Dear Friends! During the upcoming month of November 2003, On The Diet will be taking a wee break.

I will be posting answers during that time to questions submitted in October, but the "Ask a Question" page will be taken down on November 1 -- new questions won't be accepted until the 1st of December.

This hiatus will allow me to attend to a number of backlogged tasks, including checking the database against our master food list (remember that one? sheesh, it's been a while, eh? :-}); redesigning some aspects of this column and expanding the FAQ; catching up on personal assistance requests; and a myriad of other things which have patiently waited on my to-do list for a rather longer time than I'm happy with. In addition, there's some business travel which will no longer wait, as well as other personal matters I've temporized on ~~ so it will be a busy time, and a productive one.

If there are Qs you've been hanging onto, please do submit them by midnight of Halloween ~ and those of you with favorite Thanksgiving recipes you'd like to share, now's the moment! :-D



Can you repost Oct 24? The questions after 'Filipino food questions' did not post. Thanks! Shima

Hi, Shima! The problem you're having is local to you ~ you may be running Netscape on a Mac, or your pagefile allocation is too low. This page is optimized for Internet Explorer, so using that browser may be the only change you need to make. You can see the 24 Oct column anytime by going to the bottom of this page and hitting the "list previous topics" button. Hover your mouse over the links, and look for the one dated 20031024. Hope this helps, dear!

Dear Heidi..... As to the chicory question I sent in yesterday, I found out part of the puzzle this morning by simply asking the old market guy who grows it! Duh.....silly me! He tells me that "frisee" (which is, I guess what you call chicory) is part of the "chicoree" family of plants. As is endive (Belgian endive to you), escarole or "scarole" in France, as is some other kind that is dried to make the coffee-like beverage. He did not seem to know about the sweet extract. What I've been eating tons of all summer is "chicoree blanche amelioree (? not too sure on this 3rd word...)." I think I am safe to assume it is at least neutral, but I'd guess beneficial!

Now I have another question....I looked again in LR4YT in the veggie section to check out cabbages, and noticed that the avoid cabbages did not include what I see here as "chou vert" - a pretty dark green one at that, and it grows like a normal head of cabbage. Could that possibly be a "kale" and therefor okay for moi??? I'll look at the photos on the site you mentioned, but thought I'd ask you as well.... merci mille fois, Abby

Also, is it a no-no to eat the SAME veggies daily???? I know variation is best, but I'm not in California here.... As always, Heidi, merci beaucoup for your help! a bientot, Abby

Hallo, Abby ~~

Chicory encompasses several different varieties (including what we call "frisée lettuce," the nearly all-white, very tangled/curly/crunchy/somewhat bitter stuff). That's the blanche (white) chicory you've been eating, if I understood you correctly. The "endive" in the food lists is Belgian endive (pale, slender, tight head lettuce), which is a neutral for you. Escarole, however, is listed separately as beneficial (it's part of the chicory family).

All cabbage (here, we mean green or white or red or any kind of cabbage -- these are all plants which grown from a central root and the leaves form a tight or loose head) is avoid for O nonnies -- and take another look at that Cook's Thesaurus page again for pictures of kale & how it's different from cabbage. Kale comes in "stalks" -- each stalk ends in a large leaf, just like red, green, rainbow or white chard (the color refers to the stem & vein color, not the leaf itself which is dark green), or collards. Kale's leaf can be very curly and spiny, or flat with loopy edges, or dagged (think of oak-leaf edges) or long and lance-like (lacinato kale), but it's always one stem -- three to six inches long -- one leaf.

:-) Well, the south of France isn't California, but I always thought California was trying to be the south of France! ;-D I do want to encourage you to seek out variety, but on the other hand, it's a good thing to eat what's available there locally and in season. This means a few weeks or months of one thing, then perhaps something else comes along. Onions, garlic, dark greens, salads, carrots, celery, squashes of one kind or another, and root veg like turnips, parsnips, kohlrabi, and the seasonal artichoke & asparagus & pepper & tomato should all be available at one time or another there where you are. I wouldn't worry about eating similar things on a daily basis, but I'd do some foot-soldiering around to see if wild greens, mushrooms, different kinds of onion or garlic, etc. couldn't be found from very small green grocers or local markets.

Abby, just do as we all do: the best we can! And just think how VERY much better our best is than the alternative! :-D

Heidi, Rachel asked for a pumpkin pie recipe for blood type A. I just did a quick search on Google for "tofu pumpkin pie" - there were over 16,000 entries. The first list looked like it would do the trick. Tofu pumpkin pie is simply delicious and it eliminates the need to use eggs as well as milk. Now that I know I'm a B nonnie and can't eat tofu, I remember it with regret (regret that I can't eat it any more, I liked it so much!). Best of luck to Rachel and her Thanksgiving feast. Janet



AH! thank you for the pie and menu tips, ladies! Much appreciated!!

:-D

Hi Heidi, the comment on the gall bladder flush in today's offering was timely. I was contemplating doing the flush, and in preparation I purchased several gallons (one at a time) of apple cider. I started drinking 2 - 3 glasses a day. I did pass some stagnant bile at the beginning of this, and after a day or so, got a low-grade 3 day long headache, which I interpreted as releasing toxins, thanks to the cider. I kept drinking the cider for 10 days or so, then went on a whole day fast of apple cider.

I've never done a flush before, and my gall bladder is packed with stones (had an ultrasound!), so I was a bit nervous and took a teaspoonful of epsom salts before intending to take the oil/lemon mixture. I'd already gotten a nice little headache from the cider, and after the epsom salts I felt a little nauseous. I passed on the oil/lemon, thinking it would only get worse.

Today's account helps me to understand that my reaction was normal - I was starting to talk myself into having a psychological reaction based on fear of doing the flush.

Anyway, the interesting thing is that I do feel different after this non-flush of my gall bladder. I'm continuing to drink the cider, planning to eventually find time to do the flush (I need to find three quiet days in a busy schedule).

I'm also taking a little tumeric in my energizer shake in the mornings, which seems to help with the gall bladder as well, and some lipotropic vitamins. But I'm beginning to notice that I am coughing a LOT less and have a lot less flegm to blow out, things I was attributing to a hiatus hernia, so I suspect that some of the stones were dissolved, at least partially, and flushed out with the epsom salts.

I'll buy a bottle of coke or try some ginger beer, whichever is easiest to obtain for the "real" flush. Thanks for listening, and thanks once more for being there for all of us. Out of general interest, I am 65 years old, B+ non-secretor, and have been following the BTD for the past 6 years. Janet

Sounds like you're on the right track, Janet! You might want to peruse the forum I suggested in a previous column -- just go down to the bottom of this page and search "curezone," you'll find it that way.

I think you will be astounded at the difference the flush will make in your well-being. Once the gallbladder and liver are cleared of stones, the lymphatic system is much less burdened. You've already had the hint of that, with the phlegm decreasing. When you do the flush, you'll have no doubt as to its effectiveness.... ;-> the proof will be quite evident.

Very best wishes, and thank you for all your kindnesses over the years. It's always such a happy thing to hear from you! :-D

For Tina, taking the chinese bitters etc. for the gallbladder and liver cleanse, I too have a difficult time taking this kind of thing. It takes everything I have in me to keep taking HEALlix with that awful metallic aftertaste! What I do with the bitters is put the liquid in empty gelatin capsules (I use these capsules for lots of stuff, including dried, powdered kale and collards!). Six size "00" holds just over 5ml and since I can swallow just about any pill quite easily, this works quite well for me. The capsule dissolves very quickly, in fact you have to swallow it very soon after you fill it or it will dissolve right in your hand! I don't think that the capsule will effect the tinctures too much, but I can't get them down any other way and this way is better than none! Hope this helps. Cheers, Paige

thanks, Paige ~ I'm sure that will come in handy for those having trouble gagging down some of the foul-tasting stuff! Herbal tinctures are notorious for tasting like anything from pond scum to last year's dirty gym socks. thanks for the assist! :-D

Dear Heidi,O.K., I feel I must ask this: Which is worse for me, pork (a universal avoid ) or any of the foods on the "red flag" list of avoids, as pork does not appear on the list ( or anyone's red flag list, for that matter). I was under the impression that the "red flag" listed foods were the most damaging of all avoids for the respective blood types.Thank you. Jonny, an O nonnie

Hey there, Jonny! I tell you what: each avoid has a combination of reasons why it fell to that status, and while the "red flag" list is a very brief and handy reference, every avoid is pretty much equal in action to any other. The only exceptions are for healthy, average-weight secretors: those exceptions are found in Tier 2 of each food group, in Live Right 4 Your Type. The foods labeled "avoid" in Tier 2 may be cautiously eaten by the folks I just described. We nonnies are out of luck on that score.

Pork is one of the most deleterious foods in every way ~ so please treat it as a solid member of the O-non avoid family! :-} thanks for your note, dear!

:-D

Hello Heidi, How about an extremely sensitive o non-secretor with digestive problems since birth? At the age of 44 I am still struggling with a very painful body and searching for natural and not to painful ways to solve the problems. Over the last three years I have done the gall bladder flush for about 10 times and nearly 4 months ago I started taking Julia Changs tinctures. Once again my body does not accept it. The alcohol in the tinctures is made of mais and from what I have learned it is an absolute avoid for o not to mention the non-secretor.

Do you know of any alternatives to clear gall stones and to dilate the gall bladder ducts?

Do you know if the following foods are o.k.for o secretor and non-secretor:hemp seeds,kudzu,sjiso leaves,umebosjis(Japanese salted plums),indian dahl(white and yellow lentils),kardemon seeds? Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon. Your sincerely, Els

Greetings, Els! I am very sorry to hear you've had such persistent troubles.

How is the nonsecretor diet going for you? I'd like to hear more of your history of diet, exercise, notable stressors, etc. since you've been struggling with these issues all your life.

Epsom salts, olive oil and lemon juice (or grapefruit juice) are the only means I'm aware of with which to do the basic liver/gallbladder flush. If you mean something *besides* that flush -- there are medical interventions, but I'd suggest you first get a scan to determine whether gallstones large enough to show are present. That may not be the root of your trouble.

All the foods on your list are unknowns, except for cardamom (a spice, which is neutral for everyone). Do take a look at TYPEbase3, also linked on our main page (www.dadamo.com). All the current food values are there. Search with one word only, and hit the "search" button on that page -- the "enter" key does not engage the search.

So please write again, and let me know more about your diet history, and what your current daily menus and exercise program look like. Thanks so much for writing, and I look forward to hearing from you! :-D

Heidi, I am a 39 year old Type O, Non-Secretor in Arlington, TX. You didn't know it, but I read you everyday, though I won't promise I can always recall details I possibly should know from all the reading :-) You make a difference in my life and its important you always know how much you do for me and others.

My question is about sparkling mineral water. I used to buy a bottle or two of Gerolsteiners at Whole Foods weekly. Two months ago I noticed Costco has a case of 12 25 oz bottles of San Pellegrino for 9.99 which is a nice savings so I bought one. Now I buy a case a week and honestly besides the water from my fruits and veggies and a little water I blend in with the greens I pressure cook each morning, nearly my only water source is San Pellegrino. I drink two bottles most days (so about 50 oz.). Putting aside the cost (about $40 a month) is this a wise source as the majority of my water? I feel it's better than my tap water for sure, but can I get too much? Is San Pellegrino a good brand as far as mineral content? I just realized I'm drinking a lot of this stuff and thought I'd ask. Also is the carbon which I assume is part of the carbonation acceptable? Isn't carbon bad for the body?

Before I go I have to brag about the beef available to me. There is a man here in Texas who gets ranchers around the state to certify by affidavit how they are growing their Longhorns (the longhorn is a huge animal as opposed to a regular cow) which is free-range. Anyway, he has found a niche in Whole Foods and Tom Thumb grocery stores here by taking all cuts of the longhorns and making them into ground beef. The longhorn is so lean that the meat is 98% fat free and has a wonderful taste. I even add olive oil back in and cook the ground beef on low temperature (below the olive oil's smoke point)! The meat is certified not to have any groth hormones or stimulants and the longhorns graze on the native Texas grasses. It's normally $4.99 a lb but they had a sale this week at $2.99 and I bought 20 lbs and froze it in 2 lb packages. This is 80% of my protein and I am so thankful I can buy it so fresh and conveniently.

I hope your readers understand the importance of avoiding most of the red meat sold in their grocers because it is grain fed and this unbalances the Omega 6 to omega 3 ratio in favor of the omega 6's where the grass-fed or free-range tilts in the Omega 3 direction. Again thanks for helping to change my life and health for the better. I wish I could tell you my whole story, but the story is still evolving and I'm busy living it out :-) I just need to find a Blood-Type-diet friendly wife as I have never married yet! TomW

Tom, you are very kind! I'm very pleased that you enjoy and benefit from this column. :-}

San Pelligrino is a fine mineral water, and you've got a great deal on the cases there. It is lower in minerals than many of the others, but the carbonation is natural (rather than factory-pumped-in) and is fine for you. Even commercial carbonated water (like seltzer and soda waters) are OK for type O. If you'd like to compare various mineral waters, the place to go is www.mineralwaters.org. Everything you'd want to know about them, and things you may never have thought to wonder about, all gathered together there. Wonderful site!

Your friend has created a truly great service to people looking for the best possible beef. I wonder if he has considered listing his business at www.eatwild.com? These folks educate and provide resources for finding excellent animal products of all kinds. I can imagine that the meat you're getting is truly fabulous, and the price sure beats the $9.00 per pound I pay for ground buffalo meat around here! ~:-D You're right on the money about the omega fat balances, and I'd add that the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of grass-fed animals is many times that of their grain-fed counterparts.

