE JUCICES I DRANK e.g.carrot,spinach and romaine apple juice)I HAve stopped drinking these jucies 4 months ago plus i have a slight pain where my liver is and I am rather worried I might have serious liver problems as I am still very yellow I also have all these liver spots on my legs and hands and arms--I did read up on your detox liver but do not know if I should carry on eating all the protien while on the detox.There are several other things that I cannot find at MY health food store that i want due to me waking up everyday at 4am since i have been on the diet.I was wiondering if I could drink prune juice if I cannot find prune powder and where do I buy Russian rhodeolia?.thank you for your reply.Do you think that having colonics would work for me. Ann.

Greetings, Ann! Welcome!!

The yellowish color is liver-related, and is not caused by the yellow pigments in the juices you were taking, as many people believe. You need the protein to heal your tissues, so continue eating it while doing the detoxification protocol. Also, I'd like to encourage you to start juicing again! Use mostly beneficial and some neutral vegetables (organic). There are great tips in the book Juicing for Life by Cherie Calbom and Maureen Keane -- just adapt the recipes according to your O food list. Juicing is a fabulous thing for liver complaints.

In that regard, take a close look at Julia Chang's Liver & Cleanse site. She has a time-tested liver/gallbladder cleanse routine there -- I've done the gallbladder flush several times, and it's marvelous. She is available for coaching as well. If you decide to do that gallbladder flush, you would follow her directions about not eating solid food for the day or two in which you do the preparation. And I found that taking the PolyFlora-O probiotics daily after the cleanse made the transition back to normal eating an easy one. Cleaning out the gallbladder also restores its ability to provide fat-digesting bile on command, so the fats in your foods won't be causing you the digestive trouble you're having now.

You could certainly look into getting colonics, although I believe doing the flush and continuing with the Encyclopedia detox protocol will allow you to experience improvements right away -- then you'll be better able to judge whether you really want to spend the time & money on the colonics.

Prune juice is Ok to use. I realize prune powder is not the easiest item to find in retail quantities -- but I just did a quick search in www.alltheweb.com/advanced for the exact phrase "prune powder" and found that Voigt Global sells prune powder in 500 gram (approx. 1 pound) quantities. They also ask that you contact them if you desire quantities or items not on their list - so maybe they'd be open to smaller orders. That's the first place I'd try. Also, you might ask your HFS supp manager to order prune powder -- it is available from FutureCeuticals in (clears throat) 44 pound bags. :-} Or, if your area has Asian food stores, look for foil packets of prune powder ~ they're usually silver or gold, decorated with flowery designs. It is a common item in Chinatown here in New York.

Rhodiola rosea is available just about everywhere online. Use www.alltheweb.com/advanced, and search with the exact phrase Rhodiola rosea and the modifier "must include" cap. Pick and choose, there are hundreds of them -- and once again, you could give a few of these brand names to your HFS supp manager to bring them up to snuff. ;-)

For the moment, don't be concerned about the nail ridges. They will improve as your health improves, and it takes time for the nails to grow out and show how they're really doing. I'm really glad you found this plan, and happy to hear your nails and hair are growing again (that was a nice thing I noticed as well when I started this diet! *whoo!*). Take care and keep writing! :-D

Thank-you for your work I am a type O male 50 years old. My diet most of my life has been largely beef, potatoes, gravy, white bread and corn. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease, the treatment with prednisone, florinef, cytomel, and levoxyl has managed that adequately however my weight crept from a normal 190 up to 270, as my energy lagged I have also found skin rashes on my legs in the last ten years, and edema in my legs Finally six years ago I was found to have sleep apnea. 1) Is there anything you can tell me about my Addison's, and can you suggest a ND in the Seattle area that follows your work? I started a month ago o a detox plan which detoxified me and gave me a reasonable loss of weight, and increased energy. I chanced onto your Eat Right 4 Your Type. In moments it was clear that it was brilliant. I bought the book and have started changing my family's diet to a mixed A and O diet (my wife is type A) trying for highly beneficial and mixing neutrals from the list while avoiding the avoids. I feel great the last two weeks and have safe a few dollars on what we were paying for food. 2) We aren't ready to fix two different meals three times a day, although we do try to adjust our lunches directly. While not ideal is this approach beneficial or are we kidding ourselves? db

Hello, db! and welcome to the BTD! Your approach is absolutely wonderful, and you're already experiencing the benefits ~ enjoy them! As time goes on, it will be second-nature for you to add a beneficial food here and there, and vary the menu as you wish. Give yourself time, you're doing beautifully! Everything will flow along in the right way for you both. ;-)

Addison's disease is the result of the partial or entire destruction of the outer part of the adrenal glands (the adrenal cortex). Unless you had tuberculosis, or had both your adrenal glands removed, it's most likely this was an autoimmune reaction -- meaning your immune system mistakenly destroyed those tissues over a period of years. This is very similar to what happens in other autoimmune conditions, the vast majority of which are greatly improved by avoiding ABO-specific lectins. If you have cortical tissue still intact, the O diet will guard against losing any more of it.

In our Practitioner Registry (linked on the main page, www.dadamo.com), I found two NDs listed for Seattle: Cathy A. Rogers ND, 4649 Sunnyside North #300e, Seattle, WA 98103 -- and Stephen Bucklew ND, Natural Health Associates, 5416 Barnes Ave NW, Seattle WA (206) 789-0558. We don't have Dr. Rogers' number, but check the telephone book, and do call both of them and discuss your concerns before making an appointment.

I'm really pleased to hear from you, db ~ hope you'll keep me updated on your progress! :-D

Heidi, Could you give us an examle of a BTD Friendly 72kit meal plan and make suggestions toward a long term food storage (1,3,6,9 month and 1-yr). Being as most of the plans I see is based heavily on Wheat. Thanks a lot. Angel

Whoo!! Actually, that would be quite a project! I'm not sure I'll have the time available to do a good job on it any time soon, so .... hey Readers! Who's up for it? :-D I'll let you know if we get any takers, Angel! In the meantime, you could actually start in doing this yourself using foodlists and cookbooks. Are you looking for single-type plans, or an OK-for-all-types workup? Why not give me an example of the wheat-based plans you've seen, and we might work from there! thanks, dear! :-D

G'day, I would like to know what you think about "ketosis". Is it a good state to be in or not & for how long? I was considering following the "Atkin's" diet & combining it with the BTD to give me a jump-start on weight loss. I would only consume benefitials & neutrals from the BTD that are on the "Atkin's" list & keep my carbs to only 20/day as it states for the initial phase(which is at least 2 weeks) to start ketosis. However, I have since read about "The Zone" which states that ketosis is "an abnormal metabolic condition" & that ketone bodies begin to accumulate in the blood & without incoming carbs your brain can't function properly? What's the real scoop on this? Thanks so much for your time. Angela

For two weeks, I'd say ketosis would be perfectly fine for you. Type Os are probably in their "optimal state" in mild ketosis, and I think you'll find that salad greens and dark green leaf vegetables are very low on the glycemic index -- 20 "carbs" goes a long way in that department, and most of our beneficial veg are among them. If you've been eating grain, sugars and/or root vegetables daily, then you may at first notice a bit of brain fog and tiredness when your gut bacteria begin re-organizing themselves for their new environment. ;-) This will pass. It's good to do something like this in cold weather rather than warm, as our bodies respond to longer days with increased needs for carbs (fresh fruit, spring vegetables).

