I am a type o non-secretor. I also have hypoglycemia. I do fine on the high protein, low carb diet, however I have added foods such as ezekiel bread, rice, pinto beans, pineapple juice, and cherry juice to my diet. I continue to eat lots of meat and vegetables. Should I eliminate foods high on the glycemic scale even if they are considered beneficial? I am still trying to determine what affect bad lectins have on blood sugar levels. I am determined to stay on this diet. Thanks!

Peter is fond of pointing out that it is not how much carbohydrate, but what kind of carbohydrate, that makes the difference. The glycemic index is only one aspect of food analysis. Live Right’s recommendations are designed not just upon the general observation of a food’s effect on blood sugar levels, but according to the kinds of sugars present, any lectin activity, the relative amount of beneficial substances, and other type-mediated issues.

For instance, pineapple juice contains anti-inflammatory and protein-digestive enzymes. Black cherries are high in antioxidant compounds, and act to lower polyamine levels. In contrast, apples and oranges have much lower glycemic index ratings than pineapple… but apples contain a lectin affecting type O nonsecretors, and have little to offer aside from fruit pectin, while oranges contain high levels of putrescine, rendering them avoids for most types. Would anyone on the typical hypoglycemic’s diet consider indulging in watermelon? Of course not, it’s at the bottom of the list, with an index of 103/72! But Live Right says it’s beneficial for Bs, ABs and A nonsecretors… because it contains substances that moderate insulin’s effects as well as reducing edema. In effect, it performs the tasks that the glycemic index hopes to achieve through discouraging you from eating it.

If grains trigger wooziness or cravings, cut back. O nonsecretors should have only a maximum of three servings per week ~ if you're Rhesus-negative, that figure drops to two.

Other factors come into play. There is always an adjustment period involved if this diet is a big change from your former one. At first, you may experience hefty cravings for the grains and sugar you’ve eliminated from your diet. Not only your liver and insulin functions, but your very brain chemistry, changes in response to this kind of dietary upheaval. Smile! Feeling lousy is a sign that the adjustments have begun, and sticking to the diet means you won’t have to go through them again. The best approach is to fill up on protein, perhaps more than the suggested amounts, and fill in with vegetables ~ this is perfectly OK, and is your body’s way of treating itself to the healing and rebuilding power of what it needed that it hadn’t been getting. Over a few months’ time, most Os find their appetite for meat settles at a more moderate level.

Vegetable glycerine, widely available in health food stores, has beneficial effects upon our ability to release energy from the food we eat, and can be used in place of any sweetener you now employ.

If you are willing to use supplements, try 5HTP, L-glutamine, and/or L-tyrosine for cravings. You won’t need them forever. Deflect-O™ helps clean your tissues of insulin-mimicking lectin deposits, and Polyflora-O™ speeds the repopulation of beneficial bacteria to support your digestion and immunity. Both are available from North American Pharmacal.

Finally, don’t forget the exercise part of the plan. Half an hour per day is a tiny investment compared to the whole-body rewards it confers. For type Os, it is absolutely essential to get an exercise program in place which is based upon your current fitness level and keyed for gradual improvement. Watch for signs of boredom or strain, and adjust your routine accordingly.

This plan has a wonderful track record in handling hypoglycemia. I'm sure you'll meet with success!

My blood group is 'O' and as I am sure your aware the diet is pretty carnivorous. However, my main problem is that I am and have been since birth a vegetarian. I am trying to follow the diet, but was wondering if I can allow more eggs and dairy into my diet plan to make up for the missing meat and poultry. Many thanks for your help.



A great number of type Os come to this diet from a vegetarian lifestyle, and wish above all to adhere to their ideals. Based upon my personal experience and the accounts of hundreds of others, I would encourage you to consider how much good you can do in the world if you are the healthiest person you can be. Consider this plan from the standpoint of what we Os are biologically designed to eat, and what balance means in nature. As a stopgap measure for your pondering phase, I'd like to offer Bob L's wonderful post on how type O vegetarians might approach this diet. Here it is:



"Select the foods you will eat from the beneficial and neutral lists. Try not to base your meals on grains, but if you do, rice is probably best. Instead of grains use squash or sweet potatoes as a starch. Eat plenty of vegetables and moderate amounts of fruit. Get protein at every meal from nuts, seeds, beans and tempeh which I think is better than tofu. Soaking nuts like almonds to germinate them make the nutrients contained more assimilable. Use nutritional yeast.



"Supplement with vit B12, and the amino acids taurine and carnitine. D'Adamo says the ayurvedic herb Coleus Forskolii aids cellular energy production in vegetarians. If you are a secretor, you may be able to eat a little more of the neutral cheeses like feta, farmer and mozarella than is recommended. If you will eat eggs, this would make things easier and simpler.







