Thanks, and more questions: lymph edema, weight loss,incontinence. Dear Heidi, thank you very much for answering my questions ("for Eva") so quickly and so thoroughly. I really like the Pesto recipe. Relating to the suggestions of products you are giving against my couperosa etc.: Do you suggest all products or only one or the other? I have the same problem with Dr. D'A.'s encyclopedia (great book!)and the health protocols: Is it advised to take all the products given under a specific protocol and a specific blood group?



This is all that I like to ask today, but I like to enclose the following from my mother, Helene Lore:



Dear Heidi, My daughter told me not only about the blood group diet, but also about this wonderful opportunity to ask you if there are further problems and questions. We both appreciate this very much, since it seems extremely difficult to get educated advice in this regard here in Germany. My physicians are not too enthusiastic. I have been on the diet since about 6 weeks, and I feel some very positive results already. However, I would like to ask you whether there are further possibilities to enhance the success, and to limit some problems.



In a about a month I will turn 79 years old. My blood group is 0 +, I do not know the secretor status. About 20 years ago I lost one kidney due to kidney stones and a very bad inflammation. My other kidney seems ok though. With a height of 1,68 m my weight is about 90 kg. I used to have a bad problem with lymph edema (I hope this is the right translation)in both legs, which turned better since 6 months through continuous treatment (massage etc.). Since I am on the diet, I lost about 1 pound a week (!), and my lymph edema improved even more (!), and even my incontinence got better (!!), and my blood pressure is very stable now. With a minimal dose of medication I can keep it around 123/70. I have the feeling this has to do with the diet. What do you think?



I believe I stick pretty close to it. I used to eat a lot of carbohydrates and milk products. I don't eat any milk products anymore (except for ice cream once a week), and I limited my coffee intake to one cup a day. I have to admit that I still smoke 6 - 10 cigarettes a day. On the other hand I now eat meat (beef) about 2 - 3 times a week (100 to 150 g each time), and 3-4 times fish. Now, my question is: Do you think I can improve my health challenges even more? Also, I very much like to loose more weight. So far, I changed so much in my eating habits, and I would have a hard time to let go also from all my "sins". Would you think that this is absolutely necessary?



I have to admit that often I really get this hunger for sweets. In LR4YT I read the advices for elder people. It says to enhance Ca intake. I did that with a product from the pharmacia which gives me 1 g of Calcium Ions (from partly Ca-lactogluconat and from Ca-carbonate). Immediately, I "lost" my fatigue, which had been a great problem. But I am worried that these high doses might be bad for my one kidney. Furthermore, I got some pains in my intestines, and my pharmacologist said, this would be due to the Ca, which could give a problem to elder people. Did you hear about that before?



So far I use a low dose multi-vitamin product, and add Vitamin C. A high dose multi-vitamin product, which my doctor gave me, caused a too high level of B12. I consider to avoid all products with isolated vitamins and/or minerals. What do you think? And would you advice me to complete my diet with any of your products?



Last point: I realize that type 0 should do a lot of exercises. However, I am limited in this regard by my knees which - if I try to bike - give me a lot of problems. But I try to walk daily by doing my shopping myself and by foot as far as possible . (Three hours downtown, however, exhaust me). There is no diagnosis of arthritis or of osteoporeosis. I realize that these are a lot of questions. I am just so excited that I got already so many improvements which I thought I wouldn't get anymore in my age. Now, I am curious how far this can go - and maybe this is an encouragement for other people my age, too. Thank you very much in advance, Helene (and Eva!) :-)





Hello, ladies! First, for Eva ~ for the couperose, you can pick and choose among the list I offered, or use all of them. They will not conflict with one another. With time, you may find some are more effective than others for your situation. For the protocols: one or two followed at one time is fine, but any more than two would not be recommended. I'm so pleased you like the pesto ~ tasty, isn't it? :->



Helene, how nice to hear from you! :-) The diet is working its magic for you ~ or should I say, you are working its magic upon yourself! You should continue to see improvements, and as you feel better you will naturally gain strength for a bit more exercise ~ which in turn will spur more weight loss and other improvements. In the meanwhile, consider the exercises on the 5BX Site. Check the Age Chart, start at the lowest level (D-) and do what you can, every day. The practices are gentle and safe to do, and remarkably effective in increasing one's fitness gradually and steadily. Do review them with your doctor if you have any doubts at all once you see the descriptions, but I think you will enjoy them. There is a "running in place" option for the fifth exercise, and this you might do on a padded surface, without raising your feet much in the beginning ~ in other words, just start by making a gesture toward the form of any of the exercises you cannot perform completely at first. Don't worry, you'll be amazed at the progress you make in a few weeks ~ and no self-respecting type O should be without her individualized exercise program! :-D p.s.: I have to tell you that three hours downtown exhaust me, too ~ but maybe it's because crowds are a bit tiring for introverts! ;-)



For calcium, I suggest using natural sources such as high-solids mineral water. I always mention Gerolsteiner in this connection, as it's my personal favorite, but have your own fun analyzing and choosing one at www.mineralwaters.org. Calcium carbonate (chalk) is most likely what caused your intestinal trouble ~ it is highly indigestible and has a very low assimilation rate. I also use broth made from the bones & left-on flesh of roasted meat or fowl or fish ~ and the foods suggested in Peter's Calcium from Almonds page that are OK for my type and secretor status. If you find this is not enough to suit your needs, then I'd suggest the Phytocal-O formula, available on this site. Check the links at www.stacktheme.com to see if it can be obtained through a local distributor in Germany. And I think your multivitamin is perfectly adequate if your doctor's tests show it is doing its job. Simpler is better, to my way of thinking. :-)



Do I think you can improve your health challenges even more? ;-) Your experience of improved health and stamina will continue as far as you'd like to take it! Don't worry about those "sins." Their effects can be clearly felt, now that they are surrounded by "virtues" ~ you will find yourself naturally motivated to change them if they get in your way, so don't proceed to root them all out unless it pleases you to do so. :-D



thanks so much for writing, and please keep me posted with your updates! :-)

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Dear Heidi, today I have the following question: the encyclopedia and the LR4YT recommend "venison" for the O type. Does that include wild boar - which for all I know is zoologically different from all kinds of domestic pigs? Also, the following might be of interest for others trying to adhere to the BTD. I had asked a while ago whether sausages of organic meat are ok for type 0. You recommended to check the label. That was a very appropriate advice. I checked with my butcher, and I found out that at least in Germany what is sold as "Calf liver sausage" always contains pork as well AND does not need to contain any liver of the calf. In other words: One does not get a calf liver sausage which is made ONLY of calf. This is certainly confusing for consumers, and I hope this labeling will be changed soon. For you the best wishes, Eva



Eva! Hello again! Wild boar is an "unknown" that I would steer clear of for now, as it is an ancestor of our domesticated pig. Without specific ABO-reactivity testing, I don't feel comfortable recommending that particular item as OK for anyone at this time, as pig seems to have "something against everyone." If it is tested in the future, we will be sure to add it to the Updates Page. I do wish we could say more about it, as it is a legendary beast of the hunt and appears on a great many fancy menus these days ~ so you are certainly not alone in hoping for its approval! ;-)



Thank you so much for that note on German labelling conventions! Wow! "Calf liver sausage" means pork, eh? A little scary! I am surprised, as I always think of the Reinheitsgebot (purity laws) for beer when I think of Germany, and sort of assumed that there were similar ordinances in effect for food in general. With such stringencies upon beer manufacture, I expected similar, if not stricter, laws governing the content of meat products.



Warmest wishes to you and your family, Eva, and thanks again for your report!

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Hi Heidi Thanks for responding to my message the other day. Today I have a question regarding my father. He is O+ (do not know secretor status) and has Hodgkins disease which is under control at the moment. He suffers a lot from stomach problems and recently had a badly infected colon which caused him to lose 7 kg in one week. He is already a thin man and this is bad. I am convinced that he will improve his stomach problems by following the blood group diet. He is 66 years old and feels that he is too old to start this now. He always tried to eat healthy, but is not a great red meat lover. He dos however eat a lot of cabbage which I am convinced is a big no - no for his group. Please could you let me know what you think. I will show him your response in a further effort to convince him. Maybe you can suggest other reading that he can do on the blood type diet subject. Eurika



:-) Hi, Eurika ~ Well, as far as your dad being too old to start now, take a look at what Helene (79 years young) has to say, above. :-) Hard to add anything to that! :-D Anyone with digestive tract difficulties will certainly benefit from using the diet for their type. This is really your father's choice to make, as to whether he is "too old" to want to start feeling good. If I were he, I'd figure I'd suffered enough! Besides, in a few weeks, he can become just as attached to this new diet as he was to the old foods that hurt him ~ and who can argue with delicious food and lessening pain?