So get at it ~ and let me know how it works for you! I think you'll like the results... :-D

Dear Heidi, First of all, thank you for all your efforts in helping thousands of people (including myself) on a journey to great health. My question to you is: I have been suffering with my legs swelling, mostly from the knees up to the thighs. this started about 5-6 years ago, and I cannot seem to put my finger on how it all started. You see..in the morning it starts..as soon as I get out of bed and strp foot on the floor...go to the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth...and while I am standing ..I start to feel the pressure, swelling and the skin turns a purplish/pink in color. I then have to go any lie down on my bed, legs up, shake them so that the blood starts to circultates again. This swelling happens alot throughout the day as well, but I can't put my legs up and shake them while I am at work, I have to wait till I get home at night. I have been to many DR.'s (naturopaths, homeopaths, herbalists, doctor of chinese medicine, I have even tried lymphatic drainage message) ..and nobody seems to put their finger on the problem. They all give me some suggestions, sleep with my legs elevated, support hose...etc..which to me is only a band-aid, , they all say they have never seen something like this before...am I the only one suffering with this problem!

I am TYPE O, I follow the diet very closely, I take fucus every day, 2 capsules twice a day, a B complex , 1 capsule twice per day and dandelion 2 capsules twice a day. For breakfast I usually eat blueberries with a banana and 4 tablespoons of ground flax. ( I need that much in order to have BM everyday!) For lunch I always have veggies, broccoli, carrots, swiss chard or portobello mushrooms..not all at the same meal, meat..beef, chicken, fish, or lamb..not all at the same meal. Dinner is the same sort of thing as lunch. I also include brown basmati rice a couple of times per week either at lunch or dinner. Kamut cookies, my favortie, made with blackstrap molasses, a handful of walnuts almost every day for a afternoon snack, lots of water..I drink about 2-3 litres per day, my first litre I drink first thing in the morning. As for excercise I get to the gym 2-3 times per week, I can only do the bike (20-30 mins) due to the leg swelling, and that is a big problem for me cause I am so use to being more active, jogging on the treadmill in the winter, jogging outside in the spring, summer and fall. doesn't matter what type of physicsl excerise I do..my legs always swell. I have been missing out on so much fun and activities due to this swelling. I have about 10 more lbs to lose, I have lost about 20 already since I started on the BTD a year ago and I feel alot better. If you have any suggestions, I greatly appreciate it. Thank you again for all your help. Rose

Hey there, Rose! Well, that is a problem I've never heard of before, either ~~ but that doesn't mean we might not get to the bottom of it.

Thank you so much for posting your diet in detail. To me, too, your condition looks like some kind of circulatory insufficiency or edema, possibly kidney-related, but let's see if we can't work together on clearing it up.

If I were in your position, here's what I'd do:

Eliminate the grains (rice and kamut) the seeds (flax) and the nuts. I'm going on a fishing expedition with a big net here, because it's more important at this time to get rid of the swelling than to find out exactly which food (or more than one) might be causing it or making it worse. Once the swelling stops, you can add one food back at a time to pinpoint a cause (if it is diet-related).

Include fish at least four times per week, instead of one of the meat meals. Not forever, just for now.

Add as many of the following supps as possible: deflect, horsetail (500 mg twice daily), bearberry ((uva ursi) 250 mg twice daily), bromelain (500 mg twice daily), vitamin A (10,000 IU daily), vitamin c from acerola cherry or rose hips (250 mg twice daily).

Bring your water intake up to half-your-weight-in-ounces -- if you weight 140 pounds, that means 70 ounces of water. Divide it into 5 (for 70 ounces, that's 14 ounces at a time) and to each of the 5, add a scant 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt. Let it dissolve for ten minutes, and shake it up.

If you wear tight clothing, anything restricting at all (such as elastic at your waist or legs), switch to a looser garment. This applies to sleepwear as well.

When you wake in the morning, and before rising, "bicycle." Raise your hips off the bed by supporting them with your hands, propping your elbows underneath, and bike for a few minutes.

Do this for a week, and give me a report. If anything rings a bell particularly, act on it! Good luck, Rose ~~ if it's anything to do with diet, we'll figure it out! take care, dear! :-D

Dear Heidi, I know it would be better for me to stay away from deep-fried foods entirely, but I haven't developed that much willpower yet! What would be the best oil to use for high-temp frying for a type O? I think I am a non-secretor so I guess canola is out. Would grapeseed or macadamia nut oil work? Thanks for writing such a great column. Best regards, Sonia

:-) thanks for your kindness, Sonia! Both of the best high-heat oils I know of are "unknowns:" grapeseed and rice bran oils. If you have a choice, I'd use one of those. Bear in mind, though, that in Italy, extra virgin olive oil is used even for deep-frying, using a temperature gauge to keep it below the burning point. :-D

Thank you so much for your daily column given lovingly and with humor. I am 0- and have been on the diet for 2 years. I am also going through menopause and am somewhat confused as to what my calcium intake should be. I take Phytocal, Fem Balance, Polyvite 0 and Fucus (Bladderwrack). I know Dr. D has mentioned 1000-1200 milligrams per day but I continue to see people indicating they take up to 6 Phytocal capsules a day which would be 3000 milligrams. What is the daily recommendation and should a higher dosage be taken during menopause? Are there specific times when the dosage should be increased? Thanks again for all your wonderful insight into the BTD. Anne

Hello, Anne ~ nice to hear from you! :-) Three caps of Phytocal provides 500 mg of calcium ~ so six caps would give 1000 on their own. Peter recommends 1000 mg of calcium daily in the Encyclopedia's Menopause Support protocol, along with "helpers" such as manganese, zinc & boron. Phytocal-O has a great variety of substances which promote healthy bone growth. There's no need to get all your calcium from a supp, as long as you use the calcium-rich foods in our diet. Do give a read through the discussion of calcium needs on that page, as well!

