Hi, enjoying reading your articles. Feeling is like sunshine in summer. Here in Hong Kong I came across a teabag last night. It is called Gymnema Plus,. made in Singapore, for Diabetes (II) and overweight person. Contains Gymnema Sylvestre and Green Tea. Their leaflet mentioned that "Gymnema Sylvestre is a famous Ayurvedic herb that has been safely used in India for more than 2000 years and has been widely use in America and Japan." If Dr. Dadamo is testing new products, is it possible to include this one as well? As he is not accepting new question now, I send it for your consideration. Thank you very much. You have been doing a marvellous job.. I am addicted to the Website. Lily A+ Overweight (weak kidney meridian according to Chinese doctor.)



Good morning, Lily! Gymnema Silvestis, or Sylvestre, is a very interesting plant, indeed. It's been used for many years in complementary medicine and plant-based supplements. We have no rating for it, but the studies I've read reported no side effects for anyone ~ a good sign! Its most significant actions are to rejuvenate the pancreas and liver, and I know of no reason why you shouldn't use it! That said, it would work best if you avoid refined sugar of all kinds. You are very kind, dear, and I hope your healing proceeds smoothly and swiftly! :-)

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I have rcently been diagnosed with CLL type leukemia. Is there any of your diet related information for my blood type A that I can begin to follow to stop the progression of the over formation of the white blood cells? I am not anemic, and have no other symptoms of the leukemia other than a high whilte blood cell count. I ate too much red meat until I was diagnosed and am trying to follow your diet. Susan



Susan, the best approach I can recommend is to use the lifestyle guidelines in Live Right 4 Your Type and the supplement protocols in the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia. I am certain you will see good progress if you adhere to the diet, exercise and protocol regimen. Also, look into finding out your secretor status, either through the saliva secretor test available here, or by getting your Lewis type through your diagnostic laboratory. For quick reference, Le a-b+ is the secretor type; Le a+b- is the nonsecretor type; Le a-b- is "double negative," in which case the nonsecretor diet should be used. Let me know if I can be of further help, and please accept my heartfelt good wishes to you in your healing!

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My blood type is A. I am allergic to all fish but can eat shell fish. All the shell fish were on the avoid list. Between Lobster, crabs and shrimp which is a better choice? Since I cannot eat fish, not being able to eat any seafood greatly limits my choices. Mariannette



Whooo... bummer, eh? If I were you, I'd get my secretor status ASAP ~~ mussels and scallops are neutral for A-nons. :-) And keep the faith: after a few months on the diet, you may find that your fish allergy diminishes. This kind of development is common among long-term BTD'ers. Between lobster, crab and shrimp, which is best? *sigh.* SNAILS. Talk to your fishmonger about getting a discount on a weekly supply. I'm not worried about your protein intake, since the world of beans and many kinds of fowl are available to you. Make beneficial oils your priority as well, and have some of that ground flaxseed in water concoction I'm always recommending. Keep me posted, OK? I'd like to hear how this turns out for you!

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Hi Heidi! Commenting on the letter about people who are conditioned to eat too much, i.e. protein. Not at all to disagree because I see some of that too, but to add an additional observation...I've noticed people who have trained themselves to get by on just barely enough protein to survive. I see it especially in women; I think it may be something cultural. For example, the women who diet by eating just salads mostly -- and the women at my office who would eat a bagel & carrot for breakfast and popcorn for lunch. It is a pattern of conditioned deprivation, and it seems common in women who've dieted a lot, and also among the women I know who don't make enough money to live in abundance. Happy new year! In my old herb garden, I also had wormwood & moonflowers, but no blue roses. (o:Maia



Excellent point, Maia ~ I, too have seen this practice among a great many women. It is also supported by that lingering popular distrust of protein and fat, and of course the breads, microwave popcorn and common vegetables are cheaper and handier than more hearty fare. One of my office mates was a woman who would get through the day on a coffee & a one-dollar piece of pizza (even when pregnant), yet she spent thousands in a year on wedding/shower/birthday (etc.) gifts as part of her "social obligations." I'm sure culture plays a part ~ in ways usually incomprehensible to me....



Not only blue roses (china petals, and a faint "raspberry" rose scent), but green ones (ruffled, unscented) and black ones (velvet) as well! Ah, to be a teenager again! :-D A very happy New Year to you as well, my dear! :-)

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Hi, I asked a question and realized later that I may have offered insufficient background for you to answer the question. My question is about the use of carbohydrates for Os during long periods of exercise. The conventional wisdom, of course, is to eat a grain-intensive diet, and bring along similar food stuffs (in the form of power bars, fructose based goos etc.) during long periods of exertion such as long runs, bike rides or multi-sport events. Given that Os and, indeed, other blood types often do poorly on carbohydrates, I was wondering if an exception should be made for periods of exertion. That is, does the liver require extra glycogen for efforts over 60 minutes or should a meat and vegetable diet provide a sufficient carbohydrate source for muscles? Thanks in advance for this clarification. nadine

Hi, Nadine! For performance athletes in long-distance events especially, our general guidelines must be customized by the individual. Even so, going back toward a grain-intensive diet and/or regular use of processed sugar drinks will not get you to the top of your form. Test a few things to determine your best training regimen. How about a hydrating drink made of prune, pineapple, blueberry or black cherry juice and mineral water? Or carrot/celery/spinach/beet juice? A biking enthusiast friend of mine pops walnut butter balls dipped in ground flaxseed and chocolate, then frozen. You can do a mini-carb loading routine with the starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, butternut or acorn squash, and/or parsnips. Have a full serving of steamed whole grain from the neutral list three times per week IF you find you do better with it than without it.

In many ways, your situation has unexpected commonalities with that of people with health problems, in that you are living in a "state of challenge." Your sports require that extra boost of protein in the healing phase after exertion, so an added serving or two per week of beneficial flesh foods is worth consideration. And, a deep-stress-relief practice such as meditation has shown significant results in improving athletic performance due to its many healing and energy-enhancing properties.

Enjoy your wonderful sporting life, Nadine, and whiz by here again when you get the chance! :-D

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I love the new question and answer columns. I was spending WAY too much time reading all those messages on the old but beloved message board. I even have time to do my type O exercise program now. My question concerns type O's and hormone replacement therapy. I had been taking Prempro for 8 years. With the latest reports being so negative, I went to my doctor and he agreed with me it was time to get off of it. I am 59 years old, I have been on the BTD for nearly 4 years now. He wants me to take them every other day for 2 weeks and then quit comletely; I have one more week to go. When I first started taking HRT my complaints were, dry skin, vaginal dryness, mild depression, hot flashes, and insomnia. Just tapering off of the prempro I am already beginning to experience some of these again. I am wanting to handle this strictly with diet and natural supplements. What do you suggest? Ruth

~:-D Hi, Ruth! Hey, how come you have more time now, but I have less? What's up with that?? ;-D That is great news that you're phasing out the prempro, and I'll reel off a few things that come to mind that should help you with the readjustment. Flaxseed, two tablespoons ground and soaked for 20 minutes in enough water to cover, twice per day. MACA, the ground root: a tablespoon, twice per day. I get mine from the Penn Herb company, along with wild yam in capsules -- two caps, two to three times per day. Several women swear by Rhodiola rosea, at around 400-600 mg per day, and you might become one of them. The Encyclopedia Menopause Support protocol suggests six weeks of the following: chaste berry standardized at 400 mg, horsetail 500 mg, vervain tea, all twice per day, and 10 mg of manganese daily. There are other protocols relating to menopause, including Female Balancing and Metabolic Support, so take a browse through the book.

Now that I've said all that, here's a story: through experimentation, a 64-year-old woman I know has discovered that the only thing that does the trick for her symptoms (identical to the ones you noted) was Cortiguard. Go figure! She really went the rounds of all kinds of pharmaceutical, homeopathic and naturopathic treatments. She's been on the BTD for years. Cortiguard was her savior.

So, try these suggestions singly and give each a couple of weeks to show its mettle. If you're in a hurry for relief (and I wouldn't blame you! ;-}), you can use the entire arsenal for three weeks -- then slowly eliminate one item after another until you find out which one (if it is only one) is actually doing the job. Dear Ruth, I do hope this is helpful to you! Please let me know how it goes!!

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I am a 52 year old 'A', reasonably compliant on the BTD but I suffer from the ugliest varicose veins ever! I have had two operations in the past but not successful. Is there 'something' in the BTD that I'm lacking that results in varicose veins or is there 'something' that I need to add to my eating regime? Yes, I stand a lot during the daytime at work.....can't avoid that! Thanks for your help Angie

:-} Angie, I'm so sorry you're suffering with those veins. It is caused by insufficient vein wall strength, and standing a great deal of the time does make it worse. This is a difficult condition to resolve, but I have some suggestions for you.

1. Can you get some walking at work, and find any time to raise your legs a bit?

2. Support hose may be the last thing you want to deal with, but the real kind with toes left free and progressive pressure (highest at the ankle) can relieve the discomfort and help ease some of the blood pressure on the veins.

3. A combination of horsetail, gotu kola, butcher's broom and collinsonia liquid extracts, ten drops of each taken twice daily, are very helpful for venous flexibility and strength.

4. "Wall sitting." Start by lying on the floor and resting your legs on your bed for a few minutes. Work up to ten minutes over a month or so. At that point, lie on the bed and stretch your legs straight up against the wall, as if you're sitting on the wall with your back on the bed. Again, start with just a minute or two and slowly increase the time until you have them up for 10-15 minutes.

Try these for two months, and I'm sure you'll see an improvement! Let me know, OK? :-)

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I'm type A with polycystic ovaries and the odd symptom of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I'm confused because the Female Balancing Protocol which is recommended for POS suggests using Black Cohosh, which I understand to be highly oestrogenic. Oestrogen dominance is usually a problem for women with polycystic ovaries and so surely adding Black Cohosh will only make things worse. Also, are you meant to follow the whole protocol or is it ok to take only some of the recommended substances? Thankyou, Olympia, UK.

Hello, Olympia! These are protocols Peter uses in his practice with great success. The combinations are designed to work together, but you can certainly use the Female Balancing suggestions without the black cohosh if desired! Thanks for your note!!

