Question:

I have read everything I could find in the question section but could not find any information concerning parasites. Is there a problem with this issue to humans from foods, food handling, food preparation? If so are there foods or herbs to keep our bodies free from infestation? I've been a follower of "The Diet" for as long as the books started coming out in Natural Foods Stores. I'm B, secretor, age 60, female, and use elderberry religiously for balance, plus have started the vitamin/mineral supplements. Thank you for reading this and I'll be looking forward to any information you have on the above questions.



Suggestions:

Hi, Doris!

Parasites that like humans are usually found in flesh foods. While it's wise to keep hands and work areas meticulously clean when preparing raw meat, fowl and fish, our first defense against parasites lies in the immune systems of the animals we eat. A free-ranged, clean-fed and -kept animal is far less likely to have fallen prey to parasites than a sick, medicated and hormone-enhanced one. Yet another good reason to support conscientious farming and ranching, and choose wild fish from reputable fisherman!

I can recommend an interesting pesto sauce which has evidenced anti-parasitic, detoxifying and mercury-chelation properties, here modified for type B secretors: 2 cups fresh cilantro and 2 cups fresh parsley mixed, 1 cup of roasted seeds from butternut or acorn squash, 6 cloves of raw garlic, ½ teaspoon of sea salt and 3/4 cup olive oil – blend ‘er up. Adjust as your taste dictates. Add a few tablespoons of your favorite fresh-grated peccorino Romano or Parmeggiano Reggiano cheese, YOU LUCKY B. :-} This pesto can be used as a sauce for steamed vegetables, meats, or pasta.

While I'm at it: Peter has recommended black cherry juice to reduce polyamines and combat surface bacteria on meats. The presence of certain polyamines is less of a concern for type Bs than the rest of us (oranges are a case in point), but it's still prudent to use natural means to limit polyamine activity in meats. Two tablespoons of black cherry juice per pound of ground meat, or added to a marinade for steaks, will do the trick, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the taste.

Thanks for your message!

Angela writes:







If I'm type TU, what type are my kids? The first thing to understand is that each of us has two blood type genes. Each parent can pass only one of his or her genes to each child; and if we have two different genes -- as in the AB type -- it can be either of those genes.



Second, when we say, "I'm type B," or "He's type AB," we are referring to what geneticists call the phenotype. It's the outward face of the genotype, the full ABO signature (always composed of two genes).



Third, the O gene is recessive to both the A and the B genes. The other way of saying this is, both the A and the B gene are dominant to the O gene. I am "type A" or "type B" whether I carry a second (recessive) O gene or a matching A or B gene.



Fourth, the A and B genes are co-dominant: when both are present, neither is recessive to the other. If both are in the genotype (full profile: A, then both are in the phenotype (blood type A. In similar fashion, if you are type O, we know you have two O genes ~ if you had only one O gene and one A or B gene, the A or B must dominate: you would be type A or type B, respectively, not type O.



This all sounds a little confusing at first, but you'll get the hang of it. Here's how it works in parentage:



Type AB can pass on either an A or a B gene to a particular child -- but not both.



Type O has only an O gene to contribute to a child.



Type A can give an A gene to a child. However, we can't tell a type A person's genotype by knowing their phenotype. The genotype could be A(a)(with only A genes to give to a child) or A(o) (having an O gene available as well).



Type B is in the same relative situation as type A. There could be a recessive O gene lurking in there (Peter calls it "grandma's revenge!") ready to match up with a mate's hidden O gene, to produce a type O individual from two type B parents!



By understanding

(1) that each person contributes one gene to offspring;

(2) that A and B are both dominant to O, and co-dominant with each other; and

(3) that knowing the "phenotype" of an AB or O person lets us know their "genotype," but knowing someone is type A or B gives us only the "public" half of that information -- the second gene is unknown;



will allow you to figure out the possible blood types of offspring if you know the two parents' blood types. With some combinations, there is only one possible result (two type O parents will always produce type O kids). With others, it's possible that Junior could be any one of the four types (a type A mom and type B dad, both with a recessive O gene... see what I mean?). In your original example, it depends on the other parent. Type O? This pairing will produce only type A (A(o)) and B (B(o)) children. Type AB? Could be type As, type Bs and/or type ABs.



The most elegant way to present this information is in graph form (a "Punnett square"), but I hope yakking my way through it has shed some light for you.



:-D

Soy for Bs: The short answer is, no ~ Bs need not absolutely exclude all soy products. Plain soybeans and small amounts of soy flour are allowed for B secretors. Soy milk is neutral for B nonsecretors. However, it's not an ideal food for your type, any more than rye bread is for mine. Since so many soy products are designed to mimic or replace either dairy foods or meats, you'll get far better value for your money (and flavor, for that matter) by choosing the originals.