Note: Strict vegetarians should be aware that both taurine and carnitene are amino acids derived from meats.



If you have no health problems, this modified O diet could work for you. But if you find yourself overweight or ill, it may be Nature sending you a rather carnivorous message. Good health to you!

Dear Heidi, thrill with your column, I read it first thing in the morning after I have my breakfast, I am AB secretor with a history with cancer, very healthy otherwise, taking all the supplements Dr. D'Adamo recommends and following the diet. The supplements I take are from North Pharmacal but in the Encyclopedia in some protocols there are some supplements that I can not find, please help me, for example Astragalus and OPCs. For my stress reduction I am practicing now Qigong and Tai Chi and I feel great. Thank you for your time and the love you transcend in your column. Luisa

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Thank you, Luisa ~ how kind! ~~:-}

Here are a few pointers on finding the supplements recommended in the Encyclopedia. Perhaps you've done all this already ~ if so, just email me and I'll try to help further!

1.) Perhaps you or a friend or family member could scour your locality for a responsive organic grocer or supp shop. Copy out exactly the full English name and Latin name (if given) of the supps you're looking for, including the preferred strength (20mg, 500mg, etc.) and how many to take, how often. Also, figure out how many you'll need to complete one round of your protocol (commonly, capsules are packaged in 60, 120, 180 or 500-unit bottles). If you find a store that stocks your supp, but in a different strength -- 100 mg capsules when you're looking for 50 mg, for example -- you may be able to take fewer dosages -- if the book calls for 2 caps three times per day, for example. You see what I mean.

If you find a shop that carries a good supply of vitamins, etc., but they don't have what you're looking for, ask to speak to the manager. Explain what you need. Ask if they normally carry it -- or could special-order it for you, and how much it would cost. Think about how much you'll need for one round, two rounds or more of your protocol (however many you plan to do), and ask how many bottles you'd have to commit to in order to get the special order. Unless you're really flush with cash and the minimum order is no more than you can use, just get a price from them -- you can always place the order when you've checked other sources' prices and delivery times. It may be that someone you know could join you in the order, or you could ask the manager to let you know if others request the same supp -- you could form a group order that way.

Why am I belaboring this simple idea? As a general rule, I like to support local businesses. It's just a political philosophy I have, but it's not some high-level abstraction unrelated to daily life. Those people in your neighborhood or town or city who work every day to get good stuff on their shelves won't be there for you when you need them if they don't get your business. In addition, a few vocal customers can change a marginal little joint into a thriving supply of high-quality products. Most merchants want to know what you want to buy, and they want to be the ones to sell it to you. Everyone wins! :-) All I'm saying is... give Commerce a chance!! :-D Just opening your mouth to a manager puts a seed idea into her head which will pop up every time someone else does the same.... be part of the process, folks!

2.) If local shopping is not an option, then go to my favorite search engine: alltheweb.com's advanced search. Choose "exact phrase." Enter the supp you're looking for. Down below, enter each of the following terms separately in one of the three windows provided, after choosing "must include" from the pulldown menu: mg, cap [or veggiecap if desired], organic [try with and without this one, as not everything you're looking for is an herb or root]. This technique isn't perfect, but it weeds out lots of pages (bulletin boards and general health sites, for example) that won't help you.

Astragalus is a venerable supplement you'll find all over the Net and in several well-known brands in most supp shops. That one should present you with no problem.

For oligomeric proanthocyanidins (a term I don't see often while browsing! :-)) I didn't use the additional terms -- I just entered the name and specified "exact phrase" to see how many hits I'd get.

58 hits. Hmmm.... Does Dr. Joel Wallach have his own bunch of sites? I see many different websites with the same advertising text offering his "OPC-T" product (some amalgam of OPC and green tea). The main, first website doesn't even tell me how many capsules I get for my USD27.50 (or 21.50 if I sign up for "wholesale status"...) Hmmm.... I just want OPC, not Joel Wallach. SO, now I go to the bottom of my search page. Under "word filters," I enter "Wallach" and pick "must not include" from the pulldown menu.

To quote Jed Clampett, "Whee-doggies!" I'm starting to feel your pain! Now I've got 47 websites, and a bunch of THOSE have the same ad texts, which appear to be selling something called "Perfor-Max" which has two different formulations (one with grape seed, pine bark, and curcumin extract, the other adding green tea leaf, hawthorn berry, and rosemary leaf) and offer something called "distributor" status. Multi-level marketing scheme? Looks that way from here... I don't know. Hmmmm... Between Dr. Wallach and the Perfor-Max sites, you have a couple of choices if you'd like to purchase a capsulized form per the Encyclopedia's suggestions.

