BTE p565 Glucosamine, N-acetyl (NAG) has a different value as the p572 NAG. Are they 2 different products?

No, it's the same product. All the usages listed are valid for N-acetyl Glucosamine, also known as NAG.

Heidi, In the Blood Type Encyclopedia, on page 488 at the bottom of the page on the left, it lists Co Enzyme Q10: 3 mg. Is that correct, or should it be 30 mg?

It should be 30 mg. Many CoQ10 supplements have even higher dosages, due to the low bioavailability of the CoQ10 in those specific preparations. There is a fairly new product called "Q-Gel," which claims to deliver more of the active compound per mg than other formulations do.

On page 103 of the Encyclopedia, Dr. D'Adamo recommends vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) in a dose of 20-30mg/kg for Type O's. For an 80kg man such as myself, that would equal up to 2400mg (2.4g) of vitamin B6 per day. The Merck Manual warns against such a high dosage -- can you confirm if this is correct? Ryan

That is an error: it should read, "2-3 mg/kg." We'll make sure the publisher is made aware of this correction -- thanks, Ryan!

One more for the Encyclopedia Errata - on p. 332 there is a recommendation to take 200 mg. of Melatonin. (YES, 200 mg.!) Take care! -- Judy

200 mg is the high end of dosage range for melatonin. Since the appropriate dose and the timing of it vary so much between individuals, you are squarely in front of your own drawing board if you decide to try it. Each increment starting at .1 mg (1 mcg) all the way up to 200 mg has proved ideal for at least one person. :-) I suspect this entry in the Encyclopedia could reasonably be changed to read "200 mcg," or .2 mg, which is a good starting point if you wish to experiment with this substance. Here’s an informative webpage on melatonin, with a detailed discussion of its functions in humans, and reliable guidelines for using it.

Thanks, everyone!

Hi there heidi, I've been on the diet for eight months and seeing real benefits. It has in fact sparked off a fascination with nutrition. As part of my reading round, I have recently come across a book "Food, Your Miracle Medicine" by Jean Carper that reports on varioustheories and research. There is a huge chunk on how beneficial wheat bran has proved to be in prevention of bowel cancer and in the shrinking of premalignant polyps. Also, it is pretty definate that it is wheat bran that is the most eficacious, not oat bran or rice bran. As an A type I found this interesting. However, Dr D'Adamo's advice is to cut down on wheat and certainly Bran is an avoid for me. Does Dr D'Adamo know of this research? I would be really interested in his evaluation of the credability of the studies. If the results really are as they have been reported in the book, would this be a case for the benefits of the bran outweighing the disadvantages as far as the blood type diet goes. I am in a quandry as to whether to include bran or not in my diet. Thanks Maggie

Hello, Maggie! It's nice to hear from you ~~ thank you for writing!

I have not read Jean Carper's book, and cannot comment on it specifically. Peter hasn't written about it, either, so ~ begging your indulgence, I'll give your question the old College try. I think it may not be as esoteric a matter as it first appears.

Bowel cancer usually arises from a long history of heavy stresses and poor diet which lead to a variety of serious illnesses -- diverticulitis, IBS, colitis, and cancer. For type A, a heavy meat, nightshade, hot spice, white flour and fat diet is murder on the colon. For a type O, a steady intake of grain, dairy, transfats, sugar, sodas, pork, and lots of processed foods providing little or no FIBER will get her to the same place.

Could this be the key to this treatment's efficacy? Did the individuals in Carper's reports eat little or no fiber of any kind before beginning the bran therapy? A person in terrible colonic shape who is given ANY kind of fiber may experience healing results if that is what they needed in the first place. Perhaps it was the vitamin E in the wheat bran PLUS the broom effect which helped these people far more than other kinds of bran. Or, simply the robust "clean sweep" may have done the trick for them. This is entirely a different mechanism from the lectin interactions which make wheat bran an avoid food for most of us; rather, it is a therapeutic method designed to get one job done in a hurry.

The caveat here, of course, is that many forms of intestinal disease will get worse rather than better if rough fiber like wheat bran or psyllium husks is introduced. In any case, a cancer prevention strategy must address more than one element in the diet.

The blood type plans by default are preventive and therapeutic. They recommend plenty of fiber from approved sources, live enzymes, food for our beneficial gut bacteria, and polyamine-reducing compounds. They eliminate foods which can cause major health difficulties -- including bowel cancer -- by supporting immune system strength (remember the vast immune functions performed by those healthy critters in a healthy colon!). And, unlike a universal quick-fix-in-a-jam, they are based upon the specific biochemistries of the people who use them, and confer unlooked-for benefits in their use.

Colon health is part of total health, approached through diet, stress reduction and exercise. High energy, sound elimination, and a peaceful mind are its hallmarks. With these tools in hand, I feel more than confident in avoiding wheat germ in favor of raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, and ground flaxseed, as part of the BTD whole. I hope you still do, as well!

Would you please tell me if cremini mushrooms are ok to eat for type O and type B? Crimini mushrooms look just like the white button mushrooms but are light tan to medium brown in color. Should they be considered to have the same blood reaction as the domestic white button? or the portobello? Carol

Good news!

