Dear Heidi, I have read of Kamut in Allergy July 2002 .

Some experts in Agricultural genetics and chimics say in a paper with rather strong evidence that Kamut has gluten and gliadines as durum wheat; celiacs and wheat intolerant individuals should avoid it ; I their opinion a well-known Kamut website lies.

I did not found in Pubmed any other data on Kamut and would like to know the reasons for allowing Kamut in the BTD, as I have found very good Kamut pasta and bread for my parents. It is really better than wheat and why ? I go on without to be safer as I am celiac, but if I am sure it is better for them I will supply them with Kamut products.

If you cannot answer could you ask Dr D’Adamo to clear up this doubt ?

The other question I ask you is if 4 or 5 cups of green tea are too much and can be dangerous for osteoporosis as too much coffee Thank you for your always kind and ready attention to us ! Maria Giovanna

Hello, Maria Giovanna! Kamut does indeed contain gluten and gliadin. In fact, even the grains allowed for type O nonsecretors include not only kamut, but others like millet and rye which contain gluten as well.

That's because the reason a grain is on the OK list for a particular blood type is not gluten itself, but rather the specific lectin in the grain. This is a different thing from choosing items based on celiac requirements, where one must be on constant guard against ingesting gluten at all - in order to heal.

The BTD recommendations take into account many factors, from lectins to sufficiency of digestive secretions and beyond -- but if one is celiac, or has some other condition involving specific food sensitivities, then the food lists should be modified as needed to remove items which would challenge the speedy progress of that healing.

But those kamut items are fine for your parents! :-)

About green tea: the most I'd be comfortable recommending is three cups daily. Four or five is getting up there a bit, not so much due to an osteoporosis hazard, but in terms of theine and fluoride content. I'd rather see a balance of green tea, lots of water, some dilute fruit juice, and perhaps broth or some other herbal teas.

Thanks so much for writing, and I hope these explanations clear up that confusion! :-D

Dear Heidi, enjoyed very much your "back to basics" article.

It is unfortunate but many people fall for "new study shows ..." or the "newest drug ..." without realizing that most of the medical/pharmaceutical industry is in the dark ages to say the least, and really a big profitable business that does not work in patients best interests.

Most people complain that they are treated like numbers, especially in HMO world, and yet they still have a tendency to trust ANY doctor with medical degree (including those who graduated last in their class).

It is also easier to indulge in unhealthy lifestyle, putting the responsibility on the doctor to fix things when something goes wrong (speaking from experience as a former smoker), rather than making a "sacrifice" of being accountable for one's own life.

I also have a feeling that many people who are familiar with blood-type diet do not realize its true value, - it gets mixed-up with hundreds of junk diets, or downplayed by generally mediocre HMO physicians. And to the best of my knowledge this is THE ONLY DIET BASED ON MEDICAL RESEARCH THAT RECOGNIZES AND FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND NEEDS (physiological and otherwise). Thank You Dr. Peter D'Adamo, Ms. Heidi and the rest of the staff for not treating us like numbers!

Now that I got this off my chest, I have couple of questions to ask you. In cardiovascular protocol for type A artichoke leaf is listed as a supplement to be taken under medical supervision if there is a gallbladder disease present. Two days ago I did my first gallbladder flush and to my surprise passed a dozen raisin-size stones. I didn't have any nausea or discomfort during the flush, so I am looking forward to my next flush in a month or so to see how much more of that "pretty colored junk" is in there. I also did Toddy (cold extraction) organic coffee enema on the second day of the flush because I've read in couple of places that coffee enemas are great liver detoxifiers.

My questions are:

1. What gallbladder conditions are contraindicated with artichoke leaf use?

2. What supplements (if any) besides a diet would you recommend for type A, LDN, (with family history of gallbladder stones) to minimize formation of new stones?

