Where can I find vegetable glycerin you spoke about? Can you substitute it for honey? Is it equally acceptable for all blood types? I don't know anything about it. Can you talk about it please. Maddy

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Help...STAT!In one of your responses to an O woman whose GI tract had been ravaged by erythromycin, you listed a protocol from a German using rice, blueberries & mineral water. Later in the same article, you suggested the use of vegetable glycerine, but not how or how much. Can you clarify with a quick answer? Thanks much. You're all doing a great job. Joyce

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Hi Heidi; I own a small health food shop and am a firm believer in the Blood Type Diet. There have been several references on this web site about vegetable glycerine being used for diabetics as a blood sugar stablizier and, most recently, as a sweetener for O non-secretors. There are no instructions for use on the bottles I purchased for the shop. Would you please give some quidelines for usage? I have several customers that are asking for this information. Thanks. Sharon in Alaska

Greetings, Ladies ~ As Sharon noted, veg gly bottle labels do not specify dosages for medical conditions. If they did, they'd be in violation of the law. :-} Since it is not an FDA-approved drug, its manufacturers legally cannot in any way advertise (label) it as a treatment for health problems. The most they can say is that it's pure and edible ~ you will see that note on the bottle.

So, keeping the protocol advocated by Peter's mentor in mind, substitute it in every case where sugar, saccharine, aspartame, honey, molasses, or any other sweetening agent would be used. It will quietly but effectively help resolve hypoglycemia, diabetes, and insulin resistance -- as long as the appropriate blood type diet is followed, naturally! If someone continues eating all the wrong foods, especially a "wheatitarian" diet, adding a supplemental sweetener will have little more effect than that of a pea-shooter against a Sherman tank. There is no standard dosage, but that's OK ~ just think of it as a healing food, and use it freely!

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Dear Heidi: I am an O, non-secretor. Since we cannot use certain vegetables, I thought I saw that vegetable glycerine is made from coconut oil, and if that is true, can we O non-secretors still use it as coconut is an avoid for us. I thank you for all your suggestions you give us whether they are for my type or not because they help me structure more into the way of thinking about and eating the correct types of foods for my body and I try to evaluate myself as I continue. Gwen

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How can vegetable glycerine be OK for all types when it has coconut oil? I'd really like to try it! Thanks ~ carolyn (0+sec)

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Hello Heidi, again, Sorry, I overlooked the "lectin-free" bit for vegetable glycerine, derived from coconuts. So it really is quite safe? I wonder if it's available in Holland. Don't much feel like ordering it all the way from USA! It would cost as much as the bottle? Cheers, Liesbeth

Hey there, Gwen & Carolyn ~ In Peter's explanation, above:

"Glycerine(ol) is a trihydric alcohol (not a carbohydrate), and is the building block of all plant oils and nearly all animal fats."

Glycerine is properly called "glycerol." It's found all over the place in plant & animal fats in the form of glycerides. Now: an alcohol does not contain the lectin present in the substance from which it was processed. Glycerine is plain old CH2OHCHOHCH2OH, nothing more, nothing less. This is also not the kind of 'alcohol' found in beer, wine & spirits ~~ that's "ethanol". So whether your glycerine comes from palm oil, coconut oil, or whatever: as long as it is labelled as 100% pure glycerine and OK for ingestion, it is safe, safe, safe for everybody! :-D

Hello, Liesbeth ~ I am sure there are glycerine manufacturers in Europe. It has been used in medical laboratory applications and in herbal compounds for many years. I went to www.alltheweb.com/advanced and entered "glycerine" as the main search term, then specified results in Dutch. There were over 1400 hits, and many of them appeared to be sales sites for food-grade glycerine. Do the search and see what you find! :-)

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Hello Heidi! Great job with the column :-) I read with great interest your mention of glycerine as being an acceptable sweetener for O's. I followed the attached link for the NOW glycerine, but there was no mention of the source so I called the company and was told it was palm oil, not coconut. Is it still ok? Do I need to search out a brand whose source is coconut? I did an extensive web search and wasn't able to come up with many other sources that weren't selling it in 55lb tubs! As a fellow O nonnie I'd appreciate any insight or additional information you have on this. Also, do you know why stevia is an avoid for O non-secretors? It seems the most natural sugar alternative as well as having been an ingredient in the original O bar. Thanks!! Dianne