Let's say I have one cup of cooked collards with lunch, one of cooked turnip greens at dinner, each sprinkled with a tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds, and a handful of almonds during the course of a day. I've already consumed more than 850 mg of calcium. That's aside from any homemade broth, canned fish with the bones, etc. that I might have, or broccoli, or blackstrap molasses.

On a given day, your diet might be such that you'd want a good boost from a calcium supplement -- on another day, you might opt for less. If stress is high or you are at high risk for osteoporosis based on a heel scan, you may decide to keep your daily intake at 1200 instead of 1000, always keeping in mind that the calcium in whole foods and seaweeds (like those used in Phytocal) have a really high absorption rate compared to many other forms.

hope this helps, and it's a pleasure to hear from you, dear! :-D

Heidi, thanks so much for responding to my question about Phytocal for O's! Your explanation helps me understand why I had a magnesium craving when I took Phytocal. Until recently, when I started supplementing my diet with Polyflora, I had trouble digesting even cooked greens, so wasn't eating as many as I would have liked. Now that problem is in the past, so I'm really enjoying greens again. Lisa

Wonderful!! That is truly great news, Lisa ~ feels good, doesn't it? I love it when things work together and everything falls into place. :-D thanks for the happy report, dear!! ~~:-D

Friends, a brief progress report: You Os (;-D) are the only type with a backlog. ;-) I've gotten caught up with the A, B and AB queries through March 3, so new ones from those blood groups will appear as they come in from now on. In this column today, I'm clearing the remaining answers to O questions submitted from January 30 through February 23 or so. The next O Roundup may be the last! Rejoice!

Remember ~ if you're looking for an answer, use the search engine at the bottom of this page. Try your first name (or initials, if you used them) if you submitted a question. Alternately, try a one-word keyword describing the issue you're wondering about. There are about 300 column pages I've written so far, and it's likely your question is answered in one (or more) of them. And try the same search form in Peter's page and Doc Bron's as well ~ you may be surprised by what you find!!

And ~ I seem to be getting a spate of questions on passionfruit. :-) We have no listing for it, so we apply the classic rule: if you have no health complaints and are not desirous of weight loss, it may be considered Neutral for you until further research (yours, or ours) proves otherwise! :-D

My 15 yr. old son was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He is an O (I do not know his secretor status) and has been on the O diet since May of 2002. We will be going to a dietition/nutritionist soon. I was wondering if you have any suggestions/information on how I can combine a diabetic "diet" with the O diet. Also, my son lost 11 pounds because of the diabetes and I'd like suggestions on the best way to help him regain the weight (he is 15, 6' 2" tall, and is now only 134 lbs.). Thank you - Marion

Hello, Marion! The O diet would not need much, if any, adjustment for him as long as he is following the portion/frequency tables listed in Live Right 4 Your Type -- I suggest that getting his secretor status would be a valuable thing to do at this juncture. In addition to the specific protocols for juvenile diabetes mellitus, Peter suggests in the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia: consult a nutritionist skilled in the use of phytochemicals if you plan to use natural medicine -- adjustment of insulin dosage may be necessary, and this bears careful professional monitoring. This nutritionist should be one who is familiar with the BTD, or at the very least willing to use it in your son's case. If anyone recommends a high-grain, low protein diet, avoid them -- that's the most dangerous route to take for a diabetic. Also, Peter notes that quercetin has been shown to help prevent complications such as cataracts, neuropathy and cardiovascular problems - again, this should be something your son's dietician is comfortable with and willing to do.

Healthy weight gain is achieved through getting plenty of protein and plant foods in his diet, and exercising regularly. He needs to build up the muscle tissue he has lost, and a physical therapist can help him in that regard.

Best of luck to you both, Marion ~ please let me know how it goes with him! :-)

Hello Heidi, I am a type O (21 yrs old )and have been on the diet for some six months now. My question is, I have an irritating ingrown facial hair problem on my neck. It causes red bumps to break out on my neck which have ingrown hairs in them. I have tried everything. Shaving with the grain, shaving against the grain, shaving sideways. Regularly shaving, not regularly shaving, trying weird products that supposeldy get rid of this problem. I follow the diet quite faithfully. I try to run 40minutes atleast once a week and walk a few miles a day. What perhaps could cause this? Could I take a natural supplement to cure this, if so what? SHould I exercise more?Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU syd

Hello, syd! Well, I'm afraid your trouble is a bit beyond my scope of expertise! :-) I don't believe a diet change will help that particular problem. All I could say is, you might try a different kind of razor ~ an electric (there are several fairly amazing models on the market now), and perhaps see a dermatologist to see what the experts have to say! :-D

Hi Heidi, I was wondering if you could help me. I have been on the program for five days now and I purchased some Black Cherry juice from the health food store as I am Type O and it said in the book it was Highly Beneficial ( I usually only drink water but I thought this would be a nice treat). I had a glass of it and shortly thereafter suffered from SEVERE STOMACH CRAMPS. I thought maybe this was a one time thing so I tried a glass the next day and the same thing happened. I was surprised as it is listed as Highly Beneficial for my blood type. I was wondering if I should try a different brand?Or should I avoid this on my diet? Thanks for your help. Sincerely, Donalee

Donalee ~ how about trying a dilute form of the fruit juice? Is it organic black cherry juice, and is it a concentrate or a direct "squeeze" from the fruit? Concentrates should always be diluted, and check the label carefully for any of those other ingredients often added to bottled juices. Let me know what you find out ~~ thanks! :-)

Hi Heidi... I have asked this question before, but have never gotten an answer, and I have searched your databases and not seen anything similar. I have kidney disease which my doctors cannot pin down. I don't seem to fit into any disease category! They tell me to eat almost no protein, but I'm an O blood type and feel better if I eat meat. So, what am I to do???? Have you had any success with the diet for kidney patients? Thanks for your help and I really enjoy your column. Melissa

Hello, Melissa. I have to say that if you asked me a question before this one, it did not go through. I just searched the question database right back through the beginning (May 2002), and the first and only entry I found from you is the one above, dated January 30 of this year.

When your doctor tells you one thing and a complementary health system such as the Blood Type Diets tells you another, it is up to you -- the person ultimately responsible for your own health -- to decide which to follow. I'm not a doctor, so I have no patients to report upon. Here are the places I'd go and the questions I'd ask if I were in your position.

If you go to the Ask Dr. D'Adamo column and search for the word "kidney" you'll find this column: Larch for Kidney Failure. Others that come up include a description of Sjogren's disease, and helpful suggestions for supplementation; Secretors and Nonsecretors, describing the benefits of following the correct diet by secretor status; etc.

