Have other people found that the suggested Explorer diet in The Genotype Diet book has the most potential to be inaccurate compared to the other genotype diets listed in the book? I know Explorers often have inflammatory and allergy issues so the diet addresses those potential allergens. But, since any blood type can fall into the Explorer category and there are so many different food ratings for the 4 blood types, how much consideration should be given to the blood type ratings when you compare the two diets? When my son tested very high as an Explorer, I basically then ignored the B blood type diet (non-secretor) and started following the genotype diet exclusively. However, there are a quite a number of foods that are either black dot or avoid that are beneficial for a B non-secretor and on the contrary quite a few foods in nuts/seed/vegetable protein category that are avoids for B's that are superfoods (sometimes with a diamond) on the genotype diet. I know certain nuts and berries carry a high risk for allergic reactions, but my son simply has issues with sinus/ear congestion and has never had allergic reactions or hives to anything. I know SWAMI would answer these questions, but being 16 years old I'd prefer to wait until he decides if he wants to follow a more specialized diet when he's out on his own more.

In the meantime, I would like to understand more about Explorer diets to fine-tune his diet to help him reach his full potential. One thing I haven't mentioned, even though I post a lot about my children, is that he is very tall and thin and is working out a lot this summer to build his strength. He gets minor injuries easily as he is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and he is definitely pushing himself when he's at the gym lifting weights to compete with his Nomad twin brother. He has very little body fat and has lots of energy, so of course we try to focus on high fat, calorie, protein meals along with plenty of fruits and veggies also. Reducing lectin damage and increasing superfoods is my goal for him.

Any thoughts from other Explorers or type B's?

Whichever one you choose for him would not be wrong.  

Just keep an eye on the cow dairy and be careful with it because of the sinus and ear issues.

Nothing wrong with following the BTD for now.

Since they are different plans, I would pick one or the other, rather than trying to mix the two.  As stated above, either plan is good and will provide significant improvement over an "everything" diet.  

My DD's Explorer SWAMI output is very restricted, as many of the beneficial Type A foods are avoid or black dot for her.

I think Explorer Genotypes and AB blood types get the most value from SWAMI, as they have the most variability - any blood type can be an Explorer and ABs can be one of 4 Genotypes.

I remember reading that initially Dr D wanted to write 4 sections on Explorers, as they are so complex... (after all they can be ANY bloodtype) so the lists are bound to be conflicting...

So for for anyone who tests highest for Explorer, I would think due to the issues that need addressing, it would be best to follow swami, at least until healing occurs...

since all bloodtypes can be explorers, there is nothing more personalized than a swami

More information on SWAMI diets can be found at:

http://www.dadamo.com/media/swami.htm
http://www.dadamo.com/clinic/swamigenotype.htm
http://www.dadamo.com/media/gtd.htm
find out how food rates for you individually, given your personal variables.

I agree with Lola. I and several of my friends are Explorers of varying blood types. SWAMI takes the guess work out of everything and you can get on with it. There is much more variety to SWAMI Explorer diets than what is shown in the GenoTypeBook. One of the best purchase I've ever made.  

I was happy with all book diets and with Swami.. the nice part about swami is the print out you can get to go shopping.. the others one had to copy..

Swami Express, is the best next step after discovering you are an Explorer.

Mixing the GTD and the BTD by yourself gives you the possibility of the worst of both diets.

The above is not a professional opinion nor specific to what you are experiencing.

If my son is very sure that he is committed to eating right for his type into his adulthood, then I'd be happy to buy him a SWAMI. However, because we know nothing of his birthparents family history, there wouldn't be much for him to check in the section about family medical background. Although he has his twin brothers health to factor in, his brother has had no real health problems to speak of.  Even the required field about ancestry is a bit questionable since we can't identify one particular country or area the Roma (gypsy) migrated from (somewhere in the middle east or south Asia probably).

Still, just entering information in SWAMI's required fields should be enough to give him a relatively specialized diet. I agree, from what I've heard from others, that the SWAMI is usually worth it to those who have it. I don't regret getting my SWAMI a couple months, but I still think I'm in the "healing phase" and I'm careful about a few foods SWAMI gives me that don't necessarily make me feel particularly good.

Thanks for the helpful opinions everyone!

The explorer book diet works excellent for me.  I just use the book diet.  

[quote=6782]I remember reading that initially Dr D wanted to write 4 sections on Explorers, as they are so complex... (after all they can be ANY bloodtype) so the lists are bound to be conflicting...

Do you have any more information about this?  

my swami explorere recommendations are nearly kif/kif to lr4yt

Is he happy with the Explorer food list, or does he find it to be too restrictive? One thing I've found about SWAMI is that it feels more free- I don't have to avoid every food that's bad for most O nonnies or every food that's bad for most Gatherers- I only need to avoid the foods that are bad for me personally. I also know which foods are truly beneficial for me, and I try to emphasize them (although I don't avoid neutrals- life would be too boring that way!)

There are also different ways to use SWAMI. I completely avoid the "avoids", and severely limit the black dots. I didn't eat them at all at first, but now I know there are some I can't tolerate at all and others I can have in tiny portions once in a while. Meanwhile, my daughter (16 when we got her SWAMI, 17 now) doesn't always follow 100%. But she likes knowing which are her beneficial and diamond foods, so she can eat extra-well when sick, and before and after eating "off plan" for a meal or a weekend when she's out with friends. She's making a lot of compromises at sleep-away camp right now, but she knows SWAMI is there for her when she gets home if she feels the need to detox from camp food.

If you don't have the money for SWAMI right now, then discuss with him which diet he'd prefer to follow (BTD or GTD) and just pick one and follow it. But if you have the means, SWAMI wouldn't be "a waste" even if he's still growing and even if he only follows it for a couple of years. Don't worry about the missing family history- it will still be accurate enough with his own information.

Ruth, its nice to here about your daughter being a SWAMI user, being so young and all. Those teenage years can be quite challenging when you consider the balance between letting them be their own persons and still giving them the boundaries they need while they're still maturing. I believe in my heart my son really wants to eat right and make wise dietary choices for himself, but on the other hand he does have some impulse control problems and craves junk food and particularly sweets. I've read other threads about food cravings and I've addressed those possible solutions with him repeatedly. Still, he's an active teenage boy and loves to eat pretty much anything. I'm very proud of him, though, for really becoming more self-aware about how portions and certain foods affect him.

My DH and I are hoping that someday soon our sons will be offered a part-time job locally since they've been putting in job applications at a lot of local businesses now. When that happens, we will have a lot less control over managing their diets and they will have to start making more food choices for themselves, particularly if they're working in the food services industry.

There isn't an issue with us not being able to afford a SWAMI for him. I think my Explorer son does want to have a SWAMI but doesn't want to ask or pressure us. Being a non-secretor Explorer he has had his share of minor health issues and seems very intent on learning to manage and control them. That's why he wants good solid answers,accurate dietary information, and of course lots of compliant food choices for himself.

Quoted from Easy E

I remember reading that initially Dr D wanted to write 4 sections on Explorers, as they are so complex... (after all they can be ANY bloodtype) so the lists are bound to be conflicting...

EasyE Re your question - "Do you have any more information about this?" No I'm sorry I cant find the original thread.. Maybe someone else will remember?!