I am a Type A, long-term vegetarian who enjoys some of the vegetarian "meats" on the market today. However, I am concerned about nitrites, and wondering if vegetarian "bologna" and "hot dogs" contain these? Thank you. Lynda

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Nitrites have been used for decades to preserve/enhance the color of meat in sausages, bacon and cold cuts. Oscar Meyer doesn't want gray bologna! ;-> In some old brands, you can even find saltpeter, for the same reason. Tofu- and grain-based veggie meat substitutes aren't red to begin with -- so, they generally include a vegetable coloring such as beet juice to get that familiar hot dog look.

Check the ingredient list before buying anything in a package, especially complex creations like vegetarian "meat." You shouldn't find any nitrites, but there may be other unpleasant and/or avoid items lurking in them. Reading the label is the only way to be sure you're getting what you want.

Thanks for writing, Lynda!

As a type O perimenopausal woman I am very concerned about prevention of osteoporosis. I had bone density testing done recently and they found osteopenia in one of two sites. I know how important calcium supplements are (and wt. bearing exercise.) My question concerns optimal Calcium intake. I know from experience that my compliance goes down when I have to take too many pills per day. The new chewable calcium supplements have led to 100% compliance. Will the small amount of corn syrup in these chewables interfere with the absorbtion from the gut? Any chance chewables will be available in BTD format? (like with rice syrup instead?) Thanks in advance for your time and attention.

Diane

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Hello, Diane ~

The corn syrup in the vitamins won't affect calcium uptake, but you may find it will trip you up in other ways. The form of calcium they contain is important, though. I hope it's not calcium carbonate! of which very little is actually absorbed and used. The best kinds for type O that you'd likely find on the supp shop shelf are microhydroxyapatite (basically bone meal) or calcium citrate. Even better is Phytocal-O, sold at this site. Sorry, I know of no plans for a compliant chewable.

If I were you, I'd make a fruit smoothie in the morning and stick the contents of a higher-grade capsule calcium in there, along with a bit of nut butter or oil (or any oil supp you take). Lots of encapsulated supplements can be disposed of (and disguised!) in this manner, and you could make one at night as well.

I'd also try to include high-calcium foods on a daily basis. For instance, a cup of collard greens and two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses account for 700 mg! Here's a list of foods with significant calcium content. Make them part of your healing diet.

Thank you for writing, and good fortune to you!

I am blood type O. In the book, we are allowed to eat Goat cheese and not goat milk. What about goat meat? Is that in the neutral or highly beneficial group, or is it in the avoid section with the goat milk?

Also, I regularly take high enemas with two bags os water, two quart bags in the morning, two quart bags in the evening. I am feeling much better since I started eating according to the Eat Right for Your Type diet plan. I am also taking the recomended supplements for my blood type. Is there anything you might be able to suggest to correct the bowels instead of taking so many enemas? Thank you very much for all of your information. I was extremely pleased to find this web site and be able to ask these questions. I would appreciate any answers you might be able to offer. Sincerely, Seldon

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Hello, Seldon ~~

In the latest book's updated food lists, goat cheese and goat meat are neutral for type O secretors. Goat milk, however, is still an avoid. You might want to pick up a copy of Live Right 4 Your Type. Its new food values have had an impact on us BTD'ers similar to that of an epic novel -- some joy, and some tears, for everybody! :->

I sympathize with your desire to resume normal bowel movements without the use of enemas. While you didn't mention how long you've been taking them, they can be an arduous habit that is hard to break after long use.

Lucky for us, this is (comparatively) easy to solve with the ABO diets. I hope I can be of help with this.

The main goals are: get water and fiber in plenty to the intestines; support your beneficial bacteria; stimulate peristalsis through exercise.

Raw fruits and raw or lightly cooked vegetables contain abundant water held in the fibrous cells of the plants. Base at least two meals a day on a filling salad or pile of steamed-but-crisp fibrous veg (dark greens, broccoli, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, okra (great for healing the colon), asparagus, Brussels sprouts (they're neutral now! Hooray!)) -- you get the drift. Make sure to get enough meat and FAT (oils, nuts, seeds) to smooth things along. Between meals, try to consume a few quarts of water in the day -- adding a little good sea salt to each will help carry the water into the bowels where we want it. And try this: two tablespoons of flaxseed, ground in your electric coffee grinder, stirred into 1/2 cup water and left to sit for 20 minutes or so. It will become a gelatinous mass. Eat it up! It looks bizarre, but tastes great, and is one of the classic natural laxatives that provides fresh essential fatty acids, too.

It's possible you're low on magnesium -- most folks are. A magnesium citrate supplement, even a glass of Epsom salts at night & in the morning, will do a good jump-start on your ability to eliminate "from the top down." It's a good idea to take calcium and magnesium in a 1:1 ratio -- start with the mag's recommended dosage, then up it slowly until you have loose stools. At that point, back off until stools are normal.

Everybody reading this is now thinking, "OK, Right! What's NORMAL?" What's normal for most people these days is pretty dismal, so I won't tell you what's normal, I'll give my views of what's optimal. It is: an easy bowel movement soon after each meal, at least a foot in length, one-to-two inches in diameter, medium(-ish) brown in color, and holds its shape. Mine floats. Does yours? LOL! :-D Boy, will the mail be pouring in tomorrow!!

Now: Peter D'Adamo has created probiotics for us, and the type O Polyflora compound is something you should seriously consider. It contains billions of beneficial organisms, in healthy shape, and they come along with their favorite foods to stimulate their growth and activity. These little fellers are the very crux of health, and we wouldn't be alive without them. When you've been on the diet for a period of months, your colon populations will have had time to resume on their own, but if you'd prefer to speed the process, use the probiotics.

And don't forget "fully half of the type O plan:" exercise. The more we get, the happier we are (OK, there are limits!), and I suggest a strenous walk, hike, run, row, whatever you're in shape for: start where you are and go from there. Between you & me? the diet and the exercise will accomplish your goal all on their own, if you pitch in with a whole heart. ;-)

Thanks, Seldon ~ I wish you luck! Report when you can!