Do products using texturized soy protein--the fake "meats"--get categorized with other soy products? Joe



Hey there, Joe! Those faux meat products are highly processed foods, and have fairly numerous ingredients (often including wheat), so can't be put under any one category. Read the labels carefully, and evaluate each component against your food list. :-) thanks for your note!



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Hello Heidi, the column is looking very good. >I'd ask the nurse at your medico's office what diagnostic lab they use. Then, phone the lab. Get the procedure, costs and request forms for the tests you want, then take that information to your doc or clinic.< I saw your advice above to my compatriot. It caused me a moment of wry amusement. You may know we have a publicly funded national health service here: we pay for the whole thing through taxes & never have to pay a single penny up front for treatment, nor take out insurance. This is really excellent if you have some serious illness. The down side is, treatment is rationed, we have very little choice over what doctor we see, and no way would a general practitioner (family physician) order blood tests unless he or she thought them necessary. ie, we cannot order up tests ourselves in the manner you suggest. The only way to get such a test would be to arrange it privately outside the National Health service, but I suspect one might not need to go via a doctor at all. I am posting a link to that column on Tom's site, Tom will be able to give advice (and probably does the tests himself). Sarah



LOL! Sarah, I'm glad you still think the column looks good! ~:-D Yes, I assumed Olympia would have to step outside the National Health system, but I'm fascinated to learn from you if it is possible to order a test such as the serotype panel she sought without getting it via a doctor. Any walk-in laboratories in the UK? Thanks for your note ~ it took me back many years to my first summer in London, and the astonishing sight of groups of women in full purdah and jewelled metal masks, sweeping along the pavements. A friend told me it was quite common for people to take a summer holiday there, stay long enough to satisfy the requirements of the National Health, get their medical needs seen to, then return home. I've lived in New York for many years, and never seen a thing to rival it. *sigh.* Lovely place you have there! :-}



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Hi Heidi, My Blood Type is O and I would like to know how many times per day I may eat meat and/or fish and the amounts. Thank you. Jane



That's difficult to answer without knowing your height & weight, activity level... secretor status would help, too! And it's not just any old meat or fish, although I think you're probably aware of that. At least one 2-5 ounce serving per day for women is a VERY general guideline ~ hope this helps! :-)



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For whom is rooibos tea ok? Nice site, but I couldn't find the tea info. Thanks. Marie



Hello, Marie ~ Follow this link to a column I wrote in June of 2002 ~ and scroll down near the end to follow the links contained therein! :-D



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As recommended by my family physician, I tried the blood type diet (I am Type O). I always thought my diet was alright, calorie wise, but could not loose weight (I only need to loose 10-15 pounds). My diet did consist of mostly proteins, but also a modest amount of dairy and wheat. Well, I did the diet for three days and had diarrhea for three days! When I added the dairy and wheat back, the diarrhea stopped. It seems that every Type O meal I eat, it is followed by diarrhea. What am I doing wrong, or is there a supplement that I am missing? I would really like to make this diet work! Thank you! Deborah



Hmmm... Questions for you: Which book are you using? What did you eat on the three days? Which foods did you not eat that you're accustomed to? Diarrhea can be a very good sign that your new diet is allowing the bowels to get rid of a lot of old impacted matter ~ it can also be an indication of food allergy or other reactions too numerous to mention here. Deborah, could you write back and tell me more about all this? Many thanks, and I look forward to a bit more info so I can get a better idea of the trouble. :-)



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And: A note for Clark, on his search for 100% buckwheat soba noodles: EDEN makes them, so check your local HFS or largish supermarket ~ thanks go to Lily and Maddy, for the tip! ~:-D



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Seed of sun in the womb of winter: red berry bright on snow-bent bough. In blackest sorrow, hope's fierce fire.



A brilliant Winter Solstice to all!