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Heidi, I have extensively researched this and have not found a single maker of ingestible vegetable glycerine that uses coconut as their source. All the manufacturers I have contacted derive their glycerine from palm oil. I checked Typebase and palm oil is not listed. Is it o.k. for O non-secretors? I know you're swamped with questions, but I purchased a bottle and don't want to open it unless I know it's not an avoid (I can still return it to Whole Foods). Thanks a bunch! Dianne

Hi, Dianne! :-) No matter what its source, it's going to be CH2OHCHOHCH2OH plain and simple. No room for a lectin in there! The label on the NOW bottle I have specifies coconut, but we doan' care. :-D It is a BLESSING for nonsecretors, especially we near-sweetenerless Os. Tastes just like sugar, works like a charm in baked goods (even adds a bit of leavening), and actually helps normalize our metabolisms. See the link to the Harvest Moon page, above, for the 16-oz bottles.

About stevia: years ago, Steve Shapiro broke off a leaf from one of his stevia plants and handed it to me. He said that stevia was used medicinally in South America, and questioned its new popularity as a "sweeten anything" product. I noticed a tiny funny/woozy feeling from eating that fresh leaf ~ nothing to phone home about, but there was a little something going on. I do not know exactly why Peter specified stevia as an O-non avoid ~ but I trust my own reactions, and I think Steve & Peter both had good points there.

Often, people feel frustrated by the limitations suggested by the BTD because they feel they are missing out on the widely advertised benefits of a product -- like stevia or algae or wheat germ -- and later discover that these one-size-fits-all benefits turned out to be a waste of money (or much worse) in their individual case. At least on the sweetener front, we now have a great alternative for everyone ~ so pop over to your HFS (or that webpage) and stock up! :-D

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Hi Heidi! I still haven't contacted Solaray about the red yeast rice. But in one month of taking it, my cholesterol number fell (down from 346 and 300 on the last two tests, respectively) to 208! So it definitely works. My problem is: is it working because I'm taking a drug? Ack! I'm looking into that and will report back. I don't have the HDL/LDL breakdown at the moment anyway. But my real reason for writing right now is that I can't find vegetable glycerine on TYPEbase. Sounds like you eat it, so it should be fine for O-NS? If so, that's got to be a huge step up from molasses, LOL! And even for me, a B-NS, it's a nice change from honey or even rice syrup, both of which impart a distinct flavor. Anyway, any plans to get it on the list? Is there anyone who can't have it? Kathy

Hey there, Kathy ~ Yeah, red yeast rice is little short of miraculous for lowering high cholesterol. I am SO happy about your results so far!! No, it's not a 'drug' ~ although drugs have been designed "from" it. Now, go back and read that Chinese Red Yeast Rice site!! LOL!

We'll be adding veg gly to TYPEbase 3, and thanks for the reminder ~ and the progress report! Take care, dear! :-)

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. . . and many thanks to everyone!!! :-D

if i and my wife are A blood.Does it mean that my children also are A blood.How do i get my childrens bloodgroup?Where do i go? Thank you!! Djani

Greetings, Djani ~ It is possible that your children are type A, but not certain. There is a chance that one or both are type O, if both you and your wife have a recessive O gene. Doctors can order the test for ABO group, but often charge a lot of money for it, or refuse for some reason. If your children were born in hospital, request the information there. It should be in the hospital records, or with the attending physician, and those medical records belong to YOU. :-) Also, the Red Cross in most areas will give you your ABO type if you donate blood. If these options won't work for you, write back and let me know whereabouts in the world you are. I'll go from there.

