Heidi, Perhaps you or Dr. D'Adamo can enlighten me and answer this question? I have severe osteo-arthritis in my left hip, mild in my right hip and slightly in my knee. Dr. D'Adamo recommends calcium as I read in his books and also in a response from you to an "A" Blood type. I'm an "A+" SECRETOR and when I take calcium my hip and other joints become VERY STIFF and I can barely move. This has happened again and again, so I KNOW it's from the calcium.. Why would anyone take calcium for JOINT'S? Calcium is for BONES, teeth, not JOINTS. CARTILAGE is in the JOINTS. Calcium is hard, like stones in the kidney, or gallbladder. Cartilage is soft and flexible..I fail to see the calcium connection here. I do however take glucasomine, chondroitin and MSM which is the only natural protocol that relieves the discomfort for me. I think we need further study before stating the use of calcium for arthritis. The only thing I can think of is that he feels calcium makes the bones stronger and that takes the stress off of the joints..The only problem with that hypothesis is that only weight bearing exercise increase bone mass and makes bones stronger. I fail to see the significance of calcium for ARTHRITIS. And no matter what you say, when I take it, I get stiffer and have more pain. Doesnt' matter what form of calcium either. I have read that calcium is good for arthritis in a few different Doctor's protocols and I would have thought Dr. D'Adamo would have something different to say then agreeing with them. I'm disapponted. I also bet you or he will not answer me either. Diana



Well, that's the right kind of bet to make, Diana! because whether you're answered or not, you win (...kind of) either way! ;-)



I've just gone through the entire text and protocols under osteoarthritis in the Encyclopedia, and didn't see calcium listed anywhere, in any of them.



What kind of calcium were you taking that caused your joint stiffness? I'm not sure what calcium would have to do with your joints. Of course, it may help the bones' growth (at the bone ends) if there are pitted and worn areas, but other than that, I'm still wondering what kind of calcium (and what else was included in the supp) you took that made your joints stiff.



I recall that I've answered your questions about soy, etc. some time ago and about A1/2 and the MN system recently -- I am really very sorry you're disappointed about what you've read here and in Peter's books! and I do hope you find a source of information you can trust for your further health needs. Be well, and take good care, dear! :-}

Hi Heidi, I thought I'd drop you a line to add some information in relation to the secretor test in Melbourne, Australia & to ask a couple of questions. First in relation to the secretor test you advised previously (under the topic "where in the world etc") that there are 2 labs in Victoria that offer either the Lewis-type test or the secretor test. The first Lab that you named was Analytical Reference Laboratories stating that they offered the Lewis-type test & were considering introducing the saliva test for secretor status. However, I was informed by them that these tests are not available but should be available in a matter of months as they are still testing the procedures. The second Lab that you named was General Diagnostic Laboratories. They do offer all of the tests (Lewis-type, saliva test for secretor status, A1, MM). The telephone number of the head office is (03) 88313000. The person I spoke to was John Roberts. ALthough the head office is in Burwood they have collection centres all over Melbourne. The cost for all the tests is $90 & a request slip from a GP is NOT needed. Now, to my questions.



I am a Type A secretor (A1, NN) with CFIDS & gut-related problems, resulting in a large amont of weight loss. I have been taking probiotic supplements, primal defence, perfect food and goatein. My query relates to whether they are compatible with my blood type. I note your previous advice on 23 March 2003 in relation to Goatein that it is o.k. for Type A secretors. Is this correct as it contains whey? Is it o.k. because it is goat whey? Further I have a problem with nasal congestion where my nose gets blocked every night severely interrupting my sleep (not a good thing when you have CFIDS). I have been following the BTD fairly closely & have recently cut out goat's milk & goat's cheese but still have the congestion. I use a saline solution but it only provides partial relief. As stated above I have previously had digestive problems (bloating, tenderness, severe disbyosis) but all those symptoms have largely abated. I have completed 2 liver/gallbladder cleanses (epsom salts, olive oil & lemon) & passed hundreds of stones, some small & tanned coloured others bigger and green. Is the congestion likely to be a result of digestive problems? Could it be a result of more stones in the gallbadder/liver? Any ideas? Thanks, Glenn.



Hi, Glenn ~~ Many thanks for the update on secretor tests in Australia!



Goat milk is allowed for A secretors. Since the predominant component of milk is whey, I conclude that if goat milk is allowed for you, goat whey is OK as well.



About the probiotics: I can't vouch for any probiotic except the type-specific PolyFlora product. To evaluate any probiotic against PolyFlora, one would have to compare the species of bacteria used, the proportions of each species, the food matrix provided, and the procedure whereby the organisms are processed and packaged, as well as the guaranteed number of live critters present in the final product.