Additionally, while the O plan is popularly called a "high protein diet," this is a misnomer. Compare it to other well-known plans which allow only, say, 20 "carb points" per day. Look at the proportions of vegetables, fruit, nuts and beans to the meat portions in Live Right 4 Your Type -- you'll see this is a "high plant food diet," just as the diets for type A, B and AB are.

How will your kidneys heal without the protein they need for that job? Knowing nothing of your symptoms (are they adrenal-related, for instance?), do you notice a difference if you substitute fish for the meat portions (for now)? If you feel worse without meat, is there a way for you to get regular testing to monitor your progress, comparing two weeks or a month using flesh proteins with the same period of not using them?

Anyway, I hope these suggestions are useful to you in forming a plan of decision and action! Take care, and write again if you have more questions or details to offer! :-D

I have a chronic sinus drip that only bothers me where I live - here in Colorado. When I travel to a state with humidity, I'm fine. My question is what supplements can I take on the "O" diet which will help me build up my immune system as it relates to allergies. I am healthy, never sick, but this problem relates to my sensitivity to allergens in the air and the dryness in Colorado. My doctor suggested nose spray sterioids - NOT!!!! Any input would be extremely appreciated. Thank you!!! Lois

Hi, Lois! QUERCETIN. Get the 500 mg capsules, and take two of them once or twice every day. Do this steadily ~ within two weeks, the allergic reactions should subside altogether. Second, I'm going to natter at you about exercise, as it is the "type O way" to relieve stresses and bring your body down from its state of hypersensitivity to those little allergens. ;-) Good work on avoiding those steroids! Yikes! A girl has a little runny nose & sneezing, and they want to spray steroids up her nostrils!! scary! ;-D

Stop by in a week or two and let me know how it's going. Colorado is a gorgeous place to live, and we'll get you fixed up so you won't be thinking of moving! :-D

Heidi, I am a 52 year old o- (secretor type unknown) doing well on diet. As I am going through the menopause I am trying Maca with good success. Wanted to know if there is a difference between gelatinized maca and the powdered root. Also, having big problems with frozen shoulder and taking vioxx for it. Is there anything else I could do? I have tried glutamine and ginger. doreen

Hello, Doreen! I'd go with the powdered Maca, just the plain, dried root. The less preparation involved in the product, the better! ;-)

Have you tried acupuncture, or massage therapy, for that shoulder? I would expect that n-acetyl glucosamine (at 600 mg daily) and ginger (in its extract form, 500mg twice daily, or in juice form, a teaspoon three times per day) should certainly help you. Do you take Deflect and PolyFlora on a daily basis? They would both keep working on the problem until it's resolved. I'd also suggest avoidance of tomatoes while you're having symptoms, just in case you are particularly sensitive to the nightshade group of plants. I'd also add two tablespoons of ground organic flaxseed, soaked in water and eaten daily (tasty! like a whole wheat cereal flavor, only better), and look into my favorite meditation-on-demand book: Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth -- in just a few minutes per day, the powerful techniques outlined in this book can make a profound difference in one's health.

Keep gently working at it, and drop me a note on how you're doing! :-D

I am a TypeO and I believe I'm a nonsecretor because I have to be very careful which carbos I eat. If I eat fructose I become very groggy and then have difficulties falling asleep at night even though I feel very tired. Ground flaxseed does the same. I'm looking for some bulk for my diet(I follow typeO diet strictly) Since ARA6 is a polysacharide will this create problems for me? Also, I have been using Moducare for about 3 yrs now with much improved resistance to flu season. Would ARA6 eliminate the need for Moducare since it too is an immune enhancer? Can the oligofructose from chicory root be used by TypeO-NS? Can lactose reduced pure whey protein pwd. be used by typeO-NS? I am using an aloe based natural progesterine cream. Is this a problem for TypeO-NS? With much appreciation for any help you can give. Donna

Hey there, Donna! Fructose is an AVOID for all type Os ~ sorry! :-( In case you do not have a copy of Live Right 4 Your Type, use the TYPEbase 3 database on the home page to check individual foods' ratings. Fructose is in there.

Try having your ground flaxseed in the morning instead of at night ~ that might alleviate your sleeping difficulties. ARA6 along with ProBerry 3 would protect beautifully against flu, as well as feed beneficial intestinal bacteria (thus improving your elimination).

For your chicory question, see the Type O Roundup # 14 -- and for the answer to your question about whey, see the Type O Roundup # 18.

Aloe as an ingredient in topical preparations is fine. It's ingestion we worry about! :-) Good fortune to you dear, and do get your secretor status tested at some point to make sure you're on the right track, OK? :-D

Dear Heidi, I've searched the databases and all three of the daily column archives but don't find any reference to the Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum). The Chinese use this mushroom for its medicinal properties. I'm wondering if you have any information on its use by an O-type (secretor status unknown). Many thanks for all your hard work. Deborah

Hey ho, Deborah! Here's a tiny tidbit from the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia: "Reishi Mushroom: Group O and AB -- Immune-Enhancing. Promotes long-term antiviral resistance. Helps lower blood pressure as well as decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride levels. Also helps to reduce blood clotting." there you have it! and thanks for your note, Deborah! :-D

I am Type O and my wife is Type A. We have the following questions: 1. Your book is mute on artificial sweetners such as aspartame. We drink fruit flavored sparkling water with aspartame. Is that acceptible on this diet? 2. Why are all regular and diet sodas prohibited on both Type O & A diets. Please provide rationale and facts. 3. Type O Sample Meal Plan 2 gives chicken salad - sliced breast of chicken, mayonnaise, green grapes, walnuts. Mayonnaise is an avoid on both Type O & A diets. Why is it include in this Meal Plan? It appears to be more than just a little or a touch. 4. Type A say avoid for plain gelatin. Why is it bad? Is there a difference between plain and flavored gelatins; such as fruit flavored Jello? If so, is fruit flavored Jello okay for Type A? (Type O is neutral) 5. If an avoid item is 3rd, 4th, or more on the list of ingredients on prepared items, can it be eaten? 6. I am Type O and have eaten peanuts and peanut butter all my life (I am 60) and have had no problems with it. Why is it an avoid for Type O? Please give me rationale and facts. Other nut butters; almond, sesame, soybean, and macadamia butters appear to be neutral for me -- why? Wendell

Hi, Wendell ~ 1. Check the TYPEbase 3 database (linked above in this column and on the home page) for aspartame. We published the rating for that artificial sweetener in January 2001 -- in Live Right 4 Your Type. For ALL commercial products, do read the labels and make sure no avoids are lurking in them. ;-) By the way, I HIGHLY recommend the sweetener vegetable glycerine instead of others, particularly for nonsecretors. Read more about it by going to the bottom of this page and entering the term glycerine -- it is a truly marvelous thing.