Cremini (or "cremini" or "Italian Brown") mushrooms are baby portobellos. Like the full-grown version, they are neutral for all types. :-)

What salad dressing is beneficial for type AB & does being diabetic change anything with your suggested foods & supplements? ~ eric

Hello there, eric ~~ I'm not familiar enough with the common store brands to be able to recommend any for you. :-( I prefer making my own salad dressing; it's quick & simple to make, cheaper than the bottled stuff, and I KNOW what's in it. So maybe these suggestions will help. :-)

If you have a blender, you are 3 minutes away from having your own personal salad dressing of any old kind you would like.

Here are a few Beneficial Blends for AB. Use them to get your imagination going on others you'd enjoy.

1) Basic: 1 cup olive oil, juice from one lemon, dash of sea salt.

2) Add to the basic recipe a handful of fresh basil or oregano - or 1/4 cup of red wine.

3) Fresh pink grapefruit, sectioned; 1 cup olive oil; one or two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses, touch of sea salt. Sounds bizarre, but it's very tasty!

4) 1 cup walnut oil, juice from 1/2 lemon, one tablespoon of miso, a raw garlic clove, two tablespoons brewer's yeast. Makes a rather thick, pungent dressing for Asian-style grilled vegetables, noodles, grilled turkey breast, or a hefty salad.

In all cases, just dump everything in the blender and whiz it up. Adjust to taste, and you're done!

I wouldn't think you will need to adapt the AB diet to handle the diabetes. In fact, it should begin altering you, since diabetes is one of the conditions it is designed to alleviate. People often write that after being on their diet for a few weeks, they needed to reduce their medication! so it's a good idea to keep a close eye on your insulin dosage, and stay in touch with your doctor.

Best wishes!

Hi I am a young woman, type B non-secretor, needing to loose weight. I am really not a great meat fan, especially the kinds recommended for B types, and I do find the amount very expensive in Denmark. I eat beef or veal 1-2 a week, fish 2-4 a month and sometimes turkey. Can I get my protein from dairies instead? I drink/eat 1/2 litre milk the days I eat meat and 1 litre the days without -- mainly skimmed milk or cottage cheese. I really need the protein to make me feel full. Hope to hear from you- thank you for your good work! A Danish fan ~ Iben

Hello, Iben!

The beneficial cheeses on your dairy list, as well as yogurt and milk, can help you reach your weight loss goals by building muscle tissue. But it is worthwhile to establish a balance between your protein foods. If you prepare the meat in stews rather than eating it separately, could you use the same quantity to get a little most days of the week?

Can you find a good source of lamb or rabbit? Sometimes these are cheaper than beef and veal, and you might particularly enjoy the rabbit. Young lamb and rabbit both have rather delicate flavors.

You're doing a great job with this plan! Try to expand your meat choices a bit, and keep up with the dairy. Let me know how your progress goes! :-)

I am A+ and just recently completed chemo and radiation for breast cancer. I am trying to improve my eating habits which means cutting back on meats. I was wondering if canned legumes (black beans, pinto and fava beans) are just as good as the dry. Thank you. Helen

Hi, Helen ~

Legumes are a food that seem to lose little through industrial cooking and canning methods. The canned ones are fine for you! Just watch those labels (as usual). :-}

Eden and Healthy Valley, among many brands, offer organic canned beans and soups of many varieties. Eden even carries black soybeans, for instance.

You won't be missing any of the the nutritional value of the beans, and the convenience will help you stay compliant, especially while you're recovering from your illness.

Best wishes, dear!

I'm a type O+ and have been taking 1-2 packets of plain Knox gelatin in water for my knee pain (which it has greatly improved.) To my horror, I have discovered pig skin is used in the making of this product. Wouldn't this make gelatin an avoid for me? Adrienne

If gelatin is helping your joints, avoid the commercial pig-sourced powder and make your own organic joint-healing broth. It contains plenty of gelatin, and you'll know it's a clean food.

All you need is the leftover bones from roasted meat, fowl or fish. Bring them to a boil in a stock pot with some carrots, onions, celery, parsley if you like it, sea salt. It should stay on a high simmer for at least 3 hours (overnight would be great). Skim off the brownish spotty fuzz that comes up in the first hour or two.

Let it cool somewhat, then pour the broth into a colander set into a large bowl. From there, you can transfer it to small containers. Keep some in the fridge and freeze the rest. It is a chef's delight ~ you can use it as soup stock, in sauces, to make rice, anything that strikes your fancy. And since you are benefiting from the addition of gelatin to your diet, a plain cup of it per day should fill your bill.

enjoy!

Thanks for the compliment, debra!

Peter wrote an Ask Dr. D'Adamo answer on this subject. His view is that we needn't be concerned about using a topical product which contains avoids. For instance, aloe earned its O avoid label by its effects after ingestion -- the aloe-based cream you apply to your feet won't find its way into your digestive tract, and what little may pass the skin barrier shouldn't give you trouble.

I'm discussing this in general terms, but everyone has a different level of sensitivity to avoids in hair and skin products ~ so it's wise to stop using any product if it causes an adverse reaction in you.

:-)