Cocky van Hesteren

Long time since I blogged about my tibetan doc..
I had my second visit back in november. Again a nice meeting with the Amcha. My urine was checked again and considered improved.
My energy level has much improved since my first visit. My bp was a bit on the high side... perhaps too much energy flooding in my veins?? The amcha gave me a variety of herbal teas to lower my bp, named Trak-Shey Tea. Another herbal tea Tobmeen Chudue Gyatso being a health tonic and Gaay-Pa-Sowae-Chulen, an elixir of Rejuvenation.
BP has gone down to normal these past few months. I know my bp goes up and down very quickly..

Last July/August some 5 polyps were removed from my uterus. The results were that the tissue had ATP but was not complex.. So immediate action was not necessary. I am expected back in the office of my gynaecologist at the end of january to see if further action must be undertaken...
I have been taking Helix Plus since then, as Peter told me to do...
What more can I do, besides adhering to my A-Teacher diet to keep my body healthy? I try to take life as it comes to me. I keep my mind sane by keeping a positive outlook in the world.. I try to accept people the way they are, by not judging them.. Live and let live is my motto and offer my help advice when people ask for it.. Most of the times I sense when something is wrong with people I meet.. I have learnt in these past years that to keep an open, tolerant mind and attitude towards others is crucial for good relationships. When positive energy flows between me and the people I meet, I feel happy..

The art of life is what Khalil Gibran told us: Life is a balance, a scale.
When you talk with happiness at your kitchentable, unhappiness sleeps in your bed.
The art of life is to accept and embrace the unhappiness in it and grant it a place in your existence. The moment you accept it, integrate it, it is turned and gives you another perspective to all things that matter to you. That is my experience dealing with my life in these past years.
Happiness is a choice you make! I am convinced of that. I wanted to be happy and made some huge changes in my personal life. The steps to be made horrified and paralized me for years.. With the help of a very dear friend I made them. One door shut and after french windows were opened..
How many people keep hanging in an unhappy relationship?? Too many I think. Everybody has the birthright to be happy. So choose for it!

This story has a happy ending!! Oh yes! I got married yesterday! My friend Hans and I made solems vows to eachother. We were married just by ourselves.. No one present.
Our adult kids (Hans and I have each 3 adult sons and daughters) still do not wish to contact us.. A wish we both respect without judging them. Our exes are still dealing with the past.. I hope some day in the future our kids will grant us a place in their lives. A decision they must make themselves. I cannot, may not, claim, force anything..
They all know the door of our house will be open to them always..

So happiness and grief live next to eachother, balancing eachother, giving life its depth we need to become the persons we want to be..

Cocky, married for the first time in her life!

This week was a week of enlightment..

A week ago a client/friend of mine visited a Tibetan doctor (Amchi), because despite her disciplined adherence to her Gatherer diet, including the necessary physical exercise, she still cannot sleep and sleep being of vital importance to her wellbeing she came up with this Tibetan doctor.
A doctor who had been one of the Dalai Lama's physicians for 2 years.
My friend was stupefied by the speed of his correct diagnosis. She adheres to his advice and already her sleep has improved..

So, I was intrigued and decided to make an appointment as well.
Last Tuesday I went and took my morning urine with me. I entered his room, a room breathing a calm and welcome atmosphere. I was impressed by his sympathetic calm and kindness.
He looked at my urine and felt both my pulses. He told me I had a slight inflammation in my female organs and that my left kidney was low in energy.. Explaining the fatigue I was suffering from these last six months. Adrenal fatigue so to say..
In July and August some polyps were removed from my uterus, so that explains the remnants of an inflammation and my left kidney has indeed been troubling me since 1998.
The Amchi prescribed me tibetan herbs, in the morning before breakfast and after dinner in the evening. Crush 3 'balls', each ball being a compilation of 15 tibetan herbs and pour boiling water over it.. Have you ever tasted mud?? Well the potion is just like that.. Enriched with a prevailing odour of nauseating nutmeg entering my nostrils. I must say I have experienced more frivolous scents in my life...
Today is the first day of not being overwhelmed by these vapours. Pfff.... better!
In 2 months time and.... having digested 120 balls of mud, I am expected back with the Amchi.