Hi! Thanks for your column. I'm trying to do 2 things at one time: live right 4 my type and reverse diabetes (pursuant to Dr Julian Whitaker's book, _Reversing Diabetes_. The RD program prefers fish oil to flaxseed oil as a supplemental source of omega-3 fatty acids, because "ALA [alpha-linolenic acid] has already been converted to the more useful EPA [eicosapentaenoic acid] and DHA [docosahexaenoic acid]". However, LR4YT lists flaxseed oil as beneficial for Os (that would be "moi") and fish oil as neutral. Does the alleged conversion advantage justify my taking fish oil instead of flaxseed oil? At the moment, trying to keep a "foot in both camps", I'm alternating both! Thanks for your insight. Shay

Good idea, Shay! Taking both is fine, and that goes for any other neutral food which you want to use for specific purposes. It's only the avoids I'd stay away from! :-)

Hi, Heidi! Suppose an O-type person wanted to eat 8 ounces of protein a day, 4 ounces for lunch and 4 ounces for supper. What would be the relative value of eating beef (beneficial) at both meals versus eating beef at one meal and rotating among poultry, fish, and an equivalent amount of soy-based nutrition bars and/or drinks, all neutral but with a variety of nutrients different from beef and with less cholesterol? Thanks for your column. Shay

Well, rotating foods is certainly the way to go. However, there are only so many meals in a day or week, so I'd be inclined to choose beneficial protein sources (and vegetables, etc., naturally) over neutrals -- especially when resolving a health issue -- and in the case of type O, flesh proteins rather than plant proteins. Remember that high serum cholesterol is not caused by eating foods containing cholesterol -- 90% that cholesterol is produced in the liver, and hypercholesterolemia is a result of eating the wrong foods, which impacts all the organs of the body. The concern over beef's cholesterol level is one of those food pyramid boondoggles we BTD'ers can discard with assurance!

I do support your desire to vary your protein meals and ensure an optimal variety of nutrients... but the beneficials will certainly cover all needs in that department. I suggest a melange of meats and fish, with eggs, nuts, seeds and nutritional yeast for good measure. Shay, let me know how it's going with defeating that diabetes, and many thanks for your messages!!

~:-D

Liver is a food that enocourages weitht loss on Type O diets. Does it matter where the liver comes from? Beef? Pork? Chicken? Is one better than the other? Are prepared liverwurst products such as Underwood Lieverwurst Spread acceptable? Delores

Hi, Delores ~ Liver from animals whose meat is beneficial is a bit better than liver from the 'neutral animals.' If the meat is an avoid, the liver is an avoid (pork, for instance). About prepared products: compare the ingredients on the label with your food list... although fresh is usually much better than a mixed canned product. Thanks for your message! :-)

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Should I take something to replace no spleen? I am O positive, age 73 female in good health except I am never without sinus drainage. Allegra affected my eyesight. I got some relief from the Sinus Health Protocal for the four weeks. How often can one repeat the Protocals? I have been on the O diet about 90% of the time for almost two years and friends and relatives have bought the books. -- Louvena

Hello, Louvena! You can certainly repeat a protocol a couple of weeks after finishing one. Have you tried eliminating grain and dairy completely for a week or two, in order to see if the sinus drainage might be triggered by a reaction to one or more of those foods? Try it: it might take some of the burden off your immune system.

The functions of the spleen are to clear old red blood cells and platelets from the blood, and to produce antibodies to fight bacterial infections, especially those caused by pneumococcus or other similar types of bacteria. The best advice I can give is to use the Immune-Enhancing protocol in the Encyclopedia, take the Deflect-O supplement regularly, and consider getting the Pneumovax vaccine if your doctor offers it. Please write back and let me know how you're doing!

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Help! I'm type O and BTD really suits me. Two queries: Can I eat soya yogurt AND Is it OK to carry out coffee enemas? Many thanks for your help. Sarah

Hey there, Sarah ~ Soy yogurt with OK ingredients is fine for type O secretors. If you have any health concerns (such as constipation), I would tend to stay away from soy until you discover the cause of the problem. We don't encourage regular use of enemas, simply because the diet is more effective (and less costly and/or time consuming) at ensuring good digestion & elimination. Try two tablespoons of flax soaked for 10 or 15 minutes in a little water, taken an hour or two before bedtime ~ and get your exercise! it's key for the robust functioning of ALL the organs! Hope this helps!! :-D