If your congestion continues in spite of cutting out goat's milk and cheese, then either the Goatein, and/or dairy-inclusive probiotics, and/or continuing healing and re-organization of your gut bacteria. My suggestion would be to eliminate dairy entirely (including any contained in supps). If the congestion remains, I'd start limiting grains to beneficials only. It's unlikely to be connected to the gallstones, but since you are an NN, I'd continue with the series of gallbladder flushes to optimize your digestion of fats, and then do them on a maintenance schedule (four times per year).



Also, while sinus-washing is a good idea to prevent infection, you can also work from the inside by drinking that hot lemon-water beverage each morning. It's truly great for clearing mucus from the system. Let me know how you get along, Glenn, and thanks for your report, dear! :-D

My wife is very distressed by the posting of 5/5/03, where Yvonne’s daughter is suffering from IBS, which has also afflicted my wife for over 30 years, since she was a teenager. She is an A+ secretor, and follows the blood type diet just as closely as she can. Sometimes it seems to me that she is fanatical about it, but given the problems that she has, and the help that she has received, I try to be very supportive. In any case, according to the posting of 5/5/03, the mainstays of her exceedingly limited diet have become off-limits, and she can hardly conceive of what to do from here. She can’t have salt [it raises her blood pressure], so cooking rice in salt-water is out. She is already off of all grains except rice and amaranth [she was just diagnosed with a yeast infection], no dairy, no meat, and no sweeteners, except blueberries. Both oats and rye cereals appear to aggravate the IBS. She is underweight, and struggling not to lose more weight. She is small-boned and Caucasian, which leaves her at considerable risk for osteoporosis, although she does take a lot of calcium supplements, and performs both aerobic and weight-bearing exercises every day to try to maintain bone density. There is also a strong family history of both heart disease and cancer, so she has been eating quite a lot of broccoli, onions, garlic, a variety of leafy greens, soy nuts [roasted, no salt], tofu, soymilk, and until the yeast infection was diagnosed, Ezekial bread. She also takes Quercetin which has been very helpful in controlling her allergies to pollen and such, but which also has onion as a primary ingredient. She practices yoga, both Hatha and Kundalini, every day, and probably is doing so right now in an effort to calm down. She takes a probiotic [Primal Defense] as well, along with larch and numerous other vitamins and supplements. She would like very much to overcome the IBS, along with the yeast infection, while still conforming to the blood type diet, and also trying to consume those things that will provide protection against cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, etc. Do you have any suggestions? GPF



Hi, GPF -- I'm a bit confused as to why she is distressed and upset...



Did she think that the suggestions I posted for a very similar case were new rules for her blood type? Please clarify on this, as I'm not sure what it is that has troubled her. If she inferred that she must eat only rice and blueberries forever, let me say clearly that my post of 5/5 contained a therapeutic approach, to be followed until one has healed. It's not a diet to be followed indefinitely. The type A diet has not changed in this regard.



I am not surprised that she is underweight, because she is not able to assimilate food through a damaged gut. That is the purpose of the therapeutic approach outlined, and it is by no means the law and the covenants -- it is only a suggestion from a well-informed and experienced source.



I do hope this eases her mind, but if not, please do write again and explain where the trouble lies? Thank you!! :-D

Dear Heidi, Thank you so much for answering my questions so promptly. I love this column. I have learnt so much more about the diet. Thank you! I have been doing this O blood non-secretor diet now, really stringently for three weeks. I have cut out all grains and fruit for the moment.



I am trying to heal a leaky gut - a result of many years of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. All this medication has caused joint pain and rosacea/acne. I am now at the point, where my joint pain has disappeared (especially from giving up the coffee and cream) and the flusing episodes on my face have gone away. However, I am really still suffering from constipation. I took a colon cleanse supplement last week - I think it has a mixture of rhubarb, aloe root, indian gooseberry, marshmallow and slippery elm. It worked beautifully - totally cleaned out my system! I also ate a huge amount of garlic that night. The only down side is that my skin broke out really badly on my face. I had about 4 really painful boils. Do you think that the garlic caused a detox reaction? I don't know if the herbs in the supplement agree with my blood type or not. The only other down side is that I developed a minor yeast infection as well. I know that I have to be really gentle on my gut - but I also cannot get constipated. Do you have any ideas? Sorry this is so graphic!! Thanks again for everything Suzanna



Hi, Suzanna ~~ Hey, you can't gross me out, dear. Bring it on! :-)



Well, rhubarb and aloe are both avoids, so whether the garlic promoted a detox or the avoids provoked the inflammation, it is difficult to tell. I would indeed use gentleness with bowel cleansing -- and take probiotics before, during and after the cleanse. You might have very good results from soaked flaxseed taken twice daily (as long as you're not sensitive to flax), along with a good measure of lightly steamed fibrous veg, like broccoli, kale, carrots -- and raw celery -- as well as okra, cooked through. Three servings of fresh vegetable juice per day can gently move everything along while providing healing minerals, and without irritating your gut or disturbing the balance of bacteria. The "colon cleanse" products I'm aware of either contain a multitude of O-non avoids, harsh "scrubbers" unsuited to injured tissue, or both.