However, you must be the judge as to what is best for *you* to do... If you do some or all of the cooking, you might gradually introduce better foods to your father. If he responds well to nattering, then peck away at him till he relents. LOL! But if you sense that the more you bring up the subject, the more he resists, just give him the book and point out that people heal themselves this way without the cost (and imperfect results) of doctors, drugs and surgery. And see what happens. It is always up to the individual as to how they wish to live and die, so even (maybe especially) with family members it's important to give the helpful information clearly and then respect whatever decisions that person wants to make. You're a sweet daughter, Eurika, and I do hope things work out to everyone's satisfaction! and don't forget to take care of you, dear! :-)

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RE: Type O with Chilly Feet Hi there, I'm an avid reader of your column. And although it has been said before...thanks! I've been on the diet now for a year and a half and it's brought about many good things for me - namely weight loss. However, one thing that continues to plague me is frigid feet during the winter months. I know that cold feet is a common occurrence among females, but what I experience is seems to take it to an all new level. I am unable to sleep and walking can sometimes be painful. When I run them under warm water, they burn and tingle as if they're defrosting. I'm in my twenties...and it seems to only get worse each passing year. (Oddly enough, my feet often swell and burn in the summertime). Any insights would be appreciated, Tina



Hi, Tina! We want to increase circulation to your extremities, as things seem a bit sluggish in that area. The primary cause of poor circulation in a young'un like you is insufficient physical activity. ;-) so you know what the next words off my keyboard will be, right? :-D Hey -- Ho -- Let's GO! ~;-D



Rather than offer supplement advice at this juncture, I'm going to try to scare you into gettin' yer dancin' shoes on. Circulatory problems can turn into varicose veins and worse if you let them slide. So start steppin' off the ground & movin' it all around, OK? and write back to let me know how you're doing. If things don't show marked improvement within one month, I want to hear from you! and I'm really pleased about your good results with weight loss & other happy developments, dear!! :-D

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I have gained 15 lbs in the last year, previous to the weight gain I was very active & even worked out several times a week. I have tried several different types of "weight loss" products (even while going to they gym) & many type of diets, all they did was add to my weight. I am now the heaviest I have ever been with the exception of when I was pregnant. When I explained my problem to the lady at the health food store, she put me onto Eat Right 4 your type, which is O. I have been on it for over 2 months now, with very little change. I loose a couple of pounds then put it back on, I feel bloated, very uncomfortable, & really do not want to do anything that I don't have to do. I went back to the health store & the woman there suggested that I try Omega-3, fish body oils (1000mg) 2x a day along with Tonalin xs-CLA, 3x a day. Do you think this combination will help or hinder the type O diet? Betty



Hi, Betty! Pretty annoying when you try so hard and yet that weight won't budge, and your energy plops to a low point and stays there, eh? I hear ya, dear! Never mind, we'll get you fixed up in record time!! The supps recommended by your HFS will do you no harm, but they can really beat up on your pocketbook. Those oils can be obtained far more cheaply and "assimilably" through using beneficial fish (for the fish oils) and *grass-fed* meats and poultry (for the CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)). See www.eatwild.com, a great resource for meat eaters and spectacular producers alike! Since your only complaint is the weight, I suggest you use the nonsecretor-O diet in Live Right 4 Your Type, and follow it to a "T" for one full month. Some of us O nonnies did fine on the "BTD Classic" diet, but many really needed the tweaking for secretor status in order to cease the bloating and the bouncing scales. I wouldn't be surprised if the bean, grain and dairy allowances in Eat Right are the culprits in your case. Focus on your basis of beneficial vegetables and fruits, get your liberal portions of fish and meats, keep drinking plenty of pure water, and try some ground flaxseed in the morning (2 T soaked in some warm water for a few minutes). If you notice any skin itchiness, discontinue the flax and use a tablespoon of the oil each day instead.

This should put you on track pretty quickly ~ if you are perimenopausal, I also suggest two tablespoons of maca root powder each day ~ great for resolving hormonal balance issues which sometimes lead to sticky-weight. Best wishes, and please write again with your progress report! :-)

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Hello, Marilyn ~ Our complete food lists can be found in the book Live Right 4 Your Type, including all the beneficial beans. Yellow-eye beans were not tested, so they may be considered an "unknown." We do try to ferret out connections between the rated items and the unknowns, but generally speaking, unlisted individual foods may be considered neutral for people with no extra weight or other health complaints. That said, I suspect your yellow eye bean may be a neutral: Here on the Cook's Thesaurus site is a picture of "Steuben yellow eye beans" ~ is that the kind you're thinking of? It's closely related to other A-neutral beans, and beans/legumes represent a generally benign food category for As, so if that's a pic of your bean, I'd say eat hearty! :-)

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I just started the diet along with other family members. We are all type A and had been big meat eaters. We felt like we did good on a high protein diet. Would like to continue high protein only now from a vegtable source. My question is how many grams of protein is there in a cup of cooked beans? I have a hard time figuring out what is a complete protein. Also is soy protein powder mixed with soy milk a good thing to drink a couple times a day, it has about 30 grams of protein per drink? My nephew is adhd and needs alot of protein, they were giving him meat protein until they put him on the type A diet, now I'm concerned he's going to go back to high carb eating which was a problem before. Thank you very much for any help. Linda



Hi, Linda! For your family, and this is especially important for your nephew, use the portion/frequency tables in Live Right 4 Your Type. They are designed to deliver each kind of food in the right amounts, and will save you a load of calculation and fuss which no busy person needs! :-) It's not surprising you felt OK on a high-protein/fat diet -- especially if you tend toward hypoglycemia -- but in the long run it would have turned out far less than satisfactory for you. Take full advantage of the neutral fowl and fish choices, and do not lean too heavily on any one food. The wide "bottom of the pyramid" of all four blood type diets is composed of vegetables and fruit, and type As also tend to thrive on a little *whole* grain every day or two, so don't fear the changes. They will prove life-giving for you. Just patiently go along with it for a few weeks, and let the adjustments occur at their own speed. Do not hesitate to eliminate wheat (except 100% sprouted) and dairy of all kinds from your nephew's diet, as these are not beneficial for anyone and are implicated in ADHD and many other disorders. Do include a tablespoon or two of flax oil for him every day, in a smoothie or as salad dressing or drizzled on warm food (never heat flax oil). Also, the benefits of yoga and meditation for As cannot be overstated ~ they are potent healers for you.

I do hope this helps, and my heartfelt good wishes go out to you and your family! :-)

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Hi Heidi...enjoy your column because I always learn something I didn't know before. I'm 53, A+ non-secretor and have been on the diet 5+ yrs. now, although I only learned my secretor status 4 months ago. Just want to reinforce to your readers how important secretor status is. I really feel fine-tuned now.

Many of your readers talk about bloating and gas, and for me the answer came under "Herbs, Spices & Condiments" in LR4YT where Dr.D. stresses brewer's yeast as beneficial for A non-secretors to enhance glucose metabolism and help keep intestinal flora in balance. I take a teaspoon of brewer's yeast powder mixed with a small amount of lukewarm water with every meal, and have found the bloating and gas to no longer be an issue.

I also take one Polyflora A capsule at the beginning of each each day on an empty stomach. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think keeping a healthy floral balance is the key to staying healthy when so many are suffering bacterial and viral infections & flu this time of year.

Also, I didn't know I had a problem with insulin resistance until I tweeked my diet per secretor status and discovered what an incredible change came over me when I did so. I always had this feeling about myself I could never describe to anyone in a way that would make sense, and now I understand that what I was feeling was the insulin resistence. When I look back, I can see that many of the struggles I had as a child in school were directly linked to this probably because I was always fed a high-carb. bkfst.

Now to get to my question: You mention vegetable glycerine often in your column but not exactly how to use it. Is it meant to be a sweetener only for drinks, or can it be used in place of sugar in recipes, and in what amount compared to sugar? Or would fructose be a better choice for baking? Also, can you address the issue of fructose, a neutral for me. Evidently it is derived from different sources, because one store sells pure crystaline and another sells a fructose derived from corn syrup (an avoid). Buyer beware! Sorry for the length, and many thanks. Joyce

Hey there, Joyce ! what a great report! I do encourage everyone to write in with their tips & discoveries about what works well in their diet. It's enormously helpful for others reading who may have similar trouble they've not yet figured out. For instance, taking the probiotic in the morning is something I hadn't thought of, and it may be a good strategy for others as well.

Now, to your answer! :-) I have a number of columns on veg gly, and the best suggestion I can make is to enter the search term "glycerine" in the form at the bottom of this page, and read through each one that comes up. It can be used in place of sugar in any application, and the amount you'll use will depend on your taste ~ but there are a few tips in those columns about baking and proportions. It even adds leavening to baked goods! hooray! :-D Fructose is a neutral for As, and even B secretors ~ the source of the fructose itself is not so much the issue in rating it, as they're all 'fructose' molecules, but rather the sweet punch a substance delivers ~ but the other allowed sweeteners (including veg gly) are usually cheaper and just as easy to use. And with the wealth of sweeteners you As get, even you nonsecretors (ah, do you hear that jealousy kicking in again? time for me to go meditate! LOL!), I'd think it best to focus on the very natural varieties like honey, maple syrup, even stretching it to blackstrap molasses ~ and use veg gly as a medicine for any sugar metabolism issues. That said, I would upgrade it to "house sweetener" if you find it is the only one that works well for you.

Thank you so much for writing, Joyce! Please keep in touch! :-D

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I am Type A and followed the Type A diet for about 4 weeks. The first week and 1/2 I felt so much better, digestion was great! I never felt bloated after eating and my allergies were almost non-exsistant. Then I started going downhill fast. I was striving to eat balanced meals from the appropriate foods but I became very lethargic with insufficient energy to walk from one room to the next without needing to rest. I was recently diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Since Hashimoto's is an Auto Immune Disease, I was wondering since my immune system was getting stronger from my new diet, if it was working harder against my thyroid? Any suggestions? Jan



Hi, Jan! The diet improves autoimmune diseases, by limiting the food substances which overstimulate your natural antibody response. Hashimoto's takes many years to develop, but the good news is, it will take far less time to resolve it.

