On The Diet with Heidi Merritt

Hello Heidi, Thank you so much for responding to my email. The thing is that I never was on any prescription medication for my acne. I went off the pill almost a year ago and that was the last "prescription" thing I took. What I was referring to was all the EFA's, coconut oil, vitamin A,C,B, selenium....this is what that Acne Cure said I needed to do was to be on all of the above and eat lots of vegetables, little fruit, not much meat, never any dairy, blah, blah.

So my confusion is if for my blood type I should be on all such supplements and stuff.

I am going to have to go on depression medication for awhile because I stressed myself out so much that I can't handle my emotions and such right now. So, are you suggesting that I should go off of all of the supplements except maybe the Vitamin C,E, and magnesium? Should I be eating dairy?

I think my nerves are shot and my weight is so low. I just don't want to do further damage. I wish I could eat just organic food but I can't.

Also something very important. I have been taking products from Garden of Life. One product I would like to take is a powdered Green Drink. Thing is that it uses barley grass, wheat grass, etc. The book said I shouldn't have cereals and breads that contain those ingredients but it doesn't say anything about the grasses? Also the product contains pre-digested seeds and beans and lentils, is this different than eating the acctual food because it sounds like I was supposed to stay away from pumkin seeds and such? What do I do? How much do you think my stress and obsessions with my face are actually causing more acne and the rash I just recently developed? If you get a chance to look at Garden of Life products could you tell me if you see any harm in them?

Like I said before I haven't been on acne medication, just this radical health plan where you load up on EFA's and coconut oil and a bunch of vitamins and products. But are you suggesting to get off of everything for awhile? I am sorry to bug you. I think I have read too much in books and on the internet and it has made me obsess.

I wish I could go to a naturopath doctor but my insurance won't cover it and they are very expensive. I have been drinking LOTS of water anyway and have been walking in the morning with my husband. I do believe that I need the anit-depressants just to get me over my emotions and such right now. Thank you again for being so encouraging and responding!! Thanks, Danyelle

Hello, Danyelle ~ I realize you weren't taking acne drugs. I did want to warn against it, though, as doctors will prescribe them no matter the damage they do. You see, drugs do not address the cause of a disease condition -- they work to downtrend the symptoms. They do not cure, and frequently they do harm while giving only partial and temporary relief. I have known many people who've tried them, and none who were satisfied. That said, it is ultimately your choice to take antidepressants or other drugs, and I respect whatever choice you make, 110%.

If you can, go back and read again what I wrote -- it will be easy to find at any time, just go to the Search field at the bottom of this page, and type in your name. I believe all the answers to your questions are there -- and I do understand the pressure and despair you feel. Just read my post again, slowly, as it addresses that concern and others.

The thought occurred to me that if you add up the cost of the radical health plan you mention, in terms of the oils, vitamins and products, and the mental cost of uncertainty about whether it will work or not -- and compare it with the cost of a telephone conference with Peter D'Adamo, you may be surprised that superb naturopathic advice may not be as costly as you had previously calculated.

Synchronicity has struck again, as Suz posted a note just after you wrote yours to me. I think it's deeply pertinent to your decisions -- it follows, below.

By the way, sprouted grain (grasses) are fine for all types. The Ask Dr. D'Adamo archived posts are a wonderful source of information for topics such as that one. We don't know whether sprouting or 'pre-digesting' beans, legumes and pulses eradicates the harmful lectins in those foods as it does with grain.

It is most important to follow the B diet as outlined in Live Right -- astounding cures have been effected from that measure alone. So do it in whatever way you can, whether all-organic or no. It is a truly magnificent system of health, in one little book.

Blessings to you, Danyelle, and I pray your chosen path will be the best possible journey toward resolution. :-)

Dear Heidi, I just wanted to check in and tell you the latest - I figured my experience could help a few others here.

As I told you, I came off very powerful steroids two months ago - dexamethasone - erroneously given to me for back pain. Since then, I have been struggling - feeling worse and worse each day -exhausted, not sleeping, no focus or memory.

I went to an endocrinologist who told me that my adrenal glands are not working because of the steroids - he did a few blood tests - showed low cortisol - but in the normal range. His suggestion was for me to go on hydrocortisone.

At this point, warning bells went off in my head and I thought a call into Dr D'Adamo might not be a bad idea. Well -thank goodness I did!! Dr D was fabulous as always - told me that hydrocortisone would make my adrenals much worse and he put me on 50 mg of zinc and 1500 mg of pantothenic acid (B5). That was last Friday - by Monday I started to feel so much better.

I called him and he has put me on 1/4 teaspoon of licorice twice a day with potassium citrate along with the polyflora O, polyvit O and the calcium/mineral for O,the zinc and B5. Two days have gone past and I am beginning to feel like a different person. I am sleeping well and have energy for the first time in months.