Keep those progress reports coming, Suzanna ~~ you're getting better all the time, dear!! :-D

Long time follower of blood type diet. being type O. one question on a food item i do not see in the book, and that is taro root. where does it stand in avoid, neutral,benefical and avoid areas . Please let me know . Thank You Ken



Hey there, Ken! Welcome to the website... and let me introduce you to the TYPEbase 3 database. ;-) It's linked on the front page, too. Just use a one-word search term, and hit the "search" button (the keyboard "enter" key doesn't engage the search).



taro's there... :-D thanks for writing!!

hi heidi! yep, ive done the deed! Harley J was born on may 3 after a terrible labour. my question is a bit different in that it relates to blood type but not diet. i'll try to make a long story short.... i had to be induced 1 1/2 weeks early. im A neg and hubby is A pos. when i got my 36 week routine blood test done, it was discovered i had made anti D antibodies. (this is the injection they give all rh neg mums that birth rh pos bubs soon after birth to prevent 'haemolytic disease of the newborn'). because i had made the antibodies already, this meant that baby/placenta had had a bleed into my blood, therefore i made anti bodies to it. they induced my labour as there were concerns about the babies' well being. after 14 hours of extreme pain, and 1 1/2 hours of pushing, the baby distressed and i was given an emergency C-section. now to my Q. apparently im in the catagory of 1% of the population of rh neg mums producing their own anti D antibodies. Baby was born very healthy (a little jaundice) but there are huge concerns about future pregnancies. because i have the anti D in my system, i will 'reject' any future rh pos baby meaning miscarriage, or as Dr D says in eat right, birth defects. This is a bit scary and i was wondering if you or anyone else has any info on the subject, or if any BTD'ers have experienced similar problems. Doctors here arent very helpful and admit they dont know much about the subject. im yet to see a specialist in this area. i know its a different Q but any help would be appreciated. i thank god every day for my beautiful healthy son and trust he'll stay healthy on his A pos nonny diet! thanks Dr D! ros



Bless you, ros!! congratulations on your beautiful little guy!! ;-) You're such a champ! I'm sure you and he will do just splendidly! :-D



Normally, the Rh immunoglobulin shot is given at 28 weeks to prevent formation of the antibodies, the risk of which is highest in the last trimester. Once formed, it is true to the best of my knowledge that your body would reject future Rh positive pregnancies. I'm putting this up for everyone to see, though, and I'll post any useful information anyone can offer.



We're all thrilled that you & tiny bub are getting settled in together, and please accept my warmest wishes to you & your husband & new baby! :-D

I am a 39 yr. old women, Type A (RH Neg) - Secretor and I have been on the blood type diet, 99% compliant, for over 5 years, with wonderful results! But, lately it seems that my immune system has taken a turn for the worse. I have recently been diagnosed with a severe nickel allergy and I'm not sure why my symptoms have come on so suddenly. I am not able to eat any canned food, beans, chocolate, fish, pineapple or nuts without my skin blistering around my eyes and on other parts of my body. Many of these items listed above are on my highly beneficial list, and I'm at a loss as to what my protein source should be, or to what I should be eating. I've had blood work completed by my general practitioner to check my liver function and to check for heavy metal toxicity and I'm waiting for the results. I also seemed to have developed - out of nowhere - a sensitivity to chemicals. I've had to remove all cleaning products from my home. I now use organic and chemically free cleaners and products on my skin. I am constantly breaking out in hives, due to the fact that I can't control the chemical usage in other environments, like my workplace. My two main questions are, Should I continue to avoid my highly beneficial foods (even though I'm having reactions to them) And also, I'm leaning towards having the metal fillings in my teeth removed (they also contain nickel) as I've read about the adverse effects that mercury can have on a person's immune system. Do you have any comments on this? Shelley



Hi, Shelley! Well, you're going through a bad patch, and I am very sorry to hear of it!