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Hi Heidi. Approximately 4 years ago I started the O type diet and lost 60 lbs quite effortlessly. {A side bar. I'm 5'3" and when I started weighted 225 pounds. The weight loss took me to 165 which is still about 30 pounds over what I wanted to weigh, but not matter what I did I couldn't seem to lose any more by eating O type.} I kept the weight off for 3 years, and was quite sure I'd never gain it back, however last Christmas, I let down my O type guard, and ate whatever I wanted for a month and a half. Consequently I put on 20 -25 pounds very quickly. Yikes!!I have since been faithfully eating O type again but have not been able to lose the weight . This time, I have been taking all the supplements on the web site for O. The basic pack plus catechol, fucus plus and licorice. This additional 25 pounds puts me about 50 pounds overweight. It's quite depressing. Any suggestions on how to get things jump started?

Another equally challenging thing has been the arrival of hot flashes for the last year. They are so uncomfortable! I've been taking the black cohosh and maca root that is recommended for seniors in Live Right for Your Type. (I'm 49). It hasn't helped. For about 8 months I used progesterone cream but it's effectiveness wore off. Do you have any idea what might help. I've thought I might order the aromastate on the site. Have you heard if it is helpful for hot flashes? Thanks for your time. - Debra

Hello, Debra ~~ Hmmm... How's the exercise going? The last ten pounds or so may take a bit longer to get rid of, but exercise makes all the difference in the changes in your appearance -- the scales may be a bit sluggish to move, but your measurements will continue to reduce more easily with exercise than without. It also is very helpful in controlling appetite, a vital concern around this dangerous time of year! :-D

Aromastat may be of use to you, and it is worth a try. Look into Rhodiola rosea as well -- it can be highly effective for resolving hot flashes, according to several Os who've mentioned it to me. I think a two-pronged approach involving the Female Balancing protocol from the Encyclopedia and exercise (the extra weight can be a secret but major culprit in hormonal distresses) would be best to get the job(s) done. Keep in touch! ~:-D

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And ~ a word from an experienced woman on feeding Verna's grandson!

Re: Verna's Grandson I am always happy for babies who are breastfed, especially long-term breastfeeding. I breastfed all four of my children each for 3-plus years and I had some experience with LaLeche League. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding , "the definitive guide" to breastfeeding by La Leche League , recommends that the addition of solids should be delayed for at least 6 months or longer for these reasons. ( page 232, 6th revised edition)First, you want to maintain your milk supply. The more solids the baby ingests, the less milk he will take at the breast. A growing baby needs more of the perfect food, not less!! Also the decrease in breast milk means a decrease in protective antibodies the baby receives. Another reason to delay solid foods is that the younger the baby, the more likely the food will cause allergy. The baby may be be on the large size, but that doesn't necessarily mean that his digestive system is mature enough for solids. A good indication of whether he is ready for solids is the development of teeth. (not just the erruption of that first little front bottom tooth at around 5-6 months--you can't chew much with that) Along with the development of teeth, the mouth muscles develop the cooridination necessary to move food around and the tongue gains the ability to move food to the back and swallow. A baby who has to be propped up and spooned mushed food, repeatedly, as the stuff keeps oozing out of the mouth does not have that coordination and readiness of his mouth. Watch your baby for readiness to feed solids, not the scale or the calendar. In addition to teeth and mouth coordination, grabbing for food, enjoying the food he manages to get into his mouth, his appetite will grow , demanding to be nursed more frequently. If this appetite increase lasts for more than four or five days, he is greater that 6 months old, and has developed teeth, then he is ready. I encourage the mother of Verna's grandson to keep on breastfeeding as long as possible, while adding solid foods , as the baby will go through ups and downs in his eating patterns. Teething, colds, flus, emotional upsets, and many other things effect how a baby eats, and maintaing breastfeeding throughout the first 3 years of life insures your baby of a good foundation for his diet. Suzanna

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Whoo! Thank you so much, Suzanna!

