I was reading in LR4YT the other night that Type O's don't tolerate carbs. Wow what a revelation. Now I know why everything is bothering me. It's the carbs. I've been having relentless gas and bloating that just didn't stop. After reading that I stopped ALL carbs, except for the carbs in veggies, like sweet potatoes, which I seem ok with...so far  . But the nutritional yeast, the rice, rice cakes, honey it all had to go. And no more symptoms at all. I lost a pound already which I don't really need to do and I can see how the very slight fat pad under my skin is already disappearing...this explains why I have high triglycerides. That is also typical in O's with carb intolerance and according to the book is one of the risk factors for Type O's and heart disease rather than high cholesterol which tends to effect Type A's.

Anything anyone can add to this. Is this something that will always be a problem for me? It really limits my food choices, and I'm going to get too thin, which I border on right now. True to my Hunter GT I drop weight rapidly and without trying. I'm at 116 now which for my 5"6+ frame is a bit skinny, even our janitor is telling me not to lose anymore weight....how bad is that? haha.

try this simple quiz, and apply the guidelines given to help you deal with bacterial overgrowth or other toxin buildup
http://www.4yourtype.com/

Lola thanks but that took me to a weight loss program... And with all of my sensitivity's there are not a lot of supplements that I can tolerate. I'm tired of buying stuff only to find out that I react to it, happens 95% of the time no matter what the label says...

I avoid all "carbs" too.  I was having the same symptoms as you as well as blood sugar crashes.  It all went away upon removing grains and other "carby" foods.  I also have high triglycerides (very high) but am very thin.  I've always been very thin, but now I'm extremely underweight.  I have asked the same question - how to gain weight while barely consuming carbs, and I don't have an answer   For me, things are a little more complicated because I have absorption problems and can't gain weight anyway.  I think that may be due to non-celiac gluten sensitivity so I'm hoping that after being off of all grains long enough, my small intestine will heal and begin to function properly again.  I have heard that the healing begins practically immediately upon removing glutens from the diet but that it can take 6-12 months before enough healing has occurred for weight gain to begin.

It sounds like we're in the same boat so maybe we can figure it out together.  That's what I love about this forum - hundreds of brains are better than one

Quoted from 14428

And with all of my sensitivity's there are not a lot of supplements that I can tolerate. I'm tired of buying stuff only to find out that I react to it, happens 95% of the time no matter what the label says...

yep, same boat...

Quoted from brinyskysail

I avoid all "carbs" too.  I was having the same symptoms as you as well as blood sugar crashes.  It all went away upon removing grains and other "carby" foods.  I also have high triglycerides (very high) but am very thin.  I've always been very thin, but now I'm extremely underweight.  I have asked the same question - how to gain weight while barely consuming carbs, and I don't have an answer   For me, things are a little more complicated because I have absorption problems and can't gain weight anyway.  I think that may be due to non-celiac gluten sensitivity so I'm hoping that after being off of all grains long enough, my small intestine will heal and begin to function properly again.  I have heard that the healing begins practically immediately upon removing glutens from the diet but that it can take 6-12 months before enough healing has occurred for weight gain to begin.

It sounds like we're in the same boat so maybe we can figure it out together.  That's what I love about this forum - hundreds of brains are better than one

You could be my baby sister...haha...I too have malabsorption secondary to gluten. Ditto that on the forum Most of the time I do ok with all of this but sometimes it gets to me, like now.

Quoted from 14428

You could be my baby sister...haha...I too have malabsorption secondary to gluten. Ditto that on the forum Most of the time I do ok with all of this but sometimes it gets to me, like now.

Just remember that you're not alone

Quoted from brinyskysail

Just remember that you're not alone

you are definately not alone!!  In fact it was that exact statement about O's not tolerating carbs that made me know this was the place for me. I've been watching you on the forum and wondering if all these new foods would bother you because that's exactly what I did!! I went back to paleoish. I eat less protein than before and a bunch more fish and I'm digesting way better. NO grains, fruit juices, fruits other than berries or 1/2 grapefruit,only a few beans occassionally ands NO sugar. My system hates carbs other than veg. I completely understand you buying and throwing out! If I didn't have my husband to eat it (nothing bothers him, he even eats my raw broccoli stems) I'd be broke. It sure is limiting though! Hope you feel better!