A question for you, to start out with -- are you doing a daily yoga or meditation practice? Either one will do wonders to soothe the hives and reduce the allergic threshold. Quercetin (from yellow onions) is also a harmless and highly effective anti-inflammatory agent, very useful in allergies.



For your question about removing dental amalgam, go to the bottom of this page and enter the term "mercury" in the search form. The ones beginning with "Yoo-Hoo, Sarah" and "LR4YT in Spanish" contain useful info for you. You'd want to seek out a holistic dentist experienced in amalgam removal, and who can test you for compatible replacement materials to be used. I'll also put you in touch with other resources, if you request it. It is not something to be undertaken lightly, and you'd be better served to resolve the toxicity reactions you are having now before getting the fillings removed, since a significant amount of mercury is unavoidably released and absorbed in the process. It can make you quite a bit sicker for quite some time.



Also, look into Julia Chang's brilliant "Sensible Health" site. I'd give her a call, briefly describe your symptoms and ask if her protocols will help. She will be able to tell you immediately if she's had success with heavy-metal allergies. I suspect she can help, because of the liver involvement.



OK, see what you think, and let me know what you do & how the liver test comes out, etc.? thanks, Shelley, and best wishes to you, dear! :-D

Hi Heidi, Directions for Deflect mentions taking it with meals. I recall on one of your previous posts that it works best with a lot of water so the Deflect can spread out. This seems to be a contradiction to drinking minimal fluids with a meal. What should I do? Also, in BTD for surgical protocol (type O)is different than the recommendations in the Encyclopedia. The ER4YT seems easier to follow. What do you suggest? Love your column...and try to read it everyday. Thank you, Pat



Hi, Pat! If the Deflect is taken with meals, it will disperse just fine in the liquid components of the meal and the digestive secretions stimulated by the meal. However, if it's taken at night, or at any time away from meals, a big glass of water is a good idea. ;-) The surgical protocol in BTD is fine to follow, but the Encyclopedia version is more recent and thorough. The choice is yours -- either one will certainly help! Thanks so much for your note, dear! :-D

Hello Heidi, I would like to ask you if you could recommend something for inflamed gums. I try to floss regularly but they are still in bad shape. I don't like to use a liquid called Therasol recommended by my dental hygenist since it contains too many chemicals. Is there something else I can do. Is it being non-secretor makes it more difficult for me to keep bacteria out of my mouth . Thank You so much for answering. Magda



Hi, Magda ~~ Yes, we nonsecretors apparently have stubborn bacteria in our mouths. ;-) Taking CoQ10, using unwaxed floss (ribbon is my favorite), and swishing with a chewed-up folic acid tablet in water after flossing will keep your gums pink & happy. Try it, let me know how you do! :-D

Are there any specific dietary recommendations for Myofascial Pain Syndrome? (O, probably non) From internet research I'm guessing this is what I have. There are large areas along my hips, upper thighs, underarm and upper chest where even light pressure causes sharp bee-sting like pain. In those areas are lumps of varying sizes, and pressing these is quite painful. I've been on the BTD diet over a year now, and these tender areas have not diminished over that time. My other symptoms (stomachaches accompanied by night sweats, and IBS) completely disappear when I stay on the diet, and come back almost immediately when I go off the diet. I've been amazed at the amount of useful information garnered from a long morning reading your column, and will certainly implement some of the suggestions. Good inspiration too! Sincerely, Lisa V.



Hi, Lisa ~ you are very kind, dear!



There is a section in the Encyclopedia devoted to fibromyalgia (which applies to related syndromes, of which MPS is one). Type O shows up boldly in the annals of FM, so you're in plenty of company.



First thing to do is to eliminate all grain and dairy from your diet. Lectins are prominently implicated in FM/MPS, and many Os do far better with no grain, dairy -- even beans, to be on the safe side. We're not missing anything essential by doing so. Second, take a good dairy-free nutritional yeast daily, enough to provide at least 150 mg of B6 and 150% RDA of B1. Third, use Deflect-O at the therapeutic dosage daily. This is not only for lectins present in a meal, but also to help clean the system of old lectin-locked receptors over time.



In addition, there are three protocols (immune-enhancing, nerve health and fatigue-fighting) recommended to resolve this condition. There's quite a bit of reading there, and good advice on effective strategies. Do get a copy and start the protocols.



I also have heard good reports on the use of acupuncture and/or trigger-point therapy in FM/MPS. Here is a great resource on the physical therapy side of things, with links to other information on this topic. Have a good read, and let me know your progress with this, OK? thanks for writing in, Lisa! :-D

Hi Heidi, I (Type A, non-secretor) wrote you recently that I was waiting for the results of a biopsy. I can barely say it, but I have lung cancer. I don't know yet whether I will be having surgery, chemo, radiation, or some combo. But having been on the diet for a little under a couple of months now, I am very motivated to stay on it, because my intestinal troubles that could never be diagnosed that had been going on for over a year have about 90% gone away. Even though I had already been off of dairy, gluten, and other foods I'm allergic to. And I am now able to tolerate more supplements, which I couldn''t before. So I am very happy about all that!