3. In your experience, is there validity to coffee enemas and liver cleansing?

4. Is there a safe method of kidney cleansing if there is a suspicion of presence of kidney stones?

Dear Heidi, hope I wasn't too blunt with my commentary/ criticism of medical industry. I just want you to know that I appreciate and value your work tremendously, as I'am sure do most people who follow blood type diet, and I thank you for reminding us of its value. Please keep up the great work! Thanks and best wishes, Zorka

Hello, dear Zorka! I enjoyed your commentary, and thank you for offering your views in such a heartfelt yet very cordial fashion. It's good to be able to express oneself about the 'big picture' now and again, and often we help other folks at the same time. :-)

Now -- artichoke leaf. The conditions in which medical supervision should dictate its use would be gallbladder cancer, bile duct disease, and if you had a personal history of gallstones requiring medical attention -- including gallbladder removal.

There are three protocols for gallstones - here we're referring to gallbladder attacks - and from those protocols, my short list of supps helpful in minimizing formation of new stones would be dandelion, l-glutathione, Deflect and Polyflora. Keeping hydrated with the water & lemon is a great assist, too.

As to coffee enemas, I can't say. I know people who swear by them... mostly A, in fact -- but it seems that the practice tends to manage the problems rather than solve them. For people who find they feel better doing coffee enemas or complex liver cleansing routines, I think two things are worth considering: first, a daily regimen of juicing (especially As! but no one would fail to benefit from it) -- and a consultation with a skilled colon hydrotherapist. So many of the digestive tract difficulties that enemas help can be resolved thoroughly by colonics. At that point, the BTD and appropriate exercise take over and prevent the problems from returning.

The first thing to do if there's been no kidney stone attack but there's some reason to suspect stones, is HYDRATE. One half ounce of water per pound of body weight, and that little squeeze of lemon. And take careful note of those grain, bean and meat avoids. No antacids - it's a risky form of calcium. Make it as easy on the kidneys as possible. Get plenty of that water, as well as frequent cranberry juice, and do your exercise ~ to allow the kidneys to do their job easily.

Thanks again for writing, Zorka! :-D

Bravo (for your most recent column - Fri 16)! You do sense the frustration of logic vs chaos/ignorance.

Many believe 'you can do anything', so they just 'think' themselves out-of-pain and thinking/dreaming is all they have to do to be better. So they are not physically/actually compliant because this is more than just dreaming. You want people to wake-up .... many people would rather sleep/dream their own lives, rather dozy and definitely not awake.

You want others to own their lives and to care enough actually living these lives. It is a weird phenomenon when I know very hurt (handicapped) people who actually do live their lives and have so much trouble with 'normals' who actually sleep throughout their lives ... by choice! It's easier after all (than confronting many doctors).

'Type' books can and do help people determined to live a healthy life, but it is not meant to help a determined person to spoil their health so they can 'blame Dr. D.' .... (a kind of suicide, n'est pas?) Loves you, Mom - hang-in-there anyway! ~ John (O+)

John, I'm happy you enjoyed it. I like your observations ~ a unique and provocative outlook, as always! thanks, dear!! :-D

My dear Heidi, thank you for being straight-forward and tough. I did SO appreciate your last column. Seems to me that we live in such an over-medicated, results now - but on my terms, impatient society and it's good, no, make that HIGHLY BENEFICIAL for us to hear a work-it-and-it-will-work-you message. Again, thank you! Blessed be! Susan (A Secretor Chef from Minneapolis)

you're most welcome, dear! Hey ~ where's my latest "report?" ;->

I had written a few days ago concerning my left eye that has recently started to twitch several times a day. Today I read your column about those of us writing in with problems but not really following the diet. I thought I'd add to my question to you.

First of all, I've been on the diet since about March or April of 03. I wrote in about a severe IBS problem, was new to this whole thing, and you pretty much saved life (at least my sanity!) It took several months of a rather intensive therapy to mend my digestive system, but my system is mostly regular. What throws things off now is usually stress related. If its something I shouldn't have eaten, I know it right away.