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Hi I am B positive. For 7 weeks I have done well on the eating program. My pep is up as is my attitude. However, the weight has not shifted very much - just at the beginning of adding the lecithin/oil in the am and then when i added Magnesium. I am 5'4" 250 - ish. I was using cranberry /whitegrape juice for the elixor and have shifted to cranberry only. Also, I tried 3 different magnesiums to find one that did not have additives that created side effects. Now, I am using the mag caltrate and do have the diarrhea type response so take a day off every 5 or so...any brand suggestions? (1 of the trials had potato starch and mag only but i definitely cannot intake whatever form of potato starch that was!!) Also, I am doing a mild yoga every am and walking about 1 1/2 miles. I am using the B probiotics and herbs, eating lamb as my only meat 1 x/day and a lot of green veggies steamed. I have shifted to low fat dairy. FYI I have definitely have candida - should I be cutting out dairy? Any suggestions about magnesium? And should I be expecting faster results? And are veggies the only acceptable snack? Thankl you!!! Jacie

:-) The diarrhea response means you're getting plenty of magnesium between your supplement and those wonderful green veg. You might want to step down the mag dosage just a bit. I have a feeling, and I might be wrong, that you may not be eating enough. Surprised? :-) We want to send your body the message that there is AMPLE perfect food coming your way, and that it is SAFE to let go of the weight. :-) It sounds wacky, but it works that way with many people. So, check to see if you are eating small meals or snacks whenever you are hungry -- never too much at one meal, and not within three hours before you go to bed.

Would it be possible to add a couple of things? Fish, for one thing, a small serving four times per week. Flaxseed, two tablespoons ground and soaked in some water for 20 minutes, daily. Make your own ghee by heating and clarifying your butter ~ The oils in these foods are fabulous for fat loss, and ghee is an intestinal healer. If you do have a candida overgrowth, the grain part of the diet can be cut down, but there's no need to eliminate dairy! A bit of cheese with fruit is a great snack, by the way. If possible, switch your meat choices around a bit (with turkey, rabbit, venison, beef) to keep your system perky. And you might look into the Harmonia drink mix sold here ~ it's an abundant chlorophyll source, which will speed your candida resolution. I'm sure your weight will normalize on a time frame suited to enhancing your health and keeping the weight off, so no worries about how fast it's going for now. Enjoy the process... you'll never go through it again! ;-D

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I am a B non-secretor. In the new LR4YBT book the section on oils has a typo that makes the subject of oils confusing. It says, "Walnut oil and black currant seed oil are highly beneficial for Type B non-secretors, who have a bit of an edge in breaking down oil over non-secretors." Those two oils are listed as beneficial for non-secretors but the amount of oils recommended weekly for us is less than for secretors, so I'm assuming secretors break down oil better. Clarification would be appreciated. Thankyou, Carol

Hi there, Carol ~ Yes, the text has an error there. Secretors have a higher frequency of oil servings allowed because they do have the edge in breaking it down. Thanks for your reminder! :-)

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In the book Blood Type B it lists Barley as a neutral and an avoid. see pages 26 & 27. It also lists Mozzarella cheese as highly beneefical but lists string cheese as an avoid. String cheese is made from Mozzarella. See pages 16 & 17. I need to know about these two foods,as I like to eat them. Thank You Susie

Here is the July column on string cheese ~ and barley is neutral for everyone except type Os. Sorry for the error, and have a wonderful day, Susie!

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Dear Heidi I am a great fan of Blood group diet, and following it for one year now. (I am a female A. For some stomach pain, after getting rid of H. pylori, I went to a very serious Naturopathic, she tested my blood to get so called: finger print of my Metabolism system, now there is some conflict with my BTD. for example, chiken and black tae are good for me now. My swiss Naturopathic does not deny the BTD. I am very confused now, could you please help me. mahnaz

Hallo, Mahnaz ~ Well, first I would ask her the basis for the changes she wants to make in your diet. I'd want to know what the blood test showed her and how she correlated that result to food reactions. If she suggested that you should not eat certain neutral or beneficial foods for a period of time, I would have no problem with that; often people begin this diet with individual allergies or intolerances that are best dealt with slowly. However, I am never comfortable when a practitioner tells someone they can eat a major avoid, so I'd want significant further information on that, and even then I could not recommend following those instructions! Chicken lectin will do what it is going to do, unless your blood type is actually O or A! so please get back to me, OK? :-)

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hi, i've read some of your stuff, but still don't understand, i'll tell you a little about myself, i'm 39 always been small, for the last couple of years i've gain a lot..been on zoloft for anxiety, i'm exercising a lot..but still can't lose weight, i'm type AB- , PLEASE help and tell me what type of food i should eat and type of food to avoid - ty Claudette

Hi, Claudette ~ Did your weight gain begin after you started the zoloft? Here is a quote from one of approximately 40,000 web pages which discuss weight gain due to zoloft and other SSRIs:

"Weight gain from SSRI usage is more common then you might think. You are not alone with this side effect. If you have gained 20 or more pounds, within a short amount of time, it is being caused by a change in your metabolism. All SSRI's inhibit or slow down your metabolism. They inhibit specific enzymes in your liver that allow your metabolism to function correctly."

If there are foods in your diet which are overstimulating your immune system, they are one cause of your anxiety. Eliminating them can help in that case.

The book Live Right 4 Your Type contains all the information you need to begin an appropriate diet, and explains the kinds of exercise which will help reduce your stress chemical levels. Meditation is a powerful practice which has medical potency in alleviating the conditions you're now taking zoloft for. Please get hold of the book! In the meantime, you can check the foods you customarily eat against the information in the TYPEbase 3 list which is also linked from our main page at www.dadamo.com. I truly hope this helps, and I encourage you to start on this JOYFUL health track ASAP! Take good care, dear!

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I am confused between books. Live Right and Cook Right. Cook right gives sample menus including coffee but my Live right is death on it. Which is correct? Also can AB's have apples. I see cider and juice is neutral but not a mention of apples I also bought the food, beverage and supplement list book and again apples don't seem to be mentioned. I am struggling wiht recipes that will help me make soup and again the cook right book is confusing. Can you give me a link to some recipes for soup for AB's thanks, Patricia

Hey there, Patricia ~ Apples/apple cider/ apple juice are all the same item for purposes of the food values. All neutral for you! Coffee's status changed based on further research, so yes, it is an avoid now. I posted a basic soup recipe for type As in this column -- just substitute turkey for chicken. Once the stock is made, you can add any AB-OK ingredients of your choice! I'm not sure what you found confusing about the Cook Right recipes in general? All recipes, no matter where you find them, should be checked for OK ingredients and adapted as necessary to your blood type list. It's a bother, but well worth it! and we all go through this in process of putting together a stable of recipes that work for our households. I hope this helps, and have a lovely day!! :-)

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I am a blood type B. I know that most soy products are a "no-no," with the exception of soy flour. What about soy protein isolate? I gave all of my soy products away with the exception of several cans of this powdered soy protein, and I'd like to know if I am harming my body by continuing to use it! I am a big fan of soy, so it has taken me a while to adjust to my new diet. I do not eat any meat except for fish. Is this a concern as long as I stick to the fish that is highly beneficial or neutral? Thank you for your help! Lisa



Greetings, Lisa ~ You'll do fine on that fish, although it would make me happier if you had an occasional serving of rabbit, lamb or goat ~ just now and again? a tiny taste? These are animals raised for food and treated well by conscientious producers ~ no need for hormones, antibiotics, etc. ~ and if your personal convictions will allow you to have just a bit on the odd occasion, it would be a valuable and healthful addition. But again, fish is absolutely sufficient, and you should have no trouble at all on a pescatarian diet! :-)



Protein powder... hmmm.... I was going to say, go ahead and use it up, but... several cans? that gallon-sized tub size they usually come in?? ... Well, I wouldn't buy any more of it, and if you can foist upon your friends all but the open can, say, then I'd use it no more than once per week until it's gone. Instead, use a rice or egg protein powder if desired. Yogurt or one of the mild, soft cheeses works great in smoothies, and you darned Bs really benefit from that stuff!! A GOAT CHEESE AND DATE SMOOTHIE, AyAyAhhAAYYY!! {{sigh} - scuse the wailing ~ O-nonsecretor feeling a bit sorry for herself here, LOL!} Walnut, almond, or pecan butter, and soaked ground flaxseed, are great for making smoothies thick and tasty, and nutritional yeast is the perfect finishing touch.



Lisa, I think you're on the right track altogether and you'll keep seeing new benefits as time goes on. Thanks so much for writing!!

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Hi, I'm type B and have been going to a NP doctor who is treating me for colon, liver and reproductive health. He has also placed on a vegetarian diet (no meats or fish, Chicken is definitely out). After reading E4YT I am now wondering if the herbs & supplements he prescribed can counteract with my blood type (appearantly he does not believe in the E4YT method). The supplements are: don quai, black walnut, zinc, astralagus, paba and bio protect. Would you be able to assist me? Thanks -- Gritell



Welcome, Gritell! Well, you've discovered that not all naturopaths use blood-type diet principles. Sad, but true! Personally, I have a difficult time imagining that a type B with your conditions should be advised not to use fish. You certainly need the good fats in fish, along with the recommended oils, nuts and seeds, and an optimal protein intake would speed your healing -- especially of the liver. I would try to get at least three servings of goat, rabbit, venison, or lamb per week; and several servings of beneficial fish. Also, black currant seed oil, a few capsules per day.



You'll have to decide how to proceed in regard to your doctor, of course, but I do suggest that you try to get hold of the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia and follow the specific protocols and food lists therein. Live Right 4 Your Type might be available where you are before the Encyclopedia is, so look for that one, too. For the moment: I have no listing for paba, and bio protect is a product I'm not familiar with (check the ingredients); but the rest of the supplements are good for you.



Good luck, dear! Please let me know how you're doing!!

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I am an A+ just beginning this diet, and it will be tough since I LOVE meat, cheese and pasta! I don't like seafood except shrimp and scallops, which are avoids, and tofu is the most disgusting food item I can imagine... can you recommend a source for comparison of tofu quality & texture, and one or more good sources for tofu recipes I can try that will make it palatable to me? Secondly, I have run across several contradictions in just the first few days that I wonder if you can explain: 1) Why is mayonnaise an avoid when its primary ingredients of eggs & canola oil are not? 2) Why are yogurt, sour cream and mozzarella cheese allowed but cow's milk is not? How does that possibly make sense? 3) Why is some wheat restricted to "consume rarely" and other wheat to "avoid", but Ezekiel bread is allowed and even considered "highly beneficial" when wheat is the first ingredient listed? Thanks! C.