What I've learned so far from these searches is that OPCs are substances found in many foods, so over-the-counter preparations will vary. At http://www.self-improvement-personal-development.com/p_long.html I read that OPcs are a whole group of bioflavinoids, and that "The most potent source of OPC (Activin) is found in grapes. Red wine is considered the richest natural source of OPC." A pleasant idea is beginning to form in my head.

http://www.realhealthlabs.com/arthromobility.htm offers both grape seed extract and curcumin ("turmeric") extract. Our site here sells ARA6, which is larch arabinogalactan (from bark of the Western Larch tree, a deciduous conifer) as well as Hawthorne Plus (hawthorne berry extract & more larch). Rosemary is a lovely herb for cooking. Green tea and red wine [perhaps all on its own] cover the rest of the bases. SO: how about a total of 500 mg per day from those supplements, some green tea in the morning and some red wine at night? Sound good?

3.) A Special Note: If all else fails in a long search for something, here's another option: Hickey's Chemists, Ltd. in my town of New York City. They have heard of EVERYTHING and seem to stock even more. If you call them toll-free at 1-800-724-5566, you can talk to one of the shockingly knowledgeable staff, who can then mail your order to you. These are wonderful people who have come through for me in tight spots, and I like to throw them some business whenever I can.

Well, that's an example of my thinking process on supplements. If you see a column entitled "Was my face RED!?!" tomorrow, you'll know Peter sent me a friendly message telling me his preferred OPC supp. In that case, I'll pass it on. ;-D

I truly appreciate your story, Luisa. Keep enjoying the diet, and spreading the love around! thanks, dear.

I am type A. I have been eating for my type for a year now. Here is the problem..... I have been taking a diet pill ( I know I know ) and it contains MaHuang and Ephedrine. I want to get off of it now. I am just afraid I will gain weight back. What do I do? I do Yoga every day. I weight lift 3 day's a week and I will be hungry all of the time if I go off of this stimulant. Am I damaging myself even more by continuing to use it? Sarah

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Hi, Sarah ~

The risk of stroke, heart attack, seizure, and numerous lesser ailments from ephedrine and the herb Ma Huang, let alone the several instances of death which have been associated with them, makes me hope you’ll read this page, stand up, grab that bottle and toss it in the trash!! :-) I can imagine all the work you've put into being healthy, and you probably do know all this already, but sometimes it helps to hear it again. ;->

Something I know from my life in a law firm: the number of lawsuits arising out of the life-threatening side-effects of these drugs is so huge, there are whole firms who do nothing except sue over Ma Huang! Believe me, lawyers wouldn’t bother with this kind of practice if they didn’t have plenty of clients (chemically injured people) knocking at the door. However: because of the widespread knowledge that these substances are hazardous, and yard-long package inserts which make the matter clearer than ever, plaintiffs will have a progressively more difficult time proving that they were victims rather than adults making the fully-advised choice to use it for potential benefits despite the risks. So as time goes on, your risk of health problems increases and your potential success in court diminishes. It’s just great in so many ways, eh?

Here’s something else to ponder: the heightened sense of anxiety you’re feeling over gaining back the weight is yet another side-effect of the drug. Does anyone but me think this is brilliant? It’s like the drug creates in its users the fear of quitting it. Wow! Don’t we all wish we marketed a product like that?? (JUST KIDDING!)

OK, so that’s the bad news. Here’s the good: I can’t count how many people lost weight one way and another, and gained it back, and lost it again, and gained it back, yet when they started using their blood type diet they came to a healthy weight and didn’t yo-yo anymore. I think I gained and lost half a ton in total before I started this diet in 1997 (when I was TOO thin). Guess what? 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002… here I am, still at the weight I established a couple of months after starting the diet. Sure, my body mass fluctuates a bit with my exercise schedule and the seasons, but that amounts to maybe a 3-pound variance. The blood type plans are spectacular in their ability to bring you to a balance and support you there.

You’re solidly on the A plan, and you can trust that it will carry you through. You may or may not feel hungrier than usual, but don't be afraid to fill up with salads, steamed vegetables, fruit, beans, anything that's on your OK list. Have some coffee or green tea in the morning if you wake feeling groggy. Surprising tip: a big glass of water can make fatigue vanish (since it's so often related to dehydration). Try it! I would expect a short readjustment period while your body gets rid of the toxins and you get used to living without the stimulants... but it will pass quickly, and you’ll then have the chance to enjoy the benefits of all your efforts to be healthy ~~ and you’ll feel so much calmer and happier once the drugs are gone, to start with.

