Hi Heidi! This is a great way to have you and all of your knowledge available without the message board. Great idea!! On to my question. I have a friend who is being guided by her naturopath to adhere to the B diet. She is finding it very difficult because she is also a vegetarian and is adamant about not eating meat. The restrictions in the B diet correspond to many of her old staples. Any suggestions? Especially for main dishes with enough protein to sustain her. Thanks a million!! Sharon

You're very kind, Sharon. :-)

I am not surprised she is having difficulty getting enough protein. The B diet rules out a bevy of classic vegetarian protein dishes, which she has probably relied upon for years. Many beans (including soy), nuts and seeds/butters fall into the B avoid bin, making a compliant vegetarian lifestyle quite a challenge. However, she has the discipline to maintain vegetarianism, so she can undoubtedly get over the initial habit-hurdles to succeed with this plan as well.

I don't know if she eats any flesh foods at all (fowl or fish); if she does, then Beneficial fish choices will fill the protein bill nicely. Small hope, I suspect ~ right?

If she is willing to eat unfertilized eggs and high-protein dairy products like cottage, farmer, ricotta and various goat cheeses, we're golden. Fermented dairy foods should be emphasized. Lucky for us, she has never followed the B diet as written, so she won't have that experience to compare to her vegetarian-style B regime. She can continue to feel improvements -- and that's what it's all about on a day-to-day basis, after all.

If she is vegan, my advice-cupboard is looking bare. The benefits she gains as a result of avoiding problematic foods may not be immediately evident... while the healing and energizing qualities of animal foods she refuses to eat will be denied her. Tough row to hoe! So, build meals around:

(1) beans such as kidney, navy, lima, fava, cannellinis ~ these can be baked in a casserole with beneficial vegetables, served cold in salads, or blended into a paste with herbs, lemon and garlic and used as a spread or dip;

(2) sprouted breads like Essene and Ezekiel, as well as millet, oats, spelt and rice -- but try to observe the grain frequency/serving notes in Live Right (avoid starchitarianism);

(3) nuts -- walnuts, almonds, chestnuts -- plain, used as nutbutter, or chopped into cooked rice and vegetable dishes. Nuts can be sprouted, too;

(4) and a daily protein drink using the old Membrane Fluidizer model: flax oil, lecithin, juice and a dollop of nutbutter & scoop of vegan rice protein powder. Peter's "Harmonia" drink powder contains protein and beneficial fruits -- it would be a nice addition to the MFC. Blending in some fermented home-sprouted grain is an option, as well. The original MFC recipe is formulated for a specific purpose, so I'd recommend having the plain version now and again, as well.

There are vegetarian recipes and recipe books all over the place which can be adapted for any blood type. I've had lots of success by just picking out a recipe, changing it around to suit me, and tasting as I go. After a while, substitutions are second nature. A great outlet for creativity!

Sharon, thanks for your note, and your concern for your friend. My best wishes to both of you!