2. Unfortunately, the space of this column does not permit a full explanation of all the facts and the complete rationale behind avoidance of commercial sugar-or-aspartame-sweetened sodas. Peter D'Adamo has created a synthesis of traditional naturopathic medicine with his own spectacular contributions. He would not want you drinking caramel, phosphoric acid, artificial flavorings, dissolved table sugar and/or liver-challenging aspartame. A quick way to pull up a small selection from the huge amount of information available is to go to www.alltheweb.com/advanced and search for aspartame with the modifier "must include" hazard. When you've gone through a few of those pages, try the same procedure with phosphoric acid, modifier "must include" hazard, modifier "must include" soda. Remarkable amount of reading on these subjects! Plain seltzer is fine for Os, naturally, but As are advised to avoid fizzy drinks because they further reduce the comparatively little gastrin As produce, as well as irritate their more delicate stomach lining.

3. Mayonnaise: it was included as a concession to taste, but we prefer people make their own organic mayonnaise (takes a blender, an egg, a little lemon juice, some salt and about 3 minutes) at home.

4. Gelatin: Fruit flavored gelatin contains gelatin (and lots of other stuff your wife would not benefit from). Listing "plain gelatin" as the item in the food list means we have all the flavors covered. Check those labels. Gelatin from beef or pork (or horse's hooves), which are the usual sources for those products, is inadvisable for type As and has been shown to increase the lectin activity of other deleterious foods -- including sending those substances straight to weakened parts of the body such as the liver, kidneys and joints.

5. Wherever in the ingredient list an avoid appears, it is an avoid. Figure out (1) how high you want your total compliance to be and (2) how damaging the particular avoid is/can be for you, & then you'll have good basis for your own decision.

6. Peanuts. Well, they contain a lectin. BTD as well as later books go into this subject in some detail, so you'll find your answer there.

Thank you for your questions, Wendell! I hope I've given you food for thought! :-D

Hi Heidi! Wow... Great Column and wonderful answers. Are all the Type O Roundup Questions and answers archived somewhere where I can read through them all? I want to say that I've had the original book for a number of years and recently when my Type A boyfriend got cancer, we both dived into the book and immediately purchased all the rest of the books, the video tape, and we love the BTD Supplements! I mean they are the best Supplements either of us have ever taken. He is doing wonderfully on the diet. He recently went through the cancer surgery and is now recovering using the Type A diet and supplements. Me, on the other hand, I have been struggling hard trying to get away from the carb cravings. I've been a 'dieter' all my life and frankly, I'm scared. I've never not been on a diet to loose weight. But I feel so very very crappy now when I eat the suger and empty carbs now, that I am going to give this a good go now and suffer through the cravings somehow until they abate. I have started a 5-HTP regime at night and it seems to help. I think I'm also going to start some other things Dr. Dadamo recommends in 'LR4YT' in regards to carb cravings and see if I can get through this transition. I've got about 40 lbs to loose and my old mentality keeps trying to convince me that some 'diet' has to be enacted if I'm ever going to see Size 8 again! Ha... But I'm encouraged by all of what I've read here on the site and in the books. And so I'm going to give it a real go and 'trust' the process. I also don't want to limit myself as I have really come to hate 'limiting eating plans,' and so I plan to focus mostly on meats, vegies, fruits and I will also have my Manna bread and occasional Spelt pasta. By the way, the Manna bread is absolutly fabulous for those of you who have not tried it yet. And it is a 'Beneficial' food. I do have a question after all of that! I am confused as to the differance between Club Soda/Seltzer vs. Sparkling Mineral Water. Is the Sparkling Mineral water the same as Club Soda and Seltzer? Also why is the Club Soda and Seltzer beneficial... does it sooth the acidic stomach of us type O's or? So once again, thanks Heidi. I'm so thrilled there is a place where we can communicate with someone in the 'know' about our little concerns and questions! Christina

LOL! (laughing out loud, that is!) Hi, Christina! I put up Woody's questions & answers in the most recent type A roundup, and I know he's doing well with you looking after him! :-)

Yes, all the previous columns are archived -- just pop to the bottom of this page and hit the 'list previous' button.

Sparkling mineral water is BETTER than club soda or seltzer, cuz it contains all those wonderful minerals we need in their natural proportions. My favorite happens to be Gerolsteiner, but feel free to research your own at www.mineralwaters.org ! The bubblies both reduce our appetite and moderate our prodigious production of digestive secretions ~ especially just a small glass of room-temp fizzy 20 minutes before eating.

Don't you worry, girl, just do your plan -- and don't forget the exercise part, makes you feel like a million bucks & speeds the fat loss right along -- you'll soon forget you ever weren't a size 8! ... (secret from "those-in-the-know:" it might turn out to be size 6 instead, but just roll with the punches, OK?) :-D

I'm Back!!! I knew as soon as I submitted my question, I'd have another! Red Clover... Type O Avoid? Both me, (Type O) and my boyfriend (Type A), love the Jason Winters Tea which has Red Clover, Chaparral, and Oolong Tea Leaf (Herbalene Blend). We drink lots of it. If I take the Deflect Supplement, will it help any type of damage being done to me by this Red Clover and also, what is the specific damage that Red Clover causes to Type O? Thanks again Heidi! Christina

LOL! No, no, no -- no clover for youse. Oolong is black tea (well, inbetween process, but you know what I mean), another no-no. Gosh, I hate taking people's favorite beverages away! :-( Deflect works on lectins, and the effects of tea and clover are not lectin-related (yeah, I know, more bad news). *sigh!* Clover is full of phytoestrogens, along with other stomach-and-nerve-related compounds which make it specifically ill-advised as a daily drink. Give those Sip Right teas for O and A a little longer trial, OK? just for me? ~ they're really great, and I think you'll come to love them in time if you've enjoyed the Winters tea.

You're most welcome, dear! keep 'em coming, maybe I'll have happier answers to the next ones! :-D

Concerning the blood type kit, does it give more information than what blood type I am? I already know that I am O Positive from donating blood. Kathy

Hi, Kathy! The home ABO test kit provides only your ABO group and your Rhesus type, both of which you have, so you're all set! :-D

I asked this question to 'Ask Dr. Bron' recently, and wanted to ask you in case I could get a faster response. My wife and I have a 1.5 month-old boy - our first. For various reasons, my wife was only able to get breastmilk to our type-O son during the first month. She had to pump, and she is now not producing any more. we want to make the best of things, and are providing a Flora supplement (LifeStart) once a day, in a formula caled Baby's Only, which basically has (all Org.) Brown Rice syrup, whole soybeans (I think as opposed to the protein only), and coconut and sunflower oils (as well as vita, mins, lecithin, and some EFAs). He seems to be doing well on it, other than not being as regular as he would if he still had breast, understandably. Would you recommend this formula with O avoids to him? Is there anything else you'd suggest doing, since chances are very slim he's going to get mom's milk again? My wife is not open to getting milk from a bank, even though I am. Thank you! Jim

Well... hmmm, just in case Doc Bron did not yet get to this one, I'll fill in for now.