AND ~ I'm hoping some fine Texas lady will see your post and give us a holler! You never know how these things can work out... ;-> Blessings, Tom, and thanks so much for writing! I'll look forward to hearing your story, at whatever point you start writing it! :-D

Heidi, I wrote you earlier about a daughter, age 14, type A, unknown secretor status, who has Ebstein’s anomaly, which means her tricuspid valve leaks and she may someday have to have surgery if it gets too bad. We just got the news that she was taken off fast-track for surgery because her she did so well on her VQ test, doc said to just monitor for now. As for my questions, she is to be prophylaxed with an antibiotic before dental work– she has poor teeth, to avoid any possible trouble with her heart valve. It is also time for flu shots, which she has been told to get annually because of the abnormality also. My whole family has gotten the flu shot in the past to avoid any possible close contamination if one of us were to get the flu to avoid her from contacting it from us. What do you suggest about the above two circumstances ?? Thank you for your help!! RuthM

Hi, Ruth! Peter has said it's best for nonsecretors to get antibiotic treatment before any invasive dental work, and I think it's very important for anyone with a serious health condition to get the secretor status in order to use the diet to its full potency. So first, I hope you'll get the secretor test for her.

As to flu shots, I suggest ProBerry3 (in the Store here) instead, along with a daily maintenance dose of Heallix (www.heallix.com). Flu shots are notorious for creating more problems than they solve. Most aren't even designed with "this year's flu" as a basis.

Maintain a high immunity through diet and stress relief, and those supps which help in that regard. Look into the various immune boosters for type A -- echinacea is a good common one, along with adequate daily intake of zinc, selenium, minerals, vitamin C, E and A.

Hope this helps, and warm wishes to you and your family, Ruth!! :-D

About protein I realised last week that even when I eat only beneficials and a few neutrals I sometime get very little protein because I find meat and fish expensive- I have almost collapsed a few times when I only got about 25 grams of protein a whole day. Here In Denmark you ought to get 1 gram og protein for each kilo bodyweighr- in my case around 80 kilo at the moment- do you think I should go for this amount- and is it only true for B and O´s ? Henriette B sec. res -

Whoa! Hi, Henriette ~ Try to keep your protein intake up to at least the minimum of 100 grams daily. I wouldn't be surprised if you needed at least half again as much as that minimum. See if you can squeeze the budget somewhere else, to make room for more good protein. It's essential for your health! Hope this helps, and let me know how you're doing, OK? best wishes!! :-D

Aloha Heidi, Thanks for all your knowledge! I read your explaination on the tier system a couple of weeks ago and I spent quite a bit of time looking for it, but couldn't find which day that note was. Could you explain that again or refer me to that page. Sorry for the inconvience. Also since Lime is a Tier two bene for type A's, could it be used in the water instead of lemon? One other thing, in type O meat tier two there is reference to heart/sweetbread only. Is this from any beneficial meat in the tier one and general nutrition? We never understood the tire system until you explained it earlier, and now I want to do this for my tinnitus, Thanks for the last advice, I,m doubling my B's and feel better. Just need to remember to get that "KAL" nutritional yeast and start taking that. Will be testing my thyroid soon. Sincerely, Carl and Julie

Hello, Carl! Perhaps you're looking for "Tiers Revisited?" It's in two parts, and if you hit the "view previous" button at the bottom of this page, then do Control-F and search for "revisited," you'll see both of them.

Lime can certainly be used in place of lemon, if desired. And heart/sweetbread refers to beef -- steer or veal. In general, if an animal is listed as neutral or beneficial, the innards (or "fifth quarter" as they're sometimes referred to) are even better. :-) This is assuming ranged or wild, medicine-free, organically-fed and preferably grass-fed is the kind of animals we're talking about.

I'll look forward to your thyroid report, and thanks for writing, Carl! It's always a pleasure to hear from you! :-D

hello heidi iv'e got about just less than half of a bottle of proberry liquid in my fridge which has been there for nearly a year its lovely but i keep forgetting to take it, is it still alright to take as it hasn't got a sell by date on it i love the taste and it stops me from catching colds i look forward to hearing from you all the best mary

Dia dhuit, Mary! Well, don't tell anyone, but I keep a bottle in the fridge and I swear it lasts forever! ;-> If it still smells nice & fruity, and shows no mold, go ahead and take a teaspoon of it. If it tastes good, it's good. just keep that between you & me, though! ;->

Hey Heidi, Question: Chicory Powder: Raw or Roasted? In Doc Dadamos protocol for Intestinal Health he recommends chicory powder. Do you know if he means raw chicory powder or does it matter if it is roasted. Thanks. RuthD

Hello, Ruth ~~ I believe it's the dried unroasted vegetable root. However, the roasted root makes a lovely coffee-like drink! :-D

Hi Heidi. I'm O Secretor. I was looking through the encyclopedia today. And, came across something I hadn't realized. It says that soy oil is an avoid for type O. I don't consume soy oil but I was under the assumption that it was okay as every other soy product is neutral for type O secretor. If it was in a product I wanted to consume I would have eaten it before today. I am wondering.. if there is lecithin in a product that comes from soy oil.. is that an avoid or is that okay? Also in some of the supplements I take there is magnesium stearate.. which I think is from soy oil.. is that okay? Thanks. Candace

Hey there, Candace! Lecithin is fine, no matter the source. That goes for magnesium stearate, as well (which you'll find in many supps, because it makes the capsule-filling machine's job easier. :-D

I have read your entire series, am trying to adapt my diet to follow your plan. However, you only concentrate on three ancestries (white, black, and asian). I am a mexican, my husband is cherokee. We would like to know how your plan would adapt to our ancestry since we do not belong to the three types you profile in your books. Thank you Raquel Hess

Greetings, Raquel ~~ welcome!

Your husband would follow the diet according to the Asian guidelines.

For you, it is a question of whether you feel your ancestry is more European or more Indio. If European, use "caucasian" -- if Indio, use "Asian."

Please do write again! Very nice to hear from you, and we'd be pleased to answer any questions that arise as you get comfortable with the diet. :-D

Hello, Heidi! This monday my huband is going to do his liver-flush for his first time and I'll do for second time as Julia advised. I have some questions for you: When I did for the first time I did the 2 days apple juice with olive oil (Julia's way) and then I kind of did your way but instead of juice I blended the vegs and had soup with the Veg Juice ingredients. Do you think it is ok?

Once we do not know our secretor status, should we not do the apple juice days? I tried to find the Malic acid to mix with the water but it is not easy to find. Also, if we do the Veg juice way instead of apple, should we take the olive oil at the end of the second day?? (I really would like to skip that part for my second time...IF POSSIBLE...hehehehhe!!!) Heidi, you are fantastic!!! Have a GREAT DAY!!! BCHA

Hallo, Bcha! As long as you eat NO fat at all on the day of the flush, and stop eating at 2 pm, what you did is fine!

The purpose of apple juice (and malic acid, found in apples) is to soften the stones to allow them to pass easily. The reason for the Epsom salts is to move waste out of the colon, and to relax the bile ducts (so that the stones can move out freely). Now: the reason for the olive oil is to stimulate the gallbladder to really pump out bile after those days of storing it, when you ate no fat. When the bile is poured out, it carries the stones out of the gallbladder and liver along with it. So I'm sorry to say the olive oil is a must! You can use walnut or almond oil instead if you like! but I've always found the taste of the oil and lemon (or sweet grapefruit) quite appealing -- work on getting a balance between the fruit juice and the oil that you can tolerate.

and... report!! I'm very excited to hear your results, dear!! Best wishes and give your husband my felicitations!! :-D

I am type A and have been looking at recipes on the website but some of them suitable for A's have tomatoes or chilis in which we are meant to avoid. Are we able to eat them or not? Alex

Hello, Alex! Well, type A nonsecretors are allowed tomatoes and chilis. That may be why you are seeing such recipes for type A.

If you do not yet know your secretor status, then it's safest to follow the diet as outlined in Live Right 4 Your TYpe. Most people are secretors. If you've any serious health concerns, getting your secretor status is a big step taken toward resolving them.

Always check a recipe against your food list, no matter where you find it. This becomes second nature for us, as we go along on the diet.

Thank you for writing! :-D

Hello Heidi - need help. If I'm a type O non secretor, what can I use to make my "pastry flour"? I guess spelt flour is out. I recently started and am feeling much better. Thanks - peter



Hi, Peter! Nice to see another O nonnie still determined to be a pastry baker! ~;-> Use organic kamut pastry flour -- Shiloh Farms makes it, and my local organic grocers sell it in two-pound packages for $3.99. It makes one heck of a flaky, tender pie crust (in the FOOD PROCESSOR, would you believe it?? I didn't! but True) as well as lovely light quickbreads, biscuits, anything you'd want a pastry flour to do. Although... well, I haven't tried making croissants with it (because unlike the other items, I couldn't steel myself to donate them all to my resident type A-non) but I'd say it can be done. ;-) keep in touch! I'd love a report on what you've created with kamut! And I'm VERY pleased to hear the OhNonnie! diet is working its wonders for you. enjoy it! :-D

Hello Heidi I really enjoy reading throught your column, there are always plenty of great advices there. My aunt (type A) has a serious colesterol problem so I have been searching for things to do to help her lower her colesterol levels. . One of the thinks you seem to strongly recomend is Red Yeast extract. The product I found at www.neutraceutical.com contains some black pepper extract which is an avoid for A's. Should my aunt still buy it or is there anywhere else I can find RYR? I live in France and have to order throught the internet ; I dont know anyone that could order for me at Jinkxin labs as you suggested in your topic today.



While I am writting, I was wondering also about ROASTED peanuts , are they OK for type A, as peanut oil isnt but fresh peanut is? Thank you again for your cheerfull help. Isabelle X



Greetings, Isabelle! What a caring niece you are! ;-)



Solaray is one of the brand names that nutraceutical.com uses -- they also make other red yeast rice supplements. The ingredients to look for should be only red yeast rice, gelatin capsule, and silica.



I think the problem you had is in typing the correct website name. It is www.nutraceutical.com -- if you type it differently, you'll come up with a very different company. ;-} Here is a link you can just click on: www.nutraceutical.com.



However, we individuals cannot order from that site- it is for information only. Therefore, I suggest doing a websearch for "solaray" plus "red yeast rice" and look at the sites which do offer online sales for that product.



Roasted peanuts are fine, as long as they are roasted with a kind of oil that is on her OK list for type A. Organic peanuts are best, and the red-skinned peanuts with the skins still on (the papery skins, not the shells) are really wonderful! Thanks for writing, and best wishes to you and your aunt! :-D

Hi Heidi, I'm so glad to see my question was answered, I actually feel special, i am Emily, the one that wanted bigger muscles and the one that complained about how hospitals should follow the blood type guidelines because they only make the patients sicker. Thank-you for being there for me.



I have several questions for you again, hopefully, you can help me once again. First of all, my situation is that I live alone, remember I am 22 years and a type O. I was 21 the last time I wrote. I am very extremely cold in winter time and I am used to walking outside as an excercise in summer time, and I only weigh 95 pounds. I find it extremely difficult in winter to go to a gym and workout, as you told me to do two sessions of weight training per week. I can do that I suppose as I do have a gym membership, but gyms are so boring and it is sooo cold nowadays that I am worried that I do not have the energy or the motivation to go outside and workout. The workout room is also extremely cold. I have to wear sweatpants when I go and a sweater and my hands are still cold when I use the treadmill, and because of the cold, I feel dizziness sometimes when I am working out. So I am not motivated at all to go there, but I must always do something physical after I eat my supper or else I go crazy, and I don't want to gain fat weight, so I always do 45 minutes of cardio in the summertime.



What can I do to motivate myself and feel warmer. How come I am so cold. i always have enough energy at work, but on weekends, I get lonely and bored and I can no longer go outside because of the cold weather. I also ate some veal brain lately. Is that considered as sweetbreads, that is what was labelled on the price tag. And the butcher said it was sweetbread and that there was no fat in it, but then when I fried it in a pan with Olive oil, it was all fat it seems. What is it considered? Is it beneficial? What about all that fat, where does it go?



I have another question, sorry! I have begun eating rice protein powder in my tea around 8:00 at night to gain muscle mass so that I can get stronger, and it was hard to decide to do this on my own as I follow the highly beneficial list only and never used to eat past 5:00 at night. I am extremely thin and everybody is worried about my weight, but I used to be fine and feel extremely strong, but now, I realize that I am weaker and less able to do the things I used to be able to do, so i am slowly adapting to the diet and adding an egg to my essene slice of bread in the morning with a banana and fig jam on one half, then I eat 5 figs as a snack when I get to work, and then about 8 prunes, and then a meat lunch about 2 Oz, and then a banana as a snack and then a fish or meat supper with veggies. And then a walk outside for 45 minutes to an hour (I run errands) and then head back home and drink tea or water and then, I read and at 8:00 pm have a rice protein scoop in a tea and then at 10 or 11 go to bed.



And if I can't walk outside, what do I do, I get so cold outside. Please help me if you can. When am I going to get stronger? i work my arms and legs regularly in the mornings, I have 7.5lbs weights and a stationary bike that I do one-minute spinnings sessions three times one morning and the other morning I do ab excercises and the other morning, my arms, but I need my walk at night to burn fat. When are my muscles going to grow, how much do muscles weigh on females, how can I tell if they are growing? I am freaking out about winter, I won't be able to walk and I need that. Anyways, I hope this is not too difficult for you to answer, thanks so much for all your help, I feel better now. Hope to hear from you soon! Thank-you again, you are great! Emily What should I search for when I look if my question has been answered, let me know where you classify it, thanks!



How can I higher my blood pressure? Should I eat more salt? I am a type O as you know, is Pilates a good excercise for me and can I still burn fat if I only do 30 minutes of biking 3X a Week? What are Calisthenics? Is walking considered an aerobic excercise? How long should I wait after eating supper to excercise or drink water? What about menstruation, I don't have it anymore, how do I get that back? How do I stay warm in winter? My legs are not strong enough to bike, how can I start off slowly. Should I take Glucosamine. What are the effects on the body? Is it good for type O? And is brain a sweetbread? Is it good fat or saturated fat on the organs inside our body? Thank-you once again for everything! Emily



Hello, Emily!



