I am a 50 yr old woman with interstitial cystitis. Because of my condition I am limited as far as what I can eat. Do you know any way to tailor the type O diet so that I can participate, also? Now, I am stuck with beef, almond butter, blueberries, and a few other things. I would really like to expand my selection, but so many things cause me pain ... Elaine

Interstitial cystitis is a devastatingly painful condition that until recently had little or no medical recognition or targeted therapy. Because the best of mainstream medicine offers only drugs, surgery, and the avoidance of acid or salty foods and alcohol, none of which has proven widely successful, I will wade in here with our best shot.



Elaine, for now I will try to give recommendations that will work to reduce inflammation generally and heal the bladder specifically. Please correspond with me through email and let me know your views and reactions to these notes.



It would be well worth your while to order the secretor test from this site. The kind of aggressive inflammatory response and membrane-permeation you are experiencing is far more common among nonsecretors, whose digestive-system linings do not produce antigenetic substances to protect us from avid alien organisms as secretors' do. While you may have tested negative for bacteria (many IC patients do), your inflammatory response may be so high that any "non-self-like substance" in your diet can inspire havoc. I would also make absolutely sure of your blood type, since this is necessary in order to receive valid results from the secretor test.



Here is the type O Urinary Tract Health protocol from The BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia, to be used for four weeks (then "mail me in the morning" :-)):



Bromelain caps (500 mg), 1-2 caps twice daily;

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) (150-250 mg), 1-2 caps twice daily;

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) (500 mg), 1 cap twice daily;

Vitamin C (from Acerola Cherry or rose hips), 250 mg), 1 cap twice daily;

Polyflora-O available here, taken as directed on the bottle.



If you find you're a nonsecretor, add:

Vitamin A (10,000 IU), 1 cap daily;

Deflect-O available here, taken as directed on the bottle.



Personal suggestions:



For once I'm not going to push the exercise thing. (hope that gives you a chuckle!) I am going to push the rest and calming activities thing. :-) Anything that makes you feel good IS good. Meditation, yoga, massage, a fantasy novel followed by a nap.



I MOST ESPECIALLY encourage you to get hold of a copy of Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth from your local bookseller or Amazon online, whether new or used, and read it. If you've no energy to wade through all of it at the moment, just skip to page 193: Special Meditation for the Second Chakra. It is designed to heal the bladder, takes two minutes and will astound you.



Additionally ~ can you tolerate...



yellow onions? they contain a multitude of urinary tract healers. Quercetin is the anti-inflammatory found in yellow onions and available cheaply in supplement form. No known interactions or overdose, so if they give you no trouble you can pop 'em all day long. ;-)



beets? they possess potent cleansing/healing properties due to their plant dyes and sugars. Great cooked, or juiced with larger quantities of carrots and celery.



broth made from bones left over from roasted beef, turkey, or fish? It is chock full of collagens, minerals and proteins in solution ~ just the thing for an ailing bladder, as long as you can eat it pain-free.



mineral water? Explore the mineral water site. If you are following a low-salt diet, your electrolyte balance may be suffering. Mineral water is a possible way to begin addressing the deficit.



A health care professional who is willing to work with you along holistic lines would be your best asset at this time. Do browse our Practitioner Registry, use a good search engine like www.alltheweb.com/advanced, and your local phone book to discover candidates in your locality if you do not have a responsive doctor right now.



Elaine, I regret it's taken me so long to respond to your question! I look forward to hearing your replies. Anyone out there with IC who is using complementary means to resolve it, please sing out! I'll make sure there's an update posted here. Best wishes for healing to all!!

