Heidi, today's post from Sheshe brought back memories for me.

I am a B+, not O, but for a great many years, I was a very strict vegetarian, even avoiding cheeses with rennet, or crackers made with lard, etc. When I finally started to eat flesh foods, my body was not equipped to process this item any longer.

I was a vegetarian for more than 20 years, and it was probably after 15 or so years that I began to eat a little salmon. I mean, a LITTLE! Roughly the quantity of a tablespoonful of Pacific salmon, once a week. Initially, and for a long time afterwards, I discovered that the effect of eating salmon was similar to having a brick in my stomach. It felt really heavy and very uncomfortable. It took a fair length of time before my stomach started to produce enzymes to help to accommodate my insistence on eating a little salmon weekly, and then I could eat more with pleasure, probably at least a couple of months. I can't remember exactly any more, that was a long time ago.

Sheshe may find she needs to slow down on her meat ingestion for the next short while until her body adjusts to the need to create digestive enzymes to help with the assimilation of this food that she so badly needs to eat. In the meantime, I would suggest she accompany every meal with a slice or two of pineapple or some bromelain capsules to aid in the digestive process. I also suspect that for now, a small amount of flesh foods would be more beneficial than a lot. This will ease up in a short time. Her body will let her know when more can be accommodated.

I suspect having a lot of little meals instead of three big ones could be helpful for her right now, too. Try making soup with beef bones, with a little flesh on the bones as a way of breaking into the world of eating meat. I'm sure it will be a lot easier on the system, and Sheshe may find that her problems will quickly dissipate until these times are simply a vanishing memory. Best to all, Janet

Great tips, and thanks for sharing your own experience, Janet! Much appreciated, as always!! :-D

Hi Heidi! Thanks for your good work for us all. I look for ward to reading your column first thing every morning.

Just a note on vaginitis- I used to get a minor itch (before going on the BTD)when I ate too many sweets.

I found that using a clove of garlic as a vaginal suppository got rid of any itching and bad smell (I do love the smell of garlic!). The itching stopped almost immediately. Garlic is antibacterial and antifungal, and worked like a charm. I left a clove in for 12 hours or so, then took it out and put in another one. Two or three days is all I ever needed.

Again, I'm not suggesting this as the only treatment in severe cases, but it works wonders for mild discomfort. Hope this helps someone, or at least gives them a good laugh! Lois O neg

Hello, Lois! I'll bet it would give them a good laugh WHILE it's helping! ~;-D which boosts health on two fronts (!) at once. :-D

You just reminded me of the ancient medical practice of using boluses. Boli? Anyway, a bolus is a mix of ground medicaments held together with some non-irritating fat like cocoa butter or suet -- something workable at warm temperatures, but which can be formed and frozen for later use. It's basically a homemade suppository, to deliver a steady dosage (as the bolus melts - (not a soap opera title)) in the rectum or vaginal canal.

I've never used or made one, so my knowledge pretty much ends there. If anyone's interested, just do a websearch for "bolus, herb," or some such, and you'll find a variety of instructions and 'recipes.'

thanks for the note, and the smile, Lois! :-D

Hi Heidi, Wow! Where does Nina live? Restaurants and accepting friends & relatives, I'm green with envy.

All kidding aside, as far as restaurants go I do live in the Chicago area and I have had some success. We're A, Sec., MM's so our food choices are of course specific to our blood group and won't be of much help to Vanessa but there might be some A's out there that will benefit. What I have found is that wherever you go you have to be VERY selective when ordering.

The Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston, Illinois is very nice, but not for O's since it's a vegetarian restaurant. You do have to watch the wheat there but what's nice about them is that they graciously will tell you in detail everything that's in their dishes and for the most part the ingredients are listed. So we have more choices than normal there but still have to be very careful.

Also there is a Vegan restaurant, Amitabul, 6207 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. They are also very good but again we have to be selective as to the type of veggies, their much too spicy dishes and all those darn red beans.