Do get hold of the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia and use the protocols recommended for Hashimoto's. In the meanwhile, order a saliva secretor test from this site, or arrange to get your Lewis (blood) type established. Use your secretor status to refine the diet/exercise/supplement strategies in Live Right 4 Your Type. Balanced meals in the traditional sense are not nearly so important for any of us as is following the recommended type A portions and frequencies for each food group. I want to insert a plug for yoga and meditation here: they are such powerful tools for healing, and confer unlooked-for benefits!! Stick with it, dear, and you will see excellent results. Do let me know how you are getting along, and thank you for your question! :-)

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My mother is a A and follow the diet with me. She would however like to STOP LOSING WEIGHT, but the scale keeps dropping. She is generally very healthy. What can you suggest for her to stay put at her current weight. Thanks for your time and effort you put into answering everybody. I am ever greatful for all the research that was done on this blood group diet because I never achieved such EASY success before with enything else. The scale just keeps dropping and I just keep feeling better!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Eurika



Hello, Eurika ~ Please get your Mom to begin a yoga practice, and engage in daily walks and calming activities. This will allow her body to build active tissue mass and step down out of "fight or flight," which keeps the weight on some folks and dissolves it off others at too rapid a pace. She will get to a good balance this way. Also, as she increases her activity, it's a good idea to increase her protein intake ~ especially the beneficial fish and beans ~ and do some mild strengthening calisthenics like those on the 5BX site I'm always going on about. I'm sure she'll be happy with it! And I am so pleased to hear of your continuing success, dear. It means a great deal to me. :-D

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"Any physical ailment is symbolic of an inner reality or statement. Your entire life is a statement in physical terms, written upon time as you understand it." -- Seth

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Hi Heidi ~



Me again, but I am writing this time to answer Amanda and other South Africans having trouble getting their secretor status tested. I would like them to know that the test is done in South Africa.



In the Western Cape Province they can contact the "Western Cape Blood Transfusion Service at (021) 507 6300 and ask for the Cyrology Department. THEY DO THE SALIVA TEST AND THE LEWIS TEST. The lady I spoke to knew immediately what I was referring to when I mentioned that I want to know what my secretor status is. The normal labs did not however know what I was talking about. Hope you can pass this info on to them fellow SA's that would like to have these tests done Thanks for your column. It is always a good read!!!!!!!!



Eurika



MANY thanks, Eurika! This is great info, VERY good to know!!! and I'm sure your compatriots will be writing in to thank you, too! Thanks again, dear!

:-D







Hello Heidi. I concur with Mary about your talent and dedication in sharing your wealth of information and research. Do you have a photographic memory? Amazing.



Anyway...I intended to wait until I had been off of flaxseed (Barleans) for a week or two before writing you, but after only six days I am entirely discomfort and misery free after three months of itching, and the rash on my legs and arms has almost entirely disappeared. It is amazing how quickly the body can heal when you remove the offending substance. This has been a particularly amazing experience for me since I have never been allergic to any food or anything in the environment except poison oak. I want to thank you again and also the woman you mentioned who made the effort and learned about her own particular allergy to flaxseed. Now you know two people who cannot tolerate it. I will wait awhile longer and then will try flax oil to see if, like her, I can use that instead. I may prefer to stick with fish oil. Please keep up your incredible work. Nancy



I don't have a photographic memory, actually, and Lordy could I use one! Got one at a reasonable price? ;-)



It's my good friend Kathy to whom you owe your thanks, and she is most happy to have shared her experience to have helped you. anyway, THANKS AGAIN, KATH!! and I'm tremendously pleased you're feeling better, Nancy! :-)







dear heidi, 'URGENT' i know you're very busy but i di have an urgent query as i'm due to go into hospital on 26/2/03.i am an o nonny about to have major surgery & woud like to know what to take to recuperate fast,fight any infection i'm likely to meet in hospital,etc your speedy reply would be appreciated,thankyou, debbie(from england)



Hi, Debbie ~ Hey, you have Live Right and the Encyclopedia, right? Just follow the O guidelines in LR and the Surgery Recovery Protocols in the Encyc ~ they're actually pre- and post-op protocols. Best wishes to you, Debbie ~ my prayers go with you! I'm sure you'll come through just fine!! Drop me a note when you're back home & comfy! :-D









reminder:

Since I've read the book "Eat Right 4 Your Type" I'm very concerned about this issue: I'm blood goup O and I'm vegetarian. I want to follow the correct diet according my blood type but I don't want to eat meat, fish or animal protein. How I can to do it? The are any problem if I'm vegetarian and my blood type is O? There are some cases about vegetarian people following the Type O's diet? Thanks in advance. Eva



Hello, Eva! and welcome! :-)



Here are three links to get you started:

O-Veg I

O-Veg II

O-Veg III



Read through them, and write back if more questions arise! thanks, dear!!

:-)

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I've been on the O diet for a couple of months and because I was getting such good results I could pretty easily handle changing from a vegetarian diet to meat eating, substituting spelt for wheat, stevia for sugars and only having certain cheeses but now I've discovered I'm a nonsecretor and feel completely adrift!! I'm looking at a huge lifestyle change and I don't even know what to eat at any meal anymore! I would love a meal plan for non-secretors or some sort of support system online but I don't know where to turn. Do you have any ideas? Thanks so much, Laura OH! Also, not eating any sweets is really getting to me, nothing to sweeten my tea, etc. It's pretty difficult. Any ideas? Laura



Hi, Laura! ;-> I remember that jaw-dropping experience pretty vividly ~ don't worry, you'll soon be in the "new" swing of things, and the shock of the discovery will fade... although you'll never quite forget it! :-D I wrote a column on the O nonsecretor pyramid: Here. You can pretty quickly put together your own meal plan that way ~ we did! :-) And for sweetening that tea, try the All About Vegetable Glycerine column ~ and there are many more to be found by going to the bottom of this page and using the search term "glycerine."



Right now, the changes look a little daunting to you, but they're actually not as drastic as they seem. What we lose is primarily in the grains, dairy and sweetener departments, which means that we who got used to using spelt and various cheeses as substitutes for what we previously ate are left with few or no subs at all, and the removal of all but molasses is a new challenge in that category as well (veg gly fills the bill beautifully). Thus, it's now impossible to use the basic structure of our pre-ER diet and simply plug in acceptable foods for the unacceptable ones.



I think it was wonderfully kind of Peter to let us all get stable with the Classic O diet in BTD before springing the rest of it on us, don't you agree? LOL! Anyway, grains and dairy and sweetstuff were clearly presented as the poor cousins in our diet, right from the beginning, so we should have seen the writing on the wall there. It makes sense that the O nonnies -- on the far end of the spectrum from the A secretors -- would end up with what might be characterized as a "paleolithic" diet framework bearing no relation whatsoever to the S.A.D. so beloved in our childhoods. On the other hand, I really think of it as the diet of a caveman with advanced degrees in biochemistry ~ we're not "going backward" to find the nonsecretor plan, but using our physiological history in concert with current research to go forward.



In a way, because our diet is weighted more heavily toward just a few food groups (veg, fruit, meat/fish/poultry, eggs, nuts/seeds), it becomes a simpler path to follow once you're on it ~ it just looks complicated when you're wondering how to get there! :-)

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I'm not sure if I'm eating the right balance and right frequenciesof foods. I'm an O non-secretor. You're an 0 nonsecretor, right? and you often refer to your own diet in your replies, so I was wondering if you would be willing track what you eat and post it so I can follow it as a model? Alternatively, could I track my eating plan for a week or more and send it to you for a critique on what I could do better? Michelle



Hi, Michelle! First, take a look at my answer for Laura, above. If you'd like to give me a rundown of your week's eating plan, sure! I'll be happy to help! :-)

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Heidi my daughter in law's mom who is type O has dangerously high cholesterol, about 300, she said. And she's in her early 70s. Gets lots of exercise and otherwise is healthy. She's been on meds but wants to find a way to lower it naturally. She eats healthfully, but there must be something she can add or omit to lower the total number. Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated. Maddy



Hello there, Maddy ~ Not knowing her diet, I'll make some general suggestions:



First, Phil's Oatmeal Therapy! ~ and search for "phil" in the search form at the bottom of this page ~ there's more to read!



For intractable high cholesterol, see these notes on red yeast rice, and also see an earlier RYR column, Here!



Let me know how she does, dear! :-)

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First of all, I'd like to say that of all the nutrition research and science that I've read, this one seems to make the most sense-common sense. Next, and the reason I'm writing, is that I live in Canada and the Secretor Status kit is unavailable here. Also, I can't seem to get the ABO-friendly Physician Registry page to load, so I don't know who else to turn to. I am an insulin-dependent, type O diabetic and I want to follow the correct diet based on secretor type, but I don't know what I need to do to have my secretor status determined. Can you offer any suggestions as to how a canadian can go about having their secretor status determined? I believe that the human body is always trying to return to normal functioning and I am motivated to help my body do exactly that. Please help me help myself. I appreciate any response that you may have to give. Very sincerely, Glen



Hi, Glen! This column has the information you need to get the saliva secretor test in Canada, or to obtain your Lewis (blood) type which closely correlates to secretor status. On the Practitioner Registry page, first put "canada" (without the "s) in the "search for" box. Then click the arrow next to the "search by" menu, and scroll down to "country." Then (gotta do this, doesn't work without it), Hit the Search Button. I see several practitioners listed! Thanks for writing, Glen, and I must say you have a very life-enhancing belief which will serve you well in ALL areas!! good luck, and keep me posted! :-D

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Hello Heidi! Both me (type O) and my husband (type have lots of ancestors who was farmers and fishermen in the archipelago on the Swedish east cost (in the Baltic sea). They have certainly been eating lots of fish, especially perch, pike, cod, herring, eel and flounder. I believe that those kinds of fish, which was a staple for our grandparents, should be very healthy food for me and my husband. (Maybe the eel isn't so good, though.) Perch (Perca fluviatilis) is my favourite fish. It is very common in the Baltic sea and in lakes here in Sweden. As a little girl I sometimes was fishing for perch together with my dad who also likes that fish. To get good fishing-luck, we used to shout: "Pork - ugh! Perch is best!" Dad told me they used to shuot like that when he was a little boy fishing together with his dad... Among my and my husbands relatives, all four bloodtypes are represented. As there are several kinds of fish which are OK for all types, fish could be suitable to eat on a family gathering. But I have a few questions: 1) In BTD, LR4YT and in the typebase i've found ABO-ratings for white, yellow and silver perch. Which one of them is "Perca fluviatilis"? 2) Do you know anything about the ratings for a fish called tench (Tinca tinca)? The only thing I know about it is that it's fun to catch and delicious to eat. 3) How about pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca)? Same ratings as for pike or perch? Thank you so much for your column! //Ylva.



