I agree whole heartedly with Peter D'Adamo's blood type 'beneficial' and 'avoid' lists. However, I don't think he understands that there is a lot more that goes into making a diet work than the lectins in a food. What about the energy value of a food? Why doesn't this diet promote more raw foods? Mark in NY

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Hi Heidi, yes, it's your "seedy B" (aka "seed boy") again. Thank you very much for your response (and compliments)! Actually, the impetus of my food intolerance question had not to do with elimination diets as much as my worries. Let me explain. Last year i was in really bad shape health-wise with very bad headaches and extreme fatigue and tiredness, which ended up boiling down to a diagnosis of migraines and food intolerance to beets. However, that was also before i had employed the BTD for food selections, and two of my main food staples were whole wheat and soy (just the other day, i was tempted to buy a beet to challenge the intolerance). Recently, i was becoming tired around the same time(s) each day, but there were too many variables to decide for certain whether the likely cause was diet, environment (recycled air puts me to sleep, even lack of adequate light), or lack of sleep (even though i get 7 or 7.5 hours per day) -- i actually think it is the lattermost or combination of the latter two. Anyway, in view of the information that "lack of variety" can exacerbate intolerance, i have made many [paranoid] changes, but don't believe the precursors to have been the cause, now. My worry about "don't eat the same thing two days in a row" is because i can only eat so much and produce only stays fresh for so long. E.g. a head of cauliflower can last me quite some time eating it daily in different incarnations, or a bundle of greens eaten daily could last a week; or seasonality and "what looks good" may put me eating mustard greens (mmm!) for a few weeks in a row. Having experienced a very major intolerance reaction before, i'm just a little more panicky than i probably should be. I've actually become less "die-hard" in my food choices (more neutrals) as a result. So, in short, i don't really know what my "question" was; perhaps just one for reinforcing my notion that what i've been doing is fine and to not worry about varying every single element daily. Hmm, that doesn't quite seem to bear a direct question for you, and i do believe a question occupies my bag of goodies, so... What is your stance on produce in regards to the raw foods and enzymes issue (let us limit ourselves to fruits and vegetables, as legumes and [sprouted] grains seem to be more specialized issues)? Should we strive to minimally cook, if at all, our veggies? Admittedly, one point for the raw foodists is the fact that most cooking reduces vitamin content, although there are exceptions (broccoli's vitamin C, IIRC, benefits from a brief steaming), and another good point are the wonderful bromelain, papain, sulfurophanes, etc. The main objection usually seems to be one of toxins or poisons, but here, the amount consumed usually does not give a significant amount, or cooking would not really render them inert anyway, or they are just being exaggerated (e.g. oxalic acid). So, what are your thoughts? I see that i'm quite the rambler today (sorry!). matt.

Hello, Mark & Matt! I've put your questions together because they seem pointed toward a similar group of issues.

Mark, actually lectins are only part of the basis of this plan, which you can discover by exploring the Research section of this site, linked from the home page. We feel that the ideal foods are those produced lovingly, in optimal surroundings, and eaten as soon after harvesting as possible. Energy is important, indeed. :-)

Matt, I sensed that you were pretty intensely focused on your food choices ~~ I guess saying "have fun with it instead" didn't ring a bell with you! :-} I believe that eating plenty of raw vegetables (and fruits, of course) is an excellent idea. I also think we're designed to do so on a seasonal basis. Most winter vegetables require some cooking to be comfortably edible, while most spring and summer veg lend themselves to uncooked salads of one kind or another.

It's difficult to get a huge variety of vegetables if one is buying only for one, or two. But if you have a decent storage area, you can store those greens or other items for the week, and then purchase different foods in the next week. After a while, I know you'll find that strict rotation isn't necessary for you any more. Your body's "threshold" for allergic reactions will have been raised through following the diet, which removes a great number of irritants and provides healing substances in plenty. I hope this is helpful! :-D

Heidi, thanks for being so prompt with answering all my questions. You asked what my tryglicerides are. They are 33....which is ridiculously LOW....Can't figure out how. I've always had very low tryglicerides. Not really sure what tryglicerides do. Yes, I use flax oil but not every day....The ground seeds often make me feel bloated but in small quantities I guess I could try them again. A fatty acid profile blood test showed me very low in the omega 6's. Even eating nuts and seeds, my omega 3s were sky high and the 6's were low. I had been taking fish oil all winter. Is it okay to use Udo's oil as a supplement to get omega 6s? Evening Primrose oil, borage oil and black currant seed oils, I know are omega 6 oils but they all give me headahes. Udo's oil doesn't. And it contains flax oil, but in balance with all the 6's. I've used up one small bottle so far and think I'm sleeping better since I started it. I tend towards low blood pressure and wondered if ginko or hawthorne could lower it further? I will get the red rice yeast and try it for lowering my cholesterol. Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate all your great advice. Maddy

Hi, Maddy! Whatever you can do to balance those omegas is a good idea! Hawthorn and gingko do not act on blood pressure -- they work on the elasticity of the artery walls, which is why I recommended them to you while you're getting your cholesterol under control. Peter wishes hawthorn were included in every breakfast cereal! ;-) that's how beneficial a basic item it is.

Take care, dear, and let me know your progress! :-D

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