Quoted from Mother

you are definately not alone!!  In fact it was that exact statement about O's not tolerating carbs that made me know this was the place for me. I've been watching you on the forum and wondering if all these new foods would bother you because that's exactly what I did!! I went back to paleoish. I eat less protein than before and a bunch more fish and I'm digesting way better. NO grains, fruit juices, fruits other than berries or 1/2 grapefruit,only a few beans occassionally ands NO sugar. My system hates carbs other than veg. I completely understand you buying and throwing out! If I didn't have my husband to eat it (nothing bothers him, he even eats my raw broccoli stems) I'd be broke. It sure is limiting though! Hope you feel better!

A big ditto to all of that Mother...and a laugh too, cuz my fiance eats everything that I can't hahaha...he was just telling me that he's never taken so many pills in his life but he understands as he's witnessed a lot of my health problems, discoveries, and lots of recovery too. He's a BT O too but seems to be able to eat anything and everything...but I don't feed him things that O's shouldn't eat on a daily basis so he's somewhat better off...but he doesn't really want to follow the diet like I do.

Fish, I only eat salmon and sardines, cuz of mercury issues and fish coming from other countries, etc., so it's mostly meat, veggies, blueberry's, lemons, and grapefruit....and I don't skimp on fats either. I've been making soups with lots of diamond veggies, because that's the only way I can get in all of those veggies. I just had some, and I'm hungry already.

Anyway thanks Mother, it's nice to know that I'm not alone...you all are so nice and I appreciate it more than you know...

Linda-

Who says men can be useless?? We laughed really hard about your fiance. best wishes too by the way!. My hubby is a real trooper through all this. He is an O as well and never has issues. he doesn't 'do' the diet like me either but eats alot of beneficials and no wheat, corn, pork and usually only the right cheeses. He actually does good but he has to have his starch and carbs or he's a zombie. He mostly eats rice and sweet potatoes and fruit.
I think I recall you having a much smaller appetite than me, haha. How much protein do you eat in a day in oz? fat?

I know what you mean about mercury and fish but fish loves me. Mostly salmon, sardines, cod and haddock for me. There is something wrong with everything and I have to eat. I try to eat cilantro on my salad next to my fish to help chelate it but who knows if that works!

Carbs are a difficult word.. what exactly is a carb..

I say starches in place of carbs.. carbs to me are not a bad thing, but grains, pasta potaoe and things like that are bad for me by any name.. while fruit is sugar but not a bad thing either..

Carbs is missleading I think.. there ought to be another designation for starchy items.. or as I say call it starch...

what exactly is one or the other??  

.

I pretty much just can't have carbs - literal carbs.  I get about 10-15% of calories from carbs, any more than that and I'm not a happy camper.

Sometimes I think I'm secretly an O.  I agree with everything Mother said (except I'm not married so my mom gets the food I can't eat).  I even pretty much eat a paleo diet, just without the red meat.

i recently did my ratios and I'm at 9-10% carbs mostly all from veg. I may try addind a bit more fruit every other day. IDK. I think you are an O!! and a HUNTER!

Quoted from Mother

i recently did my ratios and I'm at 9-10% carbs mostly all from veg. I may try addind a bit more fruit every other day. IDK. I think you are an O!! and a HUNTER!

My parents thought I was an O for some reason so when I did the test I was so shocked that I ordered another and did it again   Both tests said A+, though.  I'm an Ao because my dad is an O so maybe that little O can be bigger than we think

Aren't A's a big mixed bag? I was going to ask you if you were sure! . so what do you eat? Fish? poultry? nuts? fat?

Quoted from Mother

Aren't A's a big mixed bag? I was going to ask you if you were sure! . so what do you eat? Fish? poultry? nuts? fat?

Yep, lots of veggies (mainly a variety of leafy greens, broccoli, and some seaweed), turkey, fish, egg, nuts/seeds, ghee/oils, unsweetened chocolate, parmesan cheese, spices, tea, and broths.  That's really about it.  I used to practically live off of fruit, but now I have fructmal.  I also seem to have a problem with citric acid so that eliminates lime and lemon (they make my joints swell and itch).  I've given up on beans.  Occasionally I'll have winter squash, but I only eat a couple tbs worth at a time when I do eat it.  My diet is mainly veggies and meat/fish.  I actually enjoy the simplicity of it.  I like my diet better since cutting out grains.