For a type O baby, brown rice syrup, coconut oil and sunflower oil are all definitely avoids for him if he is a secretor. If he happens to be a nonsecretor, the soy is an avoid as well -- the only OK thing would be the coconut oil. And I'd definitely want to avoid the synthetic vits & mins for such a wee tyke.

Jim, you and your wife are obviously very committed to giving him the best start in life possible, so here are some ideas for you. You can put together your own fresh, organic, avoid-free formula and do a better job than the formula manufacturers. Try him on goat milk, and rotate with homemade rice milk and walnut and/or almond milk. All of these keep in the fridge for a few days, and rice milk and nut milk are easy to make with a blender and some pure water. Cooked whole-grain rice, one cup to two cups of water, whiz it up, strain and add a teaspoon of fresh flax oil and the probiotic (see below) along with a quarter teaspoon fine gray sea salt (minerals!) - mix well. Pour a cup of boiling water over the walnuts or almonds and let sit overnight. In the morning, rub the skins off (for the walnuts, just get some of them off) and drop the nuts into the blender with twice the volume of fresh water. Whiz and strain, add oil, probiotic & salt, mix it up.

To any of these milks, you can add a tablespoon of cooked carrot or other beneficial vegetable if desired. Try him out on different mixtures ~ he'll tell you what he likes.

Flora is a GREAT company, but while the probiotic idea is good, it's far better to give him the type-specific probiotics he needs than a general whack of all kinds of things in possibly inappropriate media (whey, etc.). So I suggest a capsule of the PolyFlora-O in each batch of milk -- shake it well and let it dissolve.

Making the formula yourself is a bit more time-consuming, but it is vastly better for that little guy! My best regards to you and your lovely family, Jim! Write again if anything comes to mind! :-D

I am a Group O non-secretor and have been on the diet for 2 years and find it suits me pretty well. Can you tell me if you know another name for flageolet beans? They are not in the Dictionary and being in the UK I have found it difficult to find out what they are in US English! For example what you call navy beans are haricot beans (baked beans)in the UK and a no-no for me. Gill

Navy and kidney beans are are avoids for Os (and slightly different here in the States), but the cannellini (flageolet) are neutral. If your flageolets are precisely my cannellinis, you're OK with them!! Beans and fish species give us the most challenges across-waters, but as time and research go on, I'm sure we'll solve those as well! thanks, Gill! :-D

I am type O I am a non secreator I have been diagnosed with Scleraderma the lighter form I have severe acid having to take prilosec daily my esophogist is damaged food won't go down I have to push it down with warm tap water my knee is in bad shape and had to give up walking I feel better since I went on the O diet but would like to know what you would suggest for me anything that would help I am willing to try doctors just don't offer anything after starting your diet I lost 8lbs the first week in water I can now see my hands and can move more freely Help Phillis

Phillis, you're doing exactly the right thing, right now! Peter told me some time ago about another woman who was diagnosed with scleraderma, and who experienced complete remission just by following the diet. I think you made a great decision to use this plan! Just stick to the beneficials, have a little good oil every day, and move as much as you can. Drink a big glass of water between meals. Keep up with it, and please write again in a few weeks -- keep in touch, OK? you'll do just wonderfully, dear! :-D

Dear Heidi! I am an 29 old (young...) man from Bulgaria (Eastern Europe) and I have had and currently have a serious health problem, namely, a very stubborn psoriasis. The first rash burst out when I was 16, a couple of months after the sudden death of my father, so there may be also a connection between the two. Well, in the following more than 12 years I have tried nearly everything - from Herbalife to homeopathy. It all had no lasting effect, though some substances damped the rashes for weeks. Three months ago I heard of Dr. Dadamo's diet theory from a friend of mine, who has read "Eat Right for Your Type". Well, I have blood group 0 and I am a convinced (psychologically and physiologically) meat eater, so I would like to get just a simple nuitrition advice from you relevant to my special case. I hope, you will find the time for it! Yours sincerely, Theodor -- and many thanks in advance!

Welcome, Theodor ~ It's very astute of you to note that your psoriasis flared up for the first time during a period of intense sadness and stress. Severe stress is an immune-system weakener and a promoter of inflammation and tissue breakdown. Psoriasis is closely associated with those conditions.

For right now, I suggest you set up a weekly schedule of strenuous exercise, and stick to it religiously. If you are willing to do a yoga or meditation practice, either will also help your body step down from the endocrine state of fight-or-flight (which you may not feel or be aware of).

And give a good read through the column entitled PSORIASIS ~ it's tailor-made for you!

Thanks for writing, and my best wishes go out to you, Theodor! :-D

Hi Heidi Thanks for the great column - most informative. I'm an O (secretor status unknown) and starting out on this diet - cutting out potatoes and corn is really hard! Anyway, I have a favourite herb tea and I can't find the ingredients on the Typebase (can't afford the LR4YT book yet - paying big dentist bills cause my saliva doesn't have the right stuff in it. Hey, maybe that means I'm non secretor!). The ingredients are Mate' leaves, birch leaves, horsetail herb, nettle leaves, rosehips, rest harrow root, dandelion and ginseng (hell, I know a bit about herbs, and I ain't heard of half of these!). Also, my dentist recommended I use a fluoride mouthwash to reduce the risk of cavities. Are these okay to use? Another also, I live in New Zealand and am trying to source organic meat (love my meat!) - any ideas?! Anyway, thanks! And keep up the great columns! Jude

Hi, Jude ~ for meat, just eat that fabulous lamb you have there! I believe the meats you get there are all of far higher quality than we contend with here from the big farm cooperatives in the U.S. ~ far fewer chemicals and a better quality of life altogether, so you're better off to start with. Look around a bit ~ find a good butcher and strike up a steady relationship there ~ and do a websearch for "organic meat poultry" and see what pops up.

