Hi Heidi, Sorry for the delay in my response.

I appreciate your comments and suggested self-questioning - I wrote to you because I wanted your opinion.

In fact, your suggestions helped me realize that at that time, and maybe for quite some time, I did feel not-in-control of my eating (at the very least). And, I guess I was looking for a quick-and dirty fix, rather than remembering that I am a self-empowered individual in control of my own life.

That being said, your questions weren't very helpful in themselves. It may surprise you but actually, for all my parents faults, they never forced us to be vegetarian - at a young age, it was a decision I made after eating meat and noticing how I felt about it. Furthermore, for all the ways my mother did try to control me, she never gave us any problems about food (no force-feeding of foods we didn't want, cleaning your plate rules, etc.) I think she conciously wanted to give us a healthy attitude toward something she considered a basic need, and maybe break from something her mother forced on her.

But, I want to empasize that your suggested self-questioning helped me remember that, and reminded me that I can make my own choices about what I do and don't eat at any given moment.

The result was that I started being able to have a little dialogue with my body about food - very new thing for me, as I am usually very disconnected from my body.

Then I came to the realization that this was less about food and more about something dealing with not wanting to take care of myself (I noticed problems in other areas of my life too.)

So, the first thing I allowed my self to do was not eat if I didn't want to. I started drinking water if I felt hungry, and then I found I was drinking a lot of water (a good thing I think.) Very soon after that decision, one night I fell asleep at around 5pm (unusual for me) and woke up in a couple hours stomach rumbling out of control so hungry that I wanted to eat. I got a take-out of an Indian spinich dish, a mixed veggie dish with rice (there probably was some tomato in there, but I decided to accept that for the time being. I'll work on the tomato problem later.)

My breakfasts and lunches had been kind of crummy - excess coffee and juice breakfast, sometimes candy then fruit for lunch. After that evening, I started making eggs for breakfast along with excess coffee and juice - no candy. Then, I notice I was getting nausea and gas. I finally realized the blatantly obvious - that I was drinking too much coffee and probably eating too much suger (even if its good sugar from fruit and juice) and not enough real food.

I also noticed the anxiety I had been feeling all along, and the physical symptoms of it. I started my regular vitamins: taking B-complex, MSM, Vitamin C, DHA and Black Currant Seed oil, and also added ginger and turmeric (I know those last two are foods, but this way I take them with little fuss.)

Now, I am eating two decent meals a day, about 85% compliant and don't feel any GI trouble. I'm going to add some thing from the Intestinal Health Protocol (Mg, OPC's) and cutting back on the coffee (in particular, I hope Magnesium to help with bowel movements, not to mention needed nutrition.)

For now, as far as food goes, I guess now I'm going for finding knowledge as a hypothesis, experimenting with it, and seeing what my body tells me about it, and then coming to conclusions. I know that it should be obvious that if I eat potato chips and coke for lunch and dinner, then My intestines I going to flip out the next day, but somehow its a different way of knowing when I actually experience it, and very motivating not to do it again.

Maybe this is a bit annoying to you, but I guess I'm just happy that I'm not flipping out about food anymore. --Shima

Hey there Shima! I'm not annoyed, I'm ecstatic!

This is a beautiful essay, and I thank you very sincerely for posting it here. I hope you don't mind my saying that it's ... very "B!" ;-) and very personal to you, which is the most important aspect of this kind of exploration. All you need to learn, you can teach yourself from what will arise from within yourself. This is your power. Bringing it out into the open and living it is a spectacular experience.

I think you've found your way, and I believe it will be a fulfilling one for you, in ways yet to be discovered! enjoy it... and write again when the spirit moves you! :-D

Recently Jim posted about the dangers of frying in olive oil. I do not recall reading about htis in ANY of Dr. D's books. Frankly, I saute in olive oil and for my kids, I fry potatos in olive oil. Does Dr. D consider this unwise??? Devora

Hi, Devora! Nice to hear from you!