~:-D ~:-D ~:-D ~:-D

Ylva, thank you for sharing your wonderful family report and fishing techniques! :-D OK: here I go with your fishies:



Perca fluviatilis ~ European or Eurasian Perch (the Latin fluviatilis makes me wonder... ~ "river perch"?)

Stizostedion lucioperca ~ Zander, or Pikeperch

Tinca tinca ~ Tench, or Green Tench



The perch bunch are tough to parse for purposes of this diet. Take a look at this link and you'll see what we're up against. :-} Since our "yellow perch" is Perca flavescens, I thought we might be able to associate your "unknown" percas with our listed ones... HOWEVER: our "ocean perches" are all Sebastes spp., the "silver perch" is Bairdiella chrysoura and the white is Morone americana ~ no help there, except to describe perfectly how I feel right about now. ;-)



The zander is a member of one of the pike families... but not the U.S. kind (Northern pike, or Esox lucius), otherwise I'd be quite comfortable saying "use the Pike rating 4YT" (Beneficial, in your case! :-)). Alas!



As to your tench, we haven't rated him either cuz he's an exclusively European resident. I must say he's certainly a handsome fishie, and wish I could offer a food value on that basis alone ~ but Alas Again!



So: in sum, while I can't give a definitive view on these guys, I will leave you with the usual "considered neutral for all folks with no health difficulties" advice! so enjoy them, and keep those fish stories coming my way! :-D

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1 - I am a type O and was wondering about glucose and agar. 2 - Romano cheese should be a no no for type O's but I see it used in some of the recipes. Why? Thanks, By the way: This diet is wonderful. I am losing just a bit of weight but I eat to my heart's content and I feel great with increased energy and less pain in my joints (especially the knees.) Sheldon



Hello, Sheldon ~ glad you're prospering! The recipes are a bit loose with ingredients used in very small amounts. Feel free to adapt them to your own level of compliance/strictness. Agar can be found in the TYPEbase3 search. Not sure what your Q is regarding glucose ... could you clarify whether you're wondering about an additive? a sweetener? or something in a whole food? thanks, dear! I'm really pleased you're enjoying this diet! :-)

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Dear Heidi, I love the program and have had great results. I sent in a question awhile back concerning CONJUGATED Linoleic Acid.(CLA) I want to know if it is ok for all blood types. My son is A and I am an O. I started it about 6 weeks ago and don't want to continue taking it if it is going to mess up the good results that I have had so far. I know you probably get lots of questions, but I would really like to know if you got my message. Thanks for all the good work. Connie in Ohio.



Hello, Connie! CLA is present most notably in GRASS-FED cattle, both the meat and the dairy. I have no data on its use as a supplement, although I suspect it would do you no harm in small quantities.



The following is an excerpt from the Journal of Chemical Education site (http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/Journal/Issues/1996/Dec/absA302.html):











So: whether you continue with the supplementation, I'd also suggest free-range clean turkey for your son, and grass-fed beef, buffalo, lamb, etc. for you. The levels of CLA in those foods are far higher than in grain-forced animals. Do take a look at the website, www.eatwild.com ~ well worth reading and supporting with your food dollars!! Hope this is of interest! and thanks for writing!! :-)

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Hi Heidi, Can you tell me.. Will Dr. D'Adamo be coming out with an herbal compendium of sorts any time soon? I know he has some more common culinary herbs listed in the diet and some more in the Encyclopedia. It would really be a big help to us herbal preparation users. ie. such ones as black cohosh, cleavers,yarrow, valerian, etc. My husband and I are so impressed with the results that we've seen on the diet that we buy the lr4yt book to give those who have a genuine interest in trying it.Without fail, everyone who tries it can't believe the changes in their general health. I check your column daily because I pick up so many tips that I can pass on to others even if they're not applicable to our type. (both O's - 1 secretor & 1 non-secretor) Thanks, Jan



Hello, Jan! Thanks so much for your kind words and great support!! I am very, very pleased to be of assistance! :-) An herbal compendium is a great idea... think I'll whisper that one to Peter as soon as he comes up from under all the other work he has going right now! great suggestion! :-)

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Hi. I have two questions. One: Are type O's (nonsecretor)more prone to prostate problems, either cancerous or benign? I couldn't find it anywhere. And two: I must be doing something wrong because when I do a search for topic at the bottom of your page it gives me nothing but the same page and has "(ignored)" typed next to the question. Any clue? Thank you... Kristy



:-) The search page accepts only one word at a time. Numbers, extra spaces or "a, and" etc. may give you the "ignored" message. Just try one word, I'm sure it will work for you! Os have no predisposition toward prostate trouble ~ but if someone you know is concerned about the issue, do use the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia as a reference for explanations and protocols. thanks for your note, Kristy!

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Hello Heidi. I enjoy this web site, especially your column. I am O+, secretor status unknown. I've been dealing with heartburn most of my life. I feel good when eating by the blood type diet. However, about an hour after eating a meal, I often experience heartburn. It's not immediate, but like "clockwork", it begins later. I carry weight around my middle (only), a distented belly, and I am a "high strung" person who tends to overeat. I was tested for H.Pylori (blood test) and found negative for the antibody. I accepted that my excess weight in the belly area was the cause of this after meals hearburn. But recently I discovered something interesting. While wanting to lose weight by trying the induction phase of the Atkins diet, I was surprised to discover that my heartburn disappeared. When I deviate from a high protein diet and introduce fruits, my symptoms come back. Seems like I'm sensitive to surgar, even from acceptable fruits for my blood type. Is this enough information to determine if there is something wrong other than my being overweight? How does one know if they have Candida? Could you suggest a typical meal plan for a type O (combinations and amounts). I appreciate any suggestions you may have. Thank you. Greg



Hello, Greg! What you discovered is that (1) you need to eat smaller meals, more frequently, to try to wean yourself from overstuffing (very uncomfortable, and a known cause of reflux/heartburn!); (2) exercise for stress-relief would do you a world of good in the digestive department; (3) food combining/separation (eating fruit separately, not mixing grain and meat in one meal) will let your tummy focus on one task at a time and relieve the after-meal pain. The high-protein diet appeared to work, because you ate no grains or fruit. Separate those foods and use smaller meals, use some of the LR4YT stress-reduction suggestions, and let me know your results! :-)

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Hello Heidi, greetings from South Africa. Your column is absolutely great! I am learning so much. The diet has done wonders for myself and my family and we're sticking to it as rigidly as possible. My hubby and I are both type O, but he's doing better than me as he seems OK with oats, rice, rye, etc. I however seem to be intolerant of all grains and my chest and sinuses always feel congested when I eat them (it starts with sneezing and then difficulty to breathe). I realise that in my case it is imperative to know my secretor status, but would you believe, in a country that transplanted the first heart, no lab is able to help me with this test, and I've made extensive enquiries. I would also be prepared to order from and courier to the UK if this is the closest source. Could you please supply me with any info on how to get this test done? God bless and keep well. Thanks, Amanda.



Hello, Amanda! Here are some general tips on how to obtain your secretor status. If you're of an experimenting turn of mind, then try two weeks on the nonsecretor diet. The following two weeks, use the secretor diet. Compare your results. It's surprising how many people find a sharp difference between them ~ and if getting your secretor type turns out to be a major hassle, then this technique may give the answer you're looking for! good luck dear, and thanks for writing!!

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Antibiotics and Coricidin D with Type O positive Secretor Blood: Everytime I take ANY pills and then recover for cold or infections I get SEVERE cramps and bloating for about 3 weeks to restore my digestive health.I take Acidophilus Pills 9 a day to try to get healed and olive oil..Pure extra Virgin..Could I have Candidas provoked by the lining of my stomach being stripped?I have been laying here miserable for 4 days now. It feels like my whole stomach is a HUGE toothache. This result has predictably happened for the last 15 years of my life and after a few weeks of acidophilus I can digest food again.My three week sinus cold is gone. HELP!!!! I need your advice so bad on this. I was scoped and tested and everything is just fine. I believe the doctors create a treadmill of antibiotics that cause ulcer type symptoms so they can keep the money machine going. MONEY MONEY MONEY. Betty



Hi, Betty! I can't argue with what you've discovered about your body, or about the pharmaceutical business.



How about (1) preventing the colds/infections in the first place, and (2) using healing strategies that don't involve antibiotics?