~;-D

~ ~ ~

Verna, I'm so happy your little grandson is doing so well! I have little experience feeding babies, but I do not think quinoa or any other grain or seed will in the least challenge your little type O's ability to digest protein. Did your daughter ask the pediatrician for the basis of the "protein stresses kidneys" warning? This is one of those things that have been doing the rounds in alternate health circles for some time now, and I have found nothing anywhere to substantiate it -- especially, nothing blood-type specific. I'm curious about what the pediatrician says, could you let me know?

In fact, if it were my kiddle, I would use vegetables and fruits as the first foods to augment the breast milk. I would offer him a blended bit of any fish or meat he showed a taste for ~ just a tiny spoonful or two. This is how babies were fed throughout human history, and still are in some parts of the world where food is plentiful ~ although your daughter may prefer using the blender to pre-chewing stuff for the kid. :-) I'm not sure I'd offer him plain grain, even rice, without some broth or oil of some kind. Here's another question for the pediatrician: what valuable things does grain provide him that other foods do not? Would it be best to mix the grain with a bit of fat, to slow the carbohydrate metabolism? That said, any of the grains acceptable to both secretors & nonsecretors would be perfectly safe for him to ingest. I am only thinking that grains are among the least helpful foods for Os of all ages, and I am more inclined to keep him filled up with breast milk, vegetables both starchy and green, fruits, fish, chicken or turkey, a taste of nutbutter now and again, and plenty of water rather than fruit juice. He won't go hungry, and I think this would spur his optimal brain & body development.

A type O whole foods diet, from birth! Lord, how I envy the little guy!!!

Well, write back & tell more ~ it's great to hear from you!!

:-D

Lots of folks ask some form of this question. In reply, here's the column I promised on "food combining" ~

There are a number of diet-for-health books advocating some form of food combining, or "food separation." Very briefly, this idea is based upon the observation that when digestion is swift, health (including normalization of weight) will follow – so foods which digest well together are combined, and separated from those requiring a different digestive environment. Food items are categorized by their fat, carbohydrate and/or protein content (fruit has its own headings); meals are planned according to compatible foods; certain time periods are left between meals to separate incompatible foods from each other; and obtaining the freshest possible whole foods is encouraged, with a reduction or elimination of most processed foods – especially sugars.

Like any system, this one can be reduced to bare-bones principles (don’t combine grain with flesh foods; start the day with fruit, alone), but true food separation as practiced by its successful adherents is more complex. The purist’s approach is to eat only one food item at any meal, allowing at least three hours between meals. They’ve got it easy. ;-> For everyone else, it looks like this:

A. Fats – including all oils and nuts, and cheeses with 50% or higher fat content.

B. Proteins – flesh foods and eggs, including cheeses with less than 50% fat content.

C. Fruits – except apples, bananas, breadfruit, cheramoya, melons and plaintain.

D. Starches – all grains and sugars, potatoes (other than sweet potatoes), true yams, and including apples, bananas, breadfruit, cheramoya and plaintain.

E. All vegetables other than the ones noted above.

F. Melons.



Most questions revolve around "what about food X," and "how do I maintain my gallon-per-day water intake while observing the hours-between-meals schedule and the no-drinking-with-meals caveat?" I couldn’t begin to tell you. There are many variants, subsets and refinements of this basic structure put forth by their various proponents. All I can say is that for the purposes of results rather than learned analysis, this particular approach fills the bill. Common sense, flexibility and looking at the month’s, rather than the day’s, general dietary picture are essential for success with this rather demanding plan.

Peter hasn’t recommended using food separation because (1) practically speaking, it is discouragingly complex for most people to follow two "diets" at once; (2) the many foods which contain significant amounts of protein, starch and fat raise an equivalent number of vexed questions; (3) his diet plans limit by default the amount of grains for Os and Bs and meat for As; and (4) the blood type diets (based on what you eat rather than how much or when you eat it) have a medically documented 85% success rate on their own.

I have heard from several people who report benefits from regulating their ABO-compliant meals along food separation guidelines. Some feel that LR+FS is the Ultimate Healer, Foolproof Rejuvenator and Life Extender Extraordinaire. If you feel it’s worth a try, do it ~~ there’s nothing to lose, and it might be the key you've been looking for!