Brain isn't technically sweetbreads, but it is fine for you to eat if it's from good organic sources. Ask your butcher for "thymus or pancreas," as these are the sweetbreads noted in the food list.



Fats in your diet are used in your body as fuel, and as necessary components of your brain, the rest of your nervous system, your skin, etc. They are essential to your well-being. The fats portions/frequencies are given in Live Right 4 Your Type, and it's a good practice to take one tablespoon of fresh organic olive oil or flax oil daily.



You're very thin, as you mentioned in a reminder message you sent. Since you're quite a bit underweight, please do not worry about having to exercise every night for fear of gaining fat. If you follow the diet and eat enough protein, which I suggest you increase given your current intake, you will not gain fat weight. Try to eat the number of portions recommended, even if you must make the portions a little smaller.



The reason your menstrual periods have stopped is that you are too much underweight. Your body will stop the menstrual cycle if it senses your fat reserves are inadequate to support a pregnancy.



The dizziness and coldness are related to weak adrenal function (constant feelings of stress) and to the thyroid which I suspect is low as well (again, stress and inadequate protein, fat, mineral and B-vitamin intake).



So, here are my suggestions:



1) Be sure to increase the food you eat -- add as much as you are comfortable eating; use the frequency tables to figure out how often to eat from each food group;



2) Go to this page and do this home thyroid test. You can use any kind of thermometer that says it works for "axillary" (meaning "armpit") temperatures. Write down the temperatures each day, keeping track for one week. At the end of the week, add the temperatures together and divide by 7. This is the average of your results, and should be between 97.8 and 98.2 F. If your average is outside that range, let me know and we'll get you on a plan to improve your thyroid function.



3) Consider taking a pregnenolone supplement. Plain pregnenolone -- starting with one 30mg capsule daily with water (first thing in the morning, away from food), and see if your sense of well being and your dizzy spells improve. You can add another capsule in a couple of weeks if one cap does not seem effective.



4) Aerobic activity is defined as moving the large muscle groups to obtain a certain heart rate. Subtract your age from 220 -- then multiply that number by .7 (75%). The result is a good basic aerobic heart rate -- you'd want to maintain that rate for 20-30 minutes, three times weekly.



5) There are three components of physical exercise -- flexibility (stretching), strength (weight-lifting), and cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). I suggest you focus on slow, thorough stretching for 10 minutes daily, then a brief and intense muscle workout twice weekly (work with heavier weights, very slowly, and do 5-7 repetitions only (to muscle exhaustion) for each muscle group), followed by another 10 minutes of stretching.



How about some kind of group activity on the weekend -- skating, or a team sport of some kind? A yoga class with an attentive instructor? The feeling of loneliness can lower the body temperature... loneliness gives a chill to the body. Try to get together with friends, write letters, talk on the phone, chat with someone online. I think it will help you feel warmer on the weekend. :-)

Also, have you thought about seeing a counselor while you're working through your physical adjustments? That can be very helpful to give you a better feeling about your body and a more secure sense that things are going right for you! which they are! :-)



To find answers: they appear with your first name attached, so do a search for the first name and read from the top down in the page of links that comes up.



Emily, thank you for writing! So, get started, and let me know how these things work for you, OK? Warm wishes, dear! :-)

I come from Filipino ancestry and I'd like to know what blood group the following indigenous foods fall under. These foods are not in your list. 1. "milkfish" or "bangus" which is bred in freshwater fish ponds 2. "tilapia" (fish) 3. bitter gord or "ampalaya" (green bitter vegetable) 4. "kangkong," a dark leafy vegetable (is it safe to say this belongs to the type "O" diet?) Thanks a lot. purplerhythym



Hello!



I gather that the milkfish you have found is a freshwater fish? I understand from the Regulatory Fish Encyclopedia that it is a tropical saltwater fish which sometimes is found off southern California. Compare the photo I linked above with your "milkfish." If it's a farmed fish, I'd be hesitant to eat it -- do some research into the farm which raises your fish, and see if the environment and food is similar to what free fish would have.



We have no rating for it, and I see no family relationship with other known fishes, so technically it is an "unknown" -- it may be treated as a neutral for those not seeking weight loss or resolution of health problems.



Tilapia is in the TYPEbase3 database -- remember to hit the Search button in order to engage the search engine.



Ampalaya (Mormodica charantia) is in our food lists as "bitter melon" -- search the database noted above for the word "bitter" and the values for all types will appear there.



Kangkong is a member of the same family as sweet potato, but we have no rating for it, either. I would hazard a guess that it's fine for type O but it's just a guess -- so treat it as an "unknown" as above. Looks tasty!



thanks for writing, purplerhythm! :-D

Hello Heidi! I am Type O. Question regarding Soda Water: Can I count a glass of soda water towards my recommended water intake quota?



Question regarding Tier Two: Heart and Sweetbreads: How does one go about eating a heart, thymus or pancreas? How often should I eat them? (I am so enthused by the BTD. Here I am off tracking down and taking out "predators" within my biological system. This is an arena where a Type O can be as agressive as it wants but without the activity becoming a social obstacle. I love it! GO get 'em!)



Question regarding Deflect: When Deflect is being used as a tool to scrub out old lectin damage and not as a means to deal with active consumption of avoids then I take Deflect with water AWAY from meals do I?



Question regarding Edema: I did the edema test of pressing on the shin as set out in Live Right. Was I ever surprised to observe edema! I am 5'6 and weigh 113 - 115 lbs. I exercise according to the plan. I rigourously adhere to the diet. I have been on the diet for 5 months. Can this be correct that I retaining water! What causes this and is there anything special I should be doing or will this resolve itself over time? How does Edema contribute to health problems?



This is like detective work: The farther in one goes into the BTD the more one LEARNS about one's body and the deeper problems it has, and the more EMPOWERED one feels to deal with them and solve the corruption at the roots! Thank you. RuthD



Hey there, Ruth! Yes, you may count a glass of soda water toward your daily water intake.



There are recipes for all of the "fifth quarter" (heart, liver, brain, sweetbreads, lungs... tripe! ... even cartilage) in many cookbooks, online and paper. There are a LOAD of them to choose from. For now, just do a websearch for "heart+recipe" or "sweetbreads+recipe" and browse through what you find. They're both somewhat more delicate articles than the large muscle meats of big animals. Eat them as often as you like -- have fun with it!



I'd say your Deflect strategy is a good one! ;-)



How long did it take for the flesh to 'bounce back' in seconds? I doubt you'll need to take special steps in this regard, but getting plenty of minerals and foods like dandelion and other leafy greens should take care of it perfectly well.



It's so good to hear you're enjoying this process! Truly, having a good time with it all is a good predictor of success all round! Thanks for your note, Ruth!

Hi Heidi, This is for Sandie's Type A friend who drinks lots of green tea with sucanat and is looking to switch to A friendly sweetener. I agree with her that Frontier brand is pricey but found a MUCH cheaper source from one of the readers on OTD - azurestandard.com. Just get a gallon, which looks like she might need anyway given she was using lots of sucanat, and she won't look back. It is $20 plus shipping and handling. Frontier brand is about $7 for 8 oz. and this is $20 for 128 oz. And I like the taste better than Frontier. Less metallic and smoother and 100% pure. Here is the link. http://www.azurestandard.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=shp.ProductDetails&ProductCode=NS073



Also to Allison, Type A, looking for brands that work for her. So difficult, as you said, because always changing ingredients (see below) but here are a couple that might help out. There is a bar that is good for A and ABs. Has sesame seeds (no good for Bs) and date paste (no good for Os). It is Organic Vegan Food Bar. Read all about it at www.organicfoodbar.com. Unfortunately, their sugar grams went from 8 to 20 grams recently. Still no refined sugar but they are sweeter. They faxed me their press release and it increased because they are committed to organic and are having difficulty getting the sweeteners they were using in the quantities needed. So I feel for them but my body feels the difference. But being a nonnie, that is par for the course. :-) She might feel okay with it.



I also just found a snack/protein bar at my HFS. www.boomibar.com Their website is undergoing maintenance but their phone number is 1-800-440-6476. The one I bought, because it was the only one without sunflower seeds, is called "Perfect Pumpkin". It is only good for all As and B nonnies. Here are the ingredients: Pumpkin seeds, honey, dates, raisins, apricots, cranberries, crisp rice, puffed amaranth, salt. Protein = 9 g, Carb = 23 g, Sugars = 3 g Our nonnie group is very active these days with discussions about getting the beneficial greens in, making homemade jerky (a favorite topic), and fish cooking for the squeamish :-). Great support and wonderful inspiration! Thanks as always to you Heidi for your generosity in letting me get the word out. You're the best! xxxoo Nina (A2 nonnie)



Wonderful tips, Nina -- thanks so much for all you do! :-D

I've been diagnosed with anxiety last April, I went to an ND coz I don't want to take my MD's prescription drug.



I am okey with the vitamins that I've been taking the B complex, Soy lecitin, Vit. E 800 IU, organic flax oil, Women's MultiStart, Cal/Mag,Vit. C. 3000mg/day and this mix amino acid called Brain Links that I bought. All the symptoms were gone.



I am not stressed and no problem in my life. But the thing is until now I could not sleep well yet. My MD said my hormone is okey. I had a saliva test with my ND and indicates about cortisol, she gave me Seriphos(it's a Phosphorylated serine adaptogen and adrenal support and this DHEA/one spray in A.M. but still I still have my insomnia. I am 44 yo and a type O. The last visit to her I showed her my blood test and said, I have a deficiency on B12, which my MD said nothing about it. What is the best thing for me to do on my diet. Thank you and hope for your response. Eva



Hello, Eva! It sounds like you have a very good naturopath!



The type O diet is set forth in full form in the book Live Right 4 Your Type. It was written by a naturopathic doctor, and is something you and your doc might discuss.



Also, try the Methyl B12 Plus product sold here.



If you have questions about the diet once you're started with it, please let me know! Very best wishes, and welcome!! :-D

Well, it took a bit, but I found some iodine with color in it and tried the iodine test you recommended. Sure enough, I am deficient - I painted some on before bed and it was pretty well gone before morning- definitely gone before the 24 hours was up. Can I use this iodine as a source? How does this fit into the scheme of things? Does this deficiency affect my weight or the hypothyroid condition? I am curious about Dr. D's supplements and when each is appropriate, so I appreciate your insight. Donna



Hey there, Donna ~ Yep, it will help the deficiency, and it might be wise to include some iodine-rich foods (like seaweeds and sea salt) in your diet as well. It is certainly implicated in the hypothyroid issue, which in turn has a profound effect upon weight loss. Keep me posted, and I'm glad you've found one of the "keys" to improving your health! Feels nice, eh? :-D

I'm a type A (and so are my husband and two boys) and we will be having our first thanksgiving "on the diet." I love the food on this holiday, especially the pumpkin pie. Does anyone have an alt.recipe from the traditional one using ev.milk for the pie that would follow type A, ie: no lactose? Rachel



Hi there, Rachel! Soy, rice or almond milk (especially if made at home to a thicker consistency) work well in pumpkin pie. Eggs are the key to keeping it very light and fluffy.



I'll put this up for readers to write in with their own favorite type A pumpkin pie recipes ~ so stay tuned, and enjoy! :-D

Hey Heidi, I need your help. My grandson (type A) is in 1st grade. His teacher said she thinks he has a slight case of ADD. He seems to have an inability to stay focused. One-on-one he does fine – but in the class setting he tends to lose it. His behavior is great – no trouble there. Heidi, thanks for being there and looking forward to your advice. Linda



Hi, Linda ~~ I'm wondering if this is an ADD problem, or simply that he's a guy who does better with smaller classes (less distracting energy from other kids) and more personal attention. That's not a bad thing, but can appear as an "attention deficiency" for a teacher who does not have the resources to be able to offer that attention to him. The first year or two of school can be pretty unpalatable to lots of us, of whatever type, for all kinds of reasons.



I'd just make sure he's on his type A diet (perhaps eliminating wheat altogether -- other OK grains are fine) and getting enough olive oil, other good fats, and light protein like beans, nuts and fish. If he's primarily having trouble focusing AFTER lunch, it well could be the school lunch! Or candy he's getting... Packing a lunch and snacks is far better in most cases!! ;-)



His parents can really help here, by chatting with him about what he likes & doesn't like about school, and giving him caring support to go forward with.



It makes me happy to hear you expressing your concern for this situation, Linda, and I hope these notes are of help to the little guy and his family! he certainly has a wonderful grandma! :-D

Hello Heidi -- Wanted to update you with information I just received from the folks who have been carrying the red yeast rice product. I called to order some and was told they are no longer selling it. The gentleman explained that this was due to the difficulty (under current FDA regulations) of answering questions and providing information to people who order the product from them. They are afraid of making any claims since they could potentially be sued for doing so.

The problem was not selling the RYR (plenty of demand), but he said that that most people have questions when ordering it and they are hesitant to make any claims in their answers. (How can you sell a product if you can't explain what it does????)

He told me they are planning to provide the powder itself to another company, which will then formulate it into capsules for sale. I'm to call him back in a couple of weeks -- he expected to have more information then. Will let you know the result.

In the meantime, is there any acceptable alternative for lowering cholesterol without resorting to medications like Lipitor? (It's now the number one topic in discussions among my peers - EVERYONE is being rushed onto Lipitor!) Thank you once again for enhancing our experience of this wonderful way of living. -- Diane

Hi, Diane!

I spoke to Michael Gao, the NJ rep, on Monday, and he confirmed that the company (Jingxin) is no longer accepting orders from new retail customers, for the reason you mentioned.