Hi, C. ~ First thing that struck me was the "consume rarely" rating. We only use Beneficial, Neutral and Avoid. Could you drop a note to tell me where you obtained the food list you're using? It's possible yours was compiled by someone other than Peter, so I can't vouch for it. Do take a look at the TYPEbase 3 food values database and review the ratings for the foods you generally eat. Type A secretors need avoid only bran and germ among the wheat parts, so only whole wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ, and any foods containing one or more of them, should be avoided. All other forms/versions of wheat are fine for you, but the best approach is to mix it up a bit: buckwheat one day, oatmeal the next, rye, etc. ~ for a total of one serving per day of grains, maybe two on a couple of days in the week. Ezekiel 4:9 bread made of 100% sprouted ingredients is beneficial due to the sprouting.



I sympathize with your reaction to the new diet, which for you involves some major eating changes. :-} Might be easier to find beneficial and neutral foods you really like, and add them gradually over a month or two until they push the other items to the side. Do take heart in the fact that most of us came straight from the Wrong 4 Our Type camp! yet found a home here through the health-enhancing effects of the diet and our changing tastes. What is good for you will indeed come to appeal far more strongly than your previous choice of foods. Be gentle with yourself as you make the transition, and let time ease you along into it. I say most sincerely that it is the purely finest place to be!!



Next time you're eating out, ask for grilled salmon, red snapper, trout or perch. They are sweeter and less strong-tasting than many fish varieties, and this may help you find a taste for a couple of them. Arctic char is a marvel of delicacy. And don't forget those snails! :-) Instead of tofu, try tempeh ~ perfect chopped into stir-fries, and great sliced thin and sizzled up as a "sandwich meat."



Mayonnaise made from factory-farmed eggs is pretty rough on the digestion. Some varieties contain vinegar, and some contain corn sweetener ~ one major brand puts dextrose only into the half-gallon size. Odd? :-D You can make your own, or get an organic brand. If all the ingredients are OK, there's no reason why you shouldn't use it occasionally. Soured (cultured) milk products give As far less trouble than whole milk ~ and the process whereby mozzarella is made is also key to its digestibility. The A diet is not based on a single idea; it is the result of many years of research, patient use, testing and re-testing, and a number of factors including lectins, digestive sufficiency, polyamine production, cancer prevention, etc., etc. Let me know how you're doing, once you've settled in a bit! :-)

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Hallo I am from South Africa (type A pos). I've written previously regarding the diet and since then been on it for about 1.5 months AND lost 7 kg since which is all the proof I need that it works. I also feel much better. I have a few questions if you don't mind taking the tinme to answer them. 1. Why is smoked salmon, mackerel, chicken not allowed? In the case of salmon, the smoked kind is more freely available. I do avoid it and buy the only other regularly available kind (tinned in water). 2. I saw on your site that there is a new book out - LR4YBT. I understand that it goes into things like the secretor/non secretor status and that some of the food lists differ. Do I need to buy this book and do I need to find out what my secretor status are??? (Let's hope it is available in SA.) 3. Regarding the main meal of the day - I eat soy mince (the dried plain variety) at least once a week, sometimes twice. Is this food allowed? Otherwise I eat salmon (tinned), mackerel (tinned and fresh), chicken twice a week together with the beneficial and some neutral veggies and salads etc. I also eat beans at least once a week which I make into a curry (curry powder is a neutral according to my book). I loose weight and as you can see do not include tofu in my food because it is not so easy to find. What is your comments on these main meal ingredients? I try my best with what I can find easily in the shops. 4. I eat some fat free yoghurt (200 ml) about twice a week - is this within limits (the book mentions that type A's can tolerate some fermented dairy products. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. This diet is wonderful. It's a pity some of my family members is against the diet although my losing weight without starving myself should have convinced them. Eurika



Greetings, Eurika ~ I am so pleased you're losing weight and feeling better!!



1. Smoked foods are discouraged on this diet due to the carcinogenic properties of the smoking materials & process. Once or twice per month is OK, but try to limit them as much as possible, OK?



2. Keep an eye out for LR4YT, I'm sure it will arrive in SA in the not-too-distant future ~ but it seems you're doing just fine on your plan as it is! so getting your secretor status is not essential right now. Check the foods you eat most frequently against the TYPEbase 3 database, and take a look at the Updates Page for further information.



3. Your diet sounds great to me, you are doing fine!! Tofu is not a necessity, either. If you find tempeh, or soybeans (either fresh or canned), or soy flour bread, just feel free to use them ~ but fish, chicken and vegetables are perfectly good for you!



4. Yes, twice per week is a good frequency for yogurt ~ eggs three times per week, and cheese once or twice. :-)



Don't mind what others do or say ~ you're succeeding, and they will see the results along with you! Take care, dear, and prosper in the New Year!! :-D

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Dear Heidi, I enjoy your column and hope you've got an answer to my questions: I'm AB and should avoid black olives, geen ones are neutral. That rule means coloured olives, doesn't ist? And not the ones which blacken on the trees. Is there any chance to get my secretor status checked in Germany? Thanks for you answer and best regards Uschi



Hallo, Uschi! Yes, that's the rule for olives ~ fresh green ones are fine, but the black canned or fermented variety are avoids. You certainly can get a secretor test there in Germany ~ just go to www.stacktheme.com and choose which area's email request address you'd like to use. They will help in a jiffy! Thank you for writing!! :-D

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I'm AB+ type, just starting on the my blood type diet, have lost about 2 kg - approx 3.5lbs in 3 wks. I have been under medication for high blood pressure for about 15 yrs, since 21 yrs old. Is there specific food types that will help in controlling my blood pressure? Thanks Chong



Dear Chong: First, I hope I chose the correct name among the two as your "first name." :-} If not, please forgive me! There is indeed a food that may help you: OATMEAL. Apparently, it is quite effective in lowering blood pressure. See this column and this one for "Phil's Oatmeal Therapy." It is one serving of oatmeal daily ~ after two weeks, you should see a significant drop in blood pressue. Thank you for your note, and let me know how the oatmeal works for you! Best wishes!!

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Heidi, I am an O positive secretor and am researching alternative treatments for menopause other than the traditional HRT. I have been using an estrogen (estradiol) patch for 10 years and would like to get off of it. I have read that flaxseed and soy are both good phytoestrogens. My question--as an O person, we are limited to 3 servings of soy per week. Would it be best to use the flaxseed primarily? Thanks for your input. Sue



Hey there, Sue! There are numerous recommendations under Female Balancing and Menopausal Support protocols in the Encyclopedia. I would go ahead with the flax, but also investigate the herbal/supp suggestions in the protocols. They are a bit too long to type out here, and I hesitate to do so since I'm not sure what if any symptoms you experience. I can suggest getting a good magnesium supplement; coriander extract tincture (7-10 drops, twice daily) and a cup or two of hibiscus tea each day. Do take a peek at the Encyclopedia, if you find you need more than flax to do the trick for you. Keep me posted! :-)

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So I've been following the O diet for quite some time now and have had GREAT success with it. I've had a history of allergies and it turned out that everything I was allergic to, I was also to avoid on the blood type diet. Coincidience? I think not! I've recently had my allergies eliminated with the NAET procedure (www.naet.com) and my quality of life improved 10 fold. However, I was recently diagnosed with haveing a low pH level (5.0) this actually kinda makes sense due to the fact that I was eating meat well over 7 times a week (whereas the book says O's should eat it only 4-6 times/week for Caucasians). Another issue was my mineral deficiency. Again, heavy workouts without enough mineral intake is probably the problem. It turned out I was even allergic to copper! My allergy specialist performs NAET and so I had my allergy to copper eliminated and I am now taking a mineral enzyme mix. She also did the urine sample that showed my low pH level and she recommended this site (www.alkalizeforhealth.net) which has many good tips on restoring alkaline levels. One thing that shocked me was that they mentioned that soy milk inhibited certain minerals such as calcium and potassium from being properly absorbed. This is freaky because I drink soy milk almost every day in the form of a smoothie. The eat right for your type book on the other hand says soy is a good alternative and can be consumed without problems. SO...there is a conflict of intrest here! Any idea as to which way I should go? Do I stop my soy intake or simply bring it down a notch? Also, as for restoring my alkaline levels, I've decided to drop meat consumption to 4x week and up my greens intake to double what they used to be (which is quite a bit!) Your thoughts would be VERY well appreciated. thanks Fred



Hi, Fred ~ If you're an O secretor, one to three times per week is the total frequency for the bean category -- of which soy is part. If you're a nonsecretor, it's zero to three... and soy is an avoid. For any O, and especially someone who does heavy workouts, I wouldn't drop lower than 6 servings weekly from the meat category (which includes poultry!); but don't forget that those fishies want in, too, to the tune of 3-5 times per week. More fish, two servings of poultry, and six servings of red meat would work beautifully with your resolution to stuff in the greens! :-> Use some rice or almond milk in that smoothie (watch for avoids, natch, or make it at home). I think you're in beautiful shape, dear, so keep that warrior spirit and send a carrier pigeon along with the latest news when you get the chance! ~:-D

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i've been reading the 4 books available on the blood diet from dr. d'adamo and my husband and i began the diet monday.....through our reading and then looking at information on his website it sounds like my type a blood and the recommended diet is resistant to losing weight. this is one of the major reasons i wanted to try the diet. am i missing something? or is this really the way it is for my blood type.....is there anything to do to help increase my weight loss...or am i to just to get used to carrying all my extra pounds.... sincerely, brenda

Hi, Brenda! It is definitely the diet for you, the best one for health and the weight loss that is a beneficial side effect of a diet that works on many levels. Some As do have a longer wait for the fat loss to occur, but that goes for some people of any blood type. You may or may not see weight loss right away, depending on your general health right now, but it WILL HAPPEN, and you will never have to “diet” again. The A plan is health-enhancing in so many ways, weight loss being only one of them. Take a look at Peter's Getting Started page... Remember that yoga is an integral part of re-tuning your metabolism ~ and keep me posted on your progress! Thanks for writing! :-)

