Ask. Dr. D'Adamo

QUESTION: Disease susceptibility per ABO group has been based on information on subjects, as far as we know, who did not eat right for their blood type. How much do you project that these statistics will change for people who DO eat right for their type? Such as the high Cancer rate in blood type A's.

ANSWER: It has been speculated that 35% of all cancers are the result of genetic outcome, 35 percent the result of diet, and 30 percent the result of environment, principally smoking. If we assume that most(say 80%)of the dietary causes will have been eliminated (if you are type A, you are using soy products, aren't you?); that you don't smoke; and that understanding blood type susceptibilities (such as stress links) allows you to circumvent about 25% of the genetically determined cancers, we get:

You don't smoke: environmental causes go down to 5-8%.

You follow the blood groups A diet: diet causes goes down to about 7%

You control for effects of blood type on other suceptibilities: genetic causes go down to about 28-29%

The residuals: 8%(remaining environmental)+ 7%(remaining diet) +29% (remaining genetic) =44% total versus 100%

It would seem that folowing the blood group A diet should cut the rate of all cancers in that blood group by approximately one-half, which interestingly is about what I have documented in my practice.

QUESTION: Firstly, FYI - followed type A diet and my tumour markers in blood dropped first time in 4 years after tumuour removed. Thank you!!! Second - type 'A' what do I need for obsessive thoughts?

ANSWER: That is great news, and yet again demonstrates the power of choosing foods by blood type versus the 'macromolecular' (fat-phobic/ fat-philic; protein-phobic/ protein-phillic) theories, which usually do no more than contradict themselves. With the blood type diet, you can make a difference in areas of your health not normally thought to be responsive to diet.

As far as obsessive thought patterns, this is not an easy answer. Some forms of obsessive behavior can be so severe as to hinder the performanace of routine actions. In many of these individuals, medication can help, at least initially. In type A individuals, the efficient modulation of the hormone cortisol can help temper obsessive-type thoughts. Strategies include tai chi, yoga, martial arts and meditation. Adaptogens can help improve stress response--try Korean or Siberian ginseng. The Ayurvedic herbs Ashwgandha, Brahmi (Bacopa) and Boerhaavia (Cortiguard is one formula) are well suited to type A's when under stress.