Let me elaborate so that everyone will understand what's going on.

This place is a warehouse, not a retail supply store or a nutritionist's office. All the research info about the product is on their website. They have been providing it for many years to companies who use it in compound preparations, and to individuals who already know the benefits, and know how they're going to use it. The only questions I asked when ordering for the first time (a long while ago) were related to storage of the product. He readily answered them, and explained that each package comes with the government assay of the contents.

Michael is authorized to take orders and give the kind of info I requested -- that's it. He's not a doctor. Recently, with (as you noted) so many people being pushed to take Lipitor and other cholesterol-lowering drugs, there's been an equal rush to get hold of red yeast rice.

However, so many folks have been calling Michael and asking how to take it, and when to take it, and how much, and how fast does it work, will it lower their cholesterol X number of points, etc., Michael has been at his wit's end. He can't give that kind of advice.

People don't understand they're calling a warehouse! That's why the price for over two pounds of RYR is only $99.00 there. Michael can't possibly take the risk of giving medical advice to these folks who demand it -- and who, by the way, have been pretty brusque with him when he doesn't answer their questions to their satisfaction. :-(

It's just another case of misconception -- lack of understanding of the situation. Once we all understand the situation, we can proceed appropriately.

Michael told me that anyone who HAS ordered before can continue ordering. So, I suggest that people get together with others who want RYR, and nominate someone who is already one of Jingxin's customers to place the order.

And in a couple of weeks, there may be the option to buy through the company Michael mentioned. Alternately, check the HFS or supp shop for Solaray's RYR product. To check on availability and ask questions, use the www.nutraceutical.com site or call 1-800-683-9640.

I'll keep everyone updated on the situation, and thanks for your patience and understanding!! :-D

Hi Heidi, it's me, your crazy type O fan again!



That question about herbal dosages was mine. Thanks for responding to my query.



I take valerian for stress relief, as per the BTD Encyclopedia listing of the herb for bloodtype O specifity. I really needed it to help me calm down and get some sleep after a day on the job at a construction site. Doing electrical work is horrifically stressful! Sometimes valerian does the trick, sometimes need to add a little melatonin and chamomile tea with it to get me heart rate down enough to get a little sleep.



I can get into a bad cycle of stressing out because I can't sleep, not get any sleep the coming night, and then get anxious about trying to fall asleep and stress out some more ad infinitum, never getting any sleep. But if valerian has side effects I can move on. I was laid off from the job lately anyways.



However, what is the danger of taking valerian for an extended period of time? I tend to skip a couple days a week for all my supplements to avoid over using and dulling their healing attributes.



Astragalus is just an incredible tonic for me, it keeps my mood and energy levels from crashing. Any problems with taking the stuff regularly? I want to take nettle root for immune system support versus viruses (herpes and HPV) and to see if it helps my testosterone levels raise a little back to normal.



Also, about the herbspice blend, it doesn't actually fizz or upset my stomach unless I take too much on an empty stomach. When the capsule melts there is a sudden rush of dried goods all about and an exhale can bring it up. The base is turmeric with various neutral spices and herbs like rosemary and paprika. But to be truthful, I haven't made a batch up for many months. The urge to make a batch up left me when I quit eating beans a few months ago, including soy products too. My guts have felt so liberated ever since. I really believe Dr. D'Adamo's assertion that O's don't digest beans well.



By the way, laminaria does the same thing as the larch powder, agglutinates lectins in the gut, while also providing the O with needed iodine and metabolic strength. I also take some larch powder found on sale. Exercise is the missing ingredient here. Admittedly, the world is always a funner brighter place after exercise and a hopeless drabby prison before exercise (in my mind). And I know full well that exercise makes my stress levels go lower and is critically important for mood and energy upswing. And I did some exercise today. Your column is a good thing for many people, I really appreciate all your hard work! David O+ Se



Hello, David! :-) Hey -- I hope your work situation is in good shape now! :-}



Between ditching the beans and committing to exercise, I think you're well on the way to resolving the insomnia/anxiety/hormone issues. However, do have a read through the Liver & Gallbladder Health pages that I've been posting recently. It's harmless and certainly worthwhile to do a few of these liver/gallbladder flushes, since you may have some congestion in that area. The symptoms you described are often cleared up through doing this flush.



I've suggested it to many people, and have done several myself. It's remarkable how many pesky discomforts which we may think are emotionally caused (like anxiety and sleeplessness) have been eliminated through doing the flush. One's state of mind is quite astonishingly affected by the health of one's organs -- particularly the gut system, the liver, the lungs, the heart. In other words, healing and clearing a congested organ can produce a noticeably different emotional state, and often one can feel how PHYSICAL this process is as the clearing takes place during a flush, for example.



This is not the main thrust of this column -- discussing the BTD is the purpose here -- but I do like to suggest such practices because they are cheap, safe, and quick -- and have kept thousands of people out of the drug market, and off the operating table. And anything which works directly to improve the body's functioning without the necessity of reliance on daily consumption of mood-enhancing substances is a good thing, I believe.



Be well, my dear ~ and don't be a stranger! :-D

Hi Heidi: I saw the posting regarding natural progesterone. I have been taking bio-identical progesterone for several years, after my doctor finally "thought" of it as a remedy to my heavy periods. There is a good American source for this - go to www.womensinternational.com. They are a very progressive and knowledgible compounding pharmacy and maybe your reader will find this helpful.



My former doctor first prescribed a cream from a small, local compounding pharmacy. While this helped, it was messy and I still spotted between cycles. He then decided the capsules might work better and I did find that those that I get from Womens International Pharmacy worked much faster and more effectively than the cream and I have had no side effects. I am 52 and entering menopause and have an appointment next week with a new doctor (we moved so had to find another doctor) and I hope that she will be more up on things than my last doctor was.



I think combining good healthcare with the BTD diet will help me move through menopause more easily. I have had no major symptoms such as hot flashes so hope to keep them at bay. I have always done regular exercise but I bought a treadmill in August and this really seems to be helping me move excess weight.



On that note, when are you and/or Dr. D'Adamo going to write a book on Menopause? With all the baby boomers moving into this phase of life soon, and many of us not interested in synthetic medications, I think a book from either of you would be a big hit. It might also be interesting to follow some of us on the diet through menopause to track how we do! Would add some great "real life" experience data to your research! Thanks for your column and the website. I enjoy it often. Joyce



Hey there, Joyce -- good note note on natural progesterone, and I'm happy to hear your diet and exercise plans are working well on the weight loss and hormone balance issues! Nice, isn't it? :-)



About the menopause book ~ I think it's a wonderful idea! I wouldn't be surprised if such a project might be in the planning stages already... it makes sense. stay tuned! :-) thanks SO much for writing, Joyce!! :-D

Hello, Club Soda and Seltzer Water are listed as "beneficial" for Os. Today I found 3 variations to Club Soda ingredients. Additional to carbonated water: * one brand contains sodium citrate only * a second one contains sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, potassium sulfate * a third contains the same ingredients as the second brand, but also has disodium phosphate. Which of the three brands would be most beneficial? Joanne



Hi, Joanne! I'd stick with the one with the least additives, so my vote goes to #1. be well, and thanks for your note! :-)

Hi Heidi, Thanks for all your help on this annoying thyroid thing. You help me to feel more in control and in a positive frame of mind. When I went to order the Deflect they told me that it was made with crab shells so I didn't order it because I am allergic to crab and all shellfish--Do you know of anything else to use instead of Deflect? Will old lectins eventually go away as I stay with the diet?



By the way, in regard to that Dr. , you probably wonder why I would even bother with such as him, well it's because I haven't been able to find one better in my area and I wanted to have the lab work done to see where the thyroid levels are. It's scarry to think that if I were really in need of a Dr. for some reason...well that's why I try to stay healthy. Suzanna (B non)



Hey there, Suzanna! I'm happy to hear you're feeling positive and in control. Mindset is powerful in the healing process, as we all know. Well worth cultivating, and realizing that we DO have this power, every minute and in every area of ourselves. We only need know it and take hold of it. :-)



I popped over to the Store to review the ingredients of Deflect-B:



Larch Arabinogalactan (from Larix decidua Resin) 500 mg

Pectin (from Citrus aurantium Fruit) 400 mg

N-Acetyl-Cysteine 200 mg

N-Acetyl Glucosamine 200 mg

Flaxseed meal (from Linum usitatissimum Seed) 100 mg

Gum Tragacanth (from Astragalus spp.) 100 mg



What they probably explained in terms of crab shells is that n-acetyl glucosamine is derived from that source. That doesn't mean there is crab IN NAG -- the chitin in the shell is made up of NAG. So there's NAG in Crab, but No Crab in NAG. NAG is a molecule, and does not contain any crab-like qualities to which you are allergic. If I have a molecule of NAG in my hand, it will be the same molecule whether I got it from crab shell or from cockroach shell! ;-D. In fact, you have NAG throughout your body already -- in connective tissue, in mucus, cartilage, even in your eyes. So it is absolutely fine for you to take!



I perfectly understand going to a doc for tests. If you ever needed profound complementary medical help, you'd find someone who would provide the assistance you needed. And, of course, we'd be here to help you with the search if you'd like! I'm excited about the continuing thyroid resolution -- do keep me updated at your convenience! BEST of everything, dear!! :-D

Hi, Heidi -- I greatly enjoy reading your column. As an AB sec. with a history of hepatitis and chronic lyme, I ordered Heallix for myself as well as my father (Type A) who is suffering from multiple myeloma advanced stages. My concern is the recent mention of amalgam fillings being a negative in taking the Heallix. Most of us over 45 or 50 have our share of amalgams even if some were replaced. Please clarify this problem ASAP as I am giving two bottles to Dad today for his 82nd birthday! I have written to Leo twice in the past two weeks but never got a response. Seems to me that some type of caution should be listed on the Heallix site if amalgams are a negative in the use of this tonic! Thanks for any clarification!! Linda



Hi there Linda! Leo is not the one who posted the caution about mercury fillings and Heallix -- it was from Ryan Partovi, a very knowledgeable contributor. If you search "Ryan" in the field below, you'll find the posts on mercury chelation which he kindly offered to us.



I think it's fine if both you and your Dad take the Heallix -- just use a straw to take it past the amalgam fillings, to be on the VERY safe side.



I also suggest that you ask your Dad's physician to prescribe Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). It is an FDA-approved drug (although not for cancer, which is what it's so effective for -- that's the FDA for you), and your doctor can prescribe it, no problem. 3mg taken at bedtime is the standard effective dosage for multiple myeloma. That amount is nontoxic, and has NO side effects. It activates the body's endorphins and natural killer cells & CD8 levels.



Also, PLEASE look into MGN-3 for your Dad. This is a patented product made from rice bran and mushrooms. According to the Minnesota Wellness Directory Cancer Pages, Dr Mamdooh Ghoneum reported the first documented cure for multiple myeloma using MGN-3 alone. It is a supplement, and you need no prescription to purchase it. It has no side-effects (other than improved immunity and vitality), costs from $40 to $60 for 50 250-mg caps, depending on the supplier, and is also reported useful as an adjunct in chemotherapy. Lane Labs makes a fine product, and there are many other places to order it on the Net.



I also hope he's taking the PolyFlora-A, ARA6, and following his diet according to secretor status! Once his immune system is strengthened and overcomes the cancer, he will greatly protect his health by doing these things.



There's more, but I know you wanted an answer ASAP, so this is a GREAT start for him. Bless you for being such a wonderful daughter, and please keep me posted! :-D

Beside taking probiotics supplements, what types of foods can type O Secretors eat to gain the benefits of probiotics. I am jealous of the B's and AB's who can take yogurt and kefir? Can type O's benefit from soy yogurt and soy kefir for their good bacteria? Carol



Hi, Carol! Hey, I'm jealous of those Bs for all kinds of reasons!... mostly that Big Fat Gold Star Fruit List they so insouciantly enjoy, bless their hearts! :-D



Any truly fermented product made from OK foods on your O-secretor list will benefit you, including cultured vegetables. It's important to take the PolyFlora-O supp, however, since different foods concentrate different strains of bacteria in the fermented end product. PolyFlora provides the essential backbone for your happy colony of beneficial critters. thanks for your note, Carol, and good health to you! :-D

Hi, I have just started studying your book and find it fasinating. When reading your column I linked to the www.sensiblehealth.com site regarding liver and gallbladder. My husband is a type O and has kidney stones. The remedy on the sensible website is to make a tea using gold coin grass, corn silk, and eucommia. This is kidney cleanser that helps rid the kidney of stones. Since corn silk is listed as an avoid herb in the book (for "O's") what can we use instad. I tried a serch and didn't find any information on the 3 herbs mentioned above. There are also some other remedies for sluggish liver and gallbladder that use the Eastern herb remedies. Do you have alternative lists if these herbs are are to be avoided. Or, could we use them for the flushing of the unhealthy elements without much body upset? Thank you for your help, Susan

Hello, Susan! I'm glad your husband is interested in using a natural kidney cleansing protocol.

Because he already has kidney stones, I suggest you proceed with the Eucommia ulmoides (rubber tree) bark and gold coin grass (Herba Lysimachiae) tea, with the addition of two bearberry ("Uva ursi") capsules taken with the tea. I would also add the following: watermelon seed tea three times weekly (one tablespoon watermelon seed, ground or chopped, with a pint of boiling water -- let sit until room temperature), and celery seed tea (made the same way) on three alternate days. So, it might be MWF for the watermelon, and TRS for the celery. Or start with one, and alternate with the other throughout the week.

Hey, get the watermelon seeds from fresh watermelon, and have him eat the fruit as well! Watermelon is wonderful for the kidneys. In fact, here's something from a kidney health site:

"Watermelon Cleanse - NOT FOR DIABETICS ! -

The easiest way to cleanse Kidney is to purchase 20 - 100 kg of watermelon (few huge melons), sit in a bath filed with water, eat all the watermelon throughout a day (as much as you can), while continually empting your urinary bladder into the water.