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I am a type A, 15 years old and I used struggled with migraines.Although they have cleared up Ihave been getting cramp in my legs,I am losing weight which is great but I have no idea what recipes I can cook!! I HATE tofu and I love quorn(meat substitute),am I allowed to ear Quorn? it is made of mushrooms. I think I have a deficiency in calcium, zinc and vitamin C what supplemments do you suggest? I gave up drinking milk(for the calcium) 5 years ago because my sinuses were always blocked up,I live on soya milk and pineapple juice.I do excercise every day usually belly dancing for one hour followed by one hour fast dancing,what could I do to speed up my weight loss? so far I have lost 5 pounds in 2 weeks. many thanks Hanna

Hanna, five pounds in two weeks is great! HEY! Congratulations!! Just keep at it! And the disappearance of the migraines is wonderful news. I hope that was just a turn of phrase when you said you’re living on two food items… but if that’s really the case, I’m not surprised you have some mineral deficiencies. There are about 200 foods available to you to choose from. Take another look at your food list, especially the greens part of the vegetable category. Almonds are a good calcium source, as is your soy milk -- and why not try tempeh instead of tofu? Simple recipes can be made up from just a few ingredients – for instance, a stir fry with tempeh chunks, onions, garlic, and diced squash. What about fish? Chicken? Turkey? There are lots of foods on the A diet you didn’t mention, and they can make great quick meals. Take a look at the main page here and investigate the RECIbase link. Vitamin C is abundant in fruits and vegetables! Zinc is plentiful in pumpkin seeds! If there is one supplement I’d recommend, it would be the Phytocal-A calcium supp sold here ~~ Two hours of exercise a day may be raising your cortisol levels rather than lowering them – would you consider doing an hour of yoga instead of the fast dancing? Helps with weight loss more than the frenetic activity, for As! :-) About quorn… please see below, and let me know how your progress goes, dear!

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Dear Peter d'Adamo, A friend of mine who's name is Ann H. is an 'applied kinesiologist'. Through your recommendations about a diet adapted to one person's blood-group she already helped a lot of people . Often spectacular results were attained in many cases, for all different kinds of blood-groups and she wants to express her gratitude to you by means of this mail. To clarify some uncertainties she has a number of questions on which you have probably a proper answer: 1) do you mean by 'yellow, red and green peppers' the big variaty (more or less round shaped about 5 to 10cm diameter) which do not taste spicy and are eaten as vegetables? 2) there is also a small variaty, I think you call it 'chilli-peppers' (finger shaped about 1cm diameter), which are added to other food as a spice and which are quite spicy. The question is can these be consumed by a blood-group A, and if not which spicy spices are allowed? 3) for vegetarians there is a certain food called 'quorn' that is supposed to replace meat. It is rather tasteless and has a pale colour. It is derived from a plant which belongs to the species of mushrooms. Is this suitable for the blood-group A? 4) is lime juice suited for the blood-group A diet? We would appreciate if find some time to answer these questions and many thanks for sharing your knowledge by means of your book. Kind regards, Ann H. and Eddy M.

Hi, Eddy ~ All peppers of whatever size, color or spiciness are avoids for type A secretors (with the exception of the elusive “pimiento,”) and neutrals for A nonsecretors. Lime juice? Neutral, like limes! Any other questions about food status can be answered by visiting the TYPEbase 3 database~ any item not found there is unlisted, therefore “neutral” for people in good health. Hottish-tasting spices for As include mustard, cumin, hot paprika, and horseradish of all kinds... including the tear-inducing japanese wasabe. It's a different cuisine without the nightshades, I know ~ but it is a very satisfying one, once the transition is accomplished and new habits formed. :-}

Quorn is a commercially manufactured substance, one which is entirely new to the human digestive system and which has a significant record of stimulating allergic response. It is not made from mushrooms, nor any other plant. Rather, it is created by propagating a fungus present in soil in a glucose medium, and forming the resultant goo into edible-looking products. Its manufacturers in Europe have received a government edict to stop advertising it as a mushroom derivative, and health warnings have been issued in several quarters. It has only recently been marketed in North America, and until its safety and some idea of its nutritional value, if any, have been established, I strongly suggest eating real food instead. :->

Many thanks for your kind commendations, and I’m very happy Peter’s work has benefited Ann’s clients! Happy New Year to you, my friends!!

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Eight years ago I was blood type A then I underwent a bone marrow transplant and now I am blood type O I am a vegetarian and rely on echinacea throughout the winter to combat colds and chest infections that I am prone to. Which diet type should I follow? Many thanks Deb

Greetings, Deb! You should follow the diet for your original blood type -- in this case, type A. The blood type alteration occurring as a result of bone marrow transplant is a "pseudo" change, and does not affect your choice of diet 4 your type. :-) ... and... may I suggest a combination of quercetin, PolyFlora-A and ARA6 to boost your immune system? ProBerry3, in liquid (tasty!) or capsules, is also a potent winter illness buster. :-D

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I have been on the diet 9 months now and am doing really well. I am an A and the diet has cured my digestive and conspitation problems like nothing else ever did in the past. I really love the vegeterian foods. My son is smoking his own salmon using his own wood which is from gum trees. Would this be okay for me to eat as nothing else is added to it. Rosemary



:-D I'm happy you're happy, Rosemary! :-D I usually recommend that As and ABs avoid smoked food, but a once- or twice-a-month serving of home-smoked fish shouldn't do you any harm. Enjoy! and thanks for your report! :-D

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Hello, I have several questions re information in the book Eat Right for Your Blood Type. My husband & I both are type A --we live in France. Is there another name for aduki beans? Cannot find it in the dicitonary nor in the health food stores. Black-eyed beans: is it the same as black-eyed peas? Broad beans appear in both neutral (beans...) and avoid (vegetables...). Please explain. Durum wheat bread appears in both avoid (breads...) and neutral (grains...). Please explain. Gluten-free appears in neutral (breads...) & gluten appears in neutral (grains...) very confusing. Please clarify. Cabbage appears in avoid (vegetables...) & cabbage juice appears in neutral (juices...) Please clarify. Also: Why is coconut in avoid (fruit...)? I've been eating fresh (only) coconut, is this adverse to Type A's in the long run? I'm quite impressed with Dr D'Adamo's research--my husband & I started following this diet 2 days ago. If it works for us, we will complete the form at the end of the book. Thank you very much. Thandiwe & Joël

Hmmm... aduki beans in France. Well, other names are adzuki and azuki, sometimes spelled aduke, adzuke or azuke. Here is a site with descriptions & pictures. They're really little beans, as small as .5 cm across. Eden brand has carried aduki beans, both dry and canned, for years. Can you find that brand in France? Black-eyed peas & black-eyed beans are the same thing. The broad bean problem was resolved in Live Right 4 Your Type -- use TYPEbase3 to check the updated status of individual foods -- and remember to use the "search" button there rather than your keyboard "enter" key. Breads and flours have been much expanded and simplified in the later works, as well. Cabbage juice has rather different properties from the whole vegetable, hence that rating. Coconut is an avoid for As because of its lectin activity -- you'll see that note in TYPEbase3 as well. I hope the diets do all you are seeking, and more! Thanks for writing!! :-D

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I have been following the A diet for about a year with certain definite results such as much less mucus. Two questions: In our family we also a type O. I want to prepare Pinto beans but I am confused because "Cook Right" says Pinto beans highly beneficial for type O (page 82) but "Live Right" says avoid (page 145) I have been eating Cape Whiting fish but got a shock when I found out it is also known as hake (Merluccius Capensis). Can I eat this fish? Oscar

Hi, Oscar! Live Right has the correct rating, and the Updates Page has more information on food status changes. I'm sorry for the eternal fish confusion... While I would wish that we had the resources to specify exact food names for every nationality on earth, it would be an impossible task given the local and regional differences and the changing market names ... particularly among those fishies!!

Now for the good news: your Cape Whiting is what we would call Whiting (a market name, in other words -- one of the local names is "cape hake"). :-) Our "hake" is Urophycis tenuis, a totally different fish. So eat your Cape Whiting in confidence and good health! ~:-D

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I have started reading Eat Right For Your Type book. I am Indian with type O. We, Indians, make Daal made from Beans called (Tuver Daal). I did not find it listed anywhere in the book. Do you know whether it is Beneficial or not for type O? thanks ~ nalin



Hello, nalin! Various sources give tuver dal (also "toor dal") the meaning of: yellow split pea, yellow lentil, red lentil, or red gram. Most sources list it as either yellow split pea or red lentil. Between the common meanings used in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and the various possibilities of what any single food might be, I am at a bit of a loss to advise you! :-} I will say that if by 'tuver dal' you mean yellow split pea, we have no rating for that food. Although its Latin name is pisum sativum (shared by the green garden pea and the snow pea (young pod)), it grows, looks and tastes quite different from those neutral-rated foods.



Click here for a great color photograph of the tiny yellow split pea among other well-known members of the Fabaceae family.



The shared Latin name is not at all unusual among various sets of the millions of beans, legumes & pulses! So, technically it is an "unknown," and may be considered neutral for you if you have no health complaints and do not wish to gain or lose weight. If it is a lentil, it is an avoid for type O secretors and a neutral for type O nonsecretors.



Thank you so much for your question ~ I learned quite a few Indian food names and recipes while I was at it! :-D

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Dear Heidi. Thanks for your column. It seems to me that the chicken soup for A's of 7. October 2002 that you adapted for AB's on 27. December 2002 would be very useful as a "helping hand" from the freezer on busy days, of which I have lots and lots. I would be most grateful for your help with a version of the recipe for an O+ non secretor. Thanks. Nina



Hi, Nina! That recipe needs no adaptation for types O or A, whether nonsecretor or secreti-fied ~ it's quite wonderful for us, too. We O-nons do have many more choices than A secretors as to the item being roasted, but we can either choose a single bird, mammal or fish, or save bones from roasts of all kinds in the freezer until the requisite quantity has accumulated. Personally, that is my preference. If we've cooked up a huge turkey, that carcase drops into the stockpot on its own, but often I end up using frozen leftover bones from roasted lamb, beef, buffalo, venison, rabbit, chicken, etc. all stuffed into my 16-quarter. Many national cuisines have their classic stock recipes, such as the plain chicken "brodo" of Italy (one of many), or the beef/lamb/veal broth beloved in parts of France, or England's venison "game stock." So take a free hand with it all. If you have a trusted butcher near you, you can always arrange to get bones (from clean animals) on a weekly basis and roast them alongside other meats to beef up your store. Have him cut them up into four- or five-inch pieces for easier handling! Same goes for your fishmonger: arrange with them to pick up selected (non-oily) OK fish bones on a regular basis, which can be put right on the boil without prior cooking.



