Hi Heidi, Another quick question generated out of our nonnie group. Given "a bean is a bean by any other name" exchange, I think I know the answer but wanted to make sure. Is rice protein powder in the grains/starches category and soy protein powder in the bean/legume category? Thanks so much Heidi for everything. Nina



I'll bet you know the answer, too, Nina! Yes, I'd put rice powder in the grains group and soy powder in the beans group -- nice to hear from you, busy person! :-D

Dear Heidi, Just thought I would pass along this suggestion to Eagle and her son who has toe nail funguses. Several years back, I had picked up a fungus at a public swimming pool, it was on the bottom of my foot, and no matter how well I doctored the thing, it just wouldn't go away. At about that time, I had gone to Florida to visit my sister. We went to the beach, and after walking across the hot sand a few times and spending time in the ocean, that nasty fungus had disappeared in two days! I believe the salty sea water was what did the trick. My sister has also had similar experiences with fungal infections and salt water.Hope this helps.Michelle



Hi, Michelle! Thanks for that note -- salt water is a great healer.

:-D

Hi, Heidi! Your column is awesome! I have a question for you. In today's column, you suggested freshly ground pepper for an O. The typebase tells us that pepper is an avoid. I know from your past columns that you've said fresh ground pepper is ok because it's the molds that accumulate after the pepper is ground that make pepper an avoid for O's. But you've also said the typebase is the final word on these matters. Could you clarify and do you think there might be similar distinctions with other foods? Thanks again, Heidi! Lisa



Hi, Lisa - it's a common misunderstanding about pepper. Look for the item "peppercorn," and you'll see the answer. It's fresh-ground "peppercorn" I'm referring to -- not the commercially pre-ground pepper (an avoid.) Hopw that helps!! and thank you for the VERy kind compliment! :-D

Hi! Im a 26 year old type O and after being (a very carb oriented) vegan for about 8 years, recently started eating fish. While I was generally in good health on my previous diet, about 2 years ago I started experiencing extremely bad period pain, which is made worse for eating - ie the cramps increase and i experiece a kind of 'stuck' feeling in my abdomen. The pain varies in severity and sometimes lasts up to 4 days and on occassion is accompanied by intermittent chills and fevers and near fainting.



I had several tests done in pursuit of an answer to all of these symptoms, and the only one that came back irregular was for TSH, which at 5ish was slightly outside the range of normal. My holistic doctor and I were both surprised as there is no history of autoimmune disease in my family, I am lean and otherwise symptomless. The test for thyroid antibodies was also negative.



I have been taking chinese herbs and getting acupuncture regularly, but these have only provided temporary pain relief.I also generally suffer from bloating and gas, and recently an iridologist attributed this to leaky gut syndrome.



Lastly, I also suffer from what is now mild acne which i have had since i was a teenager - it has greatly improved since them, especially since becoming vegan and cutting out wheat and processed foods, but i still get about 1-2 cysts/blind pimples a month, usually (but not always) around my period. I also get little red pimply bumps on my bottom, particularly when I sweat, which i would like to clear up also (i love exercising and dont want to worry about this!) Ok - so to my question! Do you think there is any link between all of these symptoms and what can I do to improve them ? I dont want to eat red meat or chicken - so is fish sufficient to bring about improvements, and what else would you specifically recommend? Thankyou so much for your time and all the best. emma



Allo, emma ~~ The very best thing for you WOULD be to begin eating the red meat. Turkey and other fowl which have a higher percentage of dark meat would also be of some help, but the swiftest recovery would come through eating proteins you are biochemically best designed to digest -- and they are in greatest quantity in red meat.



Don't ya just want to kick me?



I know this is not the answer you might have hoped for, but it is quite true: if your acupuncturist were familiar with the blood type diets (as mine was, bless her), the confluence of problems you're having would have indicated to him or her that your liver does not have enough of the proper protein to function efficiently, thus is not processing toxins or repairing itself in the manner it biologically expects to do. This causes digestive sluggishness, menstrual pain, skin outbreaks (particularly on the face and butt, as I fondly and very clearly recall from my meatless days!! ;-)) Your iridologist may be right. It is ever so likely that the grain-heavy diet has damaged the vili in your intestines.