In this way, people have dissolved big stones, and then passed small kidney stones (sand) out of their body."

~;-D

Make sure he has a potassium supplement daily while taking these teas. They are mildly diuretic, so he should be drinking his 1/2 ounce of water per pound of bodyweight with a small pinch of sea salt in each quart, in addition to the teas.

For the time being, have him eliminate spinach, beet greens, strawberries, nuts, chocolate and tea from his diet if he includes any or all of those now. This will help the cleansing proceed more easily. It's not necessary to avoid them forever if he attends to his water intake and mineral balance as an integral part of his health habits.

The stones formed from elements in his diet and inadequate water intake. Now that he's on the type O plan (including exercise, which is GREAT for clearing the organs of stagnation products), he can look forward to a life free of kidney stones. They are the very devil, aren't they? yikes!! ;-} Please let me know how his healing progresses, Susan -- thanks for writing!! :-)

I have three teenage daughters. A 17-year-old, type O, do not know secretor status. She deals with bad acne and allergies. My 18-year-old, type A, do not know secretor status has really bad eyesight (-9 already) and allergies that really affect her eyes. My 14-year-old, type A-- do not know secretor status has Ebstein’s anomaly (a heart valve problem) has acne mostly located to her forehead.

My question is what can I give them for these problems. My 18-year-old watches her diet as I suggest per her blood type. The other two don’t yet. I purchased the collinsonia plus and the urtica diocia from your site. The more I read on you site, I wonder if it shouldn’t be the quercetin and polyflora for their type. Can you please advise me?

My 17-year old does not see it helping any at all, but the 18-year old thinks she still has too much eye irritation, but I think her nasal congestion has been helped. She also is watching her diet better than the other one.

I was also wondering if you can overdo the homemade juice from vegetables and juice. I checked out the book on Juicing suggesting by your site and jumped in and made some. Oh my, I never thought it would be so good. I think I am hooked. My girls might like it next time if I take the celery out - hope so!

Will your supplements by okay for my 14-year-old? The only restrictions she has at this point is no weight lifting, but she does do aerobics and is quite fit. None of my girls have weight problems yet, unlike me! I would just love to raise them with healthy guidelines so they don’t go through what I have had to do to find out late in life.

My husband is a Type A and really doesn’t care what he eats at this point. I am waiting for him to get sick and then maybe he will have a more open mind to eating right for his blood type. I have gained a few pounds since I have added more than protein to my diet, and am hoping this is just a balancing process. Should one drink homemade juice with their meal, or before and after and have no liquid with the meal? Please advise me!!! I thank you for all your insight and wisdom. RuthM

Hey there, Ruth! Yes, PolyFlora and quercetin would both be beneficial for them. I also suggest Deflect, since their diets may not be ideal, and anyway they already have a lot of old damage to clear from their systems. Deflect helps greatly in that department.

Try to get them to drink a lot more water, and with a squeeze of lemon in each glass. They should get 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight. Allergies and acne can be cleared up with proper diet, the addition of quercetin (takes about two weeks to show results sometimes), and a good juicing schedule. I'd leave the celery in! About 1 stalk of celery to 4 or 5 carrots. Let them know its extremely good for them -- you're the Mom!! Both skin and allergy problems are helped greatly by appropriate exercise, and your type As would greatly benefit from a yoga class -- I hope the 17-year-old type O has a good exercise program in place.

Tell your 17 & 14 year olds that gunk in their diet (especially fried fast food, sugar, dairy) works its way out as gunk on their skin and gunk in their organs (like the heart). It's not easy to eat well when you're a teenager ~ WAY too many other things to think about ~ but give them the foundation now, and quietly serve the right stuff at home, and let time & their good sense do the rest. Bless you, dear, and have a lovely day! :-)

Type O. Polyflora. In order to optimize the effectiveness of the probiotics ought one to take any thing along with the polyflora or should it be taken on an empty stomach? Thanks Heidi. RuthD.

Hey there, Ruth! They're best taken away from food, with a big glass of water. You can also take some ARA6 with it if desired, since they work well together (the ARA6 provides extra food for the good critters, and fiber for the colon). :-)

Hello Heidi, Firstly, thank you for responding very promptly to my previous question regarding the 'avoid' status of the two seaweeds I had inquired about.

Today, I have a few more questions concerning two more food items. The first food item is 'Job's Tears'. Specifically, it is an ingredient found in Eden Foods organic soymilk. From the research that I've compiled; it is a grain which is mostly consumed in many Japanese provinces.

The second food item is 'Rennet'. I am interested in purchasing some goat cheese and have noticed that some of the imported goat cheeses contain the ingredients: pasturized goat milk, salt, and rennet. I referred to "Live Right", "Eat Right", and the "Eat Right Encyclopedia"; but did not find rennet listed in the aforementioned books. I would appreciate your input on this food item. And more specifically, what is the purpose of adding rennet to cheese? For instance, does it serve as a preservative, or perhaps as a mold agent? Many thanks in advance for your sound input. -Alia

Hi, Alia! Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) is an antioxidant herb. Peter uses it in the immune-enhancement protocol for type Bs, and that's the only reference I have for it. To be on the safe side, I'd suggest Westbrae Natural or some other organic "soy & water only" soy milk.

Rennet is obtained from the stomach of cows or sheep. It's used in cheese as a curdling agent. Cheese made with rennet is fine for you, although it is a concern for vegetarians (since the rennet is taken by killing the animal) and vegans (who eat no animal products of any kind -- but then, they wouldn't be eating cheese). I hope this helps, dear! :-)

Heidi, I checked out Julia's web-page about liver and gall bladder health and decided to try a cleanse. The symptoms for liver congestion-fatigue, sleep disorders, depression, aches and pains, problem skin etc.-describe me to a 'T'. I plan to start with bitters, then use the gold coin grass, the intestinal flush (maybe) and the gall/liver cleanse. I am going on a trip to St. Lucia at the end of January so I would like to significantly improve my health and energy by then; hopefully this will make a big difference.

My question is this, I ordered the supps you recommended, should I start taking them before I begin the cleanse, or wait till after? If I should start before, should I continue during the fast and flush portion or discontinue? Thanks as always for your prompt and wise advice. Where would we be without you? Cheers, Paige

;-) I'd start taking them two weeks before the cleanse. Then follow the basic cleanse instructions, without taking anything else (which will be simply whooshed out, somewhat of a waste to take anything extra during that day or two), and continue with the probiotic & ARA6 (if you have it) afterward.

Paige, there's an extremely active liver/gallbladder flush discussion forum on the curezone site -- I think you'd truly enjoy and benefit from spending an hour or two reading through a few of those pages, and when you're ready to do your flush you can have lots of company to chat with throughout. It's a very well-ordered and pleasant place to visit, and I recommend it to anyone considering doing the flush. I want to emphasize the value of reading as much as possible before posting, because ANY symptom one might experience, including just plain paralyzing nervousness about doing it at all, has already been posted many times, with very useful and clarifying replies in all cases. There is a huge range of people, from newbies to those on their 20th flush, from teenaged to eighty-ish, from the very sick to those simply looking for another edge on optimal health. Great place, and very busy as well. This practice is gaining in popularity by the minute... because it works. :-)

And a happy addendum is, most of us needn't expect to do 10 or 20 flushes in order to resolve our difficulties -- the BTD and exercise plans already form the basis for spectacular health, and continuing well-being. That's one thing you'll notice on that board: folks who follow up their flush with ice cream and lasagne. By contrast, we can look forward to doing only an occasional flush as maintenance, perhaps once or twice per year if desired, once the stones are cleared in the first place. :-D Here's the Liver/Gallbladder Flush Forum. enjoy! :-D

What advice would you give me for hepatitis C? I avoid wheat most of the time, eat lots of leafy greens, love meat & fish. Have had trouble giving up coffee. I am currently about 20lbs more than I would like to be also. Have lots of trouble shedding lbs. I have been doing 30 minutes of walk/aerobics for a month or so now.

Also, out of my 5 teens, 4 are o's, one is a B. All have varying degrees of aggravating acne. I have been trying for years to find something that really works for them. Both dh and I had it as kids. Thanks for any advice. I have seen a naturopath about the hep c and taken something called Liverwell by Getwell international. Did seem to help, Schizandra type herbals give me more energy. Love to drink lemon water. Thanks again. Love this site. Paula (o+ secretor)

Hi, Paula! There is a chapter in the BTD Complete Blood Type Encylopedia on hepatitis. The specific supplementation recommended is contained in the the Antiviral and Immune-Enhancing protocols for each blood type, in the back of the book. In addition, larch (ARA6), PolyFlora, PolyVite, vitamin C and elderberry extract (capsules or liquid, such as ProBerry3) are suggested for all types.

The more closely you can stick to your diet, the better your health will be. Please do your best to eliminate all the avoids -- it's only a temporary inconvenience while forming new habits, which will repay you many times over in joy and well being.

I believe you AND your teenagers would benefit from doing a series of liver/gallbladder flushes to get rid of old toxins and give yourselves a fresh start. The procedure is simple, safe, and brief, and in comparison to letting these health problems continue their course and the cost in pain and money, it represents spectacular savings all around. It's very effective, and the improvement in liver function will make a huge difference in your condition, and in the kids' skin problems.

Epsom salts, fresh grapefruit juice, lemon juice and olive oil are all that's needed. Read through Julia Chang's Liver/Gallbladder health site, then plan a time to do the flush. Also, take a look at my note to Paige, above, for a forum dedicated specifically to folks doing this practice.

All my best to you -- please keep in touch! :-D

Hi Heidi: Well I don't have a problem telling you my height and weight. My height is 5'5". Before I had my kids I was between 130-135 lbs. This however changed after kids. I was around 142 lbs. until I reached the wonderful age of 40. I joined weight watchers a couple of years ago and got back down to 142. Then put on about 10 lbs the following year, then I had my hysterectomy and put on a few more lbs. I'm currently around 160 lbs. and would like to get back down to 142.

I have always worked out 5-6 times a week so as far as building muscle and losing inches I don't think much has changed for me in that respect. I'm in very good shape health wise as I do a ton of cardio. I try to eat some protein for every meal. Breakfast is a tuff one since I don't really feel like eating meat for breakfast I'm not sure what other protein to have. I cook my broccoli in a steamer from "pampered chef" in the microwave for about 4 minutes. I've stopped eating it since it just about kills me. I'm struggling to find dark green veggies other than asparagus that don't upset my stomach. I emailed to find out about getting the secretor test done.

Maybe I will cut out the soy for now. I really only use it in my tea. I drink green tea and cranberry and rose hip tea. In the morning I do have a regular cup of "tetley" but no more than 2 a day. I went to a workshop on the weekend and the woman told me I should be taking 2 1/2 teaspoons of kelp a day. I've just been taking it in pill form twice a day which she said was not enough. So I'm going to try and find it in bulk and see what I can mix it with to get that quantity into me. Other than this I'm not eating very many grains. I have ezekiel bread sometimes for breakfast and the odd time for lunch and that is really all the grains I'm eating. Janice

Hi, Janice! Thanks for the details, that helps me figure out what's going on.

To overcome your digestive difficulties shouldn't require much more than a bit of extra time spent cooking, and I'll suggest a couple of things to add to your diet.

For breakfast, two tablespoons of flaxseed. Put it in a clean electric coffee grinder, process to a rough powder (takes only a few seconds) and dump into a bowl. Add a handful of walnuts and a little chopped dried fruit (if desired). Add hot water just to cover, and let it stand for 10 minutes, then eat it. You can use this to top oatmeal as well, if you like.

Before lunch and dinner, take a bromelain supplement or some fresh pineapple or pineapple juice - just a very small glass. Do not drink with meals: the liquid dilutes the digestive fluids we're trying to stimulate. Have plenty of water between meals (see below).

At lunch, have your heaviest meal - meat, sweet potato, whatever cooked vegetables you can handle without pain -- some variation on that theme. For weight loss it is best to do so at breakfast, but this may prove easier for you. And while warming pre-cooked foods in the microwave is a lesser evil, cooking them for 4 minutes (like the broccoli) is not recommended. A stove-top steamer, a stir-fry or a baked/broiled dish is the way to go.

For dinner, have a big salad every day, and top it with tuna or salmon (canned is fine), or sliced steak. Make a quick dressing of a squeeze of lemon juice, a tablespoon of nutritional yeast (KAL is best), some garlic powder, and olive or toasted sesame oil - it tastes great. ;-) In addition, take a basic B vitamin supplement daily.

I strongly suggest using Phytocal-O and LiveCell-O daily, and taking a magnesium supplement (100-200 mg daily).

And make sure to drink 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight -- 80 ounces for you, divided into eight or ten glasses. Each should have a squeeze of lemon juice and a little pinch of sea salt, and mix it all well together.

Try this for one month, and then test the broccoli again (but not microwaved). The natural enzymes in the vegetables are being destroyed in the microwave process. Let me know how it goes for you!! thanks again, dear -- :-)

Hello Heidi. This is my first time. I've been reading the column for 4 months and it has been a tremendous help to us. Thank you. I am an O+ secretor and I have been a juvenile (Type 1) diabetic for almost 40 years. My husband is hypoglycemic and O- non-secretor. For over 30 years by trial & error we have found foods that cause my husband adverse reactions. Atkin's diet for 2 years was a big help but reading and doing LR4YT and finding out the secretor status has changed our lives. Thank you!!