The only general tips to remember about making broth: *no crucifers* (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts), no dark leaf greens. No turnips or okra -- or beans or grain or dairy! If you haven't got roasted veg to go in, just put your bones in the water and add a whole chopped onion, a few stalks of celery chopped, and a couple of carrots cut in half, and anywhere from six to a dozen whole cloves of garlic. Pinch or two of sea salt per gallon. If you'd like a bit of herbiness, tie up a few bay leaves, with any fresh herbs you have on hand such as a sprig of oregano, thyme, basil, and a bunch of fresh parsley, in two layers of cheesecloth, and drop that in as well.



The ideal cooking time for big, heavy mammal bones is longer than for small fowl like the little roaster in the chicken recipe. In fact, once it's been brought to the boil and down to a steady simmer, I leave it on for twelve hours or so. At that point I add the squeeze of lemon, taste it to see if a bit more salt is called for, simmer one more hour, and take it off the heat to cool for half an hour before straining out and discarding the bones, herb bundle & veg. That's it! These basic procedures can be adapted for any blood type/secretor status ~ just choose among the proteins, veg and herbs beneficial for you! :-D

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Do you have any idea about Honeybush tea? Cyclopia Intermedia, it is the latest traditional tea to emerge from Africa, like rooibos, and seems to be gaining in popularity. I wonder if it is safe for O's? It seems benevolent enough when ingested. And then there is a traditional Chinese tea, Chun Mee green tea, that has caffeine. I cannot find either tea on the typebase. Going onto cheese, how about bucheron bougnon? I think it is a goat cheese, but it tastes like cow brie. Have you tried goat brie, it's wonderful for type O's of French decent! David



Hey there, David! Honeybush tea we have no info on at all, other than what's floating around the Net. It's the old "unknown/neutral" story, you know the drill. About green tea: Chun Mee is absolutely fine. My favorite remains "Mr. Ito's" Shohokuen green tea/roasted brown rice brew available in the Store here. It, too, contains caffeine/theine ~ but this is a synergistic element in its antioxidant functions. Funny you should be asking about cheese, as just this morning I went down to Murray's Cheese Shop in the Village (pure torture for Irish O-nons) to pick up some mozzarella di bufala for Bryan, and I broke my cardinal rule against tasting. :-) Bucheron bougnon I haven't heard of, but goat brie I'd actually try to steer clear of. The mold & all! :-) Take care, lucky David! :-D

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Dear Heidi: I just noticed that "Trader Joe's" pumkin seeds have cornstarch in them. I've been buying the David brand of roasted/salted pumpkin seeds since going on BTD, and their ingredient list is: pumpkin seeds and salt, but I've noticed that when I eat them, my blood sugar goes up to ~170, (I only can eat a few of them, they're so salty, and there are only 6 Carbohydrates in the whole bag.) Today, I tested them with a Diastix, (Dr. Bernstein says to use them to see if there's sugar in foods the diastix turned very dark green. That indicates very high sugar. Do you know how I could find out if they too have cornstarch in them? I don't see an address on the bag. It says trademark of ConAgra Brands, Inc. I'd appreciate any insight. THanks, Judy



Hi, Judy! Talk to the shop where you bought them, and ask for a contact for the manufacturer. If they contain corn starch, you might have that reaction just from that ingredient. ConAgra doesn't have any organic produce farms that I know of... I'd check to make sure they're organic as well. Take care, Judy! :-)

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Hi Heidi, An issue came up that I didn’t know what to do about. I was at a friend’s house on New Year’s Day and was offered some black-eyed peas that were cooked with salt pork. I know you have previously written about the galectins from chicken sloshing out over everything in a pot, but since pork isn’t listed in the TYPEbase 3 database as having lectins, or more precisely galectins, is it OK to cook with pork for the flavoring as long as you don’t eat the pork? This issue does come up frequently when eating out. It would be good to know what the correct thing to do is. In case you are wondering, I did eat the black-eyed peas that were offered to me. I wanted to make sure I had good luck for the New Year ;-) In fact, I had two servings because they were really good and I wanted lots of good luck!!! Thanks, Don





The question of pork fat is one we really haven't addressed yet, Don! :-) The big worry about pork stuff is its ability to annoy everybody, no matter what blood type. While not a galectin thing, it is certainly an antibody thing. I'll see if I can learn more. And I applaud your two servings of black-eyed peas, since they appear to have made you extraordinarily lucky. In fact, an old friend of mine just popped in to ask:



"Is Don still single?"



drop me a note and I'll say more! ~~:-D

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Hello Heidi Thank you for answering my previous question. This one might not be of general enough interest to be answered in your column and, if so, I will understand completely. After many years of Crohns disease I have lost my entire colon and a small section of my ilium and now have an ileostomy. Other than extra fluids, is there anything that you know of (food or supplements) that I should eat or take to compensate for having no large intestine absorption? Thanks, Susan (B+ secretor)

Hello, Susan! I am sure your question is of great interest to anyone who has had this procedure. I'm not the best person to ask, though -- so I posted your question here so that you'll have it in text, and if you wish, can copy it and send it to Doc Bron. As a doctor, he has far more clinical experience than I, and I'm sure he will have some great advice for you. Thank you for writing, and I hope you are doing well now!! :-)

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Hi! I know that Chicken is a big NO NO for type B's. But the eggs are ok because their is not muscle tissue yet. What about Chicken stock in liquid form? Kim

Hi, Kim! The egg is the only "safe" 'part' of the chicken for type Bs. The lectin in the flesh and bones does travel out into broth made from them, so it's to be avoided as well. However, I think turkey makes a much tastier stock! Give it a whirl! :-D

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Dear Heidi, I am a B+ secretor with chronic sinus problems, (sometimes causing bad breath), allergies and candida. I have been told I'm allergic to the lactose in milk (not intolerant, just allergic), as well as rice, onions, and potatoes, and cane sugar (no treatments ever worked). These foods do not cause any immediate or noticable reactions unless I have skim milk, which causes my heart to really race (perhaps more lactose than whole milk or cheese because of the absence of fat?) I'm not sure if I should be eating these foods or not, since they are all on the diet. Dairy is very addictive for me...I don't know if I could give it up. I tend to overdo it (milk, cheese, anything!) Coffee is another addiction for me--can't seem to stop even though it makes me shaky and sweaty! I have been taking wheatgrass and barley grass juice (powder with algae too) and eating TONS of green vegetables and fruits. These are the only things which make me feel good--if I eat enough green leafy veggies (like huge bowls full of it), candida subsides. But I do not want to get into an all raw diet(I have looked into this too). I eat meat, but only a couple times a week (usually lamb or salmon) because I can't afford the good stuff! I have been using ezekiel bread daily, but wheat of any kind scares me because when I eat white flour, I get a dry mouth and a bitter taste on the back of my tongue. This happens with oats too. There is also a history of celiac disease in my family (my mom has it, I've been tested and results have been inconclusive). Any help would be appreciated! Hope this is not too long... Thank you, Jennie

Greetings, Jennie! It sounds like your body is very sensitive right now, and the candida gives us another clue that your immune system is in need of some balancing. You didn't mention how long you've been on this diet, but sticking with it while adapting it for your purposes will certainly help you through this difficult time. You noted that "treatments" didn't work to alleviate your food allergies -- if these were drug treatments, they may have contributed to the problem with your sinuses and the intestinal flora/fauna imbalance.

The first thing should be to eliminate the foods you have found give you trouble. Don't worry about items you've been told you're allergic to -- those tests are remarkably unreliable, and since you have no perceptible reaction to some of them, it is certainly not an "allergy" in those cases. Keep two things in the kitchen: a large-print list of the foods you are avoiding, for quick reference, and a food diary. When you prepare a meal, write out the ingredients and the date & time in the diary. Leave a space to note any reactions to the meal.

Try substituting a small amount of one of the coffee subs in your daily coffee, as I mentioned in the past few days' columns. You will be able to wean yourself away from most, if not all, of the coffee that way without feeling deprived.

Don't let Ezekiel bread scare you: it is 100% sprouted and the harmful wheaty stuff isn't in it. :-) However, because of the candida overgrowth, I would scale back all grain intake as much as possible. You've already discovered you feel wonderful with lots of vegetables and some meat and fish a couple of times per week. Go with your own findings there, they are good ones!

The most important thing for you right now is B-type stress-relieving activity. Re-read the recommendations in LR4YT for Bs. Tai chi, visualization, a meditation practice -- any of these can begin bringing your body's endocrine system back down from its current state of "fight or flight." This will make an enormous difference in your intestinal health and your ability to pick and choose among foods without the addictive "pull."

Finally, take a look at the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia for specific protocols for candida and boosting your immune system health. I wish you all the best, dear! :-D

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I read and enjoy your column very much - it helps me stick to my diet. I am a B+, and my husband is A+, he has been on Lipitor and had changed to Red Yeast Rice with good results, but is still concerned about the fact that RYR is a statin "inclusive" product. He has heard about Polycosanol/policosanol, but I haven't seen anything about it here, have I missed something? Do you have any recommendations? Thanks so much for your good work!! Ginger

Hi, Ginger! The RYR will work fine for him. RYR does NOT contain Lovastatin, which the FDA decided in 2001 is a drug for which Lovastatin manufacturers hold the patent. :-) To learn more about this issue, just read through the RYR China info page and don't mind the pidgin English. Policosanol is a bee-wax derivative I'm not familiar with. If he sticks with the RYR for a month, he shouldn't need anything else anyway ~ his cholesterol should be in perfect shape! Keep me posted! :-)

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i have a blood group B and from 9 years i'm a vegetarian is it good for my blood group or should i take any supplements? Malwina

Hello, Malwina ~ Well... no, and no. ;-> If you decide to follow this diet, even without the flesh foods, it will be better than not following the diet at all. Go at your own speed, make changes as you are comfortable with them, and enjoy yourself! There's a lot more to the type B "lifestyle" than a food list! The more closely you follow the entire plan, the more benefits you'll see. Do keep in touch and let me know how you do!! and welcome!!!