Hi, Carmelin ~ you've certainly had your hands full with your little guy's troubles. Couple of things: muscle testing can work for the meal he's about to eat, but you may find the results change even during a single day. I encourage you to get the secretor test for him, just because he's had a hard time and school will add to his stress levels. Use his home meals to get those Beneficials into him. Folic acid, MethylB12, Cortiguard and the full range of type A supplements (Phytocal, Polyflora and Polyvite) may help him, but I'm loath to fill little kids full of supps. Live Right 4 Your Type, pp. 183-189, has all the specific advice I'd feel safe giving you, with an emphasis on stress-reduction. Asthma has its roots in high stress levels, and it's also serious enough that you can get a doctor-ordered diet put in place for him at school. Find a health practitioner who will do this for you. My best wishes to you, and I hope your boy prospers!

I have asked many times, Please help. I am AB and would like to know the Nutritional information for the D'ADAMO AB BAR. Claories, Protein, carb and fat per bar is all I want. I assume there is only one kind of bar for the AB if there are many then just as a rough idea if someone can give me the count for one of them. I have asked the doctor who refered me her and I have aked this question many many times including the sales people over the phone no one is giving me the info. I would assume that this is basic and that this info should be available. Thanking you, Ahmad.

Hi, Ahmad! I don't have that information, either. Let's do this:

ANYONE WHO HAS ONE OF THE AB, A, B OR O BARS IN THEIR POSSESSION, PLEASE WRITE TO ME WITH THE CAL/PROTEIN/CARB/FAT STATS FROM THE LABEL?

I'll report what our readers write in, and if we don't find out that way, I'll order all the bars meself. Either way, I'll be back atcha! ;-)



. . . [I]n the latter book (Lists) on pages 26 & 27, Barley is listed as a "neutral" AND a "to avoid" food for type B's. Why so many typo's? Magie

I'm sorry, Magie! I haven't caught more than a couple typos in the Little Books. FYI, Barley is Neutral for everyone except type Os. :-}

Do you know of any stores that sell organic foods in Mexico City? John

No, but try a websearch for "ORGANIC" using the search term "Mexico City" (as a phrase) and "Retail." I'll bet you'll find a number of candidates.

My question is for a person who is a type A that wants to lose weight on about a 1000 cal diet, what should the percentages be for protein, carbs and fat? Dr. D'Adamo says high carbohydrate but doesn't really explain the amount. Thanks Carol

This is a good question, although it's an uncertain endeavour to put p/c/f percentages into practice since most foods have some of each. 35/45/20 is a decent guideline... but that said, it's the KIND of protein (light on the flesh foods except fish, and not red meat), the KIND of carb (lots of veg and very little grain for weight loss), the KIND of fat (olive, flax, walnut -- not commercial mayonnaise or trans-fats), that these diets emphasize in their type-designed proportions, which do the job. BTW, I think weight loss will come along in a less painful fashion by combining appropriate exercise, water intake, and the portion/frequency tables in Live Right 4 Your Type, than by counting calories... but if it works, do it! :-)

I know the TYPEbase 3 says that Vinegar (Balsamic/White/Red/Rice) is an avoid for Os and that apple cider vinegar is neutral. I just saw a hot sauce product at the store that use cane vinegar. Do you know if cane vinegar is OK for Os? Don

Hi, Don ~ Cane vinegar is an unknown, so technically it's neutral (especially in tiny quantities -- but your hot sauce probably has a bunch in it). Common sense, though, prompts me to note that of the five kinds of vinegar specifically mentioned in our food lists, one is neutral (and only for secretors). That weights the chances against cane vinegar being OK. When even rice vinegar is a no-no, I have little hope that cane vinegar would do better. :-} but keep searching for those compliant products, you've been doing a great job so far!