I have a question about Heallix. I read about it and the uses for it. Diabetes wasn't on the list. I want to try it. I have been doing health measures for 30 years and improved my diabetes tremendously. I now take a very low dose of insulin for how long I have had it, which is unusual. I do not have any weight problems. I feel really healthy so I think I could handle any detox. I just wanted to know your take on taking Heallix for diabetes and how I would take it. I have often felt my diabetes was a low grade infection that has stayed in my pancreas since I got diabetes at the same time of my ruptured appendix. So I am intrigued by this product.

I also have another question. On Atkins I hardly ever ate fruit because of the diabetes. I was excited to add the beneficial fruits because I know they are so valuable for healing. But even though it recommends 3-5 a day on the program I seem to not handle even one (in small sevings throughout the day) if I want to keep my insulin down. My sugar fluctuations may also just be because of menopause hormone changes every month. There is a definite connecton here. I am very strict on the diet but wonder if I should just lay off the fruit and just stick to veggies. Thanks for all of your input. Nancy H.

Hey there, Nancy! Welcome to the clan! :-)

Eliminating the fruit altogether is OK for you, but try this first: have a handful of blueberries or black cherries mixed with a teaspoonful of flax oil or a tablespoon of soaked ground flaxseed. The fat should slow the assimilation of the fruit sugars. Also, get hold of some ProBerry3 liquid in the Store here -- and try it with a teaspoonful of the oil. That liquid contains concentrated proanthrocyanidins, which is one of the active health-enhancing elements of dark fruits. However, if neither of those works well for you, use a good vitamin C supp (acerola cherry or rose hip) along with ProBerry capsules.

It is possible that Heallix could help -- you would take it at the therapeutic level indicated on the bottle (six capsful daily) and taper off to one or two caps daily. However, I would not start taking it if you have dental amalgam (silver fillings) in your teeth. I would start instead with the 1/2 ounce of water per pound of bodyweight daily, with a pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon mixed into each quart. Do that for a month, and I'm sure you will see additional improvements! Let me know which you choose, and please do keep me posted! Congratulations to you and your husband for all your accomplishments so far -- you're doing a grand job! :-D

I understand that whey is an avoid for type O. My huge concern is that I like to work out with weights so I take in a lot of protein. I do eat food: red meat, turkey , chicken , tuna and eggs. Lots of eggs but I also have to take in a protein powder. I consume a blend of proteins( whey, egg and micellar casein) that has "lactose free" printed on the label. Is this acceptable or do I have to go with just a straight egg protein powder? Bob



Hello, Bob! If you're a secretor, soy protein is also OK for you. Egg protein's fine as well. It's especially important to use something other than whey, since it's an avoid, and you'd be consuming significant quantities of it daily if you used that form.



thanks for your note! :-)

Heidi Saying 'thank you' for all the help you give each and everyone of us is just not enough. But until I think of some other way...Thank You and a big hug!! I am an O, secretor status unknown as yet, great info recently on getting test done in Canada btw. Am having trouble wading through all the posts that come up when I search for the 'Iodine Test' Before starting the ER way of eating 3 years ago, I took some iodine daily and found it very useful. (family history of enlarged thyroid) Could you point me in the direction of how to do this test, and what I will glean from the results? You heard about angels that sit on your shoulder and help constantly, well you are our angel sitting inside our computer screen, helping world-wide on a daily 24/7 basis, thank you SO much!! Toni



Hello, Toni -- you're very kind! :-}



The iodine test is both a simple diagnostic and a treatment, all in one.



Here is the link to the column you're looking for.



Thanks again, dear ~ enjoy! :-)

Hi Heidi, Your dedication is a constant source of inspiration. :-) I wanted to say that I too looked to Applegate Farms for turkey products. I really enjoy their turkey dogs. But alas, found that there was an avoid for me in other products like the turkey bacon and sliced turkey. The sliced turkey has carrageenan and the turkey bacon has black pepper. I know both are avoids for all of us. :-( As I learned from you, not black pepper per se but the already ground stuff is an avoid for all us. So I have had to look to Whole Foods, a 2 hr. round trip drive, for their own freshly cut deli turkey slices which are free range turkey, no antibiotics or hormones. I buy a bunch and then lay them out on wax paper singly and put in freezer. Ask them to cut a little thicker if going to freeze. Thaws beautifully. How about turkey sausage for breakfast? Ground turkey, herbs (such as sage, fennel and freshly ground pepper-for B and O only), salt, and cooked in olive oil. But other herbs will do like marjoram, oregano and basil. Put in heated pan with EV olive oil and cook on low until done. This is from Suzanna, B nonnie, from our nonnie group. Can also be prefrozen as patties and cooked in the morning. If anyone knows of where I can buy turkey products like sliced turkey or turkey bacon online, that would be great. Thanks Heidi for all that you are and do. Nina



Hey, Nina ~~ I spend only an hour and a half round trip to get most of my groceries, which I do twice weekly -- but a two hour drive to get deli turkey is something I can suggest a different option for: get a whole "organic" turkey breast or two (I hope you have a butcher or other clean turkey source closer than Whole Foods -- lots of places online), and make your own pastrami. Here's Myra's recipe from the old bulletin boards, and her elaboration of the cooking time. I've made this pastrami a whole lot of times -- using my wonderful huge cast-iron pan with the top (which weighs as much as the pan) instead of a nonstick, because I guess I just love pampering that pan. I also use a bit of olive oil all over the breast, then a spice mix including garlic, paprika, sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin powder, and whatever else appealed to me at the moment, whizzed up in the electric coffee grinder. That pastrami is just a WONDERFUL thing to have on hand, VERY tasty. :-) thanks again, Myra!! ;-)



You can slice it yourself with a very sharp knife, or have your butcher slice it for you. Any supermarket with a meat counter will have the equipment to do this. Then it can be wrapped & frozen in portion sizes, as desired. It really takes little active cooking time to do this item, and it's certainly time better spent than in traffic! :-D



Eberly Poultry in Stevens, PA carries John F. Martin farm's turkey bacon -- slab or sliced. That's an avenue I'd certainly explore, as Eberly is one of the finest poultry concerns in the U.S. and wouldn't carry a substandard product. Here is their phone/ location/ store hours for their Outlet Store in Stevens. Give them a call and see what you can learn about the Martin turkey bacon products -- I'll visualize "no pepper!" enjoy! :-)

Hi Heidi, Well I FINALLY bought some veg gly and I love it - Its like liquid icing sugar. The only drawback is it leaves a strange after taste in my mouth, not bad, just strange in the way I can't explain what it tastes like.



I just wanted to thank Jan for sharing her experiences with dry eyes, any information anyone can share about it is appreciated. I haven't really noticed any particular foods agravate it - I mostly find that airconditioning and eyedrops with preservatives aggravate them, I might keep a food diary anyway.



I mostly avoid any foods that are avoids for secretors and non-secretors except for spelt flour and honey which is only once or twice a week anyway. I was thinking that seeing as my dry eyes were caused through antiobiotics(for pimples on my back)do you think that if I ate non-organic mince beef that could possibly have antibiotics in it - is this likely to aggravate it?



Also Jan mentioned that if she eats too many dried fruits it made her eyes worse so should I be avoiding fruit do you think - I usually have two bananas a day? Thats all for now. Thanks in advance. Chantelle



Hi, Chantelle! There are several brands of veg gly, so you might look around and sample different kinds to find one that doesn't leave an aftertaste. People differ in their opinions on which one tastes best. :-) Several options are NOW brand, Heritage, Frontier, and Azure Standard -- the latter's website is www.azurestandard.com, and they offer veg gly in pint, quart and gallon sizes at the lowest prices I've seen.



You may indeed be very sensitive to antibiotics -- and yes, any food such as chicken, turkey, beef, etc. which was treated with antibiotics will retain traces of them, along with growth hormones, and the pesticides used in the feed. It's so important to consume only clean meats -- it's the best choice in every respect! :-)



If you're eating bananas as your only fruit, day in & day out, I'd certainly replace them with others for a few weeks and see if there's a difference. Let me know, OK? thanks for your note, dear! :-)

Hi! Thanks for your reply to my low bloodpressure question, of course it has to do with adrenal gland function. I had never heard of it before though, and your reply opened up plenty of doors for me! Thanks again!! I have suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome since I was a child..... The past few years I have got very good help from therapy (including hypnosis) and now I certainly think life looks bright.



I understand though that it may take some time to heal my body as well after so many years of extreme stress (I am 36 years old). I have even been told that I got the celiac disease from too much stress too long, but that it is now impossible to heal, the damage is permanent. But since am an O I do not want grains anyway, celiac or not...... Will the damage done to adrenal glands be permanent as well? I have started taking Russian Rhadiola 500mg once or twice daily, and I can tell my body just loves it!!!! I can´t find any pregnenolone supplement (I live in Sweden) except for a rather expensive cream, would putting that on my skin work?



The protocols in the encyclopaedia, if I want to go for more than one of them will it be best to do them all at once or one after another? And one more question: how can I bring down high copper levels? Both my Mum (who is O as well, she is battling high cholesterol (yes, she has cut out grains except for her beloved brown rice)) and I have found out we both have too much copper. Mum´s levels show she is actually poisoned by it. Not fun! Someone told her her liver is not working because of all that copper and that may cause the high cholesterol. Zinc will help. But is that all? There must be more to do!!!! I have searched for "copper" on the internet but only found how to add, not to get rid of it. Do you know? Love, Helena



Hello, Helena ~~ The body's cells die and are replaced with new cells constantly. No, the damage is not permanent! :-) Continue with your diet and exercise, and enjoy your healing!



I'm not familiar with pregnenolone in cream form. Do a web search and see if you can find it in capsule form online: something which contains from 10-30 mg per capsule.



To reduce your copper levels, eliminate the copper sources in your diet: copper pans for cooking, any vitamins containing copper, and limit the foods you found which are high in copper.



Also, consider doing the gallbladder flush at the www.sensiblehealth.com site -- it is wonderful for helping clear out the liver and allowing it to function normally again.



Best of health to you both, dear! :-)

My husband and I both started the diet about 3 weeks ago. Felt good for 5 days or so and then started feeling unwell to downright sick. Is this something that happens sometimes? Haven't read anything like this. We're different blood types and each following strictly-mostly beneficials. He's 73 and I'm 71. Hope you can help. Marjorie



Hello, Marjorie! Oh yes, it is a very common occurrence and it passes after a few days. Your body's internal environment will experience readjustments due to the different foods you're eating. These are GOOD developments, but can be uncomfortable for a while. Sometimes they manifest as a cold, or as bowel disturbances, etc. Give it some time, and let the toxins process out and the good stuff make itself at home.



Welcome to you and your husband! Glad you found us!! :-)

I am type B. The book says black pepper is an avoid, but peppercorns are neutral. If I grind my own peppercorns, are they still ok, or does something in the grinding make them an avoid? Trudy



Hey there, Trudy ~ Yes, pepper made from grinding your own black peppercorns (neutral) is neutral for you. :-)

First, congratulations Heidi, on your answers. they are a pleasure to read even if one is not concerned. I feel I am, as I am a practicing nutritiionist in France and find so much information in the testimonials, questions and answers. I would like to know where i can find the gall bladder flush that is so often mentioned; Julia's site I cannot find ; I put in the search word, gall bladder flush but I feel all the answers came up . thanks for your answer -- Karen, O non-secretor (my health improved immensely after I found out)



Hi there, Karen -- Go to www.sensiblehealth.com -- that's the URL. I'm happy to hear the nonsecretor diet is making a big difference for you! thanks for writing!! :-D

Hi Heidi, I was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago with endometreosis. I'm a type O and 36yrs old. I've been put on Lupron which blocks all hormones so I am going into menopause to try to shrink the endometreosis. But upon futher investigation I found out that this is not a cure and there is a huge probability that the endometreosis will reoccur.



I found through you the Julia Chang's web site and how all of this really relates to the liver. I ordered the recommended tinctures- Chinese Bitters and Coptis. How do you get this stuff down? The taste is nothing I have ever experienced. Is there a substitute for these herbs in pill form or is there some way to mix them so the medicine goes down? Please give me any advice. Thanks, Tina



Hi, Tina! Yes, the drugs are NOT cures. They frequently create enormous NEW problems while claiming to help you with the original one. Drug-induced menopause is an extreme and unnecessary measure -- endometriosis can be dealt with effectively through diet, exercise, stress relief and natural cleansing practices such as the liver/gallbladder procedures on Julia's site.



What I would do to get the tinctures down is use a straw. Slurp it all up & swallow as quickly as possible. Now, that is fine unless you are instructed specifically to hold it in your mouth for a period of time. Luckily, you won't be taking them forever, and believe me that the taste of the tinctures will be a happy memory compared to what the drug will do to you if continued.



Bless you, and please keep me posted on your progress with the cleansing, Tina! :-)

Hi Heidi, I wrote in a little while ago concerning my food sensitivities to onion and garlic and in your response you were wondering who was the doctor who told me to stay away from these. Actually, it was Dr. James D'adamo in his clinic in Toronto. I know he and Dr. Peter D'adamo do not agree on all points, but as a type O I was at least told to eat animal protein and stay away from grains and sugar. I have Dr. Peter's books now and i am trying to follow the eating plan as best i can. Thanks for the help Heidi. Michou



~:-D Thanks, Michou! I wanted to make sure to give that doctor some public credit... now having found out who it is, I'm having a good chuckle about it! Best wishes, dear!! :-D

Hi Heidi, I am an A+ Secretor. I have to have hip replacement surgery on both hips due to congenital hip displacement which caused severe arthritis at my age of 47. Next April - 2004 I'll have the first hip surgery. I have a history of blood clots from knee surgery in 2002. I was wondering if drinking Hawthorn Berry tea would help strengthen my arteries and veins to be able to be stronger for the surgery? Thanks Diana



Hello, Diana! Hawthorn is a good idea, along with Collinsonia canadensis (stoneroot). In the BTD Complete Blood Type Encylopedia is a surgery protocol which would be very helpful to you. It's to be done for two weeks before, until two weeks after, the surgery. It includes gotu kola, vitamin E, horse chestnut, chamomile tincture, vitamin C, zinc, and bromelain -- the details are on page 491 of the encyclopedia.