Guess what, this Doc gave me a foodlist 85% exactly my TypeA/Teacherlist!! We talked about the GTD and BTD and he knew the BTD by name... I mentioned Peter as being the Doc of BTD and GTD.
Next year the Amchi will start lecturing again about Traditional Tibetan Medicine here in Holland and I am invited to attend..

Well, must say Traditional Tibetan medicine is 2500 years old and has proven itself..
A tradional way of healing by looking at the skin, tongue, pulse, urine, looking at the whole body and mind.
Modern medicine is completely different, just fighting symptoms.. Where did we lose contact with nature, with ourselves??
I sincerely hope that more people will start listening to their bodies and feed their bodies and their minds properly.. Because it is the only way leading to longevity, health and thus happiness.

Take care and talk to you later!

Cocky

My life started in Maarssen, small authentic Dutch village on the river Vecht, province of Utrecht, in the center of the Netherlands back in 1953. Youngest of 4 children, 2 sisters, 1 brother.

Had one year extra kindergarten because when my 1-year-older-sis went to school, I cried and screamed so much my mom decided to ask permission to let me go as well. Permission was granted! One year later I guided my 'contempories' through their first year. Finished schools with normal speed with a crush for languages, literature and poetry.

Became a secretary at the age of 20 in a pharmaceutical firm. Later I joined a waste-disposal company as executive secretary. For 21 years I worked for the Dutch Federation of Parents Associations for people with a mental handicap. During these years I have learnt to be patient and listen to parents with kids, and their special problems!

In 1999 my restless nature needed another challenge. I found it in food and micronutrition. Bought Peter’s first book in Dutch, reading and 'recognizing' my way of life and joined the Bulletin Board in October 1999. Finished my course on Micronutrition in May 2001.

Met Peter in February 2001 during his Author book tour in Essen, Germany. He invited me to visit his clinic in September 2001. January 2002 I started working for the European importer of NAP Products Stacktheme Ltd., and NAP, with office in Maarssen, Holland. Inquiries from all over the world entered my office through the internet!

In 2003 I was certified as a Fellow of the Institute for Human Individuality (IfHI) under Dr. D'Adamo. In 2005 I took and passed the IfHI Masters Certification.

Since then my life became a rollercoaster..

My personal life changed dramatically in 2005 and in 2006 my employment for Stacktheme Ltd. ended and I had to find another secretarial job next to my parttime practice in Maarssen.

Change became my keyword in life! I experienced that going with the flow was 'highly beneficial' for me.

Since april 2007 when the Dutch Genotype Diet (Leven volgens de Genen) was launched in Holland, I dug into my Teacher's diet and found that (cowmilk) dairy is no diamond food for me. So I combine BTD and GTD as long my body likes it. Here is my website

So there is a lot going on and I blog about all those things that-matter-to-me and hope to share with you, readership and fellowbloggers.

Hope to hear from you!

Cocky, Teacher, type A

BR: Introduce yourself!

PB: Hello Cocky, Sorry for that, if you were in Australia you would understand me apologising. It’s actually a common form of greeting when talking to a caged Cockatoo. Right that’s out of the way. My name is Paul Buckless and I am a 51 year old married man living in Tasmania, Australia. Emigrated to Australia with my parents in 1970 and moved to Tasmania to live in 1990.

BR: Can you give us a bit of insight into why you started the blood type diet?

PB: I was concerned about some general health issues which mainly revolved around digestive problems and lethargy.

BR: Are there any diseases that tend to run in your family?

PB: Yes there are a couple of health concerns. My Mother suffers with Multiple Sclerosis and has done since the late 70’s. She is still partially mobile although she broke her leg in a fall earlier this year which slowed her down considerably. My Father, Brother & Sister have all suffered the pain of Kidney stones at various times in their lives. Thankfully I have never had this problem. My Sister who is 38 had a heart scare earlier this year which appears to have been a stress related problem.

BR: How did you find out about the blood type diet? Was it through friends, colleagues, health practitioner, or other?

PB: The Naturopath I went to when I was dissatisfied with my Doctor first put me on to it. In the end I think I was teaching him about it more than him helping me. He did say he wished all his patients would embrace the idea as fervently as I had.