Don't be surprised that your thyroid hormone levels have now shifted a bit. It has nothing to do with family history: it has everything to do with your diet, which just happens to be of the sort that commonly and surely associated with thyroid difficulties in type O. The health of the thyroid is intimately associated with the health of your digestive tract, especially the tissues, AND the flora & fauna, of the intestinal environment. What you are seeing is just the beginning of major trouble -- which you are entirely empowered to ward off, if you decide it is worthwhile to do so.



Fancy docs, various treatment modalities, and the entire panoply of alternative medicine will not help you if your recent addition of fish proves insufficient to your needs. I was not quite at the stage you've reached when I made the necessary change to meat-eating -- yet it took me some weeks to heal the obvious trouble, and over a year to come to a consistent state of good health. During that time, my body's needs for a rather enormous amount of protein (well over the suggested quantities) were voiced quite clearly to me. Fortunately, I obeyed the promptings of those needs.



One more note: It took me until the age of 39 to see visible evidence of the damage I'd inflicted through years of vegetarianism, veganism, juicitarian, fasting, you name it... and you're only 26, yet you're already in trouble. That's why I'm coming down so hard on you, dear!



Please: take stock of your philosophical premises. If you are eating flesh food already (fish), then it will be a matter of learning the truth behind real, conscious ranching and farming, and deciding if meat raised that way is what you may originally have thought, and whether your initial distaste is merited. You will not be able to change your biochemical nature or your body's needs. You can't circumvent those needs by supps or yoga or meditation or the highest-priced alternative medical care in the world. But YOU CAN HEAL YOURSELF, using food alone.



I have to apologize for yelling a lot! I have been through a great deal, not only in myself, but with others, which long ago convinced me beyond any of my old naive philosophies and emotional reactions that doing the very utmost to cherish and enlarge this life you are given is the highest value -- within that value is the prayerful taking of the proper food.



I hope I've not offended you, and that what I'm at pains to convey to you will be received in the spirit it's given: I want to see you in thriving health! Let me know if I can help with the details of anything to do with the O diet .... be well, and I'll be thinking of you, dear! write again if you're moved to do so.

:-}

I am an O+ but I don't know my secretor status. Unfortunately my husband is B+ secretor status unkonwn. Through your site I have managed to plan our meals so that we eat only foods beneficial to both of us. The amazing thing that I have noted is that "avoid foods" are usually the foods that we both don't like. It is as if we subconciously know that they are bad for us. My real question is about rooibos tea. Is it allowable for O types to drink it? I hope you can help me Yours sicerely Emmie



Hi, Emmie! Os & Bs do nicely together, so it's not so unfortunate as it might be! :-) It's a great feeling when you correlate "avoids" to stuff you find "yuck" anyway. :-D You are CERTAINLY fortunate there!



Rooibos, while technically "unknown," appears to be fine for all types, as far as we know now. Have a look at this column for more detailed information. enjoy!! :-D

I'm a B type and the book says its neutral for me to have grapenuts, but the ingredients are wheat, and wheat flour. Is it ok to eat and why? By the way I have lost 44lbs in 6 months on this program and feel great. Thanks Michelle



OH, that's fabulous, Michelle!! You should really be proud of what you've accomplished! :-)



You're using the Eat Right 4 Your Type book -- which has relatively older food lists. Look into getting hold of the Blood Type B Food, Beverage & Supplement Lists (or, 'Little Book') for the updated food lists. And, as always, if a commercial product contains an avoid ingredient, you can dependably avoid that product.



Congratulations on your success, and do let us know how you're doing as you go along, OK? best wishes! :-D

I get sickly bedridden & immobilized when I eat 3 day old refridgerated watermelon. What could be the cause?? I still have the bottle of phytocal ( to give away, any takers?? Big hug. brian



Hmmmm.... You know what, brian, I think it's the watermelon, but I don't know why it's having that effect. Invisible mold growth, most probably. Sounds like it's a real good idea not to eat three-day-old refrigerated watermelon any more.