Qefir Question:

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Hello, Paula!

Live Right 4 Your Type and the TYPEbase3® food database list kefir as follows: Neutral for As, Beneficial for Bs and ABs, and Avoid for type O.

You can find kefir made from sheep, goat, cow, any old milk. I've seen several brands of it in my HFS. Several companies on the Net sell "kefir grains" or starter cultures -- these are not "grain," but ready-made bacteria in a culture medium to use in making your own kefir. Here's a brief fact site, with a link for buying the starter.

It seems that people have made fermented products such as kefir for millennia, using the milk of the handiest mammal. The ancient Scots made kefir from the milk of sheep. Like the cultivation of grain, it is possible that the practice of fermenting milk began and continued largely for the purpose of producing alcoholic drinks. Nomadic Mongols did not sit around waiting for wheat or corn to grow -- instead, their animals offered the raw materials. Koumiss (or "kumiss") is one such product, made from mare's milk. Drinks for everybody! :->

I've looked in my Eat Right book, as well as searching on this site but I can't find an answer to my question: Is palm oil ok for type O's? Is it possible it is in my Eat Right Book just under a different name? Thank you for your time. Hopefully you can answer my question.

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(you'll feel my pain in a moment.)

The short answer, as usual in these cases, is: it is an unlisted food, therefore to be treated as a neutral unless your common sense, wisdom guided by experience, or negative results indicate otherwise.

This isn't a usual case. :-(

The long answer is: the subject is vexed, the references conflict, and I must say that this little question has burgeoned into a monster for someone like me with dwindling brain cells and no home laboratory in which to sort it all. Hey! I can't even get access to a medical library to read the full text of the references! What a world. (*thanks for listening! LOL!*) Now that I've got that off my chest, let's see what we CAN do:

A while back, our beloved BB participant "Bob L" contributed a fact sheet link on palm oil. Take a look. To my eye, the first four points don't weigh much. If they're true, fine -- they're also true of olive oil and other common oils. The first thing I found worth considering is the fourth footnote to "Fact #5": . At least it deals with palm oil instead of vitamin E, as the other 3 notes do. This may be the key to the whole business. Wish I could read it.

Down we go to Facts #10, 11 and 12, which appear promising: Am I to infer this is a significant equivalence? Wouldn't linolenic and linoleic acids be better candidates for comparison?

OK, I can't read the full reference, but what *kind* of balance? Is it found in palm oil?

Well, that's real likely, because lauric and myristic acids RAISE LDL ... and palm kernel and coconut oils are no-nos for just about everybody, anyway! NEXT!!

I'm glad for the hamsters, but a fat blend approximating American intake must have come straight from Kentucky Fried Chicken. Yikes. WHAT other oils were used in comparison??

Hmmm... unlikely to benefit type Os...

experimental-induced cancer... in humans?

I chose this link to discuss because it makes the most thoroughgoing claims and includes more references than any others I've found. Yet I came away from it with more questions than I had going in, as you may have noticed.

Onward.

Here's blessedly brief view, from WebDietician.com: No references, but we're beginning to see a pattern.

Back in December of last year, Peter answered a question on oils. In relevant part (all snips and emphasis are mine):

....

.

...



The says 40%. I don't know about you, but I'm too tired to quibble.

Don, Bob L, Elisa, Bill, Jimmy and Rhonda: I have to say, from this vantage point it doesn't look like palm oil is our friend. Ghee, walnut oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil... that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. *zzzzzzzzz*

Hi Heidi! I´m a young swedish woman who about a year ago began to follow the type O diet. I´ve always liked red meat (especially moose meat) so that part of the diet was no problem. I’ve also always been eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Potatoes are very popular food in Sweden, but they are not a big trouble for me - never liked them anyway. The challenge is to find good, healthy substitutes for pasta, bread and dairy.