BR: How did you get started? Was it gradually, or did you opt for the cold-turkey-version?

PB: Pretty much cold-turkey. I was already vegetarian and had a very supportive wife, so the changes weren’t to dramatic. More a case of fine tuning really.



BR: How long did it take to notice change in your body (mentally and physically!)

What kind of changes did you experience?

PB: Physically it was a matter of weeks. I noticed an immediate improvement in my digestion which was one of the reasons I had gone to a Naturopath in the first place. It probably took close to 12 months before I realised that I had experienced a remarkable improvement in my energy levels. Mentally I feel alert and bright, although some may disagree.

BR: Was it easy to get started? Or difficult? What was your main purpose to get started?

Health problems like losing weight, or what?

PB: As I mentioned, as a vegetarian I found it fairly easy to get started. I don’t know how I would have gone if I’d been other than a Type A because my reasons for being vegetarian are no longer purely based on a healthy diet. The longer I’ve gone without meat the more established my thoughts and feelings on vegetarianism have become. I started the diet as a natural adjunct to a homeopathic treatment recommended by my Naturopath.

BR: Your family, how did they react to your following the diet?

PB: My parents didn’t understand my becoming vegetarian initially although they have come to terms with it. I haven’t really tried to explain the BTD concept to them. My wife was totally supportive and follows BTD as well.

BR: How many blood types are there in your family? How do you manage?

PB: Just the two. I am Type A and Sue, my wife is one of the poor minority Type AB. We combine beneficial and neutral foods for us both and if I want something that’s an avoid for her I have it on my own. Sue’s biggest gripe with BTD is the lack of beneficial vegetables and fruit that she can eat. She thinks it’s time Peter did something about it J

BR: Eating Right 4 Your Type easy or difficult when you are at work, at a restaurant? On the road?

PB: It’s easy at work as I’ve always taken my own lunch. Eating out has been a problem all our married life. Sue has a number of foods that will trigger migraine and we have always had difficulties so we don’t eat out now at all. On the road I always pack something to eat and something to snack on. We usually take 3 – 4 day holiday breaks and this allowed us to pre-prepare foods to cater for Sue. Nothings changed really, now we prepare foods to cater for our blood. I don’t know what I’ll do in future if I have to travel any great distance or for any length of time. Fortunately Tasmania is so compact that three or four hours will get you from one end of the State to the other.

BR: Looking at your diet: what was easy to integrate into your basic diet, what still gives you problems?

BP: The change in leafy green vegetables was probably the hardest. Eliminating green and red cabbage, Chinese cabbage etc. all of which we grew in our garden. The first winter was tough because I had all of the above planted in the garden and it was too late to plant many replacements like Kale, Collard and Chard. We did get a few in though and pulled out and composted all the avoids. I don’t think there is too much that gives us problems now.

BR: Do you get support from your Medical Doctor? Could you convince him/her of the positive impact of the blood type diet on your health?

PB: I actually mentioned this in my blog of June 11th. I only see my Dr now when I need a follow up blood test for my Thyroid, he does know of BTD and he now knows how much I believe in it. My Naturopath has retired and I have maintained the treatments he recommended and I am now pretty much self treated.

BR: What kind of medication did you take for overcoming your health problems? And how is your medication-intake after having started the blood type diet?

PB: I take Homeopathic medicines in liquid form. Kelp for my Thyroid and a pre and post digestive aid for my digestion. These contain a blend of herbs including Gentian and Angelica. The more I understand about the Type A physiology and the problems we have with digestive acid convinces me that the medication is right for me.

BR: The country, city, village you live in: Is it a problem or not to find the organic foods you need?

PB: Devonport in Tasmania is a City of approx. 25,000 residents. The organic food issue is a difficult one here. The relatively small population base for Tasmania (485,000) means that we are restricted in a lot of choices. A lot of the economy is rural based and we are a large producer of vegetables for the Australian market. Unfortunately this market is dominated by multi national food companies who are looking for the quickest way to make a dollar. Having said that there are plenty of niche re-sellers of organic produce but the quality nor pricing is not what it should be. We grow a good deal of our own vegetables and a little fruit all of which is organic.