The licorice is pretty powerful stuff - definitely should be administered under doctor's care. I was even able to do a little exercise last night which was great.

He also recommended that I go in a sauna a couple of times to sweat the toxins of the steroids out of my tissues. Thanks to Dr. D, I am now able to get back to my old self. My body is beginning to repair itself.

It has been a frightening experience with the medical system - one I do not wish to repeat again. I am of course following the O nonny diet with as many beneficials as possible and no avoids (well trying!)

Another side benefit - I think due to the B5 and Zinc - my skin has become amazingly clear - this happened within a few days of taking these supplements. I am prone to rosacea and break outs and so it was a welcome change.

This is an example of how the blood type diet, combined with the correct supplements can restore someone to health and vitality. These powerful synthetic drugs wreak havoc on the body. all the best as always Suz

~;-D Pretty fabulous, isn't he?

I am SO HAPPY for you, darlin'! Thank you in 162 different and entirely unique positions of deepest gratitude, for sharing the story step-by-step. ;-> I learned a bunch, and I'm sure others did, too!

enJOY your newfound health! ~:-D

Hi Heidi. I read your column almost daily and have seen a huge rash of candida questions lately. Being an O and having suffered from Candida for about 2 years I can sympathize.

I was on diflucan and using vaginal medications and it didn't help. I finally turned to Yeast Cleanse products and probiotics (in the form of bovine colostrum), which did help but I had to basically live on probiotics.

I finally did a gall bladder/liver cleanse and have been yeast free ever since and don't even need to take the colostrum any more. I highly recommend it to anyone that is struggling with this irritating condition. It really helped me and hopefully it will help others. Dana

Dana, that is splendid news -- and a great tip for the readers. In most minds, the connection between candida and liver/gallbladder dysfunction is not readily apparent. It's most welcome to see that reminder here.

Thank you so much, dear! I hope you're revelling in your release from candida! :-D

Dear Heidi,

I feel I should supply you with more information, as my story is very important for a group of people not often heard from on the BTD columns, type O schizophrenics. My experience with the BTD could prove highly useful to someone going through the ropes, as the obstacles for O's with neurochemical imbalances coupled with digestive track malaise are tremendous, and very very painful.

I used to zonk out at noon back when I ate an O friendly carb breakfast. The only thing that helped was to eat meat in the morning instead, have the carb meal in the noon or afternoon, of Ezekiel or mana bread with a glass of ground flax, and to gorge myself the rest of the day on beneficial seeds, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and nut butters. I don't really follow the portion guide entirely, as my economic situation pretty much limits me to ground beef, lamb or buffalo once a day, with some steak or fish on occasion. I usually have meat, 6-8 oz, eggs and a big salad in the morning. Organic eggs pack a kick that along with meat seems very satisfying.

Going back to schizophrenia, I was a diagnosed "basket case" schizophrenic. The docs said I would be medicated for life. My problems began in my late teens with marijuania use, I became chronically depressed, paranoid, and anxiety ridden. When I moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles, I left behind my best buddy and our hardcore exercise/ surfing regimen. Boy were we in shape! We rode winter swell and circuit trained to do so and survive. On a clear day, the ocean crystal still, the water an icy 38-45 degrees, we would ride waves that tubed big enough to fit two school buses one on top of the other! Sometimes we could stay in that tube for up to a 100 yards. What a thrill!

In SF, working at restaurants, I slouched into depression and non exercise, making matters worse neurochemically, especially when coupled with the amount of anti type O food I ate! Lots of wheat, coffee, milk, corn, cheese, potatos, lentils, peanuts, coupled with a deep thirst for microdraft beer, all led to weight gain. I was skin and bones in high school, could eat endless amounts of fat and not gain a pound. Boogie boarding in high surf consumed more calories than I could consume. And the medications eventually prescribed to me, at about age 25, damaged my liver and kidneys, and from then on the pounds really went on.

In 1998, my surfing buddy, Blair, recommended the BTD, as it had cured him of chronic fatigue from mononucleosis. I was too blitzed on meds to see the light, that is, to start the diet. But my problems became so severe that the diet eventually came back to my attention as the way out. My blood pressure was off the chart, I weighed 285 pounds and my thyroids bulged even more than they ever had. Indigistion, constipation, terrible endless heart burns, an ulcer, back pain, insomnia, flatulence from hell (a great and endless wind) all plagued me as they always had since puberty, but with ever increasing intensity. And moreover, the meds caused me excruciating pain in my arm and knee joints, kind of like a throbbing acid burn every three seconds, without end.

I eventually quit taking the prolixin without my shrink's knowledge, and he eventually put me on a new med, zyprexa, that didn't cause but a small discomfort in the joints. But the damage had been done, my immune system had become so riled up from the various meds I took, up to 5 different ones at one point, each one to counteract the side effects of the other one, and my liver function so impaired from my diet, the meds, and the vast quantities of alcohol and cigarettes I consumed to numb the pain in the joints, that a serious thing happened. I had thusly become addicted to alcohol and cigarettes.