About the Phytocal-B -- did you have any luck adding it to juice or MFC or smoothie for your mom? Take care, dear!! {{:-)}}

Hello Heidi... I read with interest concerning your recent column about Glutamine. If I may be the devil's advocate,may I suggest Dr. Bron's column entitled "Curious about Glutamine." A type A asked about it and received a glowing report. I am a type B and a long time power lifter,and have found said amino acid to be of much benefit...And if it is found to be in relative abundance in meats and dairy products, which are "B" bennies, or at least neutral, then the benefits would seem to outweigh the negatives... Looking forward to your perspective on this "advocacy."...John



Hey there, John! ... Umm... Are you saying Doc Bron is the devil? He doesn't seem like much of a devil to me, but I could be way wrong... ~~;-D



We're in an area where angels like me should fear to tread. ;-> And of course, in I go. In June of '99, Peter posted a note on our old message boards, saying that L-glutamine should be avoided by As & Bs. He noted that it raises cortisol, which is an issue for those blood groups especially. I should add that he was referring to taking it as a supplement -- not to its presence (and synergistic action) with other elements in foods. Second, this supp is recommended in three Encyclopedia protocols -- but only for Os and ABs, which tends to reinforce the impression that it's best reserved for those types. I checked through Ask Dr. D., and found glutamine mentioned only once in the context of a non-O or -AB question, which mention was made to note that an older medical treatment for scleroderma included glutamine.



As you know, I have no training or authority at all, at all, in any of these matters, so what you read here is always my own practical application of what I hear the archangels singing. ;-)



Now, if you look closely at Doc Bron's "Curious about Glutamine" answer, it becomes evident that he first informed the questioner about glutamine in general terms, including typical supplemental dosages. He then supplied her "food sources for As" request, by including in the list of glutamine-rich sources the items, "fish" and "beans." In other words, he precisely answered the questions she asked: What is it? How essential is it? What are good type A sources? but did not suggest that As use it as a supplement -- and indeed, she did not ask that question. ;-D



:-D OK, John! Who's the devil now, dear? LOL! Thanks so much for your note, it was a welcome opportunity to celebrate hidden harmonies! :-D

Hello, Heidi! I reached age 57, with grown children, and still had the same slender body shape I'd had as a teenager. Yes, I'd gotten a little chubby at some points in my life, but not recently. Then all of a sudden, while not eating more or worse, I develped an actual very pronounced stomach! I checked, and it was flesh, not just bloating or something internal. At the same time the thighs got larger, but the stomach was more of a shock, because it was flat soon after childbirth, and had nver been an issue. I am about 10 pounds above my best lifetime weight.



I am wondering what sort of chages could have produced this. It has lasted now for three months or so. I am wondering if there is a hormonal imbalance, some metabolic trouble, or what! I have for several years used a natural progesterone cream, and very occasionally an estrogen cream. Menopause was about a year and a half ago, and was not a problem.



I am an O non, and I get plenty of protein and benficial fruits. Probably need more vegies--I prefer raw vegie juice and try to get some every day. I was overdoing starches by eating rye toast or rice almost every day, but have cut down to 3 times a week and sometimes less, for the last two weeks. I believe I eat way too many nuts and nut butters and am working on cutting this back. I almost never eat sweets, except fruits and things with vegie gly. No doubt need more water and exercise.



But the sudden change startled me! What are some factors I can check? Since it is still a recent condition, I want to get rid of it quickly. I have heard that stomach weight is associated with health issues, more than other areas. Cyndi



Hi, Cyndi ~~ The stomach-area weight gain can indeed be an effect of hormonal changes. But please don't worry about any associated health issues -- are you thinking of the "apple shape," which is said to be more susceptible to certain ailments? This is different, and it's directly related to having come through menopause (congratulations on your smooth passage, by the way! Whoo-hoo!!! :-))



At first glance, it looks like what has happened is that "10% redistribution" thing. It's quite common among post-menopausal women to find that while they haven't gained any weight, some fat cells seem to have "migrated" to the tum! :-> Are you still using the hormone creams? If you've reduced the dosage noticeably at all, that may have triggered a little adjustment in fat storage. If you're in a rather warm & humid locality, you may also notice some additional swelling (at least I do on occasion) in response to the weather.