:-D

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Hi. As a B, soy is an avoid for me, and i was wondering what beneficial or neutral there is that a reasonable source of isoflavones. Thanks. matt.

Black cohosh -- alfalfa sprouts -- Kudzu (we have no rating for that one) -- *flaxseed* would lead the pack there. I'm giving you a quick list, not knowing more of what your needs are. If you are seeking a protocol for prostate concerns, refer to the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia. It has many suggestions in that area. I hope this helps!! :-)

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Soy is not recommended for type B non secretors, but it seems that Dr. D'Adamo does recommend the fluid cocktail that includes lecithin. I've not been able to find lecithin that is not derived from soy. Is there such a product? And what about this discrepancy? Also, he suggests in his latest book, three servings of fruit a WEEK -- how does one get enough vitamin C on this diet? Do we take Vitamin C supplements? Thanks for answering both of these questions. Lindiyana

Ah, do I have a link for you!! Here it is!! Lecithin is neutral for all types, including soy lecithin. Veg and fruit servings should read "per day" rather than "per week." Have a marvelous day!! :-D

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Hello Heidi My husband is a B type positive 59 year old and he takes 2.5 mg bendrofluazide daily. He is wondering if it would be OK for him to take saw palmetto as we have read that saw palmetto can increase blood pressure. What are your thoughts on this topic? Thanks for answering my previous question, and I look forward to your answer. Cynthia.

Hi, Cynthia! Hey, why not have a serving of oatmeal per day instead of the drug? It appears to work beautifully on cholesterol AND blood pressure, and quickly (within a few weeks). Definitely worth a try, considering the side effects of the bendrofluazide. He can monitor his pressure while using the oatmeal, and see if his doctor will reduce his prescription according to his progress. The Encyclopedia Male Health protocol recommends saw palmetto, l-arginine and peruvian balsam bark ~ with no prohibitions relating to blood pressure for any of those items. If your husband still prefers to wait until the BP is normalized before using the MH protocol, of course that would be fine! but as far as I know, it is not necessary. I wish you both the best of health, Cynthia!! :-)

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Heidi, thank you for all your work on our behalf. I have two questions: 1. With regard to supplements, particularly information in ER4 Encyclopedia, if a particular blood type is NOT listed with a certain supplement, is that supplement (a) useless for that blood type? (b) neutral with minimal benefits? or (c) harmful and should be an avoid? 2. Re: tomatillos - Dr. Bron advised a B type to avoid tomatillos. However, you suggested to a B type to use them. What is the latest information? Thanks. Donna

Hi, Donna! you are MOST welcome, it's my pleasure!! ;-)

1. In regard to the Encyclopedia's supplement guide in the back of the book: those listings refer exactly to the protocols. Unlike the food lists, it's not written on the beneficial/neutral/avoid paradigm. Rather, it is a quick reference for single supps recommended for certain blood types in the protocols. For the blood types not included alongside any particular supplement, it indicates nothing at all in itself. It may be an avoid for that type, OR it may be neutral (but some other supp is better for the purpose), OR it may be an avoid.

2. ah, tomatillos! ;-) Dr. Bron advised a type *A* to avoid them, actually. However, he has said that the tomatillo lectin is similar to the tomato lectin, so my understanding at this time is that Os, ABs, and A & B Nonsecretors are the only ones who should experiment with the as-yet-unrated "tomatillo" -- and only if you're in good health and at ideal weight. Hope this helps, and thank you kindly for your note!! :-D

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Hi, My husband and I just started on the diet. We are both type O. At the moment, I only have one question. Would I be able to add xanthum gum to recipes such as spelt bread for our blood type. Thanks, Diane

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Is Xanthan gum okay for O nonsecretors? I have found no references to this on this website or in the books, but I did read that everyone should stay away from guar "and some other gums". Is Xanthan one of the ones to stay away from, or can I have it? I realize I can only have grains 3 times a week, but it sounds like I need something to keep the bread together, and this is what I am finding most people who bake their only bread use. Thank you for your time! Karen



Hello, Diane & Karen! As far as I know, xanthan gum isn't good for anyone. This is one of those "unknowns" that I prefer not to portray as a "neutral" in any case. Just as reference for other folks, the reading Karen did was likely Here is one I wrote including baking suggestions, and if anyone has a scientific turn of mind and would like to translate into BTD-ese the implications of this fact sheet on all gums used in food applications, I would be endlessly grateful!

Scratching through my dusty memories, I seem to recall that ground soaked flaxseed can fill the "gum" bill in low- or no-gluten bread baking. Have you tried that at all? How about homemade sourdough ~ rye is one of our few neutral grains, and makes fabulous sourdough bread. Kamut on its own may be ideal for bread-baking, as it does have some gluten and works beautifully in yeasted pizza crust -- whether whole or with the bran & germ removed.

Try those suggestions, ladies, and keep us posted with your results. I can say with certainty that 100% sprouted grain flour can produce a perfect loaf, since Ezekiel 4:9 bread contains only sprouted grain & beans, water, yeast and salt -- no gums at all. Wonder if www.foodforlife.com will ever give us a peek at their recipe, eh? ;-> hope springs eternal!! ;-D

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dear heidi' i'm really sorry to bother you but i don't know what else to do.i am o non secretor with candida and i find this diet quite helpful.but i am really struggling with a couple of avoids lately,namely wheat and potatoes.i know they are bad for me and don't know what possesses me to eat them,mainly in the evening.i am getting really angry with myself that i have started making myself sick after eating these avoids.i know i shouldn't be doing this but at the same time i don't want to be suffering the side effects of eating these avoids please help me. dee.

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I have been having weight problems for years, and have been doing the weight watchers plan for 16 weeks going up and down weight wise each week, it was quite depressing. I was recently told about the type O diet (my blood type) and have read your book and the small one. (I have however noticed that strawberries are neutral in one and avoid in another. I am having great difficulty weaning myself from wheat bread and potatoes, and am noticing more and more that most of the other products that I use are also on your avoid list, not that I eat them a lot, and I certainly dont want to cut them permanently from my diet, are there supplements that I can purchase to allow myself to keep some of these items in my diet? Regards Lois



Hello, Dee & Lois ~ This diet is a set of guidelines which we know work beautifully together. No supplement can replace doing the diet -- if it could, NAP would carry that one product and they'd be billionaires already! :-) Deflect-O can help somewhat in occasional ingestion of small amounts of avoids, but it cannot transform wheat and potatoes into harmless foods for you.

Dee, it can be very rough at the beginning. The key is to get through that ONE beginning, and console yourself with the knowledge that you'll never have to do it again. Get through it now and make it last! ;-) That's something we all face in our own way, according to our knowledge of ourself and our needs. Once the habit of avoiding certain foods and enjoying others is formed, it takes very little watchfulness to maintain compliance! in fact, avoids begin to lose their appeal. They are indeed poisons, as you've discovered, and have a perceptible addictive quality for some people. Just trust yourself to make that one beginning, get through it, and smile & congratulate yourself on looking back!

Lois, if at some point you decide to stop eating at least the major avoids like wheat, corn and potatoes, you will experience the benefits for yourself. That will count a lot more for you than me sitting here talking. :-) I'm sure that the success you sought with WW but didn't find, is waiting patiently for you in the O diet. Take your time and go gradually if you like. There's no hurry. The more closely you can follow this plan, the more results it will produce for you. :-)

thanks so much for writing to me, ladies, and I hope this will be of some assistance in your journeys!!

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I am Mexican American and my husband is Italian/Panamanian. We have three children - 20, 18, and 10, and we all have 0 Blood. Since I do the cooking I'm hoping to incorporate the beneficial foods into our diets. The whole family loves Mexican food and Italian food and are reluctant to give up enchilladas, tacos, and pasta with meat sauce. My husband drinks one cup of coffee per day and finds that he gets a terrible headache if he doesn't drink his morning coffee. My 20 year old son is having a lot of stomach problems and acne and eats a diet high in breads and dairy products, my 18 year old daughter has Reynaud's Syndrome but is in excellent health otherwise and prefers chicken to beef, my 10 year old has had problems with asthma and I'm about 50 pounds overweight and was just told that my cholesterol has to come down (it is 275). I know I should consider us very fortunate because we all have the same blood type but I'm a little leery of making everybody change their diets cold turkey. Please help! Rosemary



Hi, Rosemary ~ Here are some suggestions. Green tea instead of coffee for husband? It contains a form of caffeine, so he won't experience the painful headaches in withdrawal. Alternately, he can use something that tastes like coffee: replace 1/4 of the coffee with a substitute like Kaffree Roma, Teecchino (both contain barley) or Raja's Cup. In a week, replace 1/2 of the coffee, in two weeks 3/4, and in three weeks use the substitute alone. Spelt flour for the tortillas, spelt and amaranth for the tacos instead of wheat. Rice pasta instead of regular - it tastes great. No need to go cold turkey, just introduce new foods slowly and gradually remove the avoids. Your husband and children will have to make their own decisions as to whether their health improvements are worth the food changes. Respect their decisions, and feel free to make your own. In fact, this is what we all do ~ figure out what we're willing to change in order to protect our health and attain our goals. My best wishes to you, dear! :-)

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Hello, I am currently following the blood type diet..and I am an O..I am quitting smoking and my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin to help with the cravings..will this have any negative impact on the diet..thanks --Eve



Hi, Eve! Hmmm.... Wellbutrin is customarily one of the drugs prescribed for bipolar disorder. Your doctor gave you this to "help with cravings?" Hmmm. OK -- I'm not a doctor, as everyone knows. However, although you didn't ask, I'd like to offer a page on Wellbutrin side effects and some further information on bupropion hydrochloride, the generic name of this compound. I'm not sure what to say about a negative impact on the diet, but I'm not happy about its potential impact on your general health. Just my opinion. be well, dear!!!!! :-)

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My wife is type O. She recently started taking coral calcium which if I understand it correctly will change her chemical makeup to one that is more alkaline. If I understand Dr Dadamo, type O should be more acid than alkaline. Is the coral calcium she is taking a problem? Chris



Hello, Chris! I think you're referring to the muscle tissue comment from Peter -- type Os do better with a more acidic level of pH in the muscle tissue than, for instance, type As. Calcium of any kind is an alkalinizing compound, although I know certain companies are marketing coral calcium with that announcement as if it were peculiar to coral calcium -- which it isn't. "Alkalinization" is also not a cure-all, but it is hyped as such. Anyway, I wrote a brief bit on coral calcium which may be of interest: here's the link. Take care, Chris, and I wish you both the best of health!!