Linda, what have you been munching on now that you're grain-free?

Isn't it sad we can map out our food in a few short sentences? Yikes! I do like the simplicity until I have to eat out or cook for people, too many temptations. Is your swami close or have you found alot you can't eat? I was gonna ask Linda the same thing. I could use some ideas other than a few flowerettes of cold broccoli.. seriously though, I always have cold cooked veg to snack on. I want my guac and chips. haha

Quoted from Mother

Is your swami close or have you found alot you can't eat?

It is actually fairly close.  I'm really impressed by how close, actually.  Fructose malabsorption is the main thing that messes it up.  I can't eat a lot of the vegetables or any of the fruits.  The carb section lists mainly non-grain things like tapioca and malanga so that's right on (although I don't really eat any of the things from the carb section anyway).

I originally had my leg shape entered wrong, and it told me I was a Teacher.  I was really confused because none of the diet made sense.  I especially couldn't understand how all that gut-wrenching soy was supposed to be good for me, but now that I fixed the leg thing, I'm an Explorer, and soy is off the list   Explorerdom makes sense

Quoted Text

I do like the simplicity until I have to eat out or cook for people, too many temptations.

I haven't eaten in a restaurant in several years - I just now realized that!   I used to be a chinese food freak and loved giant crazy salads, and the catfish, greens, and cornbread at Cracker Barrel

I rarely eat out either but my Mother is coming for the entire month of August and she loves to eat out and rarely gets to at home so I'm nervous, and with all the cooking I'll have to do. My daughter is coming too for a week, more nervousness, haha. I just like to be left alone with my food. Moms an A too so that complicates things as she gravitates to the lighter side and our tastes are very different. I'll figure it out somehow, I just don't like thinking about it.

Quoted from 14428

A big ditto to all of that Mother...and a laugh too, cuz my fiance eats everything that I can't hahaha...he was just telling me that he's never taken so many pills in his life but he understands as he's witnessed a lot of my health problems, discoveries, and lots of recovery too. He's a BT O too but seems to be able to eat anything and everything...but I don't feed him things that O's shouldn't eat on a daily basis so he's somewhat better off...but he doesn't really want to follow the diet like I do.

Fish, I only eat salmon and sardines, cuz of mercury issues and fish coming from other countries, etc., so it's mostly meat, veggies, blueberry's, lemons, and grapefruit....and I don't skimp on fats either. I've been making soups with lots of diamond veggies, because that's the only way I can get in all of those veggies. I just had some, and I'm hungry already.

Anyway thanks Mother, it's nice to know that I'm not alone...you all are so nice and I appreciate it more than you know...

Linda, I know a lot of people worry about the mercury in fish.  I happen to be someone who does not worry about it too much.  I have serious heart disease in my family, so my SWAMI gives me more than double the servings of fish per week than the servings of red meat.  I try and buy good quality, wild caught fish from the USA.  Places like Wholefoods or a local fish market can tell when and where the fish was caught.  Cod, haddock and mackeral might be excellent choices for you.  I looked at the government's listing of the different types of fish and their mercury content, and you will be please to know that the list of fish low in mercury is much longer than the list of fish high in mercury.  Check out the link below and go to the section where it lists different species of fish.

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/advisories.htm

Also, the folks at my local hfs told me there is a mercury detox product they carry that is supposed to be very gentle, should I feel I need the detox.

I am from New England and fish is readily available.  I do not know where you are from and if fish is as available to you.  I think it is too bad that many have thrown the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak when it comes to mercury and fish.  However, you know your body best.

BTW, I eat very few carbs.  When I do eat grains, it is usually rice cakes or rice, but only once or twice a week although my SWAMI gives me one serving of grains per week.  I only eat fruit 2-3 times a week and I almost never eat agave syrup or molasses, which are the only sweeteners I am allowed.  I do not do this because they bother me but because I don't like the weight gain that can come with carbs and I am trying to get my LDL down.  My triglycerides are very good!

Regarding trying to gain weight, have you tried eating more beneficial fat?  Do you eat the fat on your beef or other red meats?