The day came when the allergies kicked in. My legs and arms became red itchy and scaly dry. The itchiness just got worse and worse, worse than poison oak/ivy! I couldn't sleep, and had to keep my skin laquered with lotion at all times. I tried going semi vegetarian and organic, lost about 40 pounds, but couldn't lose any more, and experienced an even greater resurgence of allergies. Moreover, the pain in my joints returned in full blossom.

I then read the book, BTD, and started implementing major dietary changes on a two week basis, that is, every two weeks I would stop eating an avoid and start eating a beneficial. From my readings about O's,I figured that my overworked liver had been depositing A and B lectins in my joints, or the cartilage thereabouts, and a great amount had built up, and whenever I ate some food with A or B lectins, my liver would make such a deposit again. Thus, my over active and over stimulated immune system eventually detected those deposits and started nuking the area, hence causing the severe rheumatoid pains in the joints. Even today, years later, if I eat so much as a potato chip, the nukes fly, my joints kill me for hours.

So then I resolved to change my diet all the way. As soon as I stopped corn, the first main avoid item I dropped, my thyroids went back to near normal shape, my skin itched about half as much, and I felt much less depressed! From that point on I was enthused. With each successive dropping of avoids, there was literally a great lessening of allergies and pain, along with depression, anxiety and insomnia! And the weight just started to melt, 10 pounds a month, coming out in large black fatty tar like stools, I mean huge, the human limit there is!

But the pain was really a great relief of near seismic proportions. And all along my mood began to lift, hope returned, the sagging eyes and sad mouth cleared up, skin became something other than death bone white, I even began to smile and be friendly. Paranoia, anxiety, melancholy, and depression steadily diminish.

In a year, I was off of meds with the grudging yet happy consent of my shrink. My shrink was open minded to a point, had even prescribed me some organic Saint John's Wort, paid for by the city! Little did he know how much that stuff made me drink alcohol! Today, I have to still be extreemly careful with my diet, as my liver and immune system are irrevocably shocked from what happened. However, I have not had so much as a cold since starting the diet, excluding food poisoning and extreemly stressful events, like my grand parents passing away.

I am still struggling with my mind, trying to get back into life as a normal person, without the past foundations of social experience to build a functioning personality with. No more alcohol or drugs, my urge to take them has all but left. I feel happiness and enthusiasm for life again, something I haven't felt since the end of puberty when life in the ghetto, poverty, drugs, and stress took me away from any vestige of inner peace. Suicide no longer haunts me, I no longer feel as if I have ALREADY committed it, the kind of hopeless helplessness that pervaded my psyche, urging me to give up, that I am a failure. It is all quiet on the western front now.

I volunteer at a health food coop and tell as many people about the diet as will listen, albeit not many do except those in pain without anything to lose. Volunteering gives me a way out of seclusion while helping to spread the BTD. I got this old fellow, an O diabetic, to avoid carbs, and in two months he had lower blood sugar than I do! The most needy group seems to be black females, they seem to be missing the most body parts, just thyroids, kidneys and such, ho-hum! and are very receptive to a way off of the butchers table.

Of course, everybody at the coop is either a vegetarian or vegan, including a number of overweight type O's, and I am the only one whom has any knowledge of the diet, except a few token people who have taken some interest. But the BTD books seem to sell out consistantly.

Some other things of interest: my entire family as far back as 4 generations is 100% type O,except for a few cousins and late wives, including my mother's French family! There is zero cancer incidence in my family, and my brother married a type O, and they had a type O daughter. It amazes me how a recessive gene in a pool of mostly French, Irish, Scottish, English and a little Jewish ancestors can remain intact.

I really appreciate your splendid column and read it everyday. You are a bonafide heroine to me. The greatness of your column, at least to me, an 0, is the way you put things in a layperson's perspective, and more over, one with a type 0 perspective, giving your answers a rather heart warming effect. I feel hope and connection to reality in your column. I will go get some of that yeast you suggested, and some B-12!

There is plenty more about schizophrenia I know in conjuction with the diet but will save it for another time, like how to deal with withdrawl pains for instance. There are so many people that could live a good normal life again, if they would change their diet, especially type O schizophrenics. Please let me know if there is any area you need any clarity with, more info, or a volunteer for a study. Thanks, David

David ~~ your story is a blessing and a ray of hope for people trapped in schizophrenia. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your generous offer to publish it here! Please be in touch if we can help you in any way, and I would welcome any further advice & accounts you may have for those with this terrible affliction. And ~ my most sincere congratulations to you on your spectacular accomplishment in self-healing!!