BR: Paul, I want to thank you agreeing to my request to have your story published in my column, next to the daily diaryblogs in the Blogger department. Mike Staffieri was the first blogger in my column...Paul, I really enjoyed your Rye-Speltbread you published in your blog... Super tasty bread.. I added some oregano to it... Real Italian flavour...I hope you will treat us to many more tasty contributions in your blog.I enjoy your down-to-earth blogs very much!!Take care and stay well..

BR: Mike, I think it is great that you agreed to tell your story into the Diet in my column as well! Introduce yourself!

MS: I'm a 40 yr old type O secretor.... I’m single, father of an 8 yr old girl... I live in Toronto, Canada. I'm a sales manager by profession for a Fortune 500 computer company where there are always people demanding my time. The BTD diet has helped me control my stress levels and has helped me be more of a resource to the people that report to me. I spend my free time playing golf, bike riding, roller blading, skiing, reading and playing guitar.



BR: Can you give us some insight into why you started the blood type diet? When was THE moment you knew that the BTD was more than just a diet?

MS: I came to the BTD through a reflexoligist I was seeing 18 months ago. After reading many health books and diet books, ERFYBT was the only book that was not a "one size fits all" approach. When I read in ERFYBT that type O's were most susceptible to Autoimmune Disorders, it really peaked my interest. About 8 years ago I lost all my bodily, scalp and facial hair due to an Autoimmune disorder called Alopecia Universalis.

BR: Are there any diseases that run in your family?

MS: High blood pressure runs in my family amongst my A type family members, and my dad; a type O… had his thyroid removed a few years ago.

BR: Mike, did you opt for the cold-turkey-version? Did you experience detoxsymptoms? And for how long?

MS: I can’t say that I did. I find that since being on the diet, if I happen to eat some avoids like wheat, I immediately feel the difference in my gut.

BR: And how long did it take to notice change in your body (mentally and physically!) What kind of changes did you experience?

MS: Within 2 weeks of starting the BTD I began to notice an increase in my energy level, physically and mentally. I always had a hard time concentrating on things for prolonged periods of time, like reading a book or studying new material. Since being on the diet, my mental acuity has vastly improved. Physically, I lost 20 pounds and 2 inches of my waist after 3 months and it was the first time I saw my stomach muscles in over 20 years without a sit up to show for. I wasn’t like I needed to loose weight, but I feel now I am at my optimal weight. My current BMI is 19. Also I tended to fall asleep easily or feel drowsy after a meal especially if wheat was involved. This rarely happens anymore. As I mentioned above, I lost about 95% of all my bodily and facial hair... Alopecia universalis (autoimmune disorder)... 8 years ago. Since being on the diet I’ve regained about 30% of it back in various places. I’m not really hoping or expecting that it will all grow back. There are many advantages of not having hair... like never having a “bad” hair day. I did have very weak, cracked and flat nails, but since being on the diet they have started to regain their proper shape and lustre.

BR: Your family, how did they react to your following the diet? We read that your mom thinks you should eat pasta!! Were you able to explain them why you started the Diet? And are they positive about it?

MS: About the only family members that know I am on the diet are my parents. My mom was not very enthusiastic about me being on the diet…She equates diet with eating less and Italian mothers love to feed their boys when they come to visit. It was hard to explain that I was not eating less but eating the appropriate food for my blood type…so she feeds me as many beneficials and neutrals (I gave her LRFYBT) when I visit. I’ve tried to get my parents on the diet, but they are set in their ways. My parents are always happy when I am happy and since being on the diet, my body has been happy, so yes they are positive about it.

BR: You told us in your bloggs that you are a single dad with 8-year-old daughter. What is her bloodtype and does she eat accordingly? Tell us how you manage this.

MS: I see my daughter every other weekend and odd times during the week. It is hard to manage her daily eating according to her blood type since her mother knows nothing of the diet (something I would like to change), but when she is with me she shares my type O diet. She is a very active healthy child and does very well at school. I think the biggest challenge for any parent is keeping their kids away from sugar-laden treats and foods. If you can do both, BTD diet and restrict the sugar, we would do well in getting our kids off to a good start in life, physically, mentally and emotionally especially in their earliest years before they pick up bad food eating habits.