I haven’t yet found anyone in Sweden who can determine my secretor status, but I’m assuming that I’m a secretor and I feel very well on the type O secretor diet. I have become more alert and experience that my brain works quicker. I am off my asthma medication and the sinus problems I’ve suffered from as far as I can remember has improved considerably. Even though I don´t have time to exercise as much as I would like to, I´m losing fat and gaining muscles.

My husband is even more exalted about the BTD than I am. Before he knew his bloodtype he realized that almost all the foods that he likes (except icecream) are listed as beneficial or at least neutral for type B, while everything he doesn’t like is on the type B avoid list. Guess who was overjoyed when he got to know his bloodtype - he is a type B!

There are some things that concerns me. My waist is getting smaller but I’m not losing weight. I was hoping to lose weight, as I’m far too heavy. I am overweigt, but I’m not considering myself as ”fat” even though my BMI is as high as 32! I’m 64 inches tall and weigh 187 pounds (hope I did the calculations right, we use other units in Sweden). When I have the weight where I’m feeling most comfortable I weigh about 145 pounds and it will make a BMI at about 25,5. I’ve had that weight before (about 10 years ago) and would like to reach it again, and keep it. I am robust, with a very heavy bone structure and I have always been very strong. It seems as I just have to think about exercising to make my muscles grow! Even before I was on the diet I was very muscular, now my muscles are growing bigger and bigger… …what am I going to look like?

I love exercising and I feel so good, so relaxed and pleased with myself after a hard training pass at the gym or after a fast inline-skating or biking race or an aerobic class. Can you please explain to me how to interpret the BMI-factor? In some places I’ve read that the BMI should be between 19-24, while others say that 18-19 is the optimum. Somewhere I’ve seen a table saying that if your BMI is above 25 it means that you are overweight and above 30 you’re defined as fat or even obese. Can it really be true that a robust person like me should have the same BMI as a slender person?

There’s also another thing that causes a problem for me - cheese! I love cheese! And as I’m on the diet, and convinced to stay on the diet, I just have to watch my type B husband eating camembert, cheddar and parmesan… …not to mention all the Swedish cheeses, those with small holes and a dense texture - some of them mild and some with a strong, assertive flavor… YUMMY! Well, I know cheese isn’t the best you can eat if you want to lose weight, but I sometimes have feta cheese or mozzarella, which are neutral for type O secretors. But now I would like to know: is there any difference between different types of feta and/or mozzarella cheeses? I mean, is feta made of sheep’s or goat’s milk more healthy for type Os than cow’s milk feta? And how about ”mozzarella di bufala” - the real Italian mozzarella which is made of milk from water buffalos - is it better than mozzarella made from cow’s milk? Most mozzarellas available in groceries in Sweden are imported from Italy and many of them are made of cow’s milk, while some more expensive ones are made of milk from buffalos. Goat cheese is also listed as neutral, but how about cheese (other than feta cheese) made of sheep’s milk? For example, in well-sorted groceries I’ve seen French sheep cheeses (they’re not cheap!) and ”pecorino” which is an Italian, parmesan-like cheese, also made of milk from sheep. What about those cheeses for Os? for other bloodtypes? (probably good for Bs anyway!)And how about camembert made of goat's milk? What is farmer cheese? It is also listed as neutral but I haven’t found it in any dictionary and have no idea about what it is. Can you please explain to me what kind of cheese it is.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank you so very much for your column. I feel both delighted and enlightened by reading your often quite humouristic answers to questions from people all over the world. Best wishes, Ylva.

Ylva! Now, here is an O close to my own heart: a full long paragraph of questions all about cheese! :-D I'll get to that issue in a moment.

First, I agree that 187 pounds at 5'5" is too heavy for you and that a full year on this plan should have done more than reduce your waistline. The BMI is useful for people of average bone weight, average build, and average muscle development ~ for everyone else, there are better means of ascertaining one's bodymass-to-fat ratio. You can monitor body fat loss by using calipers, which can measure fairly precisely the change in size of the "pinch" taken weekly at the same place on the abdomen or arm, for example. Or, if your physician is one of the rare ones who possess the necessary machinery, bioelectric impedence testing is a highly reliable method of establishing your true "mass makeup." Considering the relative costs, I'd go with the calipers! :-)

Weight loss for some individuals is achieved only through sticking 99-100% to the Beneficial list. It's possible you're one of them. :-} You did not mention what your representative daily diet & exercise routine is, but based on your results, here are some general suggestions.