I would like to find a medical practitioner near me who uses the ABO diet in his/her practice. Is there a list of such practitioners? I don’t know really where to start other than that. If you have any suggestions as to what I can do re: cancer, I would appreciate itl I’m sure there are many references to cancer on this website, but truthfully, I don’t have the energy and attention right now to sift through all of it. Maybe you can suggest a place for me to start? In a previous question, I asked about the reliability of tumor markers for non-secretors, but I didn’t really understand your answer. Do you know if tumor markers are more, or less, reliable for A-nons? I have been taking Rescue Remedy, which has brandy in it, and a burdock root extract to counteract the radiation from my medical tests, and that has grain alcohol in it. Is that OK? I think most of the herbal extracts are made from grain alcohol.



I have a bad cough and I would like to know if you have a suggestion for a strong cough remedy, one that deals especially with the "tickle" as well as the expectorant side of it. The prescription liquid, called Phenergen, the doctor gave me makes me feel sick. I'm using Ricola cough drops but they have sugar in them and sometimes work, sometimes not. Also, on another note, I've been thinking about getting some ARA6---it sounds like it's good for candida and you say it is an immune-enhancer---but my endocrinologist says I should stay away from immune boosters because they can set off autoimmune reactions, which I already have (autoimmune thyroid). Any thoughts? I have a couple of sublingual supplements that I really like (B complex and melatonin) that have sorbitol and mannitol in them. Is that OK to use?



Also, I asked you this before but I asked you so many things in one sentence that it got sort of garbled! My understanding is that Deflect is used when you eat something that's not on your diet? Or is it taken ongoing regardless? Is there something I can take that would do the same thing as Deflect but without the pineapple, which I am allergic to? I think you’ve mentioned that Quercetin is good for that, but my gut has never done well with Quercetin. I see that coconut milk is OK for A nons, which is great. But does it fall into the “1 tablespoon per day” category of oils, or is it in another category? Thank you, Heidi. JoanV



P.S. Are there food lists available for A nons specifically (either regular or pockete size), or are those included in the general A food lists? Are they up to date? Thank you. JoanV



Hello, Joan -- You need some help right away, so I'll go through your questions briefly and I hope I answer clearly enough so you can get the information immediately. If there's anything I'm not clear about, do write and I'll do my best with it!



There is a Practitioner Registry on the home page, in the "Tools You Can Use" section right in the middle. The direct link is HERE. That's our listing of health care folks who use the BTD in their practice. If you find none in your area, let me know and I'll help you find one.



The place to start is the Encyclopedia, which you have on hand. Use the A-nonsecretor protocols for lung cancer there. If you have any difficulty finding the ingredients, once again, let me know. Once you've begun, we can discuss how to proceed.



OK, you meant: is the presence of tumor markers in A-nons as reliable evidence of cancer as it is in A-secretors? If that was the question, the answer would be yes as far as I know!



I wouldn't worry about the amount of alcohol in the herbal tinctures, but just make sure the herbs in those products are OK for A-nons (there is a list in the Encyclopedia). I'd also not be concerned over the sorbitol and mannitol for now, but supps without them would be preferable for the long haul.



For the coughing, I'd try a combination of herbal teas (Alvita carries at least some of these): slippery elm, licorice, and horehound.



ARA6 is not an "immune booster," like echinacea for example. It's food for beneficial gut organisms, meaning it modulates immunity toward the optimal level for you. It is absolutely recommended for you.



Deflect should be taken regularly, not only for lectins in specific meals, but to clear old lectin damage from your system. If you cannot tolerate pineapple, the ingredients N-acetyl D-glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, D-mannose, N-acetyl cysteine, and FOS are all available separately in most health food/supp stores.



Coconut and coconut milk are in the fruit category.



The food lists for nonsecretors are found only in Live Right 4 Your Type (with the modifications on the Updates Page), the Encyclopedia and the TYPEbase 3 database on the home page. We have no "wallet card" or similar portable versions available.



As a last-but-maybe-most-important item -- it is ever so important to keep a daily meditation and/or yoga practice now. Very important! Please do!



My dear, I hope this is of help to you. Please know we're all thinking of you, and we'll do our best to support you in any way we can!! Take good care, and report in with any questions that arise! :-D