I was recomended your book as I have M.S. I am type O. I have not eaten meat for 20 yrs and feel physically sick just reading the meat list. I do eat fish and Quorn a Myco-protein meat substitute we have in England. Ingredients listed-Myco-protein,rehydrated egg white, flavourings, No artificial colours or preservatives. Can I continue to eat this? I was amazed how everything droped into place as I was reading your book. Today is the first day of hopefully a healthier life. Thank you. jacqui

Jacqui, I have reservations about recommending quorn. I don't know what kinds of mushrooms are used (some types are avoids) or whether they are organically raised. If your product does not say "organic" or "biologique," and the manufacturer cannot tell you what species of mushrooms are in it, I think you'd do better without it. Further, harmful additives can hide behind the term "flavourings." I, too, was pretty gobsmacked when I first saw the meat list. If it's possible for you, try to add some turkey and a little ground lamb or beef occasionally ~ your tastes may change as your intellect guides your diet. Good luck, and let me know how you're doing!

I have been trying for a while to improve my diet and your database has been a savoir to me as trial and error is quite difficult on my own. In the food list for Type O you have listed litchi as a nut or seed. It is really a fruit. The spelling is correct but are we talking about the same fruit? The litchi I know is white and fleshy,with a thin red-yellow shell and a large pit. Thanks in advance for your time in this matter. Sincerely Esar

Yep, that's the one we're both talking about. :-)

I am type O but don't know if I'm a secretor or non-secretor. I have only been on the diet for 6 days, but I feel horrible. I have no energy, I'm depressed because I can't quickly get something to eat. I don't feel like I want to this anymore, but I'm tired of being overweight. I'm not seeing or feeling any good results. Maybe it's too soon but feeling so tired and having no energy to even go to the store to get food is really frustrating. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. Help!! Chesha

Dear Chesha ~ It can be very hard at first! Your body's in the thick of its adjustment toward protein-digestion and away from grain-addiction. This is a good thing that feels pretty crappy! Here are a few tips: Choose three avoids (wheat, potatoes and milk, perhaps -- or two of them, or one!) and eliminate them, only. After a couple of weeks, choose another avoid to eliminate (or more, if you feel up to it), and so on. Taking it slowly rather than all at once will minimize the detox symptoms. Second, do whatever exercise you can as soon as you get up in the morning (right after a big glass of water). It will brighten your entire day. Third, it's normal to sleep more and need more water in this transition phase. If you're feeling really down, drink a big glass of water or take a nap. Time will do the rest!



I'm Type O, obviously breads and such are avoids. I found a web site that sells bread mix that is wheat free and gluten free. The problem is that it contains "potato starch". I know potatoes are on the avoid, (I even feel silly asking this question) does this include potato starch? I finally got my husband to start the diet with me and it's very hard to please him, and I don't want him to quit. But finding stuff that he can eat, especially on the run, or quickly, (his job doesn't give him much time,if any)is very difficult. I hope you can answer my question soon. Thank you. Rachel

Oh dear... yes, the potato avoid includes potato starch. Cornstarch, same thing. Diamond Organics has a nice selection of organic sprouted breads, and Food for Life's page has a product list on the left ("Natural Food Mill") and a link to retailers on the right. I suggest these two because they offer excellent products, but if you can find 100% rye bread or a local baker who makes spelt or sprouted breads, you're set. Good hunting!

Thank you for all the wonderful information...it has been very useful for me. I have a difficult time with breakfast...I have about 20 lbs. to lose and it has been a killer to drop...I try to eat a low carb, low grain diet...and if I do eat grains...I choose wisely... but at times I get cravings. Just wanted to know, how beneficial in a rice protein powder for Type O+ ?(I don't know my sector yet). Please advise. Thanks once again! Rose

Organic rice protein powder is Neutral, like whole rice. Cravings mean you're extremely sensitive to the food you crave, and may be best off without it until you reach your weight goals and can slowly add back those neutral "craved" foods. Have you tried using nutbutter or hard-boiled egg for your smoothies' protein element? Easier on your system, and will certainly help ease the cravings! Nutritional yeast, too, contains proteins and B vitamins to keep the cravings beast at bay. Best of health to you, Rose!

...and thank you, everyone, for your wonderful questions!