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Thank you for your recent reply to my questions regarding calcium. I will be ordering from your site!! Another question... Since I find that eating low carb is helping me lose weight, and I really feel better, (although it is grains I just love to eat and it is sooooo hard not to eat carbs), how can I get enough protein in my meals if I don't eat dairy products? I feel like I have nothing to eat if I can only eat protein from meats and fish (FISH I HATE all forms) How much harm does a daily cottage cheese serving, or yogurt, or cheese harm the O? I really feel I can't eat anything! IS SOY AN OK FOOD FOR ME AS AN O?

Pennie



Hi there, Pennie ~ Soy is OK for O secretors, not good for O nonsecretors. Just browse through the entries under "soy" in the TYPEbase 3 database for the exact values. Dairy is not at all a good protein source for Os, so you're missing no protein there. The guidelines of these diets are provided for your use -- experiment with dairy if you really cannot feel happy without it, and see what your results are. Then you'll know from personal experience what does and does not work for you in that area. Good health to you, dear! :-)

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Hi Heidi! I am O- and have been overweight since my teenage years. I am 30 yrs old. I had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot) at the age of 28. I am trying to follow the plan as much as i can. I have two questions. 1) what is seltzer water, is PERRIER good for type O's ? 2) I dont want to eat always red meat, can I take in protein bars that are sold in health store ? thanks for answering and your site is awesome! Roxanne



Hello, Roxanne ~ Seltzer is just plain carbonated water. Perrier is fine for Os, although not as high in minerals as many you can choose from at www.mineralwaters.org. Protein bars are truly no substitute for the basic flesh protein dietary component in type Os ~ vary it between fish, poultry and meat, add eggs and some beans and nuts, and you'll be going strong! thanks for your Qs! :-D

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I am a Type O woman, with all the typical Type O "symptoms". I spent about 7 years of my life in absolute agony, running from doctor to specialist to doctor...after being diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Stress etc. etc. I was feeling quite desperate! I had cameras in me more times than I could count, but not once did they ever check my food intolerance!!! As I am a fitness instructor, I was carbo loading on pasta, sometimes 2-3 times a day! Big surprise that I was so ill. By chance, I saw the Live Right For Your Blood Type book at a bookshop in London - it CHANGED my life, literally within 24 hours!!! I am back in South Africa now, and I have followed the diet religiously for one year now. I have been pain free for the first time in almost a decade!! (THANK you Doctor D'Adamo!!!) One thing has bothered me though: although I teach 5 very hectic spinning classes every week, and follow a very healthy diet, wheat free, lactose free, oil free...I have gained 8 kilograms, and I'm feeling desperate once again! Could this diet change cause that, and what could I change to lose the weight, or prevent it happening further? Do Type O's need any supplements, enzymes or vitamins that will keep the weight off? Do many people experience this? I recommend this book to every client that comes to me for advise at the gym, and most people who dare to question their eating habits, LOVE the book! This revolutionary change to how I see food has sparked a huge interest in health for me. I will be studying Naturopathic Medicine as from next year, back in the UK, and I believe that this book will be a very large focal point for what I recommend to people, to work out why they are ill! Again, thank you! Lana



Hi, Lana!

In that mysterious weight gain: "oil-free" may be the key culprit. The beneficial oils AID weight loss and contribute significantly to neurochemical balance. Do an experiment: pick up a copy of Live Right 4 Your Type and try the nonsecretor diet. Your grain intake, while wheat-free, may still be well in excess of the optimal amount for your physiology. Additionally, your staple foods may contain one or more of those which are fine for secretors but no good for nonsecretors. Don't worry, that works both ways! and there are some foods which have turned Beneficial for the O-nons among us. ;-)

Type Os, like everyone else, do not require supplementation in order to lose weight or keep it off -- the diet/exercise/stress relief suggestions do that job beautifully alone. Tweak that diet a bit, and see if you can find time for a meditation or hatha yoga practice. A hectic lifestyle and daily feelings of desperation can place us in continual "fight or flight" mode, in which the body will often hang on to every tidbit of fat reserves.

Pretty thrilling to hear you'll be studying naturopathy, in which I cordially wish you the greatest success. Keep In Touch!!! :-)

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Hi Heidi, I just returned from 3 months in Guatemala and I am returning in two months for another 6 months. It is very difficult to eat the O diet there strictly due to lack of available food. I don't have access to cooking facilities and anyway the choice of food in the stores is abysmal due to a variety of interesting socio/political/economical reasons I can't go into here. Vegetable choices are eggplant, peppers, carrots, beets, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and sorry lettuce. There are no greens. Sometimes there is wilted broccoli. I explained how you can prepare beetgreens once--no they don't come with--and they looked at me like I was nuts. Fruits are apples, oranges, grapes, pineapple, papaya and bananas. In the morning I have an egg and sometimes fruit. Many of my other meals have no vegetables at all. Some have chicken or more likely pork. Some meals consist of corn, wheat, cheese and potatoes. I call those the white on white meals. When this happens I keep a can of sardines and apples in my room so I don't go hungry. I do have to eat some wheat, corn and potatoes or I will be so hungry I can't sleep or function. I try to eat as little as possible while visions of Ezekial dance in my head. Needless to say I've lost lots of weight which was a really good thing. Here is my main problem. I was plagued with an upper intestinal parasite--G. Lambdia-- which re-occured even after medication. It thrives on carbos and as you can tell the food is very carbo rich in a not type O friendly kind of way and I know my inability to digest the stuff is the problem. I love what I am doing there and being pretty tough I will stick it out but what can I prepare in advance and take with me to help fight these parasites? Also is eating some yogurt OK especially when I take the kill everything in there western parasite medication? Help!!!!!!!!!! Nina from Antigua P.S I could lose another 10 pounds according to the charts but I can't afford new clothes. My friends have suggested I bottle and sell the amazing organism that has led to my newly svelte appearance. Nina



OK! whew! Well, first off: I strongly suggest NO more medication for the lambdia. That's why it reoccurred, and it will continue to do so every time you take a course of antibiotics because those drugs kill EVERYTHING and leave you to sort it out.

Instead: Take a supply of PolyFlora-O with you, along with Deflect for those nothing-good-to-eat-for-love-or-money days. IF you can bring a supply of fresh garlic and bagged pumpkin seeds and store them where they won't rot, here's a recipe for pesty-killer pesto. One clove of garlic, two tablespoons of seeds and a handful of cilantro (I'm SURE you can find that one there! (please say yes?)) pounded in a mortar. Add some (hopefully olive) oil to make a paste. This will make three or four tablespoons of it ~ just take one tablespoon per day.

Congratulations on doing so well for so long with so little! Great spirit! I'm asking the Clothes Fairy to send you a bit of gold dust for your increasing sveltitude! thanks for writing, and my best wishes for your travels!! :-D

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Dear Heidi, I am a Type O (secretory status unknown). I did very well with the Atkins diet and felt very well without wheat and corn. I am intrigued by your eating plan. It sounds like gluten could well be the source of my GI discomfort and acidity. But I have one nagging question that I need to settle before I adopt this lifestyle. According to Dr. Atkins, most carbohydrates raise blood sugar, causing insulin secretion, which in turn eventually leads to insulin resistance on the cellular level. He does a fairly good job of documenting this phenomenon. How does eating type-appropriate carbohydrates - for example high-sugar beneficial carbohydrates such as figs - affect blood sugar, insulin and cellular resistance? Why are smoked foods not recommended? I am a Type O and most of my favorite fish are smoked. Thank you. Robin



Dr. Atkins is half right. :-) The other half is: what kinds of carbs for which blood type and why? that's the part he does not address, but that is a substantial part of the basis for the design of every ABO plan here -- particularly the information about WHAT attaches to the insulin receptors on cells which results in insulin resistance. Smoked foods are not generally recommended because of concerns over carcinogenic compounds produced in response to (1) the chemicals in commercially-"smoke-flavored" products and/or (2) the substances gathering on wood-smoked food. Type O is, generally speaking, least affected by these concerns ~ but to be responsible purveyors of health-related info, we do mention them and do not recommend smoked foods.

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Heidi, I'm a Type O Non-Secrator, and eating on this diet is extremely difficult. The typical Type O diet doesn't really even apply to me. And I've found something else. The Avocado, which is listed as 'beneficial' for an O Non-Secrator, gives me a lot of trouble. I get really thirsty, get bloated, and and everything seems to get dry (hair, skin). But other foods like Strawberries, Dates, Apricots, Tofu, and a few others are right on the money. I really don't want to eat animal products, because I'm strongly against someone else killing my food. And I'm not about to go out hunting myself. I'm confused, is all. Finding the right balance has been extremely difficult.

I'm a firm believer in the lectin theory. But I don't believe that a Type O needs to eat animals to be healthy. I believe we should all be raw foodists, following the Beneficial and Avoids for our blood type. Comments? Mark



Hey there, Mark ~~ This diet is a tool for your use. If the lectin-related information is the only part of it that you find compelling, use that part. That alone will do some good, whether you decide to use any other parts of this plan or decide to chuck all the rest. If you'd like to read more on vegetarian type Os, enter the term 'vegetarian' into the search field at the bottom of this page and browse through what you find. And of course, if certain foods give you untoward reactions, eliminate them for the time being -- that is what we all do, and it's a common situation when one is changing from a diet flooded with detrimental plant lectins. Good health to you! :-)

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Dear Heidi, Would you be as kind as to explain what is the difference between Essene and Ezekiel Breads? Why for 0 : Ezekiel - is neutral and Essene - is benefitial? Thank you very much for your answer. Sincerely yours, Sergey



Hello, Sergey! Here is your answer! :-)

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I am an Australian so some of the terminology in the book is strange to me. What is Seltzer Water? I have only just started the diet and I feel a little better I am O+ does this make me a sector? I am having some trouble with indigestion and I have also had a bad headache for 2 days, do you have any suggestions. Thank you - Deidre



Greetings, Deidre! A headache for a couple of days is not uncommon. It means your digestive system is relieving itself of toxins. Drink plenty of water, get some mild exercise and sleep a bit extra at night ~ that symptom will soon be gone. Seltzer as we use the term is salt-free fizzy (carbonated) water. Club soda is the same thing, but some brands contains a bit of salt. And... any ABO blood type, whether Rhesus positive or negative, can be a secretor OR a nonsecretor. Read more on secretors and nonsecretors! thanks! :-)