(1) Follow the O secretor diet, take your PolyFlora-O and Pro-Berry3 daily, and use Heallix if you feel anything "coming on." You will never even come close to needing those antibiotics again, so



(2) swear off them completely. Just say NO! They have enormous health-destructive capability, and are overused to the point that our water supply is poisoned with them and new strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are springing up every day! Once upon a time, doctors prescribed liquids and bed rest for colds/flu ~ but no, we can't be persuaded to stop our frenetic activity for even an hour these days, hence the antibiotic mill keeps churning. Take your dollars away from pharmaceuticals and put them in food and simple, healing compounds. HooRah! this is one of THE most powerful things we "little folks" can do for ourselves and this precious planet. :-)

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Hi Heidi. I am a first time patient of Dr.D'Adamo and Dr. Bron. I have immune complex glomerilnephritis and am a A+ non sector blood type. I have started to follow the diet as per the drs. One question I have is about the grains and bread.. I need to stay away from the wheat and refined flour. I have purchased the sprouted wheat ezekiel? bread..Its is very good..But do I need to read the ingredigents on crackers and so forth to see if these ingredients are listed? Do I need to read the ingredients on all products to see if this is listed. Also what about pretzels? Can you give me some ideas as far as fun food to eat and stay within the low protein diet and also on the blood type diet. I love bread and need to know if there is a bread out there that is low in protein and also neutral for me to eat. Pleas advise me what to do. Thanking you in advance. Susan



Hello, Susan! Well, you're in the best hands, that's for certain. ;-)



I gather you're on a special diet for your condition, since you mentioned the blood type diet and a low protein diet. Were you given a "low protein diet" sheet to follow, which outlines certain changes to make? I wouldn't want to recommend anything to you that would contradict your specific diet from the doctors. I can say that breads will all be lower in protein than, for instance, eggs and flesh foods like fish, chicken, etc.



For a type A nonsecretor, the only beneficial grain is amaranth, and the kind of wheat in pretzels, etc. is an avoid for you. If you go to the TYPEbase 3 database on the front page (www.dadamo.com) and use "wheat" as a search term, you'll see the values for all the kinds of wheat listed there. But use your diet sheet along with the list in Live Right 4 Your Type for all the other grain listings. And do read the ingredients on everything! and compare them to your lists. Please write back and tell me more, and maybe I can come up with some fun food for you! thanks for writing, Susan, and I'm sure you're on the mend now! :-D

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My french GP advised me to follow youd diet for a rhumatism complaint . Up to now ,I am very pleased with it . Iam group A .there are a few things that are not very clear for me in the book ( both french or english versions) ;1) the names of the different types of beans as there doesn't seem to be so many varieties in france ex '. butter beans' in france are a kind of green bean (french beans in England) but they are yellow ,,,not at all what you call butter beans ...so it's a little confusing. and there are other varieties of beans (Navy, Lima etc) which I don't know at all . .. and what 'flageolets' in the USA ? cecile



Greetings, cecile! Yes, bean names are quite different all over the world. Almost every day, I receive requests from people in one country or another who really are left clueless by the bean list because this book was written in the States, using American vernacular vegetable names which translate ambiguously to other languages. Since we couldn't include pictures of each food in the blood type diet books, my very best advice in this is to use the link, www.foodlexicon.com, and search for the English or French name of the item you are looking for -- then use the list of names in other languages to make the connection.



This page contains a list of names for "flageolet" beans (with a photograph), and down the left side of the page are the English name references. Those photographs are REALLY useful in the world of beans! :-) I think this site will be a great reference for clearing up the bean confusion! Thanks for writing, cecile! :-) (and thanks to Cocky for bringing that site to my attention! ;-))

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Hi Heidi, Just wondered if you might be able to help. For the first two weeks of my menstrual cycle I have a normal appetite ie I have a meal & then don't need to eat for say another four hours or so & the amounts I eat are normal. For the last two weeks of my menstrual cycle I turn into a raging eating monster. I have a meal then ten minutes later I am absolutely starving, as if I hadn't eaten for days. I have increased the protein intake for these weeks but haven't noticed any real lessening in hunger pangs. I can jump 14lbs in these weeks. I am an A+ secretor & have been on your diet for over a year now, strictly compliant & have lost 42lbs & have had a myriad of other little problems solved whilst on the diet. Before I went on the diet my appetite was just enormous & I was forever hungry but soy products particularly tofu seem to have done the trick.... except for the last two weeks of my cycle. Any advice would be enormously appreciated. Thanks for the great job it's very comforting to know that advice is only an email away. Best wishes Helen



Hi, Helen ~ :-) This phenomenon is discussed in metabolic circles as cycling, and the theory is that about half of all women experience it to some degree. You've got a big degree going there! :-) Since you have tried increasing protein intake during those weeks without success, I suggest using two tablespoons maca powder, about 200mg of gotu kola (Centella asiatica), and 500 mg of L-tyrosine per day, along with at least one cup of chamomile tea and one of green tea. *However,* if you are pregnant or even might be, use 500 mg of "triphala" (an Ayurvedic combination of three herbs --amla, beleric myrobalan and chebulic myrobalan), instead of the gotu kola. I'd do this mini-protocol beginning with the first day of your cycle, and see if that second two weeks shows an improvement. Bear in mind that the liver plays an important role in clearing hormones through your system ~ so be sure to follow your diet as closely as possible, and get the recommended yoga sessions every week. They both help clear burdens from the liver, hence easing hormonal imbalances.



I'm pleased your weightloss results have been positive for you! and glad I can offer some comfort here, although sorry there was a bit of a wait in getting it to you! :-} please write back and tell me how you're doing, Helen!

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I am type A. I was wondering why peanuts and peanut butter are highly beneficial, but peanut oil is not. Thank you for clarifying this for me. Lynn



Hello, Lynn! Here is a column I wrote, just for you! enjoy! :-D

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Dear Heidi, I'm an A+ (secretor staus unknown). I've been on the diet for almost 9 months now and I've lost about 5kgs. I'm 1.5m and currently weigh between 49 - 50ks. I probably need to go down a few more kilos, which is the hardest part as the weight hasn't gone down for a few months now. I try to avoid the avoids but it is hard as my mum still cooks for the family (and there are many varieties of food available here in Singapore that have not been tested!) I exercise about 3 times a week but they are usually cardio classes. I have tried sticking to yoga but I find without the usual dose of cardio, I feel awful.. and unsatisfied. I find although the weight has gone down, my body fat content is not as low as it should be -- currently 24% when it should be about 20%. Any suggestions with weight loss or help with reduction of body fat besides sticking to only beneficials for foods? Also, are there any herbs/supplements to help reduce bloatedness caused by PMS? I find that it is also during this time my eating habits go stray!! Recently, I find myself succumbing to sweets!! L-glutamine doesn't seem to help much, perhaps its the proportion I take it (1 teaspoon for every 225ml of water) especially before I go for my workouts? Is that the right amount? Or should I drink a small glass with a pinch of L-glutamine everytime the sugar monster strikes? Thank you for your time. I thoroughly enjoy your column everyday! Mavis



Hey there, Mavis ~ Don't you worry, those last few kilos can seem to take forever to come off, but come off they will! The cardio workouts are fine, but you will see better results by adding the yoga (better still, yoga and meditation), doing a session every day if possible. Yoga's effects on PMS, body fat levels, and mental clarity are rather amazing for so little effort.



NOTE ADDED: I originally suggested that L-glutamine would be OK for you -- however, L-glutamine should be avoided by types A and B because it raises cortisol levels. Try to get hold of some vegetable glycerine, which I've gone on & on about in this column. ;-D It actively stabilizes sugar metabolism, and can be used in anything you'd normally put sugar or honey in. Take a little slurp of it if you feel the cravings coming on! You're doing wonderfully, Mavis ~ just stick to it, and your results will be well worth your efforts!! thanks for your note! :-)

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I need to start a diet because of my total cholesterol= 5.96. The HDL= 0.78 The LDL= 4.65 Tg = 1.16 My blood type is A+. I look at your book Eat right 4 your Type and it is interesting. Is there specific choice I should do to start. Presently my doctor prescribe Lipitor 20mg. It is good to take those drugs. Tell me what I should do please. Monique



Allo, Monique! Yes! Please start the diet right away, in whatever way you are most comfortable doing so -- whether by slow change or all at once.



Most people find their cholesterol/triglyceride levels normalize fairly quickly with the diet alone. If your levels remain high, consider taking a half teaspoon of red yeast rice twice each day. It is marvelous for lowering cholesterol -- your doctor will be astonished! :-) Soon, you will no longer need the Lipitor at all.



And do follow the recommendations for type A activities/exercise ~ yoga is a great balancer of all the body's systems.



thanks for writing, Monique, and let me know how it works for you! :-)

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Hallo Heidi I read the question (yesterday) that Maureen from South Africa sent. She was able to find out her secretor status. I would like to know how she went about that in SA. Is there any way that I could find out from her? In the meanwhile, I still follow the BTD and did not buy the new LR4YT book. I did however consult the new info on the food in the supplied database. Can I continue following the ER4YT and not worry about secretor status etc?... Thanks for your brilliant column!



Eurika, you're very sweet! Here is what I wrote to Nandie on 12/09 ~ "Ask your doctor or clinic for the saliva secretor test, OR the Lewis test. I know that labs in ZA do the Lewis test, although many doctors are not familiar with it. If you have their name at hand, call direct to the diagnostic laboratory your doctor uses. They can confirm it, which you then can bring to your doctor's attention."