Hi I have submitted various questions to Heidi but have never received a reply or answer to these. I am not sure why - is it a technical problem or perhaps my questions are stupid!! Either way, if this email is getting through to you could you please let me know so that at least I can rule out the technical error! We can work on the other one later. I must admit I really miss the message board as there was always really good feedback to questions. I am a real fan of this diet but the questions I need to ask are almost gagging me! Please help! Shalinee

Shalinee, I’m sorry for your frustration. You’re not the only one who has not yet had a personal answer to their question. Let me explain the situation a bit so that perhaps you will understand the reason for the delay.

In this past week, I received 67 questions. Some weeks there are 50 or 60, sometimes 70+. Over the roughly 5½ months, or 170 days, I’ve been writing On The Diet, I’ve received nearly 1800 questions... not including the half-dozen or so emails I get daily. Some of the queries are in foreign languages. I do try to post multiple Q&A’s as frequently as possible ~ but as you can see by using the "list previous topics" button at the bottom of this page, I didn’t realize the need to do so until early June. I always expected there would be fewer entries, rather than more, as time went by. I was wrong. :-}

Some of the questions need their own column due to length, topic or complexity, and others have been answered with only one or two others because they so clearly fit together. Writing projects of this kind are always a bit of a balancing act between readability and information quality -- quite different from a message board, where the quality of information can fluctuate wildly. With two doctors "on staff" here, as well as many knowledgeable friends who write in to help, there is far less chance that what I tell you will be in utter error and dangerous for you to follow. We all have more time and emotional energy to focus on the information itself now.

It is my great regret that I haven’t yet responded to each and every question personally. It is true that I continually receive questions on subjects I have addressed in the past, so I urge everyone who has posted a question, or is thinking about posting one, to use the search function at the bottom of this page to discover if your question has already been answered one or more times. Enter the primary term for what you’re seeking: oatmeal... glycerine... hypoglycemia... chickpea... errata... blueberry... beet.... My mission is to get you your information as quickly as possible, and there’s nothing quicker than finding what you need with a simple search.

The On the Diet column is the work of a volunteer -- it is my choice, and my great pleasure, to do it -- but since I’m not a genius by any means, what value I can offer to you involves taking significant time to research and write replies to your concerns, to the best of my ability. There are some questions that are beyond my scope because they truly require the services of a skilled, local physician – I’m also going through a few of those every day and responding via email.

Shalinee, I have the two questions you posted in the last few weeks, and will answer those with tomorrow's column. I certainly do not want you to gag on your questions. I hope that you and others have a better grasp now of the mechanics of getting replies to everyone, and that you will concurrently seek help from your local health care practitioners, Peter's many books, and by reading everything our site has to offer -- I wish you all the very best!!

Greetings, Paula! While we have no rating for reindeer or tysk elk, I feel quite confident recommending them as "Neutral" for your type -- and I suspect this rating will apply to all members of the "Bambi" family you may encounter there in the Finnish woodlands! :-D

About wild duck, I am less sanguine. Duck, goose, grouse, partridge and quail are all avoids for Bs, which tells me that unlisted birdies are better considered "avoids" in your case. Pheasant, however, is fine for you, albeit rarer than ducks of all kinds, sorry to say!

Vaccinium vitis idaea (lingonberry) shares its small family Ericacea and genus Vaccinium with blueberries (including bilberries and whortleberries) and cranberries. My opinion is: eat them with gusto! Considering their relatives, they are likely Neutral for you, and might even be Beneficial.

Well, frankly, I had no idea rowan tree berries were edible at all... shame on me, and thank you for improving my education! I've always found the tree magnificently beautiful, and as it turns out, Sorbus aucuparia (European mountain ash, or "rowan") bears tasty fruit. You type Bs have much to be envied for, but for the moment I'll single out your magnificent fruit list. Rowan belongs to a huge family of plants (Rosaceae) of which not one is an avoid for you... so as to rowan berries, be my guest and call 'em "Neutral!" Hey - how do they taste? :->

Thanks for writing!!