Quoted from Goldie

Carbs are a difficult word.. what exactly is a carb..

I say starches in place of carbs.. carbs to me are not a bad thing, but grains, pasta potaoe and things like that are bad for me by any name.. while fruit is sugar but not a bad thing either..

Carbs is missleading I think.. there ought to be another designation for starchy items.. or as I say call it starch...

what exactly is one or the other??  

.

Goldie, I actually think the term "carbs" is more appropriate.  I think Linda is not just talking about grains, or starches as you refer to them, but also sugar and fruit.  The term "carbs" is certainly more inclusive, and as I recall, Linda did mention that she can eat some veggies, which are also carbs, but not others.  

I haven't eaten carbs on a daily basis in years but in last three years during the recession developed a once a week pizza and wine habit.  I got up on my high horse, something I think can easily happen to Hunters who are naturally thin.  Yes carbs in all starchy forms especially the nefarious wheat which is truly evil for Os cause weight gain.  I recently tried to eat rice thinking maybe I could as a Hunter.  Wrong.......Os in general can't tolerate grains regularly ever.  You'll be much happier without them & weight loss isn't a concern so long as you maintain muscle mass with exercise.  I'm a little Hunter but my weight is proportional & being little is normal for me.

Mother, I showed my fiance your post and we laughed as well…haha…he's glad to know he's not the only one…haha. He eats everything I can't eat too...

I'm trying to eat about 50gm of protein a day. Which is not easy to do. I think they say to eat half of your weight in grams of protein, so mine should be around 55gm. I ate a whole cornish hen yesterday over the course of the day, but I'm not sure how many grams that is. I know there is some protein in veggies too, and I TRY to do my 6 cups a day, but I know I don't do either everyday, hard as I try. You make a good point about Cilantro and fish. I do try to add cilantro to my soups, wonder if it's as good cooked and I do put it in my salads too. I try to eat cilantro, garlic, onions and ginger everyday….love them too so it's not hard…

Good luck with your visit with your family

Goldie here is a link I found that I think does a good job defining the difference between starches and carbs. The honey is a good example, I looked at the label on my jar and it was mostly carbs… I think probably that starches fall under the umbrella of carbs…but I'm no expert. I don't eat grains, pasta, or potatoes at all. The only carbs that I was still eating were honey and rice, and I am having to stop them. Maybe in time I can add them back in.  Right now I might be tolerating sweet potatoes, we'll see.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1350683/whats_the_difference_between_carbohydrates.html

Brinyskysail I think you're an O, a Hunter, and a non secretor too…speaking of that one of my brothers who is A+ had the test done and he's a nonnie as well, I was sure he was and encouraged him to do the test. He uses the list for foods, but thinks this diet isn't based on science so……grrrrrrrr. Oh well to each his own. I don't argue with people. Back to the diet, mine is Paleo as well. I see you eat Parmesan Cheese, I'm scared to even try it even though it's a diamond for me. And of course I can't have nuts so my diet is very limited… So it's meats, veggies, berries, grapefruit…isn't that sad… I rarely eat out either and I don't miss it all that much .


Patty I live in the Caribbean, (Puerto Rico) and we don't have Whole Food stores here. Thanks for the link…I'll check it out. You'd think we'd have more fish markets here but we don't   Fish from some countries is not good, in order not to offend anyone I won't mention where, but we have a lot of that in our stores, so I just choose not to eat it. If I lived where you do I'd probably eat a lot of fish too. I do eat fats and I try to buy Australian lamb which I honestly am trying to like, it's a diamond for me, and I know it's grass fed and when I eat that I don't worry about the fat on the meat. I recently added Hemp oil which is also a diamond for me, and I do like that a lot…I use Olive Oil liberally, and I also use flax seed and my skin is showing the benefits of that, for the first time in my life I don't have to use body lotions. I am going to try rice cakes again, in a few days.

Thank you all...

Quoted from Patty H

Goldie, I actually think the term "carbs" is more appropriate.  I think Linda is not just talking about grains, or starches as you refer to them, but also sugar and fruit.  The term "carbs" is certainly more inclusive, and as I recall, Linda did mention that she can eat some veggies, which are also carbs, but not others.  

Yeah what she said...