BR: Eating Right 4 Your Type is not easy for you when you are on the road, at culinary company-events. You ‘pointed’ it out to us! What is your percentage of compliance with the diet? In times of stress do you increase your compliance?

MS: I’m about 99% compliant when eating at home, 90% eating out and at social events usually 75%. I take Deflect when need be which helps. In times of stress I find it’s harder to comply especially if I do not exercise regularly. The strenuous exercise, which is needed for O’s, helps me stay compliant because it lowers my stress levels.

BR: Looking at your daily diet: what was easy to integrate into your basic diet, what still gives you problems?

MS: Meat was very easy to integrate into my diet, especially lamb and veal. Pork, especially sausages, was hard to give up. Giving up the pasta and wheat food like muffins, cereals and bagels was difficult… I grew up in an Italian household in a Jewish area of town so I ate these foods for years and had a hard time giving them up. Milk and cheese always gave me digestive problems even though I love yoghurt and cheese cake, but I don’t miss it. Almond and Soymilk are now in my fridge and there are still some neutral cheeses that I eat like goat cheese. I love fish!! I have so many to choose from for my blood type. Lentil and kidney beans were some of my favourite beans but my chilli recipes now call for lamb and Aduke beans and I don’t even remember what lentil soup taste like anymore. The hardest thing to give up was Strawberry/Rhubarb Pie, coffee and French fries with vinegar. Lots of fruits and vegetables to choose from for my blood type…oranges I never liked so no great problem there.

BR: Do you get support from your Medical Doctor? Could you convince him/her of the positive impact of the blood type diet on your health?

MS: My doctor has no idea I’m on the diet because I have not had any reason to see him since being on it. I have a physical scheduled shortly. I could try convincing him of the benefits, but I find most medical doctors are too caught up in drug treatments rather than prevention of illness and disease.

BR: If you take medication: How is your medication-intake after having started the blood type diet?

MS: The last time I took some medication was 12 years ago when I was miss-diagnosed with a fungal nail infection. I have not taken any anti-biotic or flu shot in over 15 years. I get the common cold maybe once a year. I have had the flu once in the last two years. I’m known as the “iron man’ at work because I have missed 1.5 days due to illness in the last two years. Since I have an over active immune system to begin with, flu shots and anti-biotics are the last thing I need to take.

BR: You live in Toronto, Canada: Can you buy the foods you need for your O-diet??

MS: Toronto, Canada is one of the most cosmopolitan (cleanest and safest) cities in the world. We have a complete mosaic of cultures and foods. Organic food and beef is easy to find and I have no problem buying food for my O blood.

BR: Mike, many others and I enjoyed your blogger contributions about your BTD-version of Sex and the City. You wrote the BTD-Blues!! Talking of inspiration! We could programme your nutritious music-lyric for the coming Seminar in Arizona in April 2005. We might select our BTD-Idol at the end of the Seminar! Are there any other aspirations you cherish, as a consequence of being on the BTD you want to share with us? This is your chance!!

MS: I’m glad you enjoy my blogs--I enjoy writing them and I am glad to be part of such a great group of bloggers. I like to inject a little humour and fun into my blogs from time to time because I feel we need to laugh and laugh at ourselves (especially when we are a little hard on ourselves for not being compliant). As far as aspirations, I would love to attend classes and become certified as a BTD practitioner if at all possible (if I could find time from my busy schedule). Since being on the diet, I have developed a keen interest in nutrition and microbiology. I think all of us who are part of the BTD community are all striving for one ultimate thing and that is to heal and be healed…our bodies and our souls (even though we ignore them) are ultimately striving for that. My aspirations are purely to help people (myself included) to “wake up” and “listen”

BR: Mike, thank you for your so in-tune interview! It is so important that people, and especially people with loads of healthproblems, that they ‘wake up’ and start ‘listening’ to their body and mind!! So good for you that the BTD also crossed your path and you were ‘awake’ enough to grasp the benefits for you!!Thanks Mike for your open interview and hope the BTD-Blues will be on stage soon!!