I can't speak for Dr. D., but a good rule of thumb with oil is: it's fine so long as the oil does not change color (toward brown) or smoke. For high-heat cooking, grapeseed or rice bran oil is a good choice for all types. Best wishes, dear! :-D

Hi Heidi, Thanks again for many of your helpful posts.

I was reading through a feature about football players the other day, and found that many of them, eg: Ricky Williams and Tim Brown, go to a nutritionist called Sari Mellman in Miami to have their blood analysed and a diet worked out for them.

I then checked her website and found out that she basically writes out personalised BTDs for $3000 a time. Yet at no time does she ever mention the BTD specifically, or Peter D'Adamo.

Have you ever heard of her, and is there any advantage to having an individual's blood analysed? Thanks once again Paul

Hello, Paul! Never heard of Ms. Mellman, but I conjecture that a number of savvy practitioners in certain upscale markets are doing much the same. It's likely, because this system works... and while the alt-med smart folk will have explored it thoroughly over the past 9 years and most likely integrated it into their practices, most clients (unfortunately) wouldn't know the source of the system itself.

The price may not be so astronomical as it first appears, depending on the service she provides. She may be ordering Indican tests and full serotypes, along with thyroid/lipid/liver/mineral panels as well as hair analysis & saliva secretor tests. Then there would be a counselling module, with feedback and adjustments and new recommendations. There are certainly benefits to having this information. (All this supposes she's doing her job right. ;->)

Anyway, that fee is pocket change for pro football players, and even if they get nothing but a diet sheet, most of them will see their performance improve.

It's a bit of a sticky thing to judge as to whether it's professional banditry or the highest form of admiration -- time will tell! At least we'll have healthier football pros, and then their family and friends, and then... who knows? :-D

Comment on A with anaemia...

I am an A and I used to get turned away from blood donors with low iron levels. Since I went on BTD (3 years) - no problem!!! but not eating any red meat (well a bit of lamb sometimes) How would conventional docs explain that!?

Keep up the good work, love the colimn K

Thanks, K! Nice work there, and if you're an A nonsecretor, lamb is neutral for you! I appreciate the happy report! :-)

Hi, I am O+ and have been following the diet since Jan. I have the restless leg thing off and on and was hoping the diet would take care of it. But it's back for the last 3 or 4 days. Do you have any advice? Help! Pam.

Greetings, Pam! Welcome!!

I'd like to help! In order to do so, could you tell me what your exercise schedule is like? and whether you do any form of meditation or yoga? Write again, and I'll do my best to help you! :-)

Cyperus Esculentus (Tiger Nut) Could you kindly advise me on the nutritional value of the tiger nut or can you refer me to a reliable source? I eat it a lot as a roughage/fibre but I would like to know its other value and what it combines well with and also if it could be harmful in anyway. I would appreciate any information. Regards, Addai

Hello, Addai ~ We have no rating for tiger nut, so it properly may be considered an "unknown" and used as a "neutral" by healthy, average-weight people.

Tiger nut is actually a grass tuber. It sounds like an interesting plant, and I'd never heard of it before. Apparently it's one of the 'weeds' traded for food, animal feed and construction materials in Niger. For a time, there was a program in Florida, USA raising tiger nut for hog feed. Wonder what it tastes like? ;-)

Anyway, thank you for bringing it to my attention. I did a little Net reading, and it appears that a Catalan research group is looking for a manufacturer for their beverage product made from tiger nut, quinoa extract and alpha-amylase type enzymes. The maltodextrin component resulting from that process may put it in an 'avoid' category for virtually all BTD'ers, but the idea is provocative.

Best wishes, and welcome! do write again! :-)

OOOOOOOOOO HEIDI -- I AM SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!! Thanks, first of all, for the response yesterday.

WHAT a difference a day makes.....I answered the phone this morning (it was a lady with an Avon order - yep, I sell Avon in my "spare" LOL time) and during the conversation - don't ask me why -- she asked if I would be interested in buying ORGANIC GROUND BEEF!!! Apparently, the farmer is in a little town just an hour from us!! and, it gets better, she and another couple of ladies are trying to get a CO-OP going in our town!! INTERESTED, I nearly gave her the whole Avon product line free - LOL!!