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I'm Type 0 and kelp is very good to lose weight. I need to know how much is recommended per day/week. Should I eat it in dried form? Are there any other recipes beside miso soup or other ways to prepare it? Thank you Sandy



Hey there, Sandy! Kelp and other seaweeds are somewhat helpful for weight loss. However, the particular kind of kelp which I think you're looking for is Fucus vesiculosis. Click the link for more info! :-)

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I am a 28 year old Type-O secretor female. I have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and uterine fibroids. I have also noticed I have problems at times with my short and long term memory (recalling only partial things...like a puzzle with a missing piece or two). My questions are: Will taking Bacopa ('Brahmi') help me with the IBS and memory problems? If so, how much should I take and in what form? Is it good for people who will take long testing exams? Are there certain people who should not take Bacopa ('Brahmi')? Will it decrease stress and anxiety? What foods and/or supplements are good for cognitive functions? Thanks in advance, MH



Hi, MH ~ Peter's Cortiguard product is based on Bacopa monniera and Boerhaavia diffusa. It most certainly does help with stress-related memory loss. For IBS, there are dietary and supplement suggestions in Live Right 4 Your Type and particularly the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia, which also contains protocols for cognitive improvement and uterine fibroids. IBS is caused by inappropriate foods (particularly wheat, corn and avoid-rated oils) in conjunction with a constant state of stress. Peter uses the product SEACURE in his practice, but as part of a total diet and stress relief plan. So your approach will be most successful if it includes the O-secretor beneficials, along with regular exercise, a daily meditation practice, and the appropriate supplementation.

It took a long time to create these conditions in your body. The good news is, it doesn't take nearly as long to clear them up! so do your best, and be patient for the outcome. You'll be happy with it, I'm sure. :-)

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Dear Heidi, I have had Psoriasis for a number of years, and have been taking Sharks cartilage capsules for the pst 2 months, do you agree with this, or have you any other ideas. I am type O and have followed the O way of life for the past 2 years, and feel really good on it, but my psoriasis is not going away, although it isn't getting any worse. many thanks tony



Ideas on psoriasis? you bet I have! right here! Take care, tony, and write back to tell me how you're doing, OK? :-D

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Many readers wrote in to offer Natasha some help in finding health foods in LA. Here's her original note:





and the replies:

Here is an address that might be of use to Natasha until she can locate some good health food stores near her. Natasha, where are you in California? Also, we do have 2 lists that are active for O's. BTD-O and ER4YT-ON-S. Also, there is ER4YTAdvanced for those who have all the books available and have read them. This address came from one of our sweet ladies on the ER4YTAdvanced list. Sarah Living where I do away from Health Foods shopping centers I do quite a bit of ordering. One that I like is in California. Dried Fruits, Nuts, Dates, Seeds, Grains and other select products. Jaffe Bros. P.O. Box 636 Valley Center, CA 92082-0636 www.OrganicFruitsandNuts.Com ~Cleo

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Dear Heidi, How are you?

re Blood Type "O" Roundup #11-Plea for help from Natasha, I do hope that this information is of some help to her. NOTE: I AM KEEPING IN MY MIND THAT NATASHA IS NEW TO THE UNITED STATES. Any major supermarket will stock fresh vegetables in both the regular produce departments, as well as in their "ORGANIC" Produce departments. I would go the regular departments only because it is SO MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE!! To my knowledge, their produce is quite fresh. When I was in San Diego CA from 1984-1987, there were these 2 major supermarkets in the area: Krogers and A&P Supermarkets. Also, farmers markets are all around in all parts of the U.S.A.. Yellow pages of the local telephone directory can be of some help.

Depending upon seasons and time of year, local produce farms also sell LOTS & LOTS of fresh produce as lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, strawberries, apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, ETC. by the bushel. If there is a super Walmart in your area, they have some EXCELLENT SUPER SELECTIONS of produce of all types. Also, these super Walmarts have fantastic selections of various fishes from both the U.S. and various foreign countries; Australia being one of them. In fact, orange roughy fish is quite frequently shipped in from Australia. Also, California has an enormous fishing industry. There should be plenty of fish markets with freshly caught fish. If anything, California is extremely advantageous for getting fresh fish from the oceans vs. more inland states as Kansas that must rely on farm raised fishes as salmon. Walmarts in Wichita Kansas import enormous amounts of farmed raised salmon from Chile, a South American country.

California, if I recall correctly, should have a lot of food co-operatives that can assist people in choosing and buying ALL kinds of decent foods at a reasonable price: everything from canned goods, to fresh cuts of beef. Again, the yellow pages in your local directory should be of some help. re buying fresh poultry or beef, check for wholesalers in your area. NOTE: These people tend to sell large minimum quantities of beef or poultry if one is to get it at a reasonable price. BE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE IN BOTH YOUR FREEZER AND/OR REFRIGERATOR TO STORE THESE LARGE QUANTITIES OF BEEF OR POULTRY, IF BUYING FROM A WHOLESALER. I do hope this information is of some help for you, Natasha. Good Luck and God Bless You and your family. Marshal

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For Natasha in California: Hate to state the obvious, but the best thing to go is look in the Yellow Pages under "Health Food Stores" for whatever city she lives in, then call the listed stores and ask what they carry. Being formerly from Los Angeles, there are MANY stores all over the metropolitan area, such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Erewhon. I think Wild Oats and Whole Foods have other stores throughout California, but if Natasha is in a small town, she may have trouble finding what she wants. Now living in France, I sorely miss the supermarket-type health food stores that can be found in California.... Wishing her luck, Abby

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For Natasha: I have been able to find at least one very big HFS in every medium to large city in California, and many decent sized HFSs in smaller bergs as well. California is the central place on earth for this sort of thing, so don't despair. Look in your yellow pages for local HFSs. Be sure to check the chains, like WHOLE FOODS (which are all over the place) and WILD OATS. Also, TRADER JOE has lots of stuff--I'm sure he'll have some of what you want. In my medium-sized city, there are two gigantic HFSs, a TJs, and several smaller shops. That is actually typical! Good luck! Genie

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BIG THANK-YOUs to Cleo, Marshal, Abby & Genie for sharing their knowledge! Much appreciated, friends!! :-D



I am Type AB secretor. Is glucosamine sulphate and/or NAG an ok supplement for me to take? I am currently taking a combination of glucosamine/chondroitin and understand chondroitin is fine but am concerned about the glucosamine aspect. Thank you. Verna

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Just curious how the blood-type diets work with glocosamine/chondroitin supplements that I hear so much about to help with arthritis and joint problems??? I am a type O, following the diet fairly closely and feeling great. I went through breast cancer 6 years ago, and am doing fine, but wake up with lower back pain (mostly from all the gardening I do!!) Wondered if glucosamine might help??? Thanks for any information you may have!!!! Debbie



Both are fine for you, Verna! Peter's Ask Dr. D'Adamo column entitled Deflect for Arthritis explains why. Debbie, have a good look at that column ~ lots of details on the ins and outs of arthritis-alleviation supps. The "cure" for exercise-related lower back pain is to (1) gently but thoroughly stretch the hamstrings (muscles in the back of your thighs) & calves and (2) keep the back muscles themselves strong through targeted exercise ~ the 5BX (Five Basic Exercises) Site has a great one for that purpose!

A very effective stretch for the hamstrings is:

- lie on a firm, flat surface

- bend one knee so that the foot is flat on the surface

- raise the other leg as far as you can, keeping it straight.

The idea is to grasp the leg and gently pull it toward you, but if you can't do that right away, just work up to it.

Switch legs and continue. Do five to ten stretches on each leg.

Then,

- fold a bathtowel up into a long 6" wide "strip."

- sit on that firm, flat surface with your legs straight in front of you.

- take one end of the towel in each hand, and loop the middle under the balls of your feet ~

- keep sitting straight up -- and pull back on the towel.

You'll feel the stretch in your calf muscles.

Do ten of these. :-)

Thanks for writing, ladies! :-)



Hello, Heidi : Re : 7 Jan ~~ Octet 4O ~~ #6 from Andrew [who has profound misgivings about killing animals for food]

For soothing such distress, try to visualize that we also digest misfortune of the animal by love and return as a gift to it, together with sending wishes for peace love health & prosperity for its future lives. Spare sometimes, weekly, monthly or annually, duration and length of time is up to the individual, but let's believe that it is solved on a higher or subtle level, and favourable conditions for its future lifes are promoted and secured after it has come to work with mankind. Hope Andrew is always in peace.

Ref. Question No. 1 by Yelena on 10 Feb 03. A small suggestion for her to try with flaxseed. I learned it from my friend who has been doing successfully for her and sister. It is an Ayurvedic method : Boil 1 tablespoon of flaxseed in 1 cup of water for several minutes until the husk is broken and the content looks like a smooth paste and "it also taste good." If Yelena still got flaxseed with her might as well try this method.

I noticed that some of your fans asked about how to make ghee at home. If ready-made one is more convenient for them, below is a "link" : www.purityfarms.com 100% Certify Clarified Ghee Purity Farms, Inc. 14635 Westcreek Road Sedalia, Colorado 80135 I love its yellow color, merrys my heart!

For curiosity : Ref. your reply to Nicole (#3 in Type B Roundup-7): What is Neti Pot? The essential oil : Is it Anise Star or Aniseed? Many thanks. Lily A+

Greetings, Lily!

The neti pot is a little item used in nasal irrigation. Ideally, it should be made from a material that won't break if dropped on a bathroom floor. The spout should be designed to block one nostril, while trickling in some warm salted (no iodine) water ~ which you then swirl around in the sinuses, and drain out of the other nostril. It's a very simple concept with marvelous results. Getting the technique down takes some practice, which I recommend be done in the shower! :-) Here is a good description of the procedure. There are many kinds of neti pots, and all of them can be purchased online. Just use www.alltheweb.com/advanced, and use the "exact phrase" "neti pot." :-)

The vaporizer oil may be aniseed or star anise ~ either one.

By the way, I hope Andrew reads what you wrote for him. It certainly "spoke" to me.

All your notes are very warmly received ~ thank you for your kind contributions and friendship! :-)





and now for my daily reminder: :-)