You're doing great on the "classic" diet, and because 80%+ of the population are secretors, the numbers are on your side. Just check the Updates Page for any foods that have moved to avoid for As since BTD was published, and keep up the great work! :-D

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I have been on the B diet since Feb. 2001, and the results are wonderful and continuing daily, especially with allergy symptoms. I thought I was becoming allergic to everything and would close myself up in the house with the airconditioner on from June till the frost came in the fall--here in NY that is the best time of the year to enjoy the outdoors, and I never enjoyed it at all. Now I have spent the last 2 summers outside, gardening, enjoying the sun, swimming, playing with my dogs ( I was "allergic " to them too) The weather reports keep saying high ragweed, high moldspores and so far I haven't felt a thing!! It's just amazing!!



But anyway, the problem I am having is with my muscles and neck pain. I have seen a cervical orthogonist and have had my atlas corrected 4 weeks ago and my muscles are having a hard time adjusting the new corrected position. I am achy and irritable as the day wears on and it seem my head is too heavy for my shoulders to carry it. The Dr. says this will correct over time, but I was wondering if there is anything else I could do to speed up the recovery here--I have a life to live!! and it's kind of a drag dealing with this. I know I need to get more supplements, but in the past with my allergies I have become a little leary of taking anything. I have had rashes, stomach difficulties from taking supplements, so have given up on most. I only take a B complex, folic acid, and magnesium supplements. I tried MSM in the past (before I started BTD) but I developed an itchy rash that ceased when I stopped the MSM. I was told no one could be allergic to MSM, is this true?? I was afraid to try it again, but perhaps being on the diet I won't have a problem again.



I also would like to try the Btype vitamins sold here on this site, but am concerned about having a bad reaction to any of the herbs and things in them . Have they been formulated to be hypoallergenic??(is that possible?) Also, I have read that glucosamine is made from shellfish, can B types take this supplement or is it not recommended?? I have seen a glucosamine made from chicken breast cartilege, but there's the chicken thing--so I have stayed away from glucosamine. Sorry, this has become a long email, but if you have any suggestions for healing and strengthening muscle, I would greatly appreciate it. Incidently, I do exercise regularly, walking about 10 miles perweek, and resistence and weight training , but I havehad to put the upper body on hold during this recooperating period. Thanks so much for your time, and tell Dr. D'Adamo that I thank God for him and pray for him in his continued work. Suzanna



Thank you for your prayers, Suzanna! I thank God for him, too. :-)



For your muscle tension, I suggest a stretching routine based upon martial arts (see www.flowinghands.com for a marvelous video), or a Hatha yoga session ~ daily. Resistance training is great, but stretching goes hand in hand with it, and it is a wonderful way of releasing toxins in the body. A nice soak in a near-hot bath with Epsom salts is a remarkably effective muscle relaxer.



I also suggest you set aside ten minutes each day for a visualization session. Just sit in a comfortable position in a quiet place, and imagine your muscles loosening. Take one body area at a time, or envision your entire body melting ... or becoming cloud-like ... or whatever best suits you! If you use a form of meditation, this, too, will help release the discomfort you are feeling.



About supplements: n-acetyl glucosamine is absolutely fine for you -- it is chondroitin sulphate which is to be avoided by Bs and Os. It is unlikely you reacted to the MSM ~ much more likely that you reacted to fillers in the MSM you purchased. A great, lowest-cost source of high-quality MSM is www.msm-msm.com ~ and among the supps available in the Store on this site, some are labelled hypoallergenic, but not all, so for now, stick with what you've found works! I hope you're feeling better soon, and do keep that magnesium supplementation UP! take care! :-)

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Hi, Could you tell me if it is going to be possible to be a healthy vegetarian 'O' and 'B' type? Thanks, Neehar



Hi, Neehar ~ I have heard from (admittedly, VERY few) type Os and Bs who say vegetarianism works fine for them. So, I will say it is possible, but as we look at vegetarian Os and Bs over time, the older one is, the less success we see. It is a difficult thing for either type to accomplish, due to type Os' higher requirement of flesh foods in an optimal diet, and type Bs' many avoids among the bean, nut and seed categories traditionally used as "meat substitutes." I always suggest to these folks to consider adding fish to the diet ~ which, of course, is out of the question for vegans and true vegetarians ~ but those who take that suggestion are astonished at the improvement in their wellbeing. They find themselves in far better trim down the line.



I will say frankly that most of the ethical vegetarians who write to me asking about supplements to make up for the missing flesh foods are not aware that the necessary supplements (taurine, L-carnitine, among many examples) are made commercially from the meats they refuse to eat. So this is all to say, I strongly encourage you to ask yourself: would you ask an animal to do without the kind of food it needs to be well? If you would not, why would you do yourself such a cruel disservice? Is your vibrant life less important than that of the other creatures you seek to preserve? Support Conscious Farming and Ranching! in the best ways you can, and support the physiology that was given to you, as well!



*whew,* nothing worse than an ex-juicitarian, eh? LOL! thanks for writing, Neehar! :-D

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I have recently discovered that I can not tolerate neither sugar nor friuts that are very sweet. According to your diet for Blood Type B, I should be able to eat these foods. I have experimented with eating more of the fruits that are on the list for my blood type, but it did not work. I am presently using Stevia. My questions are, 1. will my body develop the ability to tolerate sweeter fruits is I each foods exclusively form the Highly beneficial category? 2. Can I eat green tomatoes? Are do they have lectin in the also, even though they are not red? And, Am I wrong to think that color has anything to do with whether lectin is present or not in a food item? Thank you for the feedback! Dovie



Hey there, Dovie! Unripe (green) tomatoes do contain the harmful lectin, so I'd give them a pass. The lectins do not at all affect the color of an item ~ so those variously colored tomatoes, along with many other foods, have one rating no matter the color. On the fruit front: it looks like you'll benefit from that "tincture of Time" treatment for a while. Yes, it has been the experience of most people that allergic reactions and digestive tolerance do change with time on the diet. We do not all come to these plans in the same condition, and our healing proceeds at our own body's pace. Keep with it, and give it time to work ~ you'll soon find yourself forgetting what it was like when fruit gave trouble! And instead of sugar, investigate vegetable glycerine. It is not a whole food, but certainly fills the sweet bill, and actively helps normalize blood sugar levels. Good health to you, dear, and keep in touch! :-)

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What is Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail for Type B and where can I obtain it? Kaye



Hi, Kaye! You make it at home: 6-8 ounces of fruit juice, one tablespoon lecithin granules, one tablespoon flax oil. shakeyshake it up. It's marvelous, and we other blood types secretly use it as well! :-D

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Hello there I have just read your questions for today and have a query about Type B and the membrane fluidizer cocktail. My husband, a Type B, used to enjoy this but according to recent Live Right books lecithin is an avoid for Type B. Who is right? We have been on the diet for four years now, I am a Type A, and feel much better for it. Many thanks. Cynthia



Ah, Cynthia, that error was MY contribution to Live Right!! Please ask your husband to accept my apologies, and if we ever meet, the MFCs are on me, OK? :-} I'm very pleased the diets are doing good things for you, and thank you for your forbearance in this lecithin matter ~ it is neutral for All types! best wishes to you both, dear! :-)

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Hi Heidi, I enjoy your column and the many subjects you get to touch on. I'm a B+, and had started drinking the membrane fluidizer cocktail when I learned about the bloodtype diet back in June. I have allergies and this year has felt particularly bad, which is what prompted me to try the diet. However, an issue of Men's Health earlier this year (April I think), as well as some internet searches, have raised concerns about prostate cancer and flaxseed oil (the linoleic acid I believe it was). I know it's not an absolute proven connection, but I was wondering if you had thoughts about this. I stopped using the MFC and asked Dr. Bron but haven't seen a reply addressing this. Since I had to stop tomato juice for the lycopene I replaced it with red grapefruit, but didn't want to take any unnecessary chances since my dad's side has some history of prostate cancer. Thanks! Herb



Hello, Herb ~ From my reading, and in my humble non-medical opinion, the flaxseed/cancer connection is a boondoggle. If you were made to eat only one thing for months on end, problems would arise, I'll guarantee that. One thing for months on end is the diet design for lab animals used to generate these kinds of research. Bear in mind that too little of something will give trouble, and too much of it will give as much, or more trouble, in most cases. Get a balance of fats from the allowed meat, fish, fowl, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and you'll have no worries in this regard. I do suggest taking saw palmetto ~ it has protective effects on the prostate, and has produced some pleasant surprises in the men's hair department! :-) thanks so much for writing, Herb!! start back up with the MFC, you'll continue to benefit from it!

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We have a Essene Bread Recipy from the internet with "Eat Right 4 Your Tipe" book cover next to it. This recipy states that this is for all types, but one of the ingredients is buck wheat flour. (3 cups of sprouted wheat and 1 cup buck wheat flour). I am type B. Can I eat this bread. Please let me know ~ Piet



:-} Nope! Sorry! That one is actually for type As and Os... You can use it, just replace that flour with barley, oat, rice, spelt or other allowable flour. Also, go to the bottom of this page and enter the search term "essene" ~ you'll bring up a column entitled, "Seeking Recipes for Essene & Ezekiel Breads" ~ there's an original recipe there using 100% sprouted grain. Thanks for your note, Piet! :-D

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Hello! Thanks for your wonderful information. I cannot find the grading of wheatgrass juice, though might guess that it would be like sprouted wheat. However, I do not want to jump to conclusions, so hope to hear from you. It is a growing alternative vitamin and mineral source in Australia, even being sold over the counter for city folk in $3.00 "shots." Best wishes, Jenny

Wheat grass juice is fine for all types! Here's Peter's column on Wheat Grass! enjoy!_

What about turnip greens? Turnips are listed but not turnip greens. What can you tell me about turnip greens? Don

Hi, Don! Can't tell you much; we have no rating for them, but my suspicion is that they are secretly Beneficial for all types. ;-) Like kale, they taste sweeter if picked just after first frost. Here's a lovely leafy page all about greens, for your reading pleasure!