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I am wondering if the simple blood test kit that we can purchase in our health shop, which has four circles to which one adds with a sterile pipette some blood, and then matches this up to a number of options to get the blood type could not also be used for testing saliva? Jenny

Hello, Jenny ~ No, testing saliva requires lab equipment. That test on the card is a "blood agglutination" test, and will only give your ABO type. Sorry! :-}

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Heidi, We are really thankful for your articles.We have had a question come up on one of the discussion lists. Saurkraut is listed as an avoid for O's. Most of the canned saurkraut I've seen uses vinegar, which we know is an avoid unless it is apple cidar vinegar. If saurkraut is made with salt instead in the old German way, is it still an avoid because it is fermented or does the fact that salt is used make it a neutral? Thank you. Sarah

Hi, Sarah ~ Sauerkraut made from cabbage & salt in the traditional German fashion is fine for O secretors! *sigh!* ;-> Enjoy it! :-)

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Hi Heidi, I'm finally getting used to life without the message board. Anyway, I am 63 years old, Type O+, been on the Diet since August, 2001, and was diagnosed with moderately high blood pressure about 10 years ago; for the last two years have been taking 10 mg of Zestril daily. About 2 months ago, I heard of a study in which blood pressure patients where put on a regimin of one serving of oatmeal daily for 12 weeks. After that time, many were able to reduce their blood pressure medication dosage; if they discontinued the oatmeal regimin, they had to go back to the original dosage. Anyway, I started the regimin, and after only 2 weeks, began getting significantly lower blood pressure readings. After the third week, I cut my Zestril dosage to 5 mg. and the low readings continued. After about another 3 weeks, I cut the dosage to 2.5 mg. and now after 3 more weeks am continuing to get normal readings. I don't know if I will be able to eliminate the medication altogether, but am delighted with the results so far. I have an appointment with my doctor next week and will discuss that possibility. Anyway,I just wanted to pass this on since it seems like a pretty harmless way to lower your blood pressure...especially if you like oatmeal. Phil

Hey, thanks for the report, Phil! I've heard of oatmeal doing nice things for certain people with high cholesterol, but the blood pressure application is something new to me. Even though O secretors are advised to limit their grain intake to one serving six times per week, this sounds like a great thera-food-ic use of grain! Please keep me posted on whether the results persist if you discontinue the daily oatmeal... at any rate, it certainly is a great improvement over meds! thanks again!! :-D

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Please help...I am interested in the supplement list for blood types, especillay "O" Thank you once again for all your help..it is greatly appreciated. Rose

Hey there, Rose ~ The Food, Beverage and Supplement List for O is available on our site here. Just click into the books section of the Store, you'll find it! :-)

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Heidi - I am new to the BTD and am amazed at how wrong I've been eating all my life! I am a type B who lived on chicken, tomatoes, whole wheat, etc... and avoided dairy products because I thought they were bad for me! I have a question about soy - In the doctor's books he recommends the membrane fluidizer cocktail with lecithin. However, all I can find is soy lecithin in the local health food store. Is there any other type? Is it OK to use the soy lecithin if I can't find any other? And is the "hidden" soy in foods something to be avoided at all costs? Soooo many things seem to be made with soy (not to mention wheat!) like mayonnaise, salad dressings, etc. I was elated to be able to eat frozen yogurt but then found soy in that! Please help with an answer! Thank you so much. Carol

Soy lecithin is absolutely fine ~ however, there is a delicate dance between secretor and nonsecretor Bs and the soy foods allowed for each. Do check the TYPEbase 3 database for the latest updates, and compare those values with the ingredient lists of the foods you're interested in. And welcome to our world! :-)

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hi, I'm excited about the possibilities of eating for a type O after reading Eat Right 4 Your Type and the booklet Blood Type O, Food Beverage and Supplement Lists. I found discrepancies among several of the food items that changed them from neutral to avoid, or vice versa. I'm now wondering if there is a more recent publication with different information, or how to find out about the most correct information available for type O. My concerns for myself are to increase my energy. I just turned 50 and lead an active life but find myself over the years quite fatigued for no apparent reason and getting worse even though I am of normal weight and get plenty of regular exercise. So I am going to cut out wheat to see how this affects me (I already use soy products), and I will avoid oranges, potatoes and peanuts. Basically everything else I eat is in your neutral category but need clarification on strawberries, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, eggplant, greek olives, barley, cabbage, and kiwi. Thanks for your help, Cindy

Hi, Cindy ~ Go to TYPEbase 3 and enter "sunflower, strawberry, cucumber, eggplant, olive, barley, cabbage, and kiwi" ~ one at a time. You'll find all your answers there. :-) I am certain this plan will accomplish your goals! Keep us posted!

