Just got off the phone with mom. She finally confirmed that she's a B and told me a list of diseases that her doctor told her she has developed:

-arthritis along the spine
-high blood pressure
-borderline high cholesterol level
-borderline diabetes

She also has been having a thick tongue coating and constipation for a long time.

As a start I told her to avoid chicken, corn, tomatoes, sesame, soy and black beans, which she eats on a regular basis.

But she is stubborn and complains there is "nothing left to eat"--classic response. Anyway, her doctor told her to take pills to control those diseases for the rest of her life. She doesn't want to. Yet she complains how troublesome it is to think about what to eat and what to avoid. So I asked her, "What is more troublesome, to take pills every day for the rest of your life or to adjust what you eat?"

The thing is, we live several thousand miles apart and it is hard for me to monitor or even guide her toward the BTD. Meanwhile, I've looked at Dr D's encyclopedia and found a couple of supplements under the cardiovascular protocol. Would it be wise to introduce her a couple of supplements as a start? Maybe add Polyflora and Deflect for Type B to help her with her detox and digest better?

Where to start, where to start?

She needs a book- but the question is, which one? the Diabetes, Arthritis, or Heart Disease book? Live Right is a comprehensive book,  but I find that the food lists are laid out weirdly and the Health Series books are easier to follow. Maybe buy her a SWAMI and help her with the measuring the next time you get together?

Does she have access to any of the books at her local library? If so, I'd suggest she start by taking those out of the library and then purchasing the one she finds most helpful.

Another thing you can do from far away is make up sample meal plans for her (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks) for her to follow. You're not close enough to actually shop or cook for her, but you can send her recipes for kidney beans with rice to replace her black beans and corn (or whatever recipes she likes best) and give her ideas for snacks. Many people find that snacks are the hardest thing to be compliant with.

Hi Ruthiegirl,
Thanks for your helpful suggestions, especially the meal plan idea! I think this is actually something that would make her respond.

I have been trying to talk theory and science with her on the phone but it just sent her to sleep  .

She does not read a lot of English so I have been searching all over the place for a Chinese translation of ER4YT. I finally found one! But I don't think she would actually sit down and read the whole book. So I will scan the useful pages and highlight sentences to make her notice the key points.

The Diabetes, Arthritis and Heart Disease books are actually available in Chinese translations as well, and I am wondering if I should buy them all or one or none... I am not sure if there would be contradictions or too much information that would just get her confused.

That's why I looked up the encyclopedia and wanted to let her try the protocol with supplements. I'm afraid she would not be bold enough to defy her doctor's advice and cut out all the pills. So maybe giving her some replacements in the form of supplements would help? I don't know how she would respond though... more likely as a "burden" on top of her pills!

If it's too much to give it all up at once, have her pick just 2 avoids at a time.
Don't give up, my parents are stubborn too.

look up testimonials and mention those often to her.....she might want to try it out and get the same results.....we all learn from those setting examples

The bottom line is this.  Is she interested and willing to change her diet to benefit her health?  

Tom, thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I think I shouldn't overwhelm her initially.

Lola, good idea. I will look up the testimonials and tell her some good examples. One time I told her how the BTD has helped many lose weight, she got very interested because she wants to get rid of her belly fat. But maybe she cannot connect the dots and see that the same diet would help her with her chronic conditions. So I should try to find some good examples related to her conditions.