I'm looking for clarification on grain and starch portions. I am type O+ secretor (caucasian). The portions in Live Right say 1-6 per week, each portion being 1/2 cup dry. This may seem straightforward to some, but does that mean I could have up to 9 cups of COOKED rice per week if that's all I had for grains. As well, would 6 portions of oatmeal be 6 cups cooked for the week? I've been avoiding eating these because I wasn't sure of the amount and as well, I was wanting to lose weight and thought that eating rice or oatmeal might deter from that. Would you please enlighten me. Thanks.



Your calculations are correct, if the kind of rice or oatmeal you use cooks up to that amount. Back when I ate oatmeal (*sigh*! Nonsecretor here!) I used Scottish rolled oats that came out around 1 cup cooked to 2/3 cup dry ~ less than the popular commercial brands. Bear in mind that ½ cup of dry white rice, for example, will often produce a larger volume of cooked food than the same volume of dry brown rice. This only means it has absorbed more water, but it can seem like a big difference in portion size when you’re eating it! However, it is the volume of dry food that counts as … the food, for our purposes.

The LR4YT recommendations are based on dry measures as a cook’s convention. It’s certainly less messy and more precise than gauging a quantity of clumpy, moist cooked grain.

As to weight loss, the grain effect varies among type O secretors. Some find that simply eliminating the avoid foods leads to rather swift weight normalization. Others have reported good results only after further limiting their grain and sugar intake. They might halve or quarter the recommended allowances of those foods, or eliminate them altogether. This is your mission: to find out how much grain your body handles well. Remember my broken record: exercise is fully 50% of this plan, so efforts in that direction may enable you to have your weight loss and eat grain, too. ;-)

Frankly, while you’re shedding the fat I’d be happier if you maxxed your meat portions rather than your grain portions. Technically, you are welcome to eat the maximum grain allowance per week, with the caveat that if you are exercising according to the protocols but your weight loss does not proceed at around two pounds per week, you think of lightening up on the grains and increasing vegetables, fruit, and possibly your meat servings, instead. And don’t forget those beneficial fats. Type Os most often eat an abundance of fats and get lean and happy thereby. Grains offer little nutrition that the rest of your diet will not provide, so no worries if you’re presently comfortable without them. When the time comes when your scale is a welcome sight in the morning, you can add them in again if you wish.

Summertime can signal your brain to seek out higher carbohydrate foods, as these were only available during the warm growing seasons when our race was young – and were prized for their neurochemical-stimulating blast of carbs. Sweet fruits, berries, and honey for example – as well as primitive grain. I note this only as an addendum, but summer to fall are biochemically ideal for getting more exercise and eating more high-carb foods. So, be gentle when considering how best to balance grain intake against your weight-loss goals while the days are long. In late fall, crack down to your heart’s delight!

Some comfort: as you go along, keep in mind that while you are losing fat, you can be maintaining or gaining body weight for a while. This is a good thing. Muscle tissue weighs more than fat by volume, and it’s muscle which will change your metabolism for the better, for good. Use a measuring tape instead of that soon-to-be-friendly scale for a couple of months. Your clothes may be falling off you while the scale has budged little. Surprise! Guess which one is the better indicator of fat loss? :-D

With the improvement in health that the blood type diets produce, needed weight loss occurs as a welcome side-effect. Enjoy the process of getting stronger, leaner, and happier. For most of us, it's inevitable!