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I am type A. I was wondering why peanuts and peanut butter are highly beneficial, but peanut oil is not. Thank you for clarifying this for me. Lynn

Hello, Lynn ~ Here is a column I wrote on peanut oil, and your question is answered in the next-to-last paragraph. Enjoy! :-)

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WHAT ARE TYPE O SUPPOSED TO DRINK OTHER THAN WATER?CAN THEY HAVE KOOL-AID? FOR TYPE A- I`M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING 100% RYE BREAD. THEIR ALL MADE WITH WHEAT FLOUR.PLEASE HELP.AND THE GLUTEN-FREE BREAD IS MADE WITH GARBANZO BEANS AN AVOID FOR TYPE A. I`M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING ALFALFA SPROUTS AT TIMES. AND ALL OTHERS ARE CLOVER OR MIXD WITH CLOVER. YOU MENTION RED CLOVER AS AN AVOID FOR TYPE A BUT I WAS WONDERING IF CLOVER IS RED CLOVER? ALSO MY HUSBAND IS AN O TYPE AND LOVES PINTO BEANS (HE`S HISPANIC) IN ONE BOOK IT WAS LISTED AS A BENEFICAL AND ANOTHER AS AVOID. PLEASE EXPLAIN? CONNIE

Let's see: Type Os can drink juice made from beneficial or neutral fruits; juice made from beneficial or neutral vegetables; green tea; red wine; homemade almond or rice milk and any commercial almond, rice or soy milk which contains no avoids (nonsecretors should avoid soy in all forms); broth made from OK ingredients; the list goes on, but I doubt the ingredient list of Kool-Aid will pass muster. Full of corn syrup, isn't it? I'm not sure where you live, but do a web-search for "100% Rye Bread." Many are available online, or you could make a list of the companies you come up with and take it to your local organic grocer or health food store. Clover is clover of all kinds, for our purposes ~ unless the product specifically says "white clover." Pinto beans are one of the few items changed on your husband's food list: it is indeed an avoid. Thanks for writing!! :-)

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Hi Heidi, I was reading the entry from Jayne in Ontario who wanted to know how to find out her secretor status. You can give Jayne my e-mail address if you wish. I had to explain what the Lewis typing is, using some information from your site. I live in Ontario and asked my physician to fill out the forms so I could get my Lewis typing done. Then I had to go to a hospital lab for the testing but they did do it and I now know that I am O non-secretor. I had suspected this. Alas no more apples, spelt or any kind of sweetener. I am finding it hard to give up on the latter to be compliant. Any ideas for substitutions? Sharon

Thanks for that report and your offer of help, Sharon! I will pass your address on to Jayne. Yeah, alas no apples... I feel that pain, believe me!

:-)

The best sweetener for O nons is vegetable glycerine ~ second best is blackstrap molasses, and other possibilities include fruit concentrates. Each has its place in cooking, depending on the flavor desired. Vegetable glycerine has a very neutral "sugar" taste. The O nonsecretor pantry is indeed quite bare in the sweetener, grain, bean and dairy department ~ but you'll soon settle right into the habit of the different food proportions in your diet, and it does become quite a happy fit... with the exception of those apples, perhaps! :-D The health benefits are well worth the dietary shift. The modifications don't mean I go hungry, and you won't, either. Just make the changes as you can, and allow time for the transition to pass. Thanks for your note! :-D

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FOUND CONTRADICTIONS between the various books' food lists?

Here’s the scoop:

* IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR SECRETOR STATUS: The Food, Beverage & Supplement Lists should be used. *

* IF YOU KNOW YOUR SECRETOR STATUS: The food lists in Live Right 4 Your Type and the BTD Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia should be used. ALSO check the official change log at http://www.dadamo.com/lr4yter.html for the most recent updates -- at a later date, an update area for other books will be created. *

The TYPEbase 3 database at http://www.dadamo.com/typebase/typebase.cgi contains ALL latest updated food values by secretor status. :-)

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