You Kiwis reading this (I know you're there, maties!), write in with help for Jude, OK? :->

Your tea looks fine to me, although I'd like to encourage you to use it only moderately (due to the mate'). Here is Peter's column entitled "Type O and Yerba Mate." See what you think. ;-)

I would NOT rinse my mouth with fluoride! And make sure it's not in your water supply, either. Fluoride in dentistry and public water is a clever scheme for disposing of a toxic byproduct of aluminum manufacture. No fluoride for you, dearie. Practice daily dental hygiene, floss & brush after each meal, and take a folic acid tablet & rinse it round in your mouth after that. Once you're firmly settled in your O diet, your saliva will be far less menacing. ;-D Staying away from sugars, and minimizing grain to 3 or 4 portions per week, will also help keep your gums & teeth healthy.

Nice to hear from you, Jude ~ please write in again! Oh! and let us know whereabouts you are in NZ, so that your ER-NZ countrymen can better help you out on the organic meat search! :-D

I am a type O and I see that for Os all meat is good except pork and products derived from pork which is in the 'avoid' category. Can you tell me why that is? Also I would like to know why if soya beans are to be avoided, soya products are considered neutral. Rhiannon

Greetings, Rhiannon! (what a beautiful name ~ one of my favorites!)

Soy is neutral for type O secretors, and avoid for type O nonsecretors. Take a look at the TYPEbase 3 database (also linked on our home page, www.dadamo.com). Enter the search term soy and go through the results (remember to use the "search" button -- the enter key doesn't work on that page).

Pork is not only "A-like" (not OK for Os or Bs) but also contains antibodies to the A antigen (not OK for As or ABs). It also carries viral material that is harmless to itself, but of uncertain effect on humans. Besides, pigs are smart, affectionate creatures ~ I'm really pleased they're on the "avoid" list for eating! ;-D hope this helps, Rhiannon, and please write again! :-D

Dear Heidi: I really enjoy you column - I find it most informative. I have I couple of questions for you. First, my blood type is O, my daughter is O+, my husband and son are both A+, does this mean that I am O+? I do not know if I am positive or negative. My second question is about evening primrose oil. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease and told to give up caffiene and to take about 1000mg of evening primrose oil per day. I have found it does help with the lumps and tenderness which I develop cyclically, however, since starting to follow the blood type diet, I have been quite apprehensive about taking evening primrose oil. Is there an alternative I can take? I still suffer from heavy menstruation and cramps and my doctor has told me there is nothing physically wrong. Is there something I can take which will address both issues? On a different note, I was interested to read the responses to Helene from Germany about her sweet cravings. I have occasional sweet cravings but now when I have them, I will up my protein intake instead of eating chocolate or carob! Thank you, Amelia

Hi, Amelia! Evening primrose oil has been found to be OK for all types, and is listed as such in the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia under the "female balancing" protocols. The earlier caution about it has proven unnecessary, so go ahead with it if it works for you! There are menopause support guidelines in that book as well, and a separate section on menorrhagia (heavy periods & cramps).

About your Rhesus type: well, you could be either one. It's based upon two genes. If you are Rhesus negative, you could have contributed a negative gene to your children, and your husband would have given the kids a positive gene. Positive is dominant to negative, so the kids would test Rh positive, even though they each would have a recessive Rh negative gene! Use the little home test kit available in the Store here ~ it tests for ABO and Rhesus. That way, you'll know for sure.

I'm happy the advice about sweet cravings rang a bell ~ I've certainly found it true in my own life! thanks for your note, Amelia! :-D

I am an O Type and am menopausal. I note in the list of avoid teas that redcover is not good for O types. Promensil which is a red clover phytoestrogen gave me hot flashes.... I am interested in finding out what herbs are better for O types for menopausal relief. I would also be fascinated to find out what different herbs are good for other blood types menopausal women. what blood type would benefit from promensil the red clover supplement.? I only found this website today and it's great Thanks. Carol

Hey, a warm WELCOME to you, Carol! Glad you stopped by!! :-)

Check the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia for a complete set of menopause protocols, including herbs and other supplements, specific to each blood type. Red clover is used in Peter's practice as a blood clot inhibitor and blood purifier -- for TYPE ABs -- but it's not in any of the menopause or female health protocols. And the advertisements that say you can take Promensil, then you don't need to add more beans & legumes to your diet, strikes me as rather shady at best. Do look into the Encyclopedia - it has everything you're looking for! :-)

Help-I've got gas! Husband and I started the ERdiet about 3 weeks ago, I'm O, he's A, and we have had the worst stinky gas! I'm trying to follow the A type mostly with a little of O included, cos you know that's how wifes are! What am I doing wrong, thinking we may be senstive to tofu and soy. Eating fish weekly, tofu 2 times week, chicken the remaining. I have to pack a lunch for him, so he gets alot of salads, grains, tofu and whatever is left over from dinner nite before. I've started baking bread using Spelt, could this be the culprit? We take digestive enzymes, probiotics daily as well and still have the gas and bloating. Thanks for you help Diane

{*smile!*} Hi, Diane! Well, let's pin down the cause first. If you and/or hubby are eating more beans than ever before, it may take some time for your body to kick in with the enzymes necessary to digest them properly. It will happen, it just takes some time. (Purchase some "Beano" in the interim! :-))Separating beans and other protein foods from grain will help, also. Grain plus beans (or meat, fish or fowl) eaten together sets up a confusion in the system, so that much of the protein may not get the attention it needs in the stomach, and it will pass into the intestines before being fully processed by the pepsins. Hence, more gas. Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly will also help one's digestion of all kinds of foods ~ remember not to dilute the digestive fluids by drinking water during the meal, unless it's just a sip or two.

Try those tips, and let me know if they help! Good luck to you both, my dear!! :-D

Hi, Tried searches first, but unable to find anything on the encyclopedia nerve health protocol for Type O. The book recommends 100mg. of NADH for 4 weeks. I have found NADH in 5 mg. tablets and taking 20 a day for 28 days would be very costly, especially when added to the cost of the other items. Would it still be beneficial to comply exactly to all recommended supplements and take smaller doses of NADH? Or better to drop X and take 100 mg, of Y. or.... You get drift. Thanks in advance. Barbara

Greetings, Barbara ~ I have a question in with Peter about that listing, but he is the busiest of men these days. When he gets back to me, I'll send out an update. Thanks, dear! :-D

Dear Heidi, Thank you so very much for taking the time to give us all such excellent information. You have helped me alot.I am hopping that you might know something about both humic and fulvic acid supplements, and Limu Moui. I am an O secretor and have been thinking about taking the Humic & Fulvic Acid supplement that comes in capsule form. As for the Limu Moui I am just starting to research it on the recommendation of a friend. What if anything can you tell me about either and would they be ok for me as an O secretor? I would greatly appreciate any information. Thank You -- Birgit

Hello, Birgit! You're very kind!