I'd keep up the successful diet strategies, and see if that water, some exercise, and the grain reduction you're already doing will take care of it. I believe it will! Os get great body-shaping results from strenuous workouts, and I'm sure you'll be very pleased with the effects... Keep me posted, OK? :-)

Aloha Heidi, If I could condense my story on how I got started on this new lifestyle I would. Only from an OK from Heidi would I do that.



Hi Dianne, this should help. Go back and read Dec.13th 2002 "Sweet Potpourri: all about vegetable glycerine! After I read this for the second time I started using V.G. instead of sugar. Just like Heidi recommended, use it instead of other sweeteners. Here's a Quote from that page "[in other words, release & convert STORED FAT for use in the body as energy]". I must have read stored fat as spare tire. :-)



Of course I've been on the diet for over 2 years and my motto is "no avoids period". If I don't know, I don't eat it. Green tea is just my coffee replacement, but it is way less caffeine.



About Tinnitus; I've had my ear's cleaned out more than once and as far as I know my jaw is fine and my bite is good according to my dentist. I'm not around loud or excessive noise. I have ran marathons and I can easily run 4 to 6 miles at a time, so my cardio is good. I've never had cancer or thyroid problems, but I will test both of these at home, which is more accurate than the doctors do at their clinics and way cheaper I might add. I have tried ginko capsules for 6 months, no change. I don't know what "double point white crystals" are, but am always willing to learn new things, please inform or send a web site.



Thank you Kim for the reminder to see my Chiropractor, he has told me that he has cured some people by adjustments. Also my next step is to get a mineral count done, with Heidi's advice on mineral tests from before. Thank you all for the help and Thank you Heidi for letting us all share and for sharing your knowledge with us all.



Just a note to Suzxx; If I'm not mistaken Peter says "O"s shouldn't supplement Magnesium. Sounds like Heidi is right about V.G. tring to detox all that extra magnesium. and Cindi, my wife could never lose weight swimming either, she's an "O". Mahalo nui loa, thats hawaiian for Thank you very much, Carl R.



Consider this an OK from Heidi!! :-D I'd love to hear your story -- oh, and so would Cocky, by the way! I think you deserve a column page all your own, so shoot her a note if you're interested! ~:-D



~ hey, if you have that reference to 'no mag 4 Os' handy, could you send it along? I've found several references to magnesium being OK for all types in Ask Dr. D., and the Encyclopedia lists it in the Female Balancing Protocol for all as well -- but I'm interested in what you saw!



Lovely notes & reports there, Carl ~~ blessings, and shine on! :-D

Hi Heidi! I'm a B- secretor, age 56, and have been changing my eating over to the diet for about 3 months now. And I'm enjoying the benefits greatly! So far the changes have been pretty easy - mostly opposite of what I was eating in the past. I'm now focusing on vegetables and need some help with the B beneficials.



I read your column every day and have picked up lots of good tips - thank you! The easiest way for me to eat many vegetables is raw. If I can add them to my salads (which work well for me), I actually enjoy things like cabbage, brocolli, cauliflower and even kale is OK. I have trouble with simmered vegetables of any kind - and simmered or steamed kale, collards, mustard greens, beet greens simply don't work for me.



Your June 9 post to Matt/seedy seemed to indicate that I need to cook the brassicae vegetables - not eat them raw. Does this apply to juicing as well? I've just read Juicing for Life, which includes kale, brocolli and other brassicae in the juices, and I certainly could drink juices. Is it ok to juice kale, brocolli, brussels sprouts, beets? How about collards, beet greens and mustard greens - can I eat them raw or juiced? I cook stirfrys, and can eat some of these vegetables that way. But when I look at the amount of vegetables I should be eating daily coupled with my very busy life, raw vegetables look really attractive. Is it a firm "cook all brassicae" or is it cook some, eat some raw and juice some? Thanks for your help and insights, NanJoy.



Hi, NanJoy ~ welcome! I'm pleased you're enjoying the B diet! :-)



You can certainly juice some of the brassicae, stir-fry some, eat some raw. It's best to maintain a wide selection of veg in your diet in any case, so as long as you do include the root veg, lettuces and others as you go along, and since you don't mention any thyroid difficulties, then use them all as you like!



best wishes, and thank you for writing in! :-D