(1) Diet: If possible, get hold of Live Right 4 Your Type. There are specific portions and frequencies listed for each food category (I'd adhere strictly to them). Until you have the book, use the TYPEbase 3 database on our main page here to check items individually. For a period of two months, eat only the Beneficials for secretors -- minimize the neutrals to as near 0% as you can, and avoid those avoids like the plague. Now you're wishing your arms were long enough so you could reach my neck, ;-D but believe me, this is not forever!! It's only to jump-start the weight loss AND to give you a reference point for your own ideal weight-loss diet. When you add in a neutral or two at the end of that time, keep a close eye on how your weekly fat loss rate compares to the Bene-Only period. If the scale shows stuck again, or wants to edge up a bit, or your "pinch" grew rather than shrank, you have learned something of great importance about specific food items that no one else could have told you!!

I also suggest you drink one gallon (say, nearly four liters) of pure water each day, away from meals. I will not cry if you drink only three liters instead, but promise me you'll keep the volume at least that high.

Emphasize seaweeds and dark green leaf veg among the Beneficial veggies, and have one to three cups of green tea daily. Fresh fish or red meat at least once per day.

(2) Activity: get one good workout every other day. Let me play that old broken record of mine once more: exercise is a full 1/2 partner in the BTD, and confers wonderful unexpected side-effects! ;-D Take advantage of your love of exercise!!

Now to the cheese questions: I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might tempt you to indulge in those lovely goodies!

{just kidding... sort of. ;-> }

When you've concluded your two-month ALL BENEFICIAL regimen, feel free to plan a once-weekly cheese treat. Any sheep or goat cheese is OK, except those camembert/brie or moldy (bleu) types. And only one ounce at a time. Aw, don't glare at me like that ~ I'm just reporting the portion/frequency allowances from LR4YT! :-D Farmer's cheese is nearly the same as cottage cheese without the noticeable curds ~ simple and fresh. Mozzarella di bufalo is the best sort of mozz! Mind you, if your sinuses send you a signal after eating cheese, once again you've made a personal health-enhancing discovery, for free! :-)

I am truly pleased that both you and your husband enjoy the BTD and are seeing benefits. Now, I'm looking forward to hearing your results on your 100% beneficials experiment, and a weekly caliper report! best wishes, dear!!

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i am o type.what is the status type for hibiscus, elderflower & rose? these ingrediants are regularly used in herbal teas and i cannot identify if they benefit etc.anywhere. please help in case i undo all my hard work by ingesting an avoid albeit unwittingly. ps;i'm tired of people telling me i'm becoming obsessed about food just because i want to choose to eat healthily (not just friends but even my blooming doctor said it!) have you got any suitable fresh retorts i can sling back as i'm running out of ideas, short of shooting them! thanks ~ debbie

Hello, debbie ~ :-D Rosehips are a wonderful vitamin C source for all types, so I doubt the petals (organic!) are harmful for you. Elderberries are beneficial, so I'd posit a neutral status for the flower. Hibiscus is a great "female balancer" for all types. :-)

About those maddening "friends and physicians:" I've found that

"When one who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, they will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest." ~ Anonymous

So, rather than a retort (stressful for the giver as well as the receiver) I suggest employing a light, mad giggle. Smile! Say, "Really?" Giggle again! "You don't say!" Big smile! Work on this in the mirror. Get so good at it that you can effortlessly switch to it at a moment's notice in the most "maddening" situation. If someone asks why you're laughing, shrug say "Just feeling cheerful, I guess!"

P.S.: You may want to keep your friends despite their conspicuous lack of support, but I'd get shut of the doctor. Being dismissed as a monomaniac is one thing, but paying for the privilege is adding injury to insult, I'd say.

;-)

take care, and enjoy yourself, dear! Happiness, after all, is the best retort anyone can make. ~;-D

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