Best of luck! You can do this, and the sooner you do, the easier it will be. Thank you for writing, Sarah, and please keep in touch!

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I am an A type and live in South Africa, Cape Town. I read the book - "Eat Right For Your Type" and want to follow the diet. I am also a bit overweight. My problem is that I can not find tofu or soya milk and soya joghurt. Also the wheat essence bread is a problem as nobody ever heard of it. Where to find amaranth and buckwheat and recipes to make a bread from that is also a problem. Soy products if you are lucky to find some are also quite expensive and not cheap as indicated in the book. What do I do now as soy should be the main ingredient in my diet and I am fully prepared to eat it as I do not like red meat anyway. Thanks! EURIKA

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Eat Right was written in the U.S. over several years, and first published in 1996. No one knew then that the book would be printed in many languages for worldwide distribution! So I must apologize that some of the statements about food availability and prices may not apply in your area.

Here's a contact I found:

SOUTHERN AFRICAN SOY FOOD ASSOCIATION

SUIDER-AFRIKAANSE SOJAVOEDSELVEREENIGING

The first Chairman of SASA, Mr Pieter Prozesky said "the Association hope to improve the contribution of soyfood to the nutrition of Southern Africa's people, as soyfood is seen as one of the food products of the future".

SECRETARIAT: Agrimark Consultant: Icy Jooste

CONTACT DETAILS:

POSTAL ADDRESS: PoBox 4132, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 9300

Tel: +27 51-404 1874 Fax +27 51-404 1705

E-mail: admin@soyfood.co.za

Web: www.soyfood.co.za

I know they were active at least until early 2001, so although their website is down as I write this, it may be only temporary. In the meantime, try calling or writing. They may have excellent suggestions for local companies making tofu, soy milk, etc. Of course, there are recipes on the Internet for making your own, but you will at least need soybeans to do so. Perhaps the SASFA can direct you to organic sources. Imports from the United States will most certainly not be organic, and it is of vital importance to get staple foods which are non-GMO. I hope they can be of help to you!

Essene bread is made from 100% sprouted grain, salt and water, and can be made at home. Go to the bottom of this page and enter "essene" into the search engine ~ I've posted recipes for essene and Ezekiel breads.

Recipes for all kinds of breads can be found in the thousands on the Internet ~ use your favorite search engine (try alltheweb.com, for instance) and I'm sure you'll find more than you can use!

I am surprised it is difficult to find amaranth where you are, since it is a major food crop of South Africa. Buckwheat is grown there as well.

Here's an idea to get general information on good food sources: The Women's Wholistic Health Directory lists resources and can be contacted directly with questions on where to find products you need. You might write to its publisher in Roggebaai, or get in touch with one of the suppliers listed under "Health Shops and Products." Even a shop devoted to aromatherapy might have good suggestions.

While soy is important in your diet, remember that it is only one element of many. One serving per day is plenty. Grains (again, one serving per day) and beans should be part of a balanced diet along with vegetables and fruits. Load up on local produce, enjoy some fish or chicken now and again, and use your type A exercise to relieve stress and aid weight loss.

Good luck, and thank you for writing!

I am a Type A, long-term vegetarian who enjoys some of the vegetarian "meats" on the market today. However, I am concerned about nitrites, and wondering if vegetarian "bologna" and "hot dogs" contain these? Thank you. Lynda

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Nitrites have been used for decades to preserve/enhance the color of meat in sausages, bacon and cold cuts. Oscar Meyer doesn't want gray bologna! ;-> In some old brands, you can even find saltpeter, for the same reason. Tofu- and grain-based veggie meat substitutes aren't red to begin with -- so, they generally include a vegetable coloring such as beet juice to get that familiar hot dog look.

Check the ingredient list before buying anything in a package, especially complex creations like vegetarian "meat." You shouldn't find any nitrites, but there may be other unpleasant and/or avoid items lurking in them. Reading the label is the only way to be sure you're getting what you want.

Thanks for writing, Lynda!

As a type O perimenopausal woman I am very concerned about prevention of osteoporosis. I had bone density testing done recently and they found osteopenia in one of two sites. I know how important calcium supplements are (and wt. bearing exercise.) My question concerns optimal Calcium intake. I know from experience that my compliance goes down when I have to take too many pills per day. The new chewable calcium supplements have led to 100% compliance. Will the small amount of corn syrup in these chewables interfere with the absorbtion from the gut? Any chance chewables will be available in BTD format? (like with rice syrup instead?) Thanks in advance for your time and attention.