Anyway, I am going to see her today and find out if we will be able to get other cuts of beef as well. Apparently one of the stores here is already selling the farmer's organic eggs - breakfast will be pure!! YES!! can you see I'm excited -

OH, and guess what? THIS will make everyone green eyed - the price? I think she must have made a mistake -- $1.35 a lb. (and THAT's Canadian dollars). I think it is probably right though, because this is a small town with 45% retired people and the rest make very low wages, so the price would have to be really reasonable to be able to sell it. I feel great even though I am fighting off another cold!!

Even Ron is happy about it (hubby) - he (sort of) follows the diet now too! Well gotta go - YAHOOOOOOOO will keep you posted. love sue P.S. - thanks for the website on Magnesium - tried that one too about 3 years ago, sorry to say it didn't work. 5HTP and Catechol also failed for me. sue (O-neg)

Hey there! See, organic beef was only one town away, and clean eggs are coming almost straight to your door. Rejoice! :-D

That price is very nice, and I congratulate you on drawing that wonderful knowledge to yourself. HOO-rah!

Yeah, you know what? I think we talked about that magnesium/depression site three years ago, because it looked so familiar when I came upon it. Probably because of you!

Keep exercising that great energy, and enjoy your newfound farmer. ;-) blessings, dear!

Some quick and varied Q&A:



Hi Heidi... Nice to "see" you again. Now that the new meal replacement bars are here...is there any way of figuring out servings of what food type are in them?? I'm thinking of portion control as prescribed in LRFYT. (grains, dairy, etc.) Linda



The bars carry that information on the label, and we'll soon post it in the ABO Bar store pages for reference before buying. They were designed with blood-group protein/carb/fat proportions in mind, so I think you'll be pleased!



I am a Type A non-secretor. In ERFYT I noticed that Beta-carotene was listed as an AVOID for Type A. In the 2002 product catalog of The Blood Type Store I find Beta-carotene included in supplements formulated for Type A. Could not find Beta-carotene in the errata page or the database. Please advise re: Beta-carotene and Type A. Thank you. Richard



Some recommendations have changed since 1996, and can be found in detail in the >Encyclopedia.



I would like to point out a discrepancy involving the book "Eat Right for your Blood Type" and the booklet "Eat Right:Type AB". In the book the list of foods says coffee is "beneficial" but the booklet puts coffee in the "avoid" list. Please help! I dont know whether to drink coffee anymore... Also, the book Live Right for Your Blood Type puts pineapple in "beneficial" at one page (for blood type A and in another column pineapple is listed as "neutral". I hope you can help to clarify these queries. Thank you. -alina



Pineapple has two listings: one for the whole fruit, one for the juice. The coffee status is an update ~ a refinement to the original findings. It's still a rather new science, but we expect more additions than changes from here on in. Thanks for your patience!



I am Type A and am confused as to being told on one hand - during dtox followed by candida cleanse - I was totally not to eat peanut butter - now the cleanses are finished (successfully) I am on Type A plan and peanut butter is supposedly highly beneficial - please can you clarify which this is for me as I am trying to follow this plan to the letter. Is it because of the preservatives they put in peanut butter and if so, would organic, no preservative peanut butter exist. Thank you. Hilary



I can confirm that peanuts are beneficial for type A. Organic peanut butter can be found in health food stores nationwide ~ Marantha is one of many well-known brands. Talk to the manager of your local shop!



I heard that the good bacterias in yogurt is good for you. I'm a type O. Can I have soy yogurt? It's not a dairy product. Thanks. Carol



Sure ~ just remember to check the ingredients of anything you buy, to guard against avoids and make sure it really is what it says it is. Bear in mind that if you are a nonsecretor, soy is an avoid.



I have read two of the eat right books, and cannot find if psyllium fiber is an avoid or neutral for group O. Thanks, S.



Psyllium isn't recommended for Os. Instead, get some flaxseed (brown or gold) and grind a tablespoon or two at a time in an electric coffee grinder. Whole flaxseed keeps a LONG time in the fridge.