The other choice is most any Japanese restaurant, acceptable fish, steamed veggies and miso soup works there.

We love our BTD and the rewards far out weigh the challenge to stay compliant. As a matter of fact we enjoy the challenge of finding new foods and converting recipes. We made fabulously delicious tofu spinach lasagna, garlic bread and pumpkin pie (not only complient but beneficial) for Christmas dinner. Being MM's we can have tomatoes so that made a big difference with the lasagna.

I must say we have not had the same good experiences that Nina has had with accepting friends and relatives. But that's a whole other subject.

By the way Heidi did you see Elizabeth and me on Dr. D'Adamo's Naturopathic Center page? Go to community, then people and there we are. We are both very proud to be there, when people question our life style we just send them there, it's a lot easier that way.

Thanks for all you give to the BTD community and have a Happy, Healthy & Prosperious New Year. With Love Pat & Elizabeth

Thanks so much for the restaurant tips, Pat & Elizabeth! And yes, I saw your cool pictures there, very spiffy! :-D

Warmest wishes right back atcha both! And my sincerest hopes for warmer "friend-and-family BTD response!" for us all!! ~:-D

Heidi, I've been reading your column for quite a while, but never have written - thanks for your compassion and valuable info!

This is in response to sheshe's request for former vegetarian type O's comments.

I was a "health-food" vegetarian for 25 years, and somewhat arrogant about it for some portion of that time. My health wasn't too good, but not too bad either, until my mid-40's, when things started falling apart - gum disease, prostate problems, skin problems, achy pains, etc.

I read about the BTD, and recognized my type O profile. I went cold-turkey from being a vegetarian to eating red meat, and I knew immediately from the way my digestive system responded that it was the right thing to do, even though, psychologically, I was a little grossed out.

After 5 years (after 2 years, I did the test and found I was a non-secretor) I can say I am incredibly healthier, and a more tolerant, humble, and compassionate person. Thanks again, Heidi! BillT

Humble, eh? Why ya come in here braggin about it then? ~;-D

A big warm WELCOME to you, Bill! Glad you put fingers to keyboard and joined us! It's great to hear your experience.

I definitely empathized with "a bit grossed out." Like you, I plunged right in with the eating, but during the first meat meal especially, I sat there with weird thoughts running through my mind. Let's face it, it's different and the body and mind both sort of quiver with the difference. I'm happy to join you in reporting that it's a GOOD difference. very good! ;-D

now don't be a stranger. write more. be well! :-)

Hi, I am an O-,secretor, 41 years old.

I have been on the O nutrition plan since Jan 2000. Originally started it to optimize my body. The results are excellent. I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in Sep '94 (I'm a victim of the food pyramid). I have always controlled my blood sugar through diet, exercise, and a few suppplements.

I am extremely active and physically fit. I usually play competitive tennis 8-10 hours per week, lift weights, run, and hike. My family always referred to me as the "missing link" or friends called me "animal man".

The question: what can one do about weakend blood vessels, particularly in the fingers? I am an easy bleeder despite eating greens and taking Phytocal O. I have researched that Silicon can help in strengthing blood vessels. Naturally this problem has made it difficult to play tennis and be "animal man" on the court since my right forefinger will start bruising and swelling. Thanks for all the work that you do on the website! PeterW

Greetings, Peter! Welcome! Glad to hear from another revived Food Pyramid Victim turned Roarin' Animal Man!! ;-)

Because you're so active, you know you need extra protein, water, minerals -- and antioxidants to help clear the physical waste products of robust exercise. A couple of grams of esterified C daily, maybe in a protein shake with some extra Phytocal added, and a plop of ProBerry3 and black cherries/blueberries.

PhytoPharmica used to make a very effective supp for strengthening the veins and capillaries, called Cellu-Var. They've since put out much the same thing under a new name "Varicosin," in tablet instead of capsule form. It's a combination of gotu kola, butcher's broom, and horse chestnut bark extract, and it works.

My very best wishes to you, and please let me know how it all works for you!

:-D