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We have just used the home blood test kits and have found that each of us have different blood types - not suprising for my husband (B positive)and myself (a positive), but also our children. My 13-year old daughter is O positive and my 10-year old son is AB negative. I know that my mother is 0 positive. Is it possible that our blood tests are inaccurate or could you let us know where to get more information about this? Thank you. Valerie

Hi, Valerie! It is absolutely possible that your kids would make up the other two types of your 4-type family!! Here's how it happened. In the following table, Mom's two genes are shown down the left-hand edge, in green. Dad's two genes are shown in purple across the top. The possible blood types of offspring are in the middle, in bold:

 

r />

	AB	AO
	BO	OO

 

You & your husband, as you see, both have a recessive O gene. You two could have kids of any blood type! Sorry you "drew" the other two types rather than A or B, but it certainly makes things interesting, eh? Also, since your Mom was an O, we know your Dad was

either an A or an AB, since you had to get that A gene from him. Your mother had only O genes to contribute, hence you're an AO. I hope this saves you money you might have spent on re-testing... and that it comforts everyone about the mysterious ABO's of those kids! :-D

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Hi, I need to know if Taro which is a vegetable can be eaten by O's. I don't find it anywhere on any of the lists. It is kind of like a potato or a sweet potato or a root type vegetable. Thank you Robin

Hi, Robin ~ Use TYPEbase 3® our in-house searchable database of ABO-food compatibility, if you have questions about food status. I'm afraid that particular item is an avoid for Os and AB nonsecretors. For everyone else, it's a neutral.

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I am blood type A and I realize I cannot have any dairy products. I am confused because yogurt is neutral. Is there a specific kind of yogurt I can have, or am I able to have yogurt with dairy products in it. genevieve

The yogurt in the type A food lists is cow milk yogurt. The neutral status applies to any yogurt made with any animal's milk. Hope this helps!

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Please could you tell me if live yogourt is good for me as I eat a lot of it. My blood type is O but I don't know which secretor I am yet. I cannot find the information anywhere although I have been trying for ages. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR REPLY/ANSWER GREATLY. Many thanks. Linda

Hello, Linda! I'm sorry to say that yogurt is an avoid for all type Os, whether secretors or nonsecretors. Try other cultured foods, such as cultured vegetables, and take a good probiotic (PolyFlora-O is available on our site). The benefits Os seek through eating yogurt for can easily be duplicated with neutral or beneficial cultured foods, and the detriments of dairy can then be avoided.

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Hi! What about these popular green superfood drinks with alfalfa grass, spirulina, chlorella and barley grass, etc. (among other ingredients)? Seems like a good thing, but is it? Thanks, Julie

:-) Yes, at first glance they seem like good things. :-) You didn't mention your blood type, so I can't discuss ingredients or other concerns. Instead, I'll just say that every commercial green drink formulation I've seen contains avoids for at least one type, usually all types. The Harmonia Deluxe product specifically designed for ALL types is the only one I've ever seen that's fine for everyone. It's available in the Store at this site. Another thing in its favor... it tastes wonderful! :-D

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That's it for another round of potpourri... keep those lovely messages coming in! thank you, everyone!

Heidi, I am a type O with hypothyroidism. I am doing my best to follow the diet, but with a type AB husband it gets tough, and I admit that I am not as vigilant as I could be. One problem I face is timing my medications and supplements. First thing in the morning, I take my thyroid medication on an empty stomach, and wait at least an hour to eat. I also take a multivitamin, calcium, iron, fucus, l-tyrosine, and for allergies, claritin. I want to get the most out of each of these, butI know that some are better on an empty stomach and some with food, and perhaps even best taken during different parts of the day. Therefore, I am having the darndest time trying to schedule my supplementation. I was hoping you might be more familiar with this, and give me some guidelines. I appreciate any help you can give me. Devoted Reader, Lois



Hey there, Lois ~ On all the supplements, the best thing I can offer is to follow the instructions on the bottles. Formulations of multis vary, so the label should let you know whether that particular one should be taken away from food or with food -- and whether the dosage is such that you'll take several caps per day or only one. Calcium is usually best taken with a meal, but check the label of your product. Tyrosine can be taken with food, but depending on the reason you're taking it, another time of day could be better... write back and tell me more? The others should have specific directions, so I'd figure out the number of each I need to take, whether I'd take them before, during, or after eating, or between meals, and make up a chart to stick on the fridge. Wish I could do more for you there, dear, but with a magnifying glass for the tiny print on some of those labels (>:-E), I'm sure you'll succeed in setting up a doable supp schedule. Let me know how you work this out! :-D

HEY! THIS JUST IN: Jane, who has experience in these matters, wrote: "Her endocrinologist or pharmacist should have told her to be careful when she takes calcium if she's taking thyroid meds. Ideally you shouldn't take calcium for 4 hours after taking the thyroid meds. It interferes with the update of the thyroid drugs. I take my thyroid pill first thing in the morning, an hour before eating." Thanks so much for writing in to help us along on this subject, Jane! Much appreciated! :-D

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Heidi, How much soy milk would be equivalent to a serving portion of beans and legumes? Don



Hmmm... tricky question! It's not a direct proportion. Plain mature cooked soy beans contain roughly 8 times as much protein as plain, unfortified soy milk ~ but 50 times as much calcium. The dilution necessary to make a milk-like consistency plays a role here, but the water solubility of the various elements in the bean is what makes it impossible to multiply the soy milk quantity by a number to get the bean's nutritional equivalent. Single aminos, fats, each has its own particular solubility to factor in. And if we begin comparing soy milk to other beans, we will have different proportions altogether. So... soy milk's nutrition-to-portion concentration is not nearly as high as the whole, cooked beans ~ somewhere between 1/6th and 1/10th the potency. Still, it's a great cows' milk replacement for you O secretors. ;-)

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Heidi, For O type, all but apple cider vinegar is an avoid, but what about a tablespoon of balsamic or red wine vinegar used in a marinate for meats? Is the amount small enough, and does most of it burn off in cooking? Thanks! Amber



Hi, Amber! A tablespoon in a cup of marinade probably won't trouble you much, as long as you don't end up eating the cooked marinade as a sauce. The acid does remain, but it should be well diluted by the time your steak hits the plate. :-D

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Dear Heidi, Which is the safest oil for cooking with? At the moment I use ghee but many of the recipes in CR4YT include olive oil. And other people say you mustn't heat olive oil and it's better to use rapeseed oil. Take care, Olympia.



Hello, Olympia! Many highly-intelligent Italian chefs cook almost exclusively in extra-virgin olive oil, including deep-frying, without burning the oil. That said, a little water or broth added to a stir-fry or sear using olive oil will keep the temperature a bit lower. If the oil is fresh and not smoking in the pan, it hasn't reached its breakdown stage. Personally, I never use rapeseed (canola) oil -- for high-heat applications such as curing my iron pans, I use grapeseed or rice bran oil, both of which have very high smoke points. The caveat with these two is the near-impossibility of finding organic versions. All told, I'd say you're best off doing your daily cooking with organic extra-virgin olive oil! :-D

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I recently bought the Blood Type Encyclopedia as I wanted to improve my health and was very puzzled to read the section on Lectins, specifically Page 348 (Group O-specific lectins). As a group O I am now supposed to avoid, among other foods, WALNUTS. I thought these were beneficial and have made an effort to eat them. Are these harmful for me? The same thing for BLUEBERRIES and BANANAS and PAPAYAS. The first two are supposed to be beneficial so why are they avoids for Type O RH-positives. This is the opposite of what is listed elsewhere. We pick blueberries in the wild and I eat a lot of them. Should I now avoid them? As an O non-secretor my list of favourite foods is getting shortened even more. Help! Sharon



I am striving to stay on the type O diet but have run into a contradiction in BTD. On pages 521-522--black walnuts and english walnuts are listed as highly beneficial. However, on page 348 it says type O's should avoid walnuts. then on page 545 it says walnut oil is neutral for type O's. I love the results I have received form following the type O diet and I don't want to eat something I should avoid. Thanks, Janet



Hi there, ladies! The answer is right here! :-)

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Hi, I am a female type O and 40 years old. However, I have sufferred from Adult acne for many years..... a small amount, but enough to be irritating. I have only just ordered my secretor test kit so I am unable to tell you my category in this regard. I am following the diet recommendations contained in your BTD, but would like to know if there are any specific No-Nos that I should pay particular regard to in order to reduce the skin problems I have and/or should I take any supplements to my diet. Many thanks, Audre



Hello, Audre! Right now, the best thing you can do is follow your plan to a T. The worst no-nos would be corn in all its forms, bad oils (including fried foods, as well as oils in processed foods), milk & cheese, and any amount of wheat in any form. However, be sure to get a tablespoon of fresh extra virgin olive or (better) flax oil every day, as it is essential for healing your skin and balancing your entire system. Supplements? Aside from PolyFlora-O (the probiotic) to get your digestion in order, I'd say the best supplement is strenuous exercise, at least every other day. Really work up a sweat! It directly cleanses your skin, but what you can't see is what it does to work the liver (thereby processing hormones and fats more effectively) and clear the bowels (eliminating sluggishness and its ensuing toxicity), which is where acne most often originates. Try to find the absolutely freshest fruits and vegetables you can get ~ you need their elemental sulphur component.