Long story even longer! My day of meals usually goes something like this: oatmeal (with cinnamon, br.sugar, and tsp. ground flax seed), coffee, and either a ricecake with peanut butter and honey or nat.jam or slice ezekiel toast w/ same. Supplements: polyflora A, Bromelain, Echanacea, and Seacure taken with Pineapple Juice split w/water. Lunch is usually a salad with carrots, celery, spinach, sunflower seeds, soycheese and dressed with the honey, lemon, tamari sauce. Supper is always different but for an example I make a lot of veggie stir-fry. About 4:00 everyday, I do a stretching, yogo, and light aerobics for about 1/2 hour to 45 min.

Now for my twitching eye. Suddenly this started about a week before Christmas. I'm a teacher and that's a really busy week, so I'm thinking that it's stress related. Now that things are back to normal, I expected it to go away, but it hasn't. This eye twitches often throughout the day. I feel that I follow the diet pretty closely, considering I get very sick if I don't. I started adding 250-500 mg. magnesium to my supplements on the advice of a "diet" friend. Is there something I'm missing? Thanks so much for your help!

Hello, Rachel!

I'd immediately start a B-vitamin supplement (KAL yeast is my preference, but any good potent B-mix will do) with meals, and Methyl B12 Plus in the morning. The nice thing about the B12 supp is that it contains folic acid, which is the other item that I think may need boosting -- I predict you'll "see" a difference in just a few days! Best wishes, dear! :-D

Heidi, I just want to say, "BRAVO!" on your post today about the basics. I get frustrated reading your efforts to help people who don't seem to have read the books or have, but don't or can't adhere to the diet for one reason or another. You are such a caring soul! Jeannine, Type O sec.

:-} thanks, Jeannine! I hope that everyone knows it's meant with the very kindest wishes -- I sure benefit from timely reminders of the bare bones basics (in any area) now & again. Like a whole lot of people, I tend to bog myself down in info overload, daily, and I know how easy it is to 'float off' somewhere and needlessly complicate just about everything... so, maybe I was talking to myself... and I hope the listeners pick & choose what might help them as well! :-)

Aloha Heidi, Your post today was the best ever. You are so good at explaining the basics.

I would like people to know that before this diet I used to get a nasty bed ridden cold or flu or whatever every year and colds inbetween. And I was mister supplement taker to the max.

Now that I have been doing this diet for three years I have not gotten sick with anything at all. It's the best life style I have ever had and when I first started, being an A I immediately dropped the tons of vitamins I was taking and in just the first two weeks I felt better than ever. Still do today.

I see everybody around me getting sick with whatever and these are people that know what I'm doing, diet wise, and have seen the change in me, my skin color has changed for the better, I lost 20 bls. and have kept it off, I have more energy throughout the day, it's just the best feeling.

I don't have a question yet, because I am doing the protocals for low thyroid (L-carnitine, and L-Tryosine)(don't have my medical dictionary handy for spelling-sorry). Also when you mentioned using color I got all excited about that, because it reminded me of the reading I once did on healing colors, so now I am also wearing an orange tee shirt at night, thanks for that.

I haven't yet done the Acue cell test, but am planning to soon. My last basal reading was around 97.4 or so, which was lower than last time so now I am getting alittle more serious about this. What is interesting thought, and not that it has any relations, is my regular temp. never is over 98, and I have taken it 4 or 5 times throughout the day.

Thanks for listening and the real reason I'm writing is to let you know why more people than ever are getting sick and nobody seems to know why or what it is that people are getting. You might even have had someone tell you this already, but it is why more people are sicker than before. "educate-yourself.org/ct/" Thanks for all you do, Carl

Pleased and proud to listen, dear! I'll await your Qs & reports ~ and thank you so much for the boost! ;-)

Carl, you're a gem! ... and your spelling's fine, too! :-D

Hello, Heidi - Good news! I've been able to locate a source for wild caught fish in Alabama.

For your faithful readers who would like more info., go to http://www.fresh-market-seafood.com/index.htm If you would like to place an order you may call or e-mail Doug. I've just received my first shipment of fresh, wild caught, Red Snapper and wanted to share my joy. Many thanks and keep up the great work with your column , Becky



HOO-rah!! Thanks SO much, Becky!! Hey, I'm relieved, too!

Y'all in Alabama, check that link -- it's a goodie! :-D