The blood-thinning effects of that much vitamin E could potentiate other problems, and I don't suggest it for the symptoms you are experiencing.

Instead, consider the Congnitive Improvement Protocol in the Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia: Rhodiola rosea, 250 mg: 1-2 caps 2x daily; Thiamine hydrochloride (vit. B1), 50 mg: 1 cap 2x daily; Amla (Indian goooseberry): 250 mg: 1-2 caps 2x daily; and folic acid, 400mcg: 2 tablets daily. Phosphatidylserine is also an option, potentially highly effective but also quite expensive. The average dosage is two 100 mg caps daily.

Please let me know your results! take care, Jennifer! :-)

Hi, Judy! I'm sorry you're suffering!!

I think I can point you in the right direction, but I'd feel better if you could find a good BTD practitioner to work with you in person. Take a look at the Practitioner Registry and try your local health food stores and phone book for a lead.

First, you can design your own plan based on the nonsecretor diet. You know the bread, beans and soymilk shoot your sugar levels up. Get rid of them -- you don't need any of them to get all the nutrition you need. The soy (an avoid for nonsecretor Os) may be part of the cause of your cramping, as well. Cranberries, plums/prunes, blueberries or grapefruit should be the only fruits or juices you have, and very rarely for now. Monitor your reaction to them, and eliminate them if they pose trouble ~~ it won't be forever!

See if using vegetable glycerine (a tablespoon per day) will lower your sugar levels. Include a beneficial meat or fish at each meal -- three meals per day -- as well as a beneficial vegetable, especially the dark greens, pumpkin, carrots, winter squash (the neutral exception here), seaweeds, onions, garlic, hot peppers, and okra. Snack on walnuts and pumpkin seeds. Although flax is only neutral for us, the meal and the oil in combination with a bit of fish oil taken with meals can be of great help in regulating how you metabolize your food.

Eat dandelion greens and take the Taraxacum supp (250 mg, 2x per day), Bladderwrack (200 mg, 2x per day) and Deflect-O (2 caps with meals). Have some green tea to boost your antioxidant levels, if you can tolerate it. And if possible, include some nutritional yeast for B vitamins, and Phytocal-O to boost your mineral intake.

Judy, I sincerely believe you can use these guidelines to resolve your condition. It will be hard going for a while, as you'll need to be a little strict about focusing only on medicinal foods, but it will get easier as your body heals. Do take up your exercise program again, but gently! don't overburden or bore yourself with too-frequent repetitious strenuous workouts -- mix it up, take a walk today and lift weights tomorrow, then maybe a jog the day after, then a session on the rowing machine. Drink plenty of pure water. And let me know how you're faring! I COMMEND you for your efforts, and I know they'll pay off!!

Hello, Jan ~~ It's not uncommon to have to make small adjustments to the blood type diet guidelines, especially if one has a history of hypoglycemia as you do. It's also possible that you are a nonsecretor, in which case you would do better on a bit more meat and a bit less grain and sweet food than type B secretors.

Your breakfast indeed contained quite a bit of sugar, between the raspberries, jam, and rice syrup -- and eggs may not have the protein punch you need to balance out the bread carbs and the sugars.

I'd suggest using one of the lower-sugar fruits which are beneficial for either secretors or nonsecretors, such as grapefruit, plum/prune, blueberry or cranberry instead of raspberry in your MFC. Half an hour later, have your eggs with a little ground lamb or turkey burger, or a leftover piece of meat from dinner.

Get some vegetable glycerine (NOW and Heritage are two common brands) to use as sweetener in your tea. It is remarkable in that it tastes like liquid sugar, but actively helps stabilize blood sugar levels. It is fine for all types!

Have you tried your licorice tea alone, away from food? Sensitive folks have reported they do get a bit headachy from it. See if it affects you in that way, and use another herbal tea instead for a month or two if it does.

Hope this helps! and thank you so much for writing to me!