I expect you'll see improvements within a week or two! Please keep me posted, OK? :-D

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Hi Heidi, I recently purchased the book "eat right 4 your type" as it is so highly reccommended here in South Africa. I am 35 and type O positive. I suffer from Gout, and get bad attacks about 3 times a year and light attacks (very mild) about once every two months. I am not over weight, I do not drink, and I eat mostly white meat like fish, chicken, pork, and red meat about twice to three times a week. Now I read that I need to eat more red meat for my type, and fruit I was told to stay away from.... I am confused, and hopping you can help! My daily eating habbits are as follows: Breakfast: kellogs rice crispies/ cornflaks with milk 10h00: toasted bacon and egg or ham and cheese sandwich. Lunch: Chicken mayonaise roll Dinner: Fish or chicken or beef with brown rice cooked carotts, peas, beatroot (always with vegies not always the same) 21h00: snack Kellogs rice crispies with milk. Please help me to eat correctly according to the book for my type O and the gout issue. Ps My gout is apparently hereditary. Daniel



Hi, Daniel! Pork is an avoid, but most meat, fowl and fish items are fine for type Os. No need to stay away from fruit. In fact, a couple of tablespoons of black cherry juice taken every day is a wonderful therapy for gout! The troublesome things I see in your diet right now are: the rice crispies and cornflakes, the milk, the bread, the cheese, the bacon and the ham. Gout, like so many other health conditions, is often seen as hereditary merely because it follows along the "traditional diet lines" from one generation to the next. People tend to eat the foods they learned to eat in their families -- thus, they tend to develop the health problems their parents had from eating an unhealthy diet.

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Hello Heidi, I'm an o-non. I'm having difficulty finding some of the recommended foods, even though I'm in the NJ/ NY area. I want to enjoy as many of the recommended food as possible! Walnuts. I can only seem to find black walnuts, not english walnuts. Where can I get organic green tea in bulk? The only stuff I've found is $44 dollars a pound! is this a fair price? Where can I buy some of the fish? I would love to try some of them, but they're never in the stores. Sturgeon, yellowtail, pike, fresh herring, I never see these available. And squab, partridge, sweetbreads? Can you recommend an online source, vendors or stores in the NY area? Is dried fruit ok? or is it too high in sugars. I've found nice organic mangos, pineapple, etc . but I'm not sure how much of it to have... many thanks! I love this diet. emme



Hey, Emme! Shopping troubles, eh? I live in Manhattan, so it's the old story that you can get anything here, for a (high enough) price. I'd say $44 for a pound of organic green tea is pretty reasonable. A pound is a LOT of tea! I haven't bought it in bulk around here recently, but Mr. Itaru's green tea & brown rice combo comes in 200 gram packages - about 7 ounces in weight - and it takes me weeks to get through one of those. It would cost far more than $44 the pound. Have you tried Angelica's? in the East Village? I'd give them a call, just to check.



English walnuts are the commonest kind -- pale, with pale, smooth, rigid shells -- and they're everywhere ~ black walnuts come in deep black, nearly impenetrable shells. Are you sure you've found black walnuts in plenty? if so, please let me know where you found them -- shelled, of course! ;-) They're both beneficial, but the black ones are REALLY tasty!



For the fish: it's a toughie. Do you have a local fishmonger (who speaks English)? (No cultural slams intended here folks, believe me! where emme & I live, it is the norm that business owners may have only a rudimentary grasp of English, and not because they speak Italian, French, German, Spanish, Irish Gaelic or Indonesian (all of which I could muddle through on) -- rather, it's usually one of the many Asian languages AND I HAVE NO MAINLAND ASIAN LANGUAGES, dang it!!) *phew*! thanks for listening!! I mean, you should have heard me trying to describe the difference between wild salmon and farm-raised to MY nearby fishmonger. Pretty funny, now that I look back on it. Oh lordy. I still don't even know where they're from, they won't tell me. Probably illegal, OH, never mind. Even my Bangladeshi is better than my North Korean, OK? It's a problem. *sigh.* My problem, I suppose. ;-}



Back to the point: SEARCH your nabe for a good fishmonger with whom it is possible to converse. Tell him or her your needs. See if they will bring in some fresh herring for you. Pike might be more difficult, but read on. For my rarer-than-salmon needs, I high-tail it to Grand Street & Elizabeth and choose between the many spectacular Asian fish markets in that neighborhood. Not much conversation needed -- they know the price and the English name of the fish (which is good, since the signs are all in Chinese or Korean) and that's all you need. And boy, have they got the goods, at rock-bottom prices. Huge selection. Check 'em out. They've got everything! along with things you've never heard of. OR, go straight to the Fishmarket, where all the retailers buy on a daily basis. It's a bit overwhelming, it requires being there at around 4 in the morning, and it's in the Bronx at the moment, but with persistence (and a car) you can make the trip often enough to forge relationships with the fishermen of your choice.



Next thing you need is a great local butcher, which is a commoner item in the neighborhoods than a dependable fishmonger. If your butcher has contacts with organic producers (which is almost the norm these days), it's a snap to get acceptable sweetbreads. Thymus, pancreas, either one will do. Seasonal game birds in our area are available frozen much of the year, through the wild game provisioner D'Artagnan. Alternately, call Ottomanelli's in the Village, on Bleecker Street. Ask them what fresh birds they have coming in. Get 'em in season. Yes, there's also Balducci's and Dean & DeLuca, and the Chelsea food markets, but Ottomanelli's is a small shop with a full crew of smart family members who have about 200 years of butchering experience between them. Their prices are not cheap, but neither do they approach the lofty heights of Balducci's ~ besides, they pay attention to you and what you want & need. And they're really sweet guys! ;-)



Dried fruit is absolutely fine, but scrutinize the ingredients and check out the producer. Make SURE it's organic, it's unsulphured, and it's unsweetened. If the label is unforthcoming and the produce manager goes blank about it, don't risk it.



OK! I've blabbered a bit over the time limit, even for me! but I hope it's of use to folks in the NY/NJ area ~ there are certainly a lot of us! take care, emme, and good hunting!! :-D

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I am a blood type O and have found that Indian Food causes me extreme fatigue. My Indian meal choice is always exactly the same: Saag Paneer (Spinach with Goat Cheese), Shrimp Curry and Rice. I indulge myself in this--my favorite meal--at least twice a month, and each time it takes me at least 3 days to get back to my normal level of energy. Any idea what could be causing this extreme fatigue? Dee



What's causing it? those Indian meals! ;-> guess you've found that out already. ;-D If you're asking if I can pin down the exact ingredients doing the harm, well ~ highly unlikely, as I've learned through long trials! but I'll take a stab at it. In Saag Paneer, could be the oil they use, or the spices, but I plump for the oil. Same with the curry. Ask if they use ghee, or oil -- and if so, what kind? Hey! It could be the goat cheese... you might not do well with cheeses. Do you know your secretor status?



When you have your meal, do you eat the papadam, the dal, the raita, the chutneys... maybe some Indian beer... see where I'm going with this? Just as an exercise, let's take the chickpeas in the papadam, the beans (other than lentils) in the dal, the cucumber & yogurt in the raita, and the sugar in the chutney... if you're a nonsecretor, this combination would fair hammer you. If it's lentil in the dal, even a secretor might take a beating.



I was a huge fan of Indian food, but I've had to phase it out of my diet for the most part. To isolate the exact culprits in my beloved dishes, from aloo paratha to shrimp saag to anything-vindaloo, (other than wheat & potatoes -- that's a given) was a full-time job, so if the option arises now, I stick to tandoori. I still dream of one restaurant's lemon chutney and pickled mangoes. But without the poori or chapati or nan and rice and papadam and raita... and that magnificent smoky Golden Eagle beer... the thrill is kinda gone. ;-} Dee, I've little comfort to offer in this area, for which I apologize! but it seems you're body is telling you more than anything specific I could explain for you. Follow that advice, you won't regret it... much! ;-D

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With sheep milk readily available I make my own cottage cheese from it. The process leaves me with whey when I separate the curds. I take it that this whey product which is not a powder is OK for O's as it is for A's? There are some wonderful soup recipes using this pure whey. Regards - Kasia



Greetings, Kasia! The whey is the part that is Not OK for Os ~ it's an avoid. The whey powders are worse, as they are concentrated whey. But fresh whey is the thing that cheeses don't have, which makes some cheeses OK for you. Hope this helps, dear! :-D

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Hello and thanks so much for all the wonderful information you provide. I am a rebellious O+ (took 2 years to "really" give up the wheat)but for the most part I really love the foods that are particularly for me. In the last 2 years, I believe being on the diet has eliminated many alergeric reactions I used to suffer. Aches and pains, yucky sinus problems, breathing difficulties and edema. BUT, one of the things that I have been eating is goat cheese and goat milk on a fairly regular basis, I am Danish and no cheese or cream at all was "too severe" , that rebel again. A few days ago in reading my Live Right book I noticed that goat cheese is neutral while goat milk is an avoid. Help, why would these 2 items fall in different categories. Thanks again for your column. I look forward to hearing from you, Dianne



Hey there, Dianne! Even we rebels come round when it's worth it, eh? :-) The difference between cheese and milk is, in a word, "whey." Milk's got it, cheese hasn't. Thus, goat cheese is neutral and the milk is to be avoided.



You're doing a marvelous job of steering your exuberant nature toward a healthy plan ~ enjoy it, and write again! :-D

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