Your book gives information on the Blood types; but I'm a sickle cell trait carrier. I do not have the disease, but I would like to know if there are certain indications for those like myself. I'm african-american. Should I assume that the basis for O+ can also be applied if your're a carrier. Thanks, Yvonne

Hi, Yvonne! I assume your physician ordered hemoglobin diaphoresis in order to make sure that you do not have the disease, but only carry the trait. For those who don't know this, the "sickledex" test does not distinguish between sickle cell anemia and sickle cell trait. Similar to the type O genotype with its two O genes, one must have two Hgb-S genes in order to have sickle cell anemia. An individual who possesses only one is a genetic carrier but asymptomatic for the disease.

Yes: anyone who knows that he or she carries a genetic marker for any disease would be well advised to follow the appropriate blood type plan pretty strictly -- making sure to incorporate the diet, exercise, and stress relief protocols for that type. Even such a mainstream organization as the National Institutes for Health has recognized that stress plays a key role in symptomatic sickle cell anemia. It's a good idea for all of us to establish effective stress-reduction practices.

In addition, it would be prudent to get additional screening, primarily for ABO subgroup, secretor status and MN type, in order to take advantage of the refinements in Live Right 4 Your Type. The saliva secretor test can be obtained from North American Pharmacal.

A full serotype panel from SouthWest Medical Center provides ABO group, ABO subgroup (A1, A2, etc.), as well as MN, Lewis and Rhesus types. It costs about $90, in addition to whatever your nurse or clinic may charge for the blood draw for the test. The SWMC collection kit can be obtained by calling 1-480-970-0000. If you use the saliva secretor test, which is recommended, and since you know your ABO and Rhesus types already, having this panel done would add only your MN type -- which has a minor impact on the O diet. Instead, I'd opt to use the "Tier II" plan (explained in Live Right) which emphasizes the beneficial elements of the food lists.

You probably already know how important it is that you maintain hydration. I'd try for three to four quarts of water (NOT distilled) per day, with one of those being a high quality mineral water such as Gerolsteiner -- that's my favorite, anyway, for mineral balance and taste. To two of those quarts of plain well or spring water, I'd add a teaspoonful of good sea salt. We want your tissues to absorb the water, rather than just running it through your kidneys and out again.

The type O exercise plan is great for boosting your blood oxygenation. I suggest getting a standard blood panel through your doctor, at least twice per year, to monitor red and white cell counts and ensure your liver enzymes aren't on the rise. And if he doesn't suggest it, I'd have him check your spleen at those times, as well, just as an added precaution. That way, you can monitor your progress with the plan, as well as avoiding strenuous exercise if any spleen enlargement is present.

Yvonne, thank you for writing and let us know how you're doing!

Hello Heidi, I am working hard to support my low thyroid through diet/exercise and supplements and to that end, I am of course on my A+ diet for the past two years, I exercise with walking, pilates, yoga and some tennis and I take several NAP supplements as well as a recommended supplement called B.M.R.(Tyler)for thyroid support. This product has among other things, some freeze dried bovine BMR concentrate. I am also taking NAP's Deflect A.

My concern is that I may be cancelling each of these out by the other, losing out on any progress stimulating my low thyroid, and my money in the process. Please help with this question as it has clouded my sights and caused me to be very uneasy with the continuation of using Deflect although I have had positive results in all other areas. Thank you very much for your insights. -- Pamela

Interesting question!

Deflect is designed to (1) keep lectins from attaching to body tissues, and (2) slowly remove old lectin-damaged cells. It works by providing a more attractive substance with which to lure them away from you. Kind of like using a chunk of meat to distract a puppy who's headed for your favorite pair of shoes.

Since the source of the supplement, B.M.R., is bovine, and beef contains no lectins, Deflect isn't going to limit the effectiveness of the supp. Even if B.M.R. did contain galectins ("animal lectins"), as chicken does, only the lectins themselves would be rounded up by the Deflect -- not the hormones, which are the active element of compounds like B.M.R.

The standard high-carbohydrate diet is rife with (plant) lectins, both in number and in quantity consumed. Deflect has been formulated primarily to defeat the attachment of lectins such as those found in wheat, corn, beans, etc., which do the lion's share of damage through stimulating fat gain and triggering illness. Wheat lectin alone is associated with a sizeable list of serious ailments.

Although type A secretors tend to have a higher tolerance for the modern high-protein version of wheat than other folks, and are well-suited to a plant-based diet, Deflect-A has been formulated to target a variety of lectins which ARE harmful to As, and to support the growth of healthy tissue where old damage resides. I'd suggest continuing with it, especially since your results so far have been positive.

Congratulations on your commitment to getting healthier, and I wish you success!

Hi Heidi...



Can you stand one more question about a discrepancy between two Eat Right books???



Sure! :-D



In the original Eat Right book Linden is an avoid for Type B. In the Encyclopedia, Linden is listed as an anti-inflammatory and nerve health agent.



I take a naturopathic tincture for high blood pressure. Before ER, it contained linden - along with rowolfia and hawthorne. We eliminated the linden after ER, but I was wondering if we should put it back in now? Has the status changed?? Thanks ~~ Linda



The Encyclopedia's entries on linden are correct. New research since Eat Right was published in 1996 has been extensive, resulting in updated values and recommended usages for a number of items.



If your homeopath or naturopath suggests you add linden back into the mix, there's no ABO-specific reason not to do so.



The antistress protocol Peter recommends for type Bs with hypertension includes the use of visualization. I note it here just as a reminder that directed visualization has been shown to exert powerful influence on an unexpectedly wide variety of ailments. Bs in general seem to have a special knack for it and appear to receive greater benefits from it than others do. I'd also like to suggest the book Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth, for the several brief "medical meditations" and other information specific to hypertension. These practices can produce results in astonishing proportion to the small amount of time required to perform them.



Good luck, good health and keep in touch!