Diane

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Hello, Diane ~

The corn syrup in the vitamins won't affect calcium uptake, but you may find it will trip you up in other ways. The form of calcium they contain is important, though. I hope it's not calcium carbonate! of which very little is actually absorbed and used. The best kinds for type O that you'd likely find on the supp shop shelf are microhydroxyapatite (basically bone meal) or calcium citrate. Even better is Phytocal-O, sold at this site. Sorry, I know of no plans for a compliant chewable.

If I were you, I'd make a fruit smoothie in the morning and stick the contents of a higher-grade capsule calcium in there, along with a bit of nut butter or oil (or any oil supp you take). Lots of encapsulated supplements can be disposed of (and disguised!) in this manner, and you could make one at night as well.

I'd also try to include high-calcium foods on a daily basis. For instance, a cup of collard greens and two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses account for 700 mg! Here's a list of foods with significant calcium content. Make them part of your healing diet.

Thank you for writing, and good fortune to you!

I am blood type O. In the book, we are allowed to eat Goat cheese and not goat milk. What about goat meat? Is that in the neutral or highly beneficial group, or is it in the avoid section with the goat milk?

Also, I regularly take high enemas with two bags os water, two quart bags in the morning, two quart bags in the evening. I am feeling much better since I started eating according to the Eat Right for Your Type diet plan. I am also taking the recomended supplements for my blood type. Is there anything you might be able to suggest to correct the bowels instead of taking so many enemas? Thank you very much for all of your information. I was extremely pleased to find this web site and be able to ask these questions. I would appreciate any answers you might be able to offer. Sincerely, Seldon

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Hello, Seldon ~~

In the latest book's updated food lists, goat cheese and goat meat are neutral for type O secretors. Goat milk, however, is still an avoid. You might want to pick up a copy of Live Right 4 Your Type. Its new food values have had an impact on us BTD'ers similar to that of an epic novel -- some joy, and some tears, for everybody! :->

I sympathize with your desire to resume normal bowel movements without the use of enemas. While you didn't mention how long you've been taking them, they can be an arduous habit that is hard to break after long use.

Lucky for us, this is (comparatively) easy to solve with the ABO diets. I hope I can be of help with this.

The main goals are: get water and fiber in plenty to the intestines; support your beneficial bacteria; stimulate peristalsis through exercise.

Raw fruits and raw or lightly cooked vegetables contain abundant water held in the fibrous cells of the plants. Base at least two meals a day on a filling salad or pile of steamed-but-crisp fibrous veg (dark greens, broccoli, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, okra (great for healing the colon), asparagus, Brussels sprouts (they're neutral now! Hooray!)) -- you get the drift. Make sure to get enough meat and FAT (oils, nuts, seeds) to smooth things along. Between meals, try to consume a few quarts of water in the day -- adding a little good sea salt to each will help carry the water into the bowels where we want it. And try this: two tablespoons of flaxseed, ground in your electric coffee grinder, stirred into 1/2 cup water and left to sit for 20 minutes or so. It will become a gelatinous mass. Eat it up! It looks bizarre, but tastes great, and is one of the classic natural laxatives that provides fresh essential fatty acids, too.

It's possible you're low on magnesium -- most folks are. A magnesium citrate supplement, even a glass of Epsom salts at night & in the morning, will do a good jump-start on your ability to eliminate "from the top down." It's a good idea to take calcium and magnesium in a 1:1 ratio -- start with the mag's recommended dosage, then up it slowly until you have loose stools. At that point, back off until stools are normal.

Everybody reading this is now thinking, "OK, Right! What's NORMAL?" What's normal for most people these days is pretty dismal, so I won't tell you what's normal, I'll give my views of what's optimal. It is: an easy bowel movement soon after each meal, at least a foot in length, one-to-two inches in diameter, medium(-ish) brown in color, and holds its shape. Mine floats. Does yours? LOL! :-D Boy, will the mail be pouring in tomorrow!!

Now: Peter D'Adamo has created probiotics for us, and the type O Polyflora compound is something you should seriously consider. It contains billions of beneficial organisms, in healthy shape, and they come along with their favorite foods to stimulate their growth and activity. These little fellers are the very crux of health, and we wouldn't be alive without them. When you've been on the diet for a period of months, your colon populations will have had time to resume on their own, but if you'd prefer to speed the process, use the probiotics.

And don't forget "fully half of the type O plan:" exercise. The more we get, the happier we are (OK, there are limits!), and I suggest a strenous walk, hike, run, row, whatever you're in shape for: start where you are and go from there. Between you & me? the diet and the exercise will accomplish your goal all on their own, if you pitch in with a whole heart. ;-)

Thanks, Seldon ~ I wish you luck! Report when you can!