I wish you the very best in your surgery, and a fast recovery! :-)

I recently wrote about my food intolerances to beneficial Bneg secretor foods following rigorous testing. Thankyou so much for responding. The machine they used was an electronic unit with a metal probe that was simultaneously placed on the vial of food being tested and the lung/bowell acupuncture point on my thumb.Apparently it's much more accurate than skin scratch testing.

I was tested twice by 2 different practitioners about 1 month apart. There were some differences in results however milk,cheese,egg and baking powder came up both times. I followed up with the elimination rotation diet and did show a shocking reaction to cheese, slight to milk and egg but not to lactose or gluten or yoghurt? Should I eliminate these beneficial foods? Kathryn

Ah! OK, Kathryn -- thanks for responding so quickly. I think you're a very savvy person, given the way you approached your testing and proceeded to self-test through the elimination/rotation diet. Kudos to you! :-)

Whole/skim cow's milk is something you can safely live without, although sensitivities of this kind do tend to change after time on the diet. Goat's milk is an option there. The fact that yoghurt didn't bother you is a confirmation that fermented cow dairy products are superior to the whole cow's milk stuff. Kefir is another good food in that category.

I'm not surprised you have no problem with lactose -- and it's a happy thing that gluten's not an issue! :-)

About cheese - if you can find out what kind of cheese was used in the testing, you know at least one type to avoid. The kind you used after your elimination diet is another... for now. There are thousands of cheeses -- some made from cow's milk, some from goat, or sheep, or waterbuffalo, with of course many breeds of each animal, etc., and a huge variety of processing methods. I feel confident you will be able to find some cheeses you CAN eat. You might start testing with young, fresh items like plain soft goatcheese, and proceed with waterbuffalo mozzarella, goat or sheepsmilk paneer, etc.

If the egg you tested "slightly off" with after the elim diet was of verifiably excellent quality, then let them go for a couple of months and reintroduce them slowly. They're only "neutral" for you, so it's more of a cooking inconvenience than anything else.

Thanks SO much for this detail, and please keep me posted on how you do, going forward! :-D

Heidi, I have a suggestion for those who suffer from a flaky scalp. I have used apple cider vinegar on and off for years. I used it again this morning and had forgotten how nice the tingly feeling was after my shower. Use 1/2 to 1 cup apple cider vinegar mixed with a little warm water after you shampoo and rinse your hair. Besides smelling a bit like a salad, it just feels wonderful. (Also, if you have brown hair, you can add some calendula leaves and red hibiscus flowers to the apple cider vinegar and let steep in a dark place for 3 weeks. It can add some nice natural highlights.) Amber

Hey! Nice hair tips, Amber! :-D I used to rinse my hair in sage & rosemary "tea," which is good for very dark hair. thanks for your note!! :-D

Is it acceptable to take several synergistic products as well as the recommended multi vitamins and minerals on a dailey basis? Debra

Hi, Debra! Sure it is -- they do not interfere with each other. Tell me which ones you're considering, and I'll do my best to give more specific info on them. Be well!! :-D

Hello Heidi. I have been trying to access the previous questions section of your column. Each time I press the "list previous questions" button it takes me to the current questions, no previous topics can be accessed. I have tried from two different computers. I have noticed this happening for several days now. Is there something I am doing incorrectly? I really like reading the old questions because there is always something pertinent written. Thank you for all of your dedication! I so thoroughly enjoy this site! Jan O+

Hello, Jan -- Well, I couldn't duplicate the problem you're having. Are you still having it? And did you change any of your computer settings just before it began? Let me know, and I'll see if we can help! :-D

Dear Heidi, Cyndi asks you about vegetable glycerine today, and your answer refers to the value of it cf sugar. My experience recently is so far out I can hardly believe it, but a few weeks ago my doctor ordered more blood tests to see if his suspicion that I was diabetic was true.

I waited for a week before doing the new test, and in the meantime did a crash course in anti-diabetes food(no wheat, corn, sugar or alcohol) plus a couple of the protocols from the Encyclopedia- fenugreek, mushrooms and glycerine. Then had the test, and found that my blood sugar has dropped below concern. Wow! Jenny (A2)

Hey!! CONGRATULATIONS, Jenny! I'm VERY pleased with your results -- thanks so much for taking time to let us know!! :-D

Where can I find a complete list of all the foods I can and cannot eat? thanks, Laura

Greetings, Laura! See the note below, beginning with "if you do not know your secretor status." For a thoroughgoing exploration of what the diet is based on, I'd suggest Live Right 4 Your Type. However, the "little book" for your type -- the pamphlet-sized Food, Beverage & Supplement Lists ~~ are a GREAT way to get started, and serve as a handy shopping list as well! Thank you for writing! :-D

Hi, Heidi. Awhile ago you were discussing salt in your column, and you said that O's "tolerate salt well." What exactly do you mean by that? Thanks! Lisa

Hi, LIsa! Os tend to have thinner blood & lower cortisol levels, so generally are less likely to have high blood pressure than As or ABs. Of course, it was only a passing comment, and doesn't mean Os should be dumping salt on their food ~ just a note on a very broad overview of the situation. thanks for writing, dear! :-D

Heidi, I usually take bladderwrack (fucus vesiculosis) but my health food store has been out of it last few days. And, I've been busy.. so, tonight I purchased solary bladderwrack (fucus spp.) (580 mg per capsule). I'm type O, secretor. Instead of going without until I can get the vesiculosis (spelling?) I bought this bladderwrack fucus spp. but I have heard the only one to take is the former. Can you tell me if this is good for me at all or do I have to take the other one? What's the difference between them? Thanks Heidi. Candace

Hi, Candace! If the Solaray label says bladderwrack, and the genus is fucus, you're fine with it! That's how you tell. That's perfectly fine for you. :-D

Dear Heidi, Re Ferrucio's letter today I hope that my info here will give him some confidence; I've been on 50 thyroxine for the past 18 months, the past 12 months of which I have been on a pretty strict A type diet.(plenty of soy in many forms, also fresh salmon often).

The latest test has caused my doc to state that he's not at all concerned about that aspect of my health any more, as the T4 is rising.. Ciao,Jenny

WHOO-HOO!! Thanks, Jenny!! and congratulations on your progress!!! :-D

Hello, I am an A blood type and according to the diet and supplement guide Salmon is a Highly benificial for us. But everytime I eat it I have horrible digestion problems (mainly with Atlantic Salmon). Why is this happening with a food that is supposedly good for me. is there a difference between atlanic and pacific salmon for us? David

Greetings, David -- I have a suggestion. The Atlantic Salmon you're getting may be "farmed" salmon, meaning they're kept thrashing around in pens, and fed unmentionable (and totally unnatural, for them) feed. Ask your fishmonger if the salmon is WILD or FARMED. For many of us, there's noticeable difference in digestion between a wild fish or a factory-bred, caged, stressed, artificially-fed fish.

It certainly makes a significant difference to the fish.

So choose wild fish -- for yourself, and for them.

By the way, last week I was engaged in my usual marginally-aware consciousness as I rushed through the shopping --- when I just happened to raise my head and notice that there's a new store at 6th Avenue & Ninth Street. LO AND BEHOLD, CITARELLA HAS OPENED A STORE THERE!! Anyone in downtown NYC (they've an upper west side shop as well, for YEARS) looking for a GREAT selection of fish at VERY affordable prices should stop in and have a drool over the jewel box of a huge long fish counter. The only thing that ever arrives frozen is certain of the shrimp -- the marvelous staff will answer all your questions! The rest of the fish is FRESH, and wild varieties abound. Last week, red sockeye salmon, for instance. I picked up a pair of nice, fat whole mackerel for exactly $4.75 (meal for two!).

And found out they'd been there for SIX MONTHS already. Where was I all that time? Oh well... powers of observation never were that great! but what a fabulous place! that's my plug. ENJOY!! :-)

Hi Heidi, Just a message for Dawn about her migraines. The blood group diet was the only thing that worked for my migraines. By the the way I am an A+ Sec.

For six years I went through the most appalling pain, so bad I would go into shock and have to be rushed to hospital because my blood pressure went so low they needed to keep me under observation. As it happened every month the doctors attributed it to hormones and was put on all sorts of medication until they finally settled on beta blockers. As I have naturally high energy levels the sluggishness I felt was just about as bad as the migraine.

I came off them & then started my endless search for a cure through lots of different diets and vitamin and mineral supplementation. The pain went from one major attack a month to a long endless pain that seemed to carry on for weeks. I was taking several boxes of painkillers a week and often taking about 8 at a time, not really caring whether I woke up in the morning or not. I am sure Dawn can relate to what I am telling her.

Several times I was threatened with disciplinary action for taking time off work hence the reason for my having to overdose on the tablets just to be able to turn up to work.

I stumbled on the blood group diet at my supermarket. It was on the bookshelves & struck a chord so took it home & tried it. I actually went on it initially to lose weight which I did. Although I am an A & am allowed a little wheat I went right off it to lose weight faster.

About 4-5 weeks later I had lunch with a friend in a Chinese restaurant & although I had ordered the compliant dishes for me I couldn't resist having a mouthful of the noodles that he'd ordered. Within minutes the pain was moving from the left side of my head to the right, that old familiar migraine pain.

It was only then that I realised that since I'd been on the diet I didn't even know where my painkillers were. I usually had them secreted all over my person and my house. It was that "aha" moment of finally knowing what was causing my migraines. It was wheat and although I am not so sensitive to it now as I once was as I've been on the diet since 2001 if I go on holiday and eat more than a few slices a day I can feel the old pain coming back.

For Dawn it might be a bit more complicated but try not eating wheat for a few weeks. I haven't looked back since & can't remember the last time I even had a headache. This diet will work for you and best wishes. Helen

Dear Helen ~~ WOW, that is an amazing story! We all hear from others whose lives have taken a turn for the better on these diets, but sometimes the circumstances are so dramatic, and the healing so profound, that it really sticks in the mind. This one will certainly stay with me.

THANK YOU for your kindness in posting this for us, and VERY best wishes to you!! :-D

Hi Heidi, I am responding to Chantelle having nausea during her gallbladder flush. I did a gallbladder flush one year ago prior to a gallbladder-liver CAT scan. I found about 4 variations of the flush in print and online. I was very nervous about the CAT scan so i wanted to do the flush perfectly.

I found one Dr that recommended Coke from a glass bottle left at room temperature for the nausea that will happen to some people. I did purchase it, just incase i needed it. I got very nauseaus when i took the epsom salts few hours prior to the lemon-oil mixture. I took a few sips from the small Coke glass bottle and it helped immediately. I also needed to sip some after the lemon-oil mixture.

I know the Coke is not a good idea to drink in daily life, but here it did the trick for me. So i dont want to sound like i advocate it.

Another Dr recommended a hot water bottle and to lay on your right side with your knee slightly drawn to your chest. I had a very rough night and do not think i would have made it through without the hot water bottle. I never slept the whole night and the hot water bottle was the only thing keeping me from having uncomfortable pain. If the bottle moved or when i refilled the bottle i was very uncomfortable.

At 6am it felt like there was a war going on in my gallbladder and intestines and i ran to the bathroom and i passed about 25 green stones. I passed a lot of green muck too. Sorry to sound gross here. This may have been more stones, but the epsom salts may have already broken them up and fragmented them. It was a very rough experience for me and its been a year since i did and i need to do more.

I think there is no better way to clean your gallbladder. Something this worthwhile is not so easy, but its very beneficial. So this is not meant to discourage but to encourage others to do it. They need to be prepared for all the things that can happen and plan accordingly and then it wont be so scary.

I wont be as scared with my next gallbladder flushes now that i have done one. Heidi, if you need to delete the part about the Coke, i wont mind :-) I know its not good for the BTD community, but it did help me. Thanks so much for all the info you share with us, Arlene AB+

LOL!! Thank you Arlene -- GREAT account of your experience! I hope it gives others the impetus to do the flush, with confidence!

I wonder if ginger soda (with OK ingredients) would work as well. It's a potent stomach-calmer. Most of these days aren't familiar with how "coke syrup" was used years ago -- once upon a time, people gave it to colicky babies. I'll bet some fizzy water (preferably mineral water) with a big dollop of ginger syrup (made with honey) will work beautifully for the tum-upsets!

And allowing oneself calm space & time in which to do the flush is also very helpful in warding off discomfort.

Bless you for the story, Arlene ~ keep shining!! :-D

Vegetable Glycerine safe intake calculation. Heidi you posted a calculation on a previous board for safe intake of vegetable glycerine in a day period. This is how I understand it, is this correct? My weight 115 lbs x .45 equals 51 kg. My kg weight 51 kg x 700 equals 36,225 milligrams. 36,225 milligrams equals 36.2 grams. 36.2 grams divided by 225 equals .16 cups. 0.16 cups equals my safe intake level of vegetable glycerine. Assuming glycerine has the same volume as water one might say that since there are 250 milliliters in a cup and .0.16 multiplied by 250 equals 40 mililiters my safe intake of vegetable glycerine should be limited to 40 milliliters. In other words, 0.16 cup is approximately 1/8 of a cup. If I bake a cake with 1 cup of glycerine in it I should not eat more that 1/8 of the cake in a given day? Which is a reasonable sized piece. Just don't eat the whole cake by yourself. Hey - I guess nature has made it all work out that we learn to share and that is what is good for us. ( Except if you are a really really big person then you don't have to share as much ) RuthD

Hey! Neat analysis, RuthD! thanks very much!! Yep, I'd say you have it exactly right. :-D

Hi Heidi - I don't know if I was sending my question in the right way. My question is with the mastic gum for eradication of the Helicobacter Pylori bacteria in the stomach and the prescribed pancreatic enzymes from the doctor because of poor absorption of my protein and my vitamin supplements as well. Am I doing the right thing by avoiding the antibiotics and taking the Mastic Gum?? Could I have your input on this issue please? Thanks Heidi Tonie

Hello, Tonie - I'm not at all familiar with the use of gum mastic as a substitute for antibiotics. I do know that following the diet and supplementing with fucus vesiculosis (bladderwrack), as well as using a non-invasive antimicrobial such as Heallix will help a great deal.