Hey, if you're looking for fucoidan, how about Fucus vesiculosis ("bladderwrack," and sold in the Store on this site)? Limu Moui is a hugely promoted multi-level marketing product, and I wouldn't touch the hype around it with a 1500-member affiliate list, if you know what I mean. The actual (as opposed to market) value of the product in your body is far lower than its "astonishing promises." Get the fucus instead, save money and avoid MLM insanity (just my opinion! :-)).

If you'd like a fulvic acid supp, compare the price of the one you're considering with Heallix. See which one makes more sense to you. None of the products you mention would be avoids for any type, so do your research and see what you prefer! thanks for your message, Birgit! ;-D

can you give me a subsatute for spelt flour as none of my local stores stock it.

steve

Hi, Steve! Check the book you're using for the OK grains for your type. Rye, for instance, is a staple in the bulk grain section of most HFS's. A good organic grocery can order spelt flour (I'd be surprised they don't carry it already), or you can find it online at a number of bulk suppliers -- www.purityfoods.com is one place to start. Do a websearch, and browse through them to choose which company you'd like to do business with. Good hunting, dear! :-D

Hi Heidi! I'm still hanging in there with this lifestyle change on learning the BTD. I have been taking Polyvite and Phytocal, changed from coffee to teas on my list, and trying not to eat avoids. I have to admit, I am feeling more energetic than usual, and my blood pressure is coming down! I'm even beginning to lose the weight as I decrease my grains and keep up on the exercise program I am beginning to love. My question is: If I have a serving of something made with soy, like 1 oz. soy cheese, or 6 oz. soy yogurt, do I count that as a grain serving because soy is a grain? And how much grain do I count it to be? I know I'm only supposed to have a few grains per week on the O listings. I really am excited to see AND FEEL positive changes with better adherence to the BTD. I'm hoping my cholesterol falls into place also. The more I read all the information posted on the BTD site, the more I realize I am only skimming the surface on adherence, but continue on to the promised benefits! Keep the columns coming!! I read everything the BTD team writes so I can glean as much life application knowledge as possible, even if I'm not an A, AB, or B, I still gain so much from everyone's input. Both my sisters died in their 50's and being 53 myself, it feels good to know that I'm doing the best I can for myself by being part of the BTD family. God Bless! Pennie Paxton

Hi, Pennie! Soy is in the bean/legume category for our purposes. 8 oz yogurt or milk, 1 oz cheese would count as one diet serving.

I'm so pleased you're enjoying this plan! You're doing great, and I'm glad your energy and comfort levels have increased ~ keep up the good work! :-D

Greetings, I have a question regarding the members of the Cucurbitaceae family. Sometimes I see 'pumpkin' listed as neutral for group 'O' members, and then I see Winter squash listed as 'Avoid'. As both 'pumpkin' and 'Wintersquash' could both belong to the same subspecies - I really would like to know the 'Latin' name so I know what we are talking about! Winter squash could be C pepo, or C maxima, C or moschata, and Pumpkin is most definitely C maxima....but could also be C pepo etc etc. Appreciate some info here as I grow (and eat!!) my own! I also understand that Cucumber is a 'no-no' - SIGH! Melons too ---- some 'cucumbers' are actually melons so some info to which species you have evaluated would also be greatly appreciated! Many thanks in advance, Ingrid in Sweden PS Secretor status unknown - I don't even know what to ask for *sigh* Ingrid

Hi, Ingrid. Hey, help me out here: where have you seen winter squash listed as an avoid? There are a variety of winter squashes (butternut and acorn come immediately to mind), but none are avoids in the TYPEbase 3 database. Best advice I can give you about the squash and melon names we use is to go to www.foodlexicon.net and enter the search term you're looking for. The food names come up in several languages. If that doesn't help, please write again ~ at any rate, I'd still like to find out who's listing squash as an avoid! :-D thanks!

I am a type O secretor who loves to eat plantains. I prefer the yellowish-green over the green but according to BTD, I should avoid because it contains lectin or other agglutinin. What does that mean exactly? What negative reactions are associated with eating them? Are all plaintains in the same category? There are the little fat green ones and the bigger, longer varieties in green and yellow....Please advise. Thanks!, Milcah

Hello, Milcah! I adore plaintains, too, so I feel your pain! :-} To find out what lectins are, read that book you've got there. It goes into quite a bit of detail. Lectins can do remarkable damage quite silently, without ever announcing themselves to you. All plaintains of whatever size or color will fall into the "plaintain" listing ~ sorry to say! Wish I had more consolation for you ~ the plaintain is quite a unique food item, and I certainly miss it in Caribbean cuisine! :-}

Hi! I just starting with the diet a couple of days ago and already I have hit a road block. I have O blood (not sure if it is secretor or not) and am a strict vegetarian. For blood type O persons it says to eat a lot of animal protein. What are my alternatives? Only soy foods are listed in the guide - what about vegetable protein? Are veggie burgers, veggie meat slices, "chicken" patties all ok to eat? What category (aviod, neutral or beneficial) are they under? If I soley eat vegetable protein as my protein source, will I run into problems and/or not be taking full advantage of the diet? If I can substitute vegetable protein, what suppliments must I take to make up for the "animal protein" loss? The rest of the diet seems do-able to me, my only hang up is the meat! Thanks in advance, Emily

Hello, Emily! The meat replacement food items you mention have all different kinds of ingredients. The key is to (1) check all labels for avoids, and (2) devise a weekly diet based on the food group portions/frequencies noted in Live Right 4 Your Type and the Food, Beverage and Supplement List books.

To get you started, just go to the homepage here (www.dadamo.com) and click on the "Getting Started" link at the top of that page. Lots of handy info there! Then, come back to this column, scroll to the bottom of the page, and enter the term vegetarian. Pick & choose among the type O columns that come up, or read 'em all. If you eat no flesh food at all, this diet will be better than any others because it will protect you from plant lectin damage and let you optimize your food group portions & frequencies for YOUR body. It isn't ideal for a type O to pursue vegetarianism, but I did it for many years, so I empathize with your reasons for doing so. Welcome, dear, and enjoy the plan!

I have seen tricalcium phosphate in a couple of items I was considering buying, but have never seen it mentioned in discussions of the OK types of calcium to use. Is tricalcium phosphate OK or should I steer clear of any products that include it? I’m not looking at taking it as a calcium supplement. Thanks, Don

Hi, Don! You'll see tricalcium phosphate in some kinds of table salt, and in loads of different supplements and drink mixes. It's also known as "bone ash." It's a dehydroxylated form of edible calcium, which does not require as high a level of stomach acid as, say, bone meal does, in order to be assimilable by the body. Won't do you any harm, I'd say! thanks for writing, dear! :-)