In general, gums enhance the effects of the lectins present in other foods. Sometimes they're used deliberately to boost the effectiveness of GOOD lectins in supplements. If you can tell me more about this situation, I'll try my best to get more information for you. Bless ya, dear!! :-D

Hi Heidi, I had some thoughts for Kylie too – For fluid-filled blisters/hives, a salt bath might help – either epsom salts or sea salt. Has to be very salty, several cups of salt at least. (Dump in 1/2 carton of epsom salts.) The salt water makes blisters dry, draws out fluid by osmosis. Also, wiping skin with apple cider vinegar makes the skin more acidic which hinders fungus/bacteria & helps to avoid infection, though it does sting a rash.

Another good healing thing is to crush a zinc lozenge to powder, mix with 4-8 drops Vitamin E, and add enough drops of water to make it a thin lotion consistency. (Best zinc lozenges to use are those with Vitamin C added, for healing & as an antibacterial. Avoid the ones with herbal things like echinacea, people can have different reactions.) Wipe it on skin -- a little should go a long way if it has enough water added -- and leave it on for at least 20 minutes. Don’t get it in your eyes! Can leave the zinc paste on all day, but it’s sticky.

The zinc/E paste is antibacterial, antifungal, anti-itch, helps skin immunity & helps healing. Both the apple cider vinegar and the zinc paste will temporarily make a rash look more red, so I did it at night or when I wasn’t going out. (Both are also good for acne.) Try them on a small area first to make sure there's no reaction, though it's unlikely.

Another thing that might help would be decreasing the histamine/inflammation reaction, like with Quercitin as you've mentioned. Or if I’m working on inflammation like allergies or hives, I take vitamin C, increase it to tolerance level then back off, and then do the same for magnesium. Either will cause diarrhea the next day if you’re taking too much. Both are natural anti-histamines, and help the body handle stress too, and a rash like that is definitely stress.

B vitamins/brewer’s yeast would be very important. If there weren't fungal problems til after being pregnant, could be related to a B deficiency, creating babies uses up a lot of B vitamins. Hang in there Kylie! My old chiropractor used to say, the body is always trying to heal, as long as you’re alive it’s trying. Take care, Maia

marvelous -- thanks once again, Maia! :-D

Dear Heidi, Surfing around Peter's columns recently I found to my surprise under "feline" that most cats are of type A blood! Having just welcomed Molly the Marmalade Moggie into my life, I was pleased that we shared this bond, if not our hair colour!.Anyway, I've been playing around with appropriate food for her, and in passing have found to my disgust that most cat food in tins is a mix of various red meats, and whatever is supposed to be the main flavour, except one or two fish tins. Molly loves the chicken fats that rise to the top after I make my chicken stock @ la Heidi, so I've tried to mix this in with some beans,(ie appropriate A type beans) which partly worked as a ruse.(but cats are picky). The main problem is that although cows milk is the only kind she will drink (not soy), she always has diarrohea afterwards. Very interesting!. Cheerio, Jenny

:-) hi, Jenny! As we know, the blood type does not code for digestive functions in cats. They all need their nice fresh meat & fish, along with clean grass for 'grazing' (to clean the stomach) and a nice dollop of fats indeed! A VERY warm welcome to Molly, our newest type A!! :-D

I am a type o negative and am starting the blood type diet. I have been taking Maca for the past 2 m onths. It is a root vegatable but I can't find it on a list. Is it OK for type O Sean

Hello, Sean ~ welcome!!

As far as we know, it's OK for all types, although technically it's an unknown (there is no value assigned to it as yet).

Hi, This is my first time writing in, but its a bit of a long one. My background: I am a female B+ secretor of Indian heritage. I am also vegetarian, but eat eggs and dairy. I love this diet, and I read your column everyday.

When I first heard about the diet, this crazy woman I worked with told me about it, and when I looked into it I thought it was a load of ! Then about a year later, I started having serious problems with digestion, was sleeping 14 hours a day and couldn't eat anything. I had gluten intolerance/celiac. When I gave up wheat, rye, barley and oats, surprise surprise - I got dairy back.

Then I looked into the diet again and never looked back. Now I read your column almost everyday, and carry on to anyone who will listen about the BTD. I guess I have about a 70% compliance level, since I am vegetarian, and have about 30 pounds to lose still. The biggest benefits I got from the diet are greater energy and concentration.

Three things: 1) I couple days ago a mother wrote asking for advice about alternatives to stimulants for ADHD, and that she was trying supplements/diet without big results. Can you let her know that one of the most effective treatments for ADHD (and many other psychological disorders) is Neurofeedback training. For more information, she should start by reading A Symphony in the Brain by Jim Robbins. To find a provider she can go to http://www.eegdirectory.com/ or to EEG Spectrum's website http://www.eegspectrum.com which also has lots of information about neurofeedback.

2) I have been taking Albion chelate mineral supplements. What do you think about them?

3) This one is about my mother, who is not currently on the diet. My mother has diabetes and underactive thyroid, and is currently taking something for the diabetes, synthroid, and fosamax. The diabetes - is all over her family. When she was diagnosed about 3 years ago, she was really good about diet and exercise, lost a lot of weight, and didn't have to start taking meds at first. The thyroid problem - about 20 years ago she did chemo for hyperthyroid, and was ok for a long time, then about 3 years ago was diagnosed with the hypothyroid. I am very worried about her. She 59, and it seems that every year she gets a tiny bit worse. My mother is vegetarian for religious reasons, and I am sure she will not change. Her blood type is O + sec. unknown. I am not sure how I should approach her about starting the diet and her health issues, as I am very concerned about the drugs she is taking, but I don't want her to get worse, by her stopping them. I see from other people who write into this column that these problems can resolve on the diet, but she could never be very compliant on the diet since she is vegetarian, even if she followed all other food recommendations. What do you think? --Shima

Hello, Shima -- WELCOME!!

I've given you an "alias" instead of using only one initial for your name -- this way, you can search under that name to find answers to any questions you ask in the future. (Our search function won't work with only one or two letters. hope you like your alias! ;-))

I'm pleased you're doing well on the B diet -- and thank you VERY much for the note on neurofeedback training!

(I guess you'll look on crazy women a little differently from here on in! ~;-D Having been one of those crazy women in other's eyes, I can relate! :-D)

From what I've read about Albion chelates, they seem quite good. If they're working well for you, then I see no reason not to continue with them. We generally suggest that people consider taking the blood-type specific supplements sold here, simply because they are designed with this added information as a given -- and that's unique among supplement brands.

About your Mom, the first step is to see if she is willing to eliminate the avoids from her diet. Slowly is fine -- but it is her body and her life, so naturally she will be the one to decide whether she wants to try this. It is very, very difficult for a type O to maintain good health as a vegetarian -- even an ovo-lacto vegetarian -- over many years. She simply is not getting enough protein in the form that her body is designed to digest and use efficiently. You can help her by obtaining the supplement Coleus forskohlii, as it aids the cellular metabolism in such cases.

Do let her know that it will help her greatly to eliminate wheat and the other grain, dairy and bean/seed avoids. Thyroid is one of the health issues that responds rather quickly to elimination of avoids, since the thyroid is very sensitive to the lectins in many of those foods.

A note about your other (unpublished) question -- Cortiguard is OK to take. It wasn't involved in the problem you experienced. I suggest several things: use ghee daily; start taking your blood-type probiotic (PolyFlora-; and also start taking ARA6. All of these items are highly effective for restoring the digestive lining and re-establishing the proper balance of beneficial bacteria.

Remember that if you are gluten sensitive, you are most likely sugar-sensitive as well. That is a big clue as to how things progressed the way they did. I hope you feel very much better, soon! And I thank you very kindly for stopping by! :-)

Hi Heidi- You are fantastic. I read your column everyday. My dad has given up his vodka martinis (after 50 years) which he had everynight. It has been 2 months and he says he is not feeling well. He is Type O and is 73. I am worried about him. What supplements, etc. should he be taking? Any other suggestions. Thanks so much Heidi! Sincerely, Lynn

Hey there, Lynn! Nice to hear from you.

Could you tell me what his diet's like -- what meds or supps he takes now -- and could you describe what the not feeling well is? like, digestive, or headaches, any details?

thanks, dear! He may be simply experiencing a liver adjustment, but I'd like to hear any further information you can offer. thanks again! :-)

I have a problem with my digestion namely a severe constipation so I used medication (based on plants).The results are not very convinceing.For the last 3 years I avoided meat (I am type 0 and 30 years old) not to gain weight.I am a fitness trainer but I consume lots of salads&fruits.Although my diet is(so I consider)well balanced I still have this nagging problem.I also had severe problems with my period which was delayed smth.even with 2-3 months.For this I began a treatment with Ginko Biloba and the results please me.Is there a connection between these problems&the fact that I always am cold(especially on winter). Carmen

Hi, Carmen! welcome!! Do try the type O diet for one month -- I think the specific foods recommended, and in the balance as per the portion/frequency guidelines in Live Right 4 Your Type, will solve your problem pretty quickly.

The cold is a thyroid issue, which is most certainly connected to diet. Menstrual problems, too, are amenable to diet changes in most cases. Give the type O diet a good testing, and let me know how you do. :-D

I'm a type B who craves protein all the time. If I don't eat a protein breakfast I'm shaky by mid-morning - quinoa porridge etc makes me feel weak and unwell. Lately I've been eating bacon every morning for breakfast and it makes me feel great, my energy lasts until early afternoon. But my practitioner says bacon this often is a really bad idea. Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy protein breakfast that doesn't contain any wheat (which rules out sausages etc). Thank you! Lisa

Hello, Lisa! Well, if bacon is easy, so is turkey bacon. Applegate Farms makes a great product there. Many people, particularly Os and Bs, do best on a protein breakfast -- which is most easily achieved by preparing "dinner-style" foods in advance (like turkey burgers or lamb stew) and just warming them up for breakfast. I've been doing this for years, and I can particularly vouch for that approach.

Steak & eggs is another option. How about a curried dish -- lamb, game, anything on your OK list from the meat, poultry, and fish sections? Or a nice piece of quiche, made with turkey bacon, sweet peppers, sauteed greens, eggs, cheese, and a spelt crust?

Just think of breakfast as the foundational meal of the day -- then arrange for either leftovers or single servings you've prepared beforehand. Best wishes, and let us know what you come up with! :-D

Hi Heidi! Thanks for answering my question about CLA (7/21). Here's the list of ingredients: 4 SOFTGELS (DAILY AMOUNT) CONTAIN: Conjugated Linoleic Acid (from safflower oil) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 mg Other Ingredients: free fatty acids, gelatin, glycerin, purified water, added color Think there're avoids for a B-NS in there? Kathy K

Hi, Kathy! The CLA from safflower oil is going to be the same compound as CLA from grass-fed animal products such as meat and dairy -- so yes, it's OK, but you know me, I'd prefer you obtained them from the correct portions of the many beneficials on your list in that regard. The gelatin is the only avoid I see in there. Hope this helps!! :-D

The best life style change that I have ever tried. I am Type "O". Haven't done a lot of exercise because I have been ill for a while. My question is I am Type II diabetic, who refuses to take those pills anymore (notified my doctor), because thry are the culprits that have put me down most of this year with every joint in my body hurting. These side affects have led me into taking and being injected with other things, even though the original problem started with the Diabetic, High Blood, and Cholestrol meds.

Now my question is- what to do about the fruits that are reccomended. I find they run up the blood sugar and since I don't have any help to keep the sugar under control. Can you tell me anything. I am losing the weight, I am going to do the exercise,and I have already had success with the "O" type diet. If it will help you form an answer, I am 66 years, Black woman. Gloria

Greetings, Gloria! You may not remember me, but we spoke a VERY long time ago! It's very good to hear from you!!

Here are some suggestions: There's no need to include fruit every day, for now. If you do have some fruit, douse it with a teaspoon of flax or olive oil. It will slow the sugar absorption. For the blood pressure, just keep up with the meats and fish, along with a good quantity of green vegetables (2-3 servings daily) and other veg (1-2 servings daily) for a total intake of 4-5 servings each day. To enhance your progress away from diabetes, take a tablespoon of vegetable glycerine daily. It is a sweetener, so you can put it in tea or other foods (and cook/bake with it), but it has a powerful effect on balancing your blood sugar levels. Your cholesterol should do very nicely on this diet -- but if you would like a little help there, look into using the supplement Red Yeast Rice. For my very favorite supplier of this product, just go to the bottom of this page and put in the word Jingxin. The links are there -- read from the bottom one up.

I'm very impressed with your positive approach -- I know you'll do splendidly! Write again if any questions arise. I always welcome progress reports! Bless you, dear! :-D

Hi Heidi, Still working on Greens and veggie juice each day for constipation. I had to use magnesium, but how much, is to much. I read somewhere that 700 mg could hurt you. And when should you take it, with food or with out. Thank you for all your work and caring. Joan.

Hello, Joan! Ideally, magnesium intake should be balanced with other minerals. Start with a low dose (100mg) and raise it each day until your stools are easy and soft. That's the ideal dosage. If you have runny stools, reduce the dosage somewhat. Just make sure not to gobble up a whole lot of magnesium the first time out... slow and steady, listening to the body, is the way to go. By the way, how's the exercise/water intake coming along? Be well, and write again!! :-D